Roadway marker and reflector guard

Abstract

A roadway marker is formed from a forged longitudinally extending unitary body having an upper surface and a bottom surface from which extent two rooting members in a direction away from the bottom surface, the upper surface of the elongated body respectively define inclined ramps each extending from a respective end of the longitudinally extending body to a centrally elevated bridging area, the ramps defining recesses in which is mounted reflective media. The rooting pins are secured in holes drilled at an acute angle in the pavement such that when the rooting pins are mounted into the holes drilled in the pavement after an adhesive has been placed in the holes, resilient clips mounted on the rooting pins create an interference fit with the wall of each of the two drilled holes to secure the roadway marker to the pavement.

1 . A reflective roadway marker comprising:
 an elongated forged body adapted to be secured to the surface of a roadway, said elongated body having one end; an opposite end; and an elevated central portion;   an upper surface partially defining said elevated central portion;   a bottom surface opposite said upper surface, said bottom surface contacting said road surface after said roadway marker is installed into said road;   said upper surface further having:
 first spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps extending between said elevated central portion and the end of said body at said one end; 
 second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps extending between said elevated central portion and the end of said body at said opposite end; and 
 each of said first and second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps defining a recessed area having a recessed surface in said upper surface of said elongated forged body; 
 said elevated central portion further defining a bridging area between said first and second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps; 
   means for mounting said elongated forged body into said surface of said roadway, said means for mounting being integrally formed with said elongated forged body; and   reflective media mounted in each of said recesses between each said spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps whereby when said reflective roadway marker is mounted between opposite lanes of traffic in a roadway, the light from headlights of automobiles approaching from opposing directions will be reflected by said reflective media to communicate with the drivers of said automobile the location of the edge of a traffic lane.   
     
     
         2 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said mean for mounting further comprises:
 a first rooting pin integrally forged and dependent in a direction away from said bottom surface at said one end of said elongated forged body; and 
 a second rooting pin integrally forged and dependent in a direction away from said bottom surface at said opposite end of said elongated forged body. 
 
     
     
         3 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said first and second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps each converge in a direction from a respective end of said roadway marker towards a respective side of said elevated central portion. 
     
     
         4 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 2  wherein each said first and second rooting pins further comprises:
 at least one laterally spaced annular recess formed into each of said first and second rooting pins; and 
 a resilient retainer clip mounted in said at least one laterally spaced recess of each rooting pin, said resilient retainer clip providing an interference fit with the walls of a respective hole drilled in the pavement. 
 
     
     
         5 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said resilient retainer clip mounted in said at least one laterally spaced recess of each rooting pin further comprises barbs mounted to said resilient retainer clip such that said barbs pry into said walls of each said respective hole drilled in the pavement and prevent said roadway marker from being raised due to the displacement of adhesive in said holes as said roadway marker is mounted into said holes. 
     
     
         6 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each of said first and second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps further comprise:
 a tapered outer sidewall disposed between said periphery of said bottom surface and the top edge of each ramp member; and 
 a tapered inner sidewall disposed between an outer top edge of each ramp member and said recessed surface between each of said first and second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps. 
 
     
     
         7 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 5  wherein each of said first and second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps further comprise:
 a tapered outer sidewall disposed between said periphery of said bottom surface and the top edge of each ramp member; and 
 a tapered inner sidewall disposed between an outer top edge of each ramp member and said recessed surface between each of said first and second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps. 
 
     
     
         8 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said first and second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps each converge in a direction from a respective end of said roadway marker towards a respective side of said elevated central portion. 
     
     
         9 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said reflective media is selected from a group consisting of reflective tape, reflective power-coat or reflective plastic. 
     
     
         10 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said reflective media is selected from a group consisting of reflective tape, reflective powder coat or reflective plastic. 
     
     
         11 . A reflective roadway marker comprising:
 an elongated forged body having a longitudinal axis, an elevated central portion, and a bottom portion adapted to be secured to the surface of a road surface;   a first pair of spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps extending above said bottom portion, said first pair of spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps straddling said longitudinal axis and converging in a direction towards one side of said elevated central portion;   a second pair of spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps extending above said bottom portion, said second pair of spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps positioned on said bottom portion to converge in a direction towards an other side of said elevated central portion;   said elevated central portion further defining a bridging area for said first and second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps;   each of said first and second pair of inclined spaced apart longitudinally oriented ramps defining a recessed area having a recessed surface between each pair of said first and second pair of spaced apart longitudinally inclined ramps;   reflective media mounted on each recessed surface in each of said recessed areas between each said first and second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps; and   means for mounting said elongated forged body into said roadway surface, said means for mounting being integrally formed with said elongated forged body whereby when said reflective roadway marker is mounted between opposite lanes of traffic in a roadway, the light from headlights from automobiles approaching from opposing directions will be reflected by said reflective media to communicate with the drivers of said automobiles the location of the edge of a traffic lane.   
     
     
         12 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said mean for mounting further comprises:
 a first rooting pin integrally forged and dependent in a direction away from said bottom surface at said one end of said elongated forged body; and 
 a second rooting pin integrally forged and dependent in a direction away from said bottom surface at said opposite end of said elongated forged body. 
 
     
     
         13 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 12  wherein each said first and second rooting pins further comprises:
 at least one laterally spaced annular recess formed into each of said first and second rooting pins; and 
 a resilient retainer clip mounted in said at least one laterally spaced recess of each rooting pin, said resilient retainer clip providing an interference fit with the walls of a respective hole drilled in the pavement. 
 
     
     
         14 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said resilient retainer clip mounted in said at least one laterally spaced recess of each rooting pin further comprises barbs mounted to said resilient retainer clip such that said barbs pry into said walls of each said respective hole drilled in the pavement and prevent said roadway marker from being raised due to the displacement of adhesive in said holes as said roadway marker is mounted into said holes. 
     
     
         15 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 11  wherein each of said first and second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps further comprise:
 a tapered outer sidewall disposed between said periphery of said bottom surface and the top edge of each ramp member; and 
 a tapered inner sidewall disposed between an outer top edge of each ramp member and said recessed surface between each of said first and second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps. 
 
     
     
         16 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 14  wherein each of said first and second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps further comprise:
 a tapered outer sidewall disposed between said periphery of said bottom surface and the top edge of each ramp member; and 
 a tapered inner sidewall disposed between an outer top edge of each ramp member and said recessed surface between each of said first and second spaced apart longitudinally oriented inclined ramps. 
 
     
     
         17 . The reflective roadway marker as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said reflective media is selected from a group consisting of reflective tape, reflective power-coat or reflective plastic. 
     
     
         18 . A method for installing a roadway marker having a base and two rooting pins extending from said base, wherein said each said rooting pin has a spring loaded clip mounted thereon with barbs extending from said spring loaded clip, said method comprising the steps of:
 drilling two holes at an acute angle to the vertical plane at a predetermined distance apart from each other, into the pavement to a predetermined depth;   machining a groove intersecting a portion of each hole of said two holes in the pavement along a straight line between said two holes drilled in the pavement, each said groove being for a predetermined distance and at a predetermined depth;   filling said holes and each said groove with an adhesive;   applying adhesive to each rooting pin and underside base of said roadway marker;   insert each rooting pin in a respective hole in said pavement; and   move each rooting pin downward into each respective hole in said pavement until said base rests on said pavement such that said barbs located on said spring loaded clip mounted to each rooting pin will create an interference fit with the wall of each hole and hold said roadway marker in place until said adhesive applied to said base and residing in said two holes cures to hold said roadway marker permanently in place in said pavement.