System and method for placing audible road features

Abstract

A method for placing an audible feature on a road includes heating a composition and depositing the composition onto at least one of a surface of the road and an existing layer on the road. The composition seeps into porous areas of at least one of the surface of the road and the existing layer on the road and cools to form the audible feature. The audible feature adheres to at least one of the surface of the road and the existing layer on the road.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for placing an audible feature on a road, comprising:
 heating a composition; and   depositing the composition onto at least one of a surface of the road and an existing layer on the road,   wherein the composition bonds with at least one of the surface of the road and the existing layer on the road and cools to form the audible feature.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising mixing reflective materials onto the composition. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising heating the composition to a temperature above its melting point. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least one of a thermoplastic material, epoxy material, urea plastic material, and a preform thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the existing layer comprises at least one of a thermoplastic product, paint, epoxy, asphalt, and concrete. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising depositing the composition at a periodic interval, the periodic interval comprising a distance greater than twelve inches. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising depositing the composition in an area having a diameter between two and eight inches and a thickness of between 350 and 600 mils. 
     
     
         8 . A method for placing an audible feature on a road using a hydrostatic pump and a depositing device mounted on a vehicle, comprising:
 heating a composition to a liquid state; and   depositing the composition onto at least one of a surface of the road and an existing layer on the road using the pump and depositing device,   wherein the composition bonds with at least one of the surface of the road and the existing layer on the road and cools to form the audible feature.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising mixing reflective materials onto the composition. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising heating the composition to between 300 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the existing layer comprises at least one of a thermoplastic product, paint, epoxy, asphalt, and concrete. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising depositing the composition at a periodic interval, the periodic interval comprising a distance greater than twelve inches. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising depositing the composition in an area having a diameter between two and eight inches and a thickness of between 350 and 600 mils. 
     
     
         14 . A system for mounting on a vehicle and configured for placing an audible feature on a road, comprising:
 a heating element configured to heat a composition;   a hydraulic pump; and   a depositing device configured to receive the composition from the hydraulic pump, the depositing device configured to cut portions of the composition and provide the portions onto at least one of a surface of the road and an existing layer on the road, the portions of composition bonding with at least one of the surface of the road and the existing layer on the road and cooling to form the audible feature.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the composition includes reflective materials. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the composition is heated to a temperature above its melting point. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the composition comprises at least one of a thermoplastic material, epoxy material, urea plastic material, and a preform thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the existing layer comprises at least one of a thermoplastic product, paint, epoxy, asphalt, and concrete. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the composition is deposited at a periodic interval, the periodic interval comprising a distance greater than twelve inches. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the composition is deposited in an area having a diameter between two and eight inches and a thickness of between 350 and 600 mils.