Delineator with bounceback mechanism

Abstract

Delineators are described that include a delineator body, a ball and socket joint, and a resilient rod. The ball and socket joint is disposed to promote deflection of the delineator body in response to a deflecting force. The resilient rod, which may comprise steel, couples to the delineator body and to the ball and socket joint, and is adapted to restore the delineator body to an upright position after removal of the deflecting force. An elastic grommet, which may comprise rubber, is also preferably included that connects the rod to the delineator body. The ball and socket joint may allow the delineator to deflect equally in all directions, or preferentially in a preferred deflection plane.

1 . A delineator, comprising:
 a delineator body;   a ball-and-socket joint disposed to promote deflection of the delineator body in response to a deflecting force; and   a resilient rod coupled to the delineator body and the ball-and-socket joint, the resilient rod being adapted to restore the delineator body to an upright position after removal of the deflecting force.   
     
     
         2 . The delineator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an elastic grommet that connects the rod to the delineator body.   
     
     
         3 . The delineator of  claim 2 , wherein the grommet covers a portion of the rod proximate the ball-and-socket joint. 
     
     
         4 . The delineator of  claim 2 , wherein the delineator body has an aperture therein, and the grommet is visible through the aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The delineator of  claim 2 , wherein the grommet comprises rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The delineator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base coupled to the delineator body and adapted to secure the delineator to a pavement surface.   
     
     
         7 . The delineator of  claim 6 , wherein the ball-and-socket joint is mounted in the base. 
     
     
         8 . The delineator of  claim 6 , wherein the rod has a first and second end, and wherein the first end of the rod is disposed within the delineator body, and the second end of the rod extends beneath the base. 
     
     
         9 . The delineator of  claim 1 , wherein the rod passes through the ball-and-socket joint. 
     
     
         10 . The delineator of  claim 1 , wherein the rod comprises steel. 
     
     
         11 . The delineator of  claim 1 , wherein the rod has a circular cross sectional shape. 
     
     
         12 . The delineator of  claim 1 , wherein the ball-and-socket joint is characterized by a maximum pivot angle that varies substantially as a function of azimuthal angle φ. 
     
     
         13 . The delineator of  claim 12 , wherein the maximum pivot angle is greatest at a first azimuthal angle, the first azimuthal angle also corresponding to a direction of greatest visibility of the delineator. 
     
     
         14 . The delineator of  claim 1 , wherein the ball-and-socket joint is characterized by a maximum pivot angle that is substantially constant as a function of azimuthal angle φ. 
     
     
         15 . The delineator of  claim 1 , further comprising a reflective sheet applied to the delineator body.