US2014270940A1PendingUtilityA1

Channelizer post

29
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 14, 2013Filed: Mar 14, 2013Published: Sep 18, 2014
Est. expiryMar 14, 2033(~6.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Dennis A. ButlerCraig Michael Schulz
E01F 9/629E01F 9/0175
29
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A channelizer post suitable for delineating traffic lanes, identifying road gore zones, road verges, and pedestrian areas, and the like, is disclosed. While replaceable, the post is normally permanently installed. The post has spring-back capabilities, such that after the post is hit by an object such as a vehicle, the post springs back to a normal vertical position. The post includes a capped tube, preferably formed of an engineered plastic, such as UV stabilized thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and a base also preferably formed of an engineered plastic, such as a UV-stable high-impact thermoplastic alloy. The plastics are such that they are weldable together when the post is formed. The cap includes a plurality of holes that allow air to escape from the capped tube when the post is hit by an object and air to reenter the capped tube when the post springs back to its normal vertical position. Molded into the base is a threaded bolt designed to thread into a threaded cup permanently installed in a roadway or other location. Finally, located inside of the vertical component is a kicker tube, preferably formed of the same material as the tube and the cap. All of the plastic components are welded to one another.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A channelizer post suitable for use in delineating regions such as traffic lanes, pedestrian areas, road gore zones, road verges, and the like, comprising:
 a plastic base including a post suitable for attachment to an embedded retaining device; and   a hollow plastic tube suitable for attachment at one end to the plastic base;   wherein: (i) the plastics used to form the plastic base and the hollow plastic tube are weldable to one another; and (ii) the plastic base and the hollow plastic tube are welded to one another.   
     
     
         2 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 1 , including a plastic cap suitable for attachment to the other end of the hollow plastic tube, wherein: (i) the plastic used to form the plastic cap is weldable to the hollow plastic tube; and (ii) the plastic cap is weldable to the hollow plastic tube. 
     
     
         3 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the cap includes holes. 
     
     
         4 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the plastic base, the hollow plastic tube, and the plastic cap are generally cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the cap includes holes. 
     
     
         6 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the plastic base, the hollow plastic tube, and the plastic cap are spin welded to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the cap includes holes. 
     
     
         8 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 2 , also including a kicker tube formed of plastic that is weldable to the plastic used to form the base and wherein the plastic kicker tube is welded to the plastic base. 
     
     
         9 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the cap includes holes. 
     
     
         10 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the plastic kicker tube, the plastic base, the hollow plastic tube, and the plastic cap are generally cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         11 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the kicker tube, the plastic base, the hollow plastic tube, and the plastic cap are spin welded together. 
     
     
         12 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the cap includes holes. 
     
     
         13 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the plastic kicker tube is located inside of the hollow plastic tube. 
     
     
         14 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the cap includes holes. 
     
     
         15 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the plastic base, the hollow plastic tube, and the plastic cap are generally cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         16 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the plastic kicker tube, the plastic base, the hollow plastic tube, and the plastic cap are spin welded to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the cap includes holes. 
     
     
         18 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the plastic kicker tube is substantially shorter than the hollow plastic tube. 
     
     
         19 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hollow plastic tube and the plastic base are generally cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         20 . The channelizer post claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the hollow plastic tube and the plastic base are spin welded to one another.

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