Temporary flexible pavement markers

Abstract

A temporary flexible pavement marker comprising a base, a stand and a protective shield wherein at least part of the stand is reflective and the protective shield is configured to prevent materials sprayed down upon the temporary flexible pavement marker from obscuring the reflective part of the stand may be employed in the construction or repair of roads. Since the protective shield prevents asphalt from obscuring the reflective part of the stand during spraying operations there is no need for a technician to remove a protective layer from the markers after a spraying operation.

1 . A temporary flexible pavement marker comprising a base, a stand having at least a portion thereof which is reflective, and a protective shield which is configured to prevent materials from being sprayed down upon the reflective part of the stand. 
     
     
         2 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 1  further comprising a secondary protective rib configured to protect a reflective surface from backsplash. 
     
     
         3 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the stand is configured to be reflective on one side. 
     
     
         4 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the stand is configured to reflective on two sides. 
     
     
         5 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the temporary flexible pavement marker is formed of plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 5  wherein the plastic is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, copolymers of polyethylene and polypropylene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The temporary pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the temporary pavement marker is formed of metal. 
     
     
         8 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 7  wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, spring steel, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the temporary pavement marker is prepared using both metal and plastic. 
     
     
         10 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 9  wherein the metal and plastic are in the form of a composite. 
     
     
         11 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 1  additionally comprising an adhesive layer on the bottom of the base. 
     
     
         12 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 11  wherein the adhesive layer is configured to adhere the temporary flexible pavement marker to a pavement. 
     
     
         13 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the reflective portion of the stand is made reflective employing a reflective tape. 
     
     
         14 . The temporary flexible pavement marker  claim 1  wherein the reflective portion of the stand is made reflective employing a reflective material in preparing at least the stand of the temporary flexible pavement marker. 
     
     
         15 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the temporary flexible pavement marker is about 4 inches wide. 
     
     
         16 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the temporary flexible pavement marker is from about 1 to about 2 inches wide. 
     
     
         17 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the base is in a “T”-configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The temporary flexible pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the base is in an “L” configuration.  
     
     
         19 . A method of constructing or repairing a road comprising using a temporary flexible pavement marker to delineate traffic lanes wherein the temporary flexible pavement marker comprises a base, a stand and a protective shield and wherein at least part of the stand is reflective and the protective shield is configured to prevent materials sprayed down upon the temporary flexible pavement markers from obscuring the reflective part of the stand. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the temporary flexible pavement marker is first applied to a newly constructed or repaired pavement surface, then a layer of asphalt applied thereto followed by the application of gravel.