Snowplowable Pavement Marker

Abstract

Disclosed are improved snowplowable pavement markers held fixedly to a roadway by adhesive. The markers include a holder and at least one transversely arranged reflector to retroreflect incident light from headlights of approaching vehicles. The holders have a pocket for supporting the reflector. One or more through openings having angled sides are defined in the bottom of the pocket so that when the marker is installed in an adhesive bed on the pavement, adhesive flows into contact with the holder and the bottom of the reflector to simultaneously affix both to the pavement. Reflectors may be replaced by simply chiseling an old reflector out of the holder pocket to create a flat bottom surface in the pocket to which a bead of mastic adhesive is applied and a new reflector is subsequently installed. This new marker construction applies to both raised and recessed snowplowable pavement markers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reflective pavement marker to be held fixedly to a roadway by adhesive, the marker comprising:
 a reflector for reflecting incident light;   a holder having upwardly-extending walls forming an upwardly-opening pocket;   the reflector being at least partially seated within the pocket;   the holder having an opening with sides extending from the bottom of the holder to the pocket; and,   whereby adhesive extending through the opening holds the reflector within the holder.   
     
     
         2 . The reflective pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the sides of the opening at least partially extend upwardly and radially outward from the bottom of the holder. 
     
     
         3 . The reflective pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the holder has a shoulder with an upwardly-facing horizontal surface outward of the opening underlying the reflector seated within the pocket. 
     
     
         4 . The reflective pavement marker of  claim 3  further including a vent in the shoulder providing air relief past the reflector seated within the pocket. 
     
     
         5 . The reflective pavement marker of  claim 3  wherein the shoulder is intermediate the top and bottom of the holder and the sides of the opening below the shoulder extend upwardly and radially outward from the bottom of the holder. 
     
     
         6 . The reflective pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the reflector is generally rectangular and wherein the walls of the holder include laterally-spaced end walls and axially-spaced side walls around the pocket generally corresponding to the shape and size of the reflector such that the reflector may be seated at least partially in the pocket. 
     
     
         7 . The reflective pavement marker of  claim 6  wherein the holder has a shoulder with an upwardly-facing horizontal surface outward of the opening underlying the reflector seated within the pocket. 
     
     
         8 . The reflective pavement marker of  claim 7  further including a vent in the shoulder providing air relief past the reflector seated within the pocket. 
     
     
         9 . The reflective pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the holder is comprised of metal and includes a pair of laterally-spaced, longitudinal keels and a cross member connecting the keels forming at least a portion of the pocket. 
     
     
         10 . The reflective pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the holder is comprised of plastic and wherein the walls of the holder include a pair of axially-spaced end walls and a pair of laterally-spaced side walls forming at least a portion of the pocket. 
     
     
         11 . The reflective pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the reflector and the holder are non-integral separate components of the marker and adhesive applied to the roadway passing through the opening holds the reflector within the holder and fixes both the holder and the reflector to the roadway. 
     
     
         12 . A method of fixing the reflective pavement marker of  claim 1  to a roadway, the method comprising:
 creating a cavity in a roadway of a dimension allowing the marker to be at least partially seated therein; 
 at least partially filling the cavity with adhesive; and, 
 positioning the marker at least partially in the cavity in contact with the adhesive such that the adhesive passes through the opening and flows into bonding contact with the holder and with the reflector. 
 
     
     
         13 . A reflective pavement marker to be held fixedly to a roadway by adhesive, the marker comprising:
 a reflector for reflecting incident light;   a holder having upwardly-extending walls forming an upwardly-opening pocket;   the reflector being at least partially seated within the pocket;   the holder having an opening with sides extending from the bottom of the holder to the pocket;   the sides of the opening at least partially extending upwardly and radially outward;   the holder having a shoulder with an upwardly-facing horizontal surface outward of the opening underlying the reflector seated within the pocket;   a vent in the shoulder providing air relief past the reflector seated within the pocket; and,   whereby adhesive extending through the opening holds the reflector within the holder.   
     
     
         14 . The reflective pavement marker of  claim 12  wherein the holder is comprised of metal and includes a pair of laterally-spaced, longitudinal keels and a cross member connecting the keels forming at least a portion of the pocket. 
     
     
         15 . The reflective pavement marker of  claim 11  wherein the holder is comprised of plastic and wherein the walls of the holder include a pair of axially-spaced end walls and a pair of laterally-spaced side walls forming at least a portion of the pocket. 
     
     
         16 . The reflective pavement marker of  claim 1  wherein the reflector and the holder are non-integral separate components of the marker and adhesive applied to the roadway passing through the opening holds the reflector within the holder and fixes both the holder and the reflector to the roadway.