Reflective traffic cone

Abstract

A reflective traffic cone incorporating a plurality of reflective members attached on its outer surfaces and inner surfaces, such that the traffic cone can reflect light from a vehicle and be visible in low light conditions even when it becomes knocked over upon a road surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A traffic cone comprising:
 a body including:
 at least one side wall including:
 an outer surface; and 
 an inner surface; and 
 
 wherein said at least one side wall forms a bottom rim; 
 wherein said at least one side wall forms an opening at a bottom portion thereof adjacent said bottom rim; 
   a base including:
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface; and 
 an opening;
 wherein said opening is formed through said base from said top surface through said bottom surface; 
 
   wherein said opening of said body is equal to or larger than said opening of said base;   wherein said body is attached to said base such that said opening of said body aligns with said opening of said base;   wherein said base is adapted to be placed upon a road surface and support said body upwardly therefrom;   a plurality of reflective members;
 wherein at least one of said reflective members is attached to said outer surface of said side wall of said body; and 
 wherein at least one of said reflective members is attached to said inner surface of said side wall of said body; 
   wherein when said traffic cone is in an upright position upon said road surface said at least one reflector member upon said outer surface of said side wall of said body is visible, and said at least one reflector member upon said inner surface of said side wall of said body is not visible;   wherein when said traffic cone is in a fallen position upon said road surface said at least one reflector member upon said outer surface of said side wall of said body is visible, and said at least one reflector member upon said inner surface of said side wall of said body is also visible through said opening of said body and said opening of said base; and   wherein said traffic cone is adapted to be visible via light from a vehicle reflecting off said at least one reflector member upon said outer surface of said side wall when said traffic cone is in said upright position, and is adapted to be visible via light from a vehicle reflecting off said at least one reflector member upon said inner surface of said side wall when said traffic cone is in said fallen position.   
     
     
         2 . The traffic cone of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one side wall forms an annular wall. 
     
     
         3 . The traffic cone of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one reflector member upon said outer surface of said side wall of said body is formed as an annular reflector; and wherein said at least one reflector member upon said inner surface of said side wall of said body is formed as an annular reflector. 
     
     
         4 . The traffic cone of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one reflector member upon said top surface of said base; and at least one reflector member upon said bottom surface of said base. 
     
     
         5 . The traffic cone of  claim 1 , wherein said base is formed having a square shape having four corners; wherein a respective reflector member is placed upon said top surface thereof at each of said four corners; and wherein a respective reflector member is placed upon said bottom surface thereof at each of said four corners. 
     
     
         6 . The traffic cone of  claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of spaced reflective members upon said outer surface of said side wall of said body; and wherein there are a plurality of spaced reflective members upon said inner surface of said side wall of said body. 
     
     
         7 . The traffic cone of  claim 1 , wherein said outer surface of said side wall of said body further includes at least one indentation adapted to releasably retain one of said plurality of reflective members therein; and wherein said inner surface of said side wall of said body further includes at least one indentation adapted to releasably retain one of said plurality of reflective members therein. 
     
     
         8 . The traffic cone of  claim 5 , wherein said top surface of each of said four corners of said base includes at least one indentation adapted to releasably retain one of said plurality of reflective members therein; and wherein said bottom surface of each of said four corners of said base includes at least one indentation adapted to releasably retain one of said plurality of reflective members therein. 
     
     
         9 . The traffic cone of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of reflective members are formed from flexible reflective tape. 
     
     
         10 . The traffic cone of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of reflective members are formed from rigid reflective panels. 
     
     
         11 . The traffic cone of  claim 1 , wherein said body and said base are formed from a material chosen from a group of materials consisting of plastic and rubber. 
     
     
         12 . The traffic cone of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one side wall forms a frustoconical shape. 
     
     
         13 . The traffic cone of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of reflective members are attached via an epoxy resin. 
     
     
         14 . The traffic cone of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of reflective members are attached via an epoxy resin. 
     
     
         15 . The traffic cone of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of reflective members are attached via an epoxy resin.