US3790293A - Pavement marker reflector member and assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A pavement marker reflector member having a shell-like body of synthetic resin material, a filler material within the shell-like body and a base plate affixed to the shell-like body and including lowermost surface portions establishing a basal support for the reflector member. The reflector member may be affixed to a base member, in which case the lowermost surface portions of the base plate engage corresponding portions of the base member in a pavement marker assembly.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Heenan etal.

[ Feb. 5, 1974 1 PAVEMENT MARKER REFLECTOR 1,910,791 5/1933 Coppel 350/97 x MEMBER AND ASSEMBLY 2,371,462 3/ 1945 Nicholson. 404/ 2,627,784 2/1953 Pellar 350/97 X In entors: S d ey Keenan, Park g 2,941,447 6/1960 Abbott 350/97 x Norbert Majewski, Elk Grove 3,587,416 6/1971 Flanagan 404/9 Village, both of 111. 3,519,327 7 1970 Nakajima 350/97 3,332,327 5/1967 Heenan ..404/l6 1 1 Asslgheei Ameme Commmn, New 3,485,148 12/1969 Heenan ..404/12 York, NY. Primary Examiner--Nile C. Byers, Jr.

4 72 [22] Filed Oct 19 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Samuelson & Jacob [21] App]. No.: 294,810

[57] ABSTRACT US. Cl. A pavement marker reflector member having a hell. Il'ltofsynthetic resin material a filler material [58] Field of Search 404/15, 9; 350/97 within the sheluike body and a base plate ffi d to the shell-like body and including lowermost surface References Cited portions establishing a basal support for the reflector UNITED STATES PATENTS member. The reflector member may be affixed to a 1,798,468 3/1931 Hartzler 404 15 x base member, in which the lowermost Surface 1,599,975 9/1926 Peterson 404/15 x p o f t e base plate engage corresponding porl,574,738 2/1926 Cretney 404/15 tions of the base member in a pavement marker as- 1,546,146 7/1925 Shaffer 404/9 X sembly,

14 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 142 122 19a 16 23/ r44 :941e K 1 I I f I) 20 46 M46 19 I j I -416/v 1 104 4/ 1 If 1 Ji 1. -so I08 L [C128 ff2\ 136 /20 PAVEMENT MARKER REFLECTOR MEMBER AND ASSEMBLY semblies in which reflector members may be replaced I with'relative ease when worn or otherwise deteriorated.

Pavement markers have become more widely accepted as permanent installations for marking traffic lanes and controlling the flow of traffic on roadways in connection with, or in place of, conventional painted traffic lines. Because of their greater optical effectiveness and longer life, such markers have found wide use despite the fact that their initial cost has often been greater than the initial cost of conventional painted lines. It becomes apparent, then, that pavement markers which could be less costly to manufacture and which would have an extended life would be even more desirable.

A variety of structural arrangements has been suggested for rendering the reflectors of such pavement markers more durable and, in some of these arrangements, the reflectors are selectively replaceable. In several of these arrangements a base member of relatively high strength material, such as a metal, is permanently affixed to the roadway surface and a reflector body of synthetic resin material is affixed to the base member for selective removal and replacement without destruction of the base member. In some of these pavement marker assemblies, the base member has been provided with inclined ramps for protecting the reflector body from brutal encounters with snowplow blades when these pavement markers are used in geographical areas where a significant amount of snow is likely to fall upon roadways.

Among the most commercially successful pavement markers developed recently is a marker constructed with a shell-like body of molded synthetic resin material filled with a filler material for reinforcing the shelllike body against the forces applied externally by contact with oncoming vehicles. These pavement markers have been permanently installed directly upon the roadway surface by affixing them to the pavement with a suitable adhesive. It has also been suggested that such pavement markers be permanently affixed to metal base members with an adhesive. It would be advantageous, then, to have available an improved pavement marker of the type having a filled shell-like body which can be affixed directly to the roadway surface, or, alternately, can serve as a reflector member assembled with a permanently installed, high strength base member in such a way that the reflector member, when worn or broken, is readily disassembled from the base member and replaced with a more serviceable reflector member.

It is therefore an important object of the invention to provide a pavement marker of the type in which a shelllike body of synthetic resin material is filled with a reinforcing filler material with a base plate affixed by said filler material to the shell-like body for establishing a basal support for the pavement marker.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pavement marker of the type described above which can be installed directly upon the surface of a roadway and which will exhibit greater resistance to failure from the impact resulting from contact with oncoming vehicles than heretofore available.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pavement marker of the type described above which can serve as a reflector member in a pavement marker assembly including a base member of relatively high strength material, such as a metal, to which the reflector member is secured for selective removal and replacement.

The above objects, as well as still further objects and advantages, are attained by the invention which may be described briefly as a pavement marker for establishing a marking visible from an oncoming vehicle on a roadway surface, the pavement marker comprising a shelllike body of synthetic resin material, the shell-like body having an upper surface, a lower edge and at least one light-transmitting portion including an obverse light receiving surface between the upper surface and the lower edge, a filler material within the shell-like'body for reinforcing the shell-like body against forces applied externally by contact with the oncoming vehicles, a lower surface adapted to face the roadway surface, and a base plate including portions embedded within the filler material for affixing the base plate to the pavement marker coextensive with essentially the entire lower surface and including lowermost surface portions establishing a basal support for the pavement marker.

The invention will be more fully understood, while still further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent, in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a pavement marker assembly employing a pavement marker constructed in accordance with the invention as a reflector member therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the pavement marker assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional'view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken:in the direction indicated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the reflector member employedin the pavement marker assembly of F IG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a slightly reduced bottom plan view of the reflector member of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the retainer employed in the pavement marker assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a-plan view, partially broken away, of an- I other pavement marker assembly employing a pavement marker constructed in accordance with the invention as a reflector member therein; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, partially sectioned,

of the pavement marker assembly of FIG. 8. 7

Referring now to the drawing, and especially to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a pavement marker assembly employing a pavement marker constructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated generally at 10 and is seen to include abase member 12 constructed of a relatively high strength material, such as a metal, and a pavement marker in the form of areflector member 14 aftixed to thebase member 12 by means shown in the form of aretainer system 16.

Thebase member 12 extends longitudinally from aforward portion 20 to an oppositerearward portion 22 and laterally betweenoppositeside portions 23 carryingsidewalls 24 and 26 and spaced apart by an interconnectingweb 28.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, pavement marker assembly is adapted to be installed upon aroadway 30 and the base member l2has a basal plane P which extends in a direction parallel with the surface, of theroadway 30, when thelower surface 32 of thebase member 12 is affixed to the roadway surface. Thesidewalls 24 and 26 of thebase member 12 are provided with Securing means in the form of dependingribs 34 which project downwardly below the basal plane P and extend longitudinally to establish lower surface portions in the form ofvertical surfaces 36 extending in planes generally perpendicular to the basal plane P and parallel to one another longitudinally along the body of thebase member 12.Ribs 34 are engaged withcomplementary grooves 38 in theroadway 30 to affix the pavement marker to the roadway surface, preferably through the use of an adhesive. The additional area gained by thevertical surfaces 36 of thelongitudinal ribs 34 provides the additional resistance to shear forces placed uponpavement marker 10 when the marker is contacted by a snowplow blade to prevent the marker from being torn from the roadway surface.

Thebase member 12 has anupper surface 40 which, in this instance, includes aplanar platform 42 located upon theweb 28 between a forward laterally extendingrib 46 and a rearward laterally extendingrib 48.Reflector member 14 is, in the illustrated embodiment, seated upon theplatform 42 and is located longitudinally and restrained against longitudinal movement by the forward and rearward abutments provided" by thelateral ribs 46 and 48. Thereflector member 14 has alower surface 52, at leastportions 54 of which have a contour matching the contour of theplatform 42 so that thereflector member 14 is seated securely upon the platform. In this instance, the contour ofsuch portions 54 is planar to match the planar contour of theplatform 42.Reflector member 14 extends longitudinally between opposite forward andrearward portions 56 and 58, respectively, and laterally between opposite side portions 60 and 62, respectively, and has anupper surface 64 spaced from thelower surface 52 thereof in an altitudinal direction to provide at least one obverselight receiving surface 66 for receiving incident light from oncoming vehicles and reflecting such light to establish a marking visible at night. A second suchobverse surface 68 may also be provided at the rear of thereflector member 14. Thus, thereflector member 14 provides a reflector riased above the surface of the roadway 30in order to provide a marking which may be viewed effectively at reasonable viewing distances. Additionally, theobverse surface 66 is advantageously placed at an acute angle to the roadway surface so that the face of the reflector will be cleaned by wiping contact with the tires of oncoming vehicles.

Turning now. to FIGS. 5 and 6, thereflector member 14 is preferably of the type which has a shell-like body including ashell 70 of synthetic resin material having at least one and preferably two light transmittingportions 72 which provide theobverse surfaces 66 and 68 of the reflector. Thereverse surface 74 of eachportion 72 is provided with a retrodirective reflector of the cube-corner type. In this instance, theshell 70 is molded of a light-transmitting synthetic resin, such as methyl-methacrylate, and is constructed of two likeparts 76 and 78 joined together at 79. In order to reinforcethe molded synthetic resin shell against forces applied to the shell by contact with oncoming vehicles, the shell is filled, or potted," with a relatively rigid filler material seen in the form of a solid core 80 which is contiguous with the inner surface of theshell 70 and serves to reinforce the shell and provide a solid, rugged structure capable of withstanding forces applied to thereflector member 14 during service. Since it is desirable, from a structural standpoint, that the core 80 be contiguous with theshell 70 and no voids exist between the shell and the core,reverse surface 74 is coated with alight reflecting material 82, such as by metallizing the reverse surface in a now well-known manner, to assure that the reflecting elements will perform their assigned function.

In order to provide thelower surface 52 of thereflector member 14 withsurface portions 54 having a contour matching the contour of theplatform 42 of thebase member 12, the reflector member preferably is provided with abase plate 84 which includes a plurality ofsurface portions 86 having the desired configuration, in this instance, the desired configuration being flat and planar. Thebase plate 84 is secured in thereflector member 14, at least in part, by the filler material of the core 80 by virtue of extension of the filler material throughapertures 88 provided in raisedportions 90 of thebase plate 84. The raisedportions 90 establish an undulate cross-sectional configuration, as viewed in FIG. 5, which provides thebase plate 84 with sufficient rigidity, while establishing the raisedportions 90 for securement in the filler material and thelowermost surface portions 86 for a basal support for the reflector member. Theperipheral portions 94 ofbase plate 84 extend beneath the correspondingperipheral edge 96 of theshell 70 so that both the shell and the core 80 are supported upon thebase plate 84. Since thebase plate 84 rests securely upon theplatform 42 by virtue of the complementary configuration ofportions 86 of theplate 84, forces applied to theshell 70 by contact with oncoming vehicles are transmitted through the core 80 as well as through theshell 70 to thebase member 12 and any tendency to break the shell away from the core as a result of uneven support surfaces between thereflector member 14 and thebase member 12 is essentially eliminated. The rounded contours of the undulate cross-sectional configuration provide an advantageous stress distribution along the base plate.

In fabricating thereflector member 14, the filler material, in a viscous liquid form, is first poured into theshell 70. Then thebase plate 84 is placed on the filler. As the base plate becomes seated in place withperipheral portions 94 juxtaposed with correspondingperipheral edge 96 of theshell 70, the filler material will extrude throughlarger apertures 88, while air is vented through small passages provided bysmaller apertures 92 in the base plate. Upon hardening, the extensionof the filler material throughapertures 88 will aidin securing the base plate to the shell. Such materials as epoxy compounds have been found suitable for the formation of the core 80. The base plate is preferably fabricated of metal, but can be made of other materials which will provide suitable strength and rigidity.

In the above outlined method of fabrication, thebase plate 84 actually aids in assuring that the filler material,

while still in liquid form, fills theshell 70 without voids. In order to seat the base plate in the shell, the base plate is urged against the filler material toward the shell, as by merely allowing the weight of the base plate to pull the base plate toward the shell. As the base plate is so urged toward the shell, the pressure upon the filler material forces the filler material to entirely fill the shell, thereby eliminating any harmful voids. In particular, by makingapertures 88 larger thanapertures 92, a

' differential pressure is created as the base plate is urged toward the shell, which differential pressure tends to force the liquid filler material into the corners of the shell to assure that the shell is filled completely without the use of excessive amounts of filler material.

In addition, the filling operation itself is facilitated by the use of thebase plate 84 in that a greater variation in the volume of filler material can be accommodated. Thus, variations in the volume of the liquid filler material placed in the shell can be taken up by the volume available within the raisedportions 90 of the base plate. Excess liquid filler material can be accommodated within the raisedportions 90 without affecting the basal contour provided bysurface portions 86.

Where thereflector member 14 is affixed directly to the roadwaysurface, that is, wherereflector member 14 is to serve as a pavement marker affixed permanently to the roadway surface, rather than being mounted upon a base member for selective replacement, the base plate 84 (see FIG. 5) tends to distribute the forces applied to theshell 70, by contact with oncoming vehicles, over the entire support surface provided by the base plate. Where the roadway surface is soft, the pavement marker may exhibit a tendency to sink slightly into the roadway. In a pavement marker of the type having a filled shell-like body, such sinking can result in the roadway exerting an excessive force upwardly upon the shell itself, thus tending to peel the shell from the core of filler material. In the instant pavement marker, however, such a tendency to peel, or delam'inate, theshell 70 from the core 80 is eliminated by virtue of the extension of thebase plate 84 below the lower peripheral edge of the shell.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the reflector member l4,- when placed upon theplatform 42 of thebase member 12, is located longitudinally between thelateral ribs 46 and 48 and laterally between thelongitudinally extending sidewalls 24 and 26 of thebase member 12, and is thus fixed relative to the roadway surface.

Thereflector member 14 is secured relative to thebase member 12 by means of theretainer system 16 having aretainer 100 which includes a pair ofretainer elements 102, each having afirst arm 104 and asecond arm 106. The first andsecond arms 104 and 106, respectively, extend generally longitudinally between opposite ends and are spaced apart laterally by an integrallateral leg 108 which interconnectsarms 104 and 106 adjacent one of the ends of each arm such that the arms andleg 108 establish a U-shaped configuration. The U- shapedretainer elements 102 are fabricated of a resilient material, such as steel wire, so that thearms 104 and 106 may be resiliently deflected relative to one another in an altitudinal direction, that is, in a direction which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of thearms 104 and 106 and the lateral extent of theleg 108.

Means are provided for engaging thefirst arm 104 of eachretainer element 102 with thereflector member 14 adjacent each side portion 60 and 62 of the reflector member, these first means being illustrated in the form of abar 110 which is integral with thefirst arms 104 of theretainer elements 102 at the opposite ends 112 of the bar so that the-retainedelements 102 are joined together by thebar 110 in a unitary structure. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, thebar 110 extends along theupper surface 64 of thereflector member 14 between the opposite side portions 60. and 62 of the reflector member. Preferably, acap plate 114 is interposed between thebar 110 and theupper surface 64 of thereflector member 14 and the bar is received within achannel 116 in thecap plate 114 which, in turn, is located within alateral recess 118 in the upper surface of the reflector member (also see FIG. 5).

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, second means are provided for engaging thesecond arm 106 of eachretainer element 102 with thebase member 12 adjacent eachside portion 23 thereof, the second means being illustrated in the form ofears 120 projecting from theouter surface 122 ofech sidewall 24 and 26 and establishing a downwardly facingshoulder 124. The elevation of thechannel 116 is such that when thereflector member 14 is in place upon theplatform 42 the channel lies above theshoulders 124 provided by thecar 120; hence, when thebar 110 is placed in thechannel 116 and theU-shaped retainer elements 102 straddle thesidewalls 24 and 26 with thefirst arms 104 lying along theinner surface 126 of each sidewall and thesecond arms 106 lying along theouter surface 122 of each sidewall, thebar 110 is located above theshoulders 124 and thesecond arms 106 must be deflected downwardly, in an altitudinal direction, relative to thefirst arms 104 until thesecond arms 106 are captured beneath theshoulders 124 provided by theear 120. In order to facilitate such downward deflection of thesecond arms 106, theears 120 are provided with abeveled surface 128 which urges the second arms outwardly as thearms 106 are pushed downwardly so that installation of theretainer 100 can be accomplished by merely pushing downwardly upon thesecond arms 106.

Theresilient deflection of the first andsecond arms 104 and 106 relative to one another in an altitudinal direction establishes a resilient retaining force which urges thereflector member 14 downwardly against thebase member 12. Thecap plate 114 tends to spread this retaining force over essentially the entireupper surface 64 of thereflector member 14 to reduce the possibility of a concentration of stress within a limited portion of the shell of the reflector member. In addition, thecap plate 114 will protect theupper surface 64 of thereflector member 14 against excessive abrasion arising from the contact between oncoming vehicles and the reflector member. Thebar 110 is also protected from excessive abrasion by virtue of its location within the recess provided by thechannel 116. In order to better distribute the downward force provided by the retainer when the retainer is installed as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the bar is normally bowed, as seen in FIG. 7', such that thecentral portion 130 of the bar is normally below theends 112 of the bar. Installation of theretainer 100 will tend to deflect thebar 110 out of the bowed configuration and will thereby provide a downward force which is more evenly distributed along the length of the bar upon thereflector member 14. Removal of theretainer 100 for disassembly of thereflector member 14 from thebase member 12 is achieved by moving thesecond arms 106 outwardly to release the arms from beneath theears 120. Thus, thereflector member 14 is readily replaced.

Pavement marker 10 is constructed for service in geographical locations where a significant amount of snow is likely to fall upon theroadway 30. Thus, thebase member 12 is constructed to protect thereflector member 14 from being gouged or stripped from the roadway surface by being stripped from the base member by an oncoming snowplow blade. To this end, thereflector member 14 is placed between the sidewalls 24 and 26 with the uppermost surface of the reflector member being no higher than the uppermost extent of the sidewalls. Each of thesidewalls 24 and 26 is provided with an'inclined ramp 134 which extends from the roadway surface at the forward portion of the pavement marker to a verticallyuppermost portion 136 and 138, respectively, toward the rear of the marker. Theuppermost portions 136 and 138 of thesidewalls 24 and 26, respectively, are at least as high as the uppermost surface of thecap plate 1 14 on theupper surface 64 of the reflector member so that as a snowplow blade 140 (illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1) approaches thereflector member 14, the blade will ride up theinclined ramps 134 and will thus be deflected away from the reflector member. It is noted that eachsidewall 24 and 26 includes anuppermost portion 136 and 138, respectively, which is generally flat and parallel to the basal plane P, the uppermost portions establishing a path for thesnowplow blade 140 which will ensure that the snowplow blade will completely avoid contact with thereflector member 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, snowplow blades are generally angled relative to their direction of travel so as to make an acute angle A with the direction of travel D.

Usually, acute angle A is of the order of magnitude of about 60. Because of this angle A, leadingportion 142 of thesnowplow blade 140 will traverseuppermost portion 136 of thesidewall 24 ahead of the traverse of trailingportion 144 of thesnowplow blade 140 across theuppermost portion 138 of thesidewall 26. It has been found that if the leadingportion 142 of thesnowplow blade 140 is allowed to leave theuppermost portion 136 of thesidewall 24 prior to the arrival of the trailingportion 144 of the snowplow blade at theuppermost portion 138 of theother sidewall 26 thesnowplow blade 140 will experience a sudden drop which can result in the trailingportion 144 exerting a considerable blow upon the correspondinginclined ramp 134 ofsidewall 26. In order to prevent such a crushing blow, and concomitant damage to the ramp, theuppermost portions 136 and 138 of thesidewalls 24 and 26 are extended rearwardly a distance great enought to assure that as leadingportion 142 of thesnowplow blade 140 leaves theuppermost portion 136 of thesidewall 24, the trailingportion 144 of the snowplow blade will be engaged with theuppermost portion 138 of theother sidewall 26. Thus, as seen in FIG. 1, when point L on the leadingportion 142 of thesnowplow blade 140 leavesuppermost portion 136, point T on the trailingportion 144 of the snowplow blade is already engaged with theuppermost portion 138.

Thebase member 12 must be fabricated of a material strong enough to withstand contact with thesnowplow blade 140. It has been found that base members fabricated of pearlitic ductile iron are well suited to withstand the shock of contact with a snowplow blade and are rugged enough to remain serviceable for a long time without being worn away by contact with oncoming traffic, including snowplow blades. In the illustrated embodiment, the base member has been successfully fabricated in the form of a unitary casting of ductile iron, such as pearlitic ductile iron (ASTM A536-65T) or ferritic nodular iron (ASTM A536-67), which was then heat treated to obtain a core hardness of about 26 to 34 Rockwell C and the sidewalls, especially in the vicinity of the inclined ramps, were hardened either by induction or flame hardening, to a surface hardness of about 50 to 55 Rockwell C for a depth of about 0.050

v to 0.100 inch. The above core hardness provides the toughness necessary to withstand brutal encounters with snowplow blades while the surface hardness is great enough to withstand the abrasion of the snowplow blade as it passes over the sidewalls. The base member has also successfully been fabricated by forgmg.

Turning now to FIGS. 8 and 9, another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the form of apavement marker 150. Pavement marker may be employed in areas where contact with snowplow blades is unlikely. Inpavement marker 150, thebase member 152 is fabricated from aflat plate 153 which provides anupper surface 154 with aportion providinga platform 156 and alower surface 158 that can be adhered to aroadway surface 160 with an adhesive 162. Forward and rearward abutments are provided by laterally extendingrails 164 struckup from theplate 153. Longitudinally extendingsidewalls 166 are also struck upwardly from theplate 153 and are pierced to establish outwardly projectingtabs 168. 4

A reflector member 170, having thesame construction asreflector member 14 described above in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6, is placed on theplatform 156 between the forward and rearward abutments provided byrails 164 and between thesidewalls 166. The reflector member 170 is affixed to thebase member 152 by means of a retaining system similar to that described above in connection with FIGS. .1 through 7. Aretainer 172 is provided with a pair ofU-shaped retaining elements 174 each having a first andsecond arm 176 and 178 extending longitudinally and spaced apart laterally by an interconnectingleg 180. TheU-shaped retainer elements 174 are interconnected by abar 182 which extends laterally across the top of the reflector member 170. Thebar 182 is received within achannel 184 in acap plate 186 which is interposed between thebar 182 and the upper surface of the reflector member 170, and theU-shaped retainer elements 174 straddle thesidewalls 166 so that eachfirst arm 176 is located between aside portion 188 of the reflector member 170 and asidewall 166 of thebase member 152 and eachsecond arm 178 extends longitudinally along theouter surface 190 of asidewall 166. Thesecond arms 178 are each deflected downwardly, in an altitudinal direction, and are captured beneath atab 168 such that a resultant resilient biasing force is exerted by thebar 182 in a downward direction to clamp the reflector member 170 in place upon thebase member 152. Since thetabs 168 are angled outwardly from thesidewalls 166, theupper surface 192 of each tab is angled so as to urge thesecond arm 178 outwardly as the second arm is pushed downwardly to facilitate installation of theretainer 172. Removal of the retainer for disassembly of the reflector member 170 from thebase member 152 is achieved by pushing thesecond arms 178 downwardly and outwardly to release the arms from beneath thetabs 168 and out of engagement with the shoulders provided by the lower surface of the tabs. Thus, the reflector member 170 is readily replaced.

The above detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention is provided by way of example only. Various details of design and construction may be modified without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as folble from an oncoming vehicle on a roadway surface,

said pavement marker comprising:

a shell-like body of synthetic resin material, said shell-like body having an upper surface, a lower edge and at least one light-transmitting portion in-. cluding an obverse light receiving surface between said upper surface and said lower edge;

a filler material within said shelllike body for reinforcing said shell-like body against forces applied externally by contact with the oncoming vehicle;

a lower surface adapted to face the roadway surface;

and

a base plate including portions embedded within the filler material for affixing the base plate to said pavement marker coextensivewith essentially the entire lower surface and including lowermost surface portions establishing a basal support for the pavement marker.

2. The pavement marker ofclaim 1 wherein the base plate overlaps and is juxtaposed with the lower edge of the shell-like body.

3. The pavement marker of claim 2 wherein the lower edge of the shell-like body extends around the entire periphery of the lower surface and the base plate overlaps and is juxtaposed with the lower edge around said entire periphery.

4. The pavement marker of claim 2 wherein the lowermost surface portions of the base plate are coplanar and establish a planar basal support.

5. The pavement marker ofclaim 4 wherein the base plate includes an undulate cross-sectional configuration, said lowermost portions being located at the lowermost part of the undulate configuration and said embedded portions being located at the uppermost part of the undulate configuration.

6. The pavement marker of claim 7 wherein the base plate includes a plurality of apertures located at the uppermost and lowermost parts of the undulate configuration.

7. The pavement marker of claim 6 wherein the apertures located at the uppermost parts of the undulate configuration are larger than the apertures located at the lower most parts of the undulate configuration.

'8. A pavement marker assembly for establishing a marking visible from an oncoming vehicle on a roadway surface, said pavement marker assembly comprismg:

a base member of relatively high strength material, such as a metal, adapted to extendin a direction which will be parallel with the roadway surface when the base member engages the roadway surface;

said base member having a lower surface adapted to be affixed to the roadway surface, and an upper surface, said lower surface having an area sufficient to enable the base member to withstand contact with oncoming vehicles without failure or detachment from the roadway;

a reflector member including:

a shell-like body of synthetic resin material, said shell-like body having an upper surface, a lower edge and at least one light-transmitting portion including an obverse light receiving surface between said upper surface and said lower edge;

a filler material within said shell-like body for reinforcing said shell-likebody against forces applied externally by contact with the oncoming vehicles;

a lower surface adapted to face the roadway surface;

a base plate including portions embedded within the filler material for affixing the base plate to said pavement marker coextensive with essentially the entire lower surface and including lowermost surface portions establishing a basal support for the pavement marker; and

means for affixing said reflector member to the base member for selective removal and replacement of the reflector member without destruction of the base member.

9. The pavement marker assembly of claim 8 wherein the base plate overlaps and is juxtaposed with the lower edge of the shell-like body.

10. The pavement marker assembly of claim 9 wherein the lower edge of the shell-like body extends around the entire periphery of the lower surface and the base plate overlaps and is juxtaposed with the lower edgearound said entire periphery.

11. The pavement marker assembly of claim 9 wherein the lowermost surface portions of the base plate are coplanar and establish a planar basal support.

12. The-pavement marker assembly of claim 11 wherein the pase plate includes an undulate crosssectional configuration, said lowermost portions being located at the lowermost part of the undulate configuration and said embedded portions being located at the uppermost part of the undulate configuration.

13. The pavement marker assembly ofclaim 12 wherein the base plate includes a plurality of apertures located at the uppermost and lowermost parts of the undulate configuration.

14. The pavement marker assembly of claim 13 wherein the apertures located at the uppermost parts of the undulate configuration are larger than the apertures located at .the lowermost parts of the undulate configuration.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,790,293 Dated February 5, 1974 lnv n fl Sidney A. Heenan and Norbert Majewski It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 53, "riased" should read raised-- Column 6, line 21, "ech" should read -each Column 7, line 53, "enought" should read -enough- Claim 7,line 4, "lower most" should read -lowermost--Claim 12, line 2, "pase" should read --bases Signed and sealed this 21st daysof May 1971+.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD PLFLETGHER, IR C PIARSEELXLL DAWN AttestingOffioer Commissioner of Patents FORM Po-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376'P69 I Q ".5. GOVERNMENT PRIITHNG OFi'ICE Z I," 0-866-894,

Claims (14)

1. A pavement marker for establishing a marking visible from an oncoming vehicle on a roadway surface, said pavement marker comprising: a shell-like body of synthetic resin material, said shell-like body having an upper surface, a lower edge and at least one light-transmitting portion including an obverse light receiving surface between said upper surface and said lower edge; a filler material within said shell-like body for reinforcing said shell-like body against forces applied externally by contact with the oncoming vehicle; a lower surface adapted to face the roadway surface; and a base plate including portions embedded within the filler material for affixing the base plate to said pavement marker coextensive with essentially the entire lower surface and including lowermost surface portions establishing a basal support for the pavement marker.

2. The pavement marker of claim 1 wherein the base plate overlaps and is juxtaposed with the lower edge of the shell-like body.

3. The pavement marker of claim 2 wherein the lower edge of the shell-like body extends around the entire periphery of the lower surface and the base plate overlaps and is juxtaposed with the lower edge around said entire periphery.

4. The pavement marker of claim 2 wherein the lowermost surface portions of the base plate are coplanar and establish a planar basal support.

5. The pavement marker of claim 4 wherein the base plate includes an undulate cross-sectional configuration, said lowermost portions being located at the lowermost part of the undulate configuration and said embedded portions being located at the uppermost part of the undulate configuration.

6. The pavement marker of claim 7 wherein the base plate includes a plurality of apertures located at the uppermost and lowermost parts of the undulate configuration.

7. The pavement marker of claim 6 wherein the apertures located at the uppermost parts of the undulate configuration are larger than the apertures located at the lower most parts of the undulate configuration.

8. A pavement marker assembly for establishing a Marking visible from an oncoming vehicle on a roadway surface, said pavement marker assembly comprising: a base member of relatively high strength material, such as a metal, adapted to extend in a direction which will be parallel with the roadway surface when the base member engages the roadway surface; said base member having a lower surface adapted to be affixed to the roadway surface, and an upper surface, said lower surface having an area sufficient to enable the base member to withstand contact with oncoming vehicles without failure or detachment from the roadway; a reflector member including: a shell-like body of synthetic resin material, said shell-like body having an upper surface, a lower edge and at least one light-transmitting portion including an obverse light receiving surface between said upper surface and said lower edge; a filler material within said shell-like body for reinforcing said shell-like body against forces applied externally by contact with the oncoming vehicles; a lower surface adapted to face the roadway surface; a base plate including portions embedded within the filler material for affixing the base plate to said pavement marker coextensive with essentially the entire lower surface and including lowermost surface portions establishing a basal support for the pavement marker; and means for affixing said reflector member to the base member for selective removal and replacement of the reflector member without destruction of the base member.

9. The pavement marker assembly of claim 8 wherein the base plate overlaps and is juxtaposed with the lower edge of the shell-like body.

10. The pavement marker assembly of claim 9 wherein the lower edge of the shell-like body extends around the entire periphery of the lower surface and the base plate overlaps and is juxtaposed with the lower edge around said entire periphery.

11. The pavement marker assembly of claim 9 wherein the lowermost surface portions of the base plate are coplanar and establish a planar basal support.

12. The pavement marker assembly of claim 11 wherein the pase plate includes an undulate cross-sectional configuration, said lowermost portions being located at the lowermost part of the undulate configuration and said embedded portions being located at the uppermost part of the undulate configuration.

13. The pavement marker assembly of claim 12 wherein the base plate includes a plurality of apertures located at the uppermost and lowermost parts of the undulate configuration.

14. The pavement marker assembly of claim 13 wherein the apertures located at the uppermost parts of the undulate configuration are larger than the apertures located at the lowermost parts of the undulate configuration.

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