US3520235A - Collapsible road marker - Google Patents

Description

Jufiy i, 1% J. PALAZZOLO ET 3,520,235

COLLAPSIBLE ROAD MARKER Filed March. 12, 1969 LL INVENTORS m J4cK P41422010 moms FAMA if e.

United States Patent 3,520,235 COLLAPSIBLE ROAD MARKER Jack Palazzolo, -35 50th Ave. 11101, and Thomas Fama, 23-02 28th Ave. 11102, both of Long Island City, NY.

Filed Mar. 12, 1969, Ser. No. 806,393 Int. Cl. E01c 23/16 U.S. Cl. 94-1.5 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible road marker adapted to be stored in the trunk of a vehicle when not in use. It can be readily assembled into the shape of a vertical truncated pentahedron brightly colored and luminous when illuminated in the dark which is disposed adjacent the vehicle, when broken down to warn other motorists and prevent accidents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The item invented is a simple, collapsible highway marker similar to those rigid, cone-shaped markers used by traffic departments and highway repair crews to form tratfic lanes or to indicate to the motorist that he should swing into another lane. The big advantage to these markers is that the marker is collapsible and can be used by individual motorists to warn oncoming trafiic of his breakdown. Unlike flashing lights or flares, these markers need no batteries, are safe and can be used many times. The marker can be colored so that it can be seen easily during the day, can be eaesily seen by a motorist at night when his headlights beam falls on the object.

The collapsible marker is easy for the individual to put together. It consists of a base, a two-piece rod and a cover which makes up most of the mass of the item. The rod, when the marker is collapsed, can be stored in the base. The two pieces can be screwed together to make the rod, slipped into the cover and placed into position in the base. The marker can be just as easily collapsed and will take very little storage space when it is.

The material to be used can be made of plastic or of other inexpensive but fairly durable material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawingsi FIG. 1 is a side view of our invention as assembled;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of our invention as assembled;

'FIG. 4 is a detail view of base and rod as assembled;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of base and rod in stored position;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the support rod;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, a flat square base plate 10 has a top surface with a central circular recess 12 and a recessed bottom surface 14 with clips 16.

Rod sections 18, and 20 can be stored detachably in clips 16. In use, the flat end 22 of section 20 rests in recess 12 with its oppositely disposed axially extending finger 36 fitting into axial recess 24 of section 18.

A hollow truncated pentahedron 26 open at both ends is formed of plastic rubber or the like, is brightly colored (for example, orange, opaque) and is luminous when illuminated, as for example by headlights, in the dark.

The larger end of pentahedron 26 snap-fits over base plate 10 with the sections 18 and 20 extending upward therein.

The smaller top end of pentahedron 26 is a lock having a base member 28 with a central hole and a thin plate 30 with an aligned central hole through which knob 32 on the top of section 18 extends. Screws or pins 34 permit plate 30 to be pivoted manually to detachably lock the structure in place.

While we have described our invention with particular reference to the drawings such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention what is asserted as new is:

1. A collapsible road marker comprising:

a fiat square horizontal base plate having rod supporting means;

a rod adapted to be supported vertically at its bottom end by said plate means; and

a hollow truncated pentahedron open at both ends, the

larger end of said pentahedron being adapted to be detachably secured to said plate; and

additional means disposed in the other end of said pentahedron to engage said rod adjacent its other end.

2. A marker as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plate means is a centrally disposed recess in the top surface of the plate.

3. A marker as set forth in claim 2 wherein said additional means includes a lock.

4. A marker as set forth in claim 3 wherein the bottom silirface of said plate is recessed and carries rod storing c ips.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS NILE C. BYERS, 111.,

US. Cl. X.R.

Primary Examiner

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