Roadway lane delineator having an elastomeric reflective portion

Claim 2

A roadway marker comprising 1. a base portion adapted to attach the marker to a roadway, and 2. an elastomeric reflector portion carried by the base portion and elastically deformable when engaged by a vehicle passing over the marker, the reflector portion including elastically deformable retro-reflective structure that forms an exterior surface of the reflector portion, said retroreflective structure comprising discrete retro-reflective elements and a body of elastomeric material in which the retroreflective elements are supported whereby as the retroreflective structure is stretched, the distance between the centers of adjacent retroreflective elements increases until the stretching force is removed, whereupon the retro-reflective structure returns to its original shape, at least part of said retro-reflective structure being located on the reflector portion such that when the marker is in place on a roadway, said part of the retro-reflective structure (a) is in position to retro-reflect light to vehicles traveling toward the marker, (b) is protected from contact with the wheels of vehicles traveling on the roadway by structure of the marker adjacent said retro-reflective structure, and (c) undergoes elastic movement during deformation of the reflector portion whereby the retroreflective structure is cleaned of road dust and the like.

Claim 3

an elastomeric reflector portion carried by the base portion and elastically deformable when engaged by a vehicle passing over the marker, the reflector portion including elastically deformable retro-reflective structure that forms an exterior surface of the reflector portion, said retro-reflective structure comprising discrete retro-reflective elements and a body of elastomeric material in which the retro-reflective elements are supported whereby as the retro-reflective structure is stretched, the distance between the centers of adjacent retroreflective elements increases until the stretching force is removed, whereupon the retro-reflective structure returns to its original shape, at least part of said retro-reflective structure being located on the reflector portion such that when the marker is in place on a roadway, said part of the retro-reflective structure (a) is in position to retro-reflect light to vehicles traveling toward the marker, (b) is protected from contact with the wheels of vehicles traveling on the roadway by structure of the marker adjacent said retro-reflective structure, and (c) undergoes elastic movement during deformation of the reflector portion whereby the retro-reflective structure is cleaned of road dust and the like.

Claim 4

an elastomeric reflector portion carried by the base portion and elastically deformable when engaged by a vehicle passing over the marker, the reflector portion including elastically deformable retro-reflective structure that forms an exterior surface of the reflector portion, said retro-reflective structure comprising discrete retro-reflective elements and a body of elastomeric material in which the retro-reflective elements are supported whereby as the retro-reflective structure is stretched, the distance between the centers of adjacent retroreflective elements increases until the stretching force is removed, whereupon the retro-reflective structure returns to its original shape, at least part of said retro-reflective structure being located on the reflector portion such that when the marker is in place on a roadway, said part of the retro-reflective structure (a) is in position to retro-reflect light to vehicles traveling toward the marker, (b) is protected from contact with the wheels of vehicles traveling on the roadway by structure of the marker adjacent said retro-reflective structure, and (c) undergoes elastic movement during deformation of the reflector portion whereby the retro-reflective structure is cleaned of road dust and the like.

Claim 5

A marker of claim 1 in which the base portion and reflector portion are formed integrally of elastomer.

Claim 6

an elastomeric reflector portion that is formed integrally with the base portion and is elastically deformable when engaged by a vehicle passing over thE marker, the reflector portion

Claim 7

an elastomeric reflector portion that is formed integrally with the base portion and is elastically deformable when engaged by a vehicle passing over thE marker, the reflector portion

Claim 8

including elastically deformable retro-reflective structure that forms an exterior surface of the panel-like member, at least portions of said retro-reflective structure being depressed to a level below the level of adjacent portions of the exterior surface of the panel-like member, and said retro-reflective structure comprising discrete transparent glass microspheres, a sheet of elastomeric material in which the glass microspheres are partially embedded, and a base elastomeric part of the panel-like member to which the sheet of elastomeric material is adhered, whereby as the retro-reflective structure is stretched, the distance between the centers of adjacent glass microspheres increases until the stretching force is removed, whereupon the retro-reflective structure returns with force to its original shape, at least part of said retro-reflective structure being located on the reflector portion such that when the marker is in place on a roadway, said part of the retro-reflective structure (a) is in position to retro-reflect light to vehicles traveling toward the marker when the marker is in place on the roadway, (b) is protected from contact with the wheels of vehicles traveling on the roadway by structure of the marker that forms said adjacent portions of the exterior surface of the panel-like member, and (c) undergoes elastic movement during movement of the panel-like member whereby the retro-reflective structure is cleaned of road dust and the like.

Claim 9

including elastically deformable retro-reflective structure that forms an exterior surface of the panel-like member, at least portions of said retro-reflective structure being depressed to a level below the level of adjacent portions of the exterior surface of the panel-like member, and said retro-reflective structure comprising discrete transparent glass microspheres, a sheet of elastomeric material in which the glass microspheres are partially embedded, and a base elastomeric part of the panel-like member to which the sheet of elastomeric material is adhered, whereby as the retro-reflective structure is stretched, the distance between the centers of adjacent glass microspheres increases until the stretching force is removed, whereupon the retro-reflective structure returns with force to its original shape, at least part of said retro-reflective structure being located on the reflector portion such that when the marker is in place on a roadway, said part of the retro-reflective structure (a) is in position to retro-reflect light to vehicles traveling toward the marker when the marker is in place on the roadway, (b) is protected from contact with the wheels of vehicles traveling on the roadway by structure of the marker that forms said adjacent portions of the exterior surface of the panel-like member, and (c) undergoes elastic movement during movement of the panel-like member whereby the retro-reflective structure is cleaned of road dust and the like.

Claim 10

A marker of claim 1 in which the surface of the retro-reflective structure is irregular so as to protect part of the surface from contact by vehicles traveling on the roadway.

Claim 11

A marker of claim 1 in which the retro-reflective structure comprises a monolayer of transparent glass microspheres partially embedded in the reflector portion and covered over their embedded surfaces with a reflective material.

Claim 12

A marker of claim 1 in which the retro-reflective structure comprises an elastomeric support sheet and a monolayer of transparent glass microspheres partially embedded in one side of the support sheet and covered over their embedded surfaces with reflective material, and the support sheet is adhered to the reflector portion.

Claim 13

In combination, A. a roadway, and B. a roadway marker of claim 1 attached to a recessed portion of the roadway, such that the deformation of the reflector portion moves substantially all of the reflector portion into the recessed portion.

Claim 14

A roadway marker comprising

Claim 15

A roadway marker comprising

Claim 16

In combination, A. a roadway, and B. a roadway marker of claim 7 attached to a recessed portion of the roadway.