US3901614A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refractive spherical roadway marker
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-05-31
•
Granted: 1975-08-26
•
Expires: 1994-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A marker has a transparent spherical upper portion exposed above a surface and an inner conical reflecting surface divided into descrete sections of different colors so that reflected light from vehicle headlamps is passed, after refraction at the surface of the marker, back to the vehicle, to illuminate lane divisions and other road lines at night in which the marker and others like it are placed at intervals in such a manner as to vary the reflected signal as a function of the observer''s vehicle''s position vis-a-vis the marker, i.e. a color coded intelligence.
Inventors
- 👤 James L Overacker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:15
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/12; G02B5/126; E; E01; E01F; E01F9/00; E01F9/50; E01F9/553
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A roadway marker comprising a device of transparent material having a front and a back side and comprising: a convex upper refracting surface having a spherical radius over at least part of its front side; a substantially horizontal lower surface of smaller radius than the spherical radius of the upper surface; a surface bounding the refracting and the lower surfaces which is conical on at least the side opposite the side having a spherical radius; the conical surface having a light-reflecting treatment; the conical surface having an angle from the vertical and being of a width such that the treatment of its surface will reflect light refracted through the upper surface from a light source located between one minute of arc and approximately 25* of arc from the horizontal back to said source; and said transparent material being characterized by having decreasing hardness from its upper surface to its lower surface, thereby to provide a resilient base an impactresistant top portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
A roadway marker comprising a device of transparent material having a front and a back side and comprising: a convex upper refracting surface having a spherical radius over at least part of its front side; a substantially horizontal lower surface of smaller radius than the spherical radius of the upper surface; a surface bounding the refracting and the lower surfaces which is conical on at least the side opposite the side having a spherical radius; the conical surface having a light-reflecting treatment; the conical surface having an angle from the vertical and being of a width such that the treatment of its surface will reflect light refracted through the upper surface from a light source located between one minute of arc and approximately 25* of arc from the horizontal back to said source; and said transparent material being characterized by having decreasing hardness from its upper surface to its lower surface, thereby to provide a resilient base an impactresistant top portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A roadway marker as defined in claim 1, and further characterized by said transparent material being a high-impact acrylic plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A roadway marker as defined in claim 1, the focal plane of the refracing surface being between that surface and the opposite conical reflecting surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
185 words
A roadway marker comprising a device of transparent material having a front and a front and a back side and comprising: a convex upper refracting surface having a spherical radius over at least part of its front side; a substantially horizontal lower surface of smaller radius than the spherical radius of the upper surface; a surface bounding the refracting and the lower surfaces which is conical on at least the side opposite the side having a spherical radius; the conical surface having a light reflecting treatment; the conical surface having an angle from the vertical and being of a width such that the treatment on its surface will reflect light refracted through the upper surface from a light source located between one minute of arc and approximately 25* of arc from the horizontal back to said source; and said transparent material characterized by: an upper portion of high-impact clear plastic having a molecular structure and index of refraction, and a lower portion of flexible clear plastic having the same molecular structure and index of refraction as said upper part, thereby to provide a resilient base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
185 words
A roadway marker comprising a device of transparent material having a front and a front and a back side and comprising: a convex upper refracting surface having a spherical radius over at least part of its front side; a substantially horizontal lower surface of smaller radius than the spherical radius of the upper surface; a surface bounding the refracting and the lower surfaces which is conical on at least the side opposite the side having a spherical radius; the conical surface having a light reflecting treatment; the conical surface having an angle from the vertical and being of a width such that the treatment on its surface will reflect light refracted through the upper surface from a light source located between one minute of arc and approximately 25* of arc from the horizontal back to said source; and said transparent material characterized by: an upper portion of high-impact clear plastic having a molecular structure and index of refraction, and a lower portion of flexible clear plastic having the same molecular structure and index of refraction as said upper part, thereby to provide a resilient base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A roadway marker comprising a device of transparent material having a refracting surface extending above the roadway surface and a reflecting surface opposite said refracting surface and beneath the surface of the roadway, characterized by: said device having an integral resilient base portion through which incident and reflected light passes to absorb shocks of impact, as from snowplows; and said device having a hard, impact-resistant upper surface portion to resist abrasion and cracking from traffic loads thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A roadway marker comprising a device of transparent material having a refracting surface extending above the roadway surface and a reflecting surface opposite said refracting surface and beneath the surface of the roadway, characterized by: said device having an integral resilient base portion through which incident and reflected light passes to absorb shocks of impact, as from snowplows; and said device having a hard, impact-resistant upper surface portion to resist abrasion and cracking from traffic loads thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |