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Road marker with reverse cupsRelated Patent Categories: Road Structure, Process, Or Apparatus, Traffic Director, Vibration Inducing Member (e.g., Road Stud, Speed Bump), Including ReflectorRoad marker with reverse cups description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060280555, Road marker with reverse cups. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/688,616 filed Jun. 8, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention in general relates to road markers, and in particular to road markers for the delineation of lanes on roads. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Road markers for the delineation of lanes on roads are extensively used. Road markers typically include a plastic shell having a pair of opposed angled retroreflective surfaces. When the light from an oncoming vehicle hits the retroreflective surface, it is reflected in an array of cube comers or fresnel-type lenses to produce a bright reflective appearance on the surface of the marker. This bright surface delineates the lane at night and assists the driver in maintaining proper alignment within a lane. [0004] Typically the road markers that have been produced are a plastic shell which is filled with a potting material to provide strength and weight to the marker. However, the potting process requires additional machinery and the road markers are relatively expensive to produce. Accordingly, there have been a number of attempts to produce a satisfactory solid marker; however, solid markers typically have large vertically extending passages from the bottom which the glue descends to hold the marker down. These markers have not been satisfactory in strength or adhesive to the road. Accordingly, a solid shell unpotted marker has been developed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] An improved road marker with a one piece shell and recesses containing elongated members with an undercut relief is provided. The road marker contains a retroreflective lens and a bottom surface with a plurality of recesses that protrude into the shell. The cross section of the recesses can be in the shape of a circle, ellipse, triangle or any shaped polygon, and said cross section can vary as a function of the depth of the recess into the shell and location the of said recess on the bottom surface. [0006] Each recess can contain an elongated member, said member having an undercut relief that affords a rough surface. The cross section of the elongated member in an axial direction can be in the shape of a circle, ellipse, triangle or any shaped polygon. The undercut relief can be in the form of threads, ridges or any type of indentation into the elongated member that provides a rough surface. When the elongated member is permanently attached to the road marker shell, the undercut relief thereon affords increased adherence between the road marker shell and any type of glue or adhesive used to attach the road marker to a road surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0007] FIG. 1 shows a top exploded perspective view of a road marker in accordance with the present invention; [0008] FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; [0009] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of the present invention; [0010] FIG. 4 shows a bottom perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention; and [0011] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0012] In accordance with the present invention, a road marker is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1. The road marker 10 is comprised of a shell 100 with a top surface 110 and a bottom surface 120. The shell 100 also has at least one end surface 130 and at least one angled side surface 140. For illustrative purposes only, the end surface 130 shown in FIG. 1 is angled, i.e. the end surface 130 is not normal to the bottom surface 120. In the alternative, the end surface 130 is normal to the bottom surface 120. Rising slightly above top surface 110 is a brow 150. The brow 150 runs the length of recess 160 in order to prevent an automobile tire from contacting a retroreflective lens 200. The retroreflective lens 200 fits within the recess 160 in order to afford a reflective road marker. [0013] The shell 100 is made from any rigid moldable material such as acrylic plastic or polyurethane and is manufactured as one piece. The retroreflective lens 200 is trapezoidal in shape. As shown in FIG. 1, the road marker of the present embodiment contains two retroreflective lenses 200. However, the road marker disclosed in the present invention can contain only one, or more than two retroreflective lenses 200. The retroreflective lens 200 has a smooth outer surface and cube corners formed on the interior surface. The cube corners may be metalized as is known in the industry to improve reflectivity. [0014] Ribs 210 are formed to extend at an angle across the back of the retroreflective lens 200 in order to provide strength. In addition, ribs 210 physically contact beads 162 in complementary recess 160 when said lens 200 is placed within said recess 160. The physical contact between ribs 210 and beads 162 enhances the ultrasonic welding of said lens 200 to shell 100 when such method is used to permanently affix the lens to the shell. In addition to ultrasonic welding, retroreflective lens 200 is permanently affixed into complementary recess 160 of shell 100 using any satisfactory manner, illustratively including the use of adhesives. [0015] A perspective view of the bottom of shell 100 for a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. A series of recesses 300 extend from the bottom surface 120 into the interior of shell 100. The recesses 300 shown in FIG. 2 have a cross section in the shape of a square. In the alternative, the cross section of recesses 300 can be a circle, an ellipse, a triangle or any other polygon. Furthermore, the shape of the recesses can vary as a function of depth into the shell 100 and location on the bottom surface 120. [0016] In general, the depth of a particular recess 300 is dependent on the location of said recess with respect to the shell bottom surface 120. For example, except for the recesses 300 closest to the edge of bottom surface 120, the depth of recesses 300 in the first set of rows 400 is less than the depth of recesses 300 in the second set of rows 500. This difference in depth among the recesses 300 is due rows 400 being closer in proximity to the edges of bottom surface 120. [0017] The present invention affords a depth for the recesses 300 in the first set of rows 400 ranging from 0 to 75 percent of the thickness of the shell 100. For the purposes of the present invention, the thickness of the shell is defined as the normal distance between the top surface 110 and the bottom surface 120. More preferably, the depth of the recesses 300 in the first set of rows 400 ranges from 10 to 60 percent of the total thickness of shell 100. Even more preferred, the depth of the recesses 300 in the first set of rows 400 ranges from 15 to 55 percent of the total thickness of shell 100. Regarding the second set of rows 500, preferably the depth of the recesses 300 ranges from 30 to 90 percent of the thickness of the shell 100. More preferably, the depth of the recesses 300 in the second set of rows 500 ranges from 45 to 85 percent of the thickness of shell 100. Even more preferred, the depth of the recesses 300 in the second rows 500 ranges from 60 to 80 percent of the thickness of shell 100. Thus for a typical shell 100 having a thickness of 0.625 inches between the top surface 110 and bottom surface 120, recesses 300 in the first set of rows 400 have a depth ranging from 0.125 to 0.313 inches, and recesses 300 in the second set of rows 500, excluding the recesses 300 adjacent to the edge of bottom surface 120, have a depth ranging from 0.375 to 0.500 inches. [0018] Within a recess 300, an elongated member 340 is located. In the alternative, a recess 300 does not have an elongated member 340 located therein. Elongated member 340 is comprised of a base 344 and a protrusion member 346. In the alternative, elongated member 340 consists of a protrusion member 346 with a base 344 not present. The protrusion member 346 has an undercut relief 342 thereon. The undercut relief 342 can be afforded as threads, ridges or any type of indentation on extension member 346 such that a rough surface results. The manufacture of the one piece shell 100 with the undercut relief 342 on elongated member 340 can be afforded using CUMSA Tulip and Double Ejector tooling from the PCS Company located at 34488 Doreka Drive, Fraser, Mich. 48026. The undercut relief 342 affords for improved adherence between shell 100 and any type of glue or adhesive used to attached the road marker 10 to a road surface. As shown in FIG. 2, the elongated members 340 extend in an axial direction normal to the bottom surface 120. In the alternative, the elongated members 340 extend in an axial direction not normal to the bottom surface 120. Also, the axial length of elongated members 340 varies as a function of the depth of recess 300 wherein said member is located. Continue reading about Road marker with reverse cups... Full patent description for Road marker with reverse cups Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Road marker with reverse cups patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Road marker with reverse cups or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Metal/plastic insert molded sill plate fastener Next Patent Application: Device for stabilizing the engine inlet flow in static tests of engines Industry Class: Road structure, process, or apparatus ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Road marker with reverse cups patent info. 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