TRAFFIC DELINEATOR Technical Field The present invention relates-to a traffic delineator which is installed on a median divider or a guide rail of a roadway, a railing of a bridge, or the like to capture a driver's attention and prevent occurrence of an accident, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a traffic delineator which can absorb shock and thereby minimize damage thereof when a traveling car is brought into contact with it, and can allow only a damaged part to be easily replaced with new one and thereby accomplish economy.

Background Art Generally, in a traffic delineator, light from a head lamp of a traveling car is reflected by a reflector, for example, to a direction opposite to an incident direction.

Hence, as the reflected light is diffused, boundaries of a roadway are delineated or identified and a driver's eyes are guided to the boundaries, whereby careful driving is ensured.

Referring to FIGs. 1 and 2, a conventional traffic delineator 100 includes a reflector plate assembling section 110 and a pipe assembling section 130 which are integrally injection-molded with each other. The-reflector plate assembling section 110 has a support and reinforcement plate 150. Stepped portions 120 are projectedly formed adjacent to both side ends, respectively, of the support and reinforcement plate 150. Reflector plates 200 are fastened to the stepped portions 120, respectively. The pipe assembling section 130 is defined with a pipe fitting groove 140.

At this time, the reflector plates 200 are bonded using an adhesive or fused by an ultrasonic welding method to the

stepped portions 120 of the reflector plate assembling section 110.

The conventional traffic delineator 100 constructed as mentioned above is fitted around a pipe which is installed at a desired place on a median divider or a guide rail of a roadway, a railing of a bridge, or the like.

However, the conventional traffic delineator 100 is frequently scratched or bumped by a traveling car, etc., and, thereby, shock is applied to the traffic delineator 100.

Consequently, the traffic delineator 100 simply fastened to the pipe is likely to be damaged due to scratches or bump by the traveling car, etc.

Therefore, in the case that the reflector plate 200 is broken into pieces due to the bump by the traveling car or luminance thereof is deteriorated due to the scratches formed on an outer surface, since it is impossible to replace only the reflector plate 200, that is, to reuse the other parts, the traffic delineator 100 as a whole cannot but be replaced with new one, whereby waste of resources is caused.

Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a traffic delineator which absorbs shock and thereby minimizes damage thereof when a traveling car, etc. is brought into contact with the traffic delineator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a traffic delineator which returns to its original installation state after absorbing shock applied by a traveling car, etc., so as to continuously perform its function.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a traffic delineator which allows only a reflector

plate to be easily replaced with new one and thereby accomplish economy when a reflector plate is damaged or luminance of the reflector plate is deteriorated due to scratches or bump by a traveling car, etc.

In order to achieve the above objects, according to the present invention, there is provided a traffic delineator wherein a spring is interposed between a pipe assembling section and a pipe connecting member positioned below the pipe assembling section so that shock applied to the traffic delineator is absorbed while the traffic delineator is elastically bent owing to the presence of the spring, and reflector plates are detachably assembled to the traffic delineator.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a conventional traffic delineator; FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a traffic delineator in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a partially broken-away front view illustrating a traffic delineator in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating main parts of a variation of the traffic delineator shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a partially broken-away front view illustrating another variation of the traffic delineator shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating still another variation of the traffic delineator shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 10 is a plan view of a main part of the traffic delineator shown in FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a traffic delineator in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 11; and FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a variation of the traffic delineator shown in FIG. 11.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

First, a traffic delineator 100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention includes a reflector plate assembling section 110, a pipe assembling section 130, a pipe connecting member 160 and a spring 10.

The reflector plate assembling section 110 has stepped portions to which reflector plates 200 are respectively fastened. The pipe assembling section 130 is integrally formed with the reflector plate assembling section 110. The pipe connecting member 160 is positioned below the pipe assembling section 130 and defined with a pipe fitting groove 165. The spring 10 is interposed between the pipe assembling

section 130 and the pipe connecting member 160, to absorb shock applied to the traffic delineator 100.

At this time, in the present invention, as shown in FIGs. 3 and 4, a first insertion hole 11 is defined through the pipe assembling section 130, and upper and lower holes 10a and 10b are defined by upper and lower ends of the spring 10 at a center of the spring 10. Further, a second insertion hole 12 is defined through an upper end of the pipe connecting member 160. A first locking element 15 is inserted through the first insertion hole 11 and the upper hole 10a to lock the pipe assembling section 130 and the upper end of the spring 10 to each other, and a second locking element 15 is inserted through the second insertion hole 12 and the lower hole 10b to lock the pipe connecting member 160 and the lower end of the spring 10 to each other.

As described above, the reference numeral 165 represents the pipe fitting groove which is defined in the pipe connecting member 160, and 14 a locking nut.

The traffic delineator 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, is installed at a desired place on a median divider or a guide rail of a roadway, a railing of a bridge, or the like. That is to say, the traffic delineator 100 is installed in a manner such that a pipe (not shown), which is mounted at the desired place to the median divider or guide rail of the roadway, the railing of the bridge, or the like, is fitted into the pipe fitting groove 165 defined in the pipe connecting member 160.

If shock is applied to the traffic delineator 100 by a bump from a traveling car, etc., the traffic delineator 100 installed in the above-described way absorbs shock while being elastically bent in a direction of the applied shock.

In other words, as the spring 10 is elastically bent in the

direction of the applied shock, the traffic delineator 100 performs a function of absorbing shock.

When the external force is removed, the spring 10 which is elastically bent by the shock returns to its original state, and, according to this, the traffic delineator 100 which is coupled to the spring 10 also returns to its original position.

This returning movement of the traffic delineator 100 to its original position results from the fact that the spring 10 elastically bent by the shock returns to its original state by its elastic force.

In the case that the traffic delineator 100 is broken or damaged due to shock, functional degradation or intentional impairment, by unlocking the pipe assembling section 130 and the upper end of the spring 10 from each other and removing the first locking element 15 from the first insertion hole 11 and the upper hole 10a, only a broken or damaged part of the traffic delineator 100 need be replaced with new one, whereby the other parts excluding the broken or damaged part can be reused.

FIG. 5 is a partially broken-away front view illustrating a traffic delineator in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of FIG. 5. Referring to FIGs. 5 and 6, in this second embodiment of the present invention, a circular rounded groove 21 is defined on a lower end surface of the pipe assembling section 130, and a circular rounded projection 22 which is engaged in the circular rounded groove 21 is formed on an upper end surface of the pipe connecting member 160. A flexible wire 25 passes through a lower end of the pipe assembling section 130 and an upper end of the pipe connecting member 160 in a manner such that an upper end of the flexible wire 25 is grasped by the pipe assembling

section 130 and a lower end of the flexible wire 25 is biased downward by a spring 10'.

At this time, of course, it can be envisaged that a circular rounded groove 21 is defined on an upper end surface of the pipe connecting member 160, and a circular rounded projection 22 which is engaged in the circular rounded groove 21 is formed on a lower end surface of the pipe assembling section 130.

Also, in the present invention, in order to ensure that the traffic delineator 100 absorbs shock while being elastically bent in a direction of the applied shock and then effectively returns to its original position, the traffic delineator 100 can be constructed as described below.

Namely, in one variation as shown in FIG. 7, a cross- shaped position control projection 21a is formed on the lower end surface of the pipe assembling section 130 which defines the circular rounded groove 21, and a cross-shaped position control groove 22a in which the cross-shaped position control projection 21a can be engaged is defined on the upper end surface of the pipe connecting member 160 which forms the circular rounded projection 22 so that the cross-shaped position control projection 21a is engaged in the cross- shaped position control groove 22a when the pipe assembling section 130 returns to its original position after being moved on the pipe connecting member 160.

Also, in another variation as shown in FIG. 8, a pair of flexible wires 25 pass through the lower end of the pipe assembling section 130 and the upper end of the pipe connecting member 160 in a manner such that upper ends of the flexible wires 25 are grasped by the pipe assembling section 130 and lower ends of the flexible wires 25 are biased downward by a pair of springs 10', respectively.

Further, in still another variation as shown in FIGs. 9

and 10, an elliptical rounded groove 21'is defined on the lower end surface of the pipe assembling section 130, and an elliptical rounded projection 22'which is engaged in the elliptical rounded groove 21'is formed on the upper end surface of the pipe connecting member 160.

The reference numeral 27 represents an opening which is defined for allowing the flexible wire or wires 25 to be inserted into the pipe assembling section 130,26 a wire base which is fastened to the upper end of the flexible wire 25 to prevent the flexible wire 25 from being freed from the pipe assembling section 130,28 a bolt which is fastened to the lower end of the flexible wire 25,29 a nut which is threadedly coupled to the bolt 28 to hold a support plate for supporting the spring 10', and 21b and 22b bores which are respectively defined through the lower end of the pipe assembling section 130 and the upper end of the pipe connecting member 160 for allowing passage of the flexible wire 25 therethrough.

As described above, the traffic delineator 100 is installed at a desired place on a median divider or a guide rail of a roadway, a railing of a bridge, or the like. In this regard, hereafter an installing procedure of the traffic delineator 100 will be described in detail.

First, the pipe assembling section 130 is assembled with the pipe connecting member 160 in a manner such that the circular rounded projection 22 is engaged in the circular rounded groove 21.

At this time, the flexible wire 25 passes through the lower end of the pipe assembling section 130 which defines the circular rounded groove 21 and the upper end of the pipe connecting member 160 which forms the circular rounded projection 22. Inside the pipe connecting member 160, the spring 10t is positioned around the flexible wire 25, and

then, in a state wherein the support plate supports the spring 10', the nut 29 is threadedly coupled to the bolt 28 so that the spring 10'is prevented from being released.

Thereupon, by screwing or unscrewing the nut 29 on the bolt 28, elasticity of the spring 10'can be adequately adjusted.

In this state, a pipe (not shown), which is mounted at the desired place to the median divider or guide rail of the roadway, the railing of the bridge, or the like, is fitted into the pipe fitting groove 165 defined in the pipe connecting member 160.

If shock is applied to the traffic delineator 100 by external force produced upon bump of a traveling car, etc., the traffic delineator 100 installed in the above-described way absorbs shock while being elastically bent in a direction of the applied shock. In other words, as the pipe assembling section 130 elastically pulls the flexible wire 25 in the direction of the applied shock while compressing the spring 10', the traffic delineator 100 performs a function of absorbing shock.

When the external force is removed, the spring 10 which is elastically bent by the shock returns to its original state.

This returning movement of the traffic delineator 100 to its original position results from the fact that the spring 10', which is compressed when the flexible wire 25 is pulled, returns to its original state by its elastic force.

At this time, due to the fact that the circular rounded projection 22 of the pipe connecting member 160 is engaged in the circular rounded groove 21 of the pipe assembling section 130, when the traffic delineator 100 returns to its original position, the pipe assembling section 130 smoothly slides on the pipe connecting member 160 while not fluctuating.

In particular, after the pipe assembling section 130 is

pushed in a direction of the applied shock, it smoothly returns to its original position to continuously perform a function of guiding a driver's eyes to a boundary of a roadway.

In FIG. 8, by the fact that the pair of flexible wires 25 pass through the lower end of the pipe assembling section 130 and the upper end of the pipe connecting member 160 at a side-by-side relationship with each other and the lower ends of the flexible wires 25 are biased downward by the pair of springs 10', respectively, the pipe assembling section 130 is elastically supported at two points.

As a consequence, in the case that shock is applied to a side of the traffic delineator 100, as the traffic delineator 100 is bent in a direction of the applied shock, only one flexible wire 25 which is close to a point where the shock is applied, is pulled while compressing the corresponding spring 10'. Then, if external force is removed, the traffic delineator 100 returns to its original position due to elastic force of the compressed spring 10'.

Therefore, due to the presence of the pair of elastic springs 10', even when shock is partly applied to the traffic delineator 100, the traffic delineator 100 absorbs shock while being elastically bent sideward in a direction of the applied shock, and then, returns to its original position by elastic force of the compressed spring 10'.

Further, in FIG. 7, when the pipe assembling section 130 of the traffic delineator 100 returns to its original position by elastic force of the compressed spring 10'after being pushed in a direction of the applied shock, as the cross-shaped position control projection 21a which is formed on the lower end surface of the pipe assembling section 130 is guided to be engaged in the cross-shaped position control groove 22a which is defined on the upper end surface of the

pipe connecting member 160, the pipe assembling section 130 can stably return to its original position.

Moreover, in FIGs. 9 and 10, due to the fact that the elliptical rounded groove 21'is defined on the lower end surface of the pipe assembling section 130, and the elliptical rounded projection 22'which is engaged in the elliptical rounded groove 21'is formed on the upper end surface of the pipe connecting member 160, when the traffic delineator 100 is bent in a direction of the applied shock, the pipe assembling section 130 is guided in a manner such that it is pushed in a minor axis direction of the elliptical rounded projection 22'of the pipe connecting member 160.

That is to say, when shock is applied to the traffic delineator 100, the pipe assembling section 21 is guided to be pushed only in a forward and rearward direction. If external force is removed and the traffic delineator 100 returns to its original position by elastic force of the compressed spring 10', since the traffic delineator 100 is guided only in the forward and rearward direction which correspond to the minor axis direction, stable return of the traffic delineator 100 is ensured.

FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a traffic delineator in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 11. Referring to FIGs. 11 and 12, in this third embodiment of the present invention, the reflector plates 200 are detachably assembled to the support and reinforcement plate 150 so that they can be easily replaced with new ones.

To this end, the reflector plates 200 have engaging protrusions 31 and 32 which are formed on inner surfaces thereof so that the engaging protrusions 31 and 32 of the respective reflector plates 200 are alternately positioned along a circumferential direction. Engaging protrusions 31

and 32 are formed, at free ends thereof, with engaging lips 31a and 32a, respectively. The support and reinforcement plate 150 which is formed at the middle portion of the reflector plate assembling section 110 is defined with holes 17 through which the engaging protrusions 31 and 32 of the reflector plates 200 are fitted to securely maintain the reflector plates 200 with respect to the support and reinforcement plate 150.

A person skilled in the art will readily recognize that a layout and the number of the engaging protrusions 31 and 32 of the reflector plates 200 can be changed in a variety of ways.

According to this third embodiment of the present invention, in the case that all of the reflector plates 200 or a part of the reflector plate 200 is broken or damaged due to shock, functional degradation or intentional impairment, or luminance of the reflector plate 200 is deteriorated due to the scratches formed on an outer surface thereof, it is possible to replace the corresponding reflector plate (s) 200 with new one (s).

In other words, by pulling the reflector plates 200 outward from the reflector plate assembling section 110, as the engaging protrusions 31 and 32 of the reflector plates 200, which are fitted through the holes 17 defined in the support and reinforcement plate 150, are disengaged from the holes 17, the reflector plates 200 are detached from the reflector plate assembling section 110.

In this state, by attaching new reflector plates 200 to both sides of the support and reinforcement plate 150, it is possible to reuse parts of the traffic delineator 100.

At this time, because the engaging protrusions 31 and 32 of the reflector plates 200 are forcibly fitted through the holes 17 defined in the support and reinforcement plate

150, the reflector plates 200 are securely attached to the support and reinforcement plate 150.

Consequently, due to the fact that the reflector plates 200 can be detached from the reflector plate assembling section 110 by pulling them outward and then replaced with new ones, economy is accomplished.

Also, in one variation as shown in FIG. 13, the reflector plate assembling section 110 is formed with a side wall 115 at one side of the support and reinforcement plate 150, and the reflector plate 200 is detachably assembled to the support and reinforcement plate 150 from the other side.

The reflector plate 200 has a plurality of engaging protrusions 31 which are formed on an inner surface thereof so that the engaging protrusions 31 are positioned along a circumferential direction. Each engaging protrusion 31 is formed at a free end thereof with an engaging lip 31a. The support and reinforcement plate 150 of the reflector plate assembling section 110 is defined with holes 17 through which the engaging protrusions 31 of the reflector plate 200 are fitted to securely maintain the reflector plate 200 with respect to the support and reinforcement plate 150.

When comparing this variation with the third embodiment of the present invention, the reflector plate assembling section 110 is provided with the reflector plate 200 only at a front part thereof. Also in this variation, by disengaging the engaging protrusions 31 of the reflector plate 200 from the holes 17 defined in the support and reinforcement plate 150, the reflector plate 200 can be easily replaced with new one.

Industrial Applicability As a result, the traffic delineator according to the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, provides

advantages in that, since shock applied by a traveling car, etc. is absorbed while the traffic delineator is elastically bent owing to the presence of a spring, damage to the traffic delineator is minimized.

Also, if external force by a traveling car, etc. is removed, because the traffic delineator returns to its original installation state to guide a driver's eyes to a boundary of a roadway, the traffic delineator can continuously perform its function, whereby operational reliability of the traffic delineator is improved.

Moreover, when a reflector plate is damaged or luminance of the reflector plate is deteriorated due to scratches or bump by a traveling car, etc., only the reflector plate or a damaged part can be easily replaced with new one, whereby economy is accomplished.