FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to portable roadway wanting devices which can be placed in the flow of traffic to provide a physical means of speed, reduction, and in particular to speed bump discs which can be easily deployed and removed without the need for mechanical attachment or chemical adherence to the pavement

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002j The primary function of temporary traffic control is to provide for the safe and efficient movement of vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians through or around temporary traffic control stones, while reasonably protecting workers and equipment. Construction zones require slower speeds and often feature orange barrels or orange cones with lane closures in an attempt to decrease the exposure of the construction crew to moving traffic. Utility work zones are typically unplanned and shorter in duration than construction zones, and present a different set of risks for traffic control. Utility work often requires the intrusion of equipment or the crew’s van on the roadway, shoulder and/or within the right-of-way of existing roads and highways. School zones can be unpredictable due to the presence of children, and are almost always accompanied by signs and/or flashing lights telling drivers to slow down. [0003] Nevertheless, many drivers have become immune to warning signs and orange cones, such that road crews must often install speed bumps or rumble strips in temporary work zones and other roadway control locations to improve driver compliance. Most current speed humps are generally elongated, bulky, and heavy, and require at least two crew members and/or specialized equipment to place them.. They are not easy to deploy and remove, and can take up valuable storage space in the work crew’s van or truck. Circular speed bumps, or discs, are also known, and while smaller and easier to store, they can be flipped around by the passing traffic and become unstable projectiles. Consequently, speed bump discs must typically be anchored to the pavement via either mechanical means (anchors/fasteners) or chemical means (adhering compound). Removal of anchored speed bump discs can often damage the pavement[

[0004] In light of the above, it would be beneficial to provide an improved speed bump disc which can effectively reduce traffic speed and improve worker safety in. temporary work zones. It would also be beneficial if the improved speed bump disc is easy to deploy as an array of discs, and can be safely deployed and removed from die road by a single person without causing damage to the pavement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention provides a portable speed bump disc that can be easily deployed and removed from the roadway to control the speed of traffic. The disc preferably does not require mechanical and/or chemical attachment to the pavement, and a plurality of discs can be deployed in an array to quickly provide traffic speed reduction and reduce the risk of injury for road crew personnel.

[0006] A first aspect of the invention provides a portable speed bump disc for controlling the speed of traffic in work zones, the disc comprising a unitary body, the unitary body including: (a) a top surface; and (b) a. substantially circular base including an undersurface for engaging the pavement of a roadway, wherein th e undersurface and the top surface ate substantially fiat or horizontal as the disc is viewed from the side, and wherein the unitary body is convex in shape between the base and the top surface.

[0007] A second aspect of the invention provides a portable speed bump disc for controlling the speed of traffic in work zones, the disc comprising: (a) an upper portion having a substantially flat top surface for interfacing with the tires of passing vehicles; and (b) a substantially circular base having an undersurface for engaging the roadway, wherein the undersurface includes a hollow portion at its center for stabilizing the disc during use, wherein and the upper portion and the base are formed as a unitary body, and wherein the upper portion projects upward from the base in a convex manner.

[0008] A third aspect of the invention provides a two-piece, portable speed bump disc for quickly deploying and removing from a roadway to control the speed of traffic, the disc comprising: (a) an upper portion comprising a body, the body including a top side for interfacing with passing vehicles, and an underside including a circular hollow and at least one cup; and (b) a lower portion reversibly connectable to the upper portion, the lower portion including a base, the base including a substantially fiat bottom surface for engaging the roadway, and a top surface, wherein the top surface of the base is reversibly connectable to the underside of the body, the top surface including a circular raised, section projecting upwardly from the base .for insertion into the circular hollow, and at least one peg projecting upwardly from the raised section for insertion into the at least one cup. [0009] The nature and advantages of the present invention will be more fu lly appreciated after reviewing the accompanying drawings, detailed, description, and. claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0011} FIGS. 1A-1E2 illustrate various views of one embodiment of a speed bump disc according to the present invention;

[0012] FIGS, 2A-2D illustrate various views of an alternative embodiment of a speed bump disc according to the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a speed bump disc according to the present invention;

[0014] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate views of another embodiment of a speed bump disc- according to the present invention;

[0015] FIGS, 5A--5C illustrate views of the lower portion of the disc of FIGS. 4A--4C;

[0016] FIGS. 6A -6C illustrate another embodiment of a speed bump disc according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE IN VENTION

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1A-1E2, a preferred, embodiment of a circular roadway warning device is illustrated in the form of portable speed bump disc 10 which does not. have to be anchored to the pavement. Each disc 10 can be formed as a unitary body 16 having a base 12 and a top surface 13. The unitary body 16 as viewed from the side is convex and rounded, while the top surface 13 and the base 12 are horizontal or flat (see FIGS. 1C, 1 D). The base 12 is substantially circular as viewed from, the top, and the top surface 13 of the disc, like the base 12, also is substantially circular (though smaller in diameter) as viewed from the top (see FIG. 1B). The base 12 has an undersurface 14 for engaging the roadway or otherwise interfacing with the pavement. A handle 21 is typically incorporated into the unitary body 16 for carrying, deploying, and retrieving each, disc 10 onto and off of the roadway.

[0018] The curved unitary body 16 including its fiat or horizontal top surface 13 is intended to interface with the tires of passing vehicles. The top surface 13 can include a. thin, reflective orange or yellow circular sheet 17 attached thereto to promote visibility. The unitary body 16 can also include a side wall 15 which rises from the base 12 and then curves towards the top surface 13 in a convex or parabolic manner, as best seen in FIGS. 1C and ID. The horizontal/flat undersurface 14 can include a groove pattern 40 which serves to resist significant movement of the disc 10 along the pavement during use, and the center of the undersurface 14 can also include a hollow portion 20 (see. e.g., FIGS. 1D, 1E.1, 1 E2) which can serve to stabilize and balance the weight of the disc as it sits on the pavement.

[0019] The hollow portion 20 can provide at least the following functions to the disc in order to reduce movement of the disc on the pavement when contacted by the wheels of a passing vehicle: 1) the hollow' portion 20 reduces the amount of surface area contacting the pavement; this decreased contact surface area can effectively increase the downward pressure imparted by the passing vehicle and thus increase the amount of friction between the bottom surface of the disc and the pavement surface; and 2) the hollow portion 20 can allow flexure of the disc under the weight of the passing vehicle, which can provide absorption of the energy of impact imposed by the passing vehicle, keeping the disc in place on the pavement. The hollow portion 20 is typically between about 3 inches and 6 inches in diameter and between about 0.5 inches and 1.0 inches in depth, and preferably about 4 inches in diameter and 0.85 inches in depth.

[0020] The disc 10 is preferably manufactured so that the combination of tbe disc’s weight, the footprint/diameter of the base 12, the friction created by the groove pattern 40 on the undersurface 14, and the increased friction and flexibility provided by the hollow portion 20 can resist significant movement of the disc during use. Further, the strength of the top surface 13 and the body portion 16 which are in contact with the passing tires should be able to resist the downward, compressive force of the vehicles.

[0021] .Each disc 10 is preferably small and light in weight as compared to conventional elongated rumble strips or speed bumps, and intended to be quickly grasped by the handle 2.1 by a single user. The discs do not require mechanical and/or chemical attachment, to the pavement. The disc illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1E2 is intended to be made of a single, unitary, one-piece body construction having a substantially similar density throughout, In a preferred embodiment, each disc can be made of a polymeric material that is suitably abrasion resistant, high strength, and weather resistant. For example, each disc can be made of a styrene-butadiene rubber elastomer and bonded together with a polyurethane bonding agent, formed within an aluminum mold using a silicone-based mold release compound. The discs can also be manufactured from a recycled crumb rubber material or other suitable rubber, vinyl, or neoprene elastomer.

[0022] Placement of the discs requires only a moment in the traffic area to set them in place, and removal requires only picking them up, since no mechanical and/or chemical attachment/detachment actions are required. As a non-limiting example, a plurality of the discs can be placed in the traffic lane to be controlled with their wide-based sides down and in a staggered arrangement, so that at least one tire of each passing vehicle encounters the top surface of at least one of the discs over a certain distance. When the crew is finished with their work, the discs can be easily picked up and removed from the roadway and stored on a rack and/or in a vehicle when not in use.

[0023] When multiple discs are arranged in a staggered array during use, the number of arrays and the array’s size and specific placement within the traffic lane can be different within each work zone, depending upon the length of the work zone, the amount of speed reduction desired, and width of the work zone or traffic lane. This variability in placement allows for adjustments to be made to the pattern to assure that each passing vehicle encounters the discs. If safety requires, a wider area between discs can be created so that motorcycles and bicycles can safely pass at a reduced speed without encountering a disc. Providing such a quickly deployable physical means to reduce traffic speeds in short-term work zones can improve safety as well as the efficiency of the road crews.

[0024] Multiple discs can be housed (and sold) together in a holder or rack, for example in units of 4 or 8, and can be quickly deployed and removed from the roadway by a single worker without the need for additional lifting or carrying help. Each disc can weigh between about 4lbs and about 8 lbs., preferably about 6 lbs. The light weight of the discs allows for ease of use, and also can keep units of 4 of the discs under a 40 lb. “heavy weight” limit for crew personnel lifting and for shipping purposes. The base 12 typically has a radius of between about 4 inches and about 9 inches, or a diameter between about 8 inches and about 18 inches, more preferably about 12 inches. Each disc can stand between about one- half inch and 3 inches high (e.g., measured from the flat base 12 to the flat top 13, see FIG. 1D), and preferably about 2 inches high. The height may be regulated by local and/or international regulations .

[0025] The thin, reflective (typically orange or yellow circular) sheet 17 which can be attached to the flat top surface 13 can have a radius of between about 2 inches and about 5 inches, preferably of about 3 inches, and can be made of a vinyl polymer with crystals Included for reflectivity. Alternatively, an LED light can be embedded in the sheet 17, or in the flat, top surface 13, and a self-adhesive reflective tape can be secured around, the outer edge or side wall 15 of the disc. The side wall 15 can be between about 0.25 inches and 0.75 inches high, preferably between about 0.625 and 0.65 inches high. As noted earlier, typically the body portion 16 of the disc initially rises up (as side wall 15) from the base 12 and then curves towards the top surface 13 in a convex or parabolic manner. This curvature of the body 16 towards the top surface 13 can begin at an angle which ranges between about 5 degrees to about 60 degrees inward, typically about 10 degrees from vertical upward (see, e.g., FIGS. 1C, 1D, 4C and 6C). This angle from vertical can serve to redirect a portion of the sideways horizontal force of tire impact to the vertical downward direction, thus increasing the overall friction between the disc and the pavement,

[0026] The hardness or dorometer value of foe material making up the discs can vary, and as development of new materials continues, improvement in the gripping of the discs to the pavement, along with extended duration of wear of the top surface may be improved upon. In general the discs' hardness can typically be between 40 Shore-A and 70 Shore-A, preferably between 50 Shore-A and 60 Shore-A, but it is conceivable that adjustments may be made to the hardness or softness of the disc material to improve a desired physical aspect of the discs such as strength, friction between the disc and the pavement, reduction of material volume, or improved durability.

[0027] Referring now to FIGS 2A-2D, an alternative embodiment of a circular roadway warning device in the form of portable speed, bump disc 210 is illustrated. The disc, and preferably an array of discs as described above, is intended for quickly deploying and removing from a roadway to control the speed of traffic. As illustrated, each disc 210 is formed as a unitary' body having a circular diameter with a flat bottom and a convex, rounded top. The upper portion or top 213 of the disc is convex or otherwise upwardly curved and intended for interfacing with passing vehicles, A base 212 is circular in diameter and includes a side wall 215 and a bottom surface 214 for engaging the roadway. The curved top side of the upper portion 213 projects upwardly in the area spanning between the side wall 215. Like disc 10, disc 210 is made of a single mold, unitary, one-piece construction and of a substantially similar density throughout.

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a circular roadway warning device or speed bump in the form of a two-piece disc 310 having as upper/lop portion 312 connectable to a lower/bottom portion 314, The upper portion 312 includes a body 313 having a top side which interlaces with passing vehicles, while the lower portion 314 includes a base 318 having a bottom surface which engages the roadway. The upper portion 312 can typically be concave in shape to facilitate a smooth transition of the tire over the entire disc. The lower portion 314 can include a circular raised section 320 projecting upwardly from the base 318, and at least one peg 316 (three are illustrated) projecting upwardly front the raised section. The base 318 is substantially flat on the bottom surface and can include a groove pattern cut into the bottom surface to increase friction between the base or bottom of the disc and the paved surface (see. e.g. groove pattern 40 in FIG. 1E, patern 240 in FIG. 2D, and pattern 440 in FIG. 5A), and could also include a hollow portion 20 as described above (see, e.g., FIG. 1E).

[0029] Another embodiment of a two-piece disc 410 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 4A-4C and FIGS. 5A-5C. in this embodiment, it can be appreciated that the underside of the body 413 has a ribbed-type structural design formed by voids in the underside of the body. Such voids are herein referred to as cups 426 and cavities 428, 430 within the body. The ribbed design functions to reduce the volume of material used for manufacturing the upperportion 412 while still providing a structurally strong concave arch for the body. The voids 426 within the body help to create a strong seal with the lower portion 414. The cups 426 are substantially identical in size and shape for fitting around the pegs 416 (see FIGS. 5B, 5C) projecting upwardly from the base 418. The cups 426 function to irreversibly engage the pegs 416 and physically connect the lower portion 414 to the upper portion. 412. In addition to materials savings, the voids 426 may also work to create suction and form an. air-tight seal between the upper portion and the lower portion. Once the two portions are pressed together to form the disc 410, the vacuum produced by the air displacement from the voids serves to resist separation of the two portions of the disc, even when placed under stresses caused by the weight and momentum of vehicles passing over them.

[0030] FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate in more detail the lower portion 414 of the disc shown in FIGS. 4A-C. As noted in FIG. 5 A, the base 418 has a textured patern 440 on its bottom surface which is useful for increasing friction between the disc and the road surface, decreasing the chance that the disc will slip on the pavement during use. This textured patern 440 can be an alternative groove pattern that serves the same intent to increase the overall friction between disc and pavement. Indeed, any suitable groove pattern can be used on any unitary body or two-piece disc described herein, and a handle as described and illustrated herein can be incorporated into any disc. FIG. 5B shows the top surface of the lower portion 414 with three projecting pegs 416 located within the boundaries of the raised section 420 of the base 418. As noted above, the pegs are intended to be inserted into the cups 426 located in the underside of the upper portion’s body (see FIGS. 4A and 4C). Also, looking at FIG. 5C, the raised section 420 extends upwardly from the base 418, forming a lip 419. The raised section 420 includes the projecting pegs 416 and the lip 419 of the raised section, and can reversibly connect to a circular hollow 429 formed within the body (see FIG. 4C).

[0031 ] FIGS. 6A--6C illustrate an alternative upper portion 712 embodiment of a two- piece disc in which the body 713 is essentially a solid unit, lacking any ribbed structural design and including only voids or cops 726 within the body 713 for mating with or otherwise irreversibly engaging with the pegs as described above, projecting upwardly from the base of the lower portion. Thus, similarly to the cups 426 of the upper portion 412 illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C, the cups 726 of this embodiment function to physically connect a lower portion to this upper portion 712. Being a solid unit, the cups 726 which mate with the pegs of the lower portion still create a seal which is satisfactory for resisting separation during use. For example, a lip 419 of the lower portion's raised section (see FIG. 5C) can reversibly connect to and/or fit, within a circular hollow 729 formed within the body 713 of this upper portion.

[0032] While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, such details are not intended to restrict or limit tire scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, while some embodiments are particularly described and illustrated herein, it should be understood that additional modifications and variations of these embodiments, and the equivalents thereof, are within the scope of the invention as recited in the following claims.