Flexible raised pavement marker

Abstract

A reflective surface marker comprising a pair of generally parallel lower legs, each leg having a first end; a pair of generally parallel upper legs, each leg having a first end; a flexible hinge resiliently connecting the first end of said lower leg to the first end of said upper leg; a reflective material connecting said upper legs; and a bladder for resiliently supporting the reflective material.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A surface marker comprising: 
 an anchor into a surface, said anchor comprising a pair of lower legs located at a distance from one another creating a void between them, said lower legs having a first end;    a pair of upper legs each having a first end flexibly connected to the first end of a lower leg; and    a reflector mounted between said upper legs.    
     
     
         2 . The surface marker of  claim 1 , said surface marker further comprising a rubber bladder in the void below the reflector mounted between the upper legs.  
     
     
         3 . The surface marker of  claim 1 , said surface marker having a plurality of leveling tabs.  
     
     
         4 . The surface marker of  claim 1 , said surface marker being attached to the surface using an epoxy.  
     
     
         5 . The surface marker of  claim 4 , said surface marker having lower legs each having a plurality of voids to permit epoxy to flow into said plurality of voids.  
     
     
         6 . The surface marker of  claim 1 , said surface marker lower legs having a flange.  
     
     
         7 . The surface marker of  claim 1 , said surface marker lower legs providing positive stops such the upper legs always support the reflector above the surface.  
     
     
         8 . The surface marker of  claim 1  wherein the upper leg has a second end and the second end of the upper leg is attached to the lower leg via an elastic bond.  
     
     
         9 . The surface marker of  claim 8  wherein the elastic bond seals the lower leg to the upper leg.  
     
     
         10 . The surface marker of  claim 1  wherein the surface marker is entirely injected molded material.  
     
     
         11 . The surface marker of  claim 1  wherein the reflector is removable and replaceable.  
     
     
         12 . A reflective surface marker comprising: 
 a pair of generally parallel lower legs, each leg having a first end;    a pair of generally parallel upper legs, each leg having a first end;    a flexible hinge resiliently connecting the first end of said lower leg to the first end of said upper leg;    a reflective material connecting said upper legs; and    a bladder for resiliently supporting the reflective material.    
     
     
         13 . The surface marker of  claim 12 , said surface marker having a plurality of leveling tabs.  
     
     
         14 . The surface marker of  claim 12 , said surface marker being attached to the surface using an epoxy.  
     
     
         15 . The surface marker of  claim 14 , said surface marker having lower legs each having a plurality of apertures to permit epoxy to flow through said plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         16 . The surface marker of  claim 12 , said surface marker lower legs having a flange.  
     
     
         17 . The surface marker of  claim 12 , said surface marker lower legs providing positive stops such the upper legs always support the reflector above the surface.  
     
     
         18 . The surface marker of  claim 12  wherein the upper leg has a second end and the second end of the upper leg is attached to the lower leg via an elastic bond.  
     
     
         19 . The surface marker of  claim 18  wherein the elastic bond seals the lower leg to the upper leg.  
     
     
         20 . The surface marker of  claim 12  wherein the reflector is removable and replaceable.  
     
     
         21 . The surface marker of  claim 12  wherein said flexible hinge between the upper and lower legs is comprised of: 
 a circular aperture through the cross section of said upper and lower leg;  
 at least one notch in said circular cross section; and  
 a resilient rubber filling said aperture and notch; said marker when pressure is applied, placing the rubber filling in torsion, said rubber resiliently raising the marker when pressure is removed.