Retro-Reflective Pavement Markers

Abstract

Disclosed is a protector for a retro-reflective road marker mounted in a road that includes a top portion that has a generally flat region where the retro-reflective road marker can be mounted and a bottom portion oppositely disposed from the top portion. The protector is made from a moldable polymer and the top portion is operable to protect the road reflector from motor vehicle tires passing thereover and the bottom portion of the protector has a bottom arcuate surface that defines an arc extending from the top portion.

1 . A protector for a road reflector mounted in a road, said protector comprising: 
 a body having a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion having a generally flat region; and    a road reflector mounted on said generally flat region of said top portion;    said top portion also having a structure extending above said generally flat region where said road marker is mounted, said structure operable to protect said road reflector from motor vehicle tires passing over said road reflector;    said bottom portion oppositely disposed from said top portion and mounted in a road;    said top portion and said bottom portion made from moldable polymer.    
   
   
       2 . The protector as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said structure is a pair of spaced apart side rails parallel to a longitudinal axis of said protector, said side rails extending above said bottom portion.  
   
   
       3 . The protector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each of said pair of spaced apart side rails has a flange extending in a generally outward direction from said longitudinal axis, said flanges operable to support said protector on a top surface of the road.  
   
   
       4 . The protector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said top portion has a center portion extending between said rails, said center portion having a pair of upper surfaces extending transversely between said rails and inclined downwardly toward a mounting surface.  
   
   
       5 . The protector as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said road reflector is mounted onto said mounting surface.  
   
   
       6 . The protector as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each of said pair of upper surfaces has a center ramp aligned on said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       7 . The protector as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said bottom portion has a bottom arcuate surface, said bottom arcuate surface defining an arc extending from said top portion, said arc having a height between a bottom surface of said flange and said arc surface.  
   
   
       8 . The protector as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said bottom arcuate surface has a cavity extending from said bottom surface towards said top portion.  
   
   
       9 . The protector as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said cavity extends generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       10 . The protector as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said cavity extending generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis has a depth, said depth divided by said height of said arc defining a ratio ranging between 0.2 and 0.8.  
   
   
       11 . The protector as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said cavity is generally parallel to said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       12 . The protector as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said cavity extends from said bottom surface towards said top portion directly under said center ramp.  
   
   
       13 . The protector as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said bottom portion has an aperture extending from a sidewall of said bottom portion in a generally inward direction towards said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       14 . A protector for a road reflector mounted in a road, said protector comprising: 
 a body having a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion having a generally flat region; and    a road reflector mounted on said generally flat region of said top portion;    said top portion also having a pair of flanges extending in a generally outward direction from said protector and a structure extending above said generally flat region where said road marker is mounted, said flanges operable to support said protector on a top surface of the road and said structure operable to protect said road reflector from motor vehicle tires passing over said road reflector and;    said bottom portion oppositely disposed from said top portion and mounted in a road, said bottom portion having a bottom arcuate surface;    said bottom arcuate surface defining an arc extending from said top portion, said arc having a height between a bottom surface of said flange and said arc surface;    said top portion and said bottom portion made from moldable polymer.    
   
   
       15 . The protector as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said structure has a pair of spaced apart side rails parallel to a longitudinal axis of said protector and extending above said bottom portion, said pair of flanges extending from said pair of side rails.  
   
   
       16 . The protector as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein each of said pair of spaced apart side rails has one of said pair of flanges extending in a generally outward direction from said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       17 . The protector as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein each of said pair of upper surfaces has a center ramp aligned on said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       18 . The protector as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said bottom arcuate surface has a cavity extending from said bottom surface towards said top portion.  
   
   
       19 . The protector as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said cavity extends generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       20 . A protector for a road reflector mounted in a road, said protector comprising: 
 a body having a top portion and a bottom portion oppositely disposed from said top portion;    said top portion having a pair of spaced apart side rails parallel to a longitudinal axis of said protector and extending above said bottom portion, said pair of side rails each having a flange extending in a generally outward direction from said protector and operable to support said protector on a top surface of the road;    said top portion also having a center portion extending between said side rails, said center portion having a pair of upper surfaces extending transversely between said side rails and inclined downwardly toward a mounting surface; and    a reflector mounted on said mounting surface;    said pair of upper surfaces each having a center ramp aligned on said longitudinal axis and extending in a generally upward direction from said upper surface;    said bottom portion having a bottom arcuate surface defining an arc extending from said top portion, said arc having a height between a bottom surface of said flange and said arc surface, said bottom arcuate surface having a cavity extending from said bottom surface towards said top portion;    said top portion and said bottom portion made from moldable polymer.