Portable highway warning device

Abstract

A portable highway warning device comprised of one or more rumble strips. Each rumble strip is comprised of a plurality of modular strip sections made of a polymeric material. Each strip section has end edges with alternating notches and tabs sized and spaced for overlapping engagement with respective tabs and notches on opposite end edges of other ones of the strip sections for connecting the end edges of the strip sections together. Embedded in each of the strip sections are a plurality of metal plates or bars that run transversely between side edges of the strip sections in laterally spaced relation from one another to provide ballast to the strip sections.

1 . A portable highway warning device comprised of one or more rumble strips, each rumble strip comprising a plurality of modular strip sections, each of the strip sections being made of a polymeric material having top and bottom surfaces and end edges and side edges, the end edges of each of the strip sections having alternating notches and tabs sized and spaced for overlapping engagement with respective tabs and notches on opposite end edges of other of the strip sections for connecting the end edges of the strip sections together. 
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the alternating notches and tabs are dovetailed to provide dovetail connections between the overlapping end edges of the strip sections. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the tabs on the end edges of the strip sections have aligned through holes that are aligned with the through holes in the opposite end edges of other of the strip sections when in overlapping engagement with each other for receipt of a pin through the aligned holes in the overlapping end edges for further securing the end edges of the strip sections together. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein there is a cross slot or pocket adjacent one of the end edges of the strip sections, and the pin has a right angled end portion that is rotatable into the slot or pocket when the pin is fully inserted into the aligned holes to secure the pin in place. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the cross slot or pocket extends from the top side of the strip sections partway through the tab closest to the one side edge and transversely intersects the through hole in the tab closest to the one side edge. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the tabs in the end edges of the strip sections contain fiberglass mesh reinforcement. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the through holes in at least some of the tabs are reinforced by metal tubes molded in the through holes. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising one or more hand grip slots in each of the strip sections. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein a hand grip slot is provided in each of the strip sections adjacent one or both ends thereof. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of metal plates or bars are embedded in each of the strip sections intermediate the top and bottom surfaces to provide ballast to the strip sections, each of the plates or bars running transversely between the side edges in laterally spaced relation from one another. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein one of the side edges of each of the strip sections is beveled, and one end of the metal plates or bars is similarly beveled and extends partway into the beveled side edge of each of the strip sections. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 10  wherein a hand grip slot extends through each of the strip sections between the top and bottom surfaces intermediate the end edges adjacent one side edge of each of the strip sections. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the hand grip slot has a greater length than width and extends lengthwise adjacent the one side edge. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein one or more of the plates or bars are in transverse alignment with the hand grip slot and are shorter in length than other of the plates or bars that are not in transverse alignment with the hand grip slot. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 10  wherein each of the strip sections has a length of between 3½ feet and 4 feet. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 10  wherein each of the strip sections has a width of between 8 inches and 16 inches and a thickness of between ½ inch and 1 inch. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein each of the strip sections has a width of approximately 12 inches, a length of approximately 3¾ feet and a thickness of approximately ¾ inch. 
   
   
       18 . A portable highway warning device comprised of one or more rumble strips, each rumble strip comprising a plurality of modular strip sections, each of the strip sections being made of a polymeric material having top and bottom surfaces and end edges and side edges, the end edges of each of the strip sections having alternating notches and tabs sized and spaced for overlapping engagement with respective tabs and notches on opposite end edges of other of the strip sections for connecting the end edges of the strip sections together, the tabs having aligned through holes that are aligned with the through holes in the opposite end edges of other of the strip sections when in overlapping engagement with each other for receipt of a pin extending through the aligned holes in the overlapping end edges for securing the end edges of the strip sections together, and a plurality of metal plates or bars embedded in each of the strip sections intermediate the top and bottom surfaces to provide ballast to the strip sections, each of the plates or bars running transversely between the side edges in laterally spaced relation from one another. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the alternating notches and tabs in the end edges are dovetailed to provide dovetail connections between the overlapping end edges of the strip sections. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein a plurality of metal plates or bars are embedded in each of the strip sections intermediate the top and bottom surfaces to provide ballast to the strip sections, each of the plates or bars running transversely between the side edges in laterally spaced relation from one another.