Portable roadway warning device

Abstract

A portable roadway warning device comprising one or more rumble strips. Each rumble strip comprises a plurality of modular strip sections, each made of a polymeric material. Opposite end edges of each of the strip sections have alternating notches and tabs sized and spaced for engagement with respective tabs and notches on opposite end edges of other of the strip sections to provide a releasable connected joint therebetween. Pressure sensitive adhesive tape is applied to the top surface of the joint between the connected end edges of the strip sections to prevent the connected end edges from inadvertently separating from one another when the connected strip sections are dragged along the ground or lifted up to move the connected strip sections from one location to another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable roadway warning device comprising 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 engagement with respective tabs and notches on opposite end edges of other of the strip sections to provide a releasable connected joint between the end edges of the strip sections, and pressure sensitive adhesive tape adhered to the top surface of the joint between the connected end edges to prevent the connected end edges of the strip sections from inadvertently separating from one another when the connected strip sections are dragged along the ground or lifted up to move the connected strip sections from one location to another. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is pavement marking tape. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is reflective pavement marking tape. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape substantially completely covers the top surface of the joint between the connected end edges of the strip sections. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is wide enough to cover a substantial portion of the top surface of the joint between the connected end edges of the strip sections. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein inner ends of the notches at one of the end edges of the strip sections have outwardly facing pockets, and the tabs at the opposite end edges of the strip sections have similarly shaped outer end portions for receipt in the outwardly facing pockets, and undersides of the tabs at the opposite end edges of the strip sections have transverse slots adjacent inner ends of the tabs at the opposite end edges for seated engagement with lower outer cross members extending between the tabs at outer ends of the notches at the one of the end edges of the strip sections to provide the releasable connected joint therebetween, to the top surface of which the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is adhered. 
     
     
         7 . A portable roadway warning device comprising one or more rumble strips, each rumble strip comprising a plurality of modular strip sections each made of a polymeric material, each of the strip sections having end edges containing alternating notches and tabs sized and spaced for engagement with respective tabs and notches on opposite end edges of other of the strip sections to provide a releasable connected joint between the end edges of the strip sections, wherein inner ends of the notches at one of the end edges of the strip sections having outwardly facing pockets, and the tabs at the opposite end edges of the strip sections having similarly shaped outer end portions for receipt in the outwardly facing pockets, and undersides of the tabs at the opposite end edges of the strip sections having transverse slots adjacent inner ends of the tabs at the opposite end edges for seated engagement with lower outer cross members extending between the tabs at outer ends of the notches at the one of the end edges of the strip sections to provide a releasable connected joint between the end edges of the strip sections, and pressure sensitive adhesive tape adhered to a top surface of the joint between the connected end edges to prevent the connected end edges of the strip sections from inadvertently separating from one another when the connected strip sections are dragged along the ground or lifted up to move the connected strip sections from one location to another. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is pavement marking tape. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is reflective pavement marking tape. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is only applied to the top surface of the joint between the connected end edges of the strip sections. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive tape is wide enough to cover a substantial portion of the top surface of the joint between the connected end edges of the strip sections.