Portable roadway warning device

Abstract

A portable roadway warning device comprises one or more rumble strips. Each rumble strip comprises at least two interconnected strip sections, each made of a polymeric material. Opposite end edges of the strip sections have respective 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. The undersides of the tabs have transverse slots adjacent axial inner ends of the tabs for seated engagement by lower outer cross members extending transversely of the notches adjacent axial outer ends of the notches. The alternating notches and tabs in the respective opposite end edges of the strip sections are dovetailed for dovetailed engagement with one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable roadway warning device comprising one or more rumble strips, each rumble strip comprising a plurality of interconnected strip sections, each of the strip sections being made of a polymeric material having top and bottom surfaces and opposite end edges and side edges, the opposite end edges of each of the strip sections respectively 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 opposite end edges of the strip sections, the notches having axial inwardly angled inner end walls for overlapping engagement by axially outwardly angled outer end walls of the tabs, and undersides of the tabs having transverse slots adjacent axial inner ends of the tabs for seated engagement by lower outer cross members extending transversely of the notches adjacent axial outer ends of the notches for releasably connecting the opposite end edges of the interconnected strip sections together both laterally and orthogonally relative to a longitudinal axis of each of the strip sections, and the alternating notches and tabs in the respective opposite end edges of the strip sections are dovetailed for dovetailed engagement with one another to carry longitudinal loading of the interconnected strip sections when the interconnected strip sections are pulled by one of the end edges of one of the strip sections longitudinally along the ground. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the inner end walls of the notches are inwardly angled and the outer end walls of the tabs are outwardly angled over a majority of their respective heights for overlapping engagement with one another. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the inner end walls of the notches and the outer end walls of the tabs intersect the bottom surface of the respective strip sections. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the inner end walls of the notches are concave over a majority of their height, and the outer end walls of the tabs are convex over a majority of their height. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the lower outer cross members are integrally molded to opposite sides of the respective notches adjacent the axial outer ends of the notches. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the strip sections are made of rubber. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the side edges of each of the strip sections is beveled to help eliminate any possible movement of the strip sections caused by initial contact of vehicle tires with the at least one of the side edges. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the side edges of each of the strip sections has a concave top surface to help eliminate any possible movement of the strip sections caused by initial contact of vehicle tires with the at least one of the side edges. 
     
     
         9 . A portable roadway warning device comprising one or more rumble strips, each rumble strip comprising a plurality of interconnected strip sections, each of the strip sections being made of a polymeric material having top and bottom surfaces and opposite end edges and side edges, the opposite end edges of each of the strip sections respectively 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 opposite end edges of the strip sections, the notches having axial inwardly angled inner end walls for overlapping engagement by axially outwardly angled outer end walls of the tabs, and undersides of the tabs having transverse slots adjacent axial inner ends of the tabs for seated engagement by lower outer cross members extending transversely of the notches adjacent axial outer ends of the notches, and the alternating notches and tabs in the respective opposite end edges of the strip sections are dovetailed for dovetailed engagement with one another to carry longitudinal loading of the interconnected strip sections when the interconnected strip sections are pulled by one of the end edges of one of the strip sections longitudinally along the ground. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the inner end walls of the notches are concave over a majority of their height and the outer end walls of the tabs are convex over a majority of their height for overlapping engagement with one another. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the inner end walls of the notches and the outer end walls of the tabs intersect the bottom surface of the respective strip sections. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the lower outer cross members are integrally molded to opposite sides of the respective notches adjacent the axial outer ends of the notches.