Delineator wing whip assembly

Abstract

Signaling delineator assemblies and methods are disclosed. One example delineator assembly includes a delineator that has a base portion and a top portion, with the base portion being configured to stand on a level surface, and with the top portion having at least one aperture. An adapter bracket extends through the aperture and comprises at least one pole connection portion and a first portion and a second portion. The first portion contacts a first side of the at least one aperture and the second portion contacts a second side of the at least one aperture. A signaling pole is connected to the at least one pole connection portion and extends away from the adapter bracket. The delineator assembly adapts conventional delineators to have increased height and visibility so that they are more visible to tall vehicles such as tractors and aircraft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A signaling delineator assembly, comprising:
 a delineator having a base portion and a top portion, the base portion being configured to stand on a level surface, the top portion comprising at least one aperture;   an adapter bracket extending through the at least one aperture, the adapter bracket comprising at least one pole connection portion, the adapter bracket having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion contacting a first side of the at least one aperture and the second portion contacting a second side of the at least one aperture;   at least one signaling pole connected to the at least one pole connection portion and extending away from the adapter bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The signaling delineator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sides of the at least one aperture are positioned opposite each other on the at least one aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The signaling delineator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the adapter bracket conform to a plurality of surfaces of the top portion of the delineator, the plurality of surfaces being adjacent to the at least one aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The signaling delineator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion comprises a handgrip portion, the handgrip portion having a handhold opening extending through the handgrip portion, wherein the at least one aperture includes the handhold opening. 
     
     
         5 . The signaling delineator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion comprises a handgrip portion, the handgrip portion having a handhold opening extending through the handgrip portion, wherein the at least one aperture extends through the handgrip portion adjacent to the handhold opening. 
     
     
         6 . The signaling delineator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter bracket is removable from the top portion of the delineator. 
     
     
         7 . The signaling delineator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture comprises a plurality of apertures extending through the top portion and the adapter bracket extends through the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         8 . The signaling delineator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter bracket comprises a stabilizer portion contacting opposite inner surfaces of the at least one aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The signaling delineator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the delineator comprises at least one of a cone, a barrel, or a channelizer. 
     
     
         10 . The signaling delineator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter bracket is secured to the top portion of the delineator by a single fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The signaling delineator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter bracket cups the first side of the at least one aperture in at least three directions. 
     
     
         12 . The signaling delineator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one signaling pole extends from the adapter bracket parallel to a longitudinal axis of the delineator. 
     
     
         13 . The signaling delineator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one pole connection portion and the at least one signaling pole extends through the at least one aperture of the top portion. 
     
     
         14 . The signaling delineator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture extends through a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces facing in opposite directions, wherein the at least one signaling pole comprises a plurality of signaling poles, wherein a first pole of the plurality of signaling poles is positioned external to the first surface and a second pole of the plurality of signaling poles is positioned external to the second surface. 
     
     
         15 . The signaling delineator assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first pole extends away from the first surface and the second pole extends away from the second surface. 
     
     
         16 . A method of constructing a signaling delineator assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a delineator, an adapter bracket, and a signaling pole, the delineator having a top portion, the top portion having at least one aperture;   inserting the adapter bracket through the at least one aperture with the adapter bracket contacting at least two opposite sides of the at least one aperture;   connecting the signaling pole to a pole connection portion of the adapter bracket.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the top portion of the delineator is a handle and the at least one aperture is a handgrip opening through the handle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising removably attaching the adapter bracket to the top portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein inserting the adapter bracket further comprises cupping at least one of the at least two opposite sides of the at least one aperture with the adapter bracket. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein connecting the signaling pole to the pole connection portion further comprises connecting the signaling pole to a pole connection portion positioned within or extending through the at least one aperture.