Warning marker

Abstract

A warning marker 1 formed by folding a plastics sheet to provide a base part 2 and an upstanding warning part 3 extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of the base part such that the upstanding warning part is resiliently deflectable with respect to the base part about a fold region, at least the warning part providing a high visibility region 5. The base part may define a plurality of openings configured to receive respective fixings and the plastics sheet may be a polyurethane sheet. The high visibility region may comprise one or more of a coloured and / or reflective tape applied to a surface of the warning part, a coloured and / or reflective coating applied to a surface of the warning part and a coloured and / or reflective material incorporated into the plastic sheet. Also disclosed is a kit of parts to fix the warning marker to a surface and a method of providing visible warnings to traffic using one or more of the described warning marker.

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates warning marker and more particularly to apparatus suitable for providing a warning marker on a surface across which traffic passes. Background Potholes are depressions in a road surface which are commonly formed by water first weakening the underlying soil structure and vehicular traffic then fatiguing and breaking the poorly supported asphalt surface in the affected area. Continued traffic action ejects both asphalt and the underlying soil material to create the pothole. Potholes are not only inconvenient; they can present a serious risk of damage to vehicles (including damage to tyres and wheels) and of injury to humans, particularly cyclists and motorcyclists. Authorities will of course attempt to repair potholes when financial resources permit. Repairs can however take significant time to effect during which the risk of damage and injury persists. Whilst authorities may attempt to alert road users to the presence of potholes by using plastic traffic cones and I or other road signage, these measures can be unsatisfactory as the signage is easily movable, for example by deliberate action or strong winds. Moreover, the signage itself, if installed close to the pothole, may itself represent a risk. On the other hand, if the signage is installed at a distance from the pothole such that it does not present an additional risk, it may not serve its intended purpose. Similar issues can arise on other surfaces such as pavements and walkways where holes and other areas of surface damage can represent a significant trip hazard. Summary Aspects of the present invention are set out in the appended claims. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 illustrates schematically a hazard warning sign prior to folding: Figure 2 illustrates schematically a formed hazard warning marker; and Figure 3 illustrates schematically a formed hazard warning marker in situ adjacent a hazard in a surface. Detailed Description The following discussion concerns a hazard warning sign that may be quickly and easily fixed at or very close to the location of a surface hazard such as a pothole in a road surface. The warning marker is relatively cheap to produce and install, is durable in the sense that it can be driven, cycled, or walked over without unduly damaging the marker, and, importantly, poses little or no additional risk of damage or injury. Figure 1 illustrates schematically an exemplary warning marker 1 in a pre-shaped configuration. The marker is produced by stamping or cutting an appropriate shape from a flat sheet or polyurethane or other suitable plastics material. The sheet may have a thickness in the range 0.5 to 3mm, for example approximately 1mm. As can be seen in the figure the pre-shaped marker comprises a generally rectangular section base 2 and a generally triangular upper part 3, the base being connected to the upper part by means for a pair of connecting legs 4a,4b. In the illustrated warning marker a reflective coating 5 has been applied to a region of the upper part. The reflective coating 5 may be in the form of a reflective tape with adhesive backing or a reflective paint. The reflective coating 5 may be applied to only a front surface of the upper part 3 or may be applied to both a front and a back surface. In other embodiments the plastics material may itself e a reflective material, e.g. formed by incorporating reflective beads into the plastics compound when molding or extruding the sheet. Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary formed warning marker 6 following a thermoforming step in which the marker is heated and bent about the line X-X of Figure 1, such that the base 2 extends substantially at a right angle to the connecting legs 4a,4b and upper part 3. Once cooled the marker retains this configuration. Figures 1 and 2 also illustrate a plurality of circular holes 7 formed in the base 2. Whilst the drawings illustrate a number of holes, this number is merely exemplary and any suitable number of holes can be provided subject to being appropriate for the intended use. A larger number of holes may allow for a greater choice of fixing positions and better capability for attachment when using mastic type adhesives. An end user may be provided with a kit of parts including for example a number of formed warning markers 1, a set of fixings 8, and a tool 9 for use in installing the markers and fixings. Where the markers are intended to be fixed to asphalt, concrete or a similar surface, the fixings 8 may be so-called “hammer screws” and the tool 9 may be a hammer. As the name suggests, hammer screws can be hammered into a surface whereupon they are securely held by means of their screw threads. Removal of the screws may be possible by unscrewing. An end user is able to fix a formed warning marker at or adjacent to a pothole or other surface-damage feature using the fixings, e.g. the hammer screws. Any suitable number of fixings may be applied through any subset (or all) of the circular holes 7. The fixings may be applied such that any fixing heads are substantially flush with the surface to which they are applied, i.e. the heads do not protrude from the surface to any significant extent. It will be appreciated that the flexible nature of the warning marker allows the base to deform around the openings such that the base does not prevent hammering of the fixings into the surface. The warning marker 6 can be applied, for example, directly in front of a pothole or other hazard as illustrated in Figure 3. The Figure also illustrates a marker applied within the hazard itself. This is of course only useful if the height of the warning marker is significantly greater than the depth of the hazard. The purpose of the warning marker 6 is to encourage users to divert around the marked hazard, or at least cause then to slow significantly. Nonetheless, the formed warning marker does not itself provide any additional risk as, when it is impacted, it will merely fold flat in either direction and subsequently spring back into an upright position. Even a bicycle tyre or footstep is unlikely to be deflected to any significant extent and certainly a vehicle wheel will pass over without deviation of the wheel or damage to the marker. It will be further appreciated that any damage to a surface inflicted by fixing the warning marker to the surface is likely to be minimal. In any case, providing that the marker is fixed in or very close to the hazard being marked, any damage is likely to be repaired when the hazard is itself repaired. Furthermore, the durable nature of the formed warning markers means that they are easily reusable. The hazard warning part of the warning markers may take any suitable and I or well understood shape. For example, in some jurisdictions an upper part in the form of the illustrated triangle may provide an adequate warning. In other jurisdictions a circle, square or other multi-sided shape may be appropriate. It is preferable that the reflective tape or other coating be of a highly visible colour. This might be for example red or orange. It will be appreciated that the use of a reflective coating is advantageous as the marker will be clearly visible during both night and day. In some cases it may be sufficient to provide the upper part of the marker with only a highly visible colour and without a reflective coating. It will be appreciated by the person of skill in the art that various modifications may be made to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, whilst the warning marker described above has been discussed in the context of marking hazards on an outdoor surface such as a road or pavement, its use clearly extends to use indoors.

Claims

1. A warning marker formed by folding a plastics sheet to provide a base part and an upstanding warning part extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of the base part such that the upstanding warning part is resiliently deflectable with respect to the base part about a fold region, at least the warning part providing a high visibility region.

2. A warning marker according to claim 1, said base part defining a plurality of openings configured to receive respective fixings.

3. A warning marker according to claim 1 or 2, said plastics sheet being a polyurethane sheet.

4. A warning marker according to any one of the preceding claims, said high visibility region presenting a brightly coloured and I or reflective region.

5. A warning marker according to claim 4, said high visibility region being provided by one or more of:a coloured and I or reflective tape applied to a surface or surfaces of the warning part;a coloured and I or reflective coating applied to a surface or surfaces of the warning part; anda coloured and I or reflective material incorporated into the plastics sheet.

6. A warning marker according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said warning part has a triangular, circular, square or other multi-sided shape.

7. A kit of parts comprising at least one warning marker according to any one of the preceding claims and at least one fixing suitable for securing the warning marker to a surface.

8. A kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein the fixing is a hammer screw or an adhesive, for example a mastic adhesive.

9. A method of providing visible warnings to traffic of an upcoming hazard in a surface, the method comprising fixing one or more warning markers according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in or adjacent to the hazard.

10. A method according to claim 9, the surface being a road surface and the hazard being a pothole.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein fixing comprises fixing the or each visible warning in or adjacent to the hazard using a hammer screw or an adhesive.

12. A warning marker comprising a substantially plastic sheet defining a base part and an upstanding warning part, the upstanding warning part extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of the base part such that the upstanding warning part is resiliently deflectable with respect to the base part about a fold region, at least the warning part providing a high visibility region.

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