Traffic cone, and traffic cone-cone bar connection structure

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a traffic cone and a traffic cone-cone bar connection structure that are capable of preventing a cone bar from being detached from a traffic cone, while enabling easy attachment of the cone bar to the traffic cone, and allowing for easy removal of the cone bar from the traffic cone if necessary. [Solution] A traffic cone 10 comprises locking pieces 20 that extend diagonally downward from the tip side of a cone body 11, and that constitute a locking part. The locking pieces 20 are bent at the root (boundary with the cone body 11) and elastically deformed so as to be able to abut on the outer peripheral surface of the cone body 11.

Description

Road cones and road cone / cone bar connecting structures

[0001] The present invention relates to road cones (known as color cones: registered trademark), which are cone-shaped safety devices, and cone bars that are installed between adjacent road cones.

[0002] Road cones and traffic cone bars are used as tools to prevent or restrict entry or intrusion into specific areas in the event of an accident, construction, etc. Conventionally, typical road cones and traffic cone bars are connected by fitting annular fittings on both ends of the traffic cone bar into the tip of the cone.

[0003] However, because the annular fitting portion is simply fitted into the tip of the cone, there is a problem that the cone bar is easily detached from the road cone. For this reason, inventions and devices such as those in Patent Documents 1 to 3 have been disclosed to solve this problem.

[0004] Patent No. 6656737 Utility Model Registration No. 3048692 Utility Model Registration No. 3078897

[0005] It is true that inventions and devices such as those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 may be able to solve the problem of cone bars coming off road cones. However, the inventions and devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 have the following drawbacks in order to prevent the cone bars from coming off the road cone after they have been attached to the road cone: (1) The cone bars cannot be easily attached to the road cone. Specifically, in Patent Document 1, the cone bars must be rotated around the road cone as an axis to fit the cone bars. Furthermore, in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the cone bars must be forcibly pushed into the road cone, which has grooves or ridges for fitting the cone bars. (2) The cone bars cannot be easily removed from the road cone. Specifically, similar to (1) above, in Patent Document 1, the cone bars must be rotated around the road cone as an axis to remove them. Furthermore, in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the cone bars must be forcibly removed from the road cone, which has grooves or ridges.

[0006] In response to this, the present inventors have completed the present invention with the aim of providing a road cone or a road cone-to-cone bar connection structure that prevents the cone bar from coming off the road cone while allowing the cone bar to be easily attached to the road cone and also making it possible to easily detach the cone bar from the road cone when necessary.

[0007] The first aspect of the present invention is a road cone, which is a conical safety device, having a locking portion at the tip end of the road cone that extends horizontally or diagonally downward and elastically deforms to abut against the outer circumferential surface of the road cone. The locking portion locks annular fittings at both ends of the bar body of a cone bar that connects adjacent road cones so that the fitting does not come loose from the tip end of the road cone. The second aspect of the present invention is a road cone in which the locking portion has one or more strip-shaped locking pieces on the outer periphery of the tip end of the road cone. The third aspect of the present invention is a road cone in which an inner cylinder inserted into the open top of the road cone has locking pieces, and a locking piece hole is formed at the tip end of the road cone so that the locking pieces protrude outside the road cone. The fourth aspect of the present invention is a road cone in which a fitting body is provided that fits over the tip end of the road cone and allows the locking portion to abut against the outer circumferential surface of the road cone. A fifth aspect of the present invention is a road cone-to-cone bar connection structure comprising a locking portion at the tip of the road cone, which extends horizontally or diagonally downward but elastically deforms to abut against the outer periphery of the road cone, and annular fitting portions at both ends of the bar body of the cone bar that connects adjacent road cones, the locking portion locking the fitting portions into the tip of the road cone so that they do not come off.A sixth aspect of the present invention is the same road cone-to-cone bar connection structure, wherein the locking portion has one or more strip-shaped locking pieces on the outer periphery of the tip of the road cone.A seventh aspect of the present invention is the same road cone-to-cone bar connection structure, wherein the fitting portion of the cone bar has a separable open / close structure at its tip. The eighth aspect of the present invention is the road cone-to-cone bar connection structure, characterized in that an inner cylinder inserted into the open top of the road cone is provided with a locking piece, and a locking piece hole is provided at the tip end of the road cone through which the locking piece protrudes outside the road cone.The ninth aspect of the present invention is the road cone-to-cone bar connection structure, characterized in that a fitting body is provided that fits over the tip end of the road cone and causes the locking part to abut against the outer peripheral surface of the road cone.

[0008] The present invention has the following advantages. (1) The engaging portion of the road cone extends horizontally or diagonally downward from the tip of the road cone while elastically deforming to abut against the outer circumferential surface of the road cone. Therefore, when the fitting portion of the cone bar is fitted into the tip of the road cone, the engaging portion bends (elastically deforms) to abut against the outer circumferential surface of the road cone in accordance with the movement of the fitting portion. This prevents the fitting portion from interfering with the fitting portion, allowing the cone bar to be easily attached to the road cone. Furthermore, once the fitting portion is fitted into the tip of the road cone, the engaging portion returns to its original state extending horizontally or diagonally downward from the outer circumferential surface of the road cone, preventing the cone bar from being removed from the road cone. (2) On the other hand, the fitting portion of the cone bar has a separable open-close structure at its tip. By separating and opening the annular tip of the fitting portion, the cone bar can be easily removed from the road cone without the engaging portion interfering. (3) Furthermore, by providing a locking piece on the inner cylinder that is inserted into the open top of the road cone and providing a locking piece hole at the tip of the road cone that allows the locking piece to protrude outside the road cone, when the inner cylinder is inserted into the open top of the road cone, the locking piece becomes an obstacle when the cone bar (the fitting portion of the cone bar) tries to be removed from the road cone. However, by simply moving the inner cylinder upward from the top of the road cone, the locking piece (locking portion) is drawn into the locking piece hole, and the cone bar can be easily removed from the road cone without the locking piece (locking portion) becoming an obstacle. (4) Furthermore, by providing a fitting body that fits over the tip side of the road cone and abuts the locking portion against the outer peripheral surface of the road cone, the fitting body fits over the tip side of the road cone and abuts the locking portion (locking piece) against the outer peripheral surface of the road cone, so the locking piece (locking portion) does not become an obstacle and the cone bar can be easily removed from the road cone. (5) The advantage of road cones is that they can be stacked for transport and storage. The road cones of the present invention also have elastically deformable engaging portions (they bend to abut against the outer surface of the road cone), so they can be stacked, without compromising the advantages of road cones.

[0009] Explanatory diagram (1) explaining the road cone-to-cone bar connecting structure of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (2-1) explaining the road cone-to-cone bar connecting structure of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (2-2) explaining the road cone-to-cone bar connecting structure of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (3) explaining the road cone-to-cone bar connecting structure of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (4) explaining the road cone-to-cone bar connecting structure of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (5) explaining the road cone-to-cone bar connecting structure of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (6) explaining the road cone-to-cone bar connecting structure of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (7) explaining the road cone-to-cone bar connecting structure of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (8) explaining the road cone-to-cone bar connecting structure of the present invention.

[0010] The road cone-to-cone bar connection structure according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 illustrates the basic structure of the road cone-to-cone bar connection structure according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the road cone 10 is provided with a locking piece 20 that extends diagonally downward toward the tip of the cone body 11 and forms a locking portion. The locking piece 20 bends near its base (the boundary with the cone body 11) and elastically deforms to abut against the outer circumferential surface of the cone body 11.

[0011] The annular fitting portions 52 provided at both ends of the bar body 51 of the cone bar 50 are fitted into the road cone 10 equipped with the locking pieces 20 (FIG. 1(a)). Then, the locking pieces 20 extending diagonally downward undergo elastic deformation, abutting against the outer circumferential surface of the cone body 11 as the fitting portions 52 move downward, closing the spread wings (FIG. 1(b)). This allows the cone bar 50 to be smoothly fitted into the road cone 10.

[0012] Once the cone bar 50 has been completely fitted into the road cone 10, the locking piece 20 returns to its original state (extending diagonally downward), which acts as an obstacle to the fitting portion 52 and prevents the cone bar 50 from coming off the road cone 10 (movement in the direction of arrow X) (Figure 1(c)).

[0013] 2 to 5 illustrate the structure of the locking piece 20. However, the locking piece 20 is not limited to the one illustrated here. FIG. 2-1(a) shows a locking piece 20A attached to the cone body 11 of the road cone 10 with a cable tie 30. For this purpose, the locking piece 20A has a cable tie hole 21, and the cone body 11 has a cable tie hole 12 and a locking piece hole 13. FIGS. 2-1(b) and (c) show a locking piece attached to the cone body 11 of the road cone 10 without a cable tie. The locking piece 20B in FIG. 2-1(b) has an attachment hole 22B formed in a portion of a wide band, through which a narrow band is passed and wrapped around the locking piece hole 13 of the cone body 11 (the narrow band constitutes the locking piece 20B). The locking piece 20C in Figure 2-1 (c) has an attachment hole 22C formed at one end of a wide band, through which a narrow band is passed and wrapped around the locking piece hole 13 in the cone body 11 (the wide band constitutes the locking piece 20C).

[0014] FIG. 2-2 illustrates a locking piece 20X, an evolved version of the locking piece 20A shown in FIG. 2-1(a), which integrates the locking piece 20A with a cable tie 30. As shown in FIG. 2-2(d), the locking piece 20X includes a generally concave main body 25X and a band portion 28X. The main body 25X includes abutment portions 26X on the left and right sides parallel to the band portion 28X, and a band portion perforation 27X for passing the band portion 28X at the base of the band portion 28X. The band portion 28X also includes a protrusion 29X. Meanwhile, the cone body 11 includes a band portion perforation 14 for attaching the locking piece 20X and an L-shaped notch 15 cut out from the outer side of the top of the perforation 14, as shown in FIG. 2-2(a).

[0015] 2-2(b) and (c) illustrate the state in which the locking piece 20X is attached to the cone body 11. In the former, the band portion 25X of the locking piece 20X is wrapped twice around the band portion perforation 14 and then passed through the band portion perforation 27X. In the latter, the band portion 25X of the locking piece 20X is wrapped once around the band portion perforation 14 and then passed through the band portion perforation 27X. In either case, the convex portion 29X on the band portion 25X of the locking piece 20X fits into the notch 15 formed at the top of the cone body 11, eliminating misalignment of the band portion 25X and reliably fixing the locking piece 20X to the cone body 11. The locking piece 20X attached to the cone body 11 extends diagonally downward while the abutment portions 26X, 26X of the main body 25X abut against the cone body 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the cone bar 50 can be easily attached to the road cone 10, and the cone bar 50 can be prevented from coming off the road cone 10.

[0016] 3 shows an annular ring member 35 equipped with a locking piece 20, which is attached to a road cone 10 using the ring member 35. In FIG. 3(a), the ring member 35 is attached to the outer periphery of the tip end of the cone body 11, thereby providing the road cone 10 with a locking piece 20D. In FIG. 3(b), the ring member 35 is attached to the inner periphery of the tip end of the cone body 11 (provided that the top of the road cone 10 is open), thereby providing the road cone 10 with a locking piece 20E. In this case, a locking piece hole 13 is required to allow the locking piece 20E to protrude outside the road cone 10.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows a case in which the locking piece 20F is directly attached to the road cone 10 by a clip member 40.

[0018] 5 shows a configuration in which the locking piece 20G is provided on (the top of) the road cone 10 so as to extend in the horizontal direction. Two locking pieces 20G are provided diagonally, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0019] FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate a structure for removing a cone bar 50 from a road cone 10 equipped with a locking piece 20. FIG. 6 shows a characteristic of the cone bar 50. Specifically, the fitting portion 52 of the cone bar 50 has a separable opening / closing structure 53 at its tip (FIG. 6(a)). The cone bar 50 with the separable opening / closing structure 53 at its tip is described in detail in Japanese Patent No. 7162316 filed by the applicant of the present application. This allows the cone bar 50 to be removed from the road cone 10 by simply opening the tip of the fitting portion 52, without the locking piece 20 interfering with the removal (FIGS. 5(b-1) and 5(c)). Furthermore, the fitting portion 52 can also be removed from the cone body 11 by pulling it horizontally (sideways) without the need to lift it upward, without the locking piece 20 interfering with the removal (FIGS. 5(b-2) and 5(c)).

[0020] 7 is characterized by the inclusion of a locking piece 20H on an inner cylinder 45 that is inserted into the inner periphery of the tip end of the cone body 11 (provided the top of the road cone 10 is open). While the method of attaching the locking piece is the same as in FIG. 3(b), the inner cylinder 45 is longer in the vertical direction than the ring member 35 in FIG. 3(b) (FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b)). Therefore, when removing the cone bar 50, the inner cylinder 45 is slid upward so that it protrudes from the top of the road cone 10, and the locking piece 20H is also retracted into the locking piece hole in the cone body 11. Therefore, the locking piece 20H does not obstruct the removal of the fitting portion 52 from the cone body 11 (FIG. 7(c)).

[0021] 8 is characterized by a fitted body 48 that fits over the tip end of the cone body 11. The tip end of the road cone 10, which is equipped with a locking piece 20I and connected to a cone bar 50, is fitted over the fitted body 48 (FIG. 8(a)). The fitted body 48 then elastically deforms the locking piece 20I so that it abuts against the outer circumferential surface of the cone body 11, allowing the fitting portion 52 to be removed from the cone body 11 without the locking piece 20I interfering with the installation (FIGS. 8(b) and 8(c)).

[0022] The road cones and road cone / cone bar connecting system of the present invention can be widely used when connecting road cones and cone bars to form restriction zones at accident sites, construction sites, event venues, etc.

[0023] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Road cone 11 Cone body 12 Hole for cable tie 13 Hole for locking piece 14 Hole for band portion 15 Notch 20 Locking piece 21 Hole for cable tie 22 Mounting hole 30 Cable tie 35 Ring member 40 Clip member 45 Inner cylinder 48 Fitted body 50 Cone bar 51 Bar body 52 Fitting portion 53 Opening and closing structure

Claims

1. A road cone which is a conical safety device and is provided with a locking portion at the tip side of the road cone which extends horizontally or diagonally downward and which elastically deforms to be able to abut against the outer circumferential surface of the road cone, and which locks the annular fitting portions at both ends of the bar body of the cone bar which is installed between adjacent road cones so that they do not come out of the fitted state in the tip of the road cone.

2. A road cone as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the engaging portion is provided with one or more band-shaped engaging pieces on the outer periphery of the tip end side of the road cone.

3. A road cone as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that an inner cylinder inserted into the open top of the road cone is provided with a locking piece, and a locking piece hole is provided on the tip side of the road cone to allow the locking piece to protrude outside the road cone.

4. A road cone as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a fitting body that fits over the tip side of the road cone and brings the engaging portion into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the road cone.

5. A road cone-to-cone bar connection structure comprising a locking portion at the tip of the road cone, which is a conical safety device, extending horizontally or diagonally downward and elastically deforming to be able to abut against the outer peripheral surface of the road cone, and annular fitting portions at both ends of the bar body of the cone bar that is installed between adjacent road cones, wherein the locking portion locks the fitting portion into the tip of the road cone so that it does not come off.

6. A road cone-to-cone bar connecting structure as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the engaging portion has one or more band-shaped engaging pieces on the outer periphery of the tip end side of the road cone.

7. A road cone / cone bar connecting structure according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the fitting portion of the cone bar has a separable openable / closable structure at its tip.

8. A road cone-to-cone bar connection structure as described in claim 6, characterized in that an inner cylinder inserted into the open top of the road cone is provided with a locking piece, and a locking piece hole is provided on the tip side of the road cone to allow the locking piece to protrude outside the road cone.

9. A road cone-to-cone bar connection structure according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a fitting body that fits over the tip side of the road cone and brings the engaging portion into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the road cone.

Images