Flexible Retro-Reflective Roadway Marking Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current roadway marking devices are not designed to visually delineate travel lanes from curbing and other structures protruding into the vehicular travel way, are prone to damage, and lack adaptability to various surfaces, making them insecure and ineffective in reflecting light to approaching vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A passive elongated flexible roadway marking device with a D-shaped protrusion and retro-reflective tape strips that can be securely attached to road medians, featuring notches for bending and attachment holes for easy installation, ensuring visibility and durability by withstanding vehicle impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional planar retro-reflectors are mounted to guide rails or vertical support structures, then they can reflect light to motorists, but they are frequently damaged, knocked out of position, or completely knocked over

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability of retro-reflectorVSAvoidvulnerability to damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The retro-reflective marking device uses a flexible spline body that can bend and conform to curved surfaces, making it resistant to damage from vehicle impacts and environmental factors. The flexibility allows the device to absorb impact forces without breaking, unlike rigid traditional retro-reflectors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The device is designed to conform to curved surfaces and rounded profiles, allowing it to maintain structural integrity on rounded medians and curbs. The curved design distributes impact forces more effectively and prevents the device from being easily knocked over.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If retro-reflectors are positioned at a distance from the curb, then they can be installed securely, but the curb structure becomes difficult for motorists to see at night

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of installationVSAvoidvisibility of curb structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The retro-reflective elements are arranged in a three-dimensional protrusion that extends outward from the flexible spline body. This vertical dimension ensures that reflective surfaces are positioned at multiple heights, making the curb visible to motorists from various angles and distances while maintaining secure installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If a rigid roadway marking device is used, then it can provide stable light reflection, but it cannot conform to curved surfaces and various structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency of light reflectionVSAvoidconformability to surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible spline body can bend and conform to curved surfaces while maintaining the structural integrity of the retro-reflective elements. This flexibility allows the device to adapt to various road geometries and structures without compromising its ability to reflect light consistently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The retro-reflective marking device is composed of multiple segments or sections that can flex relative to each other, allowing the overall structure to conform to curved surfaces while each segment maintains its rigid retro-reflective properties for consistent light reflection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If traditional roadway marking devices are used, then they can be installed, but they are not designed specifically to visually delineate travel lanes from curbing and other structures protruding into the vehicular travel way

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespecific design for lane delineationVSAvoideffectiveness in visual delineation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device features retro-reflective elements positioned specifically on protrusions that extend toward the vehicular travel way, creating localized high-visibility zones exactly where needed for lane delineation. This targeted placement ensures effective visual separation between travel lanes and curbing structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device provides consistent retro-reflectivity to approaching vehicles from any angle, ensuring improved roadway safety by being adaptable to different surfaces and resistant to damage, while being easy to install and secure.

Implementation Method 1

A plurality of spaced apart retro-reflective elements are attached to the outer surface of the protrusion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRetro-reflection: Retroreflector

Data Source

PatentUS8734048B1Continuous flexible retro-reflective roadway marking device

Publication Date: 2014.05.27 DRISKELL HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A passive elongated flexible roadway marking device attaches and conforms to a curved roadway median. The device includes an integrally formed plastic extruded spline and a protrusion having a D-shaped profile. Notches with stress relief vertices are provided in a flange of the spline to facilitate bending. Attachment holes are provided in each flange of the spline, in an alternating arrangement. Spaced apart retro-reflective tape strips are applied to the curved outer surface of the protrusion. A pressure sensitive adhesive on the bottom of the spline facilitate installation. A coupling connects several units.