Vertical Panel Delineator with Segmented Flange and A-Frame

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vertical panel traffic channelizers are prone to jamming and sticking when stacked, fail to separate from their ballasting base upon vehicular impact, and are structurally inadequate to withstand high winds, leading to potential damage and non-compliance with regulations.

Innovation Solution

A vertical panel delineator system with recessed areas for accommodating various reflective sheeting configurations, 'kiss-off' stacking lugs to prevent jamming, a reduced flange design for independent flange functionality, and an A-frame shape for enhanced structural strength to maintain orientation under wind stress, ensuring secure engagement with the ballasting base during transport and deployment while allowing easy disengagement upon impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If vertical panels are made stackable to facilitate transportation and storage, then ease of operation is improved, but they jam and stick causing difficulty during deployment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of stackingVSAvoiddeployment reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The panel body is segmented with stacking lugs that create discrete engagement points, allowing panels to stack without full surface contact. This segmentation prevents jamming while maintaining stackability for easy transportation and storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Stacking lugs act as intermediary elements between panel surfaces, providing controlled contact points that facilitate stacking while preventing the panels from sticking together during deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If vertical panels are designed with full periphery flanges for secure base engagement, then reliability is improved, but they fail to separate from the ballasting base upon vehicular impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebase engagement reliabilityVSAvoidimpact damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flange is segmented to extend only about a portion of the periphery rather than the full periphery. This creates localized engagement points that provide secure attachment during transport while allowing the panel to separate upon vehicular impact, reducing damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flange provides localized engagement at specific portions of the periphery rather than uniform engagement around the entire periphery. This local quality enables secure base engagement during normal operation while permitting separation during impact events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If vertical panels are designed with standard flat faces for reflective sheeting, then ease of manufacture is improved, but they are structurally incapable of withstanding high winds from weather or passing vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidwind resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The panel body incorporates curved surfaces and rounded edges instead of completely flat faces. This curvature provides aerodynamic properties that reduce wind resistance and prevent panels from being overturned by high winds from weather or passing vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The panel construction combines materials and structural features that provide both manufacturability and wind resistance, creating a composite structure that withstands high wind forces while remaining practical to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of manufacture

If vertical panels use simple rectangular recessed areas for reflective sheeting, then ease of manufacture is improved, but they cannot accommodate multiple reflective sheeting configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecessed area simplicityVSAvoidreflective sheeting configuration flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed area is designed with a trapezoidal shape that can universally accommodate multiple reflective sheeting configurations including rectangular, triangular, and custom shapes. This single recessed area design provides multi-functionality for different marking patterns and safety requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7730845B1Vertical panel traffic channelizer

Publication Date: 2010.06.08 TRAFFIX DEVICES INC

AI summary

A vertical panel delineator system is capable of withstanding high winds without rotating from a preferred orientation wherein the full width of the device is perpendicular to the direction of oncoming traffic, is stackable without sticking or jamming, and is capable of accommodating multiple reflective sheeting configurations fully within recessed receiving panels on the delineator device. The vertical panel delineator further accommodates, in a secure manner, warning barricade lights of any known construction, and is uniquely capable of retaining secure engagement of the panel body with its ballasting base when being transported or during ordinary deployment, yet readily disengaging body and base upon impact by a vehicle.