US Patent:
20060257204, Nov 16, 2006
Inventors:
Jacob Matiosian - Norridge IL, US
Timothy Campion - Schaumburg IL, US
John Talamo - Elgin IL, US
Rand Eikelberger - Chicago IL, US
Carey Pickard - Auckland, NZ
Assignee:
Hye Lites Industries, LLC - Elk Grove IL
International Classification:
E01F 9/06
Abstract:
A marker for indicating boundaries or delineating traffic lanes in pavement such as roadways or airport runways is described. In an embodiment, the marker includes a high-strength plastic housing containing at least one retroreflective reflector, a light emitting diode (LED), at least one solar collector and a rechargeable battery. The retroreflective reflectors reflect light back to a light source, such as the headlights of a vehicle on a roadway or the light of an airplane on a runway. The LED can provide a light source that can be seen from greater viewing angles than the light reflected by the reflectors providing better visibility to operators of vehicles on curved roadways and allowing captains of airplanes to see the markers from the cockpit at closer range than if the markers used reflectors alone. In an embodiment, the marker also can include circuitry that controls the operation of the LED, the flow of current through the circuit and the charging of the battery.