Abstract
A traffic safety device placement apparatus that permits the placement of traffic safety devices with reduced labor requirements and increased safety measures. Traffic safety devices can be moved into or out of the roadway without the need for anyone being exposed to traffic and can be placed much more quickly than previously known devices.
Claims
1. A retrofitable traffic safety device placement apparatus removably attached to a vehicle, comprising: an attaching device for removably attaching said apparatus to a vehicle; an intake end for receiving a traffic safety device; a transfer chute connected to said intake end wherein said traffic safety device moves through said transfer chute; and an ejection end connected to said transferring chute wherein said traffic safety device is permitted to exit said apparatus for placement onto or off a roadway.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transfer chute is comprised of guide rails located on opposite sides of said transfer chute enabling said traffic safety device to pass between said guide rails.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said guide rails are coated with friction reducing material.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transfer chute is located at a 30 degree to 50 degree angle relative to said vehicle.
5. A method for placing traffic safety devices comprising: removably attaching an attaching device to the existing receiver hitch of a vehicle; capturing traffic safety devices within an intake end connected to said attaching device; moving said traffic safety devices through a transfer chute connected to said intake end; and ejecting said traffic safety devices from an ejection end connected to said transfer chute to a desired location.
6. A traffic safety device placement apparatus removably attached to a vehicle, comprising: an attaching device for removably attaching said apparatus to a vehicle; an intake end for receiving a traffic safety device; a transfer chute connected to said intake end wherein said traffic safety device moves through said transfer chute; and an ejection end connected to said transferring chute wherein said traffic safety device is permitted to exit said apparatus for placement onto or off a roadway.
7. A traffic safety device placement apparatus attached to a vehicle, comprising: an attaching device for attaching said apparatus to a vehicle; an intake end for receiving a traffic safety device; a transfer chute connected to said intake end wherein said traffic safety device moves through said transfer chute; and an ejection end connected to said transferring chute wherein said traffic safety device is permitted to exit said apparatus for placement onto or off a roadway.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is another side perspective view of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the present invention deployed on a vehicle.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a top view of the present invention deployed on a vehicle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] As shown in the accompanying drawings, this is a traffic safety device placement apparatus. FIG. 1 show a side perspective view of traffic safety device placement apparatus 10 and includes hitch attachment 11 and hitch attachment reinforcement plate 12, which are used to connect traffic safety device placement apparatus 10 to the existing hitch on a vehicle. Hitch attachment 11 is connected to horizontal supports 19, which attach to interior guide rail 15. After traffic safety device placement apparatus 10 is attached to a vehicle, the driver would approach a traffic safety device, such as a traffic barrel, so that the traffic barrel would encounter intake guides 13, which would direct the traffic barrel through entry gate 18 into guide chute 14. Guide chute 14 is defined by interior guide rail 15 and exterior guide rail 16. Interior support rails 17 help stabilize the traffic barrel when it passes through guide chute 14. The traffic barrel then passes through exit gate 20 into ejection chute 21. Ejection chute 21 is defined by exterior guide rail 16, interior guide rail 15, ejection guide support 22, outer support rails 23, and ejection guide 24. Ejection chute guide 25 is adjustably attached to the outer end of exterior guide rail 16 and outer support rails 23 and can be adjusted according to the desired final placement of the traffic barrels. Ejection guide 24 can also be adjusted according to the desired final placement of the traffic barrels. Safety lights 26 are affixed to upper portions of traffic safety device placement apparatus 10. Strap support hooks 27 are provided in case there is a need to attach straps between traffic safety device placement apparatus 10 and the vehicle to which it is attached for leveling or support purposes. Connection reinforcements 28 provide additional support to potential high stress areas of traffic safety device placement apparatus 10.
[0023] FIG. 2 provides a perspective view opposite of the view provided in FIG. 1. Hitch attachment 11 and hitch reinforcement plate 12 attach to horizontal supports 19, which attach to interior guide rail 15. Entry gate support 29 attaches to horizontal support 19 and entry gate 18. Exit gate support 30 attaches to horizontal support 19 and exit gate 20. Intake guides 13 extend outward from entry gate 18 to enable the capture of a desired traffic safety device. Once the traffic safety device is captured, it passes through entry gate 18 into guide chute 14 through exit gate 20 into ejection 21 and past ejection guide 24 and ejection chute guide 25 to the desired final placement. A traffic safety device that is captured within guide chute 14 traffic safety device placement apparatus 10 is supported by entry gate 18, interior guide rail 15, exterior guide rail 16 and inner support rails 17, which enables a worker to drive the vehicle to which traffic safety device placement apparatus 10 is attached at higher speed, thus enabling the placement of traffic safety devices to be completed more quickly than using previous known devices. It takes only two minutes to set one mile of barrels using the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a top view of traffic safety device placement apparatus 10. When traffic safety device placement apparatus 10 is attached to the existing hitch on a vehicle, intake guides 13 extend outward from the vehicle so that the vehicle has adequate clearance to approach a traffic safety device without hitting the traffic safety device with the vehicle. A captured traffic safety device slides through entry gate 18 along guide chute 14 through exit gate 20 into ejection chute 21 and is placed precisely where desired using the adjustability of ejection guide 24 and ejection chute guide 25.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows traffic safety device placement apparatus 10 attached to a vehicle 31. Support straps 32 are connected between vehicle 31 and traffic safety device placement apparatus 10 using strap support hooks 27. FIG. 3 shows traffic safety device placement apparatus 10 being used for the initial placement of traffic barrels 33. Hitch attachment 11 is inserted to existing hitch 34 on the back of vehicle 31. In this case, worker 35 lowers traffic barrels 33 off of the side of vehicle 31 to the roadway. Once a traffic barrel 33 is on the ground, it enters traffic safety device placement apparatus 10 via intake guides 13 through entry gate 18, where it impacts exterior guide rail 16, inner support rails 17 and interior guide rail 15 as it enters guide chute 14. Nylon or other suitable material may be affixed to the members that define guide chute 14 to assist with the smooth transition of traffic barrel 33 from entry gate 18 through guide chute 14 through exit gate 20 into ejection chute 21 and to final placement. Once the barrels have been initially placed, there is no longer a need for worker 35 to place the barrels. Instead, a single worker drives vehicle 31 along the roadway to capture the previously placed traffic barrels 33 and move the barrels into or out of the roadway. It is the subsequent moving of barrels at the start and each day of a project that is completed much more quickly and safely than it has ever been done before using previous devices.
[0026] FIG. 5 provides a top view of the configuration for the initial placement of traffic barrels. Worker 35 is located within the bed of vehicle 31 and lowers traffic barrels 33 onto the roadway. In this view, a traffic barrel 31 is entering traffic safety device placement apparatus 10 via the intake guides and entry gate 18. Another traffic barrel 33 is located within guide chute 14, while another traffic barrel is being precisely placed as it leaves ejection chute 21 past adjustable ejection chute guide 25 and ejection guide 24. Traffic safety device placement apparatus 10 is attached to vehicle 31 by hitch attachment 11 and support straps 32. Once the traffic barrels are initially placed, there is no longer a need for worker 35 to be present in the bed of vehicle 31. A single worker can drive vehicle 31 with traffic safety device placement apparatus 10 attached to move the barrels into or out of the roadway.
[0027] The traffic safety device placement apparatus of the present invention can also be configured to attach to a vehicle in such a manner that it captures and moves traffic safety devices from the passenger side of a vehicle to the driver side of a vehicle.
[0028] The description of the invention above should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to the disclosed embodiment because those who are skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to devise other equivalent forms thereof within the scope of the invention. Variations and changes, which are obvious to one skilled in the art, are intended to be within the scope and nature of the present invention.
