US20060266274A1

US20060266274A1 - Specific connecting rod for traffic cones

Info

Publication number: US20060266274A1
Application number: US11/139,096
Authority: US
Inventors: Wen-Nan Kuo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-27
Filing date: 2005-05-27
Publication date: 2006-11-30

Abstract

A specific connecting rod for traffic cones includes an outer rod and an inner rod positioned in the outer rod to telescope therein. The outer ends of the outer rod and of the inner rod are respectively fixed with a socket with a ring fitting around a traffic cone so that the connecting rod can be connected between two traffic cones. The outer rod and the inner rod further respectively have a stop ring fixed on their inner end to keep the inner rod from falling out of the outer rod in telescoping to adjust the whole length of the connecting rod. The light reflective material on the outer surface of the outer rod and the inner rod is never scarred by telescoping movement of the inner rod or by placing the connecting rod on the ground, keeping intact the light reflecting function of he connecting rod.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a specific connecting rod for traffic cones, particularly to one consisting of an inner rod and an outer rod combined together to mutually telescope to adjust the whole length of the connecting rod. The outer rod has a stop ring in an inner end for stopping the inner rod from falling out, and the stop ring cannot scar the reflective material coated on the inner rod, and the reflective material coated on the outer rod cannot be scarred when the connecting rod is placed on the ground. So the specific connecting rod for traffic cones in the invention always maintains good light reflecting effect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A first conventional connecting rod for traffic cones shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 includes an inner rod 10 and an outer rod 11 for the inner rod 10 to extend therein to telescope so as to let the length of the connecting rod adjustable. The inner rod 10 has a fitting ring 100 connected with its outer end, and the outer rod 11 has a fitting ring 110 connected with its outer end for respectively fitting around a traffic cone so as to connect two traffic cones together for cordoning a region. The telescoping function of the inner rod 10 with the outer rod 11 enables the connecting rod convenient for storing, transporting, and packaging and using. Further, the outer rod 11 has its outer end provided with an stop ring 111 fitted in its inner wall, and the inner rod 10 has its inner end provided with an outer stop ring 101 so the inner rod 10 may not fall out of the outer rod 11 by mutual blocking of the two stop rings 101 and 110 when the inner rod 10 is telescoped to the longest. Although the stop rings 101 and 110 have its outer surface shaped convex as to not produce scar on the reflective material on the outer surface of the inner rod 10, the section where the inner end of the inner rod 10 abutting to the inner end of the outer rod 11 may sag down owing to no supporters when the inner rod 10 is telescoped to form the longest length of the whole connecting rod as shown in FIG. 1. So the outer rod 11 may have the outer surface 103 of its inner end with any protective means to touch the ground, and some section of the outer rod 11 may touch the ground to produce some scar to the reflective material on the outer surface of the rod 11, and the night-light reflective effect may be reduced.
Another conventional connecting rod for traffic cones shown in FIG. 2 includes an inner rod 13 and an outer rod 14 combined to telescope mutually to let the length of the connecting rod adjustable. The inner rod 13 has its inner end 130 shaped like a trumpet, but the outer rod 14 has its inner end 141 shrunk to fit closely around the inner rod 13, with the rest portion except the inner end having a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the inner rod 13. So the mutual contact of the inner end 130 with the inner end 141 may stop the inner rod 13 from falling out of the outer rod 14. But the disadvantage is that the inner end 141 is sharp to produce scar to the reflective material 142 on the outer surface of the inner rod 13 during telescoping to worsen the night light reflective effect. Moreover, the inner end portion 143 of the outer rod 14 has no protective means, so the reflective material on the outer surface of the outer rod 14 may receive scar if the connecting rod is placed directly on the ground as shown in FIG. 3. In addition, the trumpet shape of the inner end of the inner rod 13 and the shrunk shape of the inner end of the outer rod 14 takes time in their making process, slowing down the speed of production.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The feature of the invention is an inner rod and an outer rod combined to mutually telescope to form a specific connecting rod for traffic cones. The inner and the outer rod respectively have a stop ring provided at an inner end of a cross-section of an inverted T-shape. The stop ring of the inner rod is positioned in the inner surface, and that of the outer rod is positioned on an outer surface to fit around the inner rod. So the stop rings of the inner and the outer rod can keep the stability of the connecting rod, whether they are telescoped to meet or not meet each other.
One more feature of the invention is that the outer diameter of the stop ring of the inner rod is equal to the inner diameter of the outer rod, and the inner diameter of the small portion of the stop ring is equal to the outer diameter of the inner rod. Therefore, the center portion of the connecting rod can be kept straight, not sagging down, even if the inner rod and the outer rod are telescoped to form the longest length of the connecting rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

This invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a first conventional connecting rod for traffic cones;
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second conventional connecting rod for traffic cones;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the second conventional connecting rod for traffic cones placed on the ground;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a specific connecting rod for traffic cones in the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the specific connecting rod for traffic cones in the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a magnified cross-sectional view of the part marked (A) in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the specific connecting rod for traffic cones practically used in a first way in the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the specific connecting rod for traffic cones practically used in a second way in the present invention; and,
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the specific connecting rod for traffic cones practically used in a third in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of a specific connecting rod for traffic cones, as shown in FIG. 4, includes an inner rod 2 and an outer rod 3 for the inner rod 2 to extend and telescope therein to adjust the whole length of the specific connecting rod.
The inner rod 2 has its outer surface coated with a light reflective material 20 of a comparatively stark brilliant color such as red, orange, etc., and a socket 22 fixed on an inner end and having a socket end 220 and a ring 221 extending outward from the outer end of the socket 22. The center hole 2200 of the socket inner end 220 fits around the outer end of the inner rod 2 and then fixed tightly with a screw 2211 with the outer end 21 of the inner rod 2. Then, the ring 221 can fit around a traffic cone 4 as shown in FIG. 7. The inner end 23 of the inner rod 2 is fixed with a stop ring 24 of a cross-section of an inverted T-shape, having a small diameter portion 240 and a large diameter portion 241, with the small diameter portion 240 fitted in a hole 230 of the inner end 23 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
The outer rod 3 has its outer surface coated with light reflective material 30 of a comparatively stark brilliant color such as red, orange, etc., and a socket 32 with an outer end 320 and a ring 321 extending outward. The outer end 320 of the socket 32 has a center hole 3200 to fit around the outer end 31 of the outer rod 3 and fixed tightly with a screw 3211. The ring 321 can fit around a traffic cone 4 so as to connect the connecting rod between two traffic cones 4, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 in various ways. Further, the outer rod 3 has its inner end 31 connected with a stop ring 34 of a cross-section of an inverted T-shape having a small diameter portion 340 and a large diameter portion 341, with the large portion 341 fitting around the inner end 33 as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.
In assembling, the stop rings 24 and 34 are first combined with the inner rod 2 and the outer rod 3, and then the inner rod 2 is inserted in the outer rod 3, with the outer end 21 of the inner rod 2 extending through the hole 310 of the outer rod 3 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and exposes out of the outer rod 3. Then the sockets 22 and 32 are respectively fixed around the inner end 23 of the inner rod 2 and the inner end 33 of the outer rod 3, finishing assembly of the connecting rod for traffic cones in the invention.
Next, After the inner rod 2 telescopes in the outer rod 3, the center portion of the connecting rod may not sag, but keep its straightness even when the inner rod 2 telescopes to let the connecting rod have the longest length, because the outer diameter of the large portion 241 of the stop ring 24 is equal to the hole 310 of the outer rod 3, the outer diameter of the inner rod 2 is equal to the inner diameter of the small portion 340, and the large portion 241 and the small portion 34G both have a proper length. In addition the connecting rod cannot touch the ground even it is placed on the ground, without happening any problem of the light reflective material of the connecting rod being scared. Moreover, the contact portion 342 of the inner rod 2 and the outer rod 3 is shaped curved, impossible to scar the light reflective material of the inner and the outer rod 2 and 3 during telescoping the inner rod 2 so as to keep intact the light reflecting function of the connecting rod.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A specific connecting rod for traffic cones comprising:

an inner rod 2 having its outer surface coated with light reflective material, a socket 22 fixed around an outer end 21 of said inner rod 2 and having an inner end 220 and a ring 221 extending outward from an outer end, said inner end 220 having a center hole 2200 fitting around said outer end of said inner rod 2 and fixed tightly with a screw 2211; said inner rod having an inner end 23 connected firmly with a stop ring 24 having a small diameter portion 240 and a large diameter portion 241, said small diameter portion fitted in the center hole of said inner end 23: and,

an outer rod 3 having its outer surface coated with light reflective material, a socket 32 fixed around an outer end 31 of said outer rod 3 and having an inner end 320 and a ring 321 extending outward from an outer end, said inner end 320 having a center hole 3200 to fit around said outer end 31 and fixed tightly with a screw 3211; said outer rod 3 having an inner end 33 fixed with a stop ring 34, said stop ring 34 having a small diameter portion 340 and a large diameter portion 341, said large diameter 341 portion fitted around said inner end 33 of said outer rod 3.