Patent Application
20060245826
This invention relates generally to the field of self-standing barrier or barricade devices typically used in vehicular or pedestrian traffic control, the devices being used to control the direction of travel and to prevent passage of motor vehicles or people as the result of their placement in an end-to-end orientation along the sides of roadways or transversely across an open space.
Self-standing traffic control barriers are well known. Usually constructed of concrete, they are typically configured with a narrow rectangular top ridge and a wider rectangular base, with the sloping sides connecting the top ridge to the base usually formed in a slightly convex manner. The barriers are sized so as to be relatively immovable if struck by a vehicle, and placement of the barriers is accomplished by a crane, front loader or similar type of heavy lifting equipment. A length of about 8 feet is common. To control the flow of traffic or to prevent passage through an open area, the barriers are positioned generally in an end-to-end relation.
Because the barriers are made of concrete, each barrier is extremely heavy. Placement and removal require heavy duty equipment. Transportation and storage of the barriers is difficult because of the weight, and also because the barriers are solid objects. The weight problem has been addressed by providing barriers that have closed, hollow interiors to receive ballast such as water or sand. The empty barriers are transported to a site and properly positioned, then loaded with ballast to provide the required weight to secure the barrier in place. Examples of such traffic barriers are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,279,942 to Hausherr, U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,681 to Humphrey, U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,095 to Humphrey, U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,302 to Thompson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,714 to Christensen, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,285 to Christensen.
It is an object of this invention to provide traffic barriers of similar functionality and purpose as the known concrete traffic barrier devices, but which overcome the problems and drawbacks associated with the weight and construction of the known concrete barrier devices. It is an object to provide barrier devices of this type that are readily transportable, easily positioned on site, easily removable, relatively lightweight to handle yet can be made sufficiently heavy during use, and nestable for transport and storage.
The invention comprises in general a traffic control barrier or barricade device having an external configuration similar to that of standard concrete traffic control barriers, in that the barrier preferably comprises a narrow, extended, generally rectangular upper ridge, a wider, extended, generally rectangular base member, inwardly sloping ends, and two sloping side walls extending from the upper ridge to the base member. The side walls are preferably curved inward in a convex manner.
The barrier has an open, hollow interior and the base member has an open bottom for nestability in a vertical stack. A collapsible reservoir is provided within the interior, such that the reservoir can be filled with water, sand or the like to add weight to the barrier through a fill access and fill port, preferably located in the upper ridge and closed by a cap member. A drain member allows the reservoir to be emptied for movement and storage, with a drain access being provided in one of the barrier ends.
The barrier is configured so as to be nestable in a vertical stack with like barriers, in that a barrier with an empty reservoir can be placed atop another reservoir. Because the base is open to the interior and the end walls and side walls slope inward, multiple barriers can be placed into a vertical stack that occupies a reduced and relatively short vertical distance.
Preferably, the barrier is constructed with one end open laterally and the other end with a reduced profile or nose, such that the reduced profile end of one barrier can be inserted into the open end of a second barrier such that the two barriers are joined lengthwise in a male-female connection. A plug or end cap member similar in configuration to the reduced profile nose can also be inserted into the open end of a barrier to close it.
With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in detail with regard for the best mode and the preferred embodiment. In general, the invention is a portable, nestable barrier or barricade device suitable for use in vehicular or pedestrian traffic control situations.
A basic configuration for the invention is shown in
Mounted within the interior 16 is at least one reservoir member 20. The main body 21 of reservoir or container member 20 is constructed of a flexible or collapsible material capable of retaining water, sand or similar aggregate weight or ballast material 99. Most preferably, the main body 21 is a collapsible bag formed of a polymer material, which may be reinforced with fibers, multiple layers, or the like. The main body 21 is mounted to or suspended from the upper ridge 11 and/or one or both of the side walls 13 in suitable manner such that it is suspended within the interior 16 when filled, but may be pushed to the top or side of the interior 16 in a collapsed configuration when empty and the barrier 10 is stacked upon another barrier 10, as shown in
A preferred embodiment of the barrier 10 is shown in
If desired, the open end 35 of the last barrier 10 in a chain of barriers 10 can be sealed with a plug member 40. The overall configuration of plug member 40 is similar to that of the reduced profile nose 30 of the barrier 10, such that plug member 40 comprises an upper ridge member 41, a base member 42, side walls 43 and end walls 44. For nesting purposes, plug member 40 is provided with an open bottom, although a solid bottom could be provided. The plug member 40 is mated with the open end 35 of the barrier 35 in the same manner that the reduced profile nose 30 mates with an open end 35. The plug member 40 may be provided with a reservoir 20 of reduced capacity, loaded through a fill access 17 and drained through a drain access 18. Alternatively, because of its reduced volume, plug member 40 may be filled directly without providing a reservoir 20 where a solid bottom is provided.
As shown in
The barrier 10 may be provided with one or more light recesses 51 to receive battery powered warning lights, fork lift apertures 52 to allow the barriers 10 to be moved easily, and reflector recesses 53 to receive reflecting tape, paint or the like. To further strengthen the barrier 10, especially to retain the compressive loads of stacked barriers 10, reinforcing ribs 19 may be disposed on the base 12, side walls 13, etc.
Suitable and exemplary dimensions for the barriers 10 may be approximately 96 inches in length, approximately 42 inches in height and approximately 24 inches in width, with wall thicknesses of approximately ¼ inch. Suitable and exemplary dimensions for reservoir 20 will vary dependent upon the amount of ballast desired, with a minimum amount of ballast equal to about 100 pounds being desirable. Suitable and exemplary dimensions of the reduced profile nose member 30 are preferably approximately 0.5 inches less than the dimensions of the barrier 10, with a length of approximately 12 inches. Suitable and exemplary dimensions for the plug member 40 are similar to that of the reduced profile nose member 30.
To establish a traffic control system using the barriers 10, stacks of nested barriers 10 are transported to the site and unloaded. Individual barriers 10 are then positioned as desired. If a longitudinally extended barricade is desired, the barriers 10 are mated in end-to-end relation. The reservoirs 20 of the barriers 10 are then filled with a ballast material 99, preferably water since it is easily transported to the site and can be quickly drained from the reservoirs 20 when desired. When the barriers 10 are to be removed, the ballast 99 is drained from the reservoirs 20 and the barriers 10 are separated and stacked for transport.
It is understood that equivalents and substitutions for certain elements set forth above may be obvious to those skilled in the art, and thus the true scope ad definition of the invention is to be as et forth in the following claims.
