Patent Application
20180155887
The present invention relates to the field of traffic barricades, specifically, traffic barricades which can accept accessories and wiring to power electronic accessories.
Traffic barricades have been present on roads and highways for many years. They are strategically placed to restrict automobiles from driving into dangerous situations. Traffic barricades may be placed to keep cars from entering construction zones, straying into oncoming traffic, and meandering into biker lanes. Barricades may also be present to protect pedestrians, bikers, and buildings. There is general dissatisfaction (and resultant deaths) among bicyclists of dangerous incursions of motor vehicles into the bicycle marked lanes in urban areas. In less congested areas the vehicle speeds increase and the danger grows.
Traffic barricades appear in various shapes, sizes, and materials. Small, portable traffic barricades may be placed on the road to warn drivers of upcoming obstacles or construction zones. Large, concrete barriers may be placed in between opposing lanes of traffic to prevent cars from colliding into oncoming traffic, wherein the large barriers are able to stop the movement of a vehicle that may be out of control or erratically driven.
Currently, reflective coatings or tape may be applied to the barricades to make them more visible to drivers. To further increase visibility, lights may be mounted to the barricades, but the lights are powered by a battery which limits the intensity of the light and type of light that may be used. If lights of greater intensity are to be used, they would require electricity supplied from an external power source. Connecting lights from to an external power source might increase the time required to install the barriers. Furthermore, they would not provide a permanent lighting solution to provide pedestrians and bicyclists with better visibility at night or in dark situations. Bicycle commuting to work is not discretionary and may require riding in the dark.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a barricade system with an embedded conduit, and what may be further desired is a barricade adapted to easily accept electrical accessories to be connected to a power source via internal wiring in a provided conduit.
The present invention of a traffic barrier with embedded conduit comprises of an elongated body having a length and a side wall shape of a known traffic barrier, designed to minimize vehicle damage. A conduit is provided throughout the length of a barrier. The conduit may be adapted to receive an irrigation system or wiring system. In an embodiment, the conduit is provided with a sleeve or insert which may be plastic, metal, or another material deemed suitable.
In the preferred embodiment, the traffic barrier is further provided with a keyway, located at the bottom of the barrier. The traffic barrier may be further provided with one or more drainways running perpendicular to the length of the barrier. The keyways and drainways allow for flowing water or rain runoff to pass through the barriers. One or more anchoring devices may nest within the keyways and drainways of the barrier. The anchoring devices are provided with a plurality of holes to fasten to the roadbed and barrier.
In an embodiment, the traffic barrier is further provided with one or more accessory sleeves. The accessory sleeves are holes with apertures provided on the top surface of the barrier. The accessory sleeves may be provided to hold poles or posts to provide fencing or signage. The accessory sleeves may be adapted to be in communication with the conduit provided through the length of the barrier to allow for interconnected wiring.
In an embodiment, one end of the traffic barrier is provided to be larger, having a generally square cross section. The larger end may be further provided with a cavity to house a battery. In the embodiment, the barrier may further be comprised of a solar sleeve. The solar sleeve will allow for a solar panel to be placed in communication with the battery. In an embodiment, the traffic barrier having a larger end is to be provided as an end segment in a series of barriers.
The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to
In reference to
In a preferred embodiment, a solar sleeve 2 will be provided with an opening on the top of the barrier. The solar sleeve 2 is adapted to accept a pole in electric communication with a solar panel (not shown). The solar sleeve 2 will be configured in communication with the battery cavity 1, such that wiring and electrical connections may be provided so an attached solar panel may provide charge to a battery kept within the cavity 1.
In a preferred embodiment, the battery cavity 1 is provided with a battery to be in electric communication with a conduit 3 provided through the center of the barrier. The conduit 3 may be a simple through-hole throughout the length of the body of the traffic barrier. In another embodiment, the conduit 3 will be provided as a pipe or insert. In an embodiment, the conduit piping will be comprised of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), metal, or another material deemed suitable. The conduit 3 is further provided to be in communication with a plurality of accessory sleeves 4. The accessory sleeves 4 are configured to accept a variety of accessories, which may or may not, be electrically active. Accessories to be provided within the sleeves may include lights, advertisements, pedestrian crossing lights, traffic signs, fencing, rails, or other accessories deemed appropriate by one skilled in the art. In an embodiment, wiring may be provided through the conduit 3 to provide an electrical connection between the accessory sleeves 4, conduit 3, and battery cavity 1.
In an embodiment, the end barrier of the Traffic barrier with embedded conduit may be further provided with one or more horizontal sleeves 5. The horizontal sleeves 5 may be used for placement and transportation of the traffic barrier. In another embodiment, the horizontal sleeves 5 may be used to accommodate irrigation piping. In an embodiment, the horizontal sleeves 5 are in communication with the conduit 3 and may provided to accept both electrically active and passive accessories such as lights, advertisements, pedestrian crossing lights, traffic signs, fencing, rails, or other accessories deemed appropriate by one skilled in the art. In an embodiment with electrically active accessories, wiring may be provided to create an electrical connection between the horizontal sleeves 5, conduit 3, and battery cavity 1.
In a preferred embodiment, the traffic barrier is provided with on more drainways 6 to allow water to pass through during rain or storms. The drainways 6 also provide an aperture for a forklift to engage with while the traffic barrier is being moved or placed into position. In the preferred embodiment, the traffic barrier is further provided with a keyway 7. The keyway 7 may be provided for additional drainage. In an embodiment, a nesting anchor (not shown) may be provided within the keyway 7 to provide additional support for the barrier.
In reference to
In an embodiment, the middle barrier of the RAGSBLOCK traffic barrier may be further provided with one or more horizontal sleeves 15. The horizontal sleeves 15 may be used for placement and transportation of the traffic barrier. In another embodiment, the horizontal sleeves 15 may be used to accommodate irrigation piping. In an embodiment, the horizontal sleeves 15 may be provided with wiring to be in electric communication with wiring provided in the conduit 13. In the embodiment, the horizontal sleeves 15 may be provided to accept both electrically active and passive accessories such as lights, advertisements, pedestrian crossing lights, traffic signs, fencing, rails, or other accessories deemed appropriate by one skilled in the art.
In a preferred embodiment, the traffic barrier is provided with on more drainways 16 to allow water to pass through during rain or storms. The drainways 16 also provide an aperture for a forklift to engage with while the traffic barrier is being moved or placed into position. In the preferred embodiment, the traffic barrier is further provided with a keyway 17. The keyway 17 may be provided for additional drainage. In an embodiment, a nesting anchor (not shown) may be provided within the keyway 17 to provide additional support for the barrier.
In a preferred embodiment, the RAGSBLOCK traffic barrier is comprised mostly of concrete, specifically with a mix number of 6. The concrete may be casted over folded wire and reinforced with rebar, as is known in the art. In another embodiment, the traffic barriers may be metal, plastic, composite, or another material deemed suitable by one skilled in the art. The barriers may be casted off site and transported to the location they are to be installed, providing for quick installation with minimal traffic closures. In a preferred embodiment, the RAGSBLOCK traffic barrier is shaped like what is known as a Jersey barrier, having an angled base which tapers to approximately half the height of the barrier. This angle is provided to deflect the tires of a vehicle to prevent damage to the body of the vehicle, and is known in the art.
In the preferred embodiment, the middle and end segments are provided in series to form an elongated traffic barrier which also functions as an encased group of conduits to be referred to as a RAGSBLOCK system. In an embodiment in which one or more end segment barriers are provided with a battery, the entire RAGSBLOCK system may be electrically active. In the embodiment, the conduit of each barrier may be coupled with an extension piping to link the conduits of the individual barriers. In another embodiment, in which conduits provided irrigation piping, a coupling element may be provided to create a continuous flow between each of the individual barriers throughout the RAGSBLOCK system.
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The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims.
