Patent Application
20240337078
The present invention relates generally to the field of roadway construction. More specifically, the present invention relates to an attachable device for a grader that extends below the blade of the grader and forms a safety edge in a ground surface as a grader levels said surface. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
The United States Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the Federal Highway Administration, State Departments of Transportation, and various other governing and oversight bodies has set forth guidelines and requirements emphasizing the significance of a thickened or safety edge on public roadways. This requirement provides a gradual transition for drivers who, for various reasons, might drift or veer off the main course of the highway and facilitates a smoother and safer re-entry onto the main road, thereby diminishing the potential for vehicular mishaps that might arise due to sudden, sharp edges. Secondly, this requirement reduces the number of accidents that are directly associated with pavement edge discrepancies.
However, the importance of the precise and accurate execution of this safety edge cannot be overstated. Should there be inconsistencies or if the thickened edge is not sculpted as per specified standards, the consequences can be grave. Incorrectly formed edges can drastically increase the risk of severe accidents, putting motorists' lives in peril. Furthermore, from a project management and economic perspective, an incorrectly formed edge has significant downstream implications. Labor costs tend to surge due to the need for rectifications, the consumption of asphalt increases leading to escalated project costs, and there is the looming threat of the Department of Transportation and county authorities rejecting the work done. Such rejections not only lead to financial ramifications but also result in extended delays to the project's timeline, ultimately hindering the overall efficiency and effectiveness of roadway improvement initiatives.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a roadway construction device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a roadway safety-edge-forming device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a roadway safety-edge-forming device that can easily form a safety edge on a ground surface during roadway construction. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a roadway safety-edge-forming device that can easily form a safety edge on a ground surface during roadway construction and wherein the device can be easily attached to a grader or other leveling/grading equipment.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a roadway safety-edge-forming device. The device is comprised of a body that can be attached to a blade of a grader or other similar machinery. The body is comprised of a plurality of edges. A portion of said edges extend below the bottom edge of the blade of the grader. As a result, the edges of the body create a channel within the ground surface/aggregate as the blade moves along said surface. The channel produced is sufficient to act as a safety edge.
In this manner, the roadway safety-edge-forming device of the present invention accomplishes all the foregoing objectives and provides a device that can easily form a safety edge on a ground surface during roadway construction. To do so, the device can be easily attached to a grader or other leveling/grading equipment. As a result, a portion of the device extends below the bottom edge of the blade to penetrate the ground surface as the blade moves along the ground surface. This allows various edges of the device to form a channel within the ground surface that can be used as a safety edge.
The following presents a simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a roadway safety-edge-forming device that can be attached to the blade of a grader or other grading machine such that a channel can be formed by the device penetrating a ground surface as the blade is moved along the ground surface. As a result, the device creates a channel in the ground surface to create a safety edge in aggregate while building a roadway.
The device is comprised of a body. At least one opening of the body allows at least one fastener to be placed through the body and through a blade in order to secure the device to the blade. The body is also comprised of a plurality of edges. The first edge is preferably perpendicular to the second edge. The second edge is preferably perpendicular to the third edge. The fourth edge preferably forms an obtuse angle with the third edge. The fourth edge then forms an obtuse angle with the fifth edge.
The second edge, third edge, and fourth edge preferably extend below the bottom edge of the blade the device is secured to. In this manner, the edges create a channel in a ground surface as the blade travels along the ground surface. As a result, the blade levels the ground surface wherein the device creates the channel which creates a necessary safety edge for highway and roadway construction.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of device comprised of at least one edge. Then, the body of the device can be attached to a blade of a grader (or other similar grading/leveling equipment of the like) via placing at least one fastener through at least one opening of the body and the blade. More specifically, the body is positioned on the blade such that a portion of (or the entirety of) the second edge, third edge, and fourth edge, extend below the bottom edge of the blade. Then, the blade can be used to grade/level an aggregate wherein the device penetrates the aggregate and creates a channel via the edges that serves as a safety edge.
Accordingly, the roadway safety-edge-forming device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a device that can easily form a safety edge on a ground surface during roadway construction. To do so, the device can be easily attached to a grader or other leveling/grading equipment. As a result, a portion of the device extends below the bottom edge of the blade to penetrate the ground surface as the blade moves along the ground surface. This allows various edges of the device to form a channel within the ground surface that can be used as a safety edge. In this manner, the roadway safety-edge-forming device overcomes the limitations of existing methods and devices used to create safety edges during roadway construction known in the art.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a roadway construction device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a roadway safety-edge-forming device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a roadway safety-edge-forming device that can easily form a safety edge on a ground surface during roadway construction. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a roadway safety-edge-forming device that can easily form a safety edge on a ground surface during roadway construction and wherein the device can be easily attached to a grader or other leveling/grading equipment.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a roadway safety-edge-forming device. The device can be attached to the blade of a grader or other grading machine such that a channel can be formed by the device penetrating a ground surface as the blade is moved along the ground surface. As a result, the device creates a channel in the ground surface to create a safety edge in aggregate while building a roadway.
The device is comprised of a body that may have at least one opening that allows at least one fastener to be placed through the body and through a blade in order to secure the device to the blade. The body is also comprised of a plurality of edges. The first edge is preferably perpendicular to the second edge. The second edge is preferably perpendicular to the third edge. The fourth edge preferably forms an obtuse angle with the third edge. The fourth edge then forms an obtuse angle with the fifth edge.
The second edge, third edge, and fourth edge preferably extend below the bottom edge of the blade the device is secured to. In this manner, the edges create a channel in a ground surface as the blade travels along the ground surface. As a result, the blade levels the ground surface wherein the device creates the channel which creates a necessary safety edge for highway and roadway construction.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of device comprised of at least one edge. Then, the body of the device can be attached to a blade of a grader (or other similar grading/leveling equipment of the like) via placing at least one fastener through at least one opening of the body and the blade. More specifically, the body is positioned on the blade such that a portion of (or the entirety of) the second edge, third edge, and fourth edge, extend below the bottom edge of the blade. Then, the blade can be used to grade/level an aggregate wherein the device penetrates the aggregate and creates a channel via the edges that serves as a safety edge.
Accordingly, the roadway safety-edge-forming device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a device that can easily form a safety edge on a ground surface during roadway construction. To do so, the device can be easily attached to a grader or other leveling/grading equipment. As a result, a portion of the device extends below the bottom edge of the blade to penetrate the ground surface as the blade moves along the ground surface. This allows various edges of the device to form a channel within the ground surface that can be used as a safety edge. In this manner, the roadway safety-edge-forming device overcomes the limitations of existing methods and devices used to create safety edges during roadway construction known in the art.
Referring initially to the drawings,
The device 100 is comprised of a body 110. The body 110 is preferably made from a durable metal material. The body 110 is comprised of at least one opening 112. The opening 112 allows at least one fastener 170 to be placed through the body 110 and through a blade 10 in order to secure the device 100 to the blade 10, as also seen in
The body 110 is comprised of a plurality of edges 120, 130, 140, 150, 160. The first edge 120 is preferably perpendicular to the second edge 130. The second edge 130 is preferably perpendicular to the third edge 140. The fourth edge 150 preferably forms an obtuse angle with the third edge 140. The fourth edge 150 then forms an obtuse angle with the fifth edge 160.
The second edge 130, third edge 140, and fourth edge 150 preferably extend below the bottom edge 12 of the blade 10 the device 100 is secured to. In this manner, the edges 130, 140, 150 create a channel 16 in a ground surface 14 as the blade 10 travels along the ground surface 14, as seen in
The channel 16 provides the necessary safety edge for highway and roadway construction. The dimensions and angles of each edge 120, 130, 140, 150, 160 as well as the height 180 and width 182 of the body 110 may differ in various embodiments to produce channels 16 with various shapes, depths, widths, etc. In the preferred embodiment, the channel 16 created by the device 100 has a first angle 18, a second angle 20, and a third angle 22 which are created by the edges 130, 140, 150 and the bottom edge 12 of the blade 10.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using 200 the device 100, as seen in
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “roadway safety-edge-forming device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the roadway safety-edge-forming device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the roadway safety-edge-forming device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the roadway safety-edge-forming device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the roadway safety-edge-forming device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the roadway safety-edge-forming device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the roadway safety-edge-forming device 100 may be of any size, shape, and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/494,059, which was filed on Apr. 4, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63494059 | Apr 2023 | US |
