Patent Application
20090238641
This invention relates to the field of parking curb stabilization. Specifically this invention provides a system and method with a means to stabilize and hold the anchoring object, which is typically a rod or a spike, for a parking curb to prevent the creep caused by expansion and contraction of the substrate below the parking curb.
Conventional concrete parking curbs are used to provide a barrier at the head parking spaces. This barrier provides a driver a visual and physical marker on how far to pull into a parking space. Parking curbs are typically made of precast concrete, although other suitable materials, such as rubber and plastic, may be used.
A parking curb may be anchored into a substrate, such as concrete, asphalt, or soil. The anchoring means is conventionally provided by either rods or spikes, typically made of steel or rebar.
Over time, in response to changing temperature, frost, and settling, the substrate may experience expansion and contraction. This expansion and contraction of the substrate can cause movement of the anchoring means due to pressure exerted by the substrate on the anchoring means. Specifically, the anchoring means can be forced upward, past the top of the parking curb, which the direction of least resistance.
If the anchoring means is driven far enough upward, it becomes a hazard both to people and vehicles. Specifically, a person could trip over the protruding anchor rod, leading to a possible fall and subsequent injury and a vehicle's bumper can catch on the protruding anchor causing physical damage to the vehicle. The risk of this happening is especially pronounced for vehicles that sit low to the ground, such as high performance automobiles. The damage caused to the vehicle can range from moderate, such as a scrape, to severe, such as ripping off the bumper or a portion of the bumper or causing undercarriage damage to the vehicle.
This and other drawbacks exist.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a means to secure an anchoring means of a parking curb in place to prevent movement of the anchoring means due to expansion or contraction of an anchoring substrate.
A system for anchoring a parking curb is provided which may include an anchoring rod and a plate. The anchoring rod bisects the plate and is parallel to the thickness of the plate. The anchoring rod may bisect the plate through a center point of the plate. The plate may be secured to the anchoring rod. In some embodiments, the anchoring rod and plate can be manufactured as one piece. The plate may be of any suitable shape, including square and rectangular.
The material used for the anchoring rod comprises any suitable material and may include: rebar, steel, or carbon fiber.
A parking curb system is also provided which may include a parking curb having one or more holes extending in a vertical direction through the thickness of the curb, an anchoring rod, and a plate. The anchoring rod may through the plate whereby the anchoring rod bisects the plate and is parallel to the thickness of the plate. The anchoring rod length extending above the top surface of the plate may fit into the one or more holes in the parking curb. The anchoring rod length extending below the bottom surface of the plate may be inserted into a suitable substrate to hold the parking curb in place.
Further, the parking curb may have a recess manufactured to fit the plate in the bottom of the parking curb. This recess can extends transversely from side to side of the bottom of the parking curb. The recess may also not extend transversely from side to side of the bottom of the parking curb.
A method for anchoring a parking curb is provided, wherein the method may include, inserting the anchoring rod of the anchoring into a substrate; and lowering the parking curb onto the anchoring rod so that the parking curb rests upon the plate fitted to the anchoring rod.
Additional embodiments may be considered.
Referring now to the drawings and particularly
Plate 14 can be made to slide onto anchoring rod 12 prior to installation in the parking curb. Also, plate 14 can be manufactured as an integral part of anchoring rod 12, for example anchoring rod 12 and plate 14 being cast or forged as a single component. For example, plate 14 can be slid onto anchoring rod 12 and welded into place. The preferred embodiment of the present invention has plate 14 secured in some manner to anchoring rod 12.
A hole in the middle of plate 14 may be provided of sufficient diameter to fit around the diameter 24 of anchoring rod 12, if anchoring rod 12 and plate 14 are not a manufacture of one unit. For example, if anchoring rod 12 is made of rebar, the diameter of the hole must be such as to take into account the ridges typically found on a rebar rod. In order to provide protection against anchoring rod 12 creeping upward due to expansion and contraction of a substrate, the hole in plate 14 must be such that a snug, friction fit is provided with anchoring rod 12 so that a tight coupling is ensured. Also, the hole in plate 14 may be located in a position other than the center of the plate.
Various embodiments may also use a hinged opening on plate 14 to allow for easier installation on anchoring rod 12. For example, plate 14 may be hinged to open in a horizontal plane to be fit around the diameter 24 of anchoring rod 12. Plate 14 would then be closed once it is in place around anchoring rod 12. The hinged opening may then be welded or clamped shut to prevent future opening of the plate. Also, the ability to open may be left intact for future removal of the plate.
Plate 14 may be of sufficient thickness 19 to provide protection against the creep of anchoring rod 12 without buckling or failing.
Returning to
Dimensions of plate 14 may be such that plate 14 may fit completely under parking curb 32 with no protrusion from under the edges of curb 32, as illustrated in
An explanation of how various embodiments of the disclosure work will next be provided. Anchoring rod 12 may be fitted with plate 14 to form anchoring system 10. The anchor system 10 of anchoring rod 12 and plate 14 may then be installed into a substrate. As noted above, the substrate may be concrete, asphalt, or soil. Other substrates may be used as is known in the art. The installation of parking curb system 30 is anticipated to be at the head of parking space. Typically two anchor points may be required for a standard parking curb, although other types of parking curbs may require additional anchoring points. Once anchoring system 10 is installed in the substrate, parking curb 32 may be fitting into place over anchoring system 10 and lowered into place. It is anticipated that parking curb 32 will rest upon plate 14, which in turn rests upon plane P3 of the substrate which is the top surface of the substrate.
In various embodiments, a recess may be made in the substrate which allows plate 14 to sit in said recess with the upper surface of plate 14 flush with the substrate surface.
In various embodiments, a recess 70 may be manufactured in parking curb 32. Recess 70 is illustrated in
Once parking curb 32 is in place, plate 14 may provide for the transfer of a pressure force caused by expansion and contraction of the substrate. Typically, expansion and contraction of the substrate may be caused by temperature variations. The temperature variations would typically cause the anchoring rod 12 to be driven upward over time. Plate 14 provides additional surface area to absorb the pressure force caused by the expansion and contraction of the substrate, effectively preventing anchoring rod 12 from being driven upward so that shaft 34 protrudes past the top 36 of parking curb 32 and intersects plane P2. The pressure force acts upon anchoring rod 12 and plate 14. Since plate 14 is coupled to rod 12, a portion of the pressure force is transferred by anchoring rod 12 to plate 14, which may serve to transfer the pressure force in a radial direction away from the central axis of anchoring rod 12. The remaining force transmitted onto the central axis of anchoring rod 12 is not sufficient to drive anchoring rod 12 upward. The weight of parking curb 32 in turn keeps plate 14 from being pushed upward from the pressure force exerted by the substrate acting directly on plate 14.
In various embodiments where plate 14 lies recessed in parking curb 32, plate 14 may provide added anchoring force to prevent lateral or transverse movement of parking curb 32 against external forces applied to parking curb 32.
In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding. However no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom because such terms are for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the descriptions and illustrations herein are by way of examples and the invention is not limited to the details shown and described.
In the following claims any feature described as a means for performing a function shall be construed as encompassing any means known to those having skill in the are to be capable of performing the recited function and shall not be deemed limited to the particular means shown in the foregoing description or mere equivalents thereof.
