Road barrier systems and methods
First Claim
1. A barrier system for roadways includes a cast concrete barrier member having a side to extend parallel to a road traffic lane, at least one recess defined in the side, a generally vertical opening from the recess to the bottom of the barrier, adapted to receive a fastener therethrough affixing the barrier to a supporting surface on which it rests, a cap having a lower projecting portion conforming to the recess and adapted to fit therein, and an upper reflector support means for projection outward of the recess and locating a reflector outward of the recess beyond the surface of the barrier and facing generally horizontally along the barrier to visibly identify the location of the barrier by reflection of light from vehicle headlights.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Barrier systems and methods include relatively narrow, cast, silica fume concrete road barriers for work site protection, road edge, and traffic lane divider locations. Reflector-bearing caps close recesses at the location of fasteners securing the barriers to a road surface. Reflectors with mounting portions secured between adjacent end faces of barriers project outward to expose a reflector portion to headlights in an adjoining traffic lane. Barrier extension members affixed atop a line of barriers reduce headlight glare, help prevent vehicles toppling over the barriers, and prevent relative rocking of one barrier with respect to another. Permanent barrier installations include a rope-like soft Butyl rubber seal damming locations where fasteners extend into the road surface to retain a hardening bonding agent and form a liquid and contaminant impervious environment for the fasteners. Drop-in-place barriers with openings extending their entire height locate over supporting uprights previously used for metal strip barrier. And barriers to be located quickly on soft undersurfaces have openings extending their entire height and securing posts driven therethrough.
66 Citations
30 Claims
- 1. A barrier system for roadways includes a cast concrete barrier member having a side to extend parallel to a road traffic lane, at least one recess defined in the side, a generally vertical opening from the recess to the bottom of the barrier, adapted to receive a fastener therethrough affixing the barrier to a supporting surface on which it rests, a cap having a lower projecting portion conforming to the recess and adapted to fit therein, and an upper reflector support means for projection outward of the recess and locating a reflector outward of the recess beyond the surface of the barrier and facing generally horizontally along the barrier to visibly identify the location of the barrier by reflection of light from vehicle headlights.
- 10. A barrier system for roadways includes a cast concrete barrier member having a side to extend parallel to a road traffic lane, at least one recess defined in the side, a generally vertical opening from the recess to the bottom of the barrier, adapted to receive a fastener therethrough affixing the barrier to a supporting surface on which it rests, sealing means for defining a seal about said fastener between the barrier bottom and the supporting surface, wherein the sealing means comprises a long, relatively soft, rope-like seal encircling the location of the fastener.
- 15. A barrier system including a plurality of cast concrete road barriers having sides for extending parallel to a traffic lane, end faces on the barriers for location proximate an adjoining end face of a neighboring barrier, a thin reflector having a supporting portion for location between the adjoining end faces of neighboring barriers, connecting means on the supporting portion for connection to one of the end faces, and a protruding reflector portion for extending outward from between the barriers beyond at least one of the barrier sides to reflect light from vehicle headlights.
- 17. A barrier system for roadways including a series of cast concrete barrier members located along a traffic lane end-to-end with end faces contiguous, a series of longitudinal barrier extension members located atop the series of barrier members, in contact with the barriers along the top thereof, and extending upward therefrom to substantially increase the barrier member height, and fastening means securing the extension members in place, said barrier extension members extending along the top of the barriers and across the contiguous end faces to secure together adjacent barriers, whereby the adjacent barriers are substantially less able to rock, one relative to the other, and expose an end face to an impinging vehicle.
- 24. A barrier system for roadways including a series of cast concrete barrier members located along a traffic lane end-to-end with end faces contiguous, a series of barrier extension members located atop the series of barrier members and extending upward therefrom, and fastening means securing the extension members in place, said barrier extension members extending along the top of the barriers and across the contiguous end faces to secure together adjacent barriers, whereby the adjacent barriers are substantially less able to rock, one relative to the other, and expose an end face to an impinging vehicle, wherein the barrier extension members have an upper rail portion extending parallel to the series of barriers, and a plurality of downwardly projecting spaced apart supports, the supports having openings longitudinally therethrough and extending through the rail portion, enabling the introduction of an elongate fastener through the supports to the barrier below, and aligned openings in the top of the barrier receiving said fasteners, whereby a restraining system permitting visibility beyond the system is provided.
- 26. A barrier system for roadways including a series of cast concrete barrier members located along a traffic lane end-to-end with end faces contiguous, a series of barrier extension members adapted to locate atop the series of barrier members and extending upward therefrom, and fastening means for securing the extension members in place, said barrier extension members including a hollow plastic part with a lower portion conforming to and fitting on the tops of the barrier members.
-
28. A cast concrete road barrier having at least one side for facing a traffic lane, a lower support surface, a top surface, and openings along the barrier length, through the entire height of the barrier, from the top surface to the lower supporting surface, said openings defining means for receiving upright posts securing the barrier in place, wherein the openings through the entire height of the barrier are of sufficient size and appropriate spacing to receive in-place steel beam uprights previously used to support metal barrier strip.
-
29. A barrier system for roadways including
(a) a series of cast concrete barrier members located along a traffic lane end-to-end with end faces contiguous, (b) a series of cast concrete barrier extension members located atop the series of barrier members and extending upward therefrom, the extension members having lower surfaces fitting onto the tops of the barrier members, said extension members extending along the top of the barriers and across the contiguous end faces to secure together adjacent barriers, whereby the adjacent barriers are substantially less able to rock, one relative to the other, and expose an end face to an impinging vehicle, and said extension members being free of lateral openings along their length and providing glare protection between lanes of oppositely flowing traffic, (c) fastening means securing the extension members in place, and (d) an elongate seal having a rib extending along its length and received between extension members and barrier members to hold the seal in place.
-
30. A barrier system for roadways including a series of cast concrete members located along a traffic lane end-to-end with end faces contiguous, a series of barrier extension members located atop the series of barrier members and extending upward therefrom, and fastening means securing the extension members in place, said barrier extension members comprising a cast concrete core and plastic outer cover comprising a skirt fitting downward from the top of the barrier members along the sides of the barrier members, the extension members extending along the top of the barriers and across the contiguous end faces to secure together adjacent barriers, whereby the adjacent barriers are substantially less able to rock, one relative to the other, and expose an end face to an impinging vehicle.
Specification