Anti-glare modules adaptable to highway median barriers

• US 5,022,781 A
• Filed: 12/18/1989
• Issued: 06/11/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy S. Smith
• Original Assignee: Timothy S. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Timothy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schoeppel, Roger J.
• Application Number:
  US07/452,577
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 404/1, 404/73, 404/99, 404/6-12, 404/34-37, 256/1, 256/13.1, 256/73, 256/13.1, 256/73, 40/608, 181/210, 181/284, 52/64, 52/71, 52/144, 52/250, 52/174, 52/295
• US Class Current: 404/6
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 7/06 Anti-dazzle arrangements E01F8/00 takes precedence; Securing anti-dazzle means to crash-barriers securing signs or supports therefor to crash-barriers E01F9/669
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/669 for fastening to safety barriers or the like

Abstract

What is provided is a system which would utilize a plurality of glare modules, constructed of a lightweight foam material, and that could be positioned spaced apart end to end, along the length of the highway median barrier. Each of the modules would be secured to the barrier by a pair of mounting rods firmly secured to the upper face of the barrier and slideably engagable into a pair of openings in the bottom of the barrier module. The barrier panel would then be secured to the mounting rods with a locking pin.

Claims

1. An anti-glare, module mountable to the median barrier of a divided highway, comprising:

a) a principal body portion, constructed of lightweight material, and including a first and second bores in the base of the anti-glare module;

b) first and second mounting rods secured to the median barrier, each of the mounting rods positioned a distance apart for slideably engaging into the first and second bores of each anti-glare module;

c) means for securing the anti-glare module onto the mounting rods, so that the bottom face of the anti-glare module is positioned adjacent the upper face of the barrier, and the anti-glare module is secured onto each of the mounting rods.

2. The anti-glare module in claim 1, wherein the anti-glare module is constructed of a lightweight foam or plastic material.

3. The anti-glare module in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second bores further include a metal sleeve inserted into the bores.

4. The anti-glare module in claim 1, wherein the mounting rods are secured to the anti-glare module via mounting pins at the base of each of the mounting rods.

5. The anti-glare module in claim 1, wherein a plurality of anti-glare modules further comprise a substantially continuous median barrier between the divided highway.

6. A system of anti-glare modules positionable upon a median barrier of a divided highway, the system comprising:

a) first and second mounting rods positionable onto the upper surface of a section of median barrier spaced a predetermined distance apart;

b) an anti-glare module body, of sufficient thickness to accommodate a pair of bores in the underside of the body of sufficient length to accommodate the mounting rods within the bores, as the bottom face of the anti-glare module rests upon the upper face of the median barrier;

c) tubular members positioned within the bore of the anti-glare module, for lockingly engaging the mounting rods, after the anti-glare module has been positioned onto the barrier; and

d) at least a second anti-glare module positioned adjacent the first anti-glare module, and spaced apart therefrom for defining a substantially continuous anti-glare module system along the divided highway.

7. The system in claim 6, wherein the mounting rods are mounted into the tubular members with the use of mounting pins.

8. The system in claim 6, wherein each of the anti-glare modules may be slideably removed from the mounting rods in the event of an emergency or damage to the anti-glare module body.

9. The system in claim 6, wherein the anti-glare modules further comprise means for impeding access between a first section of the divided highway and a second section of the divided highway.