Rapidly deployable traffic screen

• US 5,269,623 A
• Filed: 03/23/1992
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James L. Hanson
• Original Assignee: James L. Hanson
• Inventors: Hanson, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Neuder, William P.
• Application Number:
  US07/855,874
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 404/6, 404/9, 256/1, 256/13.1, 256/DIG. 2, 256/45, 40/610, 40/612, 52/2.18, 52/2.19, 52/2.24, 52/2.25, 52/2.26
• US Class Current: 404/6
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 7/00 Devices affording protection against snow, sand drifts, side-wind effects, snowslides, avalanches or falling rocks permanently installed heating or blowing devices for roads E01C11/26; Anti-dazzle arrangements ; Sight-screens for roads, e.g. to mask accident site E01F8/00 takes precedence
• 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 9/654 in the form of three-dimensional bodies, e.g. cones; capable of assuming three-dimensional form, e.g. by inflation or erection to form a geometric body

Abstract

A sight barrier or screen is disclosed herein for temporarily obstructing oncoming motorists'"'"' view from accident scenes which includes an elongated screen or shield having a stowed position deployable into an operative position by inflation of tubular or conduit members. A main or base conduit is included having outwardly projected leg members for supporting the screen or shield in the operative position and further having upwardly projecting stanchions in spaced-apart relationship supporting a plurality of sight barriers therebetween. A source of pressurized gas is operably connected to the main base conduit for rapid deployment of the shield into its operative position and ground engaging or retention devices are included for holding the shield in place at the accident site.

Claims

1. A deployable traffic screen comprising:

an elongated base;

a plurality of leg members outwardly projecting from opposite sides of said base normal to a longitudinal axis of said base;

a multiplicity of upright stanchions carried on the top of said base in spaced-apart relationship normal to said base longitudinal axis and to said leg members;

said base, said stanchions and said leg members composed of a flexible, foldable air-tight material and in enclosed internal fluid communication with each other;

a netting carried between adjacent ones of said upright stanchions obstructing visual observation therethrough; and

means carried on said base for selectively inflating said base, said stanchions and said leg members into an elongated shield with said leg members constituting a ground support and said upright stanchions constituting a visual screen.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 including:

means carried on said leg members for retaining said base and said leg members in engagement with ground supporting surface.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said retaining means includes a weighted mass carried on each of said leg members.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said retaining means includes an extendable arm carried on each end of said base;

attachment means mounted on said arm adapted for releasable engagement with a support means.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein:

said attachment means is a magnetic element.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 including:

antifriction means carried about said leg members and said upright stanchions having frictional characteristics for supporting said leg members in sites.

7. A temporary traffic screen comprising:

an elongated inflatable shield having a support base with upright stanchions normal to the longitudinal axis of said support base and said stanchions arranged in spaced-apart relationship;

restrictive sight means carried between adjacent ones of said upright stanchions;

said shield having a stowed position in which said shield is foldable over upon itself and an unfolded deployed position in which said shield is elongated and rigid so as to tension said restrictive sight means; and

inflation means operably carried on said shield support base for supplying a pressurized gas to said inflatable shield to deploy said shield from its stowed position to its operative position.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein:

means operatively carried on said shield for supporting said shield in situ in its inflated operable position.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein:

said support means includes an extendable arm carried on opposite ends of said support base adapted to detachably engage with adjacent support structure.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein:

a weighted mass;

said support means further includes bands extending about said support base and said upright stanchions for holding said weighted mass.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10 including:

pressure relief means mounted on said shield operable to selectively release pressurized gas from said shield when in its deployed operable position.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein:

said restrictive sight means comprises a netting carried between adjacent ones of said stanchions placed in tension when said shield is in said inflated deployed position.