Spacer for supporting a guard rail on a post

• US 6,168,346 B1
• Filed: 07/14/1998
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trinity Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ronald E. Ernsberger
• Inventors: Ernsberger, Ronald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lillis, Eileen D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Addie, Raymond W.
• Application Number:
  US09/115,789
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 404/6, 404/9, 256/13.1, 256/66
• US Class Current: 404/6
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 15/0438 Spacers between rails and posts, e.g. energy-absorbing means E01F15/0415 takes precedence

Abstract

A spacer for supporting a horizontally extending guard rail on a vertically extending post in a roadway safety barrier system includes a first portion that is secured to the guard rail and a second portion that is secured to the post. The first and second portions are shaped to correspond with the shapes of the guard rail and the post secured thereto. For example, if the guard rail is formed having an undulating cross sectional shape, the first portion of the space is formed having a corresponding undulating cross sectional shape. One or more bores are formed through the spacer between said first and second faces for receiving a bolt for securing the guard rail and the post to the spacer. The spacer is formed from a thermoplastic material that is recyclable, will not absorb water, stable under the ultraviolet and other radiation generated by the sun, will not splinter, crack, or delaminate in use, and is more cost effective than conventional wooden spacers.

Claims

1. A roadway safety barrier system comprising:

a post formed from a first material;

a guard rail; and

a spacer secured to said guard rail and said post, said spacer being formed from a second material different from said first material, said second material comprising a thermoplastic material.

2. The roadway safety barrier system defined in claim 1 wherein said spacer includes a body having a first face engaged with said guard rail and a second face engaged with said post.

3. The roadway safety barrier system defined in claim 2 wherein said body has a bore formed therethrough that extends from said first face to said second face.

4. The roadway safety barrier system defined in claim 3 further including a threaded fastener that extends through said bore and secures said guard rail and said post to said spacer.

5. The roadway safety barrier system defined in claim 2 wherein said body is generally hollow, having a plurality of side walls that extend from said first face to said second face.

6. The roadway safety barrier system defined in claim 5 wherein said hollow body has a central support formed therein that extends from said first face to said second face.

7. The roadway safety barrier system defined in claim 6 wherein said central support has a bore formed therethrough that extends between said first face and said second face.

8. The roadway safety barrier system defined in claim 7 further including a threaded fastener that extends through said bore and secures said guard rail and said post to said spacer.

9. The roadway safety barrier system defined in claim 6 wherein said hollow body has a support rib formed therein that extends from one of said plurality of side walls to said central support.

10. The roadway safety barrier system defined in claim 6 wherein said hollow body has a plurality of support ribs formed therein that extend from said plurality of side walls to said central support.

11. The roadway safety barrier system defined in claim 1 wherein said body is formed from high density polyethylene.

12. The roadway safety barrier system defined in claim 2 wherein said guard rail is formed having an undulating shape, and wherein said first face of said body is formed having a corresponding undulating shape.

13. The roadway safety barrier system defined in claim 2 wherein said post is formed having a flat shape, and wherein said second face of said body is formed having a corresponding flat shape.

14. The roadway safety barrier system defined in claim 2 wherein said guard rail is formed having an undulating shape and said first face of said body is formed having a corresponding undulating shape, and wherein said post is formed having a flat shape, and wherein said second face of said body is formed having a corresponding flat shape.