Retractable road median

• US 7,329,067 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2007
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pichy Welding Machine Shop, Corp.
• Original Assignee: Pichy Welding Machine Shop, Corp.
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Juan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartmann; Gary S.
• Application Number:
  US11/737,544
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 49/33, 49/49, 491/31, 404/6, 256/13.1
• US Class Current: 404/6
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/046 the obstructing members moving up in a translatory motion, e.g. telescopic barrier posts for lane control E01F9/594
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/048 with obstructing members moving in a translatory motion, e.g. vertical lift barriers, sliding gates E01F13/046, E01F13/105 take precedence

Abstract

A retractable road median used to divide a road that may be retracted to allow vehicles to cross it in the event of an emergency, comprising a median assembly, a frame assembly, a winch assembly, and a longitudinal base assembly. The retractable road median has means to move the median assembly from a retraced position into an extracted position and vise versa. In the retracted position, a cavity built underneath a road surface, retractably receives the median assembly therein. The longitudinal base assembly includes two angled lateral walls that, in the extracted position, are in a substantially vertical disposition and their longitudinal edges rest on the sidewalls of the median assembly. In the retracted position, the median assembly collapses into the cavity so that the angled lateral walls rotate into a nearly horizontal position to cover the cavity entrance, permitting vehicles to cross to the other side.

Claims

1. A retractable road median (10), comprising:

A) a median assembly (20) comprising a substantially flat top wall (22), sidewalls (24) and (26), and base (28), said sidewalls (24) and (26) are in a parallel and spaced apart relationship with respect to each other and they have longitudinal top edges (40) and (42) respectively, said top wall (22) is in a parallel and spaced apart relationship with respect to said base (28), and said base (28) has ends (30) and (32);

B) a frame assembly (50), comprising side frames (52) and (54) having transversal wall (60) perpendicularly mounted thereto, and side frames (56) and (58) having a transversal wall (64) perpendicularly mounted thereto, said side frames (52) and (54), and said transversal wall (60) forming a first H cross-section, and said side frames (56) and (58) and said transversal wall (64) forming a second H cross-section, said frame assembly (50) also comprises base (68), said first and second H cross sections each defining a channel or rail where said median assembly (20) travels vertically upon, said frame assembly (50) further comprising angled lateral walls (152), (154), (156), and (158) that are fixed to said side frames (52), (54), (56) and (58), respectively, said transversal wall (60) has a through opening (62), and said transversal wall (64) has through opening (66);

C) a longitudinal base assembly (120) comprising angled lateral walls (122) and (124) with respective sidewalls (126) and (128) extending therefrom, and longitudinal edges (134) and (136), said angled lateral walls (122) and (124) are in a predetermined obtuse angle with respect to said side walls (126) and (128), and said angled lateral walls (122) and (124) are hingedly mounted to supporting frames (138) and (140) respectively with longitudinal hinges (130) and (132) that are fixed to said sidewalls (126) and (128); and

D) a winch assembly (70) having means to retract said median assembly (20) into a cavity below a surface traveled upon by motor vehicles from an extracted position to a retracted position, to allow said motor vehicles to cross over it, and vise versa.

2. The retractable road median (10) set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said median assembly (20) serves as a traffic barrier for controlling a flow of said motor vehicles between opposing traffic lanes on said surface.

3. The retractable road median (10) set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said sidewalls (126) and (128) are at a substantially vertical disposition and said longitudinal edges (134) and (136) rest on said sidewalls (24) and (26) respectively when said median assembly (20) is in said extracted position.

4. The retractable road median (10) set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said angled lateral walls (122) and (124) collapse inwardly into a nearly horizontal position and onto said top wall (22) when said median assembly (20) is in said retracted position.

5. The retractable road median (10) set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said frame assembly (50) comprises at least one impact mount (160) mounted onto said base (68).

6. The retractable road median (10) set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said winch assembly (70) comprises pulleys (90), (92) and (94) that are positioned to cooperate with cable (102) to vertically move said median assembly (20) when said winch assembly (70) is actuated, said pulley (90) is mounted adjacent to through said opening (62) of said transversal wall (60), and said pulleys (92) and (94) are mounted in proximity to respective said ends (30) and (32) of said base (28), said winch assembly (70) further comprises spacer wheels (96) and (98) that are rotatably mounted to upper corners of said sidewall (26), said spacer wheels (96) and (98) prevent said median assembly (20) from erratic movement through each of said channel or rail.

7. The retractable road median (10) set forth in claim 6, further characterized in that said means to retract said median assembly (20) into said cavity below said surface traveled upon by said motor vehicles from said extracted position includes introducing a removable handle (100) to disengage a release lever thus allowing said median assembly (20) to travel downwardly by gravity as said cable (102) unwinds, until said median assembly (20) is in said retracted position as said angled lateral walls (122) and (124) rotate and lay in a substantially horizontal position, thus creating a ramp or bridge, to permit said motor vehicles to travel over them.

8. The retractable road median (10) set forth in claim 7, further characterized in that said means to extract said median assembly (20) from said cavity below said surface traveled upon by said motor vehicles from said extracted position includes introducing said removable handle (100) to apply a rotational force, causing said cable (102) to wind upon a reel until said median assembly (20) is in a fully said extracted position as said sidewalls (126) and (128) are at a substantially vertical disposition and said longitudinal edges (134) and (136) rest on said sidewalls (24) and (26) respectively.

9. A retractable road median (10), comprising:

A) a median assembly (20) comprising a substantially flat top wall (22), sidewalls (24) and (26), and base (28), said sidewalls (24) and (26) are in a parallel and spaced apart relationship with respect to each other and they have longitudinal top edges (40) and (42) respectively, said top wall (22) is in a parallel and spaced apart relationship with respect to said base (28), and said base (28) has ends (30) and (32), said median assembly (20) serves as a traffic barrier for controlling a flow of said motor vehicles between opposing traffic lanes on said surface;

B) a frame assembly (50), comprising side frames (52) and (54) having transversal wall (60) perpendicularly mounted thereto, and side frames (56) and (58) having a transversal wall (64) perpendicularly mounted thereto, said side frames (52) and (54), and said transversal wall (60) forming a first H cross-section, and said side frames (56) and (58) and said transversal wall (64) forming a second H cross-section, said frame assembly (50) also comprises base (68), said first and second H cross sections each defining a channel or rail where said median assembly (20) travels vertically upon, said frame assembly (50) further comprising angled lateral walls (152), (154), (156), and (158) that are fixed to said side frames (52), (54), (56) and (58), respectively, said transversal wall (60) has a through opening (62), and said transversal wall (64) has through opening (66);

C) a longitudinal base assembly (120) comprising angled lateral walls (122) and (124) with respective sidewalls (126) and (128) extending therefrom, and longitudinal edges (134) and (136), said angled lateral walls (122) and (124) are in a predetermined obtuse angle with respect to said side walls (126) and (128), and said angled lateral walls (122) and (124) are hingedly mounted to supporting frames (138) and (140) respectively with longitudinal hinges (130) and (132) that are fixed to said sidewalls (126) and (128), said sidewalls (126) and (128) are at a substantially vertical disposition and said longitudinal edges (134) and (136) rest on said sidewalls (24) and (26) respectively when said median assembly (20) is in said extracted position; and

D) a winch assembly (70) having means to retract said median assembly (20) into a cavity below a surface traveled upon by motor vehicles from an extracted position to a retracted position, to allow said motor vehicles to cross over it, and vise versa.

10. The retractable road median (10) set forth in claim 9, further characterized in that said angled lateral walls (122) and (124) collapse inwardly into a nearly horizontal position and onto said top wall (22) when said median assembly (20) is in said retracted position.

11. The retractable road median (10) set forth in claim 10, further characterized in that said frame assembly (50) comprises at least one impact mount (160) mounted onto said base (68).

12. The retractable road median (10) set forth in claim 11, further characterized in that said winch assembly (70) comprises pulleys (90), (92) and (94) that are positioned to cooperate with cable (102) to vertically move said median assembly (20) when said winch assembly (70) is actuated, said pulley (90) is mounted adjacent to through said opening (62) of said transversal wall (60), and said pulleys (92) and (94) are mounted in proximity to respective said ends (30) and (32) of said base (28), said winch assembly (70) further comprises spacer wheels (96) and (98) that are rotatably mounted to upper corners of said sidewall (26), said spacer wheels (96) and (98) prevent said median assembly (20) from erratic movement through each of said channel or rail.

13. The retractable road median (10) set forth in claim 12, further characterized in that said means to retract said median assembly (20) into said cavity below said surface traveled upon by said motor vehicles from said extracted position includes introducing a removable handle (100) to disengage a release lever thus allowing said median assembly (20) to travel downwardly by gravity as said cable (102) unwinds, until said median assembly (20) is in said retracted position as said angled lateral walls (122) and (124) rotate and lay in a substantially horizontal position, thus creating a ramp or bridge, to permit said motor vehicles to travel over them.

14. The retractable road median (10) set forth in claim 13, further characterized in that said means to extract said median assembly (20) from said cavity below said surface traveled upon by said motor vehicles from said extracted position includes introducing said removable handle (100) to apply a rotational force, causing said cable (102) to wind upon a reel until said median assembly (20) is in a fully said extracted position as said sidewalls (126) and (128) are at a substantially vertical disposition and said longitudinal edges (134) and (136) rest on said sidewalls (24) and (26) respectively.