Movable or removable closures – With traffic director or controller; e.g. – one-way
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-09
2001-09-18
Redman, Jerry (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
With traffic director or controller; e.g., one-way
C049S226000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289634
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to thoroughfare crossing guards, more particularly to a crossing guard for use at bridge and railroad crossings.
2. Prior Art
Many devices have been used to prevent motorists on a thoroughfare from crossing railroad tracks or even raised bridges. Many of these devices included a cross arm connected to an operator that raises and lowers the arm. While practical, these devices can be ineffective because many motorists simply drive around or through the arm. If a motorist is not paying attention he can simply drive through the arm and into the way of an oncoming train or other danger because the arms are constructed from wood or plastic. Use of stronger materials such as steel can be impractical because of the added weight and the concerns about the safety of drivers who crash into the arm.
In the past, attempts have been made to use arms having cables attached thereto or cables positioned within a hollow arm member extending between the sides of the roadway. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,835 to Hirsh, a security gate for preventing terrorists from proceeding past a designated point on a thoroughfare was disclosed. Hirsh discloses an operator with an arm connected thereto. A pair of posts is located on either side of the thoroughfare. A pipe is connected at either end of the arm with cables extending between the pipes and along the arm. When the arm is lowered, the pipes fit exterior of each pair of posts with the posts acting to restrain the cables if a vehicle impacts the arm, thus restraining the vehicle. Hirsh discloses that the cables should be placed between twenty-seven and thirty-five inches above the ground.
While the prior art discloses means for stopping vehicles, the prior art devices have several drawbacks. First, because the cables are not joined together, the upper cable(s) can ride up and over the hood of a vehicle and cut through the roof, thereby injuring the passengers. The height of the cables disclosed in Hirsh emphasizes this danger. Second, Hirsh does not disclose additional energy absorbing material that will aid in stopping the vehicle before the cables begin restraining the vehicle. Third, none of the prior art devices discloses the use of ties to hold the cables in position relative to one another so that the cables remain somewhat in position relative to each other. Finally, the prior art fails to disclose the locking mechanisms used herein to lock the arm and cable ends in place.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
With these considerations in mind, it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a crossing guard that safely and effectively restrains vehicles which impact the crossing guard.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a crossing guard that will prevent vehicles from passing through the crossing guard when it is in the down position.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a crossing guard that will act as a barrier and absorb the energy of a vehicle while at the same time preventing injury to the passengers of the vehicle.
These and other advantages and objects of this invention shall become apparent from the ensuing description of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A crossing guard is disclosed which comprises an operator positioned on one side of a thoroughfare for raising and lowering an arm; a gate connected to the arm; a first lock positioned on the opposite side of the thoroughfare; a plurality of cables supported within the gate, joined together at fixed points intermediate the ends of the cables; and a first end assembly connectable with the cables and the gate at the end of the gate opposite the operator with the first end assembly and positionable within the first lock. The device further comprises a second lock positioned on the side of the thoroughfare nearer the operator and positionable within with a second end assembly positioned on the end of the gate nearer said operator.
REFERENCES:
patent: 611608 (1898-10-01), Compher
patent: 3096079 (1963-07-01), Winn
patent: 4844653 (1989-07-01), Dickinson
patent: 4989835 (1991-02-01), Hirsh
patent: 6115963 (2000-09-01), Allardyce et al.
Allardyce David
Knight David L.
B & B Electromatic, Inc.
Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, L.L.P.
Redman Jerry
LandOfFree
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