Supports – Brackets – Specially mounted or attached
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-09
2001-05-22
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Specially mounted or attached
C248S200000, C256S013100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234437
ABSTRACT:
RELATED FOREIGN APPLICATION
The present application claims the priority of Mexican Application No. 9806683 filed Aug. 18, 1998, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to supports of the type used in guard rails installed on the side of roads and freeways.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Metallic fences or guard rail barriers installed on the side of the roads and freeways are typically held on supports made of reinforced concrete, wood or metal. The metal supports have structural shapes (“I” beam, “C” channel, “U” shape, rolled steel section, round or square tubular, etc.) that make the supports relatively rigid. Therefore, when a vehicle collides with a conventional guard rail barrier, the support's lack of flexibility is likely to cause the support to break or to cause the support to do extensive damage to the vehicle and injury to the vehicle's occupants. Usually guard rail barrier is so damaged that it is beyond repair, so the guard rail barrier has to be replaced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a guard rail barrier support that is flexible and permits the absorption of the kinetic energy produced by the impact of a vehicle against the guard rail barrier to prevent a vehicle from being damaged or flipping over.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flexible support for a guard rail barrier that absorbs the kinetic energy of a vehicle that collides with the guard rail barrier, thereby increasing the safety of the passengers in the vehicle.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a flexible support for a guard rail barrier which will not need to be replaced every time there is a collision with the guard rail barrier.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a flexible support comprising: at least one S-shaped support, the S-shaped support including: a substantially horizontal support anchoring portion; a reclining portion connected to the support anchoring portion by a first connecting portion, the reclining portion extending at a acute angle from the support anchoring portion; and a rail mounting portion for mounting a guard rail barrier on the flexible support, the rail mounting portion being connected to the reclining portion by a second connecting portion, the rail mounting portion extending in a substantially vertical direction and facing the reclining portion.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a flexible support comprising: at least one thrusting L-shaped support, the L-shaped support including: a substantially horizontal support anchoring portion; a thrusting portion connected to the support anchoring portion by a first connecting portion, the thrusting portion extending at a acute angle from the support anchoring portion; and a rail mounting portion for mounting a guard rail barrier on the support, the rail mounting portion extending in a vertical direction from a top part of the thrusting portion and being connected to the thrusting portion by a second connecting portion.
In a third aspect, the present invention provides a flexible support comprising: at least one inverted U-shaped support, the inverted U-shaped support including: a substantially horizontal first support anchoring portion; a first thrusting portion connected to the first support anchoring portion by a first lower connecting portion, the first thrusting portion extending at a acute angle from the first support anchoring portion; a substantially horizontal second support anchoring portion; a second thrusting portion connected to the second support anchoring portion by a second lower connecting portion, the second thrusting portion extending at a acute angle from the support anchoring portion, the second thrusting portion facing and reclining away from the first thrusting portion; a first top part on the first thrusting portion for mounting a first guard rail barrier on the support; a second top part on the second thrusting portion for mounting a second guard rail barrier on the support; and a top member connecting the first top part and the second top part.
In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a flexible support comprising: at least one inverted J-shaped support, the inverted J-shaped support including: a vertical portion; a rail mounting portion for mounting a guard rail barrier on the support, the rail mounting portion connected to the vertical portion by a connecting portion, the rail mounting portion extending in a substantially vertical direction and facing the vertical portion.
Other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 18848 (1933-05-01), Moore
patent: 1953207 (1934-04-01), Woods, Jr.
patent: 1977286 (1934-10-01), Miller
patent: 2030782 (1936-02-01), Dennebaum
patent: 2204558 (1940-06-01), Ahles
patent: 2228652 (1941-01-01), Dailey
patent: 2979307 (1961-04-01), Crone
patent: 3077339 (1963-02-01), White
patent: 3438611 (1969-04-01), Giavotto et al.
patent: 5044609 (1991-09-01), Cicinnati et al.
patent: 5286137 (1994-02-01), Cicinnati et al.
Braun Leslie A.
Jagtiani & Associates
Szumny Jon
LandOfFree
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