Road structure – process – or apparatus – Traffic steering device or barrier
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-24
2001-02-20
Lillis, Eileen D. (Department: 3673)
Road structure, process, or apparatus
Traffic steering device or barrier
C404S009000, C256S013100, C160S351000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190084
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is intended to disclose a novel element for forming separating barriers for various applications, having characteristics of novelty and inventive activity in comparison with the prior art.
Boundary barriers of many types are currently used for separating traffic or pedestrian zones for various purposes, for example, as boundaries for work zones, for public functions, etc.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently-known barriers are mainly self-supporting metal barriers which have a grid structure of bars or the like. The said barrier elements suffer from various shortcomings, the most important being their great weight which makes their transportation complex and expensive and makes them difficult to handle at the place of use in order to separate the zones fenced off.
The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, providing a modular separating barrier element which has novel characteristics of light weight, easy orientation of the feet for bearing on the ground, and connection means with which greater stability and connectability of the various elements making up the separating barrier is achieved. At the same time, the separating barrier element of the present invention has specific characteristics which enable it to receive advertising material and notices, which represents a novel use of barrier elements of this type.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve its objects, the separating barrier element of the present invention is includes a surrounding frame, preferably of elongate rectangular structure, of which the longer sides define the upper edge and the lower edge of the barrier element and the shorter sides have, at their lower ends, the rotatable supporting feet of the barrier element, the space bordered by the rectangular frame being occupied wholly or partially by closure panels which may be plain or may have openings of various types for reducing weight and minimizing the effect of wind. According to one characteristic of the present invention, the surrounding frame of the barrier element has a hollow structure, this characteristic enabling the frame to be manufactured from a plastics material by gas injection molding.
The substantially rectangular body of the barrier element preferably has lower bracket-like portions for increasing strength in the vicinity of the feet and has swivel coupling of the support feet, thus enabling the feet to adopt the most suitable position for supporting the barrier element.
The shorter sides of the modular barrier element have elements in the form of complementary recesses and projections for permitting easy coupling of the various barrier elements making up a complete barrier.
The material used for the manufacture of the barrier element of the present invention may vary but is preferably any easily moldable synthetic resin having weather-resistance characteristics.
Given the characteristics of the present invention it is also applicable to sports hurdles such as the hurdles used in various sports for jumping competitions and the like.
To improve the coupling of the modular barrier elements of the present invention, in a variant, there is provision for a particular construction of the side edges of the barrier elements according to which, on one of the sides, the barrier element has strong horizontal projections which have upper and lower rods of considerable length which, in combination with projection of similar elements disposed on the opposite sides an having holes for receiving the said rods, enable two adjacent modular elements to be connected, even if one of them is at a higher level than the other, which occurs when one of the said elements is on the roadway and the other on the pavement beside the roadway.
The vertical positions of the said projections on the sides of the barrier elements are slightly offset on one lateral edge relative to the other to enable the vertical rods of one of the edges to be fitted in the holes in the other.
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Construcciones Mecánicas Marés, S.A.
Darby & Darby
Hartmann Gary S.
Lillis Eileen D.
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