Multi-component road barrier

Abstract

A road barrier system with a first barrier forming a hollow container and a second barrier forming a hollow container is disclosed, the first and second barriers being configured with alternating structures to permit the barriers to mate. The alternating structures may be located on opposed end walls of the respective barriers and may be configured as alternating half-moon projections and recesses. The mating may permit up to 30 degrees of deflection. Also disclosed are molds for making such barriers, where the molds include a base mold, a female mold, and a male mold, and the base mold may be coupled with either of the female or male molds to create a road barrier mold having features particular to either the female mold or the male mold.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60 / 724,630, entitled MULTI-COMPONENT ROAD BARRIER, filed on Oct. 7, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. [0002] This invention relates generally to road barriers, and more particularly to multi-component road barriers. Road barriers are common fixtures along highways and other corridors where there is a desire to contain vehicles within a certain area. Typically, road barriers may be positioned between the travel lanes heading in opposite directions, but may also be utilized along, for example, the edges of roadways which are adjacent to particularly dangerous areas, such as cliffs. Other uses of road barriers include temporary use for the separation of a roadway from a construction area. More recently, road barriers have been used to block access to certain areas adjacent to buildings which are at an elevated ri...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing, in certain embodiments, a multi-component road barrier and method of forming a road barrier which are more versatile than conventional road barriers and their current manufacturing methods. The inventive multi-component road barrier may be manufactured-to various configurations at a manufacturing plant, and may also be modified to various configurations in the field during construction. In addition, the inventive multi-component road barrier includes features to ensure the integrity of the barrier, and to promote easy repair of any damage to a barrier system.

[0016] The versatility of the extrusion blow molding process allows the use of resins such as high density polyethylene (“HDPE”), in pellet form. The utilization of pellets eliminates the requirement to grind raw material into a powder such as is required with the use of LDPE in rotomolding. In addition, HDPE has a significantly higher structural and tensile strength than LDPE, allowing a blow molded road barrier to be manufactured with thinner walls and corresponding lower part weight as compared to rotomolded barriers formed from LDPE, without sacrificing any strength.

[0017] In accordance with further aspects of the present invention, a multi-component road barrier may be formed from two halves each manufactured in a mold comprising a chamber with replaceable outer end such that either a female or male outer end may be attached to the chamber to form one half of a road barrier with either a male or female end. The second half of the road barrier may be formed from a similar mold chamber with replaceable outer end that may be either female or male. In this regard, a multi-component road barrier may be formed from the two halves with male-male ends, female-female ends, or female-male ends, in an expeditious manner. The finished product is therefore one road barrier with two separate independent compartments which may be connected by either or both internal or external connection mechanisms. Each of the independent compartments may be ballasted with water, sand, or the like. Further, each barrier half may be manufactured to a different color to improve the function and aesthetics of the barrier system.

Problems solved by technology

Each of these types of barriers is relatively heavy, and therefore, is both difficult and expensive to move.

Additionally, many of these types of barriers are formed from multiple parts that must be configured in the field—often a time-consuming and labor intensive effort.

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