Guardrail support, attachment, and positioning block
AssigneeK.E.S.S. Inc.
InventorDavid T. King
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A block used to space guardrails from support posts. The positioning or spacer block is a generally rectangular block having corded-out cavities to reduce weight and tabs or projections for cooperatively engaging the sides and top of a support post as well as the edges of the guardrail during roadway safety barrier system installation. Webbing within one or more of the cavities is used for additional structural support. The spacer block may be formed by low-pressure injection molding to optimize the strength to weight characteristics of the spacer block. The spacer block is formed from virgin and/or recycled plastic material and/or includes virgin or recycled rubber material, such as that obtained from the regrind of used tires, and/or another elastomeric materials from other sources.
Claims37
A spacer block for attaching a guard rail to a post, comprising:
- a pair of spaced apart opposing side walls having respective first ends and second ends;
- a top panel disposed proximate the first end of said side walls;
- a bottom panel disposed proximate said second end of said side walls;
- said top panel, said bottom panel and said side walls forming a block member having a first front face and a second rear face;
- an engagement mechanism operably coupled proximate said top panel, said engagement mechanism operable to engage said spacer block with said post, the engagement mechanism including at least one tab operably coupled to said top panel, said tab extending beyond said second rear face of said spacer block, means operably coupled proximate a distal end of said at least one tab for engaging an I-beam support post;
- at least one mounting bore extending therethrough said spacer block from said first front face to said second rear face;
- and
- an alignment mechanism operably coupled to at least one side wall.
A spacer block for attaching a guard rail to a post, comprising:
- a generally block of a polymer;
- said block including a top positioning tab for engaging the top edge of said post;
- said block including means extending from the face thereof for supporting a guard rail thereon;
- said block including at least one bore there through;
- and
- said block including at least one side tab for positioning said block with respect to said post.
A spacer block for attaching a guard rail to a post comprising
- a pair of spaced apart opposing side walls having respective first ends and second ends;
- a top panel disposed proximate the first end of said side walls;
- a bottom panel disposed proximate said second end of said side walls;
- said top panel, said bottom panel and said side walls forming a block member having a first front face and a second rear face;
- an engagement mechanism operably coupled proximate said top panel, said engagement mechanism operable to engage said spacer block with said post;
- at least one mounting bore extending therethrough said spacer block from said first front face to said second rear face;
- an alignment mechanism operably coupled to at least one side wall;
- and
- said side walls comprising an inner skin and an outer skin including a structural foam thermoplastic composition there between wherein the density of the foam comprising structural foam cells increases from the center toward said inner skin and said outer skin.
A spacer block for attaching a guardrail to a support post, comprising:
- a pair of side-walls having respective first and second ends;
- a top panel disposed proximate the first end of the side-walls;
- a bottom panel disposed proximate the second end of the side-walls;
- the top panel, bottom panel and side panels forming a block having respective first and second faces;
- at least one mounting bore traveling between the first and second face of the block;
- an engagement mechanism operably coupled proximate the top panel, the engagement mechanism operable to engage the block with the support post:
- and
- a resting mechanism operably coupled proximate the bottom panel, the resting mechanism operable to support a guardrail during assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.