US 4,367,975 A · Traffic barriers

Abstract

A traffic barrier comprises a step-like obstruction able to resist or prohibit the advance of a vehicle, a hinged platform disposed in advance of the step-like obstruction and rockable between a lowered position and a raised position, in which its trailing edge is adjacent the top of the step-like obstruction, spring means urging the platform into its raised position, latch means operable to lock the platform in its raised position to permit a vehicle to advance over the step-like obstruction, and control means including a coin-operated device or the like, for controlling the operation of the latch means. In one embodiment, the latch means is normally in its released condition, and is actuated to lock the platform in its raised position when the prescribed parking fee is inserted into coin-operated device. The control means is responsive to advance of the rearmost wheels of the vehicle on to the top of the step-like obstruction to release the latch means and prevent advance of a following vehicle until the coin-operated device is tripped by the driver of the following vehicle. In another embodiment, the latch means is normally retained in its latched condition, and the control means is responsive to the front wheels of a vehicle approaching the platform to release the latch means if the driver of that vehicle does not insert the prescribed parking fee in the coin-operated device.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A traffic barrier for controlling a flow of vehicles, comprising in combination:

(a) a step-like obstruction adapted to resist the advance of a vehicle, said step-like obstruction having a top and an abutment wall extending downwardly from said top;
(b) a platform disposed in advance of said step-like obstruction and having a leading edge remote from said obstruction and a trailing edge adjacent said abutment wall of said obstruction;
(c) hinge means mounting said platform for rocking movement between a lowered position and a raised position in which said trailing edge of said platform is adjacent said top of said step-like obstruction;
(d) means urging said platform into said raised position;
(e) said platform being depressible into said lowered position by a vehicle advancing over said platform from said leading to said trailing edge thereof, whereby said abutment wall of said step-like obstruction is presented to said vehicle to resist advance thereof;
(f) latch means movable between a release position and a locking position in which said latch means locks said platform in said raised position, whereby to permit a vehicle to advance over said platform and onto said top of said step-like obstruction;
(g) means adapted normally to retract said latch means into said release position;
(h) control means selectively operable to actuate said latch means and lock said platform in said raised position;
(i) said control means being responsive to advance of the rearmost wheels of a vehicle onto said top of said step-like obstruction to release said latch means.

6 more elements

A traffic barrier for controlling a flow of vehicles, comprising in combination:

(a) a step-like obstruction adapted to resist the advance of a vehicle, said step-like obstruction having a top and abutment means extending downwardly from said top;
(b) a platform disposed in advance of said step-like obstruction and having a leading edge remote from said obstruction and a trailing edge adjacent said abutment means of said obstruction;
(c) hinge means mounting said platform for rocking movement between a lowered position and a raised position in which said trailing edge of said platform is adjacent said top of said step-like obstruction;
(d) means urging said platform into said raised position;
(e) said platform being depressible into said lowered position by a vehicle advancing over said platform from said leading to said trailing edge thereof, whereby said abutment means of said step-like obstruction is presented to said vehicle to resist advance thereof;
(f) latch means movable between a release position and a locking position in which said latch means locks said platform in said raised position, whereby to permit a vehicle to advance over said platform and said step-like obstruction;
(g) means adapted normally to urge said latch means into said locking position;
(h) control means selectively operable to actuate said latch means and retract said latch means into said release position;
(i) said control means being responsive to advance of a vehicle relative to the barrier.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Traffic barriers

Life of this patent

Traffic barriers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21