Collapsible warning barricade apparatus

A collapsible warning barricade apparatus for restricting and blocking access to a designated area by vehicular and pedestrian traffic, in which at least an upstanding portion of the apparatus is capable of fully collapsing toward and being maintained in a substantially ground surface-hugging position upon impact from said traffic, without damage to same, as well as is capable of collapsing into a substantially flat position for transportation and/or storage, said collapsible warning barricade apparatus comprising;

• a barricade member capable of being positioned in a substantially upright position,
• signaling means operably attached to said barricade member for warning said vehicular and pedestrian traffic of the location of said restricted area;
• barricade support means operably and pivotally attached to said barricade member by pivot means for alternatively supporting said barricade member in a substantially restrained upright position atop said ground surface, and permitting said barricade member to pivotally rotate downwardly to said ground surface-hugging position upon impact from a moving vehicle,
• said barricade support means including bias means operably interposed between it and said barricade member, for further maintaining said barricade member in said substantially restrained upright position,
• said pivot means enabling said barricade member to pivot upon impact from said moving vehicle, upon overcoming said bias means, towards repositioning said barricade member to its said substantially ground surface-hugging position without substantial relocation of said barricade support means,
• said barricade member further being of such a construction so as to remain substantially intact, so as to preclude damage to same, as a result of said impact;
• automatic locking means operably positioned between said barricade member and said barricade support means for automatically locking said barricade member into its collapsed position, upon impact from said moving vehicle, relative to said barricade support means to preclude against inadvertent migration, rebounding and repositioning of said barricade member from its said substantially ground surface-hugging position, so as to further preclude damage to said barricade member, as well as to further allow the tires of said moving vehicle to roll over said repositioned barricade member without impact damage to said barricade member, thereby enabling redeployment and reuse of said apparatus while obviating the need for replacement of said barricade member, and further precluding impact damage to the undercarriage of said moving vehicle as well as precluding injury to pedestrians, while alternatively providing a locked substantially flat profile for transportation and/or storage of the barricade apparatus.