AU7211301A - A barrier element - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: KINABALU INVESTMENTS PTY LTD Robin Noel Adcock AHEARN FOX Patent Trade Mark Attorneys GPO Box 1149 Brisbane Queensland 4001 Invention Title: A BARRIER ELEMENT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 1 This invention relates to a barrier element.

This invention has particular but not exclusive application to a barrier element used in the construction of traffic barriers and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application.

Demountable traffic barriers typically include a plurality of interconnected hollow, water fillable, barrier elements which are arranged end to end. Typically the barrier elements include opposing end portions that are adapted to engage an adjacent end portion of a like barrier element.

Typically barriers are erected on road surfaces, or adjacent surfaces, and are used as a means of defining a boundary of one or more traffic lanes. The barriers also provide protection for workmen who must work behind said barriers.

Motor vehicles striking barriers of the type described above have shown a tendency to travel up the side wall of the barrier. This can be hazardous, particularly if the motor vehicle should pass over or through the barrier and subsequently career 15 into workmen or any equipment that may lie in the path of the vehicle.

e It has also been noted that the tryes of the vehicle may sometimes temporarily engage a recess formed in one of the barrier elements or become lodged between adjacent barrier elements. As a consequence, the barrier element is often destroyed and the vehicle is flung back onto the road in an unpredictable and often uncontrollable manner which itself can lead to collisions with other vehicles nearby.

*Motor vehicles striking barriers of the type described above have shown a tendency to push those barrier elements that have been struck generally sideways.

This places considerable strain on the connection connecting adjacent barrier elements and in some instances the connection may fail.

2 The present invention aims to alleviate at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide a barrier element and a traffic barrier which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a barrier element which can be connected to like barrier elements when arranged end to end so as to form a traffic barrier, said barrier element including: a side wall, and a ledge that extends outwardly from a lower portion of said side wall, said ledge having a contact surface against which a wheel of a motor vehicle that has ridden up onto said barrier element may bear against, said ledge in use being adapted to urge the wheel or wheels of the motor away from side wall of the barrier.

In one embodiment, the barrier element may be able to pivot relative to the 15 foundation upon which it rests about an axis that lies below the ledge. As a consequence, the weight of a motor vehicle that is supported on said ledge may be sufficient to temporarily tilt the barrier element such that the contact surface of said ledge, or a portion of same beneath said tyre, is inclined downwardly toward the *:*foundation.

oo In other embodiments where it may be neither desirable or intended that the barrier element shall tilt in response to the weight of a motor vehicle bearing down upon the ledge, said ledge may include an upper contact surface that in use shall support a vehicle tyre, and wherein said contact surface beneath the tyre at least in part shall slope downwardly away from the side wall of the barrier element.

In order to prevent the wheels of the motor vehicle ridding up that portion of the side wall which lies above the ledge, the side wall may be include abutment means that is intended to engage a portion of the motor vehicle, such as a side wall of a wheel guard or a tyre. The abutment means may include a portion of the side wall such as a protrusion that extends outwardly from the side wall. For example, the abutment means may include a longitudinally extending rib.

In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a barrier element which can be connected to like barrier elements when arranged end to end so as to form a traffic barrier, said barrier element including: a side wall, and a ledge that extends outwardly from a lower portion of said side wall, said ledge having an upper contact surface against which a wheel of a motor vehicle that has ridden up onto said barrier element may bear against and a lower contact surface that is adapted to engage a foundation on which the barrier element stands, 15 said ledge in use being pressed between the wheel of the motor vehicle and the foundation and wherein frictional forces applied to said lower contact surface by the foundation will resist movement of the barrier element in a direction that is generally •***"transverse to the longitudinal axis of same.

Preferably the barrier element is manufactured from a rigid or a semi-rigid plastics material and wherein the walls of the hollow ledge are deformable. The deformation of the ledge may be adapted to increase the surface area of the ledge that engages the foundation.

The lower contact surface of the ledge may be roughened, or may include one or more projections, such as a series of ribs. The roughened surface in use may inhibit or at least resist the tendency of the contact surface to slide relative to the foundation.

In yet another aspect this invention resides broadly in a hollow barrier element which can be filled with a flowable material said barrier element having connection means which enable it to be connected to like barrier elements when arranged end to end so as to form a traffic barrier, said barrier element said barrier element including: a side wall, and a deformable ledge that extends outwardly from a lower portion of said side wall, said ledge having an upper contact surface against which a wheel of a motor vehicle that has ridden up onto said barrier element may bear against and a lower contact surface that is adapted to engage a foundation on which the barrier element stands, said ledge in use being pressed between the wheel of the motor vehicle and the foundation and wherein the resulting deformation of the ledge shall cause said side wall to tilt towards the motor vehicle and in turn resist the motor vehicle climbing 15 the barrier.

Preferably the barrier element is manufactured from a rigid or a semi-rigid plastics material and wherein the walls of the hollow ledge are deformable.

In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:- FIG. 1 is a side view of a barrier element that is constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is an end view of the barrier element illustrated in figure 1; FIG. 3 is an end view of the barrier element illustrated in figure 1 showing impact with a motor vehicle; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a barrier constructed from three barrier elements of the type illustrated in figure 1; FIG. 5 is an end view of an alternative barrier element that is constructed illustrated in figure 1; FIG. 6 is an end view of the barrier element illustrated in figure 5 showing impact with a motor vehicle; FIG. 7 is an end view of yet another barrier element that is constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a hollow, water fillable, barrier element 10 that includes a base wall 11 and a top wall 12 that are maintained in a spaced relationship by opposing side walls 13. The barrier element 10 also includes complementary engaging end portions 14 and 15 of opposite hand that are adapted to engage with adjacent end portions of similar barrier elements when arranged end to end so as to form a barrier 16 of the type illustrated in figure 4.

°oooo 15 The barrier elements 10 are interconnected by bolts 17 that extend through aligned apertures formed in adjacent end portions.

Each side wall 13 includes a ledge 18 that extends outwardly from a lower portion of said side wall. The ledge 18 includes a top wall 19 and a bottom wall that in use shall rest on the surrounding foundation, such as a road surface. The o* a bottom wall 20 includes a plurality of recesses 21 formed therein which allow water that may collect on the road surface to flow there through thereby preventing a build up of water on the road surface.

The top wall 19 is generally arcuate and slopes downwardly away from the side wall 13 of the barrier element.

6 Each side wall 13 also includes an abutment consisting of a longitudinally extending rib 22.

In use, the wheels 30 along one side of a motor vehicle that has struck the barrier 16 will rest upon the ledge 18, as shown in figure 3. It is believed because much of each wheel 30 is either not supported or is supported by the generally downwardly inclined top wall 19, the vehicle will display a tendency to move away from the barrier. It is also believed that engagement of the body guard 31 mounted above the wheel 30 with the abutment 22 will maintain the wheel in contact with the top wall 19 of the ledge 18 and will help prevent the motor vehicle from riding up the side wall 13.

It is also believed that the frictional forces acting on the ledge 18, when it is pressed between the wheels 30 and the road 33 will assist or inhibit sideways movement of the barrier element that is in contact with the motor vehicle.

0 Figures 5 and 6 illustrate yet another water fillable barrier element 110 that 15 includes a base wall 111 and a top wall 112 that are maintained in a spaced i relationship by opposing side walls 113. The barrier element 110 also includes complementary engaging end portions of opposite hand that are adapted to engage with adjacent end portions of similar barrier elements when arranged end to end so as to form a barrier of the type illustrated in figure 4.

O The barrier elements 110 are interconnected by bolts that extend through aligned apertures formed in adjacent end portions.

Each side wall 113 includes a ledge 118 that extends outwardly from a lower portion of said side wall. The ledge 118 includes a top wall 119 and a bottom wall 120 that in use is generally spaced above the surrounding foundation, such as a road tI .II-~LI-CIIFY iuliriii.--l C ll i.l IL -I-l ruXil II- ~C r;.e rL-_ -I .i i c_ n~ surface. The top wall 119 is generally arcuate and slopes downwardly away from the side wall 113 of the barrier element.

In use, the wheels 30 along one side of a motor vehicle that has struck the barrier will rest upon the ledge 118, as shown in figure 6. It is believed that the weight of the motor vehicle supported by the ledge 118 will be sufficient to cause the barrier element to pivot about a lower edge 125 and wherein the combination of the generally downwardly inclined top wall 119 and the sidewall 113 that is temporarily inclined upwardly towards the vehicle will aid in redirecting the vehicle away from the barrier element.

Figure 7 illustrates yet another water fillable barrier element 210 that is constructed from a resilient plastics material that is readily deformed by the weight of a motor vehicle. The barrier element 210 includes a base wall 211 and a top wall 212 that are maintained in a spaced relationship by opposing side walls 213. The barrier element 210 also includes complementary engaging end portions of opposite S. 15 hand that are adapted to engage with adjacent end portions of similar barrier elements when arranged end to end so as to form a barrier of the type illustrated in K figure 4.

S"The barrier elements 210 are interconnected by bolts that extend through aligned apertures formed in adjacent end portions.

Each side wall 213 includes a ledge 218 that extends outwardly from a lower portion of said side wall. The ledge 218 includes a top wall 219 and a bottom wall 220 that in use shall rest on the surrounding foundation, such as a road surface. The bottom wall 220 includes a plurality of recesses formed therein which allow water that may collect on the road surface to flow there through thereby preventing a build up of water on the road surface.

8 The top wall 219 is generally arcuate and slopes downwardly away from the side wall 213 of the barrier element.

In use, the wheels 30 along one side of a motor vehicle that has struck the barrier will rest upon the ledge 218, as shown in figure 7. It is believed that the weight of the motor vehicle supported by the ledge 218 will be sufficient to cause temporary deformation of the barrier element as generally indicated by the dotted outline. Furthermore it is believed the combination of the generally downwardly inclined top wall 219 and the sidewall 213 that is temporarily inclined upwardly towards the vehicle will aid in redirecting the vehicle away from the barrier element.

Furthermore it is also believed that the frictional forces acting on the ledge 218, when it is pressed between the wheels 30 and the road 33 will assist or inhibit sideways movement of the barrier element that is in contact with the motor vehicle.

It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the present invention and that all such modifications and S 15 variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein defined in the appended claim.

Claims (3)

1. A barrier element which can be connected to like barrier elements when arranged end to end as to form a traffic barrier, said barrier element including: a side wall, and a ledge that extends outwardly from a lower portion of said side wall, said ledge having a contact surface against which a wheel of a motor vehicle that has ridden up onto said barrier element may bear against, said ledge in use being adapted to urge the wheel or wheels of the motor away from side wall of the barrier.

2. A barrier element which can be connected to like barrier elements when arranged end to end so as to form a traffic barrier, said barrier element including: a side wall, and a ledge that extends outwardly from a lower portion of said side wall, said ledge having an upper contact surface against which a wheel of a motor vehicle that has ridden up onto said barrier element may bear against and a lower contact surface that S* is adapted to engage a foundation on which the barrier element stands, said ledge in S use being pressed between the wheel of the motor vehicle and the foundation and wherein frictional forces applied to said lower contact surface by the foundation will resist movement of the barrier element in a direction that is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of same.

3. A hollow barrier element which can be filled with a flowable material said barrier element having connection means which enable it to be connected to like barrier S. elements when arranged end to end so as to form a traffic barrier, said barrier element said barrier element including: a side wall, and a deformable ledge that extends outwardly from a lower portion of said side wall, said ledge having an upper contact surface against which a wheel of a motor vehicle that has ridden up onto said barrier element may bear against and a lower contact surface that is adapted to engage a foundation on which the barrier element stands, said ledge in use being pressed between the wheel of the motor vehicle and the foundation and wherein the resulting deformation of the ledge shall cause said side wall to tilt towards the motor vehicle and in turn resist the motor vehicle climbing the barrier. Dated this 14 th Day of September, 2001 KINABALU INVESTMENTS PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys AHEARN FOX /cKIN03120.wpd 0: *s *oo C *C* *C