GB2337784A

GB2337784A - Road hump

Info

Publication number: GB2337784A
Application number: GB9820056A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Ian Hebden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-05-26
Filing date: 1998-09-15
Publication date: 1999-12-01
Also published as: GB9811114D0; GB9820056D0

Abstract

A road hump assembly has a road hump body (1) and one or more ground engaging members (4) affixed thereto. The hump body (1) may be moulded from a rubber or plastics material possibly recycled material. The ground engaging members may be metal plates (4), which are moulded into the body (1). To install the road hump assembly a channel is cut into a road surface into which the ground engaging plates are then received. The method of fixing could be applied to other road furniture.

Description

1 ROAD HUMP 2337784 The present invention relates to a road hump and a

method for the installation thereof.

Road humps also called "sleeping policemen" are widely used to control the flow of traffic on both public and private roads. Indeed, present environmental and safety concerns are resulting in an increased use of road humps in traffic calming schemes.

In one conventional method road humps are formed from the tar macadam used to build roads. This can be time consuming and inconvenient, especially where it is desired to install a road hump on an existing road, or to repair a damaged hump. Also, should a hump no longer be required, the removal process is also inconvenient, the hump must be broken up and dug out of the road, and then the road surface repaired.

In another existing arrangement, preformed humps are made from a rubber material and secured to a road surface using bolts. Generally, however, such humps are only used in private, low traffic volume applications, rather than on public roads.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems 2 associated with existing humps.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a road hump assembly comprising a road hump body and a ground engaging member affixed to the hump body.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for the installation of a road hump comprising the steps of:

providing a road hump assembly comprising a road hump body and a ground engaging member affixed to the hump body; making a hole in the road surface to receive the ground engaging member; and inserting the ground engaging member into said hole to mount the road hump body on the road surface.

The road hump body preferably has a generally flat surface arranged to lie adjacent to a road surface and a generally curved surface over which vehicles may travel when the road hump is installed. The road hump body is preferably formed from a rubber or plastics material, more preferably from a recycled rubber or plastics material, for example from recycled car tyres.

1 The ground engaging member is preferably moulded into the road hump body and projects from the surface of the road hump body intended to lie 3 adjacent to a road surface.

The ground engaging member preferably comprises a metal plate, for example a steel plate. A plurality of such plates may be provided.

One or more apertures may be formed through the part of any plate or plates intended to be moulded in the road hump body. This allows the material from which the road hump body is produced to more securely retain the plates.

Where a plurality of plates are provided they may be arranged in spaced relation across the width of the hump. This allows a tool to be inserted under the hump, between the plates, to raise the hump from the road surface. The road hump body may carry markings to indicate where the spaces between the plates lie. Alternatively or additionally the road hump body may include a channel or channels into which a tool may be inserted.

When the ground engaging member comprises a metal plate or plates then the hump may be installed by cutting a channel into a road surface to receive the plates. This allows a road hump to be conveniently and quickly 20 installed onto a road surface, and removed again when required.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for the installation of a body onto the surface of a road comprising the 4 steps of: providing a body including a ground engaging member; making a hole in the road surface to receive the ground engaging member; and inserting the ground engaging member into said hole to mount the body onto the road surface.

As described above the body could be a road hump. The body could also take other forms, such as a sign, bollard or other item of road furniture, for either temporary or permanent installation. The ground engaging member may take any suitable form.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig.1 shows a perspective view of a road hump according to the invention; Fig.2 shows a side view of the road hump of Fig.1; Fig.3 shows a cross-sectional view of a part of the road hump illustrated in Fig.1, taken along the line 111-111 of Fig.1; and Fig.4 shows an end view of the road hump of Fig. 1 shown above a road surface.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a road hump comprises a road hump body 1, moulded from a recycled rubber material. The road hump body 1 has a generally flat surface 2 arranged to lie adjacent a road surface, and a generally curved surface 3 over which vehicles may travel when the hump is installed. Any suitable profile may be adopted, as desired or as appropriate.

Projecting from the flat surface 2 of the road hump body 3 are a number of metal plates 4, which are partially embedded in the body 1.

The plates 4 are introduced into the body 1 during the moulding process and the rubber material from which the body 1 is formed allowed to harden around the plates 4. The plates 4 are spaced apart along the width of the body 1. This allows the body to be easily supported underneath, for example using a fork lift truck with the forks between the plates 4. Markings could be provided on the body 1 to show where the spaces fie between the plates 4. Alternatively or additionally channels could be formed in the surface 2 of the body 1, between the plates 4, to allow the insertion of a tool to lift the road hump assembly when surface 2 lies adjacent a road surface.

Referring to Fig.3, each plate 4 includes two apertures 5, to aid securing 6 of the plates 4 into the body 1. When the body 1 is moulded around the plates 4, the fluid material from which the body 1 is formed will flow into apertures 5. Once the body 1 has solidified then the material in the apertures 5 will serve to more securely retain the plates 4 in the body 1.

Referring to FigA, the road hump assembly, generally 6, is installed onto a road surface 7 by first cutting a channel 8 in the road surface of width corresponding to the thickness of the metal plates 9. The road hump assembly is then lowered onto the road surface so that the plates 9 pass into channel 8.

Plates 9 preferably closely fit into channel 8. Plates 9 may include saw tooth ribs to restrict their movement out of the channel 8.

The plates 9 act, particularly, to prevent movement of the hump assembly 6 along the road surface as a result of the force applied to the hump by vehicles travelling on it along a road.

The present invention allows road humps to be conveniently fitted where required and removed, if necessary.

The above embodiment is described by way of example only, variations are possible without departing from the invention.

7

Claims

2.

3.

6.

8.

A road hump assembly comprising a road hump body and a ground engaging member affixed to the hump body.

A road hump assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the road hump body has a generally flat surface arranged to lie adjacent a road surface and a generally curved surface over which vehicles may travel when the road hump is installed.

A road hump assembly as claimed in either claim 1 or 2, wherein the road hump body is formed from a rubber or plastics material.

4. A road hump assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the road hump body is formed from recycled material. A road hump assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ground engaging member is moulded into the road hump body. A road hump assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ground engaging member comprises a metal plate.

7. A road hump assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein a plurality of metal plates are provided, arranged in spaced relation across the width of the hump. A road hump assembly as claimed in either claim 6 or 7, wherein one or more apertures are formed through the part of any plate or plates intended to be moulded into the road hump body. A road hump assembly as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, when 8 11.

13.

appendant to claim 7, wherein the road hump carries markings to indicate where spaces between the plates lie.

10. A method for the installation of a road hump comprising the steps of: providing a road hump assembly comprising a road hump body and a ground engaging member affixed to the hump body; making a hole in the road surface to receive the ground engaging member; and inserting the ground engaging member into said hole to mount the road hump body on the road surface. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hole is a channel and the ground engaging member is a metal plate.

12. A method for the installation of a body onto the surface of a road comprising the steps of: providing a body including a ground engaging member; making a hole in the road surface to receive the ground engaging member; and inserting the ground engaging member into said hole to mount the body onto the road surface. A road hump assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.