NZ549947A - Jig for temporarily supporting a guard rail relative to a blocking piece or post, typically for a roadway - Google Patents

Abstract

A jig 70 is disclosed that can be temporarily used (and later removed) for supporting a rail 12 relative to either a blocking piece 22 or a post 14, typically for a roadway barrier assembly.

Description

PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Fee No. 4: $250.00 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AN ASSEMBLY JIG WE Industrial Galvanizers Corporation Pty Limited, an Australian Company c/ - Ingal Civil Products of 57-65 Airds Road, Minto, New South Wales, 2566, Australia hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - INTfcLlJcc UAL PROPERTY OFRC5 OF N.Z.

To be followed by Page 1A 0 3 DEC 2007 RECEIVED James & Wells Ref: 503608/60 CG An Assembly Jig Field of the invention

[001] This invention relates to a roadway guardrail system having a guardrail mounted on posts, as well as to a blocking piece that is used to mount a roadway guardrail to a support post. The invention can have broader use in other fields (eg, safety barrier systems, fences, etc).

Background of the invention

[002] Roadway guardrail systems are known in the prior art. Such systems are typically used to prevent accidents arising from a vehicle leaving the roadway and entering an adjacent hazardous place such as a ditch, etc.

[003] A roadway guardrail system typically includes a plurality of interconnected guardrails mounted to a plurality of spaced apart supporting posts. The supporting posts are spaced along the side of the roadway and are fixed in place.

[004] Typically a blocking piece is disposed between the guardrail and the supporting post. Such a blocking piece is required to withstand high compressing forces resulting from an impact between a vehicle and the system. A variety of materials have been proposed for use in the manufacture of blocking pieces and supporting posts (eg, wood, rubber, plastics, etc).

[005] Any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, at the priority date of this application.

Summary of the invention

[006] The present invention provides a guardrail system including: a supporting post; a guardrail; a blocking piece for mounting the guardrail to the supporting post; and load distributing means disposed between the blocking piece and the guardrail to distribute load or pressure from the guardrail onto the blocking piece.

[007] The load distributing means can comprise a load distributing member adapted to engage a portion of the blocking piece.

[008] The load-distributing means can include: a first load distributing member having a first contacting surface, said contacting surface being disposed against an upper portion of a front face of the blocking piece; and a second load distributing member having a second contacting la INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N Z. 1 0 MAR 2008 RECEIVED > C05108P 2 surface, said contacting surface being disposed against a lower portion of the front face of the blocking piece.

[009] The contacting surfaces of said load distributing members can respectively overlap the upper portion and the lower portion of the front face of the blocking piece.

[010] The guardrail and the blocking piece can be formed from a first material, and said load distributing means can be formed from a second material.

[011] Preferably the first material is preferably plastic, and said second material is preferably metal.

[012] More preferably, said second material is steel.

[013] The present invention also provides a load distributing member for use in a roadway guardrail system, said guardrail including one or more blocking pieces, said load distributing member including: a contacting portion adapted to extend across an area of a front face of a blocking piece of said guardrail system; and flange means formed on said contacting portion for attaching said load distributing member to the blocking piece.

[014] The blocking piece can include: a top, bottom and side panels forming a box like structure with opposed open ends; a series of webs and cavities which extend between the open ends of said box like structure whereby said cavities are bounded by said webs and or said panels; and said load distributing member can include flange means sized and shaped to engage portions of said webs and or said panels to be retained in said blocking piece.

[015] The present invention further provides a blocking piece for use in a roadway guardrail system, said blocking piece including: a block member having a front face against which in use a guardrail bears, and at least one load distributing member which in use is disposed between the front face of the block member and the guardrail.

[016] Said load distributing member can be formed integrally with the block member.

[017] Alternatively, said load distributing member can be attached to the block member.

[018] The load distributing member can be arranged to be located over a portion of the front face of the blocking piece.

[019] Preferably the load distributing member is an L-shaped construction with one leg of which being received in said blocking piece.

[020] The load distributing member can have an "U" shaped construction.

[021] The load distributing member can be sized and shaped to engage complementary portions of said blocking piece.

[022] The block piece can be moulded from a thermoplastic material, with said load distributing member being inserted therein while said blocking piece is cooling.

OF NZ 1 9 SEP 2006 C05108P 3

[023] Preferably the load distributing means includes a substantially impenetrable surface.

[024] The present invention also provides an assembly jig for assisting in support and assembly of a guardrail system, said guardrail system including a post, a blocking piece and a guardrail, said assembly jig including: guardrail support means for supporting the guardrail during assembly operations, said means being adapted to be releasably engaged with the blocking piece or the post of the guardrail system and later removed.

[025] The assembly jig can include a first supporting portion operable to support a guardrail and a second supporting portion adapted to prevent the guardrail from tipping over.

[026] The assembly jig can further include a handle portion for releasing and removing the guardrail support means by the user by grasping and operating the handle portion.

[027] Preferably the blocking piece includes a bottom panel and said assembly jig is slidably engaged with the bottom panel.

[028] Alternatively said assembly jig is slidably engaged with the post.

[029] The second supporting potion can include an aperture adapted to receive a fastener therethrough.

[030] The present invention further provides a blocking piece for use in a guardrail system, said blocking piece being adapted to releasably engage an assembly jig.

[031] The present invention also provides a post for use in a guardrail system, said post being adapted to releasably engage an assembly jig.

[032] The present invention further provides a method of mounting a guardrail to a blocking piece, said method including the step of using an assembly jig to support the guardrail.

[033] Preferably the method includes the following steps in any order: (a) inserting at least one supporting post into earth; (b) supporting a blocking piece on said post; (c) providing means to removably receive an assembly jig to hold said guardrail relative to the post or the blocking piece.

[034] Preferably said assembly jig includes a first supporting portion operable to support a guardrail and a second supporting portion adapted to prevent the guardrail from tipping over.

[035] Said jig assembly can further include a handle portion for releasing and removing the assembly jig by the user by grasping and operating the handle portion.

[036] The present invention also provides a delineator including snap-on catch means for locking the delineator onto a supporting structure.

[037] Said supporting structure can be a blocking piece of a guardrail system.

[038] Said delineator can include: a flag portion; a leg portion depending therefrom; and the snap-on catch means extending from the leg portion; said snap-on catch means including at least C05108P 4 one locking arm having a catching element adapted to cooperate in a locking position with a complementary catching portion of the blocking piece.

[039] The delineator can further include an opening adapted to receive an end of a screwdriver or the like and said snap-on catch means can be released by insertion of said screwdriver or the like into said opening.

[040] Preferably said snap-on catch means extends in a direction perpendicular to the leg portion of the delineator.

[041] The present invention also provides a blocking piece for a guardrail system, said blocking piece including a catching portion adapted to cooperate with a complementary catch means of a delineator.

[042] Said catching portion can include an opening in the blocking piece.

Brief description of the drawings

[043] An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[044] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a roadway guardrail system according to the present invention, viewed from the curb side;

[045] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the roadway guardrail system of Fig. 1, viewed from the traffic side;

[046] Fig. 1;

[047]

[048]

[049] 0 [050]

[051]

[052]

[053]

[054] Figure 3 is a front view of a blocking piece of the roadway guardrail system of Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the blocking piece of Fig. 3; Figure 5 is a rear elevation view of the blocking piece of Fig. 3; Figure 6 is a plan view of the blocking piece of Fig. 3; Figure 7 is a bottom view of the blocking piece of Fig. 3; Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a blocking piece assembly of Fig. 1; Figure 9 is a front elevation view of a clip member of the assembly of Fig. 8; Figure 10 is a plan view of the clip of Fig. 9; Figure 11 is a side view of the clip of Fig. 9; C05108P

[055] Figure 12 is a front elevation view of a delineator of the guardrail system of Fig. i;

[056] . Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the delineator of Fig. 12 taken along line A-A of Fig. 12;

[057] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the delineator of Fig. 12 taken along line B-B of Fig. 12;

[058] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the delineator of Fig. 12 taken along line C-C of Fig. 12;

[059] Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentaiy view of a snap-on catch of the delineator of Fig. 12;

[060] Figure 17 illustrates a second embodiment of a load distributing member; and

[061] Figure 18 is an exploded perspective view of a roadway guardrail system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the traffic side, during assembly operations.

Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments

[062] Illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 is a fragment of a roadway guardrail system 10. The guardrail system 10 includes a guardrail 12 in the form of a "W" beam mounted to a supporting post 14 of a "C" cross section. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the guardrail system 10 may include one or a plurality of interconnected guardrails 12 mounted on a plurality of supporting posts 14. The guardrail system 10 will typically be installed along the side of a roadway to prevent a vehicle from veering off the roadway.

[063] As shown in Figs. 1, 2, the guardrail 12 is provided with an elongated mounting opening 16 extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (not shown) of the guardrail 12 and adapted to receive a fastener 18 therethrough.

[064] The supporting post 14 is fixed in place by driving the post 14 into the ground. Similarly to the guardrail 12, the supporting post 14 includes a pair of elongated mounting openings 20 extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (not shown) of the post 14 and adapted to receive the fastener 18 therethrough.

[065] Disposed between the guardrail 12 and the supporting post 14 is a blocking piece 22. As best shown in Figs. 3-8, the blocking piece 22 is in the form of a box like structure with I iWtLLfCTUAL mPEfffY QFFICH OF HZ ' 19 SEP 2006 ■BECEJVFn C05108P 6 opposed open ends. The blocking piece 22 includes a front face 24, a rear face 26, two opposing side walls 28, 30, a top panel 32, and a bottom panel 34.

[066] The blocking piece 22 is provided with a flange 36 adapted to engage a top edge 38 of the supporting post 14. The blocking piece 22 further includes two side flanges 40.1 and 40.2 adapted to engage the side surfaces of the supporting post 14. Extending from the side flange 40.1 is a flange 40.3 for engaging a roadway delineator 41. As best shown in Figs. 6-8, the front face 24 of the blocking piece 22 is further provided with a bottom flange for supporting the guardrail 12.

[067] The blocking piece 22 includes two cavities 42 and 44 extending between the front face 24 and the rear face 26. Each of the cavities 42, 44 includes a reinforcing member 48, 50 and a plurality of webs 52 connecting the reinforcing members 48, 50 with the side walls 28, 30 and the panels 32, 34. The reinforcing member 50 is provided with a spigot 51 adapted to be received in a complementary aperture 53 formed in the supporting post 14. The cavities 42, 44 are separated by an intermediate structure 54 including three elongated bores 56.1, 56.2, 56.3 running through the blocking piece 22. As best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the bore 56.2 is adapted to receive the fastener 18. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the elongated structure of the bore 56.2 facilitates relative alignment of the blocking piece 22 with the guardrail 12 and the opening 20 formed in the supporting post 14.

[068] Referring now to Figs. 2 and 8 toll, attached to the blocking piece 22 are two load distributing members 58.1 and 58.2 having an L-shaped construction. The load distributing members 58.1, 58.2 are disposed between the blocking piece 22 and the guardrail 12 to distribute load or pressure from the guardrail 12 onto the blocking piece 22.

[069] Each load distributing member 58.1, 58.2 includes a contacting surface 60.1, 60.2 adapted to be disposed against a portion of the front face 24 of the blocking piece 22. A flange portion 62.1, 62.2 is sized and shaped to engage portions of the webs 52, the top panel 32 and the bottom panel 34 such that the load distributing members 58.1 and 58.2 are retained in the blocking piece 22.

[070] As best seen in Fig. 2, the contacting surfaces 60.1, 60.2 of the load distributing members 58.1 and 58.2 respectively overlap the upper portion and the lower portion of the front face 24 of the blocking piece 22 to thereby prevent the relatively sharp edges of the guardrail 12 from biting into the blocking piece 22. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the extent of the overlap between the load distributing members 58.1, 58.2 and the front face 24 of 19 SEP 2006 j BMcejved 7 the blocking piece 22 can be changed to suit particular applications (eg, the profile of the guardrail, etc).

[071] While the blocking piece 22 is moulded from a thermoplastic material, the load distributing members 58.1, 58.2 are formed from a galvanised steel. To assemble, the load distributing members 58.1, 58.2 are inserted into the blocking piece 22 while the blocking piece 22 is cooling after the moulding process.

[072] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that load distributing members 58.1 and 58.2 can be formed from any other material capable of providing a substantially impenetrable rail facing surface.

[073] The load distributing members 58.1, 58.2 can be formed integrally with the blocking piece 22. Load distributing formations can be formed in the overlapping regions by other means such a significantly harder plastic being used or side "U" shaped clips as illustrated in Fig. 17.

[074] Extending from the bottom panel 34 of the blocking piece 22 are two elongated L-shaped projections 64.1 and 64.2 forming a channel 66 adapted to receive a complementary portion of an assembly jig 68 for supporting the guardrail 12 during assembly operations.

[075] The assembly jig 68 is configured to be temporarily attached to the blocking piece 22 or the post 14 for use in mounting the guardrail 12, and is capable of quick removal therefrom by the user.

[076] As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the assembly jig 68 includes a first supporting surface 70 upon which the guardrail 12 can rest during assembly operations. A portion 72 of the first supporting surface 40 is adapted to be slidably received in the channel 66 of the blocking piece 22.

[077] A second supporting surface 74 of the assembly jig 68 extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the first supporting surface 70 and is adapted to prevent the guardrail 12 from tipping over. The second supporting surface 74 is further provided with an aperture 76 adapted to receive the fastener 18 therethrough. The assembly jig 68 includes a handle portion 78 for releasing and removing the assembly jig by the user by grasping and operating the handle portion 78.

[078] Although Figs. 1, 2 show that the second supporting surface 74 of the assembly jig 68 is in the form of a thin, substantially flat plate of a generally rectangular shape, it will be C05108P 8 understood by those skilled in the art that any other suitable structure (eg, a wire frame) can be used for supporting the guardrail 12 during assembly operation.

[079] Likewise, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), an assembly jig can be removably attached to the supporting post 14 (not shown). To this end, the supporting post 14 can be provided with a channel (not shown) or a square or rectangular aperture through the post, being sized and shaped to receive a complementary portion of the assembly jig.

[080] As best illustrated in Figs. 1, 4, 6 and 7, the side wall 28 of the blocking piece 22 is provided with two parallel grooves 80.1, 80.2 extending in a direction parallel to an axis 82 of the blocking piece 22. Each of the grooves 80.1, 80.2 respectively includes an aperture 84.1, 84.2 adapted to releasably engage a complementary catching element of snap-on catch means 86.

[081] The delineator 41 includes a flag portion 88 and a leg portion 90 depending therefrom. Attached to the flag portion 88 is a retroreflector sticker 92. The leg portion 90 of the delineator is configured to engage the side tab 40.3 of the blocking piece 22.

[082] Protruding from the delineator 41 in a direction generally perpendicular to the leg portion 90 is a pair of snap-on catch means having projections 86.1 and 86.2. As best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the projections 86.1, 86.2 are spaced the same distance apart as the pair of axially extending grooves 80.1, 80.2 formed on the side wall 30 of the blocking piece 22. In an alternative embodiment, the grooves 80.1, 80.2 are adapted to slidably receive the projections 86 such that the leg portion 90 of the delineator 41 is capable of sliding across the side wall 30 of the blocking piece 22 by travelling the projections 86.1, 86.2 along the grooves 80.1, 80.2 respectively.

[083] The catch means 86.1, 86.2 include elastically flexible fingers 94.1 and 94.2 movable between a withdrawal position and a locking position. The fingers 94.1, 94.2 are equipped with catching element intended to cooperate in the locking position with a complementary catching element of the blocking piece 22.

[084] To this end, each finger is provided with a lip or burb 96 oriented in use towards the side flange 40.3 and is configured to engage the opening 84 formed in the side wall 30 of the blocking piece 22 to impose a constraint on the delineator 41 in a direction perpendicular to the side wall 30.

[085] The free end of the finger 94 is movable towards the central longitudinal axis 98 of the delineator 41 when a screwdriver (not shown) is urged towards the lip 96 through an opening 100 provided in the leg portion 90 of the delineator 41. As a result, when it is desired to 'OTtiifcCTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 1 9 SEP 2006 I RECEIVED I C05108P 9 remove the delineator 41 from the blocking piece 22, the finger 94 can be pushed away from the opening 84 to thereby release the delineator 41.

[086] The roadway guardrail system 10 is assembled as follows. The supporting post 14 is fixed in place by driving the post 14 into the ground (not shown). Alternatively, the post 14 can be placed into a pre-dug post hole (not shown). The blocking piece 22 with the load distributing members 58.1, 58.2 attached thereto is then mounted on the supporting post 14. To this end, the top flange 36 of the blocking piece 22 engages the upper edge 38 of the supporting post 14, the side flanges 40.1 and 40.2 engage the side portions of the post 14, and the spigot 51 is received in the aperture 53. As a result, the mounting bore 56.2 will be aligned with the mounting opening 20 formed in the supporting post 14.

[087] The assembly jig 68 is then removably attached to the blocking piece 22. To achieve this, the projection 72 is inserted into the channel 66 formed on the bottom panel of the blocking piece 22.

[088] The guardrail 12 is then disposed between the supporting surface 74 of the assembly gig 68 and the front face of the blocking piece 22. The guardrail 12 rests on the supporting surface 70 of the assembly jig 68 and the mounting opening 16 formed in the guardrail 12 is aligned with the mounting bore 56.2 of the blocking piece 22.

[089] The bolt 18 passes through the aperture 76 and extends through the mounting opening 16 of the guardrail 12, the mounting bore 56.2 of the blocking piece 22, and the mounting opening 20 of the supporting post 14 to releasably secure the guardrail 12, the blocking piece 22, and the supporting post 14 against relative movement. To this end, the head 102 of the bolt 18 is disposed against the substantially vertical surface of the guardrail 12. A nut 104 engaging the threaded portion 106 of the bolt 18 is disposed against the substantially vertical surface of the supporting post 14 to secure the bolt 18 against movement within the opening 20. Once the guardrail system is assembled and before the full tightening of the assembly, the desired height of the guardrail 12 can be further adjusted by knocking the guardrail in a generally vertical direction. The load distributing members 58.1 and 58.2 will prevent the guardrail 12 from biting into the adjacent areas of the blocking piece.

[090] The assembly jig 68 is then removed the user grasping and operating the handle portion 78 of the assembly jig 68.

[091] The body of the delineator 41 is then slightly flexed to engage the flange 40.3, and the projections 86.1, 86.2 of the delineator 41 are inserted into the apertures 84.1 and 84.2 respectively. In a case of a rigid delineator, the projections 86.1, 86.2 of the delineator 41 are iNltLLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 19 SEP 2006 Received C05108P inserted into the grooves 80.1, 80.2 respectively, and the delineator 41 is then pushed towards the side tab 40.2 until the fingers 94.1, 94.2 engage the openings 84.1, 84.2.

[092] To remove the delineator 41, a screwdriver (not shown) is urged towards the lip 96 through the opening 100 provided in the leg portion 90 of the delineator 41. As a result, the fingers 94 can be pushed away from the openings 84 to thereby release the delineator 41.

[093] Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its "open" sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its "closed" sense, that is the sense of "consisting only of'. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear.

[094] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

[095] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein. intellectual property office of n.z. 19 SEP 2006 RECEIVED

Claims (11)

1. An assembly jig for assisting in support and assembly of a guardrail system, said guardrail system including a post, a blocking piece and a guardrail, said assembly jig including: guardrail support means for supporting the guardrail during assembly operations, said means being adapted to be releasably engaged with the blocking piece or the post of the guardrail system and later removed.

2. An assembly jig as claimed in claim 1 including a first supporting portion operable to support a guardrail and a second supporting portion adapted to prevent the guardrail from tipping over.

3. An assembly jig as claimed in claim 1 or 2 further including a handle portion for releasing and removing the guardrail support means by the user by grasping and operating the handle portion.

4. An assembly jig as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said blocking piece includes a bottom panel and said guardrail support means are slidably engaged with the bottom panel.

5. An assembly jig as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said guardrail support means are slidably engaged with the post.

6. An assembly jig as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said second supporting potion includes means to allow a fastener to pass therethrough.

7. An assembly jig substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 18 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of mounting a guardrail to a blocking piece, said method including the step of using an assembly jig as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 to support the guardrail during assembly and adjustment.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, including pivoting the assembly jig in a substantially vertical direction to assist in aligning elements of the guardrail system during assembly.

10. An assembly jig as substantially descried herein with reference to the drawings and description.

11. A method as substantially described herein with reference to the drawings and description. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 10 MAR 2008 RECEIVED