| JP11013027 | DELINEATOR |
| JP09302865 | WATER GUIDE GUTTER FOR WATER RUNNING DOWN WALL SURFACE OF BUILDING |
| JP2003193444 | CAR STOP |
Lapham, Glen William (Cospaker Pneumatics, 3/91-93 Spencer Rd. Nerang, QLD 4211, AU)
Lapham, Glen William (Cospaker Pneumatics, 3/91-93 Spencer Rd. Nerang, QLD 4211, AU)
| 1. | A delineator for use with a barrier system comprising a plurality of elongated barrier elements, said delineator comprising an elongated body having an upper display portion for carrying a reflector or reflectors or other display material and an engagement portion adapted for cooperation with and retention to a said elongated barrier element or elements. |
| 2. | A delineator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper display portion includes a substantially planar display surface to which the reflector or reflectors or other display material may be applied or attached. |
| 3. | A delineator as claimed in claim 2 wherein said reflector or reflectors or other display material are adhered to the planar display surface. |
| 4. | A delineator as claimed in claim 3 wherein said reflector or reflectors comprise a selfadhesive reflective tape. |
| 5. | A delineator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper display portion has opposite sides either or both of which may carry the reflector or reflectors or other display material. |
| 6. | A delineator as claimed in claim 5 wherein said opposite sides define or include opposite planar surfaces for carrying the reflector or reflectors or other display material. |
| 7. | A delineator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said engagement portion comprises means for capturing and/or gripping at least one of the elongated barrier elements. |
| 8. | A delineator as claimed in claim 7 wherein said capturing and/or gripping means comprise one or more openings in which a barrier element or elements may be received. |
| 9. | A delineator as claimed in claim 8 wherein said one or more openings are defined by cooperating notches, grooves or cut out portions. |
| 10. | A delineator as claimed in claim 8 wherein said one or more openings are defined by first and second legs of the engagement portion. |
| 11. | A delineator as claimed in claim 10 wherein respective legs include notches, grooves or cutout portions to define said one or more openings. |
| 12. | A delineator as claimed in claim 11 wherein said notches, grooves or cutout portions comprise opposing notches, grooves or cutout portions in the respective legs. |
| 13. | A delineator as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12 wherein said openings are configured to receive one elongated barrier element. |
| 14. | A delineator as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12 wherein said openings are configured to receive more than one elongated barrier element. |
| 15. | A delineator as claimed in claim 14 wherein said openings are configured to receive a pair of elements arranged side by side or one above the other. |
| 16. | A delineator as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 15 wherein said legs may be moved apart away form each other to enable the barrier elements to enter the openings and be captured therein. |
| 17. | A delineator as claimed in claim 16 wherein said legs are defined on opposite sides of a slot or slit extending longitudinally of the elongated body and the openings are provided at selected locations along the slot. |
| 18. | A delineator as claimed in 17 wherein said legs taper or have a tapering portion longitudinally towards the free ends thereof. |
| 19. | A delineator as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 wherein said slot opens to the free ends of the legs to define an entry into said slot. |
| 20. | A delineator as claimed in claim 19 wherein said entry into the slot is enlarged. |
| 21. | A delineator as claimed in claim 19 wherein said entry diverges outwardly to the free ends of the legs to define a tapering entrance into the slot. |
| 22. | A delineator as claimed in any one of claims to 10 to 21 and including means for spanning and interconnecting the free ends of the legs to prevent their separation when engaged over an elongated barrier element or elements. |
| 23. | A delineator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said elongated body is defined by a substantially planar member. |
| 24. | A delineator post assembly for a barrier system comprising a plurality of posts and a plurality of elongated barrier elements passing through said post, said delineator post assembly comprising a delineator comprising an elongated body having an upper display portion for carrying a reflector or reflectors or other display material and an engagement portion received by said post, said engagement portion cooperating with and being retained to a said barrier element or elements passing through said post. |
| 25. | A delineator post assembly as claimed in claim 24 wherein said post is of a channel shaped cross section and wherein at least said engagement portion of said delineator extends into the channel of said post to engage with a barrier element or elements passing through said post. |
| 26. | A delineator post assembly as claimed in claim 24 wherein said engagement portion comprises a pair of legs cooperating with a said barrier element or elements. |
| 27. | A delineator post assembly as claimed in claim 26 wherein each said leg includes at least one opening, notch or cutout portion, said opening, notch or cutout portion in respective legs opposing each other to capture a said barrier element or elements. |
| 28. | A delineator post assembly as claimed in claim 26 to claim 27 wherein said post is of a channel shaped cross section and wherein at least said legs of said engagement portion extend into the channel of said post to engage with a barrier element or elements passing through said post, said legs being constrained from movement away from each other by said channel. |
| 29. | A delineator post assembly as claimed in claims 26 wherein respective legs of the delineator are located on opposite sides of said post and engage a barrier element or elements on opposite sides of the post. |
| 30. | A delineator post assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein each said leg includes at least one opening, notch or cutout portion, said opening, notch or cutout portion of respective legs engaging a said barrier element or elements on opposite sides of said post. |
| 31. | A delineator post assembly as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 30 wherein said post includes a longitudinally extending slot through which said barrier elements pass. |
| 32. | A delineator post assembly as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 31 wherein said barrier elements comprise wire ropes. |
Background Art Delineators of a number of different configurations are used to delineate the edge of a road. In a common form, the delineators are in the form of posts which are driven into the ground along a roadside edge, the posts carrying reflectors on one or both sides so as to reflect light from the headlights of oncoming vehicles so that drivers of vehicles are aware of road edges. Delineator posts are usually constructed either of steel, plastics or a combination thereof and may be of various cross sectional configurations. Whilst these posts are effective in delineating a road, they are particularly time consuming to install as each has to be driven into the ground individually. Furthermore delineator posts cannot usually be used where the road edge is also delineated by guard rails or a wire rope safety barrier. In the former case, delineators of plate like form and carrying reflectors are usually secured by any suitable fasteners to the guardrail so that the guardrail can be seen by drivers of vehicles at night. The delineators can be double sided to carry reflectors on each side for use on undivided roads so as to be viewable by vehicles travelling in both directions whilst single sided delineators are usually used on divided roads.
In wire rope safety barriers which include a number of posts to which are supported a series of wire ropes arranged in a number of different configurations, reflectors are usually provided on the upright posts. There is however little space on the posts to carry reflectors of a sufficient size that the safety barrier is clearly seen. This is particularly relevant to motor cycle riders as wire rope barriers present a substantial hazard if they are struck at speed and can cause death or serious injury to riders. Whilst the posts of a wire barrier system can carry reflectors so as to make the wire barrier more readily seen particularly at night, the wire ropes between the posts can often not be seen and therefore remain a substantial hazard.
Summary of the Invention The present invention aims to provide a delineator particularly suited to use with wire safety barrier systems which overcomes or alleviates the above disadvantages or which at least provides an alternative to known delineators. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.
The present invention thus provides in one aspect a delineator for use with a barrier system comprising a plurality of elongated barrier elements, said delineator comprising an elongated body having an upper display portion for carrying a reflector or reflectors or other display material and an engagement portion adapted for cooperation with and retention to a said elongated barrier element or elements. Typically the elongated barrier elements comprise wire ropes.
Preferably, the upper display portion includes a substantially planar display surface to which the reflector or reflectors or other display material may be applied or attached.
The reflector or reflectors or other display material may be adhered to the planar display surface. Thus the reflector or reflectors may be defined by a self-adhesive reflective tape The upper display portion may have opposite sides either or both of which may carry the reflector or reflectors or other display material. Preferably the opposite sides define or include opposite planar surfaces for carrying the reflector or reflectors or other display material.
The engagement portion suitably comprises means for capturing and/or gripping at least one of the elongated barrier elements which usually comprise wire ropes. Preferably, the capturing and/or gripping means comprise one or more openings in which the barrier elements may be received. The one or more openings may be defined by cooperating notches, grooves or cut out portions.
Most preferably the one or more openings may be defined by first and second legs of the engagement portion. The respective legs may include the notches, grooves or cut-out portions. Opposing notches, grooves or cut-out portions are suitably proved in the
respective legs. The openings may be configured to receive only one elongated barrier element or more than one elongated barrier element such as a pair of elements arranged side by side or one above the other. The legs may be moved apart away from each other to enable the barrier elements to enter the openings and be captured therein.
Most preferably, the legs are defined on opposite sides of a slot or slit extending longitudinally of the elongated body and the openings are provided at selected locations along the slot. The legs may taper or have a tapering portion longitudinally towards the free ends thereof. Suitably the slot opens to the free end of the legs to define an entry into the slot. The entry into the slot may be enlarged for example by being divergent outwardly to the ends of the legs to define a tapering entrance into the slot.
Means may be provided to span and interconnect the free ends of the legs to prevent their separation when engaged over an elongated barrier element or elements.
Suitably, the elongated body is defined by a substantially planar member.
The delineator may be applied directly to the wire ropes of a wire barrier system such as that used along the edges of road such that the legs locate on opposite sides of the wire ropes which locate and are captured in the openings defined between the legs.
The delineator may also be used in association with upright support posts of the wire ropes of the wire barrier system. The delineator may thus be juxtaposed with the posts and located by gripping or engaging the wire ropes supported by the posts.
The present invention thus provides in a further aspect, a delineator post assembly for a barrier system comprising a plurality of posts and a plurality of elongated barrier elements passing through said post, said delineator post assembly comprising a delineator comprising an elongated body having an upper display portion for carrying a reflector or reflectors or other display material and an engagement portion received by said post, said engagement portion cooperating with and being retained to a said barrier element or elements passing through said post.
Suitably, the post is of a channel shaped cross section and at least the engagement portion of the delineator extends into the channel of the post to engage with a barrier element or elements passing through the post. The engagement portion suitably comprises a pair of legs cooperating with a barrier element or elements. Each said leg preferably includes at least one opening, notch or cut-out portion, respective openings, notches or cut-out portions in respective legs opposing each other to capture a barrier element or elements. The legs of the engagement portion suitably extend into the channel of the post to engage with a barrier element or elements passing through the post, the legs being constrained from movement away from each other by the channel.
In another preferred form, the respective legs of the delineator are located on opposite sides of the post and engage a barrier element or elements on opposite sides of the post.
Each leg suitably includes at least one opening, notch or cut-out portion, the opening, notch or cut-out portion of respective legs engaging a barrier element or elements on opposite sides of the post.
Suitably the post or posts includes a longitudinally extending slot through which the barrier elements pass. The barrier elements suitably comprise wire ropes.
Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:- Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate in front and perspective views a delineator according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 illustrates one form of wire rope safety barrier system with which the delineator may be used; Fig. 4 illustrates a post of the barrier system of Fig. 3 with associated end cap; Fig. 5 illustrates the manner in which the delineator is installed in association with the post of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 illustrates the delineator installed on the post of Fig. 4;
Figs. 7 (a) and (b) illustrates the manner in which the delineator is installed on a wire rope system and an installed delineator; Fig. 8 illustrates an alternative form of wire rope barrier system; Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the configurations of the top of different posts of the system of Fig.
8; Fig. 11 illustrates the manner in which the delineator is engaged with the post of Fig. 9; and Fig. 12 illustrates the manner in which the delineator is engaged with the post of Fig. 10.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a delineator 10 according to an embodiment of the invention, the delineator 10 comprising an elongated relatively thin planar body 11 which is typically formed of plastics material but which may be formed of another non-metallic or metallic material. The body 11 has a normally upper display portion 12 which defines planar display surfaces 13 and 14 on opposite sides which may carry a reflector or reflectors such as a reflective tape 15 as illustrated (or other materials).
The normally lower portion 16 of the body 11 is bifurcated by a longitudinally extending slot 17 which forms the lower portion 16 into two side-by-side legs 18. The legs 18 having outer edges 19 which converge inwardly towards each other towards the lower free ends of the legs 18 such that the legs 18 taper in width towards their free end so as to be capable of more easy deflection or movement away from each other. The side edges 20 of the slot 17 adjacent the free ends of the legs 18 further diverge outwardly to the lower free ends of the legs 18 to form an enlarged entrance 21 which converges into the slot 17.
The slot 17 is further enlarged at spaced positions along its length and on opposite sides by a series of curved notches or cut-out portions 22 with the notches or cut-out portions 22 on the respective legs 18 being aligned. Pairs of opposing notches or cut-out portions 22 form substantially circular openings 23 through the member for capturing a wire barrier rope or the like as described further below. The openings 23 thus have a diameter
substantially the same as the outer diameter of a wire rope. In the embodiment illustrated cut out portions 22 are provided in sets of one, two and three at spaced positions along the slot 17 to form sets of one, two and three openings 23 such that the delineator 10 can be used with different configurations or sets of wire ropes of a wire barrier system.
In addition the uppermost set of openings includes an enlarged opening 23'below the uppermost opening 23 formed by enlarged opposing notches in the legs 18, each notch being of part circular form and of a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of a wire rope. The opening 23'are of a size to neatly receive a pair of side-by-side wire ropes for an alternative form of wire rope system.
The delineator 10 is particularly suited for use with wire rope safety barriers such as the barrier 24 of the type illustrated in Fig. 3. The safety barrier 24 includes a series of upright posts 25 which support a plurality of wire ropes 26 which in Fig. 3 are shown as extending substantially parallel to each other. The posts 25 of the barrier 24 are as shown in Fig. 4 of a generally channel shaped cross sectional configuration having opposite curved side flanges 27 and a central longitudinally extending slot 28 which extends downwardly from the upper end of the posts 25. The wire ropes 26 pass through the slot 28 and are normally separated by spreaders located between the side flanges 27.
The upper end of the posts 23 may be provided with complementary hollow cap 29 which closes the upper end of the post 23.
The delineators 10 may be used in association with the posts 25 and for this purpose, the planar body 11 has a maximum width slightly less than the distance between the side flanges 27 of the posts 25 such that the delineator 10 may be inserted longitudinally into the post 25 and between the side flanges 26.
To locate the delineator 10 on a post 25 and as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the cap 29 is removed and the lower end of the delineator 10 inserted between the side flanges 27 at the upper end of the post 23. When the delineator 10 is pushed or forced downwardly, the uppermost wire rope 26 will locate in the converging entrance 21 and further force applied downwardly to the delineator 10 will urge the legs 18 apart and thus open the
slot 17 through cooperation between the converging edges of the entrance 21. This will thus enable the delineator 10 to pass downwardly over the wire ropes 26 until the ropes 26 are located in the required openings 23 which match the spacing between the ropes 26 as shown in Fig. 6. When in this position, it is very difficult to detach the delineator 10 from the post 25 and wire ropes 26 as outward movement of the legs 18 is constrained by their location between the flanges 27 of the post 25. It will be further apparent when the delineator 10 is in its correct position, the upper display portion 12 of the delineator 10 extends substantially above the upper end of the post 25. Thus when reflective material such as reflective tape 15 is applied to the surface 13 and/or 14, it can be clearly seen by vehicle drivers particularly at night and therefore provided an effective indication of the edge of the road.
If necessary, a cap 30 can be provided over the upper end of the post 25, the cap 30 being provided with a slot 31 of a cross section substantially the same as the cross section of the planar member 11 such that the planar member 11 can project through the slot 29 whilst the cap 30 can be placed over and close the upper end of the post 25. The cap 30 optionally may be provided with an aperture 32 in each side having a restricted entry. The cap 30 when pushed down over the post 25 will force the uppermost wire 26 into the apertures 32 such that the cap 30 is captured to the wire 26 to prevent its easy detachment.
The delineator 10 may additionally be used separate from a post 25 for example between posts 25 by simply engaging over and straddling the wire ropes 26 spanning adjacent posts 25 as shown in Fig. 7 (a) and (b). The delineator 10 can be applied in the same manner as described above, that is by pushing it downwardly onto the uppermost wire rope 26 so that it locates within the slot entrance 21 whilst further downwards force applied to the delineator 10 will force the legs 18 apart and open the slot 17 so that the ropes 26 can be positioned in respective openings 23 of the delineator 10.
Placement of the delineator 10 on the wire ropes 26 can also be achieved by deflecting the legs 18 to opposite sides as indicated in Fig. 7 (a). This will expand the width of the slot 17 to permit it to receive all the ropes 26. The legs 18, when released, will move back towards each other such that the ropes 26 are captured in the respective openings 23
as in Fig. 7 (a).
To provide further secure the delineator in position, means may be provided to prevent the legs 18 moving apart after the delineator 10 is installed. Such means may comprise a spanning member such as a small plate 33 which may span the lower ends of the respective legs 18 as shown in Fig. 7 (b) and be connected thereto by any suitable fasteners such as rivets 34. This will lock the legs 18 in a fixed position so that the delineator 10 is effectively clamped to the ropes 26.
Fig. 8 illustrates a further form of wire rope barrier system 35 with which the delineator 10 of the present invention may be used. The system 35 includes line posts 36 (also shown in Fig. 9) which have an upper open ended slot 37 of similar width to the width of the wire rope 26. Where two or more ropes 26 are received in the slot 37 they are arranged one above the other as illustrated. The post 36 may be closed by a cap 38 as in the system of Fig. 3. The system 35 additionally includes deflection posts 40 which are provided to deflect the wire ropes 26 along the barrier system 35 to vary the wire pattern. The posts 40 in this case include enlarged open ended slots 41 to receive side-by-side wires 26.
Brackets or other locating means 42 on the outside of the posts 40 serve to locate wires 26 externally of the posts 40.
The posts 36 and 40 of the wire barrier system 35 are of a generally Z-shaped cross section as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 having a central flange 43 in which the slots 37 and 41 are provided through which the wire ropes 26 may pass. When applied to posts 36 of this form, the respective legs 18 of the delineator 10 locate on opposite sides of the central flange 43 with the notches 22 on one leg 18 locating against one side of each wire rope 26 and the notches of the other leg 18 on opposite sides of the flange 35 locating against the opposite side of each wire rope 26.
The delineator 10 may be similarly applied to the posts 40 with the legs of the delineator 10 locating on opposite sides of the flange 43. In this case however, the pair of side-by- side wires 26 locate in the enlarged opening 23'defined between the two legs 18.
In addition, the delineator 10 may be used between posts 36 and 40 in the manner
described and shown in Fig. 7 with a pair of side by side wires 26 locating in the enlarged aperture 23'whilst a pair of upper and lower wires 26 can locate within the aperture 23' and the adjacent uppermost aperture 23. Further wires 26 may locate between the lower apertures 23 or the delineator 10 may simply engage with the upper pairs of wires 26.
Whilst the delineator 10 of the present invention is preferably used for carrying reflective material such as reflective tape, it may also carry on the display portion 12, reflector members which are attached to one or both sides of the display portion 12. The display portion 12 may also carry other materials such as advertising material.
Preferably, the delineator is formed of a plastics material such as PVC or HTPE and preferably, the plastics material is UV treated such that the delineator is resistant to exposure to the sun. The delineator normally has a substantially planar body 11 however the body may stiffened by longitudinally extending and/or transversely extending ribs.
The delineator 10 may be fabricated with the slot 17 and notches 22 being cut out of a planar strip of plastics or other material, the plastic material preferably being a resilient material to allow deflection of the legs 18 as described for installation purposes and for gripping the wire rope. A suitable strip of any cross sectional configuration may be formed by extrusion. As an alternative, the body 11 of the delineator 10 may be formed by injection moulding.
The term"comprising"or"comprises"as used throughout the specification are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components referred to but not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature/s, integer/s, component/s or group thereof.
Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims.
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