TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an improved panel connection system. In particular a panel connection system for road barrier panels.

BACKGROUND ART

The present invention has application to any road barrier panel one wants to hold in a permanent or semi-permanent position via the use of l-Beam posts.

Most particularly, the present invention has application to motorway noise panels, used in: noise walls; or noise barriers; that are commonly erected on the side of roads. Noise walls/barriers provide a level of road noise reduction for houses, buildings and people nearby a motorway or road.

For ease of reference only, the present invention will now be described in relation to motorway noise panels.

Many different designs and construction materials exist for manufacturing noise walls, including:

- concrete panels fixed to upright l-Beams; - timber (plywood) panels on posts; aluminium-perforated panels filled with absorptive material such as fiberglass.

However, all of the aforementioned existing systems suffer from one or more of the following drawbacks: being heavy and requiring cranes to lift and install; and/or - requiring fixings to secure to the l-Beam posts; requiring gaskets to be fitted to form an acoustic seal;

the above drawbacks all increasing the cost and time required to install panels.

There are also a plastic panel systems such as those developed by AR Moulding. However, the currently available plastic panels also require fixings to secure the panels to l-Beam posts. It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

Throughout this specification, the word "comprise", or variations thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DEFINITIONS

The term "roto-moulded" as used herein refers to rotationally moulded and relates to a well- known plastic forming technique which uses a mould which is rotated in an oven.

The term "effective apex" refers to the top point or surface formed where the converging tapered surfaces meet or-are connected to one another.

The term "acoustic seal" as used herein refers to a joint between two adjacent surfaces which is adapted to retard, or hinder sound waves between the two adjacent surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a roto-moulded panel which includes: front and rear wall-surfaces connected by top, bottom, left and right edge-surfaces which define a hollow-interior; wherein the left and right side edges are configured to include a substantially vertical slot therein, the slot dimensioned, to contact a single flange portion on an l-Beam post, wherein a vertical slot has at least one spaced apart contact point(s) formed there along which contact the flange.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a roto-moulded panel substantially as described above wherein a protrusion extends along the length of the slot and contacts the flange to form an acoustic seal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a panel as above wherein the slot includes a tapered mouth portion at the bottom of the vertical slot.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a panel substantially as described above which includes a contact point created by an effective apex of converging tapered surfaces.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

Throughout this specification, the word "comprise", or variations thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a top plan view of an end portion of a noise panel according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the panel shown in Figure 1 along line C-C; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the panel shown in Figures 1 and 2; and

Figure 4 shows a top plan view of the end portion of two adjacent panels connected to an I- Beam post according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In relation to the Figures 1 -4 there is shown a panel 1 which has a vertical slot 2 in the left and right side edges which, in use, can receive a flange 3a on an l-Beam post 3 (as shown in Figure 4). The slot 2 has a protrusion creating an acoustic seal in the form of a boss 4 at the distal end of one side of the slot 2 -as can be clearly seen in Figure 1.

The slot 2 has a tapered mouth portion 5, at the lower end thereof. The mouth portion 5 having a tapered surface 6, which leads into a first contact point 7, dimensioned to contact the flange 3a and have snug fit, before a further tapered surface 8 increases the dimensions of the slot, so there is no contact with the flange 3a. The slot 2 then has a second contact point 9 which again is dimensioned to contact the flange 3a. Contact point 9 is formed via a tapered surface 10, which converges with a tapered surface 11 , which diverges away from contact with flange 3a.

The advantage of using contact points for creating a snug fit- rather than the entire internal surface area of the slot or opposed sides of the slot contacting the flange - is that it enables easier sliding of the panel onto the flange of the l-Beam post (as there is less frictional force to overcome); whilst still retaining the ability to firmly hold the panel in place on the flange of the I- Beam once in position.

In Figure 4 it can be seen that the slot 2 also has a boss 12 which abuts against and forms a seal with the flange 3a. Figure 4 also shows two linearly adjacent panels A and B attached to the same l-Beam post 3.

DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION INCLUDING ALTERNATE WAYS TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

The vertical slot may take a variety of different forms without departing from the present invention.

In some embodiments the slot may have non-linear walls.

In other embodiments the slot may have linear walls. In some embodiments the contact point(s) may be formed by one or more bosses on at least one wall of the slot.

In preferred embodiments the slot may include two or more contact points which are dimensioned to contact the flange of an l-Beam post.

The contact point(s) may preferably be dimensioned to have snug fit about the flange of an I- Beam post.

Preferably, the slots may include contact points formed by converging tapered surfaces.

In some embodiments the surface of the slot may include a number of dimples over the surface of the walls of the slot which are to contact the flange of the l-Beam post.

Preferably, the vertical slot may include a mouth portion which may have at least one tapered surface which directs the flange of an l-Beam into the slot.

The vertical slot may include a protrusion which extends along the length of the slot, the protrusion which contacts the flange of the l-Beam post to create an acoustic seal.

In a preferred embodiment the protrusion may be in the form of a boss on at least one side wall of the slot.

The protrusion is dimensioned to extend out from the wall of the slot a distance which allows for a frictional contact to be maintained with the flange of the l-Beam post.

Preferably, the protrusion may reduce the width of the slot to ensure frictional contact is made with the flange of the l-Beam. For example, if the thickness of the flange may be 10mm then the protrusion may make the effective width of the slot around 9 - 10mm at this point. This helps ensure the protrusion is maintained in frictional contact with the flange to create an acoustic seal, whilst still allowing the slot to be slid over the flange of the l-Beam post, in order to slide the panel, into the use position.

Thus some preferred embodiments of the present invention may have a number of advantages over the prior art which can include:

• a panel which is lightweight and easy to handle, transport and install;

• a panel which can be attached to an l-Beam post without the need for fasteners/fixings;

• a panel which creates a seal between the flange and panel to prevent sound escaping; and a panel which self-aligns and helps direct the flange on an l-Beam post into a vertical slots on the side edges of the panels. The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.