| Claims 1 ) Fixing bracket (1 ) for traffic barriers (100) comprising a back plate (10) with two holes (1 1 ) for tightening bolts (21 ) designed to cross two adjacent blocks (3) of the traffic barrier, characterized in that said fixing bracket (1 ) is composed of a section with basically overturned U- shaped cross-section, which is fitted into a space (4) generated between the borders of projections (5) at the base of the barrier blocks, in such a way to protect the tyre of a vehicle against contact with sharp corners (51 ) of said projections (5) or bolts (21 ) or fixing nuts of said bracket. 2) Fixing bracket (1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said bracket (1 ) comprises an upper plate (12) that protrudes frontally from the upper border of said back plate (10) and a front plate (13) that protrudes in lower position from the front border of said upper plate (12), wherein the upper plate (12) is flush with an upper surface (50) of said projection (5) of the base of the barrier block and the front plate (13) of the bracket is flush with a front surface (52) of said projection (5) of the block base. 3) Fixing bracket (1 ) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said upper plate (12) is inclined by an angle of approximately 60 - 85° with respect to said back plate (10). 4) Fixing bracket (1 ) as claimed in any one of the above claims, characterized in that said front plate (13) has height lower than the height of said back plate (10). 5) Fixing bracket (1 ) as claimed in any one of the above claims, characterized in that said front plate (13) is provided with two openings (14) shaped as overturned U in correspondence with said holes (1 1 ) of the back plate. 6) Traffic barrier (100) comprising concrete blocks (3) one next to the other, each concrete block (3) being provided with enlarged base that generates a longitudinal projection (5) with front surface (52) and upper surface (50), said projection (5) extending for a length lower than the length of the block (3) in such a way to generate a space (4) between the lateral borders of two projections (5) of two adjacent blocks, characterized in that it comprises a fixing bracket (1 ) as claimed in any one of the above claims, fitted inside said space (4) between the lateral borders of two projections (5) of two adjacent blocks. |
Protective fixing bracket
The present patent application for industrial invention relates to a protective fixing bracket for traffic barriers (also known as New Jersey barriers) used to separate vehicular traffic in roads, highways and freeways. Fig. 1 illustrates a traffic barrier according to the known art, which is generally indicated with numeral (100). The traffic barrier (100) comprises a plurality of concrete blocks (3) with basically parallelepiped shape, placed one next to the other.
Said blocks (3) are connected by means of a metal rod (6) disposed in the upper part of the blocks and by means of a fixing bracket (2) disposed in the lower part of the blocks.
It must be noted that each block (3) has an enlarged base that generates a longitudinal projection (5) with trapezoidal cross-section. The projection (5) has a basically vertical front surface (52) and a basically tapered upper surface (50) with angle of approximately 15 - 30° with respect to a horizontal plane. Said projection (5) is used to cushion and discharge the energy of a possible impact with the wheels of a vehicle.
In order to mount the fixing bracket (2), the projections (5) do not extend for the entire length of the block (3). This generates a space or cavity or recessed seat (4) between the lateral borders of the projections (5) of two adjacent blocks (3) placed one next to the other. The fixing bracket (2) is positioned in said space (4).
Referring to Fig. 2, the fixing bracket (2) is shaped as a rectangular plate provided with two through holes (20). Corresponding bolts (21 ) are inserted in the holes (20) of the fixing bracket, crossing two adjacent blocks (3). The bolts (21 ) are tightened with nuts.
Such a type of barrier (100) is impaired by drawbacks in terms of safety.
As shown in Fig. 1 , sharp corners (51 ) are generated in the space (4) on the lateral borders of the projections (5). Moreover, the head of the bolts (21 ) or the fixing nut of the bolts (21 ) protrudes from the fixing bracket (2). In view of the above, said corners and projections may damage the tyre or wheel of a vehicle, causing dangerous puncture or breakage.
The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the known art, by devising a fixing bracket for traffic barriers that is safe, reliable and efficient.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide such a fixing bracket that is versatile and suitable for application on existing traffic barriers without having to modify the barrier blocks. A further purpose of the present invention is to provide such a fixing bracket that is inexpensive and easy to make and install.
These purposes are achieved by the present invention, the features of which are claimed in the independent claim 1.
Advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims. The fixing bracket for traffic barriers of the invention comprises a back plate provided with two holes for fixing bolts that cross two adjacent blocks of the traffic barrier. The fixing bracket is composed of a section with basically overturned U-shaped cross-section, which is fitted into a space generated between the borders of projections at the base of the blocks of the traffic barrier, in such a way to protect the tyre of a vehicle against contact with sharp corners of said projections or bolts or fixing nuts of said bracket.
The advantages of the fixing bracket of the invention are clear, it being able to obtain a safer traffic barrier.
Additional characteristics of the invention will become evident from the detailed description below, which refers to a merely illustrative, not limiting, embodiment, as shown in the enclosed figures, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a partially interrupted perspective view of a traffic barrier according to the known art;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a fixing bracket according to the known art; Fig. 3 is a partially interrupted perspective view of a traffic barrier according to the invention; and
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a fixing bracket according to the invention. In the following description elements that are identical or correspond to those already described are indicated with the same reference numerals, omitting their detailed description.
Fig. 3 shows a traffic barrier (100) provided with fixing bracket (1 ) according to the invention.
As shown in Fig. 4, the fixing bracket (1 ) is a section with basically overturned U-shaped cross-section. The fixing bracket (1 ) comprises:
- a back plate (10) designed to be fitted into the space (4), according to a vertical plane, against the blocks (3), - an upper plate (12) that protrudes frontally from the upper border of the back plate (10), and
- a front plate (13) that protrudes downwards from the front border of the upper plate (12).
The back plate (10) is a rectangular plate provided with two through holes (1 1 ) for bolts (21 ). The back plate (10) has length equal to the width of the space (4) between two projections (5) of the barrier blocks and height equal to the maximum height of the projection (5). In this way the bracket (1 ) can fit into the space (4) of the barrier.
The upper plate (12) is inclined by an acute angle of approximately 60-85° with respect to the back plate (10). In this way the upper plate (12) is flush with the upper surface (50) of the projection of the base of the barrier blocks.
The upper plate (12) has width equal to the width of the upper surface (50) of the projection of the barrier blocks.
In this way the front plate (13), which is vertical, is flush with the front surface (52) of the projection (5) of the base of the barrier blocks.
The height of the front plate (13) is slightly lower than the height of the back plate (10). In this way the lower border of the front plate (13) is spaced from the ground.
The front plate (13) is provided with two openings (14) with overturned U- shape in correspondence with the holes (1 1 ) of the back plate (10) to simplify the fitting of bolts (21 ).
It is evident that the fixing bracket (1 ) covers the sharp corners (51 ) of the projections of the base of the barrier blocks and also covers the projections caused by the bolts (21 ) or nuts that are used to fix the bracket (1 ). In this way the tyre of a vehicle does not get in contact with the sharp corners (51 ) of the projections of the base of the barrier blocks or with the projections caused by the bolts (21 ) or nuts that are used to fix the bracket (1 ). Accordingly, the safety of the traffic barrier (100) is improved.
The U-shaped bracket (1 ) of the invention can be used to replace the bracket (2) shaped as a plate of the known art. Alternatively, the plate (2) can be applied in front of or behind the back plate (10) of the bracket (1 ). Numerous variations and modifications can be made to the present embodiment of the invention by an expert of the art, while still falling within the scope of the invention as claimed in the enclosed claims.