Field of the invention

The invention relates to a traffic island, comprising:

a number of preferably standard, concrete kerbstones; and

a body of a cured casting material, preferably cured concrete mortar, at least partially enclosed by the kerbstones.

The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing and placing such a traffic island.

The island is then for instance a channelizing island, refuge island or bus platform.

Background of the invention

Traffic islands, such as channelizing islands, refuge islands or bus platforms, are known which are manufactured on-site by positioning a number of concrete kerbstones on a substrate and filling the space between the kerbstones with concrete mortar and allowing curing thereof. Other materials are however used for specific applications. DE 19620680 thus describes a platform for a filling station manufactured on-site by filling a framework of metal or plastic placed on the substrate with a casting material, for instance a synthetic resin. The operations on-site involve traffic disruption and a reduced traffic safety, hi order to limit the traffic disruption work can take place outside usual working hours, although this results in increased production costs, and the work still requires a determined minimum time.

Traffic islands are therefore also manufactured partially or wholly off-site. The time required for the work on-site can then be limited. GB 361108 thus describes a traffic island constructed from one or more prefabricated reinforced concrete parts placed loosely or anchored on the road surface. DE 2905769 describes a traffic island formed on-site by mutually coupling prefabricated concrete elements. In GB 2195381 we find a transportable/releasable elastic traffic island attached with bolts or adhesive to the road surface. Described in GB 2310235 is a segmented rubber "button roundabout" fixed to the road surface with bolts or adhesive. AT 405850 relates to mobile traffic islands of plastic, rubber and so forth. The invention relates to a traffic island constructed from one or more concrete parts. The traffic island is placed on spacers/feet so that space remains for drainage of rainwater or for tubes, cables and the like, and the whole lies more stably on a non-flat substrate. In DE 29819462 there is another example of a mobile traffic island constructed from plastic elements with a special form and section. In AT 413556 there is a further example of a mobile traffic island of concrete. In NL 1019992 we find a bus platform, refuge island or channelizing island constructed from one or more prefabricated reinforced concrete parts. The parts can be provided with auxiliary members for lifting, such as threaded sleeves into which lifting eyes can later be screwed. WO 2005/111310 shows another example of a mobile traffic island, refuge island or the like constructed from one or more elements. However, the production costs of such traffic islands manufactured partially or wholly off-site are relatively high because of the more or less exotic materials used and the more or less complex methods applied.

The present invention now provides an improved traffic island and also an improved method for manufacture and placing thereof.

Summary of the invention

The invention provides a traffic island, for instance a channelizing island, refuge island or bus platform, comprising:

- a number of preferably standard, concrete kerbstones; and

a body of a cured casting material, preferably cured concrete mortar, at least partially enclosed by the kerbstones,

characterized in that the traffic island is provided with lifting members, for instance threaded sleeves for attaching lifting eyes for the purpose of lifting and displacing the traffic island. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing and placing such a traffic island, characterized in that the method comprises:

positioning a number of preferably standard, concrete kerbstones on a release substrate, for instance film-layered plywood, such that the kerbstones at least partially form a receiving space together with the release substrate;

at least partially filling the receiving space with a casting material, preferably concrete mortar; and

allowing the casting material to cure.

The materials and method used are now more or less standard whereby the production costs are relatively low. The traffic island is manufactured off-site and then transported to a desired location. The time required for the on-site operations is hereby radically shortened, this considerably reducing the traffic disruption associated with the work and enhancing traffic safety. Furthermore, the traffic island can be manufactured off-site irrespective of the weather and within usual working hours, which results in a further decrease in the production costs. Such a traffic island can in principle also be given any desired form and dimensions.

After placing, the traffic island can optionally be picked up again for transport to another location or to be repaired, renovated or modified, for instance in the case of damage to an integrated street light or gantry. The traffic island can possibly be divided, for instance by means of sawing, into separate parts in order to thus simplify or enable transport, particularly in the case of a heavy and/or a sizeable traffic island.

The body preferably comprises a reinforcement, preferably a mesh reinforcement, which is preferably attached to the kerbstones by means of first attaching means, for instance couplers, provided for this purpose. The reinforcement is then placed in the receiving space prior to pouring of the casting material and fixed to the first attaching means. After curing of the casting material a strong entity is thus created which is suitable for absorbing the great forces occurring during transport and which can withstand greater loads from traffic during use. The kerbstones here form part of the thus manufactured reinforced concrete traffic island. The traffic island can herein be provided with second attaching means, for instance a recess, for fixing a post, street lighting, gantry or the like. Traffic signs, traffic guide means, lighting, signposting and so forth can thus be arranged and fixed on the traffic island. Reflectors, water inlets and the like can also be integrated.

The casting material can herein be coloured, or the traffic island can be provided with a finish, for instance stone chippings, a finishing layer of a determined colour or a determined pattern, this for traffic control and/or aesthetic reasons.

Brief description of the figures

The invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of exemplary embodiments of a traffic island and a method according to the invention, as shown more or less schematically in the figures. Herein:

- figure 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a partially completed traffic island according to the invention; and

figure 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a traffic island according to the invention.

Exemplary embodiments of a traffic island and a method according to the invention

The first exemplary embodiment shown in figure 1 of a traffic island (1) according to the invention comprises a number of concrete kerbstones (2) which are placed side by side on a piece of film-layered plywood (8) and thus form a formwork together with the film-layered plywood (8). In the thus created receiving space a mesh reinforcement (6) is placed and fixed to kerbstones (2) by means of couplers (7) arranged for this purpose in kerbstones (2). After filling of the receiving space with concrete mortar and curing thereof, the thus formed reinforced concrete traffic island can be released, picked up and transported to a desired location. In addition to their function as part of the formwork, the kerbstones here thus form part of the completed traffic island. A traffic island of any form and dimensions can in principle be obtained by selecting the number and the form of the kerbstones and the placing thereof on the release substrate, in this case the film-layered plywood (8). Figure 2 thus shows a second exemplary embodiment of a traffic island (10) according to the invention which once again comprises a number of concrete kerbstones (2) and a body (3) connected thereto. The whole again forms a concrete construction which can be picked up and transported to a desired location. Traffic island (10) is provided for this purpose with threaded sleeves (4) for the attachment of lifting eyes (5). Reflectors, water inlets and the like can be easily integrated into a traffic island according to the invention, as can 'pipelocks' or recesses for fixing traffic signs, traffic guide means, lighting, signposting and so forth. Use can also be made as desired of coloured kerbstones in diverse combinations, and 'prints' can be arranged on the surface in order to thereby simulate for instance paving stones or cobblestones in a specific bond.

It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the given exemplary embodiments, but that diverse variants are possible within the scope of the invention. What is essential is that a mobile traffic island is manufactured off-site which can then be transported to a desired location, wherein preferably standard, concrete kerbstones form a 'quasi-lost' (part of the) formwork and form part of the traffic island. A strong transportable whole can be obtained by arranging a reinforcement and connecting this to the kerbstones. The time required on-site can then be minimal, whereby the traffic disruption will be minimal. The production costs are relatively low here because the materials and method used are more or less standard and the production off-site can take place free of weather influences and within more usual working hours.