This application is related to, and claims the benefit of priority of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/262,350 filed on 02 December 2015, and U.S. Provisional

Application No. 62/344,040 filed on 01 June 2016, both of which are entitled PORTABLE ROADSIDE BARRIER, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to portable barriers, such as for use along a roadside.

In accordance with one aspect, the roadside barrier includes a frame characterized by a plurality of legs and a plurality of supporting members extending between the legs. The frame and the supporting members have a first surface and a second surface. The frame is configurable to provide a warning barrier disposed between vehicular traffic and a vehicle or individual, such as may be useful for deployment near a disabled vehicle on the side of the road being attended to by an individual . The roadside barrier further includes one or more visible indicators disposed on at least the first surface of one or more of the plurality of supporting members. The one or more visible indicators are arranged to form one or more indicia visible to vehicular traffic even in an absence of daylight. The one or more indicia include a light- reflective element, a light-emitting element, or a combination thereof.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, with like elements having the same reference numerals. When a plurality of similar elements are present, a single reference numeral may be assigned to the plurality of similar elements with a small letter designation referring to specific elements. When referring to the elements collectively or to a non-specific one or more of the elements, the small letter designation may be dropped . This emphasizes that according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not drawn to scale unless otherwise indicated. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features may be expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawings are the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary roadside barrier according to aspects of the present invention ; FIG. 2 is a photograph of an exemplary prototype roadside barrier in a collapsed configuration;

FIG. 3 is a photograph, taken in an absence of daylight, of an exemplary roadside barrier having light reflective visual indicia, with the barrier in an extended configuration with an approximately 180 degree angle between first and second sections of the barrier;

FIG. 4 is another photograph, taken in an absence of daylight, of another exemplary roadside barrier having light-emitting visual indicia, with the barrier in an extended configuration with an approximately 90 degree angle between first and second sections of the barrier;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary receptacle for receiving an accessory, and an exemplary accessory in the form of a worklight;

FIG. 6 is a photograph, taken in ambient light, of the exemplary roadside barrier structure as shown in Figs. 2-4, without visible indicators, in the extended configuration with an approximately 90 degree angle between first and second sections of the barrier; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary end leg and stabilizing member, with retaining wires.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 depicts a schematic illustration of an exemplary portable roadside barrier 100. Portable roadside barrier 100 includes a frame 102 which includes a plurality of legs HOa- lOOd and a plurality of supporting members 105 extending between legs 110a and 110b and between legs 110c and l lOd . As illustrated in the figures, roadside barrier has a form similar to what is commonly referred to as an "extension gate" or "accordion gate. " Frame 102 and supporting members 105 have a first surface (facing toward the viewer of the page) 104 and a second surface (not shown, but opposite first surface 104, and facing into the page) .

Returning to FIG. 1, one or more visible indicators 112 may be disposed on at least first surface 104 of one or more of plurality of supporting members 105. One or more visible indicators 112, 150 may be arranged to form one or more indicia visible to vehicular traffic even in an absence of daylight. For example, each of the one or more indicia may comprise a light-reflective element, a light-emitting element, or a combination thereof.

Turning briefly to FIGS. 3 and 4, frame 102 is configurable to provide a barrier between vehicular traffic (not shown) and a vehicle or individual, such as an individual working on a disabled vehicle on the side of the road . Comparing the figures, the roadside barrier preferably has a collapsed configuration (FIG. 2) and at least one, but preferably a plurality of extended configurations (e.g. FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 6). In particular, the roadside barrier may have a plurality of extended configurations in which a distance, d, between two of the plurality of adjacent legs 110a and 110b is at a maximum in a fully-extended configuration, and the distance, d, between the adjacent legs is less than the maximum in one or more partially-extended configurations.

In preferred embodiments, depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the visual indicia 112, 150 is positioned on a portion of intersecting supporting members 105 so as to form an indicating arrow visible to oncoming vehicular traffic when the roadside barrier is in one or more of the extended configurations.

In a preferred embodiment, frame 102 also includes a first section 108 comprising at least a first set of legs 110a, b and a first set of supporting members 105a therebetween, and a second section 109 comprising at least a second set of legs 110c,d and a second set of supporting members 105b therebetween. First section 108 and second section 109 may be joined by a hinge 115. Although shown with only two sections, it should be understood that only one or more than two sections may be provided.

As depicted in FIG. 4, hinge 115 is preferably configurable to permit first section 108 and second section 109 to be arranged at an angle of at least up to 90 degrees relative to one another. As depicted by FIG. 3, hinge 115 is also preferably configurable to permit first section 108 and second section 109 to be arranged at an angle of at least up to 180 degrees relative to one another.

Portable roadside barrier 100 may also include one or more stabilizing members 117 configurable to permit barrier 100 to stand in an upright position. One or more stabilizing members 117 may be arranged at the base of, and perpendicular to, one or more of the plurality of legs, such as legs 110a and llOd, as shown in Fig. 1.

Portable roadside barrier 100 may also include one or more receptacles 120 attached to frame 102 for receiving an accessory. The accessory may be, for example a light, such as a worklight or a flashlight. Turning to FIG. 5, receptacle 120 is configurable to adjust a beam direction of the flashlight, such as with a ball joint that can be tightened by hand to secure the receptacle in a desired position with the beam directed in a desired direction. Barrier 100 is configurable so that visible indicators 112, 150 are facing in a first general direction (e.g. so that they are visible to oncoming vehicular traffic) and the one or more receptacles 120 is configurable so that the beam of the flashlight points in a direction away from the first general direction (e.g. toward the car to provide light to illuminate a desired area of the car, such as in a first specific direction to illuminate the trunk area for unpacking a spare tire and tire changing tools, and adjustable to a second specific direction to illuminate the area of the car with the flat tire to be changed). It should be understood that both the first and second specific directions as discussed above may or may not require an adjustment of the light (depending upon the width of the beam), but if adjustment between the first and second specific directions is required, both would be considered to be pointing opposite the general direction of the oncoming traffic.

As depicted in the figures, each of the plurality of supporting members 105 is preferably connected at one end to one of the legs and at the opposite end to one of the other supporting members, and overlaps another supporting member at its midpoint to form one or more X shapes 114 (shown in Fig. 1). Visible indicators 112, 150 are positioned along one side or the other of the line 115 bisecting the X shape to form the arrow shapes > or < that point left or right, respectively, as viewed by oncoming traffic. It should be understood that each set of supporting members between each pair of legs may comprise four supporting members that form two X shapes between each pair of legs as illustrated herein, or fewer or more such supporting members forming fewer or more such X shapes between each pair of legs. It should also be understood that additional legs may be provided, such as between each adjacent X shape.

Thus, portable roadside barrier 100 is configurable with visible indicators 112, 150 configured to form an arrow shape pointing in either a left-pointing direction or a right-pointing direction. As depicted in Fig. 1, in one embodiment, certain sets of light-emitting visual indicators 112a (white dots) form arrows pointing in the right direction, and other sets of light-emitting visual indicators 112b (black dots) form arrows pointing in the left direction. Thus, one embodiment may comprise an electrical switch (not shown) having at least a first switch position configured to turn on only the right pointing visual indicators, a second switch position configured to turn on only the left pointing visual indicators, and an third, off position. Or, each set of lights may have its own on/off switch. Or each individual light may be capable of being turning on or off. Or, in a preferred embodiment, the lights may be connected to a controller so that the lights can be set to illuminate in any pattern desired, including in a sequential fashion to provide arrows that sequentially light up in the desired direction to create the illusion of a moving arrow from left to right or right to left. A configuration with right and left arrows on a single side permits use of hinges 115 connecting the first and second sections 108 and 109 with freedom of motion along only a 180 degree angle.

In another embodiment (not shown), both first surface 104 and the second (opposing) surface have visible indicators 112, 150, and the indicator arrows formed by the visible indicators point in one direction on one surface and the opposite direction on the opposing surface. Such a configuration may be facilitated by the use of a hinges connecting the first and second sections 108 and 109 having a freedom of motion along essentially a nearly 360 degree angle.

5 It should be understood that although illustrated in separate embodiments, one having light-reflecting indicators 150 and the other having light-emitting indicators 112, both light-reflecting and light-emitting indicators may be present in a single unit. Because light reflecting indicators cannot be turned on and off, embodiments having visible indicators for both left and right arrows on the same side of the barrier may

10 include covers for blocking the indicators that form the "wrong-pointing" arrow from reflecting light. Such covers may be attached, for example, by microloop/microhook fasteners (e.g . VELCRO® fasteners), snaps, buttons, or any other connection means known in the art. In another embodiment (not shown), the covers may be permanently connected to supporting members 105 relative to each indicator (e.g . such as in the i s form of an extensible sheath for the member 105) with a first position covering the indicator and a second position uncovering the indicator, held in place by any means known in the art (e.g . snaps, buttons, elastic bands, and the like) .

In another embodiment, not shown, the visible indicators may be arranged to form an arrows in only one direction, and the gate configurable to cause those arrows 0 to point to the left or to the right. For example, the gate may have a first configuration in which the first ends of the respective legs are positioned adjacent to or on the ground, and a second configuration in which opposite ends of the respective legs are positioned adjacent to or on the ground, such that the second configuration is upside down relative to the first configuration . In such a configuration, stabilizing members 5 may be provided at both the top and bottom of selected legs, or the legs may be

configured to interface with a single set of stabilizing members that can be connected to either end of the legs.

Some embodiments may further comprise a retaining member, such as a wire 700 that connects the ends of the stabilizing members to a connection point 706 on the

30 leg, as shown in Fig. 7. As illustrated in Fig . 7, in one embodiment, carbineers 704 attached to one end of wire 700 are removably connectable to eyelets 705 attached to the stabilizing members, and S-hooks attached to the opposite ends of wire 700 are removably connectable to an eyelet 706 attached to leg 110. Also attached to leg 110 is a guide 708 having a slot 710 for receiving a bolt (not shown) attached at

5 approximately a midpoint of the stabilizer 717 for permitting the stabilizer to rotate 90 degrees about the bolt as the bolt slides between the deployed position as shown in Fig. 7 (with the bolt near the bottom of the slot) and a collapsed position (not shown, with the bolt at or near the top of the slot), with the stabilizer oriented parallel to the leg 110 in a fully collapsed position. A wing nut (not shown) may be used for tightening the bolt against the guide to prevent movement when in a desired position. It should be understood that the hardware elements and their arrangement shown and discussed herein are only exemplary, and any combination of hooks, carabineers, hooks of any shape, eyelets, and the like may be used for making the desired connections. It should also be understood that the retaining wire may be eliminated altogether in some embodiments.

The Appendix attached hereto provides additional details of one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, including exemplary dimensions, hardware, and the like. Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention.