ROAD PLATE SECURING ASSEMBLY

FIELD

[001] The present disclosure relates to roadway transition devices used in roadway repairs. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a road plate securing assembly which secures a road plate over a construction or repair area on a roadway.

BACKGROUND

[002] Transition devices are commonly used in roadways under circumstances in which construction or repair to the roadway is being made. A conventional transition device may include asphalt or other paving material which is shaped into a temporary slope on the sides of the work area. After the road work has been completed, the asphalt or other paving material is removed. The conventional method of applying the asphalt or other paving material may be time-consuming, laborious and expensive.

SUMMARY

[003] The present disclosure is generally directed to a road plate securing assembly for a roadway surface. An illustrative embodiment of the road plate securing assembly includes an assembly frame comprising a plurality of assembly frame members adapted for attachment to the roadway surface and each comprising a first surface, a second surface disposed at an acute angle with respect to the first surface, a uni-planar inner surface extending from the first surface to the second surface and a plate opening defined by the assembly frame members. A road plate can be fitted in the plate opening to cover a repair or construction area on the roadway.

[004] The present disclosure is further generally directed to a road plate securing method. An illustrative embodiment of the road plate securing method includes providing a roadway having a roadway surface, forming an assembly frame having a plate opening by providing a plurality of assembly frame members and arranging the assembly frame members on the roadway surface, attaching the assembly frame members to the roadway surface, providing a road plate and resting the road plate on the roadway surface in the plate opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[005] The disclosure will now be made, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the road plate securing assembly, installed on a roadway;

[007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially in section, of an assembly frame of an illustrative embodiment of the road plate securing assembly;

[008] FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view illustrating an exemplary fastener technique for attaching the assembly frame to a roadway surface of a roadway;

[009] FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view illustrating an exemplary technique for inserting a road plate in a plate opening defined by the assembly frame;

[0010] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the assembly frame and the road plate seated in the plate opening defined by the assembly frame; and

[001 1 ] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram which illustrates an exemplary road plate securing method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Referring initially to FIGS. 1 -5 of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the road plate securing assembly, hereinafter assembly, is generally indicated by reference numeral 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and will be hereinafter described, the assembly 1 is suitable for installation on a roadway surface 13 of a roadway 12 under circumstances in which repair or construction is carried out on the roadway surface 13. The repair or construction may include the formation of an access opening or openings (not illustrated) in the roadway 12 to facilitate access to piping, for example and without limitation.

[0013] The assembly 1 includes an assembly frame 2 which is assembled on the roadway surface 13 around the area of the roadway 12 on which the road work is carried out. The assembly frame 2 has a plate opening 22 (FIG. 2) through which the work area on the roadway 12 is normally exposed during repair or construction of the roadway 12. The plate opening 22 defined by the assembly frame 2 is adapted to receive a road plate 26 which covers the work area and facilitates traversal of vehicles (not illustrated) over the work area when the work area is not exposed.

[0014] The assembly frame 2 of the assembly 1 includes multiple assembly frame members 3. In some embodiments, the assembly frame 2 includes four assembly frame members 3 which are arranged on the roadway surface 13 to form a generally square or rectangular assembly frame 2 having a correspondingly-shaped plate opening 22. Each assembly frame member 3 of the assembly frame 2 may be a metal

such as steel, for example, or may be a suitable alternative material such as high- density plastic or a composite material, for example. Each assembly frame member 2 may be a highly-visible color such as bright orange, for example, to enhance visibility to motorists. As illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, each assembly frame member 3 may include a generally flat or planar lower surface 4; an outer edge 5 which extends in generally perpendicular relationship with respect to the lower surface 4; a generally sloped upper surface 6 which extends from the outer edge 5 and at an acute angle with respect to the lower surface 4; and a uni-planar inner surface 8 which extends from the lower surface 4 to the upper surface 6 and in generally parallel relationship with respect to the outer edge 5. A contact edge 10 is defined where the inner surface 8 joins the lower surface 4 of the assembly frame member 3. As illustrated in FIG. 2, each end of each assembly frame member 3 defines a mating surface 9 which is oriented at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the assembly frame member 3. Multiple recessed fastener openings 7 may extend into each assembly frame member 3 at spaced-apart intervals with respect to each other.

[0015] In typical application of the assembly 1, the assembly frame 2 is assembled on the roadway surface 13 of the roadway 12. Accordingly, the assembly frame members 3 are initially arranged on the roadway surface 13 such that the work area (not illustrated) on the roadway surface 13 is exposed through the plate opening 22. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lower surface 4 and contact edge 10 of each assembly frame member 3 contact the roadway surface 13 of the roadway 12. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the assembly frame members 3 may be secured to the roadway surface 13 by extending a fastener 18 through each recessed fastener opening 7 and into a corresponding registering and underlying fastener opening 14 which may be pre-drilled into the roadway 12. As illustrated in FIG. 3-5, washer 7a may be

seated in each recessed fastener opening 7. Alternative techniques which are known by those skilled in the art may be used to attach each assembly frame member 3 to the roadway surface 13. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the inner surfaces 8 of the respective assembly frame members 3 face the plate opening 22 of the assembly frame 2. The plate opening 22 of the assembly frame 2 is sized to receive the road plate 26.

[0016] During repair or construction of the roadway 12, the road work is carried out within the confines of the plate opening 22 defined by the assembly frame 2. As illustrated in FIG. 5, when the roadwork is to be temporarily stopped, the road plate 26 is typically lowered to rest on the roadway surface 13. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the road plate 26 may include plate edges 27 which are disposed into contact with or immediately adjacent to the inner surfaces 8 of the respective assembly frame members 3 of the assembly frame 2; an upper plate surface 28; and a lower plate surface 29 which rests directly on the roadway surface 13 of the roadway 12. Accordingly, when the road plate 26 is lowered in place in the plate opening 22, the upper surfaces 6 of the assembly frame members 3 provide transition surfaces for vehicles (not illustrated) as the vehicles traverse the road plate 26 over the work area. Repair or construction work on the roadway 12 can resume after lifting of the road plate 26 from the plate opening 22. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the road plate 26 need not be unfastened from the roadway 12 or the assembly frame 2 prior to removal from the plate opening 22 since the road plate 26 rests directly on the roadway surface 13. Because the assembly frame members 3 of the assembly frame 2 hold the road plate 26 in place on the roadway surface 13, the road plate 26 may remain unfastened to the roadway 12 and the assembly frame 2 during use of the assembly 1. After use of the assembly 1 is completed, the assembly frame 2 may be detached from the roadway surface 13 typically by removing the fasteners

18 from the fastener openings 14 in the roadway 12 and the recessed fastener openings 7 in the assembly frame members 3.

[0017] Referring next to FIG. 6 of the drawings, a flow diagram 600 which illustrates an exemplary road plate securing method is illustrated. In block 602, multiple assembly frame members are provided. In block 604, an assembly frame having a plate opening is formed by placing the assembly frame members around a work area on a roadway surface. In block 606, the assembly frame members of the assembly frame are fastened to the roadway. In block 608, a road plate is rested on the roadway surface in the plate opening to cover the work area on the roadway surface. In block 610, the road plate is removed from the plate opening to expose the work area on the roadway surface prior to resumption of the road work. In block 612, the assembly frame members of the assembly frame are unfastened from the roadway surface upon completion of the roadwork.

[0018] While the preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.