Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BARRIER DEVICE AND METHOD OF PROVIDING A BARRIER
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent application number 60/127,697 filed
April 5, 1999.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates generally to a
barrier device and a method of providing a barrier to a
structure, such as a bridge. The present invention is
capable of being used in conjunction with a guardrail
structure commonly found on automobile bridges.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In the prior art, there are devices for universally
mounting a barrier structure. One such barrier
structure is sandwiched between a plurality of pairs of
channel members which pairs are spaced over the length
thereof. The channel members are sized so that they may
be nested for receiving a flexible barrier structure or
positioned back-to-back for receiving a rigid barrier
structure. For use as a guardrail barrier structure,
each pair of channel members is attached to a flange on
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a mounting bracket which is attached to the guardrail
and extends laterally therefrom to the flange. The
bracket may be rotated 90 degrees for mounting to a
vertical as well as a horizontal guardrail. The
mounting bracket is attached to a guardrail engaging
strap for mounting thereof to the guardrail. The
mounting bracket is provided with several spaced
apertures so that it may be attached to straps of
various sizes for application to various sized
guardrails whereby the mounting apparatus may be simple
yet effective and universally mountable. For use as a
snow fence or the like, one of each pair of channel
members is mounted as a post in the ground whereby the
pair of channel members may be free-standing.
Such prior art devices have deficiencies. For
example, they require many parts and rely on friction to
hold the barrier in place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a barrier device and a method of
providing a barrier.
The foregoing object is realized by the present
invention, which includes a barrier device for mounting
on a structure. The barrier device has a bracket with a
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base and a flange extending from the base. The flange
has an aperture for receiving a portion of the
structure. The device also has a barrier fence
proximate to the base. Finally, the barrier device
includes a clamping member preferably contacting the
barrier fence and connected to the base.
The present invention includes a method of mounting
a barrier device to a structure. In the method, a
bracket is provided. The bracket has a base and a
flange extending from the base. Then, the flange is
attached to the structure. A barrier fence is provided
preferably in contact with the base, and a clamping
member is provided preferably in contact with the
barrier fence. Then, a rod is inserted through the
clamping member, the barrier fence and the base.
Other objects and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the
art from the following detailed description read in
conjunction with the attached drawings and claims
appended hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and
objects of the invention, reference should be made to
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the following detailed description taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of a bridge guardrail
support structure having mounted thereon a device
according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a partially exploded side view of the
device shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a front view of a bracket according to
the present invention;
Figure 4 is a side view of the bracket shown in
Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a top view of the bracket shown in
Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a front view of another bracket
according to the present invention;
Figure 7 is a side view of the bracket shown in
Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a top view of the bracket shown in
Figure 6;
Figure 9 is a front view of a clamping member
according to the present invention;
Figure 10 is a top view of the clamping member
shown in Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a front view of another clamping
member according to the present invention;
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Figure 12 is a top view of the clamping member
shown in Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a side view of a bridge guardrail
support structure having mounted thereon another device
according to the present invention;
Figure 14 is a cross sectional view taken along the
line 14--14 in Figure l3 with the guardrail and
guardrail support removed for clarity;
Figure 15 is a bottom view of a device according to
the present invention with the guardrail and guardrail
support removed for clarity;
Figure 16 is an exploded side view of an
alternative embodiment of a bracket according to the
present invention;
Figure 17 is a side view of the bracket shown in
Figure 16 assembled to a barrier fence and a bridge
guardrail support;
Figure 18 is a top view of the bracket, barrier
fence and bridge guardrail support shown in Figure 17;
Figure 19 shows steps of a method according to the
present invention; and
Figure 20 shows steps of another method according
to the present invention.
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BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a device which can
be attached to a structure, such as the support
structure of a guardrail of a bridge. Figures 1 and 2
show a side view of a bridge having a bridge deck 10 and
two guardrails 13, 14 mounted on a guardrail support 16.
The guardrail support 16 is shown attached to the bridge
deck 10 via deck bolts 19, 20. The guardrail support 16
includes rail flanges 22, 23, rail nuts 25, 26 and rail
bolts 28, 29 for attaching the guardrails 13, 14 to the
guardrail support 16. Attached to the guardrail support
16 is a bracket 30. As best seen in Figures 3-8, the
bracket 30 includes bracket flanges 31, 32 and a bracket
base 34. Figures 3-5 depict an embodiment of the
bracket 30. Figures 6-8 depict an alternative
embodiment of the bracket 30.
The bracket flanges 31, 32 are connected to the
guardrails 13, 14, for example via rail nuts 25, 26 and
rail bolts 28, 29, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In the
embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bracket flanges
31, 32 extend from the rail bolts 28, 29 through the
guardrail support 16 to the bracket base 34. A barrier
fence 37 is provided proximate to, but preferably in
contact with, the bracket base 34. The barrier fence 37
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may have an open mesh, such as a chain link fence, or
may be another type of barrier.
A clamping member 39, shown in Figures 9 and 10, is
also positioned proximate to, but preferably in contact
with, the barrier fence 37. An alternative embodiment
of the clamping member 39 is shown in Figures 11 and 12.
The barrier fence 37 may be attached as shown in Figures
1 and 2 with fence bolts 40, 41, which extend through
base holes 43A, 44A in the bracket base 34, and through
member holes 43B, 44B in the clamping member 39,
combined with fence nuts 46, 47.
It should be noted that the bracket base 34 can
nest with the clamping member 39. Figures 13 and 14
show a device in which the bracket base 34 is nested
with the clamping member 39. Figures 15 and 18 show
alternative embodiments of the present invention in
which the bracket base 34 is nested with the clamping
member 39. The tines 48 of the bracket base 34 may
reside between the fingers 49 of the clamping member, as
shown in Figure 14, or the fingers 49 may reside between
the tines 48, as shown in Figures 15 and 18. The
nesting feature allows the barrier fence 37 to be pulled
taught simply by moving the clamping member 39 closer to
the bracket base 34. In the embodiments shown, the
clamping member 39 is moved closer to the bracket base
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34 by tightening the fence bolts 40, 41 and fence nuts
46, 47.
Figures 1 and 2 depict an embodiment of the present
invention in which the bracket base 34 resides between
the barrier fence 37 and the guardrail support 16. In
contrast to Figures 1 and 2, Figures 13 and 14 show an
embodiment of the present invention in which the barrier
fence 37 is positioned between the bracket base 34 and
the guardrail support 16. In this embodiment, the
bracket flanges 31, 32 extend through the barrier fence
37. The clamping member 39 may then be attached to the
bracket base 34, for example, via the fence nuts 46, 47
and the fence bolts 40, 41.
An alternative embodiment of the present invention
shown in Figure 15 includes a cable 54. The cable 54
may be a one-quarter inch diameter steel cable. A first
end 57 and a second end 60 of the cable 54 are secured
to the barrier fence 37, such as by weaving the ends 57,
60 through the barrier fence 37. Between the ends 57,
60, the cable 54 runs around at least a portion of the
rail bolt 29. A similar arrangement may be provided
with regard to the rail bolt 28 and another cable
similar to cable 54. In this manner, the cable 54
provides support for the barrier fence 37.
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Figures 16-18 illustrate a variation of the
alternative embodiment of the invention shown in Figure
15. Figure 16 is an exploded side view of a bracket 30
according to the present invention. The bracket 30
shown in Figures 16 and 17 includes one or more eyelets
63A, 63B on the bracket flange 31 for receiving a cable
54A. The bracket 30 shown in Figures 16 and 17 also may
include another eyelet 64 on the bracket flange 32 for
receiving a cable 54B. In a modified version of the
bracket 30 shown in Figures 16 and 17, the bracket 30
may include two eyelets 63A, 63B on the bracket flange
31. The bracket flange 32 may similarly include two
eyelets.
Figures 16-18 show another way of attaching the
present invention. As best seen in Figure 18, a strap
67 envelopes a portion of the guard rail support 16, and
the strap 67 is attached to the bracket flange 30 by
threaded ends 70 of the strap 67, which extend through
the bracket flange 30 and are fixed in place by nuts 73.
Figure 19 describes one method of installing the
device described above. In the method a bracket,
similar to the bracket 30 described above, is provided
(step 100). Then, the bracket is attached (step 103) to
the structure by, for example, (A) inserting the bracket
flanges 31, 32 through the guardrail support 16, and so
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that one of the flange holes 50A, 51A, 52A on bracket
flange 31 is aligned with rail bolt 28; (B) inserting
the rail bolt 28 through one of the flange holes 50A,
51A 52A and then threading the rail nut 25 onto the rail
bolt 28 to hold the guardrail 13 and the bracket flange
31; (C) aligning one of the flange holes 50B, 51B, 52B
on bracket flange 32 with rail bolt 29, and inserting
rail bolt 29 through one of the flange holes 50B, 51B
and 52B; and (D) threading rail nut 26 onto rail bolt 29
to hold the guardrail 14 and the bracket flange 32.
Then a barrier, such as the barrier fence 37, is
provided proximate to the base(step 106), and a clamping
member, such as the clamping member 39 described above,
is provided proximate to the barrier (step 109).
Finally, a rod, such as the fence bolt 40, is provided
(step 112) and inserted (step 115) through the clamping
member, the barrier and the base. This may be done by
inserting the fence bolts 40, 41 through the member
holes 43B, 44B in the clamping member 39, through the
barrier fence 37, and then through base holes 43A, 44A
in the bracket base 34. The fence nuts 46, 47 may then
be threaded onto the fence bolts 40, 41 to secure the
barrier fence 37 between the bracket base 34 and the
clamping member 39. Figure 1 shows a device assembled
according to such a method.
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In another method according to the present
invention, described in Figure 20, a bracket similar to
that described above is provided (step 100), and a
barrier is provided (step 106). Then a portion of the
bracket, such as the bracket flanges 31, 32 are inserted
(step 150) through the barrier, and the flanges 31, 32
are attached (step 103) to the structure, for example to
a guardrail in the manner provided above. Then, a
clamping member may be provided (step 109) proximate to
the barrier, and preferably such that the clamping
member partially surrounds the bracket base, as shown in
Figure 14. Finally, if provided, the clamping member is
connected to the base (step 153). If desired, the fence
bolts 40, 41 are inserted through the holes 43B, 44B in
the clamping member 39, through the holes 43A, 44A in
the bracket base 34 and through the barrier fence 37.
Next, the fence nuts 46, 47 are threaded onto the fence
bolts 40, 41 to secure the fence bolts 40, 41. Figure
13 shows a device assembled in this manner.
Although the present invention has been described
with respect to one or more particular embodiments, it
will be understood that other embodiments of the present
invention may be made without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention. Hence, the present
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invention is deemed limited only by the appended claims
and the reasonable interpretation thereof.
