Combined Road Safety Barrier Made from Wood and Metal, Intended for Vehicle Lateral Impact Containment and Having Aesthetic Qualities and Containment and Redirection Capability

{
  "publication_number": "US2010008722A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Combined Road Safety Barrier Made from Wood and Metal, Intended for Vehicle Lateral Impact Containment and Having Aesthetic Qualities and Containment and Redirection Capability",
  "abstract": "Contention system for lateral impacts from vehicles, of the kind formed from a mixed metal and wooden horizontal continuous rail, comprising two or more wooden logs of equal cross-section, preferably rectangular, fitted with the same metal profile of cross-section preferably in the form of a “sigma” and longitudinally connected together by means of a metal plate, with the rail being supported at regular intervals by metal uprights inserted or secured into the ground, externally faced with a wooden cover consisting of three or more flat wooden strips, the rail being fixed to the posts by means of a metal distancer spacer by way of support, formed from a main piece in the form of an “omega” lying on its side which joins consecutive rails together via their ends and an interior U-piece which incorporates the star-shaped hole for the breakaway attachment between the support and the post, with a metal support plate between the front part of the wooden cover for the post and the central part of the metal support.",
  "claims": [
    "1. Mixed wooden and metallic safety barrier for roads, for containment of lateral impact by vehicles, with aesthetic qualities and containment and redirecting capability, of the type formed by one or several horizontal rails (1), each rail (1) comprising one, two or more wooden logs (1 ′) (1 ″) fitted on a profile or a metallic faceplate (6) and the rails (1) being supported at regular intervals, and via a metallic separator (4), by metallic posts (3) externally faced with a wooden cover (2), characterized in that the metallic separator (4) comprises a profile of constant cross-section, with its longitudinal axis in the direction of the barrier, presenting a straight cross-section in the form of an “omega” with its flanges or feet (upper and lower) and the central core or back arranged vertically and the two wings (upper and lower) that connect each flange with the central core being arranged horizontally or slightly inclined.",
    "2. Mixed wooden and metallic safety barrier for roads, for containment of lateral impact by vehicles, with aesthetic qualities and containment and redirecting capability, of the type formed by one or several horizontal rails (1), each rail (1) comprising one, two or more wooden logs (1 ′) (1 ″) fitted on a profile or a metallic faceplate (6) and the rails (1) being supported at regular intervals, and via a metallic separator (4), by metallic posts (3) externally faced with a wooden cover (2), in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the metallic separator (4) presents a window (15) in its central core, with an interior piece (14) being provided inside the metallic separator (4) and facing that window (15), said interior piece (14) having the form of a faceplate that is flat, slightly curved or in the form of a “C” or “U”, the metallic separator (4) and this interior piece (14) being joined together to form a single body and the interior piece (14) presenting a hole (17) in correspondence with the window (15) of the separator (4) intended to receive an attachment screw (24).",
    "3. Mixed wooden and metallic safety barrier for roads, for containment of lateral impact by vehicles, with aesthetic qualities and containment and redirecting capability, of the type formed by one or several horizontal rails (1), each rail (1) comprising one, two or more wooden logs (1 ′) (1 ″) fitted on a profile or a metallic faceplate (6) and the rails (1) being supported at regular intervals, and via a metallic separator (4), by metallic posts (3) externally faced with a wooden cover (2), in accordance with claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the hole (17) of the interior piece (14) of the metallic separator (4), provided in correspondence with the window (15) of the core of the metallic separator, has a star shape with the diameter of the center of the hole (17) being less than the head (27) of the attachment screw (24) and greater than the diameter of the stem of the attachment screw (24), and the diameter of the head (27) of said attachment screw (24) being less than the size of the window (15); in such a way that said head (27) can pass through the window (15) without deforming its walls.",
    "4. Mixed wooden and metallic safety barrier for roads, for containment of lateral impact by vehicles, with aesthetic qualities and containment and redirecting capability, of the type formed by one or several horizontal rails (1), each rail (1) comprising one, two or more wooden logs (1 ′) (1 ″) fitted on a profile or a metallic faceplate (6) and the rails (1) being supported at regular intervals, and via a metallic separator (4), by metallic posts (3) externally faced with a wooden cover (2), in accordance with claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the star shaped hole (17) comprises a central space and an array of elongated spaces connected to the central space, of small width and arranged in a radial configuration around the central space in the manner of a star, in such a way that between these spaces and the central hole is an array of surfaces in the form of tabs which, together with means of attachment (24) traversing the window (15) of the metallic separator (4), constitute the fusible union of the rail (1) - metallic separator (4) assembly with the post (3).",
    "5. Mixed wooden and metallic safety barrier for roads, for containment of lateral impact by vehicles, with aesthetic qualities and containment and redirecting capability, of the type formed by one or several horizontal rails (1), each rail (1) comprising one, two or more wooden logs (1 ′) (1 ″) fitted on a profile or a metallic faceplate (6) and the rails (1) being supported at regular intervals, and via a metallic separator (4), by metallic posts (3) externally faced with a wooden cover (2), in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the wooden logs (1 ′) (1 ″) making up each rail (1) present longitudinally on their rear face two horizontal grooves (9) and (9 ′) and a recess (29) from the upper groove (9) as far as the lower groove (9 ′), and in that the metallic profile (6) has a straight cross-section preferably in the form of a “sigma”, with its wings (10) and (10 ′) arranged horizontally and oriented towards the front face of the rail and the core or back being arranged vertically and consisting of two vertical sections (11) and (11 ′), upper and lower respectively, connected to the upper wing (10) and the lower wing (10 ′) by means of straight folds, and a central vertical section in the form of a “notch” or depression (11 ″) displaced towards the interior of the section in the direction of the wings, the height of the core or back of the metallic profile (6) being equal to the distance between the upper groove (9) and lower groove (9 ′) and the depth of the central section or “notch” (11 ″) being equal to the depth of the recess (29); in such a way that, once the rail (1) has been assembled starting from its constituent elements, the wings (10) and (10 ′) of the metallic profile (6) remain embedded in the grooves (9) and (9 ′) of the rear face of the wooden logs, the central part or “notch” (11 ″) of the core of the metallic profile (6) remains resting against the vertical wall of the recess (29) of the rear face of the wooden logs, and the upper and lower vertical sections (11) and (11 ′) of the core of the metallic profile (6) remain appreciably aligned with the non-recessed rear face of the wooden logs (1 ′) (1 ″), allowing the heads (46) of the means of attachment to become trapped in the spaces (48) and (48 ′) existing between the wooden logs (1 ′) (1 ″) and the metallic profile (6).",
    "6. Mixed wooden and metallic safety barrier for roads, for containment of lateral impact by vehicles, with aesthetic qualities and containment and redirecting capability, of the type formed by one or several horizontal rails (1), each rail (1) comprising one, two or more wooden logs (1 ′) (1 ″) fitted on a profile or a metallic faceplate (6) and the rails (1) being supported at regular intervals, and via a metallic separator (4), by metallic posts (3) externally faced with a wooden cover (2), in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the logs (1 ′) and (1 ″) constituting each rail (1), joined together, are provided with a complementary attachment element consisting of a vertical metallic plate (5), interposed between them, located in a vertical plane between the front face of the rail (1) or face exposed to the traffic and the reinforcing metallic profile (6), housed in separate vertical grooves (5 ′) made for the purpose in the ends of the contiguous wooden logs (1 ′) and (1 ″) and said plate (5) being attached to each adjacent log (1 ′) and (1 ″) by suitable means of fastening, preferably screws or bolts (12) which successively traverse each log (1 ′) (1 ″), the common metallic attachment plate (5) and the reinforcing metallic profile (6) for the rail (1).",
    "7. Mixed wooden and metallic safety barrier for roads, for containment of lateral impact by vehicles, with aesthetic qualities and containment and redirecting capability, of the type formed by one or several horizontal rails (1), each rail (1) comprising one, two or more wooden logs (1 ′) (1 ″) fitted on a profile or a metallic faceplate (6) and the rails (1) being supported at regular intervals, and via a metallic separator (4), by metallic posts (3) externally faced with a wooden cover (2), in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a flat metallic support plate (13) is provided between the core or back of the metallic separator (4) and the front face of the wooden cover (2) of the metallic post (3).",
    "8. Mixed wooden and metallic safety barrier for roads, for containment of lateral impact by vehicles, with aesthetic qualities and containment and redirecting capability, of the type formed by one or several horizontal rails (1), each rail (1) comprising one, two or more wooden logs (1 ′) (1 ″) fitted on a profile or a metallic faceplate (6) and the rails (1) being supported at regular intervals, and via a metallic separator (4), by metallic posts (3) externally faced with a wooden cover (2), in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the metallic support plate (13) is extended towards the ground, adopting a geometric shape in the manner of a metallic support arm (13 ′) for a horizontal and longitudinally continuous screen (37) located beneath the rail (1); in such a way that it covers a good part of the space existing between the latter and ground level (7).",
    "9. Mixed wooden and metallic safety barrier for roads, for containment of lateral impact by vehicles, with aesthetic qualities and containment and redirecting capability, of the type formed by one or several horizontal rails (1), each rail (1) comprising one, two or more wooden logs (1 ′) (1 ″) fitted on a profile or a metallic faceplate (6) and the rails (1) being supported at regular intervals, and via a metallic separator (4), by metallic posts (3) externally faced with a wooden cover (2), in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the wooden cover (2) covering the metallic post (3) on at least its three faces visible to the traffic consists of at least three flat wooden strips (2 ′) (2 ″) covering the front face and the two lateral faces of the metallic post (3), the strips (2 ′) (2 ″) being joined together by suitable means of fastening, such as pins, screws or bolts, nails, staples or gluing.",
    "10. Mixed wooden and metallic safety barrier for roads, for containment of lateral impact by vehicles, with aesthetic qualities and containment and redirecting capability, of the type formed by one or several horizontal rails (1), each rail (1) comprising one, two or more wooden logs (1 ′) (1 ″) fitted on a profile or a metallic faceplate (6) and the rails (1) being supported at regular intervals, and via a metallic separator (4), by metallic posts (3) externally faced with a wooden cover (2), in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the starting and finishing terminal sections of the barrier with the rail (1) folded down to ground level (7), and with the folded rail (1 ′″) being supported in one or several metallic posts (42) (43) for insertion or securing in the ground, incorporate a metallic piece in the form of a “hook” (44) by way of a simple buffer, joined to the buried end of the folded rail (1 ′″), and an additional metallic post (45) inserted vertically in the ground via the interior surface of the “hook” shaped piece (44)."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "E01F 15/0453",
    "E01F 15/04",
    "E01F 15/0438"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "HIERROS Y APLANACIONES S A"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2007-10-09",
  "publication_date": "2010-01-14",
  "priority_date": "2007-01-19",
  "application_number": "US-52372207-A",
  "family_id": "38468514",
  "citations": [
    "US4946138A",
    "US7604221B2"
  ]
}