Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A collapsible barrier for dividing a roadway having a plurality of traffic lanes, comprising a plurality of barrier panels (22,24,28,30) having adjacent sides hinged together; and means (60,62 and 64) for elevating at least one pair of adjacent panels to form a barrier (56,58) for separating the traffic lanes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
A collapsible barrier for dividing a roadway having a plurality of traffic lanes, comprising a plurality of barrier panels (22,24,28,30) having adjacent sides hinged together; and means (60,62 and 64) for elevating at least one pair of adjacent panels to form a barrier (56,58) for separating the traffic lanes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
154 words
A barrier according to claim 1 characterised by means (62 and 64) for selectively elevating a first hinge (50) to erect a first barrier (56) comprising a first barrier panel (22) connected to the first hinge (50) and a second barrier panel (24) connected to the first hinge (50), the first barrier (56) being adjacent a first side of the roadway (32) and providing a traffic lane over the array adjacent a second side of the roadway; and means (60 and 64) for selectively elevating a second hinge (44) to remove the first barrier (56) and to erect a second barrier (58) comprising a third barrier panel (28) connected to the second hinge (44) and a fourth barrier panel (30) connected to the second hinge (44), the second barrier (58) being adjacent the second side (34) of the roadway and providing a traffic lane over the array adjacent the first side of the roadway.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A barrier according to claim 1 or 2 characterised by means (53,51) for hingedly mounting a pair of the barrier panels to the roadway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A barrier according to claim 1 to 3 characterised in that the hinges (44,46,48,50,51 and 53) lock when the barrier panels are elevated to provide rigidity to the barrier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A barrier according to claim 4 characterised in that the hinges (44,46,48,50,51 and 53) have an unlocked position for each barrier panel to permit removal thereof from the array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A barrier according to claim 2 characterised in that the means for selectively elevating the first hinge comprises means (62) placed under the first or second barrier panels (22 or 24) for lifting the first hinge (50) to elevate the first and second barrier panels (22 and 24).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A barrier according to claim 6 characterised in that the means placed under the first or second barrier panel comprises a hydraulic jack (62).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
A barrier according to claim 6 or 7 characterised in that the means for selectively elevating the first hinge further comprises actuator means (64) having a first end (66) fixed under the roadway (32) and a second end (68) connected to the array for selectively moving the array laterally with respect to the roadway selectively to erect one of the first and second barriers (56 and 58) and remove the other barrier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A barrier according to claim 8 wherein the actuator means comprises a hydraulic ram 64.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A barrier according to any of claims 1 to 9 characterised by a support (106,108) connected to selected hinges (44,50) the support depending from the selected hinges (44,50) to provide vertical support to the barrier (50,44).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
A barrier according to claim 10, characterised in that a flange (112) extending from the support (106,108) to rest upon a base (112,110) when the hinge (50,44) connected to the support (106,108) is in its lower position and to hang between the panels (22,24,28,30) connected to the hinge (50,44) when the hinge is in its upper position to limit the range of hinging movement of the elevated panels.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for selectively dividing a roadway, comprising the steps of: placing a plurality of barrier panels between a pair of roadway sections; connecting adjacent barrier panels hingedly together; selectively elevating adjacent sides of two adjacent barrier panels to form a first barrier adjacent a first side of the roadway and to provide a traffic lane adjacent a second side of the roadway; and selectively elevating adjacent sides of a second pair of the barrier panels to form a second barrier and to remove the first barrier, the second barrier being adjacent the second side of the roadway and to provide a traffic lane over the array adjacent the first side of the roadway.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for selectively dividing a roadway, comprising the steps of: placing a plurality of barrier panels between a pair of roadway sections; connecting adjacent barrier panels hingedly together; selectively elevating adjacent sides of two adjacent barrier panels to form a first barrier adjacent a first side of the roadway and to provide a traffic lane adjacent a second side of the roadway; and selectively elevating adjacent sides of a second pair of the barrier panels to form a second barrier and to remove the first barrier, the second barrier being adjacent the second side of the roadway and to provide a traffic lane over the array adjacent the first side of the roadway.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 11 characterised in that the step of selectively elevating the first pair of barrier panel comprises activating a jack placed under one of the first and second barrier panels for lifting the first hinged connecting means to elevate the first and second barrier panels.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 12 characterised in that the step of selectively elevating the first pair of barrier panels further comprises the step of activating actuator means having a first end fixed under the roadway and a second end connected to the array for selectively moving the array laterally with respect to the roadway to erect one of the first and second barriers and remove the other barrier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 13 characterised by the step of connecting deck rib means to selected hinged connecting means such that the deck rib means depends from the selected hinged connecting means to provide vertical support to the barrier panels.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of forming a flange on the deck rib means for supporting the barrier panels and limiting the range of hinging motion of the pair of barrier panels that form the erect barrier.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
26 words
A method according to any of claims 12 to 16 characterised by the step of hingedly mounting a pair of the barrier panels to the roadway.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 17 characterised in that the hinged connecting means lock to provide rigidity to the first and second barriers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 18 characterised by the step of forming the hinged connecting means to have an unlocked position for each barrier panel to permit disconnection thereof from adjacent panels.