Highway barrier

Claim 2

A highway barrier (100, 200) for protecting an impacting vehicle against collision with a roadside structure (102, 202) positioned alongside a roadway, the highway barrier (100, 200) comprising a collapsible guardrail assembly (140, 240) including a plurality of panels (142), means (150) for mounting the panels (142) together such that the panels (142) extend alongside the roadway and adjacent panels (142) are slideable with respect to one another to allow the panels (142) to telescope together when struck by the impacting vehicle, and means (152, 154, 156) for supporting the panels (142) and allowing the panels (142) to telescope together when struck by the impacting vehicle, said guardrail assembly (140, 240) being configured and arranged to deflect the impacting vehicle away from the roadway as the guardrail assembly (140, 240) telescopes together when struck by the impacting vehicle, characterised in that the highway barrier (100, 200) includes a rigid beam (112, 212) having a forward end and a rearward end, said beam extending alongside the roadway; means (114, 214) for rotatably mounting the rearward end of the beam (112,212) to the roadside structure (102, 202) such that the beam (112, 212) is rotatable away from the roadway; and means (116, 118, 218) for mounting the collapsible guardrail assembly (140, 240) to the forward end of the beam (112, 212), said beam (112, 212) being effective to deflect the impacting vehicle further away from the roadway and the roadside structure (102, 202) as the beam (112, 212) rotates with respect to the roadside structure (102, 202).

Claim 3

A highway barrier according to Claim 1 characterised in that the means (150) for mounting the panels together comprises means for defining a longitudinally extending slot (144) in each of the panels (142); and means (150) for connecting adjacent panels together, which connecting means comprises a plurality of fasteners (150) each extending through a respective one of the slots (144) said slots (144) being positioned such that the panels (142) tend to collapse in a selected direction away from the roadway.

Claim 4

A highway barrier according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the means (152, 154, 156) for supporting the panels comprises a plurality of panel supports (154), each defining an upper end secured to a respective one of the panels (142) and a lower end; a plurality of support surfaces (152), each aligned with a respective one of the panel supports (154); and a plurality of slip bases (156) each interconnected between a respective one of the panel supports (154) and the respective support surface (152), each of said slip bases (156) comprising means for preventing lateral movement of the panel support (154) with respect to the support surface (152) and means for permitting axial movement of the panel support (152) with respect to the support surface (152) to allow the panels (142) to telescope together when struck by the colliding vehicle.

Claim 5

A highway barrier according to any preceding claim wherein the means (114) for rotatably mounting the rearward end of the beam (112) to the roadside structure (102) comprises a band (114) which encircles the roadside structure (102); and means (116, 118) for securing the band to the rearward end of the beam.

Claim 6

A highway barrier according to Claim 4 characterised in that the rotatably mounting means (114) comprises a collapsible cylinder (128) interposed between the band (114) and the roadside structure (102) adjacent the securing means (116, 118).

Claim 7

A highway barrier according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 characterised in that the rotatably mounting (114) means further comprises a collar (126) secured to the roadside structure (102) beneath the band to rotatably support the band (114) in place.

Claim 8

A highway barrier according to Claim 1 characterised in that the means (214) for rotatably mounting the rearward end of the beam (212) to the roadside structure (202) comprises a band (214); first means (218) for securing the rearward end of the beam (212) to the band (214); and second means (219, 221) for rotatably securing the band (214) to the roadside structure (202), said second means comprising means for defining a first slot (215) in the band (214) adjacent a first side of the roadside structure; means for defining a second slot (217) in the band (214) adjacent a second side of the roadside structure; and first and second fasteners (219, 221) each passing through a respective one of the slots (215, 217) and secured to the roadside structure (202); said beam (212) being rotatable with respect to the roadside structure (202) as the slots (215, 217) slide with respect to the fasteners (219, 221).

Claim 9

A highway barrier according to Claim 7 characterised in that the fasteners (219, 221) are positioned at selected ends of the slots (215, 217) to impede rotation of the beam (212) toward the roadway and to permit rotation of the beam (212) toward the roadway and to permit rotation of the beam (212) away from the roadway.

Claim 10

A highway barrier (100, 200) for protecting an impacting vehicle against collision with a roadside structure (102, 202) positioned alongside a roadway, the highway barrier (100) comprising a guardrail assembly including a plurality of fender panels (142), each defining an axial slot (144), said fender panels (142) extending generally axially in overlapping configuration; a plurality of fasteners (150), each extending through a respective one of the slots (144) and secured to a forward end of an adjacent rearward fender panel (142) to allow the fender panels (142) to telescope together in response to an axial force; a plurality of panel supports (154), each secured to the forward end of a respective one of the fender panels (142); and a plurality of slip bases (156) each secured between a respective one of the panel supports (154) and a support surface (152), said slip bases being oriented to allow axial movement of the panel supports (154) while preventing lateral movement of the panel supports (154), the guardrail assembly being configurated and arranged to deflect an impacting vehicle away from the roadway as the guardrail assembly telescopes together when struck by the impacting vehicle, characterised in that the highway barrier (100, 200) includes a band (114, 214) pivotably secured to the roadside structure (102, 202); a rigid beam (112, 212) mounted to the band (114, 214) to extend axially alongside the roadway such that the beam (112, 212) is pivotable about the roadside structure (102, 202); and means (116, 118, 218) for securing a rearward one of the fender panels (142) to the beam (112, 212), said slots (114) and fasteners (150) being positioned to cause the fender panels (142) to move away from the roadway as the fender panels (142) collapse following telescoping; and said beam (112, 212) and band (114, 214) being effective to swing the impacting vehicle further away from the roadway.

Claim 11

A highway barrier (100, 200) for protecting an impacting vehicle against collision with a roadside structure (102, 202) positioned alongside a roadway, the highway barrier (100) comprising a guardrail assembly including a plurality of fender panels (142), each defining an axial slot (144), said fender panels (142) extending generally axially in overlapping configuration; a plurality of fasteners (150), each extending through a respective one of the slots (144) and secured to a forward end of an adjacent rearward fender panel (142) to allow the fender panels (142) to telescope together in response to an axial force; a plurality of panel supports (154), each secured to the forward end of a respective one of the fender panels (142); and a plurality of slip bases (156) each secured between a respective one of the panel supports (154) and a support surface (152), said slip bases being oriented to allow axial movement of the panel supports (154) while preventing lateral movement of the panel supports (154), the guardrail assembly being configurated and arranged to deflect an impacting vehicle away from the roadway as the guardrail assembly telescopes together when struck by the impacting vehicle, characterised in that the highway barrier (100, 200) includes a band (114, 214) pivotably secured to the roadside structure (102, 202); a rigid beam (112, 212) mounted to the band (114, 214) to extend axially alongside the roadway such that the beam (112, 212) is pivotable about the roadside structure (102, 202); and means (116, 118, 218) for securing a rearward one of the fender panels (142) to the beam (112, 212), said slots (114) and fasteners (150) being positioned to cause the fender panels (142) to move away from the roadway as the fender panels (142) collapse following telescoping; and said beam (112, 212) and band (114, 214) being effective to swing the impacting vehicle further away from the roadway.

Claim 12

A highway barrier according to Claim 9 characterised in that the band (114) encircles the roadside structure.

Claim 13

A highway barrier according to Claim 9 or Claim 10 characterised in that the band (214) defines a plurality of slots (215, 217) and wherein the band (214) is secured to the roadside structure (202) by a plurality of fasteners (219, 221) each passing through a respective one of the slots (215, 217).

Claim 14

A highway barrier according to Claim 11 characterised in that the fasteners (219, 221) are positioned in the slots (215, 217) to resist pivoting of the beam (214) towards the roadway and to facilitate pivoting of the beam (214) away from the roadway.

Claim 15

A highway barrier according to any of Claims 9 to 12 further comprising a collapsible cylinder (128, 228) interposed between the band (114,214) and the roadside structure (102,202) on a side of the roadside structure facing the fender panels (142).