US3807699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety guard rail for highway medians
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-19
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Granted: 1974-04-30
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Expires: 1993-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A barrier or guard rail on a highway median which has a gutter on each side sufficiently deep and wide so that wheels of vehicles which collide with the barrier fall into the gutter and their axles or under carriages drag on the upper edge of the gutter. Warning lights or beacons, which are either automatically or manually operated, may be placed on the barrier to warn oncoming vehicles of a possible mishap. The barrier or gutter may also contain electronic sensing devices which alert highway personnel of the location of a vehicle in trouble.
Inventors
- 👤 W France
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:24
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01F; E01F15/00; E01F15/02; E01F15/04; E01F15/0492; E01F15/08; E01F15/081; E01F15/083; E01F9/00; E01F9/60; E01F9/658; E01F9/669
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A system for controlling the path of vehicles accidentally leaving a roadway and for restraining the vehicles from rebounding into the roadway comprising a. a roadway having a generally horizontal, hard surface, b. a vehicle having an axle, Tires and undercarriage, c. vertical barrier means disposed parallel and adjacent to said roadway for restraining the vehicle from leaving the road, d. said vertical barrier means adjoining and forming the outer wall of a generally horizontal gutter, e. said gutter having a depth in excess of the vertical distance between the bottom of said tires and the undercarriage and axle, f. said vertical barrier means having a height from said gutter in excess of the diameter of a vehicle tire, g. means comprising the upper surface of an inner wall of said gutter, cooperating with the axle or undercarriage of said vehicle for decelerating said vehicle and preventing the rebounding back onto said roadway of said vehicle, h. said upper surface disposed below the level of the roadway, i. the bottom of said gutter being below the level of the roadway, j. means for drainage located in said gutter, k. said drainage means disposed below the level of the roadway.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
199 words
A system for controlling the path of vehicles accidentally leaving a roadway and for restraining the vehicles from rebounding into the roadway comprising a. a roadway having a generally horizontal, hard surface, b. a vehicle having an axle, Tires and undercarriage, c. vertical barrier means disposed parallel and adjacent to said roadway for restraining the vehicle from leaving the road, d. said vertical barrier means adjoining and forming the outer wall of a generally horizontal gutter, e. said gutter having a depth in excess of the vertical distance between the bottom of said tires and the undercarriage and axle, f. said vertical barrier means having a height from said gutter in excess of the diameter of a vehicle tire, g. means comprising the upper surface of an inner wall of said gutter, cooperating with the axle or undercarriage of said vehicle for decelerating said vehicle and preventing the rebounding back onto said roadway of said vehicle, h. said upper surface disposed below the level of the roadway, i. the bottom of said gutter being below the level of the roadway, j. means for drainage located in said gutter, k. said drainage means disposed below the level of the roadway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structure of claim 1 in which manually actuated warning beacons are mounted on the barrier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The structure of claim 1 in which automatically-actuated warning beacons are mounted on the barrier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure of claim 1 in which warning signals are actuated in connection with said vehicle''s lodging in the gutter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure of claim 1 in which electronic sensing devices, embedded in the barrier or gutter, transmit signals responsive to the location of said vehicle on the roadway.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 1 in which the barrier means is the median of a divided two way highway and said gutter means adjoin both sides of said barrier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2880405A
Cited
DE1197110B
Cited
US3202393A
Cited
FR1350411A
Cited
US3288440A
Cited
US3509527A
Cited
US3478311A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-29 | 1977-10-29 | 1978-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-29 | 1981-10-29 | 1982-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-29 | 1985-10-29 | 1986-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |