Highway guardrail cover

Claim 2

A flexible cover for enclosing and protecting a rigid elongate highway guardrail from physical deterioration, which cover includes: (a) a main panel; (b) a pair of corner panels diverging outwardly from opposed portions of the main panel and defining obtuse angles therewith; (c) an edge panel carried by each corner panel; and (d) an inwardly directed flange carried by each edge panel and defining an acute angle therewith for snap-fit attachment around a corresponding rigid portion of the guardrail.

Claim 3

The cover of claim 1 wherein the cover is of an elongate shape having a substantially C-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration.

Claim 4

The cover of claim 2 wherein the C-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration is substantially uniform along the entire length of the cover.

Claim 5

The cover of claim 1 wherein the edge panels are substantially parallel to each other and form obtuse angles with their corresponding corner panels.

Claim 6

The cover of claim 1 wherein the flanges are inwardly directed to coverge towards the main panel.

Claim 7

The cover of claim 1 wherein the cover is made from relatively thin flexible material having substantially uniform thickness.

Claim 8

The cover of claim 1 wherein the cover is integrally formed from a single piece of material.

Claim 9

The cover of claim 7 wherein the cover is formed from extruded plastic.

Claim 10

The cover of claim 8 wherein the plastic is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene and mixtures thereof.

Claim 11

The cover of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of its exterior surface includes an iridescent appearance for enhancing its visibility.

Claim 12

A cover assembly for enclosing and protecting a highway guardrail, which assembly comprises: (a) a pair of elongate covers having substantially identical transverse cross-sectional configurations disposed in an end-to-end relationship and defining a joint therebetween, with each cover including: 1. a main panel; 2. a pair of first corner panels diverging outwardly from opposed portions of the main panel and defining obtuse angles therewith; 3. an edge panel carried by each first corner panel; and 4. an inwardly directed flange carried be each edge panel and defining an acute angle therewith for snap-fit attachment around a corresponding portion of the guardrail; and (b) a bridging member embracing the joint and extending laterally from either side thereof.

Claim 13

A cover assembly for enclosing and protecting a highway guardrail, which assembly comprises: (a) a pair of elongate covers having substantially identical transverse cross-sectional configurations disposed in an end-to-end relationship and defining a joint therebetween, with each cover including: 1. a main panel; 2. a pair of first corner panels diverging outwardly from opposed portions of the main panel and defining obtuse angles therewith; 3. an edge panel carried by each first corner panel; and 4. an inwardly directed flange carried be each edge panel and defining an acute angle therewith for snap-fit attachment around a corresponding portion of the guardrail; and (b) a bridging member embracing the joint and extending laterally from either side thereof.

Claim 14

The assembly of claim 11 wherein the transverse cross-sectional configuration of the bridging member is substantially the same as that of the covers.

Claim 15

A cover for enclosing and protecting an elongate highway guardrail from physical deterioration, which cover includes: (a) a main panel; (b) a pair of first corner panels diverging outwardly from opposed portions of the main panel and defining obtuse angles therewith; (c) a side panel extending from each first corner panel; (d) a pair of second corner panels each converging inwardly from opposed portions a respective side panel; (e) an edge panel carried by each second corner panel; and (f) an inwardly directed flange carried by each edge panel and defining an acute angle therewith for snap-fit attachment around a corresponding portion of the guardrail.

Claim 16

A cover for enclosing and protecting an elongate highway guardrail from physical deterioration, which cover includes: (a) a main panel; (b) a pair of first corner panels diverging outwardly from opposed portions of the main panel and defining obtuse angles therewith; (c) a side panel extending from each first corner panel; (d) a pair of second corner panels each converging inwardly from opposed portions a respective side panel; (e) an edge panel carried by each second corner panel; and (f) an inwardly directed flange carried by each edge panel and defining an acute angle therewith for snap-fit attachment around a corresponding portion of the guardrail.

Claim 17

The cover of claim 13 wherein the flanges diverge away from each other towards their corresponding side panels.

Claim 18

The cover of claim 13 wherein the cover is made from relatively thin flexible material having substantially uniform thickness.

Claim 19

The cover of claim 13 wherein the cover is integrally formed from a single piece of material.

Claim 20

The cover of claim 16 wherein the cover is formed from extruded plastic.

Claim 21

The cover of claim 17 wherein the plastic is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene and mixtures thereof.

Claim 22

The cover of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of its exterior surface includes an iridescent appearance for enhancing its visibility.