US4367975A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Traffic barriers
Assignee: Controlec Ltd
•
Filing: 1981-04-20
•
Granted: 1983-01-11
•
Expires: 2001-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A traffic barrier comprises a step-like obstruction able to resist or prohibit the advance of a vehicle, a hinged platform disposed in advance of the step-like obstruction and rockable between a lowered position and a raised position, in which its trailing edge is adjacent the top of the step-like obstruction, spring means urging the platform into its raised position, latch means operable to lock the platform in its raised position to permit a vehicle to advance over the step-like obstruction, and control means including a coin-operated device or the like, for controlling the operation of the latch means. In one embodiment, the latch means is normally in its released condition, and is actuated to lock the platform in its raised position when the prescribed parking fee is inserted into coin-operated device. The control means is responsive to advance of the rearmost wheels of the vehicle on to the top of the step-like obstruction to release the latch means and prevent advance of a following vehicle until the coin-operated device is tripped by the driver of the following vehicle. In another embodiment, the latch means is normally retained in its latched condition, and the control means is responsive to the front wheels of a vehicle approaching the platform to release the latch means if the driver of that vehicle does not insert the prescribed parking fee in the coin-operated device.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul D. Tyers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:34
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/01; G08G1/02; E; E01; E01F; E01F13/00; E01F13/04; E01F13/10; E01F13/105; E01F13/12; E01F13/126; E01F9/00; E01F9/50; E01F9/529; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/14; G07F17/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
A traffic barrier for controlling a flow of vehicles, comprising in combination: (a) a step-like obstruction adapted to resist the advance of a vehicle, said step-like obstruction having a top and an abutment wall extending downwardly from said top; (b) a platform disposed in advance of said step-like obstruction and having a leading edge remote from said obstruction and a trailing edge adjacent said abutment wall of said obstruction; (c) hinge means mounting said platform for rocking movement between a lowered position and a raised position in which said trailing edge of said platform is adjacent said top of said step-like obstruction; (d) means urging said platform into said raised position; (e) said platform being depressible into said lowered position by a vehicle advancing over said platform from said leading to said trailing edge thereof, whereby said abutment wall of said step-like obstruction is presented to said vehicle to resist advance thereof; (f) latch means movable between a release position and a locking position in which said latch means locks said platform in said raised position, whereby to permit a vehicle to advance over said platform and onto said top of said step-like obstruction; (g) means adapted normally to retract said latch means into said release position; (h) control means selectively operable to actuate said latch means and lock said platform in said raised position; (i) said control means being responsive to advance of the rearmost wheels of a vehicle onto said top of said step-like obstruction to release said latch means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
A traffic barrier for controlling a flow of vehicles, comprising in combination: (a) a step-like obstruction adapted to resist the advance of a vehicle, said step-like obstruction having a top and an abutment wall extending downwardly from said top; (b) a platform disposed in advance of said step-like obstruction and having a leading edge remote from said obstruction and a trailing edge adjacent said abutment wall of said obstruction; (c) hinge means mounting said platform for rocking movement between a lowered position and a raised position in which said trailing edge of said platform is adjacent said top of said step-like obstruction; (d) means urging said platform into said raised position; (e) said platform being depressible into said lowered position by a vehicle advancing over said platform from said leading to said trailing edge thereof, whereby said abutment wall of said step-like obstruction is presented to said vehicle to resist advance thereof; (f) latch means movable between a release position and a locking position in which said latch means locks said platform in said raised position, whereby to permit a vehicle to advance over said platform and onto said top of said step-like obstruction; (g) means adapted normally to retract said latch means into said release position; (h) control means selectively operable to actuate said latch means and lock said platform in said raised position; (i) said control means being responsive to advance of the rearmost wheels of a vehicle onto said top of said step-like obstruction to release said latch means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step-like obstruction is adapted to project above an adjacent road surface and said platform, when in said raised position thereof, is arranged as a ramp which leads from said road surface to said top of said obstruction, and wherein a fixed ramp is disposed on the opposite side of said obstruction from said platform and extends downwardly from said obstruction to said road surface in order to permit a vehicle to return to the normal road surface after it has negotiated said barrier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step-like obstruction and said platform are disposed in an excavation in a road, with said top of said step-like obstruction substantially level with the adjacent road surface, and said platform, when in its raised position, also substantially level with said road surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step-like obstruction and said platform are prefabricated as two separate units which can be installed in juxtaposed relation in order to construct said traffic barrier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means includes a manually operated device positioned in advance of said platform and responsive to a prescribed action to actuate said latch means and lock said platform in said raised position thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means includes detecting means disposed on or adjacent said step-like obstruction and responsive to movement of the rearmost wheels of a vehicle on to said top surface of said obstruction to release said latch means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means includes first auxiliary detecting means disposed rearwardly of said step-like obstruction and arranged to detect the front wheels of a vehicle negotiating said barrier in a reverse direction, whereupon to actuate said latch means to lock said platform in said raised position thereof, and second auxiliary detecting means disposed forwardly of said leading edge of said platform and operable by said rearmost wheels of said vehicle to release said latch means, thereby permitting unhindered flow of vehicles in said reverse direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said latch means comprises at least one solenoid-operated latch member mounted on said step-like obstruction and arranged to engage a cooperating detent on said platform, when said platform is in said raised position thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one latch member is controlled by two solenoid devices, one of which is adapted to advance said latch member into said locking position and the other of which is adapted to retract said first solenoid device and said latch member to said release position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 1, including a fail-safe device adapted to actuate said latch means and lock said platform in said raised position thereof in the event of disconnection of the electrical supply.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 1, including a visual signal means associated with said barrier for producing a visible indication of whether said platform is locked in said raised position thereof and a vehicle is authorised to negotiate said barrier, said visual signal means comprising a visible barrier member mounted on said top of said step-like obstruction and operable by said control means to move into a visible position projecting above said obstruction, when said latch means is released, and to return to a substantially concealed and unobstructing position, when said latch means is actuated and a vehicle is permitted to negotiate said barrier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
204 words
A traffic barrier for controlling a flow of vehicles, comprising in combination: (a) a step-like obstruction adapted to resist the advance of a vehicle, said step-like obstruction having a top and abutment means; (b) a platform disposed in advance of said step-like obstruction and having a leading edge remote from said obstruction and a trailing edge adjacent said abutment means of said obstruction; (c) hinge means mounting said platform for rocking movement between a lowered position and a raised position in which said trailing edge of said platform is adjacent said top of said step-like obstruction; (d) means urging said platform into said raised position; (e) said platform being depressible into said lowered position by a vehicle advancing over said platform from said leading to said trailing edge thereof, whereby said abutment means of said step-like obstruction is presented to said vehicle to resist advance thereof; (f) latch means movable between a release position and a locking position in which said latch means locks said platform in said raised position, whereby to permit a vehicle to advance over said platform and said step-like obstruction; and (g) control means to control said latch means in response to advance of a vehicle relative to the barrier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
204 words
A traffic barrier for controlling a flow of vehicles, comprising in combination: (a) a step-like obstruction adapted to resist the advance of a vehicle, said step-like obstruction having a top and abutment means; (b) a platform disposed in advance of said step-like obstruction and having a leading edge remote from said obstruction and a trailing edge adjacent said abutment means of said obstruction; (c) hinge means mounting said platform for rocking movement between a lowered position and a raised position in which said trailing edge of said platform is adjacent said top of said step-like obstruction; (d) means urging said platform into said raised position; (e) said platform being depressible into said lowered position by a vehicle advancing over said platform from said leading to said trailing edge thereof, whereby said abutment means of said step-like obstruction is presented to said vehicle to resist advance thereof; (f) latch means movable between a release position and a locking position in which said latch means locks said platform in said raised position, whereby to permit a vehicle to advance over said platform and said step-like obstruction; and (g) control means to control said latch means in response to advance of a vehicle relative to the barrier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
236 words
A traffic barrier for controlling a flow of vehicles, comprising in combination: (a) a step-like obstruction adapted to resist the advance of a vehicle, said step-like obstruction having a top and abutment means extending downwardly from said top; (b) a platform disposed in advance of said step-like obstruction and having a leading edge remote from said obstruction and a trailing edge adjacent said abutment means of said obstruction; (c) hinge means mounting said platform for rocking movement between a lowered position and a raised position in which said trailing edge of said platform is adjacent said top of said step-like obstruction; (d) means urging said platform into said raised position; (e) said platform being depressible into said lowered position by a vehicle advancing over said platform from said leading to said trailing edge thereof, whereby said abutment means of said step-like obstruction is presented to said vehicle to resist advance thereof; (f) latch means movable between a release position and a locking position in which said latch means locks said platform in said raised position, whereby to permit a vehicle to advance over said platform and said step-like obstruction; (g) means adapted normally to urge said latch means into said locking position; (h) control means selectively operable to actuate said latch means and retract said latch means into said release position; (i) said control means being responsive to advance of a vehicle relative to the barrier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
236 words
A traffic barrier for controlling a flow of vehicles, comprising in combination: (a) a step-like obstruction adapted to resist the advance of a vehicle, said step-like obstruction having a top and abutment means extending downwardly from said top; (b) a platform disposed in advance of said step-like obstruction and having a leading edge remote from said obstruction and a trailing edge adjacent said abutment means of said obstruction; (c) hinge means mounting said platform for rocking movement between a lowered position and a raised position in which said trailing edge of said platform is adjacent said top of said step-like obstruction; (d) means urging said platform into said raised position; (e) said platform being depressible into said lowered position by a vehicle advancing over said platform from said leading to said trailing edge thereof, whereby said abutment means of said step-like obstruction is presented to said vehicle to resist advance thereof; (f) latch means movable between a release position and a locking position in which said latch means locks said platform in said raised position, whereby to permit a vehicle to advance over said platform and said step-like obstruction; (g) means adapted normally to urge said latch means into said locking position; (h) control means selectively operable to actuate said latch means and retract said latch means into said release position; (i) said control means being responsive to advance of a vehicle relative to the barrier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 13, wherein said latch means is carried by said obstruction, and comprises at least one pivotally mounted latch member, spring means normally biasing said latch member to said locking position in which it engages detent means on said platform, and a solenoid device which, when actuated, retracts the latch member from said locking position to said release position in which it is disengaged from said detent means, against the biasing force of said spring means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means urging said platform into said raised position comprises at least one pair of opposed, semi-elliptical leaf springs, interconnected at their opposite ends, and being loaded intermediate their ends by said platform.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 13, wherein said step-like obstruction is adapted to project above an adjacent road surface, and said platform, when in said raised position thereof, is arranged as a ramp which leads from said road surface to said top of said obstruction, and wherein a fixed ramp is disposed on the opposite side of said obstruction from said platform and extends downwardly from said obstruction to said road surface in order to permit a vehicle to return to the normal road surface after it has negotiated said barrier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 13, wherein said control means is responsive to advance of the front wheels of an unauthorised vehicle relative to said platform to release said latch means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
75 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 17, wherein said control means includes a manually operable device positioned in advance of said platform and responsive to a prescribed action to inhibit release of said latch means responsive to advance relative to said platform of the front wheels of a vehicle authorised by said prescribed action, release of said latch means being enabled by means responsive to advance of wheels of said vehicle beyond said platform.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
145 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 18, wherein said control means includes detecting means comprising first actuating means disposed at or in advance of the leading edge of said platform, and actuable by the front wheels of a vehicle approaching said platform to actuate first switch means, means operable selectively to inhibit siad first switch means whereby actuation of said first switch means will not actuate and retract said latch means from said locking position, and to enable said first switch means whereby actuation of said first switch means will actuate and retract said latch means to said release position, further actuating means disposed rearwardly of said platform and actuable by the front wheels of a vehicle leaving said platform to actuate further switch means, actuation of said further switch means being operable to cause said inhibit/enable means to enable said first switch means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 19, wherein said inhibit/enable means comprises switch means connected in series with said first switch means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
91 words
A traffic barrier as claimed in claim 19, wherein said further actuating means comprises second actuating means mounted on or rearwardly of said obstruction and operable to actuate second switch means, and third actuating means mounted rearwardly of said second actuating means and operable to actuate third switch means, actuation of said second switch means being operable to change said third switch means from an inhibited to an enabled state, actuation of said third switch means, when enabled, being operable to cause said inhibit/enable means to enable said first switch means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2735202A
Cited
US1346071A
Cited
US1649877A
Cited
US2024063A
Cited
US2175636A
Cited
US2637920A
Cited
US2657486A
Cited
US2741859A
Cited
US2917283A
Cited
US3626638A
Cited
US3748782A
Cited
US3849936A
Cited
US4097170A
Cited
GB2032983A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-01-10 | 1986-07-12 | 1987-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-10 | 1990-07-12 | 1991-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-10 | 1994-07-12 | 1995-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |