Patent US4600178A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4600178A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of protecting a roadway maintenance and construction site
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1985-02-14
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Granted: 1986-07-15
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Expires: 2005-02-14
Abstract
Abstract A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site in which a crash cushion is suspended beneath a straddle carrier-type vehicle. The crash cushion preferably comprises an inertial system of free standing sand filled plastic containers or other suitable impact attenuator which in some cases is used with a backup structure. The vehicle is connected to a towing vehicle and is towed to the maintenance or construction site or can also be used in a self-propelled configuration. When the crash cushion is located in a position to block oncoming traffic at the site, it is lowered onto the roadway and disconnected from the straddle carrier-type vehicle. The towing vehicle and straddle carrier-type vehicle can then be removed from the site leaving the crash cushion in a fixed and favorable position relative to oncoming traffic.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley Zucker
- 👤 Fritz Schwarting
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:56
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01F; E01F15/00; E01F15/14; E01F15/145; E01F15/148; E01F13/00; E01F13/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site, comprising, in combination: releasably suspending a crash cushion beneath a vehicle; moving said vehicle with the crash cushion suspended therefrom to the site; positioning the vehicle such that the crash cushion will block oncoming traffic at said site; depositing the crash cushion on the roadway at the site; detaching said crash cushion from the vehicle while the cushion is on said roadway; and removing the vehicle from the site.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site, comprising, in combination: releasably suspending a crash cushion beneath a vehicle; moving said vehicle with the crash cushion suspended therefrom to the site; positioning the vehicle such that the crash cushion will block oncoming traffic at said site; depositing the crash cushion on the roadway at the site; detaching said crash cushion from the vehicle while the cushion is on said roadway; and removing the vehicle from the site.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site as defined in claim 1, which further comprises releasably suspending beneath the vehicle a crash cushion composed of free-standing frangible containers and an expendable easily dispersed mass within said containers for absorbing momentum transferred by an impacting errant vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site as defined in claim 1, wherein the vehicle with crash cushion releasably suspended therefrom is towed to the site by a powered towing vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site as defined in claim 1, wherein the vehicle with crash cushion releasably suspended therefrom is self-propelled.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site, comprising, in combination: releasably suspending a crash cushion beneath a self-propelled straddle carrier vehicle; moving said vehicle with the crash cushion suspended therefrom to the site; locating the vehicle in a position so as to block oncoming traffic at said site; depositing the crash cushion on the roadway by lowering said cushion thereon; detaching the crash cushion from the vehicle; and removing the vehicle from the site.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site, comprising, in combination: releasably suspending a crash cushion beneath a self-propelled straddle carrier vehicle; moving said vehicle with the crash cushion suspended therefrom to the site; locating the vehicle in a position so as to block oncoming traffic at said site; depositing the crash cushion on the roadway by lowering said cushion thereon; detaching the crash cushion from the vehicle; and removing the vehicle from the site.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site as defined in claim 5 wherein the crash cushion is hydraulically lowered from the vehicle onto the roadway.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site as defined in claim 5 wherein the crash cushion is lowered onto the roadway by pivoting the wheels of the vehicle relative to its carrier.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site, comprising, in combination: releasably suspending a crash cushion from one or more load carrying members of a wheeled straddle carrier vehicle; moving said vehicle with the crash cushion suspended therefrom to the site; locating the crash cushion in a position to block oncoming traffic at said site; depositing the crash cushion on the roadway at the site; detaching the crash cushion from the vehicle while the cushion is on said roadway; and removing the vehicle from the site.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site, comprising, in combination: releasably suspending a crash cushion from one or more load carrying members of a wheeled straddle carrier vehicle; moving said vehicle with the crash cushion suspended therefrom to the site; locating the crash cushion in a position to block oncoming traffic at said site; depositing the crash cushion on the roadway at the site; detaching the crash cushion from the vehicle while the cushion is on said roadway; and removing the vehicle from the site.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site, comprising, in combination: releasably suspending a crash cushion from the bed of a wheeled straddle carrier vehicle; towing said vehicle with the crash cushion suspended therefrom to the site with a powered towing vehicle; positioning the vehicle with the crash cushion suspended therefrom so as to block oncoming traffic at said site; depositing the crash cushion on the roadway by lowering the bed of the carrier relative to the wheels through pivotally mounted wheel struts; releasing the crash cushion from the vehicle while the cushion is on the roadway; and removing the vehicle from the site.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of protecting a roadway maintenance or construction site, comprising, in combination: releasably suspending a crash cushion from the bed of a wheeled straddle carrier vehicle; towing said vehicle with the crash cushion suspended therefrom to the site with a powered towing vehicle; positioning the vehicle with the crash cushion suspended therefrom so as to block oncoming traffic at said site; depositing the crash cushion on the roadway by lowering the bed of the carrier relative to the wheels through pivotally mounted wheel struts; releasing the crash cushion from the vehicle while the cushion is on the roadway; and removing the vehicle from the site.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-07-14 | 1990-01-13 | 1990-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-14 | 1994-01-13 | 1994-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-14 | 1998-01-13 | 1998-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |