Energy absorbing barrier

Claim 2

An energy absorbing barrier for dissipating kinetic energy upon impact by a moving vehicle, said barrier comprising: an elongate container having walls, including a pair of longitudinally directed side walls, defining an interior chamber having a fill opening for admitting fluent material into said chamber, said container being configured and constructed of a material having a rigidity sufficient for said container to retain its shape both when said chamber is empty and when it is filled with said fluent material whereby said barrier is adapted to serve both as a self-supporting lightweight barrier and as a heavier barrier, respectively, said material further having a resilience sufficient to deform upon impact by a vehicle and recover its shape after said impact whereby an impacted one of said longitudinally directed side walls is adapted to progressively deform along its length as the impacting vehicle travels along said length, thereby progressively slowing said vehicle.

Claim 3

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 1 wherein said side walls are relatively high compared to the height of the usual passenger vehicle tire whereby an undeformed portion of a side wall tends to remain above said tire upon deformation of said side wall by said tire.

Claim 4

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 1 and including flexible cable means extending between and anchored to said side walls to resist outward bulging of said side walls.

Claim 5

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 1 wherein said container includes an integral internal web extending between said side walls to resist outward bulging of said side walls.

Claim 6

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 1 wherein said side wall is characterized by a concave configuration when said container is empty whereby said side wall tends not to outwardly bulge upon filling of said container with said fluent material.

Claim 7

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 1 wherein said container includes an upwardly opening recess; a flexible and resilient bag in said recess; and a conduit opening from said container into said bag whereby, upon vehicle impact against said side walls, said fluent material is adapted to flow into said bag and force the main portion of said bag out of said recess for filling with said fluent material.

Claim 8

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 1 wherein said container includes means defining an integral, upwardly opening recess within said container for receiving concrete, earth or the like.

Claim 9

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 1 and including a median attachment fitting having vertically aligned and spaced apart protuberances and intervening recesses; said container including an end wall having end fittings comprising vertically aligned and spaced apart protuberances and recesses for complementally receiving said protuberances and recesses of said median attachment fitting for an end coupling said barrier to a highway median.

Claim 10

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 1 and including a plurality of said containers arranged in a stacked, side-by-side relation.

Claim 11

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 1 and including a pair of said containers arranged in a spaced apart, side-by-side relation; and including bias means extending therebetween.

Claim 12

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 1 wherein said material is a plastic material characterized by a relatively low coefficient of friction.

Claim 13

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 1 wherein said material is a plastic material characterized by a relatively low coefficient of friction, and wherein at least one of said side walls includes longitudinally extending, vertically spaced apart traction spoiler channels operative to reduce the traction between said one of said side walls and the tires of an impacting vehicle whereby said vehicle is slowed and constrained from climbing and vaulting over said barrier.

Claim 14

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said side walls is relatively high compared to the height of the usual passenger vehicle tire whereby a portion of said one of said side walls tends to overlie said tire upon deformation of said one of said side walls by said tire.

Claim 15

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said side walls includes longitudinally extending, vertically spaced apart traction spoiler channels operative to reduce the traction between said of said side walls and the tires of an impacting vehicle whereby vehicle is slowed and constrained from climbing and vaulting over said barrier.

Claim 16

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 14 and wherein said container includes a base portion located below and extending beyond said traction spoiler channels, said base portion being adapted to pass beneath the bumper of a vehicle striking said side wall.

Claim 17

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 14 and including a pair of said containers arranged in a divergent V-shape.

Claim 18

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 1 wherein said container includes a pair of end walls having end fittings for end coupling said barrier to a like barrier.

Claim 19

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 17 wherein said fittings are disposed at an angle relative to the said container whereby a plurality of containers may be interconnected over an uneven supporting surface.

Claim 20

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 17 wherein said end fittings comprise vertically aligned and spaced apart protuberances and intervening recesses for receiving complemental protuberances of a like barrier.

Claim 21

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 19 wherein said protuberances include vertically aligned openings; and including elongate elements disposed through said openings for constraining said barrier against separation from adjacent interengaged like barriers.

Claim 22

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 20 wherein said elements project above said container; and including fencing material extending between and carried by said elements.

Claim 23

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 20 wherein said elements project above said containers; and including cables extending between and carried by said elements.

Claim 24

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 20; and including tension means coupled between adjacent ones of said elements for absorbing a portion of the impact forces developed by a vehicle striking said side wall.

Claim 25

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 20 wherein said end walls include integral recessed box sections adjacent opposite sides of each of said protuberances for resistance of said end walls to bending upon development of said impact forces.

Claim 26

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 20 and including an extension barrier disposed on top of said elongate container and having portions having vertically aligned openings aligned with said openings in said protuberances, and said elongate elements are diposed through the openings of said portions and said protuberances to support said extension barrier in position.

Claim 27

An energy absorbing barrier for dissipating kinetic energy upon impact by a moving vehicle, said barrier comprising: an elongate container having a base, a top, a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls defining an interior chamber, said end walls including end fittings adapted for end coupling said barrier to one or more like barriers, said side walls being made of a material having a relatively low coefficient of friction and of a resilience sufficient to recover its original shape after being struck by a vehicle, said side walls including longitudinally extending, vertically spaced apart traction spoiler channels operative to reduce traction between said barrier and the tires of an impacting vehicle as said tires engage said barrier whereby said relatively low coefficient of friction, said resilience, and said loss of traction slow and constrain said vehicle from climbing and vaulting over said barrier, said container having a fill opening for admitting fluent material into said chamber,said barrier being sufficiently rigid that said barrier substantially retains its shape both when said chamber is empty and when it is filled with said fluent material whereby said barrier is adapted to serve as a free standing lightweight barrier and as a heavier vehicle barrier, respectively.

Claim 28

An energy absorbing barrier for dissipating kinetic energy upon impact by a moving vehicle, said barrier comprising: an elongate container having a base, a top, a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls defining an interior chamber, said end walls including end fittings adapted for end coupling said barrier to one or more like barriers, said side walls being made of a material having a relatively low coefficient of friction and of a resilience sufficient to recover its original shape after being struck by a vehicle, said side walls including longitudinally extending, vertically spaced apart traction spoiler channels operative to reduce traction between said barrier and the tires of an impacting vehicle as said tires engage said barrier whereby said relatively low coefficient of friction, said resilience, and said loss of traction slow and constrain said vehicle from climbing and vaulting over said barrier, said container having a fill opening for admitting fluent material into said chamber,said barrier being sufficiently rigid that said barrier substantially retains its shape both when said chamber is empty and when it is filled with said fluent material whereby said barrier is adapted to serve as a free standing lightweight barrier and as a heavier vehicle barrier, respectively.

Claim 29

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 26 and including an overflow receptacle located externally of said container; and conduit means extending into said container and coupled to said receptacle for conveying liquid to said receptacle from said container upon impact of said container by a moving vehicle.

Claim 30

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 26 and including pressure means coupled to said container and operative to pressurize said container; and conduit means extending into said container for discharging liquid from said container upon operation of said pressure means.

Claim 31

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 28 wherein said conduit means includes a fire hose for utilizing said liquid in fighting fires.

Claim 32

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 26 wherein said end fittings are adapted to receive vertically oriented, elongate elements adapted to be driven into the ground or other supporting surface for said barrier.

Claim 33

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 30 wherein said elongate elements are hollow, and including elongate rods received within said elements to define upright standards for fencing, flags or the like.

Claim 34

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 26 wherein said base includes fork lift openings whereby said barrier can be lifted by a fork lift.

Claim 35

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 26 wherein said end fittings comprise vertically aligned and spaced apart protuberances and intervening recesses for receiving complemental protuberances of a like barrier.

Claim 36

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 33 wherein said protuberances of one of said end walls are longitudinally aligned with said recesses of the other of said end walls, and said recesses of said one of said end walls are longitudinally aligned with said protuberances of said other of said end walls whereby the end walls of said barrier are adapted to interengage with the end walls of like barriers adjacent said end walls.

Claim 37

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 34 wherein said protuberances include vertically aligned openings for receiving elongate elements to constrain said barrier against separation from adjacent interengaged like barriers.

Claim 38

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 35 wherein each of said recesses is greater in height than the height of each of said protuberances thereby to provide vertical clearances, and wherein each of said vertically aligned openings is greater in diameter than the diameter of each of said elongate elements thereby to provide lateral clearances, whereby said vertical and lateral clearances enable interengaged barriers to be located at difference heights to accommodate gradual changes in terrain elevation.

Claim 39

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 26 and including a flexible cable extending longitudinally along each of said side walls and anchored at its extremities to end portions of said container.

Claim 40

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 26 wherein said fluent material is a liquid.

Claim 41

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 26 wherein said material is resiliently deformable whereby a traveling wave of said material is formable in advance of an impacting vehicle tire thereby to tend to slow and frictionally disable said tire from said climbing.

Claim 42

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 39 wherein said material is cross-linked, high density polyethylene.

Claim 43

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 39 wherein said side wall is planar and slopes upwardly and inwardly.

Claim 44

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 39 and including a complemental shell overlying said side walls for protecting said side walls against tearing.

Claim 45

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 39 wherein said container is configured to overlie at least one side of a highway median barrier, said container being adapted for fixed attachment to said median barrier.

Claim 46

An energy absorbing barrier according to claim 39 wherein said container is configured to define a contral space for receiving a highway median barrier, with said side walls disposed on opposite sides of said highway median barrier.

Claim 47

An energy absorbing barrier for dissipating kinetic energy upon impact by a moving vehicle, said barrier comprising: a plurality of containers, each having walls, including a pair of longitudinally directed side walls, defining an interior chamber having a fill opening for admitting fluent material into said chamber, said container being configured and constructed of a material having a rigidity sufficient for said container to retain its shape both when said chamber is empty and when it is filled with said fluent material whereby said barrier is adapted to serve both as a self-supporting lightweight barrier and as a heavier barrier, respectively, each said container carrying end means coupling said containers together to define a container string having substantially longitudinally directed continuous side wall surfaces, said material further having a resilience sufficient to deform upon impact by a vehicle and recover its shape after said impact whereby ah impacted one of said substantially continuous side wall surfaces is adapted to progressively deform along the length of said container string as the impacting vehicle travels along said length, thereby progressively slowing said vehicle.

Claim 48

An energy absorbing barrier for dissipating kinetic energy upon impact by a moving vehicle, said barrier comprising: a plurality of containers, each having walls, including a pair of longitudinally directed side walls, defining an interior chamber having a fill opening for admitting fluent material into said chamber, said container being configured and constructed of a material having a rigidity sufficient for said container to retain its shape both when said chamber is empty and when it is filled with said fluent material whereby said barrier is adapted to serve both as a self-supporting lightweight barrier and as a heavier barrier, respectively, each said container carrying end means coupling said containers together to define a container string having substantially longitudinally directed continuous side wall surfaces, said material further having a resilience sufficient to deform upon impact by a vehicle and recover its shape after said impact whereby ah impacted one of said substantially continuous side wall surfaces is adapted to progressively deform along the length of said container string as the impacting vehicle travels along said length, thereby progressively slowing said vehicle.

Claim 49

An energy absorbing barrier for dissipating kinetic energy upon impact by a moving vehicle, said barrier comprising: a plurality of containers, each having a base, a top, a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls defining an interior chamber, said end walls including end fittings for end coupling said containers to like containers adjacent its end walls, respectively, to define a container string, said side walls being made of a material having a relatively low coefficient of friction and a resilience sufficient to recover its original shape after being struck by a vehicle, said side walls including longitudinally extending, vertically spaced apart ribs defining vertically spaced apart traction spoiler channels operative, respectively, to resiliently deform and reduce traction between said barrier and the tires of impacting vehicle as said tires engage said barrier whereby said relatively low coefficient of friction, the rib defromation, and the reduction of said traction slow and constrain said vehicle from climbing and vaulting over said barrier, said container having a fill opening for admitting fluent material into said chamber, said side walls being configured and sufficiently rigid that said side walls substantially retain their shape both when said chamber is empty and when it is filled with said fluent material whereby said barrier is adapted to serve as a free standing lightweight pedestrian barrier and as a heavier vehicle barrier, respectively; and a plurality of vertically oriented, elongate elements disposed through said end fittings of said containers, respectively, to constrain said containers against separation.

Claim 50

An energy absorbing barrier for dissipating kinetic energy upon impact by a moving vehicle, said barrier comprising: a plurality of containers, each having a base, a top, a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls defining an interior chamber, said end walls including end fittings for end coupling said containers to like containers adjacent its end walls, respectively, to define a container string, said side walls being made of a material having a relatively low coefficient of friction and a resilience sufficient to recover its original shape after being struck by a vehicle, said side walls including longitudinally extending, vertically spaced apart ribs defining vertically spaced apart traction spoiler channels operative, respectively, to resiliently deform and reduce traction between said barrier and the tires of impacting vehicle as said tires engage said barrier whereby said relatively low coefficient of friction, the rib defromation, and the reduction of said traction slow and constrain said vehicle from climbing and vaulting over said barrier, said container having a fill opening for admitting fluent material into said chamber, said side walls being configured and sufficiently rigid that said side walls substantially retain their shape both when said chamber is empty and when it is filled with said fluent material whereby said barrier is adapted to serve as a free standing lightweight pedestrian barrier and as a heavier vehicle barrier, respectively; and a plurality of vertically oriented, elongate elements disposed through said end fittings of said containers, respectively, to constrain said containers against separation.

Claim 51

An energy absorbing barrier for dissipating kinetic energy upon impact by a moving vehicle, said barrier comprising: a plurality of containers, each having a base, a top, a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls defining an interior chamber, said end walls including end fittings for end coupling said containers to like containers adjacent its end walls, respectively, to define a container string, said side walls being made of a resilient material having a relatively low coefficient of friction and including longitudinally extending, vertically spaced apart traction spoiler, said side walls sloping inwardly and upwardly and thereby more inwardly locating successively higher ones of said traction spoiler channels so that said traction spoiler channels are adapted to be successivley encountered by the tires of an impacting vehicle, commencing with the traction spoiler channels located near said base, and thereby providing successive reductions in the area of contact between said barrier and said tires as said tires climb upwardly upon said barrier whereby said relatively low coefficient of friction and said successive reductions in the area of contact constrain said vehicle from climbing and vaulting over said barrier, said containers having a fill opening for admitting fluent material into said chamber, and said barrier being sufficiently rigid to substantially retain its shape both when said chamber is empty and when it is filled with said fleunt material whereby said barrier is adapted to serve as a free standing lightweight pedestrian barrier and as a heavier vehicle barrier, respectively; and a plurality of vertically oriented, elongate elements disposed through end fittings of said containers, respectively, to constrain said containers against separation.

Claim 52

An energy absorbing barrier for dissipating kinetic energy upon impact by a moving vehicle, said barrier comprising: a plurality of containers, each having a base, a top, a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls defining an interior chamber, said end walls including end fittings for end coupling said containers to like containers adjacent its end walls, respectively, to define a container string, said side walls being made of a resilient material having a relatively low coefficient of friction and including longitudinally extending, vertically spaced apart traction spoiler, said side walls sloping inwardly and upwardly and thereby more inwardly locating successively higher ones of said traction spoiler channels so that said traction spoiler channels are adapted to be successivley encountered by the tires of an impacting vehicle, commencing with the traction spoiler channels located near said base, and thereby providing successive reductions in the area of contact between said barrier and said tires as said tires climb upwardly upon said barrier whereby said relatively low coefficient of friction and said successive reductions in the area of contact constrain said vehicle from climbing and vaulting over said barrier, said containers having a fill opening for admitting fluent material into said chamber, and said barrier being sufficiently rigid to substantially retain its shape both when said chamber is empty and when it is filled with said fleunt material whereby said barrier is adapted to serve as a free standing lightweight pedestrian barrier and as a heavier vehicle barrier, respectively; and a plurality of vertically oriented, elongate elements disposed through end fittings of said containers, respectively, to constrain said containers against separation.

Claim 53

An energy absorbing barrier for dissipating kinetic energy upon impact by a moving vehicle, said barrier comprising: a plurality of containers, each having a base, a top, a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls defining an interior chamber, said end walls including end fittings, said side walls being made of a resilient material having a relatively low coefficient of friction and including longitudinally extending, vertically spaced apart traction spoiler channels, said side walls sloping inwardly and upwardly and thereby more inwardly locating successively higher ones of said traction spoiler channels so that said traction spoiler channels are adapted to be successively encountered by the tires of an impacting vehicle, commencing with the traction spoiler channels located near said base, and thereby providing successive reductions in the area of contact between said barrier and said tires as said tires climb upwardly upon said barrier whereby said relatively low coefficient of friction and said successive reductions in the area of contact constrain said vehicle from climbing and vaulting over said varrier, each said container having a fill opening for admitting fluent material into said chamber and each being configured and sufficiently rigid to substantially retain its shape both when said chamber is empty and when it is filled with said fluent material whereby said barrier is adapted to serve as a free standing lightweight barrier and as a heavier vehicle barrier, respectively; and a plurality of coupling means interposed between said containers, respectivley, and coupling said end fittings of said containers to define a container string.

Claim 54

An energy absorbing barrier for dissipating kinetic energy upon impact by a moving vehicle, said barrier comprising: a plurality of containers, each having a base, a top, a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls defining an interior chamber, said end walls including end fittings, said side walls being made of a resilient material having a relatively low coefficient of friction and including longitudinally extending, vertically spaced apart traction spoiler channels, said side walls sloping inwardly and upwardly and thereby more inwardly locating successively higher ones of said traction spoiler channels so that said traction spoiler channels are adapted to be successively encountered by the tires of an impacting vehicle, commencing with the traction spoiler channels located near said base, and thereby providing successive reductions in the area of contact between said barrier and said tires as said tires climb upwardly upon said barrier whereby said relatively low coefficient of friction and said successive reductions in the area of contact constrain said vehicle from climbing and vaulting over said varrier, each said container having a fill opening for admitting fluent material into said chamber and each being configured and sufficiently rigid to substantially retain its shape both when said chamber is empty and when it is filled with said fluent material whereby said barrier is adapted to serve as a free standing lightweight barrier and as a heavier vehicle barrier, respectively; and a plurality of coupling means interposed between said containers, respectivley, and coupling said end fittings of said containers to define a container string.

Claim 55

An energy dissipating barrier according to claim 48, wherein opposite vertical faces of each of said coupling means define a predetermined included second angle, and wherein a pair of said coupling means is interposed between each pair of adjacent containers whereby said container string follows a zig-zag path.

Claim 56

An energy dissipating barrier according to claim 49, wherein opposite vertical faces of each of said coupling means define a predetermined included third angle, and wherein a pair of said coupling means is interposed between each pair of adjacent containers whereby said container string defines a closed block of said containers, with the edges of the container bases immediately adjacent each other.