Roadway barrier module, system and method

Claim 2

A barrier module adapted to be connected in series with other modules to form a continuous barrier system for collectively absorbing high-impact loads imposed thereon, said module comprising an open-top container having upstanding sidewalls and a horizontally disposed and contiguous bottom wall defining a chamber adapted to be at least partially filled with a shock-absorbing medium, the sidewalls and bottom wall of said container being composed of a flexible, high-impact plastic material, at least one horizontally disposed continuous band means completely surrounding said sidewalls for at least substantially uniformly distributing said impact loads to and around said module, and lug means secured to said band means for detachably connecting a cable to said band means and module whereby said cable will be adapted to connect a series of said modules together in tandem relationship relative to each other.

Claim 3

The module of claim 1 further comprising cover means for normally closing the open-top of said container and openable to permit said chamber to be at least partially filled with said shock-absorbing medium, and latch means for releasably locking said cover means to said container.

Claim 4

The module of claim 2 wherein said module, when viewed in plan, is rectangular throughout its vertical height.

Claim 5

The module of claim 3 wherein said sidewalls taper downwardly from said cover means to said bottom wall so that said cover means has a larger cross-sectional area than said bottom wall to permit stacking of a plurality of modules together and within each other.

Claim 6

The module of claim 4 wherein each of said sidewalls comprises a plurality of contiguous, stepped-down and flat wall panels defining an undercut at a junction of each pair of connected wall panels.

Claim 7

The module of claim 1 further comprising openable drain plug means, adjacent to a bottom of at least one of said sidewalls and adjacent to said bottom wall, for selectively emptying said shock-absorbing medium from said chamber.

Claim 8

The module of claim 1 wherein said chamber is at least substantially filled with a shock-absorbing medium for absorbing high-impact loads imposed on a sidewall of said module by a road vehicle.

Claim 9

The module of claim 7 wherein said shock-absorbing medium is a liquid, a gel, or a granulated material.

Claim 10

The module of claim 8 wherein said shock absorbing medium constitutes water.

Claim 11

The module of claim 8 wherein said shock absorbing medium constitutes sand.

Claim 12

The module of claim 1 wherein said lug means comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced lugs secured to said band means and having aligned eyelets formed therethrough adapted to receive said cable.

Claim 13

The module of claim 11 further comprising a continuous cable disposed in the eyelets of said lugs and a stop member secured to said cable and disposed between said lugs.

Claim 14

A continuous barrier system for collectively absorbing high-impact loads imposed thereon comprising a plurality of modules disposed in separated, tandem relationship relative to each other, each of said modules defining a chamber therein, a shock absorbing medium at least substantially filling said chamber for absorbing said high-impact loads, cable means connecting said modules together for distributing said high-impact loads to at least some of said modules concurrently, each said module comprising band means surrounding sidewalls thereof for at least substantially uniformly distributing said high impact loads thereto and therearound and wherein said cable means is connected to said band means, and lug means secured to each said band means for detachably connecting said cable means to said band means and module whereby said cable means will be adapted to connect said plurality of modules together in tandem relationship relative to each other.

Claim 15

A continuous barrier system for collectively absorbing high-impact loads imposed thereon comprising a plurality of modules disposed in separated, tandem relationship relative to each other, each of said modules defining a chamber therein, a shock absorbing medium at least substantially filling said chamber for absorbing said high-impact loads, cable means connecting said modules together for distributing said high-impact loads to at least some of said modules concurrently, each said module comprising band means surrounding sidewalls thereof for at least substantially uniformly distributing said high impact loads thereto and therearound and wherein said cable means is connected to said band means, and lug means secured to each said band means for detachably connecting said cable means to said band means and module whereby said cable means will be adapted to connect said plurality of modules together in tandem relationship relative to each other.

Claim 16

The barrier system of claim 13 wherein a pair of vertically spaced cable means are connected to each of said modules.

Claim 17

The barrier system of claim 13 wherein said cable means comprises at least one first cable connecting a first group of said modules together and a second cable connecting a second group of said modules together, said first and second cables being secured together.

Claim 18

The barrier system of claim 15 wherein said second cable loops around at least two of the modules of said first group of modules.

Claim 21

A barrier module adapted to be connected in series with other modules to form a continuous barrier system for collectively absorbing high-impact loads imposed thereon, said module comprising an open-top container having cover means for normally closing the container, said container also having upstanding sidewalls and a horizontally disposed and contiguous bottom wall defining a chamber adapted to be at least partially filled with a shock-absorbing medium, the sidewalls and bottom wall of said container being composed of a flexible, high-impact plastic material, said module, when viewed in plan, being rectangular throughout its vertical height and wherein said sidewalls taper downwardly from said cover means to said bottom wall so that said cover means has a larger cross-sectional area than said bottom wall to permit stacking of a plurality of modules together and within each other, each of said sidewalls comprising a plurality of contiguous, stepped-down and flat wall panels defining an undercut at a junction of each pair of connected wall panels.

Claim 22

A barrier module adapted to be connected in series with other modules to form a continuous barrier system for collectively absorbing high-impact loads imposed thereon, said module comprising an open-top container having cover means for normally closing the container, said container also having upstanding sidewalls and a horizontally disposed and contiguous bottom wall defining a chamber adapted to be at least partially filled with a shock-absorbing medium, the sidewalls and bottom wall of said container being composed of a flexible, high-impact plastic material, said module, when viewed in plan, being rectangular throughout its vertical height and wherein said sidewalls taper downwardly from said cover means to said bottom wall so that said cover means has a larger cross-sectional area than said bottom wall to permit stacking of a plurality of modules together and within each other, each of said sidewalls comprising a plurality of contiguous, stepped-down and flat wall panels defining an undercut at a junction of each pair of connected wall panels.

Claim 23

A continuous barrier system for collectively absorbing high-impact loads imposed thereon comprising a plurality of modules disposed in tandem relationship relative to each other, each of said modules defining a chamber therein, a shock-absorbing medium at least substantially filling said chamber for absorbing said high-impact loads, and cable means connecting said modules together for distributing said high-impact loads to at least some of said modules concurrently, said cable means comprising at least one first cable connecting a first group of said modules together and a second cable connecting a second group of said modules together, said first and second cables being secured together and wherein said second cable loops around at least two of the modules of said first group of modules.

Claim 24

A continuous barrier system for collectively absorbing high-impact loads imposed thereon comprising a plurality of modules disposed in tandem relationship relative to each other, each of said modules defining a chamber therein, a shock-absorbing medium at least substantially filling said chamber for absorbing said high-impact loads, and cable means connecting said modules together for distributing said high-impact loads to at least some of said modules concurrently, said cable means comprising at least one first cable connecting a first group of said modules together and a second cable connecting a second group of said modules together, said first and second cables being secured together and wherein said second cable loops around at least two of the modules of said first group of modules.