Patent US5429449A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5429449A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rubber adaptor for highway guardrail
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-05-18
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Granted: 1995-07-04
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Expires: 2014-05-18
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a solid rubber adaptor for converting an existing sheet metal highway barrier, said barrier preferably comprising an elongate horizontal guardrail of uniform transverse crossection connected to supporting posts spaced along the length of the guardrail, the guardrail having a roadside contoured surface and upper and lower edges, said adaptor comprising an elongate channel of uniform transverse crossection having an outer curbside contoured surface mating the contoured surface of the guardrail, the channel including a central web portion with an upper flange and a lower flange outwardly extending therefrom, the web portion having a thickness greater than the thickness of the flanges, the flanges each having outer ends with opposing return edge bead means for resiliently engaging the edges of the guardrail, said method comprising the steps of: mixing and knead melting a mixture of: 80 to 90 percent by weight particles of recycled waste rubber; 10 to 20 percent by weight virgin rubber; and an accelerator composition; forming the mixture to a selected adaptor configuration thus defining an adaptor; curing the mixture within a chamber at a temperature of 350° C. to 400° C. for a period of time from 3 to 5 hours; and removing the cured barrier from the chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Guenter A. Baatz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:14
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01F; E01F15/00; E01F15/02; E01F15/04; E01F15/0453; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/911; Y10S264/912; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A solid rubber adaptor for converting an existing highway barrier, said barrier comprising an elongate horizontal guardrail of uniform transverse crossection connected to supporting posts spaced along the length of the guardrail, the guardrail having a roadside contoured surface and upper and lower edges, said adaptor comprising an elongate channel of uniform transverse crossection having an outer curbside contoured surface mating the contoured surface of the guardrail, the channel including a central web portion and integral clamping means for resiliently engaging the edges of the guardrail.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A solid rubber adaptor for converting an existing highway barrier, said barrier comprising an elongate horizontal guardrail of uniform transverse crossection connected to supporting posts spaced along the length of the guardrail, the guardrail having a roadside contoured surface and upper and lower edges, said adaptor comprising an elongate channel of uniform transverse crossection having an outer curbside contoured surface mating the contoured surface of the guardrail, the channel including a central web portion and integral clamping means for resiliently engaging the edges of the guardrail.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An adaptor according to claim 1 wherein the clamping means comprise an upper flange and a lower flange outwardly extending from the web.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An adaptor according to claim 2 wherein the flanges each have outer ends with opposing return edge bead means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An adaptor according to claim 3 wherein the edge bead means comprise planar tapered guide surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An adaptor according to claim 2 wherein the web portion have a thickness greater than the thickness of the flanges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An adaptor according to claim 1 wherein the web has a thickness greater than one half the height of the web.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An adaptor according to claim 2 wherein the flange ends include post abutment means for engaging the support posts of the barrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
A solid rubber adaptor for converting an existing highway barrier, said barrier comprising an elongate horizontal guardrail of uniform transverse crossection connected to supporting posts spaced along the length of the guardrail, the guardrail having a roadside contoured surface and upper and lower edges, said adaptor comprising an elongate channel of uniform transverse crossection having an outer curbside contoured surface mating the contoured surface of the guardrail, the channel including a central web portion and integral clamping means for resiliently engaging the edges of the guardrail, said clamping means comprising an upper flange and a lower flange outwardly extending from the web and each flange including a plurality of longitudinally spaced bolt holes, said adaptor further comprising bolt means for spanning between and clamping the flanges to the guardrail.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
A solid rubber adaptor for converting an existing highway barrier, said barrier comprising an elongate horizontal guardrail of uniform transverse crossection connected to supporting posts spaced along the length of the guardrail, the guardrail having a roadside contoured surface and upper and lower edges, said adaptor comprising an elongate channel of uniform transverse crossection having an outer curbside contoured surface mating the contoured surface of the guardrail, the channel including a central web portion and integral clamping means for resiliently engaging the edges of the guardrail, said clamping means comprising an upper flange and a lower flange outwardly extending from the web and each flange including a plurality of longitudinally spaced bolt holes, said adaptor further comprising bolt means for spanning between and clamping the flanges to the guardrail.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An adaptor according to claim 8 including bolt means for spanning between the flanges and securing the flanges to said supporting posts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An adaptor according to claim 8 wherein an inward surface of the web is concave.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An adaptor according to claim 10 wherein an upper surface of the upper flange and a lower surface of the lower flange are concave.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An adaptor according to claim 11 wherein the inward surface of the web and upper surface of the upper flange arcuately merge together thereby defining a convex inward upper ridge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
An adaptor according to claim 12 wherein the inward surface of the web and lower surface of the lower flange arcuately merge together thereby defining a convex inward lower ridge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
An adaptor according to claim 8 comprising 85% by weight recycled tire rubber and 15% by weight virgin rubber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
An adaptor according to claim 8 wherein the flanges each have outer ends with opposing return edge bead means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An adaptor according to claim 8 wherein the edge bead means comprise planar tapered guide surfaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
An adaptor according to claim 8 wherein the web portion have a thickness greater than the thickness of the flanges.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
An adaptor according to claim 8 wherein the web has a thickness greater than one half the height of the web.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
An adaptor according to claim 8 wherein the flange ends include post abutment means for engaging the support posts of the barrier.
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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) | 1998-07-03 | 1999-01-02 | 1999-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-03 | 2003-01-02 | 2003-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-03 | 2007-01-02 | 2007-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |