REMOVABLE ANCHOR SYSTEMS FOR SPEED BUMPS AND PARKING BLOCKS

Abstract

Removable anchor systems for speed bumps and parking blocks are disclosed. The speed bump or parking block has anchor holes that are aligned with bores in the underlying pavement. The assembly includes an anchor bolt removably threaded into an expanding anchor within the bores in the pavement. The anchor assembly allows the speed bump or parking block to be removed and replaced as required. A plug may be installed in the pavement bore to protect the anchor when the vehicle impediment is removed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/739,908 filed Nov. 23, 2005, which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to vehicle impediments such as speed bumps and parking blocks and, in particular, to removable anchor systems for anchoring speed bumps, and parking blocks.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Vehicle impediments in the form of speed bumps and parking blocks provide control of vehicular traffic in parking lots and roadways. These objects can present hazards during winter months in cooler climates because of the need to plow snow from the roads and parking lots. The speed bumps and parking blocks stick up from the pavement and are notorious for catching plow blades of unsuspecting snow plow operators. This results in damage to the plow and/or speed bump/parking block. In some situations catching a parking block or speed bump with a plow blade may cause damage to the vehicle and in the worst case injure the plow operator.

Speed bumps and parking blocks may also become worn and damaged through routine use. Replacing the speed bumps and parking blocks can damage the underlying pavement unnecessarily, making the work much more time consuming and costly.

The present invention has been developed in view of the foregoing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention includes a removable anchor system for a speed bump or parking block comprising a speed bump or parking block having at least one anchor hole extending therethrough, at least one anchor set in a bore in a section of pavement, and an anchor bolt extending through the at least one anchor hole and removably engaged with the at least one expander for removably fastening the speed bump or parking block to the pavement.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a removable anchor system kit for speed bumps or parking blocks comprising an expander structured and arranged for installation in a pavement bore and an anchor bolt structured and arranged to extend through the speed bump or parking block removably fastenable to the expander, to thereby allow installation and removal of the speed bump or parking block from the pavement.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of installing a removable speed bump or parking block, comprising installing at least one expander in a pavement bore, positioning the speed bump or parking block over the at least one expander in the pavement bore, inserting an anchor bolt through at least one anchor hole extending through the speed bump or parking block, and removably fastening the anchor bolt to the expander.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a method for removing a speed bump or parking block comprising, unfastening an anchor bolt from an expander installed in a bore in a section of pavement below the speed bump or parking block, removing the anchor bolt from an anchor hole in the speed bump or parking block, and removing the speed bump or parking block from the pavement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a removable speed bump mounted on a section of pavement showing the anchor holes for a removable anchor system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the speed bump of FIG. 1 with hidden lines showing the anchor holes, bores in the underlying pavement and anchor assemblies according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the speed bump of FIG. 1 with hidden lines showing an anchor hole, a bore in the underlying pavement and an anchor assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view along an anchor hole of the removable speed bump of FIG. 1 showing details of the removable anchor system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a removable parking block mounted on a section of pavement showing the anchor holes for a removable anchor system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the removable parking block of FIG. 5 showing details of the removable anchor system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of an expander which has been fitted with a plug after a removable speed bump or parking block has been removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As show in FIG. 1, a removable speed bump 10 is mounted on pavement 1. The pavement 1 may be any surface on which vehicles are driven. The speed bump 10 has a top surface 12 and a bottom surface 14 in contact with the pavement 1. The removable speed bump 10 also has anchor holes 16 which are exposed on both the top surface 12 and bottom surface 14. The removable speed bump 10 has ends 18 which form the ends of the speed bump 10.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a front view and side view of the removable speed bump 10 of FIG. 1. The speed bump 2 has a total length, designated L_T in FIG. 2 of between 1.0 and 10.0 feet, for example 6 feet. The speed bump 10 has a height, designated H_S in FIG. 3 of between 1.0 and 4.0 inches, for example 2.5 inches. The outline of anchor assembly 20 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A removable assembly 20 of the present invention fastens the removable speed bump 10 to the pavement 1. Anchor holes 16 have a center to center spacing along the length of the speed bump designated as L_A in FIG. 2. L_A may between 1.5 and 3.0 feet, for example 2.0.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the removable speed bump 10 along one of the anchor holes 16. Anchor hole 16 has a diameter shown as D_A of between 0.50 and 0.75 inch, for example 0.625 inch. A countersunk portion 17 is located at the transition from anchor hole 16 to top surface 18. The countersunk portion 17 has a substantially flat bottom surface and a diameter identified as D_C in FIG. 4 that is greater than the diameter D_A. D_C is between 1.25 and 1.50 inches, for example 1.375 inches. Bore holes 2 in pavement 1 are spaced and arranged so that they are substantially aligned with anchor hole 16. The bore holes 2 in pavement 1 have a diameter identified as D_B in FIG. 4 of between 0.50 and 0.75 inch, for example 0.625 inch.

Details of a removable anchor system 20 are shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4. The anchor system 20 includes a bolt 24 running through the anchor hole 16, washer 26 sits flush in countersunk portion 17 and bolt head 24a rests upon washer 26. An expander 22 is positioned in bore hole 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a drop in style of anchor is used. The anchor system 20 has an expander 22 positioned within the bore 2. The expander 22 has expansion slots 28. The expansion slots 28 allow the lower portion of the expander 22 to have a slight inward taper so that it may be inserted into bore hole 2. Once positioned within the bore the expander 22 can be set in place. The expander is set by inserting the expander disc 30 into the expander and striking the expander disc 30 with a setting tool (not shown) and hammer (not shown). The force applied by this action slides expander disc 30 down into the expander 22 the expansion slots 28 open and the diameter of the expander 22 increases so that is come into pressing engagement with the diameter of the bore D_B and becomes locked or set into the bore 2. The bolt 24 may then be inserted through the anchor hole 16. A distal end of the bolt 24 has a threaded portion 24b which has male threads. This threaded portion 24b is inserted into the expander 22. The expander 22 has female threads which receive the bolt. A cap 50 may be placed in the countersunk portion 17 to cover the bolt head and provide a finished look and protect the bolt head 24a of the removable speed bump 10. It should be appreciated that most standard concrete anchors can be used in this application. A drop in type of anchor is illustrated in FIG. 4, but other anchors may be used. For example, wedge anchors and sleeve anchors may be used.

In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, a vehicle impediments in the form of removable parking blocks 40 fastened to the pavement 1 are shown. The removable parking blocks 40 have parking block anchor holes 46. Dimensions of the removable parking blocks 40 and spacing of the parking block anchor holes 46 may be similar to the above-mentioned dimensions of the removable speed bump. However, the removable parking blocks 40 are substantially shaped to deter vehicle traffic while a removable speed bump 10 is shaped to allow vehicles to pass over the speed bump at a slow speed. The parking block has a parking block bottom surface 44, parking block sides 49 and parking block upper surfaces 48.

The removable parking block 40 may be held in place with a removable anchor system 20 as shown in FIG. 6. Dimensions of the parking block anchor holes 46 are substantially the same as those mentioned above for the anchor holes 16 of the removable speed bump 10 mentioned above. A parking block anchor hole 46 with a parking block countersunk portion 47 extends from an uppermost parking block top surface 40 to the parking block bottom surface 44. The removable parking block 40 may be fastened to the pavement 1 in a similar fashion as described for the removable speed bump 10. Shown in the embodiment in FIG. 6 is a removable anchor system 20 having an expander 22 set in a bore 2 in the pavement 1 with an expander disc 30. The bolt 24 is inserted through washer 26 which seats in parking block countersunk portion 47. A threaded distal end of the bolt 24 screws into female threads of the expander 22 to fasten the removable parking block 40 to the pavement 1. A cap 50 may be placed in the countersunk portion 17 to cover the bolt.

As mentioned above one benefit of having removable vehicle impediments, such as removable speed bumps 10 or removable parking blocks 40, is the ability to remove the impediments during winter months so snow plowing can be performed unobstructed. In one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7, removing the bolt 24 allows the speed bump 10 or parking block 40 to be removed and stored for the winter. A plug 60 can then be inserted into expander 22. The plug 60 may be adapted to fit other anchors which may be used. The plug 60 will keep dirt and other debris from filling expander 22 during the winter months and allow for easy re-installation of the removable speed bump 10 or removable parking block 40 when permitted.

Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of the present invention may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A removable anchor system for a speed bump or parking block comprising:

a speed bump or parking block having at least one anchor hole extending therethrough;

at least one anchor set in a bore in a section of pavement; and

an anchor bolt extending through the at least one anchor hole and removably engaged with the at least one expander for removably fastening the speed bump or parking block to the pavement.

2. The removable anchor system of claim 1, wherein the at least one anchor hole is substantially perpendicular to a surface of the pavement.

3. The removable anchor system of claim 1, wherein the anchor is radially expandable.

4. The removable anchor system of claim 1, further comprising a countersunk portion between the at least one anchor hole and a top surface of the speed bump or parking block.

5. The removable anchor system of claim 4, further comprising a cap inserted within the countersunk portion.

6. The removable anchor system of claim 1, further comprising a washer mounted on the anchor bolt and contacting the speed bump or parking block adjacent the at least one bore.

7. The removable anchor system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a speed bump.

8. The removable anchor system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a parking block.

9. A removable anchor system kit for speed bumps or parking blocks comprising:

an expander structured and arranged for installation in a pavement bore; and

an anchor bolt structured and arranged to extend through the speed bump or parking block removably fastenable to the expander to thereby allow installation and removal of the speed bump or parking block from the pavement.

10. The removable anchor system kit of claim 9, further comprising an expander disc within the expander for setting the expander in the pavement bore.

11. The removable anchor system kit of claim 9, further comprising a cap structured and arranged to engage the speed bump or parking block and cover the bolt.

12. The removable anchor system kit of claim 9, further comprising a plug structured and arranged to be inserted into the expander when the anchor bolt is removed.

13. The removable anchor system kit of claim 12, further comprising a cap structured and arranged to engage the speed bump or parking block and cover the bolt.

14. A method of installing a removable speed bump or parking block, comprising:

installing at least one expander in a pavement bore;

positioning the speed bump or parking block over the at least one expander in the pavement bore;

inserting an anchor bolt through at least one anchor hole extending through the speed bump or parking block, and

removably fastening the anchor bolt to the expander.

15. A method for removing a speed bump or parking block comprising:

unfastening an anchor bolt from an expander installed in a bore in a section of pavement below the speed bump or parking block;

removing the anchor bolt from an anchor hole in the speed bump or parking block; and

removing the speed bump or parking block from the pavement.

16. The method of claim 16, further comprising inserting a plug into an anchor assembly to protect the assembly after the bolt has been removed.