Road plate securing assembly
A road plate securing assembly for a roadway surface includes an assembly frame comprising a plurality of assembly frame members adapted for attachment to the roadway surface and each comprising a first surface, a second surface disposed at an acute angle with respect to the first surface, a uni-planar inner surface extending from the first surface to the second surface and a plate opening defined by the assembly frame members. A road plate can be fitted in the plate opening to cover a repair or construction area on the roadway. A road plate securing method is also disclosed.
The present disclosure relates to roadway transition devices used in roadway repairs. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a road plate securing assembly which secures a road plate over a construction or repair area on a roadway.
BACKGROUNDTransition devices are commonly used in roadways under circumstances in which construction or repair to the roadway is being made. A conventional transition device may include asphalt or other paving material which is shaped into a temporary slope on the sides of the work area. After the road work has been completed, the asphalt or other paving material is removed. The conventional method of applying the asphalt or other paving material may be time-consuming, laborious and expensive.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure is generally directed to a road plate securing assembly for a roadway surface. An illustrative embodiment of the road plate securing assembly includes an assembly frame comprising a plurality of assembly frame members adapted for attachment to the roadway surface and each comprising a first surface, a second surface disposed at an acute angle with respect to the first surface, a uni-planar inner surface extending from the first surface to the second surface and a plate opening defined by the assembly frame members. A road plate can be fitted in the plate opening to cover a repair or construction area on the roadway.
The present disclosure is further generally directed to a road plate securing method. An illustrative embodiment of the road plate securing method includes providing a roadway having a roadway surface, forming an assembly frame having a plate opening by providing a plurality of assembly frame members and arranging the assembly frame members on the roadway surface, attaching the assembly frame members to the roadway surface, providing a road plate and resting the road plate on the roadway surface in the plate opening.
The disclosure will now be made, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring initially to
The assembly 1 includes an assembly frame 2 which is assembled on the roadway surface 13 around the area of the roadway 12 on which the road work is carried out. The assembly frame 2 has a plate opening 22 (
The assembly frame 2 of the assembly 1 includes multiple assembly frame members 3. In some embodiments, the assembly frame 2 includes four assembly frame members 3 which are arranged on the roadway surface 13 to form a generally square or rectangular assembly frame 2 having a correspondingly-shaped plate opening 22. Each assembly frame member 3 of the assembly frame 2 may be a metal such as steel, for example, or may be a suitable alternative material such as high-density plastic or a composite material, for example. Each assembly frame member 2 may be a highly-visible color such as bright orange, for example, to enhance visibility to motorists. As illustrated in
In typical application of the assembly 1, the assembly frame 2 is assembled on the roadway surface 13 of the roadway 12. Accordingly, the assembly frame members 3 are initially arranged on the roadway surface 13 such that the work area (not illustrated) on the roadway surface 13 is exposed through the plate opening 22. As illustrated in
During repair or construction of the roadway 12, the road work is carried out within the confines of the plate opening 22 defined by the assembly frame 2. As illustrated in
Referring next to
While the preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
Claims
1. A road plate securing assembly for a roadway surface, comprising:
- a generally rectangular assembly frame comprising: a plurality of assembly frame members adapted for attachment to the roadway surface and each comprising a first surface, a second surface disposed at an acute angle with respect to the first surface, a uni-planar inner surface extending from the first surface to the second surface and a planar outer surface extending from the first surface to the second surface in generally parallel relationship with respect to the inner surface; a plate opening defined by the assembly frame members; and wherein the inner surface of each of the assembly frame members faces the plate opening.
2. (canceled)
3. The road plate securing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of fastener openings extending through each of said assembly frame members at spaced-apart intervals with respect to each other.
4. The road plate securing assembly of claim 3 wherein said plurality of fastener openings comprises a plurality of recessed fastener openings.
5. (canceled)
6. The road plate securing assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of assembly frame members comprises four assembly frame members.
7. The road plate securing assembly of claim 1 further comprising mating surfaces provided on respective ends of each of the assembly frame members and disposed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of a corresponding one of the assembly frame members.
8. The road plate securing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a road plate seated in the plate opening.
9. A road plate securing assembly for a roadway surface, comprising:
- a roadway having a roadway surface;
- a generally rectangular assembly frame attached to the roadway surface and comprising:
- a plurality of generally straight, elongated assembly frame members each comprising a first surface resting on the roadway surface, a second surface disposed at an acute angle with respect to the first surface, a uni-planar inner surface extending from the first surface to the second surface, a planar outer surface extending from the first surface to the second surface in generally parallel relationship with respect to the inner surface and mating surfaces provided on respective ends of each of the assembly frame members and disposed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of a corresponding one of the assembly frame members;
- a plate opening defined by the assembly frame members;
- wherein the inner surface of each of the assembly frame members faces the plate opening; and
- a road plate disposed in the plate opening and disposed in contact with the roadway surface.
10. The road plate securing assembly of claim 9 wherein the road plate is not fastened to the roadway.
11. The road plate securing assembly of claim 10 wherein the road plate is not fastened to the assembly frame.
12. (canceled)
13. The road plate securing assembly of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of fastener openings extending through each of the assembly frame members at spaced-apart intervals with respect to each other.
14. The road plate securing assembly of claim 13 wherein the plurality of fastener openings comprises a plurality of recessed fastener openings.
15. (canceled)
16. A road plate securing method, comprising:
- providing a roadway having a roadway surface;
- forming a generally rectangular assembly frame having a plate opening by providing a plurality of generally straight, elongated assembly frame members and arranging the assembly frame members on the roadway surface;
- attaching the assembly frame members to the roadway surface;
- providing a road plate;
- resting the road plate in the plate opening in contact with the roadway surface; and
- wherein the plurality of assembly frame members each comprises a first surface, a second surface disposed at an acute angle with respect to the first surface, a uni-planar inner surface extending from the first surface to the second surface and a planar outer surface extending between the first surface and the second surface in generally parallel relationship with respect to the inner surface, and wherein arranging the assembly frame members on the roadway surface comprises resting the first surface of each of the assembly frame members on the roadway surface.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein resting the road plate on the roadway surface in the plate opening comprises resting the road plate on the roadway surface in the plate opening without fastening the road plate to the roadway surface.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein resting the road plate on the roadway surface in the plate opening comprises resting the road plate on the roadway surface in the plate opening without fastening the road plate to the assembly frame.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein attaching the assembly frame members to the roadway surface comprises providing a plurality of fastener openings in each of the assembly frame members and the roadway and extending a plurality of fasteners through the plurality of fastener openings, respectively.
20. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 31, 2007
Publication Date: Jul 2, 2009
Inventor: Christopher Allen Lane (Medford, OR)
Application Number: 12/006,137
International Classification: E01C 23/00 (20060101);