ROAD BARRICADE WEIGHT DEVICE
A barricade weight device that is configured to be superposed a barricade and subsequently filled with a material adding weight thereto in order to assist in maintaining a desired position of the barricade. The present invention includes a body wherein the body is comprised of a first compartment and a second compartment having an upper support member operably intermediate thereto. The first compartment and the second compartment are identically constructed having a plurality of walls and a bottom forming an interior volume having an opening providing access thereto. The first compartment and the second compartment are manufactured to be tapered in form so as to facilitate stacking thereof. The first compartment and second compartment can be equipped with drain members operable to remove any liquid disposed within the interior volumes of the first compartment and the second compartment.
The present invention relates generally to road barricade accessories, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a road barricade weight device that is configured to be operably coupled to the road barricade and provide increased weight thereof so as to inhibit movement of the road barricade when in use.
BACKGROUNDMillions of road barricades are deployed at construction areas on a daily basis. As is known in the art, the conventional road barricade includes two A-shaped leg members on opposing ends of a longitudinal member wherein the longitudinal member is typically about 3-4 feet above the ground and includes high visibility markings thereon. These barricades are routinely employed for blocking off areas that are under construction in various places such as but not limited to roads. In order to facilitate easier movement of the road barricades, they are manufactured so that they can be set up and transported by a single individual. While the weight of conventional barricades assists in the aforementioned objective, this lighter weight creates other problems.
It is quite often that a road barricade will be knocked down by just wind speeds of only fifteen miles per hour. Additionally, the road barricades are sometimes impacted by a passing motor vehicle which results in the knocking down of the barricade. It is common to attempt to drape a sand bag over the top of the longitudinal member to help maintain the road barricade in an upright position. While the sandbags are somewhat effective, the sandbags are often torn which results in lost sand and the sandbag becoming removed from the top of the longitudinal member.
It is intended within the scope of the present invention to provide a weight device for a road barricade that is configured to operably couple to the longitudinal member of a road barricade and provide a weight so as to maintain the road barricade in position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is the object of the present invention to provide a road barricade weighting device that is operable to maintain a position of the road barricade wherein the present invention includes a body.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a weight device configured to be operably coupled to a road barricade so as to ensure maintenance of position of the road barricade wherein the body of the present invention includes a first compartment and a second compartment.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a road barricade weighting device that is operable to maintain a position of the road barricade wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are operably coupled with an upper support member.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a weight device configured to be operably coupled to a road barricade so as to ensure maintenance of position of the road barricade wherein the first compartment includes a plurality of walls and a bottom forming an interior volume and further having an opening at the upper end providing access thereto.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a road barricade weighting device that is operable to maintain a position of the road barricade wherein the second compartment includes a plurality of walls and a bottom forming an interior volume and further having an opening at the upper end providing access thereto.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a weight device configured to be operably coupled to a road barricade so as to ensure maintenance of position of the road barricade wherein the first compartment and second compartment extend downward from the upper support member and are adjacent opposing sides of the longitudinal member of the road barricade.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a road barricade weighting device that is operable to maintain a position of the road barricade wherein the first compartment and second compartment can be filled with loose material found adjacent the location of the road barricade wherein the materials can be gravel or dirt.
An alternate object of the present invention is to provide a weight device configured to be operably coupled to a road barricade so as to ensure maintenance of position of the road barricade wherein the first compartment and second compartment can further be equipped with drain plugs in the bottoms thereof so as to facilitate draining of a fluid if a fluid is employed to provide the added weight.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a road barricade weighting device that is operable to maintain a position of the road barricade wherein in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the body is manufactured to be stackable.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:
Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a barricade weight device 100 constructed according to the principles of the present invention.
An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the art will understand that the detailed description herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that alternative embodiments are plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, those having skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the present invention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitable approaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond that of the particular implementation choices in the embodiment described herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within the scope of the present invention.
It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials, uses and applications described herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplary embodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure or characteristic.
Now referring to the drawings submitted herewith, the barricade weight device 100 includes a body 10. The body 10 of the barricade weight device 100 is manufactured from a durable rigid material such as but not limited to plastic. The body 10 includes a first compartment 20 and a second compartment 30 that are operably coupled with an upper support member 40. The body 10 of the barricade weight device 100 is configured to operably couple to the longitudinal member 98 of the barricade 99 wherein the upper support member 40 is superposed the longitudinal member 98 with the first compartment 20 and second compartment 30 being on opposing sides of the longitudinal member 98.
The first compartment 20 includes a plurality of walls 21 and a bottom 22 integrally formed to create an interior volume 23. The interior volume 23 is accessed via opening 24 present at the upper end 25 of the first compartment 20. In a preferred embodiment the first compartment 20 includes four walls 21 and is manufactured so as to have a greater width proximate the upper end 25 than the lower end 26. While the first compartment 20 is illustrated herein as having four walls 21, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the first compartment 20 could be constructed with a single wall or more than four walls to create alternate shapes thereof. The tapered width of the first compartment 20 wherein the width of the first compartment 20 decreases from the upper end 25 to lower end 26 provides the ability for the barricade weight device 100 to be stacked within each other when not in use. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the first compartment 20 could be manufactured from alternate quantities of walls and still have the aforementioned taper so as to be stackable when not in use. While a tapered first compartment 20 is preferred, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the first compartment 20 could be manufactured so as to have the same width at the upper end 25 and lower end 26.
The barricade weight device 100 includes a second compartment 30 manufactured similarly to the first compartment 20. bottom 32 integrally formed to create an interior volume 33. The interior volume 33 is accessed via opening 34 present at the upper end 35 of the second compartment 30. In a preferred embodiment the second compartment 30 includes four walls 31 and is manufactured so as to have a greater width proximate the upper end 35 than the lower end 36. While the second compartment 30 is illustrated herein as having four walls 31, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the second compartment 30 could be constructed with a single wall or more than four walls to create alternate shapes thereof. The tapered width of the second compartment 30 wherein the width of the second compartment 30 decreases from the upper end 35 to lower end 36 provides the ability for the barricade weight device 100 to be stacked within each other when not in use. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the second compartment 30 could be manufactured from alternate quantities of walls and still have the aforementioned taper so as to be stackable when not in use. While a tapered second compartment 30 is preferred, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the second compartment 30 could be manufactured so as to have the same width at the upper end 35 and lower end 36. It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the first compartment 20 and second compartment 30 could be manufactured in alternate sizes so as to accommodate alternate quantities of materials therein.
The barricade weight device 100 further includes upper support member 40. Upper support member 40 is integrally formed having a first end 41 and a second end 42. The first end 41 is integrally formed with the first compartment 20 proximate the upper end 25 thereof while the second end 42 is integrally formed with the second compartment 30 proximate the upper end 35. The upper support member 40 is generally perpendicular to the first compartment 20 and second compartment 30 and is configured to suspendedly secure the body 10 to the barricade 99. While a particular design of the upper support member 40 has been illustrated herein, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the upper support member 40 could be manufactured in alternate manners and achieve the desired objective discussed herein.
Both the first compartment 20 and second compartment 30 are equipped with drain members 60. Drain members 60 are formed in the bottom 22 of the first compartment and the bottom 32 of the second compartment 30. The drain members 60 provide a means to evacuate the first compartment 20 and second compartment 30 if they have been filled with a fluid to provide the necessary weight to maintain the position of the barricade 99. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the first compartment 20 and second compartment 30 could be provided without drain members 60 as the first compartment 20 and second compartment 30 are capable of being filled with dirt, gravel or similar material typically available at a construction site or area where barricades 99 are often placed.
In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A barricade weight device configured to be operably coupled to a barricade so as to provide additional weight thereto wherein the barricade weight device comprises:
- a body, said body having a first compartment and a second compartment, said first compartment having at least one wall and a bottom integrally formed to create an interior volume, said first compartment having an opening proximate an upper end thereof providing access to said interior volume, said second compartment having at least one wall and a bottom forming an interior volume, said second compartment having an opening proximate an upper end of said second compartment providing access to said interior volume of said second compartment, said body further having an upper support member, said upper support member having a first end and a second end, said upper support member coupled to said upper end of said first compartment and said upper end of said second compartment; and
- wherein said first compartment and said second compartment are disposed on opposing sides of a longitudinal member of the barricade.
2. The barricade weight device configured to be operably coupled to a barricade as recited in claim 1, wherein said first compartment has a width at said upper end of said first compartment that is greater than a width of said first compartment at a lower end thereof.
3. The barricade weight device configured to be operably coupled to a barricade as recited in claim 2, wherein said first compartment further includes a drain member, said drain member being formed in said bottom of said first compartment.
4. The barricade weight device configured to be operably coupled to a barricade as recited in claim 3, wherein said second compartment has a width at said upper end of said second compartment that is greater than a width of said second compartment at a lower end thereof.
5. The barricade weight device configured to be operably coupled to a barricade as recited in claim 4, wherein said second compartment further includes a drain member, said drain member of said second compartment being formed in said bottom of said first compartment.
6. The barricade weight device configured to be operably coupled to a barricade as recited in claim 5, wherein said body is manufactured from plastic.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 28, 2022
Publication Date: Jul 4, 2024
Inventor: Peter Gerrard King (Kitimat)
Application Number: 18/147,084
