GB2263499A

GB2263499A - Road barrier bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2263499A
Application number: GB9201841A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Ernest John Clarke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-01-27
Filing date: 1992-01-27
Publication date: 1993-07-28
Also published as: GB9201841D0

Abstract

A road barrier bracket includes a first member (1) and a second member (2) each member having a projection (3, 4) complementary to a part of the barrier which it engages. The members are joined together by a hinge (5) at one end and by a releasable fastening arrangement (7, 8, 9) at the other end to enable them to grip the barrier, shown in broken lines. Fixtures such as road signs may be mounted on the road barrier bracket via sleeve member (10). <IMAGE>

Description

Road Barrier Bracket The present invention relates to a bracket for mounting on a road barrier. The invention relates, more especially, but not exclusively, to a bracket for mounting a fixture for example, a road sign, temporarily on a road barrier to indicate roadworks, a road accident or some other occurrence.

A road sign mounted on a base on the road surface must be stabilised by weights and may still be unstable, whilst a sign mounted on a base driven into the ground is unsuitable as a temporary measure. Various arrangements for mounting a road sign on a road barrier have been proposed, but there remains a need for a cheap, simple and effective arrangement.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of bracket for mounting on a road barrier.

The present invention provides a bracket for mounting on a road barrier, the bracket comprising first and second members and fastening means for releasably fastening the members together around the barrier, each of the members having a part which projects towards the other member for projecting into a recess formed in the barrier. In this manner it is ensured that the bracket can be mounted quickly and easily, but also securely, on the barrier.

The first member and the second member are preferably pivotally connected to one another. The pivotal attachment of the members facilitates the fitting around and removal of the bracket from the barrier.

The fastening means may comprise a threaded member pivotally connected at the end of one of the first and second members and a slot at the end of the other of the first and second members in which the threaded member may be secured. Such an arrangement further facilitates easy and quick attachment of the barrier, and removal thereof. The threaded member may be secured in the slot by a screw threaded fastener engaging the screw thread of the threaded member. The screw threaded fastener is preferably a wing nut. It is then possible to mount the bracket on the barrier without the use of tools.

Tightening of the screw threaded fastener preferably serves to increase the force with which the first and second members bear against the barrier. The dimensions of the first and second members may be selected according to the dimensions of the barrier and the required strength of the bracket.

The bracket may be made of mild steel or aluminium.

The part projecting from the first member may comprise two arms which when the bracket is closed project along opposite sides of the part projecting from the second member.

The part projecting from the first member and the part projecting from the second member preferably define a tortuous path therebetween for receiving a correspondingly shaped portion of the barrier when the bracket is closed.

A sleeve is preferably fixed to one of the members for receiving a fixture to be mounted on the bracket.

The sleeve may be a cylindrical sleeve for receiving any fixture with an appropriate part for inserting into the sleeve or it may take any other form that may be suitable for engaging a particular fixture.

The fixture may for example be a road works sign, an emergency lighting arrangement for accident or the like, or a temporary lighting arrangement for road works.

The present invention also provides a crash barrier assembly comprising a crash barrier and a bracket as defined above, each of the first and second members having a respective part which projects towards the other member and into a recess formed in the barrier. The cross-sectional shape of the crash barrier may be approximately in the form of an M on its side.

By way of example an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a bracket for mounting on a road barrier, Fig. la is a side view of the bracket of Fig. 1 with the barrier shown, Fig. 2 is a view, taken in the direction of the arrow II in Fig. 1, of the bracket, Fig. 3 is a view, taken in the direction of the arrow III in Fig. 2 of the bracket, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing several brackets in use.

Figs. 1 to 3 show a bracket including a first, Lshaped member 1 and a second cranked member 2 pivotally connected to one another at respective ends by a hinge arrangement 5. Each member has a part which projects towards the other. A projection 3 extends from the member 2 towards the member 1 whilst projections 4 extend from the member 1 towards the member 2. The projections 4 comprise two arms 12 and 13 which extend along opposite sides of the projection 3 extending from the member 2. A threaded member 7 is pivotally attached to the arm 1 by a hinge arrangement 6, the pivotal axis of the member 7 being parallel to that of the axis of pivoting of the members 1 and 2 relative to one another.

The threaded member 7 engages a slot 11 in the lower end of the member 2 and is secured into position by a packer 9 pressed by a wing nut 8 onto the outer face of member 2. A sleeve 10 of circular cross-section is attached to the top face of the shorter, horizontal arm of the Lshaped member 1, for mounting a fixture such as a roadsign.

In use, the wing nut 8 is loosened, releasing the packer 9 and allowing the threaded member 7 to pivot down about the hinge 6 and disengage the slot 11 of the arm 2. The two members 1 and 2 can then be pulled apart, pivoting about the hinge 5. Referring now also to Fig. la, when the bracket is placed in position about a road barrier, the members 1 and 2 are closed around the barrier with the projection 3 and arms 12, 13 engaging opposite faces of the barrier. The threaded member 7 is pivoted about the hinge 6 to engage the slot 11 and secured there by the wing nut 8 and the packer 9.

Tightening the wing nut increases the force with which the members 1 and 2 bear against the barrier. As can be seen in Fig. la, where the barrier is shown in dotted outline, the projecting parts of the members 1, 2 define a tortuous path matched to the shape of the portion of the barrier clamped between them, the overall crosssectional shape of the barrier being that of an M on its side. The projection 3, and the two arms 12, 13 extend into complementary recesses in the barrier. Above and below the projecting parts there are spaces within the bracket to accommodate the top and bottom portions of the barrier. Once the bracket is securely fitted to the barrier, a fixture is mounted in the sleeve 10.

The bracket described above can be mounted on a barrier quickly, efficiently and securely, requiring no tools and can be just as easily removed from the barrier.

The bracket requires only occasional oiling for maintenance and thus incurs minimal maintenance costs.

When fastened to a crash barrier, the bracket is not a hazard or obstruction to a person in its vicinity and, when removed from the barrier, it is compact to store.

Fig. 4 shows the brackets mounted on a roadside barrier and being used in various ways. In one case a light 15 is erected to aid accident recovery. In another case a large sign 16 is erected and supported by more than one bracket for added stability. In other cases different shaped signs 17 and 18 are erected. In yet another case a barrier 19 is mounted on the bracket across lanes of the road.

Claims

1. A bracket for mounting on a road barrier, the bracket comprising first and second members and fastening means for releasably fastening the members together around the barrier, each of the members having a part which projects towards the other member for projecting into a recess formed in the barrier.

2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1 in which the first member and the second member are pivotally connected to one another.

3. A bracket as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which tightening of the fastening means serves to increase the force with which the first and second members bear against the barrier.

4. A bracket as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the first member has two projecting parts comprising two arms which when the bracket is closed project along opposite sides of the part projecting from the second member.

5. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim in which the part projecting from the first member and the part projecting from the second member define a tortuous path therebetween for receiving a correspondingly shaped portion of the barrier when the bracket is closed.

6. A crash barrier assembly comprising a crash barrier and a bracket according to any preceding claim, each of the first and second members having a respective part which projects towards the other member and into a recess formed in the barrier.

7. A bracket for mounting a fitting on a road barrier, the bracket being substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Fig. 1, la, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.