Abstract:
A blow-molded plastic, traffic control barricade. The assembly provides a hollow, blow-molded, louvered upright panel outfitted with warning indicia, lights and/or air passages that pivots from a molded hollow base. Braces mount between the base and upright panel. The panel and braces fold into a recessed cavity in the base and present a collapsed shape that occupies relatively little space and lends itself to stacking and erection and dismantling.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to motor vehicle traffic control assemblies and, in particular, to a portable, blow molded barricade that collapses or folds to a substantially planar assembly. 
     Varieties of permanent and temporary barricades and lane markers are used for controlling the flow of motor vehicle traffic. The barricades and markers are erected on a road surface to direct and control traffic flow relative to the available traffic lanes. The height of the barricades and markers, numbers and spacing between assemblies makes the assemblies visible. The barricades and markers also typically include high visibility warning indicia, whereby the barricades and markers are visible during high or low light conditions. 
     Many barricade and marker assemblies are constructed of several sections that disassemble into a number of piece parts. Some barricades are constructed in the form of folding sawhorses. That is, a horizontal member is supported by sets of expanding or removable legs. A variety of metal-formed assemblies are also commercially available. 
     Several barricades are constructed of lightweight materials such as plastic or rubber. The pieces may separately stack or occupy a relatively small space during storage or transport. For example, numerous conical and barrel-shaped barricades provide separate bottom, sidewall and top sections that disassemble and independently stack. If they don&#39;t disassemble, the shapes typically permit vertical stacking. Sand or sand filled bags are frequently used to provide ballast and stabilize the barricades and markers during extended periods of use. 
     Some barricades provide bases that support mating vertical and horizontal pieces that assemble at a work site. Appropriate joints and braces stabilize the assemblies. Although the pieces are separately replaceable, the pieces can fail and/or become lost, thereby rendering a relatively expensive assembly effectively worthless. The erection and disassembly time can also be long, when the labor costs are considered, thereby adding to the effective cost of such collapsible assemblies. 
     The present invention was developed to provide a simple, self-contained, blow molded plastic barricade that collapses into a compact assembly. The assembly is low cost, occupies relatively little space, lends itself to stacking and requires little time and effort to erect or dismantle. The assembly provides a hollow, blow-molded upright panel outfitted with warning indicia that pivots from a molded base. Braces mount between the base and upright panel. The panel and braces fold into a recessed cavity in the base. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide a collapsible blow-molded, plastic barricade. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a barricade having a minimal number of self-contained parts that expand during use and collapse to self-store. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a barricade with an upright panel having a number of hollow cavities that is hinged to a base panel and self-storing hinged braces that stabilize the assembly. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a barricade wherein the upright panel collapses and stores in a recessed cavity of the base along with any braces. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a barricade wherein the upright panel includes louvers, vents, weep holes, reflective or fluorescent striping and lettering, lights and/or other high-visibility warning indicia. 
     The foregoing objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention, among others, are obtained in a presently preferred blow-molded barricade. The barricade is blow-molded in conventional fashion and includes an upright panel having a number of hollow cavities that hinge mounts to a base. Braces mount to interconnect and stabilize the panel and base. Stepped louver and flange surfaces separated by air passages or vents and/or containing a variety of warning indicia are provided at the upright panel. The base includes a flanged rail and/or fittings to receive the braces. The braces can be hinged to either of the pieces. Drain holes in the base relieve any collected moisture. 
     Still other objects, advantages, distinctions and constructions of the invention will become more apparent from the following description with respect to the appended drawings. Similar components and assemblies are referred to in the various drawings with similar alphanumeric reference characters. Various features of the invention may be configured with other features in different combinations. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing showing a pair of erected barricades mounted side-by-side. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing showing the rear of an assembled barricade. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial section view taken along section lines  3 — 3  through a flanged edge of the hollow base panel of the barricade. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial section view taken along section lines  4 — 4  through the hollow upright panel of the barricade. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective drawing showing a rear view of an assembled barricade having a ventilated upright panel and ported base panel. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, perspective drawings are shown to a pair of interconnected collapsible barricades  2  mounted in side-by-side relation and to a rear surface of a single one of the barricades  2 . Each barricade  2  includes an upright or marker panel  4  and a bottom or base panel  6 . Each marker panel  4  couples to its base panel  6  at a hinge pin or axle  8  at right and left bottom comers of the panel  4 . Connecting rods  10  extend between the bases  6  and through apertures  12  at flanged rails  17  in the sides of the base panels  6 . The rods  10  retain the barricades  2  as an assembly. The rods  10  can comprise lengths of re-bar or other low-cost, relatively strong members. Weighted ballast  20  can be supported on the base panels  6  to stabilize the erected barricades  2 . 
     The marker and base panels  4  and  6  are blow molded in conventional fashion and each contains a substantially hollow core. Either of the base panels  4  and/or  6 , however, can be molded such that the material at the front and rear walls are compressed to form essentially a single layer, such as the base panel  6  in FIG.  5 . 
     Each barricade  2  is presently sized to an approximate width of 4 feet and a depth of five feet. When mounted together as shown, the two barricades  2  span approximately eight feet or a substantial portion of the width of a traffic lane. Additional barricades can be coupled together as necessary to accommodate a desired width. 
     Braces or struts  14  are secured at hinge pins  16  to each side of the panels  4 . The braces  14  mount in a number of appropriate fittings or recessed sockets  18  provided at the flanged rails or side walls  17  at the sides of the bases  6 , see also FIGS. 2 and 3 Sockets  18  can also be formed into the marker panels  4 . In either instance, the angle of the marker panel  4  relative to the base panel  6  can be selectively varied via the placement of the braces  14 . 
     The elevation of the top edge of each marker panel  4 , when erected, is dependant upon the socket  18  that is selected. Nominally, the panels  14  are elevated 3½ to 4 feet above the road surface. When collapsed, the panel  4  folds into the cavity  19 , such that each barricade  2  exhibits a thickness in the range of 3 to 6 inches. 
     Appropriate amounts of ballast  20 , such as sand bags, loose sand or other relatively dense materials, can be supported in the recessed cavity  19  between the rails  17  at the base panel  6  to stabilize each barricade  2  during normal use. One or more fill ports  21  and drain ports  23  might also be included in the walls of the base panel  6 , if water is added to the hollow core as a ballast material. The ports  21  and/or  23 , otherwise, can be used to drain and evacuate any rain or other moisture that might collect in the recess  19 . 
     The front surface of the marker panel  4  is constructed with a series of recessed or stepped flange surfaces  22  that extend inward to an inclined louvered surface  24 , see also FIG.  4 . The surfaces  22  and  24  add strength to the marker panel  4  and reduce the volume of plastic required to mold each panel  4 . The louvered surfaces  24  also enhance the visibility of the panels  4 . Visibility is further enhanced by molding the marker panel  4  from a colored plastic or by affixing high visibility reflective or fluorescent indicia  26  and  28  to the front of the panel  4 . The indicia  26  and  28  can either be painted or laminated to the marker panel  4  using a variety of commercially available paints and tapes. Predetermined areas of the panel  4  can also be molded with roughened and/or embossed regions  27  or recessed regions  29  can be provided at the exposed surface to better accept and support any indicia  26  or  28 . 
     Selected regions of the marker panels  4  can also be fitted with appropriate lights  30  or light strips  32  that emit a constant illumination or that flash. The lights  30  and  32  can be controlled to turn on and off with changing ambient light conditions. The arrangement of any lights  30  and  32  and the color of the lighting (e.g. red, green and amber) can be adjusted as desired. 
     Appropriate apertures  34  or slots  36  can also be provided at the panels  4  to allow air to pass through the panels  4 . The air passages  34  and  36  are particularly desired where the barricades  2  are exposed to wind, which can collapse a barricade  2 . The passages  34  and  36  reduce the surface loading and stress that is countered by the braces  14  and ballast  20 . 
     Grooves  38  are formed into the backs of the marker panel  4  to contain the braces  14 , reference FIG.  2 . When collapsed, the braces  14  pivot into the grooves  38  and permit the rear surface of the panel  4  to lie against the inside of the cavity  19 . It is to be appreciated the braces  14  could detach from the panel  4  and that additional bracing might be provided as necessary to accommodate typical ambient wind load conditions. The braces  14  are presently made from high density plastic, although could be made from a variety of other materials. 
     Turning attention to FIG. 5, a perspective drawing is shown to a barricade  40  that provides a vented, hollow core marker panel  4  and a compressed core base panel  6 . The marker panel  4  includes horizontal air passages  36  that relieve wind stress. The top and bottom walls of the base panel  6  lie essentially against each other. A number of substantial size apertures  42  reduce the weight of the base  6 , yet still provide a bottom surface  44  that will support ballast  20  mounted in the recessed space  46 . Although the base  6  is preferably molded from plastic, it can also be constructed as a grid or framework of members, such as steel or plastic rods or channels etc. A welded steel framework, although providing a heavy stable base is more costly to construct. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to a preferred construction and considered improvements or alternatives thereto, still other constructions may be suggested to those skilled in the art. The disclosed features of the invention might also be combined in different arrangements and with still other features in other barricades. The description should not be literally construed in limitation of the invention. The foregoing description should instead be construed to include all those embodiments within the spirit and scope of the following claims.