Traffic barrier assembly

A traffic barrier assembly alerts motorists to a hazardous road condition and helps guide the flow of traffic around the hazardous condition. The assembly includes a base member having a top end, a bottom end and a perimeter wall attached to and extending between the top end and the bottom end. A top member has a top edge, a bottom edge and a peripheral wall attached to and extending between the top edge and the bottom edge. The top edge defines an opening extending into an interior of the top member. The top member is telescopic relative to base member.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to road barrier assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new road barrier assembly for alerting motorists to a hazardous road condition and helping to guide the flow of traffic around the hazardous condition.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a base member having a top end, a bottom end and a perimeter wall attached to and extending between the top end and the bottom end. A top member has a top edge, a bottom edge and a peripheral wall attached to and extending between the top edge and the bottom edge. The top edge defines an opening extending into an interior of the top member. The top member is telescopic relative to base member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 7, the traffic barrier assembly10generally comprises a base member12having a top end14, a bottom end16and a perimeter wall18attached to and extending between the top end14and the bottom end16. The bottom end16may be closed to hold ballast, such as sand, therein in order to securely position the base member12on a ground surface. A rim20may be attached to the bottom end16that extends therearound. The rim20may taper outwardly from the bottom end16.

A top member22is provided having a top edge24, a bottom edge26and a peripheral wall28attached to and extending between the top edge24and the bottom edge26. The top edge24defines an opening30extending into an interior32of the top member22. The top member22may be telescopic relative to the base member12. In particular, an outer diameter of the peripheral wall28of the top member22may be smaller than an inner diameter of the perimeter wall18of the base member12such that the top member22is positionable within an interior34of the base member12. The top member22may have a size and shape such that the top member22is fully positionable within the interior34of the base member12for compact storage of the assembly10. Each of the base member12and the top member22may be cylindrical. A pair of reflective bands36,38, which are conventional, may be provided. Each of the reflective bands36,38may be coupled to and extend around an associated one of the top member22and the base member12.

A lid40is positionable on the top edge24of the top member22to cover the opening30into the interior32of the top member22. The lid40has a top section42and a peripheral surface44attached to and extending downwardly from the top section42. The peripheral surface44is positionable to abut the peripheral wall28of the top member22for securing the lid40and the top member22. The peripheral surface44may have a plurality of slots46extending therein wherein each of the slots46is aligned with respect to each other and extends around the peripheral surface44. Each of the slots46defines a respective handle48to facilitate lifting of the lid40. The top section42may have a depression50extending therein. The depression50is configured to receive a light emitter, such as a flashlight, therein in order to draw increased attention to the assembly10. The top section42may also include a projecting section52and a recessed section54wherein the recessed section54extends around and bounds the projecting section52. The projecting section52includes a peripheral edge56and a planar section58wherein the peripheral edge56extends downwardly from the planar section58. An inner surface60of the projecting section52may define a well62extending into the lid40. The well62is configured to receive trash items therein and thus functions as a conventional trash receptacle when the lid40is positioned in an upside-down orientation on the top member22.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIGS. 1-5. In that embodiment, a plurality of tabs74is coupled to the bottom edge26of the top member22and a plurality of lips76is coupled to and extends outwardly from an interior surface78of the perimeter wall18of the base member12. Each of the tabs74is selectively engageable with an associated one of the lips76for securing the top member22to the base member12. The tabs74and the lips76may each be tapered.

An alternative embodiment is shown inFIGS. 6 and 7. The alternative embodiment includes base member12having a plurality of apertures64positioned in the perimeter wall18that extend therearound. In addition, the top member22has a plurality of holes66positioned in the peripheral wall28that extend therearound proximate the bottom edge26of the top member22. A plurality of fasteners68is provided, which may include conventional pins or the like. Each of the fasteners68is positionable in an associated one of the holes66and the apertures64for engaging the associated holes66and the apertures64. A securing member70is couplable to each of the base member12and the top member22and extends around the perimeter wall18of the base member12and the peripheral wall28of the top member22. The securing member70has a plurality of gaps72positioned therein. Each of the fasteners68is extendable through an associated one of the gaps72for securing the top member22to the base member12. The securing member70may comprise a rigid band that extends a full circumference around each of the perimeter wall18of the base member12and the peripheral wall28of the top member22.

An entirety of the assembly10may be constructed from biodegradable materials, such as peat moss or similar plant-derived material. The exterior surface of each of the top member22and the base member12may be coated with a bright orange paint to more closely resemble conventional traffic barriers and improve visibility of the assembly10. The paint used may also be biodegradable.

In use, the assembly10is placed on a ground surface to alert motorists and/or pedestrians to a hazardous road condition. The base member12can be filled with ballast to securely hold the base member12in place on the ground surface. A light emitter may be placed into the depression50to provide enhanced visibility of the assembly10. The reflective bands36,38also help to draw attention toward the assembly10. The top member22is movable within the base member12and permits collapsing of the assembly10in order to store the assembly10in a compact manner. The top member22and the base member12are locked in place using the tabs74and lips76or the fasteners68and securing member70. The biodegradable materials of the assembly10provide a barrier that is more environmentally-friendly than that of conventional traffic barriers.