Illuminated guard rail

The present invention relates to a method of illuminating bridge and road guard rails. The outside of the rails are coated with a reflective material and then co-extruded with an acrylic material surrounding the rail. Alternatively, two or more acrylic materials or tubes are extruded around a rail. The inner tube preferably has a colored shiny or reflective covering, or stripes of one or more colors, or with a picture or design on the outside or within the tube. In a further embodiment, the rails can be retrofitted with a two-section acrylic covering that fits together along and surrounds the length of the rail. The acrylic coverings can also be joined via a collar that is also made in two halves to fit around the rail at each rail post or at each end of the rail section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to generally to illuminating bridge guard rails. More specifically, the invention relates to retrofitting guard rails for illumination purposes.

B. Description of the Prior Art

Guard rails on highway roads and bridges are designed to protect motorists from driving off the roadway into on-coming traffic of off the bridge. Although these guard rails save numerous lives every year, there are instances when the guard rails that are designed to save lives actually cause harm and sometimes even death to the motorists they were designed to protect. This happens usually during nighttime driving when because of the lack of illumination on some guard rails, the motorists are incapable of seeing the guard rails and sometimes drive into them. Presently bridge guard rails do not incorporate a method for covering the guard rails with an illuminated covering or clad. It is, therefore, the object of this present invention to describe a way to illuminate these guard rails using state of the art technology in a way that will enhance driver safety when on the roadways.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is accomplished by incorporation a method of illuminating bridge and other guard rails. The rails (usually circular or rectangular in cross-section), can either be manufactured wherein special light-reflective materials are placed on the rail with an acrylic covering placed or extruded over the rail. In the alternative, existing guard rails could be retrofitted with an acrylic covering that will reflect or illuminate light.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to illustrate methods of illuminating bridge and road guard rails.

It is another object of the invention to illuminate bridge guard rails using an extrusion process wherein the rail is coated with a light-reflective material and the acrylic covering is extruded over the coated rail.

It is a further object of the invention to illuminate bridge and guard rails using a retrofit conversion package wherein a light-reflective acrylic covering is placed over the rails.

Still another object of the invention is to illuminate the bridge and guard rails using light emitting diodes (LEDs).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a method of illuminating bridge and road guard rails. In a first embodiment, the outside of the rails are coated with a reflective material and then co-extruded with an acrylic material with the acrylic material surrounding the rail. In a second embodiment, instead of one acrylic material, two or more acrylic materials are extruded wherein the rail is in the center, an inner acrylic tube surrounds the rail and an outer acrylic tube surrounds both the rail and the inner acrylic tube. The inner tube could have a colored shiny or reflective covering, or stripes, of one or more colors, or a picture or design on the outside or within the tube. The outer acrylic tube would fit snugly over the first or inner acrylic tube. Multiple tubes could be used with different parts of a picture or design on each succeeding tube, creating the effect of depth or three dimensions to the illuminated design.

In a third embodiment, the bridge or road guard rails can be retrofitted with the acrylic coverings. The acrylic coverings are manufactured in two longitudinal half pieces that fit together along the length of the rail section. The two acrylic coverings can be joined together using screws, bolts or snap fittings or similar connection devices known to those in the art. Alternatively, the two acrylic coverings can be joined via a collar that is also made in two halves. The collars fit around the rail and are located against the rail post at each end of the rail section.

A unique and decorative acrylic tube can be created by wetting the inner surface of an acrylic tube with Acetone or any other solvent containing Methyl Ethyl Keystone or similar solvent. The interaction between this chemical and the chemicals in the acrylic rod cause the acrylic rod to crack from the inside toward the outside in a myriad of small, random shaped and sized cracks. Limiting the duration of this chemical reaction results in many cracks per linear inch of the acrylic rod that do not extend to the outer surface of the acrylic. An acrylic rod so treated illuminates in a beautifully unique way simulating what one would expect to see if a hollow ice cycle could be illuminated.

Turning now toFIG. 1of the drawings, bridge or road guard rail10is shown wherein the acrylic covering14covers the rail12. The acrylic covering14brilliantly illuminates the bridge or road guard rail10when a light source is illuminated therein.

There are various ways to cover the rail with illuminating materials. One such method is illustrated inFIG. 2. Aretrofit guard rail20is shown wherein an existing rail22is enclosed within an acrylic covering24. The acrylic covering24is manufactured in two pieces26,28and brought together to cover rail22. Snap fittings30(“fastener”) are designed to securely hold the two separate pieces26,28together over the rail22. A reflective material27runs along the inside of the two separate pieces26,28and extends the length of the two pieces26,28. The reflective material27is usually made of a white acrylic paint or any combination of material and color that reflects light. When a light source is directed at one of the ends of the retrofit guard rail20, (to shine longitudinally down or along the acrylic covering24), the retrofit guard rail20will illuminate in a very bright color. For instance, if a red light source is directed longitudinally down or along the acrylic covering24then the retrofit guard rail20will illuminate in the color red.

FIGS. 3 & 4illustrate a retrofit guard rail40using an alternative method of joining two pieces of acrylic coverings42A,42B. The two adjoining pieces of acrylic coverings42A,428are secured via a raised section (seen generally at44) wherein a screw46is disposed therein. An inner wall48of the covering is sized to fit about the guard rail. The Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)50, are designed to illuminate the acrylic material45. A locating pin47may be used to ensure that the two halves of the covering are properly aligned about each other.

FIGS. 5 & 6illustrate yet another method of securing two separate pieces of acrylic coverings by using an end cap60(“collar”). The end cap or collar60is made of acrylic and has two holes62dimensioned and configured to receive screws to secure the two end caps60together. The end caps60are dimensioned and configured to receive a retrofitted rail wherein the rail part fits within section68and the rail with an acrylic covering fits within section66. The acrylic covering of the retrofitted rail abuts against stop64. LEDs70illuminate the acrylic covering of the retrofitted rail and are connected to control box74via wires72. A control box74can preferably control the frequency and intensity of illumination of the LEDs70by means of a rheostat, or solid-state dimmer. Different colored LEDs that illuminate the acrylic covering could be illuminated steadily, in different sequences, in groups, or modulated in intensity by a sound sensitive power supply (not shown) or by musical tunes programmed within control box74. The control box74and LEDs70derive their power from a power source (not shown) and preferably the control box74can itself be controlled remotely. Control box74can include means for automatically powering on various LEDs70of different colors at the same or different times.

FIG. 7shows a bridge or road guard rail80that has been manufactured using the extrusion process. The rail82is first coated with a light reflective material85and then extruded within an acrylic covering84. This light reflective material is usually made of a white acrylic paint although any combination of color and material that will reflect light is acceptable. Located at one end of the guard rail80are a plurality of LEDs86. These LEDs86provide illumination which illuminates in a longitudinal direction or lengthwise direction down the length of guard rail80. The material property of the acrylic serves as an excellent conductor of light such that (with the light reflective material85) when illuminated by the LEDs86, the acrylic covering84illuminates in the same color as the LEDs86. A control box88can control the frequency and intensity of illumination of the LEDs86by means of a rheostat, or solid-state dimmer. Different colored LEDs that illuminate the acrylic covering could be illuminated steadily, in different sequences, in groups, or modulated in intensity by a sound sensitive power supply (not shown). The control box88and LEDs86derive their power from a power source (not shown) and the control box88can itself be controlled remotely. Control box88can include means for automatically powering various colored LEDs86at the same or different times.

FIGS. 8 and 9disclose a co-extrusion method wherein an inner acrylic tube94is extruded with an outer acrylic tube96over a rail92. Inner tube94could have a colored shiny or reflective covering93, or stripes of one or more colors or a picture or design95on the outside of the inner tube94or a picture or design within the inner tube94. The second or outer acrylic tube96fits snugly over the inner tube94. Although only two tubes are shown here, multiple tubes could be used with different parts of a picture or design95&97on each succeeding tube, creating the effect of depth or three dimensions to the illuminated design. If the different tubes are of adequate thickness, then individual LEDs could be directed to illuminate individual tubes resulting in different layers of the pictures being illuminated with different colored light. As with all the other embodiments, a plurality of LEDs with a power source and control unit are used to illuminate the inner tube94and the outer tube96.

As seen inFIG. 10, a unique and decorative acrylic tube100can be created by wetting the inner surface110of an acrylic tube with Acetonel20, any other solvent containing Methyl Ethyl Keytone, or any other similar solvent. The interaction between this chemical and the chemicals in the acrylic rod cause the acrylic rod to crack130from the inside toward the outside in a myriad of small, random shaped and sized cracks130. Limiting the time of this chemical reaction results in many cracks per linear inch of the acrylic rod that does not extend to the outer surface of the acrylic. An acrylic rod so treated illuminates in a beautifully unique manner similar to what one would expect to see if a hollow ice cycle could be illuminated.

In all of the embodiments disclosed above, the acrylic covers can be extruded with a special type of material called LISA Plastic. “LISA” is an abbreviation for the Germen word “lichtsammeln” which means “light collecting”. When a material is made with LISA Plastic, the material will illuminate in a bright, beautiful color based on the color of the LED. While with LISA Plastic, there is no need for a reflective backing or coating on the rail or inner acrylic tubing, a white fluorescent reflecting coating is preferably used to enhance the lighting effects.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. One skilled in the art would recognize that the term “guard rail” is not limited to a roadside rail, but could be any railing indoors or outdoors, but prefers refers to a rail that guards or guides objects or persons nearby.