Abstract:
The cushioned cover for traffic structures comprises various embodiments configured for installation over concrete traffic barriers (e.g., “Jersey walls,” etc.) or about vertical columns, posts, stanchions, etc., e.g., bridge support columns. The cover includes inner and outer layers formed of rubber, preferably using recycled tire material. A medial layer includes additional resilience. In one embodiment, the medial layer includes a plurality of closely spaced hemispherical elements, preferably formed of highly resilient polybutadiene material. In another embodiment, the center layer includes a plurality of closely spaced, pneumatically interconnected inflatable hemispheres. The traffic barrier covers may include planter box receptacles set into their upper surfaces when installed, and/or solar cells set into their upper surfaces to charge a storage battery for powering lighting set into the sides of the cover. Tread patterns may be provided in the outer surfaces of the traffic barrier covers.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of my prior application Ser. No. 13/283,102, filed Oct. 27, 2011 now pending. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to protective covers, and particularly to a cushioned cover for traffic structures that provides an elastomeric or pneumatically cushioned cover for traffic structures, such as concrete barriers, stanchions, and the like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A number of different configurations of traffic structures have been developed over the years, including metal guardrails, cables either with or without chain link fencing installed therewith, and various other structures. Two very common types of traffic structures are the massive concrete traffic barriers (often called “Jersey walls” or “Jersey barriers”) and vertical columns, posts, stanchions, and the like used to support overpasses and highway signs and lights. These two types of traffic structures comprise perhaps the majority of traffic structures, particularly in urban areas, and are nearly universally formed of hard, rigid materials that do not flex or yield significantly when they receive a significant impact force, as when struck by a vehicle. 
     While some thought and effort has gone into the design of “Jersey wall” type barriers in efforts to minimize the severity of vehicle accidents after contacting such barriers, the barriers generally do not serve particularly well in this regard. Most such barriers have outwardly sloped bases intended to cause the tire of a vehicle to ride slightly up the base upon impact and to turn the vehicle back into the traffic lane(s). While this serves to prevent the vehicle from crossing the barrier and impacting stationary objects to the side of the road or perhaps entering traffic flowing in the opposite direction, it does nothing to prevent perhaps extensive damage to the vehicle. Moreover, the deflection of the vehicle back into the traffic lane(s) often leads to multiple vehicle crashes as the deflected vehicle veers out of control back into perhaps heavy traffic. 
     Other traffic structures such as support columns, stanchions, posts, and the like, generally have little or no capability to reduce damage to either the traffic structure or to the vehicle upon impact. In fact, the solid, rigid materials of which these various traffic structures are made generally result in significant damage to a vehicle striking the structure. The structure itself generally fares no better, and generally requires replacement after a major impact. This often holds true even for massive concrete traffic barriers after a major impact, as well as for columns, stanchions and the like. 
     Some effort has gone into the development of traffic barriers and other traffic structures, as noted further above. One example of such effort is found in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-100,517, published on Apr. 15, 1997. This reference describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a decorative overlay for a guardrail. The overlay comprises a rubber baseboard, a transparent barrier layer, a “drawing sheet” of artwork or the like, and another transparent protective layer for the “drawing sheet”. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a cushioned cover for traffic structures solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The cushioned cover for raffle structures is a cover that incorporates a plurality of resilient layers. In one embodiment, an innermost layer or ply of natural or synthetic rubber has a plurality of closely spaced, generally hemispherical (or other suitable shape) elements extending outwardly therefrom, and an outer layer or ply of natural or synthetic rubber overlaying the hemispherical elements. The hemispherical elements are preferably formed of a highly resilient polybutadiene elastomer used to manufacture a toy ball known as a “bouncy ball.” The inner and outer layers are preferably formed of recycled tires for economy of manufacture and to reduce environmental impact. 
     A second embodiment includes the inner and outer rubber layers of the first embodiment, but employs a medial layer having a plurality of closely spaced, pneumatically interconnected inflatable hemispheres (or other suitable shape). The inflatable elements may be inflated to any suitable pressure as desired by means of a suitable conventional air pump. 
     Either of the above embodiments may be configured for installation to one or both sides of a concrete traffic barrier, a/k/a a “Jersey wall,” or the like, or may be configured to wrap around a vertical column, stanchion, post, or the like, as in a bridge support column, traffic light, sign, or signal, etc. The thickness of the multiple rubber layers, particularly when continued over the top of a traffic barrier from one side of the barrier to the other, enables the material to be cut out and a planter box receptacle or the like to be formed therein. Alternatively, solar panels may be set into the upper surface to charge a conventional storage battery, which may then be used to power lighting set in the side(s) of the cover. A tread pattern may be formed in the outer surface of the outer layer of material when the cover is configured for installation over a concrete traffic barrier. Various means may be used to attach the cover to different traffic structures, depending upon the configuration of the traffic structures. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental perspective view of a first embodiment of a cushioned cover for traffic structures according to the present invention, broken away and partially in section to show details thereof. 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental perspective view of a second embodiment of a cushioned cover for traffic structures according to the present invention, broken away and partially in section to show details thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is an end view in section of a cushioned cover for traffic structures according to the present invention, showing a first embodiment of a clamp for securing the cover to a concrete traffic barrier. 
         FIG. 4  is an end view in section of a cushioned cover for traffic structures according to the present invention, showing a second embodiment of a clamp for securing the cover to a concrete traffic barrier. 
         FIG. 5  is an end view in section of a cushioned cover for traffic structures according to the present invention, showing attachment of the cover to a single face of the concrete traffic barrier. 
         FIG. 6  is an environmental perspective view of an additional embodiment of a cushioned cover for traffic structures according to the present invention, having another securing and attachment system and additional alternatives. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of yet another embodiment of a cushioned cover for traffic structures according to the present invention, showing a wrap-around cover for removable installation upon a traffic pole, post, column, or stanchion. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The cushioned cover for traffic structures is a flexible, resilient cover having multiple layers or plies of material. An intermediate layer may have various configurations to provide suitable resilience, and the cover may be configured to attach to or fit over or around various different traffic structures, such as concrete “Jersey walls,” bridge support columns, stanchions, and other traffic structures. 
       FIG. 1  of the drawings provides an environmental perspective view of a first embodiment  110  of a cushioned cover for traffic structures, shown installed upon a concrete traffic barrier or “Jersey wall” B, the cover  110  being shown partially broken away in order to show its internal structure. The cover  110  includes a continuous and unbroken outer layer  112  and a continuous and unbroken inner layer  114 , the two layers  112  and  114  being preferably formed of a resilient elastomer material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, or a combination of the two. A rubber or elastomer with a relatively high durometer is suitable to provide good durability for the cover  110 . Such materials as recycled vehicle tires are suitable for the manufacture of the two layers  112  and  114  of the cover  10 , as the use of such recycled materials provides greater economy of manufacture and is also more environmentally beneficial. The two layers  112  and  114  are preferably molded or otherwise formed to conform to the general shape of the Jersey barrier B or other structure to which the cover  110  is to be applied. The two layers  112  and  114  are preferably bonded or otherwise joined to one another along their mutual edges  116 . The outer layer  112  may include some form of tread pattern  118  disposed thereon in any pattern as desired, with an exemplary tread pattern  118  being shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     A large number of closely spaced, solid (i.e., not hollow) resilient elements  120  are disposed upon the inner layer  114  and extend outwardly therefrom, i.e., captured between the two layers  112  and  114 . Alternatively, the resilient elements  120  may be attached to an intermediate sheet of resilient material, the intermediate sheet being captured between the outer and inner layers  112  and  114 . Such a configuration is illustrated in  FIG. 2  for an alternative resilient intermediate layer. The resilient elements  120  may each have generally hemispherical configurations, as shown, or may have some other configuration or combination of configurations. The resilient elements  120  are preferably formed of a somewhat softer and more resilient elastomer than the outer and inner layers  112  and  114 , thus allowing the outer layer  112  to collapse more readily inwardly and to rebound more readily to its original shape when struck by a vehicle. The resilient elements  120  may be formed of a highly resilient polybutadiene elastomer, such as that used in the manufacture of Superball® toys, more generically known as “bouncy balls.” 
       FIG. 2  of the drawings provides an environmental perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a cushioned cover  210  for traffic structures, the various layers of the cover  210  being progressively broken away to show the internal structure thereof. The cushioned cover or cover  210  is constructed somewhat like the cover  110  of  FIG. 1  and discussed above, i.e., having an outer layer  212  and an inner layer  214  configured to fit closely over a concrete traffic barrier B or “Jersey wall” and having their mutual edges  216  bonded or otherwise secured together. The outer and inner layers  212  and  214  may be formed of the same materials as used for the manufacture of the two layers  112  and  114  of the first embodiment cushioned cover  210  discussed further above, i.e., natural or synthetic rubber, which may include recycled rubber from used tires and/or other sources. The outer layer  212  may include a tread pattern disposed thereon or therein, as in the case of the outer layer  112  of the embodiment  110  of  FIG. 1 . Such a tread pattern is optional, and is not shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 2  for clarity in the drawing. 
     The cushioned cover for traffic structures  210  includes an intermediate or medial layer  218  disposed between the outer and inner layers  212  and  214 , the medial layer  218  having a large number of generally hemispherical (or other shape), hollow, pneumatically inflated, resilient cells  220  disposed thereon. The inflatable cells  220  are pneumatically interconnected with one another by a pneumatic manifold  222 , which, in turn, connects to an air valve  224  extending to the outside of the cover  210 . Alternatively, each row of cells  220  may be provided with its own air valve to provide greater adjustability of the air pressure within the cover  210 . The air valve  224  allows the cells  220  to be inflated to any practicable air pressure, depending upon the requirements of the cover  210  installation. An intermediate cover sheet or ply  226  may be provided over the medial layer  218  and its pneumatic cells  220  and manifold  222 , the medial layer  218  and its cover sheet  226  being sealed or bonded together along their mutual edges  228 . It will be noted that the edges  228  of the intermediate layer  218  and its cover sheet  226  are separate from the edges  216  of the outer and inner layers  212  and  214 . This allows the medial layer  218  with its pneumatic cells  220  and cover sheet  226  (if installed) to be removed from between the outer and inner layers  212  and  214  for repair or replacement, as required. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are end elevation views in section showing means of positively securing the cushioned covers to a concrete traffic barrier. In  FIG. 3 , the cushioned cover  310  includes an outer layer  312  and an inner layer  314  substantially identical to the corresponding components of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The resilient intermediate elements  316  may comprise solid resilient components, as in the embodiment  110  of  FIG. 1 , or may comprise inflatable components, as in the embodiment  210  of  FIG. 2 . The cushioned cover for traffic structures  310  is configured to secure over a concrete traffic barrier B, substantially as in the cases of the first two embodiments  110  and  210  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . This is accomplished by providing an upper panel  318  for the outer layer  312  and an upper panel  320  for the inner layer  314 , the two upper panels  318 ,  320  being bonded or otherwise joined directly to one another, generally as shown in  FIG. 3 . The two upper panels  318  and  320  are configured to drape or otherwise be disposed across or over the upper part of the barrier B, as shown. 
     In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3 , a clamp  322  of unitary, monolithic structure extends across the top of the barrier B and the upper panels  318  and  320  of the cushioned cover  310  to secure the cover  310  to the barrier B. The clamp  322  may be formed of a sturdy, slightly resilient plastic material, or as a thinner device formed of spring steel or other suitable material. The jaws of the clamp  322  may thus be spread slightly to grip the upper panels  318  and  320  of the cover  310  against the upper portion of the barrier B. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cushioned cover  410  having substantially the same configuration as the cover  310  of  FIG. 3 , shown installed over a concrete traffic barrier  13 . The cushioned cover  410  includes an outer layer  412  and an inner layer  414 , substantially identical to the corresponding components of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 through 3 . The resilient intermediate elements  416  may comprise solid resilient components as in the embodiment  110  of  FIG. 1 , or may comprise inflatable components, as in the embodiment  210  of  FIG. 2 . The cushioned cover for traffic structures  410  is configured to secure over a concrete traffic barrier B, substantially as in the cases of the first two embodiments  110 ,  210 , and  310 , respectively, of  FIGS. 1 through 3 . This is accomplished by providing an upper panel  418  for the outer layer  412  and an upper panel  420  for the inner layer  414 , the two upper panels  418 ,  420  being bonded or otherwise joined directly to one another, generally as shown in  FIG. 4 . The two upper panels  418  and  420  are configured to drape or otherwise be disposed across or over the upper part of the barrier B, as shown. 
     In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 , a clamp  422  extends across the top of the barrier B and the upper panels  418  and  420  of the cushioned cover  410  to secure the cover  410  to the barrier B. The clamp  422  is generally in the form of a C-clamp or the like, but includes mutually opposed first and second threadably adjustable members  424   a  and  424   b . Either or both members  424   a ,  424   b  may be adjusted to grip the upper panels  418  and  420  of the cover  410  against the upper portion of the barrier B. Alternatively, one of the two adjustable members  424   a  or  424   b  may be eliminated, and a single adjustable member may be provided to secure the clamp  422  across the upper portions of the cover  410  and the underlying barrier B. 
       FIG. 5  provides an end elevation view in section of an alternative embodiment of a cushioned cover for traffic structures, designated as cover  510 . In the example of  FIG. 5 , the cover  510  is configured to cover only one side of the barrier B. Such a configuration may be desirable where such concrete barriers B are placed along the outer edge of the traffic lane(s) to separate the traffic lane(s) from pedestrian traffic and/or other non-motor vehicle environment. In such a case it is not necessary to provide resilient coverage of the side or surface of the barrier B opposite the motor vehicle traffic, and thus the cover  510  may be manufactured more economically than a two-sided cover. In  FIG. 5 , the cover  510  has a single-sided outer layer  512  and a corresponding single-sided inner layer  514 , and a plurality of intermediate resilient elements  516  (either solid or pneumatically inflated) captured therebetween. Upper and lower hooks  518  and  520  are installed in the concrete barrier B, the cover  510  having corresponding passages  522  and  524  therethrough for installing the cover removably over the hooks. The outer layer  512  may optionally include an upper panel  526  (shown in broken lines in  FIG. 5 ) that passes over the top of the barrier B to secure to an opposite upper hook  528  extending from the opposite upper side of the barrier, as shown in broken lines. 
       FIG. 6  of the drawings is an environmental perspective view illustrating additional alternative features of the cushioned cover for traffic structures. In  FIG. 6 , two cushioned covers  610  are connected together end-to-end over an assembly of concrete barriers B. Each of the covers  610  includes an outer layer  612  and inner layer  614  (seen in edge view to the left end of the assembly in  FIG. 6 ), and an intermediate layer of resilient elements (not shown in  FIG. 6 , but corresponding to such elements as illustrated in previous drawings). Each of the covers  610 , or more specifically the outer layers  612  thereof, has a first end and an opposite second end  616  and  618 . Mating connector straps  620  and  622  extend from the ends  616  and  618  of the outer layer  612  of each cover  610 , one of the connector straps having a series of pins or posts extending therefrom and the opposite strap having mating holes or passages. (The various connector straps illustrated in  FIG. 6  are shown only generally, and may be adjusted or configured for universal attachment around the end of a barrier B or to an adjacent cover.) The connector straps of adjacent ends of adjacent covers releasably connect to one another to connect the adjacent covers  610  to one another, generally as shown in  FIG. 6 . Alternative cover connection means may be provided, e.g., buckles, etc., if desired. 
       FIG. 6  also illustrates additional alternative features for the cushioned cover  610 , it being understood that these additional features may optionally be incorporated in one or more of the previously discussed embodiments of  FIGS. 1 through 5 . The upper panel  624  generally includes at least two thicknesses or layers of material, and is thus relatively thick. Additional plies or layers of material may be provided in the upper panel  624 , if desired. The resulting thickness is sufficient to allow one or more accessory receptacles  626  to be formed therein, e.g., for a planter box, as shown in the left side cover of  FIG. 6 , or for the installation of one or more solar cells  628  therein, as shown in the right side cover of  FIG. 6 . The solar cells  628  are connected conventionally to appropriate circuitry for charging a conventional electrical storage battery (not shown), the battery providing electrical power to one or more electric lights  630  disposed in the outer layer  612  of the cover  610 . Such lights provide warning and illumination for traffic traveling at night or in dim conditions adjacent to such lighted covers. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates yet another embodiment of a cushioned cover for traffic structures, designated as cover  710 . The basic structure of the cushioned cover  710  is generally similar to that of the other covers  110  through  610  described further above, incorporating an outer layer  712 , an inner layer  714 , and a plurality of intermediate resilient elements (not shown in  FIG. 7 , but substantially as shown and described for other embodiments). Rather than having an upper extension or panel that extends over the top of a structure, such as a traffic barrier, the cover  710  has a relatively flat configuration when spread on a planar surface. As in the case of other embodiments, the cover  710  includes mutually opposed first and second ends  716  and  718 , and one or more first connector straps  720  extending from the first end  716  and corresponding second connector straps  722  extending from the outer layer  712  of the cover adjacent its second end  718 . The first connector straps  720  may have a plurality of holes or passages (not shown) therein, with the second connector straps having a corresponding plurality of buttons or posts  724  extending therefrom. This allows the resilient cover  710  to be wrapped or secured about a traffic structure, such as a column C, to form a closed, generally cylindrical configuration, the two ends  716  and  718  abutting or overlapping one another and the straps  720  extending from the first end  716  being releasably secured to the pins or buttons  724  of the second straps  722  extending from the opposite second end  718 . 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.