Abstract:
A safety barrier positionable across a path for deterring rolling objects from passing beyond the barrier includes an elongate hollow member having open lateral ends. The elongate hollow member includes a base for positioning on a surface and an upwardly extending wall having an arcuate concave surface for hindering rolling objects from passing beyond the barrier.

Description:
This application claims benefit Prov. No. 60/147,167 filed Aug. 4, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a child&#39;s safety barrier and especially a barrier for positioning near an end of the driveway or other inclined surface for preventing rolling objects such as balls from passing the barrier. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Children&#39;s safety is a major concern of parents, caretakers, and other adults. Most adults know of an occurrence when a child has run after a ball rolling into the street where and has not looked out for possible oncoming traffic. Tragically, some children have been injured or killed by a vehicle when they ran into the street to retrieve the ball. Parents in the past have provided a makeshift barrier at the end of their driveway out of furniture, blocks of wood, and other articles to prevent their children&#39;s play toys from rolling into the street and thereby preventing the children from retrieving the play toys. These previous barriers used by parents to block rolling objects were generally cumbersome to move, unattractive and did not always stop the rolling object. In addition, the articles had to be removed from a driveway before a vehicle could proceed into the homeowner&#39;s yard. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the intent of the current invention to address the aforementioned concerns by providing a barrier for rolling objects and especially for children&#39;s balls and other rolling playthings that is lightweight to carry, transportable, durable, easily connectable to each other to adjust its length, as well as easy and inexpensive to manufacture. The safety barrier of the present invention is an elongated member having a base and a first and second wall extending upwardly from the base. The first and second walls meet at an upper point spaced above the base wherein at least one of the walls has a concave exterior surface. 
     In another aspect of the invention the concave exterior surface may include a first ramp extending from the base to an innermost point and a second ramp extending from the innermost point to the upper point. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, the base may include means for allowing liquids to drain past the barrier. 
     In another aspect of the invention, there is a means of releasably securing one barrier to an adjacent barrier. 
     Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the safety barrier of the present invention positioned at an edge of a driveway; 
     FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the safety barrier with a connecting device installed at one end; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the safety barrier illustrating a longitudinal end and a portion of the other elongated surface; 
     FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the safety barrier in FIG. 3; and 
     FIGS. 5 a - 5   f  show other embodiments of the safety barrier. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention provides a bumper style safety barrier for placement near or at the end of a driveway  5  or other incline surfaces where children are likely to play. The safety barrier is provided and designed to deter run-away balls, tricycles, baby carriages and other rolling objects from passing the safety barrier and rolling into the street and into potential oncoming traffic. 
     The safety barrier  10  of the present invention includes an elongated structure for placement laterally across a driveway  5  to define a safe play area  11  for children. The safety barrier  10  is preferably configured such that a ball or other rolling device used by a child is deterred from jumping over and passing the safety barrier  10  and continuing into a dangerous area, such as a street  13 . 
     Looking at FIG. 3, the safety barrier  10  is structured to have a wider (W) base  12  than height (H). Currently, the height (H) from the base  12  to the highest point  14  of the safety barrier  10  is approximately four inches. The depth or width (W) of the base  12  is approximately eight inches. The length (L) of the safety barrier structure  10  can vary, but preferably has a length to extend over the driveway in four or five feet sections. The length (L) of the safety barrier  10  is kept to a reasonable length so that it can be easily transported and positioned manually to its designated location. The weight is also kept to less than ten pounds and preferably from four to six pounds. 
     The preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 2, wherein a connecting lock  40  is provided for placement between adjacent safety barriers  10 . The connecting lock  40  has a general cross configuration with two of the opposing cross members forming a pair of spring loaded tines  42 . The safety barrier  10  is modified to receive one of the pair of spring loaded tines  42  in each of the lateral ends. Each lateral end of the safety barrier  10  will have a keyhole  31  formed in the base  12 . The keyhole  31  is shown in FIG. 5 e . The pair of tines  42  are pushed together and inserted into keyhole  31 . Upon release of the tines, the peripheral edge  33  of the keyhole  31  is held within the outer grooves  43  of the tines  42 . The other two cross members  44  located approximately 90° relative to the tines  42  form a spacer between adjacent safety barriers. The spacing between adjacent safety barriers is the length of side  46  of cross members  44 . 
     In another embodiment as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base  12  is an essentially flat surface for positioning on a driveway  5  or other relatively smooth surface. The base  12  may include grooves or channels  15  extending the entire depth (W) of the base  12  to provide water drainage. The grooves  15  are spaced approximately every twelve inches along the length (L) of the safety barrier  10 , and allows water that collects in the driveway  5  to drain to the street. 
     The highest point  14  of the safety barrier structure  10  is positioned slightly offset from the center of the base  12 . The location of highest point  14  prevents the safety barrier  10  from being tipped over when rolling devices and toys roll into the safety barrier. The first elongated side  16  of the lateral length of the safety barrier  10  is concaved and preferred to have a triangular  18  recess along the entire length (L) for purposes discussed hereinafter. The top edge  20  of the triangular recess  18  should extend at least partially back toward the play area  11 . The first elongated side  16  is configured so that one portions the safety barrier  10  to face the interior of the play area  11 . 
     The barrier has a second elongated surface  22  that preferably meets the first side  16  at the top edge  20 . Although both elongated surfaces  16 ,  22  may be configured to include the triangular recess  18  along each entire elongated surface, it is preferred and shown in the drawings that the second elongated surface  22  has a ramp formation to increase the structural stability of the overall safety barrier  10  and to easily allow a vehicle to ride over the safety barrier  10  without damage to the barrier  10 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-4,  5   a ,  5   d ,  5   e  and  5   f  the cross-sectional configuration of the safety barrier  10  reflects a cresting wave. The width (W) of the base  12  of the safety barrier  10  has a dimension approximately twice the height (H) of the safety barrier. This helps to maintain the center of gravity near the base  12  to prevent the safety barrier  10  from easily tipping in one direction or another. As seen in FIG. 3, the first elongated surface  16  has a first ramp  17  extending from the flat base surface and continuing to an innermost point  21  of the triangular recess  18 . The first elongated surface  16  then ramps  19  back to terminate at a top edge or forward point  20  of the crest. Each ramp  17 ,  19  of the first elongated surface  16  may be either linear or arcuate as shown in the figures. The triangular or concave recess  18  provides advantages over other configurations as will be discussed hereinafter. The safety barrier  10  further includes a second elongated surface  22  forming the rearward edge of the wave configuration. The second elongated surface  22  has a second ramp  23  with a shallow S-curve formation terminating at the forward point  20  of the crest. 
     The forward point or top edge  20  of the crest helps to resist rolling balls from jumping over the top edge or crest of the barrier. The forward point  20  of the crest will act as a stop for the ball. The second ramp  23  is provided with a shallow S-curve formation to provide more mass near the base  12  of the barrier and to follow the line of the arcuate or triangular recess of the first elongated surface  16  to provide more material at the crest. Therefore, the crest portion of the safety barrier provides a collapsible but durable ramp for a vehicle&#39;s wheels when encountering the barrier from the second elongated surface side  22 . If a vehicle encounters the barrier from the first elongated surface side  16 , the crest portion will again collapse under the weight of the vehicles wheels. Testing has indicated that the configuration with the triangular recess  19  shows repeatability to collapse and then spring back to its original shape. 
     When more than one barrier  10  is used to extend over a driveway, a keyway is provided to align and secure one barrier  10  adjacent to another barrier  10 . One embodiment is shown in FIG. 2 wherein the keyway includes a keyhole  30  in one lateral end  32  and a complementary key  34  in the other lateral end  36 . The keyhole  30  includes a groove or recess in the surface of lateral end  32 . The key  34  includes a nodule having a complementary configuration in the other lateral end. When two or more barriers are placed adjacent to each other, the key  34  of one barrier fits into the keyhole  30  of the adjacent barrier to releasably secure the barriers together. 
     The child safety barrier  10  of the present invention is preferably made of a semi-rigid material that is lightweight, flexible, and weather impervious. The material must allow the crest portion of the barrier to collapse under predetermined weight, such as that of a vehicle&#39;s wheels, but then spring back to its original shape. The material must also be able to withstand a predetermined number of drive-overs by a vehicle. Such material that is being considered and tested is rubber, polyurethane and foam. The child safety barrier  10  may also be manufactured of a composite of the aforementioned materials. Although the safety barrier  10  is preferably hollow, it is advantageous to provide an insert  26  (shown in FIG. 4) of rubber along the base  12  when the barrier is made of a polyurethane. The rubber insert adds weight to the base  12  to prevent the barrier  10  from tipping over. The rubber insert further adds mass along the base to increase durability. 
     The safety barrier is configured so that the recessed surface is positioned toward the play area  11 . If a ball rolls toward the barrier, the arcuate recess, and especially ramp  19  directs the ball back into the play area  11 . If the ball is larger than the arcuate recess, the forward point  20  stops the ball from further rolling. The upper or outer arcuate surface  22  will temporarily collapse under the weight of a vehicle or other heavy objects, but will spring back to its previous shape when the weight is removed. 
     Although the preferred embodiments are shown in FIGS. 1-4, other configurations for the safety barrier  10  are envisioned. In FIG. 5 a , the first elongated side  16  includes a first planar surface  117  that is generally horizontal and parallel to the base  112 . The first planar surface  117  terminates at an innermost point  121 . The first elongated surface  116  then has an arcuate ramp  119  to forward point  120 . A hinge  123  is provided along the length (L) of the safety barrier  10  at the innermost point  121 . If a vehicle drives over the safety barrier  10 , the tire of the vehicle will travel over outer arcuate surface  122 . The weight of the tires will move the outer arcuate surface  122  and arcuate ramp  119  toward the base  112  by pivoting at hinge  123 . Once the weight is removed, the hinge biases the outer arcuate surface  122  away from base  112 . 
     FIG. 5 b  shows another embodiment having a right angle configuration. The first planar surface  217  is also horizontal and parallel to base  212  and terminates at innermost point  221 . Ramp  219  is vertical and at a right angle relative to first planar surface  217 . 
     FIG. 5 c  show yet another embodiment which forms a pair of recesses  316   a ,  316   b  so that the safety barrier can be positioned having either recess  316   a ,  316   b  facing the play area. The center vertical portion  319  is flexible and can bend with the weight of tires and other heavy objects. 
     FIG. 5 d  shows an embodiment having a similar configuration as shown in FIGS. 1-4. In this embodiment, the lower portion forming the base  412  may be made of a solid rubber material or a plastic material having a hollow interior which can be filled with liquid, sand, or other material through an insert cap  421  to add weight to the base  412 . The upper portion  419  is a hollow inflatable material that can be partially filled with air. When a tire travels over the upper portion  419 , the air temporarily redistributes within the upper portion  419  until the weight is removed. 
     FIG. 5 e  shows an embodiment having a notch  523  along the outer, lower surface  521 . The outer surface  521  terminates at crest  520 . An undercrest  519  continues from crest  520  and terminates at roller  524  which extends the length of the barrier. The base  512  continues to a first elongate surface  516  having a first ramp  517  that terminates along an edge  518 . The barrier in FIG. 5 e  is configured such that the roller  524  rests on the first elongate surface  516 . If a predetermined weight, such a vehicle tire rolls over the barrier, the outer surface  521  will bend along notch  523  and roller  524  will roll down first ramp  517  as the outer surface  521  bends. Once the weight is removed, the barrier will return to the original configuration as shown in FIG. 5 e . The notch may be replaced with any means of thinning of the material along the outer surface  516  to provide a bending location for the barrier. 
     FIG. 5 f  shows another embodiment with a thick base  612  and a narrow upper portion formed by the outer ramp  622  and inner ramp  615 . 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.