Patent ID: 7257875

Claim:
A method for retrofitting a protective device on existing highway or roadway guardrails comprising the steps of: preparing a sheet ( 2 ) of flexible material; wrapping the sheet ( 2 ) of flexible material between at least one portion ( 3 ) of a longitudinal rail ( 6 ) of a highway or roadway guardrail ( 5 ), which forms a bumper zone, and at least one portion ( 4 ) of a lower longitudinal element ( 9 ) of the highway or roadway guardrail, positioned between at least two guardrail ( 5 ) uprights ( 8 ) of the highway or roadway guardrail ( 5 ) at a predetermined height, other than zero, from the ground, forming a smooth and continuous surface ( 11 ) which at least partly covers the guardrail ( 5 ), wherein: the step of wrapping the sheet ( 2 ) of flexible material is preceded by the step of stably binding a first rod-shaped element ( 10 ) to at least two uprights ( 8 ) of the highway or roadway guardrail ( 5 ) at a height, other than zero, from the ground which prevents a person from slipping between the first rod-shaped element ( 10 ) and the ground after falling from a vehicle and which allows rainwater to run under the protective device avoiding the flooding of the highway or roadway; the step of wrapping the sheet ( 2 ) of flexible material is preceded by the step of preparing at least one non-cutting profile ( 18 ) on the highway or roadway guardrail ( 5 ) around which the sheet ( 2 ) is wrapped, the step of preparing a non-cutting profile ( 18 ) comprising, in turn, the step of stably binding a second rod-shaped element ( 19 ) to at least two guardrail ( 5 ) uprights ( 8 ) in a zone of each upright having a maximum height from the ground, thus allowing the flexible sheet ( 2 ) to be wrapped around the highway or roadway guardrail ( 5 ) without any direct contact with any sharp edges present in the upper part of the highway or roadway guardrail ( 5 ); the flexible sheet ( 2 ) being wrapped around the at least one portion of the longitudinal rail ( 6 ), at least one portion of the non-cutting profile ( 18 ) and at least one portion of the first rod-shaped element ( 10 ).