U.S. patent application number 11/562580 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-24 for removable anchor systems for speed bumps and parking blocks.
This patent application is currently assigned to New Pig Corporation. Invention is credited to Scott C. Broughton, Mark A. DeYulis, Matthew J. Huff, Mark S. Woytowich.
Application Number | 20070116514 11/562580 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38092922 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070116514 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Woytowich; Mark S. ; et
al. |
May 24, 2007 |
REMOVABLE ANCHOR SYSTEMS FOR SPEED BUMPS AND PARKING BLOCKS
Abstract
Removable anchor systems for speed bumps and parking blocks are
disclosed. The speed bump or parking block has anchor holes that
are aligned with bores in the underlying pavement. The assembly
includes an anchor bolt removably threaded into an expanding anchor
within the bores in the pavement. The anchor assembly allows the
speed bump or parking block to be removed and replaced as required.
A plug may be installed in the pavement bore to protect the anchor
when the vehicle impediment is removed.
Inventors: |
Woytowich; Mark S.; (State
College, PA) ; DeYulis; Mark A.; (Ebensburg, PA)
; Broughton; Scott C.; (Hollidaysburg, PA) ; Huff;
Matthew J.; (Claysburg, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PIETRAGALLO, BOSICK & GORDON LLP
ONE OXFORD CENTRE, 38TH FLOOR
301 GRANT STREET
PITTSBURGH
PA
15219-6404
US
|
Assignee: |
New Pig Corporation
Tipton
PA
|
Family ID: |
38092922 |
Appl. No.: |
11/562580 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60739908 |
Nov 23, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
404/7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01F 9/529 20160201 |
Class at
Publication: |
404/007 |
International
Class: |
E01C 11/22 20060101
E01C011/22 |
Claims
1. A removable anchor system for a speed bump or parking block
comprising: a speed bump or parking block having at least one
anchor hole extending therethrough; at least one anchor set in a
bore in a section of pavement; and an anchor bolt extending through
the at least one anchor hole and removably engaged with the at
least one expander for removably fastening the speed bump or
parking block to the pavement.
2. The removable anchor system of claim 1, wherein the at least one
anchor hole is substantially perpendicular to a surface of the
pavement.
3. The removable anchor system of claim 1, wherein the anchor is
radially expandable.
4. The removable anchor system of claim 1, further comprising a
countersunk portion between the at least one anchor hole and a top
surface of the speed bump or parking block.
5. The removable anchor system of claim 4, further comprising a cap
inserted within the countersunk portion.
6. The removable anchor system of claim 1, further comprising a
washer mounted on the anchor bolt and contacting the speed bump or
parking block adjacent the at least one bore.
7. The removable anchor system of claim 1, wherein the system
comprises a speed bump.
8. The removable anchor system of claim 1, wherein the system
comprises a parking block.
9. A removable anchor system kit for speed bumps or parking blocks
comprising: an expander structured and arranged for installation in
a pavement bore; and an anchor bolt structured and arranged to
extend through the speed bump or parking block removably fastenable
to the expander to thereby allow installation and removal of the
speed bump or parking block from the pavement.
10. The removable anchor system kit of claim 9, further comprising
an expander disc within the expander for setting the expander in
the pavement bore.
11. The removable anchor system kit of claim 9, further comprising
a cap structured and arranged to engage the speed bump or parking
block and cover the bolt.
12. The removable anchor system kit of claim 9, further comprising
a plug structured and arranged to be inserted into the expander
when the anchor bolt is removed.
13. The removable anchor system kit of claim 12, further comprising
a cap structured and arranged to engage the speed bump or parking
block and cover the bolt.
14. A method of installing a removable speed bump or parking block,
comprising: installing at least one expander in a pavement bore;
positioning the speed bump or parking block over the at least one
expander in the pavement bore; inserting an anchor bolt through at
least one anchor hole extending through the speed bump or parking
block, and removably fastening the anchor bolt to the expander.
15. A method for removing a speed bump or parking block comprising:
unfastening an anchor bolt from an expander installed in a bore in
a section of pavement below the speed bump or parking block;
removing the anchor bolt from an anchor hole in the speed bump or
parking block; and removing the speed bump or parking block from
the pavement.
16. The method of claim 16, further comprising inserting a plug
into an anchor assembly to protect the assembly after the bolt has
been removed.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/739,908 filed Nov. 23, 2005, which
is herein incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to vehicle impediments such as
speed bumps and parking blocks and, in particular, to removable
anchor systems for anchoring speed bumps, and parking blocks.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0003] Vehicle impediments in the form of speed bumps and parking
blocks provide control of vehicular traffic in parking lots and
roadways. These objects can present hazards during winter months in
cooler climates because of the need to plow snow from the roads and
parking lots. The speed bumps and parking blocks stick up from the
pavement and are notorious for catching plow blades of unsuspecting
snow plow operators. This results in damage to the plow and/or
speed bump/parking block. In some situations catching a parking
block or speed bump with a plow blade may cause damage to the
vehicle and in the worst case injure the plow operator.
[0004] Speed bumps and parking blocks may also become worn and
damaged through routine use. Replacing the speed bumps and parking
blocks can damage the underlying pavement unnecessarily, making the
work much more time consuming and costly.
[0005] The present invention has been developed in view of the
foregoing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One aspect of the present invention includes a removable
anchor system for a speed bump or parking block comprising a speed
bump or parking block having at least one anchor hole extending
therethrough, at least one anchor set in a bore in a section of
pavement, and an anchor bolt extending through the at least one
anchor hole and removably engaged with the at least one expander
for removably fastening the speed bump or parking block to the
pavement.
[0007] Another aspect of the present invention includes a removable
anchor system kit for speed bumps or parking blocks comprising an
expander structured and arranged for installation in a pavement
bore and an anchor bolt structured and arranged to extend through
the speed bump or parking block removably fastenable to the
expander, to thereby allow installation and removal of the speed
bump or parking block from the pavement.
[0008] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a
method of installing a removable speed bump or parking block,
comprising installing at least one expander in a pavement bore,
positioning the speed bump or parking block over the at least one
expander in the pavement bore, inserting an anchor bolt through at
least one anchor hole extending through the speed bump or parking
block, and removably fastening the anchor bolt to the expander.
[0009] A further aspect of the present invention provides a method
for removing a speed bump or parking block comprising, unfastening
an anchor bolt from an expander installed in a bore in a section of
pavement below the speed bump or parking block, removing the anchor
bolt from an anchor hole in the speed bump or parking block, and
removing the speed bump or parking block from the pavement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a removable speed bump
mounted on a section of pavement showing the anchor holes for a
removable anchor system according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a front view of the speed bump of FIG. 1 with
hidden lines showing the anchor holes, bores in the underlying
pavement and anchor assemblies according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the speed bump of FIG. 1 with
hidden lines showing an anchor hole, a bore in the underlying
pavement and an anchor assembly according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view along an anchor hole
of the removable speed bump of FIG. 1 showing details of the
removable anchor system according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a removable parking block
mounted on a section of pavement showing the anchor holes for a
removable anchor system according to another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the removable
parking block of FIG. 5 showing details of the removable anchor
system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of an expander which
has been fitted with a plug after a removable speed bump or parking
block has been removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] As show in FIG. 1, a removable speed bump 10 is mounted on
pavement 1. The pavement 1 may be any surface on which vehicles are
driven. The speed bump 10 has a top surface 12 and a bottom surface
14 in contact with the pavement 1. The removable speed bump 10 also
has anchor holes 16 which are exposed on both the top surface 12
and bottom surface 14. The removable speed bump 10 has ends 18
which form the ends of the speed bump 10.
[0018] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a front view and side view of the
removable speed bump 10 of FIG. 1. The speed bump 2 has a total
length, designated L.sub.T in FIG. 2 of between 1.0 and 10.0 feet,
for example 6 feet. The speed bump 10 has a height, designated
H.sub.S in FIG. 3 of between 1.0 and 4.0 inches, for example 2.5
inches. The outline of anchor assembly 20 is shown in FIGS. 2 and
3. A removable assembly 20 of the present invention fastens the
removable speed bump 10 to the pavement 1. Anchor holes 16 have a
center to center spacing along the length of the speed bump
designated as L.sub.A in FIG. 2. L.sub.A may between 1.5 and 3.0
feet, for example 2.0.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the removable speed bump 10
along one of the anchor holes 16. Anchor hole 16 has a diameter
shown as D.sub.A of between 0.50 and 0.75 inch, for example 0.625
inch. A countersunk portion 17 is located at the transition from
anchor hole 16 to top surface 18. The countersunk portion 17 has a
substantially flat bottom surface and a diameter identified as
D.sub.C in FIG. 4 that is greater than the diameter D.sub.A.
D.sub.C is between 1.25 and 1.50 inches, for example 1.375 inches.
Bore holes 2 in pavement 1 are spaced and arranged so that they are
substantially aligned with anchor hole 16. The bore holes 2 in
pavement 1 have a diameter identified as D.sub.B in FIG. 4 of
between 0.50 and 0.75 inch, for example 0.625 inch.
[0020] Details of a removable anchor system 20 are shown in the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4. The anchor system 20 includes a
bolt 24 running through the anchor hole 16, washer 26 sits flush in
countersunk portion 17 and bolt head 24a rests upon washer 26. An
expander 22 is positioned in bore hole 2. In the embodiment shown
in FIG. 4, a drop in style of anchor is used. The anchor system 20
has an expander 22 positioned within the bore 2. The expander 22
has expansion slots 28. The expansion slots 28 allow the lower
portion of the expander 22 to have a slight inward taper so that it
may be inserted into bore hole 2. Once positioned within the bore
the expander 22 can be set in place. The expander is set by
inserting the expander disc 30 into the expander and striking the
expander disc 30 with a setting tool (not shown) and hammer (not
shown). The force applied by this action slides expander disc 30
down into the expander 22 the expansion slots 28 open and the
diameter of the expander 22 increases so that is come into pressing
engagement with the diameter of the bore D.sub.B and becomes locked
or set into the bore 2. The bolt 24 may then be inserted through
the anchor hole 16. A distal end of the bolt 24 has a threaded
portion 24b which has male threads. This threaded portion 24b is
inserted into the expander 22. The expander 22 has female threads
which receive the bolt. A cap 50 may be placed in the countersunk
portion 17 to cover the bolt head and provide a finished look and
protect the bolt head 24a of the removable speed bump 10. It should
be appreciated that most standard concrete anchors can be used in
this application. A drop in type of anchor is illustrated in FIG.
4, but other anchors may be used. For example, wedge anchors and
sleeve anchors may be used.
[0021] In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
5, a vehicle impediments in the form of removable parking blocks 40
fastened to the pavement 1 are shown. The removable parking blocks
40 have parking block anchor holes 46. Dimensions of the removable
parking blocks 40 and spacing of the parking block anchor holes 46
may be similar to the above-mentioned dimensions of the removable
speed bump. However, the removable parking blocks 40 are
substantially shaped to deter vehicle traffic while a removable
speed bump 10 is shaped to allow vehicles to pass over the speed
bump at a slow speed. The parking block has a parking block bottom
surface 44, parking block sides 49 and parking block upper surfaces
48.
[0022] The removable parking block 40 may be held in place with a
removable anchor system 20 as shown in FIG. 6. Dimensions of the
parking block anchor holes 46 are substantially the same as those
mentioned above for the anchor holes 16 of the removable speed bump
10 mentioned above. A parking block anchor hole 46 with a parking
block countersunk portion 47 extends from an uppermost parking
block top surface 40 to the parking block bottom surface 44. The
removable parking block 40 may be fastened to the pavement 1 in a
similar fashion as described for the removable speed bump 10. Shown
in the embodiment in FIG. 6 is a removable anchor system 20 having
an expander 22 set in a bore 2 in the pavement 1 with an expander
disc 30. The bolt 24 is inserted through washer 26 which seats in
parking block countersunk portion 47. A threaded distal end of the
bolt 24 screws into female threads of the expander 22 to fasten the
removable parking block 40 to the pavement 1. A cap 50 may be
placed in the countersunk portion 17 to cover the bolt.
[0023] As mentioned above one benefit of having removable vehicle
impediments, such as removable speed bumps 10 or removable parking
blocks 40, is the ability to remove the impediments during winter
months so snow plowing can be performed unobstructed. In one
embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7, removing the
bolt 24 allows the speed bump 10 or parking block 40 to be removed
and stored for the winter. A plug 60 can then be inserted into
expander 22. The plug 60 may be adapted to fit other anchors which
may be used. The plug 60 will keep dirt and other debris from
filling expander 22 during the winter months and allow for easy
re-installation of the removable speed bump 10 or removable parking
block 40 when permitted.
[0024] Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been
described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to
those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of
the present invention may be made without departing from the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *