MODULAR PROTECTION ELEMENT FOR MOTORCYCLISTS OR CYCLISTS

Abstract

 Modular protection element (1) for motorcyclists or cyclists, intended for guardrails extending in a longitudinal direction (L), comprising a hollow, flexible, longitudinal body (3) such that it forms in its interior an air chamber (4), the cross-section of the longitudinal body (3) being widened so as to define a greater transverse dimension (V) and a second transverse direction (H) perpendicular to said first transverse direction (V), a greater front surface area (7) of the element (1), a greater rear surface area (8) and lateral ends (9, 10), wherein the lateral ends (9, 10) of said body (3) comprise means (11) for resistance to flexing about the first transverse direction (V) so that when a motorcyclist collides against said greater front surface area (7) of the element (1) the latter is deformed such as to assume a channelled shape which guides the body of the motorcyclist along said element.

Description

[0001] This present invention relates to a modular protection element for motorcyclists and cyclists that provides a high degree of safety for motorcyclists and cyclists involved in an accident who are knocked into the hard shoulder, preventing impact against the supports of the guardrails or "safety barriers" and absorbing energy from the impact.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is becoming frequently more common for guardrails to have protection elements fitted underneath to prevent a motorcyclist or cyclist involved in an accident to be thrown to the other side of the guardrail and collide against the guardrail or "safety barrier" support posts.

[0003] For this purpose, it is common to have modular protection elements for motorcyclists or cyclists designed to be fitted underneath the guardrails extending in a longitudinal direction which coincides with that of the guardrails, which comprises of a hollow flexible longitudinal body so that it forms in its interior an air chamber.

[0004] An example of such a protection element is that disclosed in FR- 2 819 277, wherein a protection piece is described designed to be hung from the guardrail basically comprised of two adjoining tubes, in a vertical direction, fixed to supports provided with openings in the connection of the pipes for their attachment. However, this configuration based on two tubes presents various problems, namely, that the kinetic energy from the body of the motorcyclist is sufficient to deform the tubes so that he/she eventually passes through the space between them. It is also possible that the motorcyclist collides above the middle horizontal plane of the upper tube or below the lower one, so that the motorcyclist finishes in a position under the element or passes between the guardrail and the upper tube.

[0005] Another solution is constituted in patent application EP 1 555 349 A1, wherein a plastic modular protection element for motorcyclists is disclosed which is characterised in that it comprises a hollow body of plastic polymeric material with an undulating outline. However, this invention, considered as the most direct reference to the present invention, also has problems. Firstly, and as can be particularly appreciated in figure 2 of said document, the impact surface area is a undulating surface, and if the body of the motorcyclist collides against the lower part, the plastic profile, and particularly if the claimed measurements are considered, it is unable to hold the body of the motorcyclist, who can pass under the element. Furthermore, the element is designed to be directly fixed to the posts at their middle part, which in the event of impact, makes the central fibres become taut, but not the upper or lower ones, which would allow the body of the motorcyclist to pass to the other side.

[0006] Another example of elements of this type consists of that disclosed in EP 0 823 511 A1, which is also designed to be fixed to the posts. On the other hand, as can be particularly appreciated in figure 3 herein, the profile has a cross-section whose dimensions of width and height have the same order of magnitude. As a result, its resistance to flexing in a vertical direction (an expert in materials will understand that this basically implies a displacement in the horizontal plane) is very high, hence the impact surface area can be very hard for a body which collides against it and furthermore, can return a large part of the energy to the body of the motorcyclist who can be thrown back into the road and be dangerously exposed to the passing of other vehicles.

[0007] On the other hand, U 1 067 190 and FR 2 556 755 also disclose longitudinal protection elements, although the concept is very different as they do not have air chambers nor high enough resistance to the flexing mentioned, which make them barely adequate as they only resist impacts of a low magnitude.

[0008] It is important to mention the presence on the market of hollow guardrails made from plastic material with cross-sections in an "8" shape which have quite a high resistance to flexing. However, these have the problems mentioned above with respect to FR 2 819 277, regarding the possibility of passing over or under the element when colliding below or above the middle planes of each tubular semi-element. The final result is that they provide protection at a height that is lower than that corresponding to the height of the element itself.

[0009] On the other hand, making use of the attachment posts of the guardrails to support the aforementioned protection elements is familiar. Generally, laminated elements are used as supports for the element, which are screwed on one side to the protection element and on the other to the ledge which joins the post and the w-beam of the guardrail also called a spacer.

[0010] The combined post-beam piece normally has an inverted "L" shape, so that the guardrail is kept at a certain distance, horizontally, from the post, and in the state of the art solutions, the support piece between the element and the aforementioned spacer are joined at the upper part of the element. An example of such pieces is presented in U 1 067 190 and FR 2 556 755.

[0011] This presents the following problems:

• When the element receives an impact, the support bends at the upper part backwards, in such a way that the element itself also does the same, which then can result in the body of the motorcyclist being allowed to pass underneath.
• It is barely able to absorb energy, given that the only part that can be deformed is in a very specific area, which is normally a single edge and
• It presents difficulties for height regulation as it is fixed to the horizontal part of the post.

[0012] As a result, it is clear that no document discloses an effective protection element for motorcyclists, a situation that is demonstrated with the difficulties of many of these models and others inspired by these to achieve standardisation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] For this purpose, to overcome the problems mentioned, the present invention proposes a modular protection element for motorcyclists and cyclists designed to be situated under the guardrail and extend along it in a longitudinal direction, which comprises of a flexible longitudinal body, said body being hollow so that it forms in its interior an air chamber, the cross-section of the longitudinal body being widened so as to define a greater transverse dimension in a first transverse direction and a second transverse direction perpendicular to said first transverse direction, a greater front surface area of the element, a greater rear surface area of the element and lateral ends in said first transverse direction, which are characterised in that said lateral ends of said body comprise means for resistance to flexing about the first transverse direction, so that when a motorcyclist collides against said greater front surface area of the element, the latter is deformed such as to assume a channelled shape which guides the body of the motorcyclist along said element.

[0014] The combination of characteristics mentioned provide an optimal protection element because the means for resistance to flexing in the first transverse direction, which is obviously the vertical direction once the element is fitted under the guardrail, and attached to the lateral ends, in combination with the air chamber which provides flexibility to the part comprised between said lateral ends, ensure that upon impact by the motorcyclist, which can generally happen tangentially, the element adopts a corrugated or curved shape, it channels the motorcyclist along the element preventing him/her from passing to the other side of the guardrail. As there are the means for resistance to flexing at the ends, the whole width of the element is taken advantage of in the first transverse direction.

[0015] As there are the means for resistance to flexing at the ends, it prevents the motorcyclist from passing over or under.

[0016] On the other hand, the presence of the air chamber means that part of the pressure from the motorist is distributed inside the interior of the element, so that the concentration of forces is not so high at the point of impact, as would occur for example in protective elements such as those disclosed in U 1 067 190 and FR 2 556 755.

[0017] Preferably, said body comprises orifices whose dimensions are selected so that a fraction of the energy from the impact escapes by way of the air chamber through said orifices when a motorcyclist collides against said greater front surface area of the element.

[0018] In this way, the impact of the body of the motorcyclist provokes a forced discharge of air through said orifices, which in turn provokes a load loss of load and therefore energy. i.e., part of the kinetic energy from the body escapes through said orifices, which means that the rebound will not be so elastic and that the body will be thrown at an more acute angle than that of the accident (measured with respect to the general plane of the element), as happens for example when hitting a ball that is partially deflated. In this way, it is less likely that the body of the motorcyclist is thrown back into the road.

[0019] It is important to mention that orifices with a cross-section measuring 1 cm across are adequate to provide this effect of energy absorption.

[0020] Advantageously, said greater transverse dimension is at least three or four times greater than the cross-section dimension in the second transverse direction, so that it is easier to cover the space between the guardrail and the ground and it is also more likely that the aforementioned channelling effect is produced.

[0021] Preferably, one of the ends of the body extends with a crest along the element. In this way, the element can be fitted so that the crest overlaps the lower edge of the guardrail on the road side, so that the crest constitutes a means of cross-sectional retention of the element that also makes it more difficult for the body of the motorcyclist to pass between the element and the guardrail.

[0022] Even more preferably, the body is made out of polythene, recyclable plastic or recycled plastic.

[0023] More advantageously, the modular element of the invention is characterised in that said greater front surface area of the element is convex towards the interior of the element, improving the aforementioned channelling effect.

[0024] Preferably, the means for resistance to flexing comprise of both solitary profiles of the body and more advantageously, they are square and metallic and they are in the interior of the body.

[0025] More advantageously, the means for resistance to flexing is constituted of material from the body itself which extends in said second transverse direction, so that the means for resistance to flexing is achieved when manufacturing the element itself, without it being necessary to add more pieces to the element.

[0026] Also, preferably, the material of the body itself which extends in said transverse direction is curved towards the interior of the element with the ends in said transverse direction of said greater rear surface area of the element.

[0027] Advantageously, said material from the element itself which is extended in said transverse direction and curved towards the interior of the element are joined to the interior part of the greater front surface area discontinuously in the longitudinal direction.

[0028] Preferably, said greater rear surface area consists of means for resistance to flexing around the longitudinal direction of the element, so that said greater rear surface area limits the arc of the greater frontal rear surface area.

[0029] This characteristic of stiffness of the rear part of the element, i.e. on the opposite side to the side of impact, so that it contributes to tensing the frontal part and to prevent it from becoming too convex during impact. i.e., in this way said surface or rear side acts as the structure of the arc wherein the rope would be constituted by the impact surface.

[0030] The means of attachment to the posts of the guardrail consists of a support between said element and the posts, said support comprising of a first plate to be fixed to the post, and at least two attachment plates to said element, and two laminated arms which join the first plate to each one of the attachment plates, said arms being bent according to an edge in the central part.

[0031] This structure gives the support optimal behaviour during impact, specifically:

• Having two arms, both of them can absorb impact energy,
• Likewise, the presence of two arms gives stability to the joint, in the sense that during an impact, it can maintain the element vertical, preventing rotation of the element.

• The central attachment plate allows the support to be fixed to the post at its vertical part, which offers possibilities of height adjustment.
• The fact that the arms are bent allows predictable behaviour from the element in the event of impact, i.e. it will be possible to predict how it will move and deform during impact.

[0032] Preferably, the three plates and the two laminated arms are obtained bent by a metallic laminated piece, so that its manufacture is simple and a compact piece is produced.

[0033] Advantageously, both laminated arms are bent in the same direction. It has been proved that this characteristic, as illustrated further on in the figures, allows an almost horizontal movement by the element in the event of impact.

[0034] Finally, the means of attachment comprise of a fork whose two free ends combine with both orifices of said first plate, so that using two screws it is possible to fix said support at a variable height to a post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS

[0035] With the object of assisting in a better understanding of that presented a set of drawings accompany wherein, schematically and only by way of illustration and not restrictively, three embodiments have been represented.

Figure 1 is a cross-section view of a protection element placed under a guardrail according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the element subject of the invention fitted under a guardrail, on the side of the surface area of impact.

Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of a protection element according to the invention from the rear part.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a protection element according to the invention from the rear part according to a second preferred embodiment.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a protection element according to the invention from the rear part according to a third preferred embodiment.

Figure 5 and 6 are cross sectional perspective views of parts of the preferred embodiments shown in figures 3 and 4.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional perspective view of a detail of the preferred embodiment in figure 4, specifically the means for resistance to flexing in the longitudinal axis.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the support of the modular element subject of the invention.

Figures 9 to 11 are 3 cross sectional views of a combined support-element piece that constitutes a sequence that shows the behaviour of the support during an impact against the element.

Figure 12 is an elevational view wherein the relative disposition of the supports can be seen with respect to the other components.

Figures 13 to 16 illustrate a preferred embodiment wherein the protection element is extended extremely well so that its upper part constitutes the guardrail itself.
Specifically, figure 13 illustrates a cross-section of said embodiment of the element.

Figure 14 is a front elevational view wherein the grooves or indentations for bending can be seen.

Figure 15 is a plan view of this embodiment of the invention.

[0036] Finally, figure 16 is a plan view of the element according to this embodiment wherein it is bent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] The invention refers to a modular protection element 1 for motorcyclists o cyclists designed to be fitted under the guardrail 2 and along this in a longitudinal direction L.

[0038] The element 1 subject of the invention comprises of a longitudinal body 3 of flexible material, said body 3 being hollow so that it forms in its interior an air chamber 4, means of attachment 5 to the posts 6 of the guardrail 2, the cross-section of the longitudinal body 3 being widened so as to define a greater transverse dimension in a first transverse direction V and a second transverse direction H perpendicular to said first transverse direction V, a greater front surface area 7 of the element l, a greater rear surface area 8 of the element 1 and lateral ends 9, 10 in said first transverse direction V.

[0039] Specifically, according to the invention, the lateral ends 9, 10 of said body 3 comprises means for resistance to flexing 11 about the first transverse direction V, so that when a motorcyclists collides against said greater front surface area 7 of the element, the latter is deformed such as to assume a channelled shape which guides the body of the motorcyclist along said element 1.

[0040] This channelling effect is improved by giving the element a widened cross-section, for example making the greater transverse dimension at least three or four times bigger than the cross-section dimension 3 in the second transverse direction H.

[0041] To improve the performance of the element in the event of an accident with a motorcyclist, and more specifically so that part of the impact is absorbed by the element, the aforementioned body 3 comprises orifices 9 whose dimensions are selected so that a fraction of the energy from the impact escapes by way of the air chamber through said orifices when a motorcyclist collides against said greater front surface area 7 of the element 1.

[0042] Furthermore, to help prevent the body of the motorcyclist passing between the element 1 and the guardrail one of the ends 7, 8 of the body extends with a crest 12 along the element 1. Obviously, when the element 1 is fitted under a guardrail 2, said crest is fixed facing the lower edge of the guardrail, as can been seen in figure 2. Hence, when a motorcyclist collides against the element 1, the crest prevents the upper lateral ends of the element 1 passing to the other side of the guardrail, and guarantees vertical continuity between the guardrail 2 and the protection element 1.

[0043] On the other hand, if the protection element 1 is fitted in an urban environment, the envisaged element with crest can be fitted on the edge of the pavement, with the crest covering the kerb, so as to prevent knocks from the aforementioned kerb, as is already known, the cause of numerous fatal accidents.

[0044] The element subject of the invention can be made from polythene, recyclable plastic or recycled plastic and in particular can be manufactured by rotational moulding.

[0045] As can be seen in figures 1 and 2, the greater front surface area 7 of the element is convex towards the interior of the element 1, so as to contribute to channelling the body of the motorcyclist.

[0046] Below, two possible embodiments will be disclosed of the means for resistance to flexing in the direction V, one based on the use of metallic profiles placed longitudinally in the interior, and the other based on having the aforementioned means for resistance to flexing together with the piece itself, i.e. moulded with the same material that the body is made from.

[0047] According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the means 11 for resistance to flexing in the direction V comprise of both solitary profiles 13, 14 of the body 3, which can be made for example square, metallic and in the interior of the body, as can be seen in the cross-section of figure 1.

[0048] According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in figures 3 and 7, the means for resistance to flexing 11 are constituted by material from the body 3 itself which extend in said second transverse direction H, so that the geometric moment of the cross-section in the direction V (vertical when it is placed under the guardrail) can increase until the resistance to flexing is achieved which allows sufficient stiffness in the ends to obtain the aforementioned corrugated shape during an impact.

[0049] One way of carrying out that expressed in the previous paragraph is by arranging for said material of the body 3 itself to be extended in said transverse direction H obtaining a curve towards the interior of the element 1 with the ends in said transverse direction V of said greater rear surface area 8 of the element 1, as can be seen in figures 5 to 7.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention, the material from the element 3 itself which is extended in said transverse direction H and curved towards the interior of the element 1 are joined to the interior part of the greater front surface area 7 discontinuously in the longitudinal direction. This allows additional stiffness to be given to the lateral ends of the element, guaranteeing, by way of the discontinuities, the passage of air through the interior of the element.

[0051] As already mentioned in the description, and as illustrated in the figures 4 and 7, the greater rear surface area 8 comprises of means for resistance to flexing 15 about the longitudinal direction L of the element 1, so that said greater rear surface area 8 limits the arc of the greater frontal rear surface area 7.

[0052] Furthermore, as is illustrated in figures 13 to 16, as an alternative to the overlapping flap 12 with the barrier, the protection element itself can be extended extremely well so that its upper part constitutes the guardrail 2 itself.

[0053] Said upper part 2 can take the preferred cylindrical shape and comprise internally an air chamber 19 also cylindrical. Inside this chamber there can be a reinforcement 18, preferably tubular, to give its upper level the stiffness required for a guardrail 2.

[0054] This chamber can be interconnected with the air chamber in the main body of the element, although with openings of a reduced diameter to give the upper cylindrical extension the sufficient stiffness.

[0055] Finally with respect to this embodiment that integrates the guardrail in the element itself, it can be envisaged that said upper extension 2 is envisaged with grooves or vertical indentations 17 on the two sides front and rear, to allow the element to be bent, as can be seen in figure 16 and allow it to be adapted to the shape of the road, in particular due to the fact that the width of the element is greater at the level of the upper extension, as can be seen in figure 13.

[0056] To give greater efficiency to the element, specifically so that its efficiency does not depend on the height between the guardrail and the ground, the means of attachment 5 to the posts 6 of the guardrail 2 are height adjustable.

[0057] The means of attachment 5 to the posts 6 of the guardrail 2 consists of a support 101 between said element 1 and the post 6, said support 101 being conceived so that it deforms plastically when a motorcyclist collides against said greater front surface area 7 of the element 1, so that part of the energy from the impact is absorbed by the means of attachment instead of being sent back to the body of the motorcyclist involved in the accident.

[0058] As can be seen in figures 8 to 12, the aforementioned support 101 is characterised in that it comprises a first plate 107 to be fixed to the post 6, and at least two attachment plates 108, 109 to said element 1, and two laminated arms 110, 111 which join the first plate 107 to each one of the attachment plates 108, 109, said arms being bent according to an edge in the central part.

[0059] This structure gives the support 101 a high capacity to absorb the energy from impact, as various areas of bending are defined whose plastic deformation will absorb part of the energy from impact.

[0060] According to the embodiment disclosed in figure 8, the three plates 107, 108, 109 and the two laminated arms 110, 111 are obtained by bending a metallic laminated piece, so that almost the whole piece is obtained by a simple cut of the laminated material and subsequent bending.

[0061] Furthermore, to improve the behaviour in the event of an impact, both laminated arms 110, 111 are bent in the same direction.

[0062] The resulting effect of the resulting characteristics, in the event of an impact against the element 1 by the body of a motorcyclist involved in an accident, and as illustrated in the sequence of figures 9 to 11 obtained by finite element simulation, is that the support bends so that the lower and upper ends roughly follow a horizontal trajectory. This fact is important because it maintains the stability of the protection element, preventing the ends of the latter from being displaced in a vertical direction, which could allow the motorcyclist to pass to the other side of the element 1 in the direction of the support posts 6.

[0063] Finally, the means of attachment comprise of a fork 105 whose two free ends 112, 113 combine with both orifices of said first plate 107, so that using two screws it is possible to fix said support to a post 6 at a variable height. This is especially important because it allows the height of the element 1 to be regulated, and specifically allows its lower edge to be moved towards the ground so that it prevents the body of the motorcyclist to pass under the element 1, who in the event of a fall would normally arrive there sliding along the ground.

[0064] Obviously, there are numerous possible variations of embodiment of the invention which an expert in materials will be able to conceive based on that explained, without going beyond the range of the claims attached.

Claims

1. Modular protection element (1) for motorcyclists and cyclists designed to be fitted under the guardrail (2) and extended along it in a longitudinal direction (L), which comprises of a flexible longitudinal body (3), said body being hollow so that it forms in its interior an air chamber (4), the cross-section of the longitudinal body (3) being widened so as to define a greater transverse dimension in a first transverse direction (V) and a second transverse direction (H) perpendicular to said first transverse direction (V), a greater front surface area (7) of the element (1), a greater rear surface area (8) of the element (1) and lateral ends (9, 10) in said first transverse direction (V), characterised in that said lateral ends (9, 10) of said body (3) comprise means for resisting the flexing (11) about the first transverse direction (V), so that when a motorcyclists collides against said greater front surface area (7) of the element (1), the latter is deformed such as to assume a channelled shape which guides the body of the motorcyclist along said element.

2. Modular element (1) according to claim 1, wherein said body (3) comprises orifices (9) whose dimensions are selected so that a fraction of the energy from the impact escapes by way of the air chamber through at least one said orifice when a motorcyclist collides against said greater front surface area (7) of the element (1).

3. Modular element (1) according to claim 1, wherein due to the fact that said greater transverse dimension is at least three or four times bigger than the cross-section dimension (3) in the second transverse direction (H).

4. Modular element (1) according to claim 1, wherein one of the ends (7, 8) of the body is extended with a crest (12) along the element.

5. Modular element (1) according to claim 1, wherein said body (3) is made out of polythene, recyclable plastic or recycled plastic.

6. Modular element (1) according to claim 1, wherein said greater front surface area (7) of the element is convex towards the inside of the element (1).

7. Modular element (1) according to claim 1, wherein said means of rigidification (11) comprise of both profiles (13, 14) in the interior of the body (3), and said profiles are square, metallic and solitary to said body (3), or are constituted by material from the body (3) itself which is extended in said second transverse direction (H).

8. Modular element (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said material of the body itself (3) which extends in said transverse direction (H) is curved towards the interior of the element (1) with the ends in said transverse direction (V) of said greater rear surface area (8) of the element (1).

9. Modular element (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said material of the body itself 3 (3) which extends in said transverse direction (H) is curved towards the interior of the element (1) is joined to the interior part of the greater front surface area (7) discontinuously in the longitudinal direction.

10. Modular element (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said greater rear surface area (8) comprises of means for resistance to flexing (15) about the longitudinal direction (L) of the element (1), so that said greater rear surface area (8) limits the arc of the greater frontal rear surface area (7).

11. Modular element (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means of attachment (5) to the posts (6) of the guardrail (2) consists of, between said element (1) and the post (6) a support (101), supplied with a first plate (107) to be fixed to the post (6), and at least two attachment plates (108, 109) to said element (1), and two laminated arms (110, 111) which join the first plate (107) to each of the attachment plates (108, 109), said arms (110, 111) being bent according to an edge in the central part, said plate (107) available so that it deforms plastically when a motorcyclist collides against said greater front surface area (7) of the element (1).

12. Modular element (1) according to claim 11, wherein the three plates (107, 108, 109) and the two laminated arms (110, 111) of said support (101) are obtained by bending a metallic laminated piece.

13. Modular element (1) according to claim 11, wherein both laminated arms (110, 111) of said support (101) are bent in the same direction.

14. Modular element (1) according to claim 11, wherein said support (101) comprises of a fork (105) to be fixed to the post (6) whose two free ends (112, 113) combine with both orifices of said first plate (107), so that using two screws it is possible to fix said support at a variable height to a post (6).

15. Modular element according to claim 1, which comprises an upper extension (16) designed to carry out the function of guardrail (2).

16. Modular element according to the preceding claim, wherein said upper extension (16) preferably has a cylindrical shape and internally comprises an air chamber (19) that is also cylindrical.

17. Modular element according to the preceding claim, which comprises a reinforcement (18), preferably tubular, in the interior of said chamber (19).

18. Element according to any of the claims from 15 to 17, wherein said upper extension is provided with grooves or vertical indentations (17) on the two sides front and rear, so as to allow the element to be bent and allow it to be adapted to the shape of the road.

Drawing