Guardrail flange protector

Abstract

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a guardrail safety system includes a guardrail beam and a support post of a predetermined depth coupled to the guardrail beam. The support post includes a lower portion for installing below grade adjacent the roadway, a mid portion that lies substantially adjacent the grade, and an upper portion releasably coupled to the guardrail beam. The mid portion includes a weakened section operable to weaken the support post about a first axis without substantially changing the behavior of the support post about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis. A flange protector is coupled between the support post and the guardrail beam. The flange protector has a depth that is less than the predetermined depth of the support post.

1 . A guardrail safety system, comprising: 
 a guardrail beam;    a support post of a predetermined depth coupled to the guardrail beam, the support post comprising: 
 a lower portion for installing below grade adjacent the roadway;  
 a mid portion that lies substantially adjacent the grade, the mid portion including a weakened section operable to weaken the support post about a first axis without substantially changing the behavior of the support post about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis; and  
 an upper portion releasably coupled to the guardrail beam; and  
   a flange protector coupled between the support post and the guardrail beam, the flange protector having a depth that is less than the predetermined depth of the support post.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the support post comprises first and second flanges and a web forming a coupling between the first and second flanges, the web extending generally perpendicular to a midpoint of the first and second flanges;    the flange protector comprises a substantially rectangular body portion that includes an indentation in a surface of the flange protector that is proximate to the support post when the support post and the guardrail beam are coupled with the flange protector therebetween; and    the second flange of the support post rests inside the indentation of the flange protector when the second flange of the support post and the guardrail beam are coupled with the flange protector therebetween.    
   
   
       3 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 2 , wherein the flange protector comprises first and second lips on opposing sides of the indentation, the first and second lips extending proximate opposing edges of the second flange of support post when the second flange of the support post and the guardrail beam are coupled with the flange protector therebetween.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flange protector comprises a substantially rectangular plate.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the flange protector comprises a W-beam member.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the depth of the flange protector is less than or equal to half of the predetermined depth of the support post, the depth of the flange protector being less than three inches.  
   
   
       7 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 1 , wherein the flange protector is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, wood, rubber elastomer, and composite materials.  
   
   
       8 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 1 , wherein the support post is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, plastic, wood, and composite materials.  
   
   
       9 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 1 , wherein the weakened section is selected from the group consisting of at least one cutout formed in the mid portion of the support post, at least one cutout formed in a surface of the support post at least one notch formed in a surface of the support post, at least one diamond-shaped notch in a surface of the support post, at least one sawcut formed in a surface of the support post, at least one semi-circular opening formed in a surface of the support post, at least one semi-circular opening formed through the support post, and at least one aperture formed through the support post.  
   
   
       10 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 7 , wherein the support post is selected from the group consisting of an I-beam, an H-beam, a C-channel, an S-beam, a W-beam, an M-beam, and a tubular member.  
   
   
       11 . A guardrail beam protector for use in a guardrail safety system, comprising: 
 a body operable to be coupled between a guardrail beam and a support post of a guardrail safety system, the body operable to protect the guardrail beam from contact by the support post upon impact to the guardrail beam by a vehicle;    at least one bolthole formed through the body, the at least one bolthole configured to be used in a connection of the body to the guardrail beam and support post; and    wherein the support post is of a predetermined depth and the flange protector is of a depth that is less than the predetermined depth of the support post.    
   
   
       12 . The guardrail beam protector of  claim 11 , wherein the body further comprises an indentation formed in a first surface of the body, the indentation configured to receive a portion of the support post when the body is coupled to the guardrail beam and the support post, the indentation protecting the guardrail beam from contact by the support post upon impact to the guardrail beam by a vehicle and preventing rotation of the guardrail beam protector.  
   
   
       13 . The guardrail beam protector of  claim 12 , wherein the body comprises first and second lips on opposing sides of the indentation, the first and second lips extending proximate opposing edges of the support post when the support post and the guardrail beam are coupled with the guardrail beam protector therebetween.  
   
   
       14 . The guardrail beam protector of  claim 11 , wherein the body is selected from the group consisting of a substantially rectangular plate and a W-beam member.  
   
   
       15 . The guardrail beam protector of  claim 11 , wherein the depth of the guardrail beam protector is less than or equal to half of the predetermined depth of the support post, the depth of the guardrail beam protector being less than three inches.  
   
   
       16 . The guardrail beam protector of  claim 11 , wherein the body is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, wood, rubber elastomer, and composite materials.  
   
   
       17 . A steel yielding support post for use in a guardrail safety system, comprising: 
 a first flange having an associated midpoint;    a second flange having an associated midpoint; and    a web coupling to the midpoint of the first flange to the midpoint of the second flange to position the first and second flanges in spaced apart relation to one another, the web extending generally perpendicular to the associated midpoints of the first and second flanges; and    wherein the second flange comprises a substantially rounded outer surface, a first edge and a second edge of the second flange curving toward the first flange.    
   
   
       18 . The steel yielding support post of  claim 17 , wherein the first flange, second flange, and web form a continuous structural member, the continuous structural member comprising: 
 a lower portion for installing below grade adjacent the roadway;    a mid portion that lies substantially adjacent the grade, the mid portion including a weakened section operable to weaken the support post about a first axis without substantially changing the behavior of the support post about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis; and    an upper portion releasably coupled to the guardrail beam.    
   
   
       19 . The steel yielding support post of  claim 18 , wherein the weakened section is selected from the group consisting of at least one cutout formed through at least one of the first and second flanges, at least one cutout formed in the surface of at least one of the first and second flanges, at least one notch formed in a surface of the at least one of the first and second flanges, at least one diamond-shaped notch formed in a surface of the at least one of the first and second flanges, at least one sawcut formed in a surface of the at least one of the first and second flanges, at least one semi-circular opening formed in a surface of the support post, at least one semi-circular opening formed through the support post, and at least one aperture formed through the at least one of the first and second flanges.  
   
   
       20 . The steel yielding support post of  claim 14 , wherein the first flange, second flange, and web are comprised of steel, and the support post is selected from the group consisting of a W6×9 Wide flange, a W8×10 Wide flange, and a W6×8.5 Wide flange.