Multi-component road barrier

Abstract

A road barrier system with a first barrier forming a hollow container and a second barrier forming a hollow container is disclosed, the first and second barriers being configured with alternating structures to permit the barriers to mate. The alternating structures may be located on opposed end walls of the respective barriers and may be configured as alternating half-moon projections and recesses. The mating may permit up to 30 degrees of deflection. Also disclosed are molds for making such barriers, where the molds include a base mold, a female mold, and a male mold, and the base mold may be coupled with either of the female or male molds to create a road barrier mold having features particular to either the female mold or the male mold.

1 . A road barrier system comprising: 
 a first barrier forming a hollow container;    a second barrier forming a hollow container;    wherein said first barrier and said second barrier are configured with alternating structures to permit said first barrier and said second barrier to mate.    
     
     
         2 . The road barrier system of  claim 1 , 
 said first barrier comprising a first barrier base portion, a first barrier top portion, a first barrier first side wall, a first barrier second side wall, a first barrier first end wall, and a first barrier second end wall;    said second barrier comprising a second barrier base portion, a second barrier top portion, a second barrier first side wall, a second barrier second side wall, a second barrier first end wall, and a second barrier second end wall;    wherein said alternating structures are configured on said first barrier first end wall and said second barrier second end wall.    
     
     
         3 . The road barrier system of  claim 2 , wherein said mating is permitted with up to 30 degrees of deflection measured along axes formed along said first barrier top portion and said second barrier top portion.  
     
     
         4 . The road barrier system of  claim 2 , wherein said alternating structures are configured as half-moon projections and recesses.  
     
     
         5 . The road barrier system of  claim 2 , wherein said first barrier and said second barriers include outer surfaces, said road barrier system further comprising a connection member adapted to attach to said outer surfaces to mate the barriers.  
     
     
         6 . The road barrier system of  claim 5 , wherein said connection member is in the form of a bone plate.  
     
     
         7 . The road barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein said first barrier and said second barrier are approximately 6 feet long, 3.5 feet high, and 2 feet wide when connected.  
     
     
         8 . The road barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein said first barrier and said second barrier are approximately 80 lbs. when empty.  
     
     
         9 . The road barrier system of  claim 8 , wherein said first barrier and said second barrier weigh approximately 1,600 lbs. when filled with water.  
     
     
         10 . The road barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said barriers include fork lift slots.  
     
     
         11 . A mold system for manufacturing road barriers, said mold system comprising: 
 a base mold;    a female mold; and    a male mold;    wherein said base mold may be coupled with either of said female or said male molds to create a road barrier mold having features particular to said female mold or said male mold.    
     
     
         12 . The mold system of  claim 11 , wherein said molds are adapted for use in blow molding.  
     
     
         13 . The mold system of  claim 12 , wherein said blow molding is extrusion blow molding.  
     
     
         14 . The mold system of  claim 11 , wherein said female mold includes at least one recess which permits a road barrier formed with a male mold to connect to a finished road barrier formed with a female mold.  
     
     
         15 . The mold system of  claim 11 , wherein said male mold includes at least one projection which permits a road barrier formed with a female mold to connect to a finished road barrier formed with a male mold.  
     
     
         16 . A road barrier comprising: 
 a hollow container formed by blow molding;    wherein said hollow container gives the appearance of a capability of impeding the progress of a conventional motor vehicle.    
     
     
         17 . The road barrier of  claim 16 , wherein said hollow container comprises a base portion, a top portion, first and second side walls, and first and second end walls.  
     
     
         18 . The road barrier of  claim 16 , wherein said hollow container comprises a fill hole permitting ballast material to enter the container.  
     
     
         19 . The road barrier of  claim 18 , wherein said hollow container comprises a drain hole permitting ballast material to drain from the container.  
     
     
         20 . The road barrier of  claim 16 , wherein said hollow container comprises means for connecting said container to a second hollow container.  
     
     
         21 . The road barrier of  claim 20 , wherein said hollow container comprises an external surface and said means includes a connection member associated with said external surface.  
     
     
         22 . The road barrier of  claim 21 , wherein said connection member is in the shape of a dog bone.  
     
     
         23 . The road barrier of  claim 20 , wherein said means comprises alternating male projections and female recesses.  
     
     
         24 . The road barrier of  claim 16 , wherein said road barrier is formed from high density polyethylene.  
     
     
         25 . The road barrier of  claim 24 , wherein said road barrier includes a nominal wall thickness of no greater than 0.155 in.  
     
     
         26 . The road barrier of  claim 16 , wherein said container is approximately 3 feet long, 3.5 feet high, and 2 feet wide.  
     
     
         27 . The road barrier of  claim 26 , wherein said container is approximately 40 lbs. when empty.  
     
     
         28 . The road barrier of  claim 27 , wherein said container weighs approximately 800 lbs. when filled with water.  
     
     
         29 . The road barrier of  claim 16 , wherein said blow molding is extrusion blow molding.