End plate for use with a roadway barrier

Abstract

An end plate configured to integrate with a first end wall or a second end wall of a roadway barrier comprises a body wall and a brace. The body wall includes a front surface and a rear surface, and is configured to couple with a first side wall and a second side wall of the roadway barrier. The brace is attached along a width of the rear surface of the body wall and extends rearward therefrom. The brace includes a first notch and a second notch, with each notch providing an opening in the brace that allows the brace to bend at the notch locations.

1 . An end plate configured to integrate with a first end wall or a second end wall of a roadway barrier, the end plate comprising:
 a body wall including a front surface and a rear surface, the body wall configured to couple with a first side wall and a second side wall of the roadway barrier; and   a brace attached along a width of the rear surface of the body wall and extending rearward therefrom, the brace including a first notch and a second notch, each notch providing an opening in the brace that allows the brace to bend at the notch locations.   
     
     
         2 . The end plate of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first side flange extending rearward from a left side edge of the body wall, the first side flange configured to couple with the first side wall of the roadway barrier; and   a second side flange extending rearward from a right side edge of the body wall, the second side flange configured to couple with the second side wall of the roadway barrier.   
     
     
         3 . The end plate of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second bottom flanges each extending rearward from a bottom edge of the body wall. 
     
     
         4 . The end plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first notch and the second notch each have a generally rectangular shape with first and second opposing side surfaces and an end surface positioned therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The end plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first notch and the second notch are each configured to widen during a vehicular impact with the roadway barrier. 
     
     
         6 . The end plate of  claim 1 , wherein the end plate further comprises a left bumper and a right bumper spaced apart from the left bumper, each bumper attached to the front surface of the body wall, and the first notch is roughly aligned with a feature of the right bumper and the second notch is roughly aligned with a feature of the left bumper. 
     
     
         7 . An end plate configured to integrate with a first end wall or a second end wall of a roadway barrier, the end plate comprising:
 a body wall including a front surface and a rear surface;   a first side flange extending rearward from a left side edge of the body wall, the first side flange configured to couple with a first side wall of the roadway barrier;   a second side flange extending rearward from a right side edge of the body wall, the second side flange configured to couple with a second side wall of the roadway barrier;   first and second bottom flanges each extending rearward from a bottom edge of the body wall; and   a brace attached along a width of the rear surface of the body wall and extending rearward therefrom, the brace including a first notch and a second notch, each notch providing an opening in the brace that allows the brace to bend at the notch locations, and each notch configured to widen during a vehicular impact with the roadway barrier.   
     
     
         8 . The end plate of  claim 7 , wherein the end plate further comprises a left bumper and a right bumper spaced apart from the left bumper, each bumper attached to the front surface of the body wall, and the first notch is roughly aligned with a feature of the right bumper and the second notch is roughly aligned with a feature of the left bumper. 
     
     
         9 . A roadway barrier comprising:
 a first side wall and a second side wall spaced apart from the first side wall; and   a first end wall and a second end wall spaced apart from the first end wall, each end wall coupled with the side walls and including an end plate comprising:
 a body wall including a front surface and a rear surface, 
 a first side flange extending roughly orthogonal from the rear surface on a first side edge of the body wall, the first side flange configured to couple with the first side wall, 
 a second side flange extending roughly orthogonal from the rear surface on a second side edge of the body wall, the second side flange configured to couple with the second side wall, 
 first and second bottom flanges each extending roughly orthogonal from the rear surface on a bottom edge of the body wall, and 
 a brace attached along a width of the rear surface of the body wall and extending orthogonal therefrom, the brace including a first notch and a second notch, each notch providing an opening in the brace that allows the brace to bend at the notch locations, and each notch configured to widen during a vehicular impact with the roadway barrier. 
   
     
     
         10 . The end plate of  claim 9 , wherein the end plate further comprises a left bumper and a right bumper spaced apart from the left bumper, each bumper attached to the front surface of the body wall, and the first notch is roughly aligned with a feature of the right bumper and the second notch is roughly aligned with a feature of the left bumper.