Hinge plate with wedge

Abstract

An anchorless crash cushion apparatus comprises a number of crash cushion elements and a number of hinge plate assemblies. The crash cushion elements are configured to be connected end-to-end. Each hinge plate assembly comprises a forward structure, a rearward structure, and a wedge incline. The forward structure supports the front end of one of the crash cushion elements. The rearward structure supports the rear end of the crash cushion element. The wedge incline extends diagonally upward toward the forward structure and is configured to drive a subsequent one of the crash cushion elements upward when the forward structure is driven toward the subsequent one of the crash cushion elements.

1 . A hinge plate assembly for an anchorless crash cushion apparatus including a plurality of crash cushion elements each including opposing front and rear ends, the hinge plate assembly comprising:
 a forward structure configured to support the front end of one of the plurality of crash cushion elements;   a rearward structure spaced from the forward structure for supporting the rear end of the one of the crash cushion elements; and   a wedge incline extending diagonally upward toward the forward structure, the wedge incline being configured to drive a subsequent one of the plurality of crash cushion elements upward when the forward structure is driven toward the subsequent one of the plurality of crash cushion elements,   the wedge incline forming a recess configured to receive a wedge incline of an adjacent hinge plate assembly when the one of the crash cushion elements collapses longitudinally.   
     
     
         2 . The hinge plate assembly of  claim 1 , the wedge incline including a middle portion and left and right sides extending diagonally downward from the middle portion. 
     
     
         3 . The hinge plate assembly of  claim 1 , the wedge incline including a middle portion and left and right sides having surfaces extending diagonally downward from the middle portion. 
     
     
         4 . The hinge plate assembly of  claim 1 , the wedge incline including reinforcement ribs extending substantially perpendicular from the surfaces of the left and right sides and from the forward structure. 
     
     
         5 . The hinge plate assembly of  claim 1 , the wedge incline forming a substantially triangular component. 
     
     
         6 . The hinge plate assembly of  claim 1 , the wedge incline being spaced from the forward structure thereby forming a vertically extending gap between the wedge incline and the forward structure. 
     
     
         7 . The hinge plate assembly of  claim 1 , the wedge incline including a distal end extending beyond the rearward structure relative to the forward structure. 
     
     
         8 . The hinge plate assembly of  claim 1 , the forward structure and the rearward structure being configured to move closer together when the one of the crash cushion elements collapses longitudinally. 
     
     
         9 . The hinge plate assembly of  claim 1 , the forward structure including a forward hinge component and the rearward structure including a rearward hinge component for pivotably connecting the hinge plate assembly to the plurality of additional hinge plate assemblies so that the hinge plate assembly is compatible with a barrier transfer machine. 
     
     
         10 . The hinge plate assembly of  claim 9 , the plurality of additional hinge plate assemblies including hinge components, the forward hinge component and the rearward hinge components being configured to shift vertically relative to the hinge components of the plurality of additional hinge plate assemblies so that the hinge plate assembly is configured to be driven upward relative to the preceding one of the plurality of additional hinge plate assemblies without being disconnected therefrom. 
     
     
         11 . An anchorless crash cushion apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of crash cushion elements configured to be directly or indirectly connected end-to-end, at least some of the crash cushion element including opposing front and rear ends; and   a plurality of hinge plate assemblies each comprising:
 a forward structure configured to support the front end of one of the plurality of crash cushion elements; 
 a rearward structure spaced from the forward structure and configured to support the rear end of the one of the crash cushion elements; and 
 a wedge incline extending diagonally toward the forward structure, the wedge incline being configured to drive a subsequent one of the plurality of crash cushion elements upward when the forward structure is driven toward the subsequent one of the plurality of crash cushion elements, 
 the wedge incline forming a recess configured to receive a wedge incline of an adjacent hinge plate assembly of the plurality of hinge plate assemblies when the one of the crash cushion elements collapses longitudinally. 
   
     
     
         12 . The anchorless crash cushion apparatus of  claim 11 , the wedge incline including a middle portion and left and right sides extending diagonally downward from the middle portion. 
     
     
         13 . The anchorless crash cushion apparatus of  claim 11 , the wedge incline including a middle portion and left and right sides having surfaces extending diagonally downward from the middle portion. 
     
     
         14 . The anchorless crash cushion apparatus of  claim 11 , the wedge incline including reinforcement ribs extending substantially perpendicular from the surfaces of the left and right sides and from the forward structure. 
     
     
         15 . The anchorless crash cushion apparatus of  claim 11 , the wedge incline forming a substantially triangular component. 
     
     
         16 . The anchorless crash cushion apparatus of  claim 11 , the wedge incline being spaced from the forward structure thereby forming a vertically extending gap between the wedge incline and the forward structure. 
     
     
         17 . The anchorless crash cushion apparatus of  claim 11 , the wedge incline including a distal end extending beyond the rearward structure relative to the forward structure. 
     
     
         18 . The anchorless crash cushion apparatus of  claim 11 , the forward structure and the rearward structure being configured to move closer together when the one of the crash cushion elements collapses longitudinally. 
     
     
         19 . The anchorless crash cushion apparatus of  claim 11 , the forward structure including a forward hinge component and the rearward structure including a rearward hinge component for pivotably connecting the hinge plate assembly to the plurality of additional hinge plate assemblies so that the hinge plate assembly is compatible with a barrier transfer machine. 
     
     
         20 . An anchorless crash cushion apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of crash cushion elements configured to be directly or indirectly connected end-to-end, each crash cushion element including opposing front and rear ends; and   a plurality of wedge inclines each associated with one of the plurality of crash cushion elements and being configured to drive a subsequent one of the plurality of crash cushion elements upward when the one of the plurality of crash cushion elements is driven toward the subsequent one of the plurality of crash cushion elements.