Speed bump forming apparatus and method

Abstract

A speed bump forming apparatus and method. The speed forming apparatus includes a tractor having a blade with a substantially semi-circular edge that matches the outer contour of a speed bump. An amount of formable material is dispensed on a paved surface at the desired location of the speed bump to be formed. The blade is positioned to contact the paved surface on laterally opposite sides of the speed bump. The tractor translates the blade along a direction corresponding to an elongate axis of the speed bump, which spreads the material out along this direction and removes material that is elevationally higher than the edge of the blade to define the outer surface of the speed bump.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for forming an elongate speed bump of formable material on a surface, the speed bump having an elongate axis and an outer surface contour line established in a cross-section that is not parallel to the elongate axis that rises, on one lateral side of the speed bump, from substantially the level of the surface to a maximum elevation, and that falls, on the other lateral side of the speed bump, from the maximum elevation to substantially the level of the surface, the apparatus comprising: 
 a blade having a speed bump forming lower edge and a surface thereabove for pushing the formable material; and    a powered machine for translating said blade along the elongate axis of the speed bump, said blade being attached to said powered machine and said speed bump forming edge being shaped to match said outer surface contour line.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said outer surface contour line is established in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to the elongate axis, and wherein said blade is elongate and has an elongate axis substantially perpendicular to the elongate axis of the speed bump.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said powered machine is a tractor.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said blade is elongate and has two ends, the apparatus including corresponding edge-guards extending outwardly from said blade.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said edge-guards extend substantially perpendicular to said blade.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said edge-guards are rigidly attached to said blade.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said edge-guards are rigidly attached to said blade.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said outer contour line rises and falls in a substantially semi-circular curve.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said blade is elongate and has two ends, the apparatus including corresponding edge-guards extending outwardly from said blade.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said edge-guards extend substantially perpendicular to said blade.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said edge-guards are rigidly attached to said blade.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said edge-guards are rigidly attached to said blade.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said outer contour line rises and falls in a substantially semi-circular curve.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said blade is elongate and has two ends, the apparatus including corresponding edge-guards extending outwardly from said blade.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said edge-guards extend substantially perpendicular to said blade.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said edge-guards are rigidly attached to said blade.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said edge-guards are rigidly attached to said blade.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for forming an elongate speed bump of formable material on a surface, the speed bump having an elongate axis and an outer surface contour line established in a cross-section that is not parallel to the elongate axis that rises, on one lateral side of the speed bump, from substantially the level of the surface to a maximum elevation, and that falls, on the other lateral side of the speed bump, from the maximum elevation to substantially the level of the surface, the apparatus comprising a blade having a speed bump forming lower edge and a surface thereabove for pushing the formable material, wherein said blade is elongate and has two ends, the apparatus further including corresponding edge-guards extending outwardly from said blade.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said edge-guards extend substantially perpendicular to said blade.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said edge-guards are rigidly attached to said blade.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said edge-guards are rigidly attached to said blade.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said outer contour line rises and falls in a substantially semi-circular curve.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said edge-guards extend substantially perpendicular to said blade.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said edge-guards are rigidly attached to said blade.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said edge-guards are rigidly attached to said blade.  
     
     
         26 . A method for forming an elongate speed bump of formable material on a surface, the speed bump having an elongate axis and an outer surface contour line established in a cross-section that is not parallel to the elongate axis that rises, on one lateral side of the speed bump, from substantially the level of the surface to a maximum elevation, and that falls, on the other lateral side of the speed bump, from the maximum elevation to substantially the level of the surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a blade having a speed bump forming lower edge and a surface thereabove that is substantially solid;    providing a tractor to which said blade is attached;    providing that said speed bump forming edge is shaped to match said outer surface contour line; and    driving said tractor in the direction of the elongate axis of the speed bump, thereby translating said blade along said axis, resulting in pushing the formable material with said surface so as to spread the formable material along the elongate axis and leaving behind an outer surface of the speed bump that incorporates said contour line in parallel said cross-sections.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said outer surface contour line is established in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to the elongate axis, and wherein said blade is elongate and has an elongate axis substantially perpendicular to the elongate axis of the speed bump.