A-frame barricade

Abstract

A pair of A-frame members of molded plastic support an elongated beam extending through openings in apex portions thereof. Pockets are provided in the outsides of two legs of each A-frame member into which elongated weight cartridges are placed to be securely held to the legs. The legs and pockets are so formed that with a low volume and weight, a high strength and rigidity of the legs is achieved, a substantial contribution being made by the weight cartridges. The weights of the cartridges are used to resist tilting movement of the barricade and to achieve stability with a high degree of efficiency. The weight cartridges are preferably blow-molded plastic tubes filed with slag or sand and most preferably are interchangeable with cartridges currently in use in other applications. For additional stability, the legs of each A-frame member may be secured to an elongated member, to a plastic tube mounted there-between and/or to a blow-molded panel that is adapted to be filled with a weighty material and face in a longitudinal direction. Also, for additional strength and stability, elongated beams may be hung on lower portions of legs of the pair of A-frame members.

1 . A barricade comprising: an A-frame member for coacting with a like A-frame member to support ends of one or more elongated beams, said A-frame member including two legs that extend angularly upwardly and inwardly toward each other to meet at an apex portion, each of said legs being formed with a recess that provides a pocket for receiving an elongated weight cartridge. 
   
   
       2 . A barricade as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said legs includes facing walls for engaging opposite side surfaces of a weight cartridge and a rear wall for engaging a rear surface of a weight cartridge. 
   
   
       3 . A barricade as defined in  claim 2  for use with weight cartridges that have central openings for mounting purposes, each of said legs including a post that extends forwardly from said rear wall thereof for extending through a central opening of a weight cartridge, and a washer for installation on the end of said post for holding a weight cartridge in place. 
   
   
       4 . A barricade as defined in  claim 2 , wherein each of said legs includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and an intermediate wall between said outer and inner walls, said facing walls being provided by said intermediate wall and one of said outer and inner walls. 
   
   
       5 . A barricade as defined in  claim 4 , each of said legs further including walls that extend angularly between said intermediate wall and said one of said outer and inner walls and also between said outer and inner walls above said pockets for additional strength and rigidity. 
   
   
       6 . A barricade as defined in  claim 1 , a panel secured to said A-frame member to face in a longitudinal direction and to be highly visible for warning or informational purposes, said panel being hollow and being adapted to be filled with liquid or solid materials to add additional weight and stability. 
   
   
       7 . A barricade as defined in  claim 1 , said A-frame member including an opening in said apex portion for coacting with a like opening of a like A-frame member to support opposite ends of one elongated beam, and each of said legs including hook means projecting from the outsides of lower end portions thereof for coacting with like means of a like A-frame member for hanging opposite ends of two additional elongated beams on the legs to provide increased stability and pedestrian barriers. 
   
   
       8 . A barricade as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said A-frame member is usable in support of beams that include upper flange portions terminating in downwardly turned ends, each of hook means comprising a hook portion turned upwardly to engage behind a downwardly turned end of an upper flange portion of a beam. 
   
   
       9 . A barricade as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said beams include lower flange portions terminating in upwardly turned ends, each of said hook means further comprising a lower hook portion turned downwardly to engage behind an upwardly turned end of a lower flange portion of a beam. 
   
   
       10 . A barricade as defined in  claim 7 , a panel secured to said A-frame member to face in a longitudinal direction and to carry warning indicia or colors, said panel being hollow and being adapted to be filled with liquid or solid materials to add addition weight and stability. 
   
   
       11 . A barricade comprising a pair of A-frame members for supporting opposite ends of one or more elongated beams, each of said A-frame members including two legs that extend angularly upwardly and inwardly toward each other to meet at an apex portion, an elongated weight cartridge for installation in a pocket formed in each of said legs, each of said legs including facing walls for engaging opposite side surfaces of a weight cartridge and a rear wall for engaging a rear surface of a weight cartridge. 
   
   
       12 . A barricade as defined in  claim 11 , each of said weight cartridges having a central opening, and each of said legs having a post that extends forwardly from said real wall thereof for extending through said central opening of a weight cartridge, a washer for installation on the end of each of said posts for holding a weight cartridge in place. 
   
   
       13 . A barricade as defined in  claim 11 , wherein each of said legs includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and an intermediate wall between said outer and inner walls, said facing walls being provided by said intermediate wall and one of said outer and inner walls. 
   
   
       14 . A barricade as defined in  claim 13 , each of said legs further including walls that extend angularly between said intermediate wall and said one of said outer and inner walls and also between said outer and inner walls above said pockets for additional strength and rigidity. 
   
   
       15 . A barricade comprising a pair of A-frame members for supporting opposite ends of one or more elongated beams, each of said A-frame members including two legs that extend angularly upwardly and inwardly toward each other to meet at an apex portion, said A-frame members including openings in said apex portions thereof for supporting opposite ends of one elongated beam, two additional beams supported on lower portions of said legs to be positioned at the same angles to the vertical as said legs and functioning to increase the moment of inertia of said barricade about a vertical axis and thereby reduce bending of said barricade in response to gusty side winds, said additional beams being otherwise operative to provide increased stability and also being usable to provide a pedestrian barricade. 
   
   
       16 . A barricade as defined in  claim 15 , wherein and each of said legs includes hook means projecting from outsides of lower end portions thereof for hanging of opposite ends of said two additional elongated beams on said legs to provide increased stability and pedestrian barriers. 
   
   
       17 . A barricade as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said beams include upper flange portions terminating in downwardly turned ends, each of hook means comprises a hook portion turned upwardly to engage behind a downwardly turned end of an upper flange portion of a beam. 
   
   
       18 . A barricade as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said beams include lower flange portions terminating in upwardly turned ends, each of said hook means further comprising a hook portion turned downwardly to engage behind an upwardly turned lower flange portion of a beam.