Barrier capping systems and methods of constructing same

Abstract

Described herein are assemblies configured to be constructed atop of highway, freeway, or road barriers or guiderails. Methods of constructing the assemblies are also described.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A barrier top assembly comprising:
 at least one elongated coupling member configured to be coupled to a barrier; and   at least one bracket configured to attach the at least one elongated coupling member to the barrier.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier top assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is a concrete highway barrier. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier top assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is a polymeric highway barrier. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier top assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated coupling member is between about 6 ft and about 14 ft long. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier top assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated coupling member is between about 1 ft and about 3 ft tall. 
     
     
         6 . The barrier top assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated coupling member includes a foam. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier top assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the foam is an expanded polystyrene (EPS). 
     
     
         8 . The barrier top assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the foam includes a coating. 
     
     
         9 . The barrier top assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the coating includes a polyurea. 
     
     
         10 . The barrier top assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bracket includes a transverse portion that is configured to attach to a top surface of the barrier. 
     
     
         11 . The barrier top assembly of  claim 10 , wherein a bolt is used to attach the bracket to the barrier through the transverse portion. 
     
     
         12 . The barrier top assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated coupling member includes a channel along a bottom surface configured to allow the bolt to reside inside the channel. 
     
     
         13 . The barrier top assembly of  claim 10 , wherein a bolt and a nut are used to attach the at least one elongated coupling member to the at least one bracket. 
     
     
         14 . A method of constructing a barrier top assembly, the method comprising:
 attaching an elongated coupling member to the top surface of a barrier using at least one bracket.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the barrier is a concrete highway barrier or a polymeric highway barrier. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the elongated coupling member is between about 6 ft and about 14 ft long and between about 1 ft and about 3 ft tall. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the elongated coupling member includes a expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the EPS foam includes a polyurea coating. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one bracket includes a transverse portion that is configured to attach to the top surface of the barrier, and wherein a bolt is used to attach the bracket to the barrier through the transverse portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the elongated coupling member includes a channel along a bottom surface configured to allow the bolt to reside inside the channel.