Road basket

Abstract

A road basket includes opposing support frames attached to a dowel by a coil that includes a terminal end not secured to other support frame structure, such as a support frame leg. The support frame and/or support frame legs may be configured to secure one or more dowels at a preferred height or preferred angle. A method of manufacturing the road basket includes pultruding a dowel to have an outer dowel diameter, cutting the dowel to a desired length, the dowel having a first end and a second end, providing a first coil including an inner coil diameter, said inner coil diameter is configured to be smaller than the outer dowel diameter, welding a first frame, wherein at least a portion of the first frame comprises the first coil, and constructing the road basket by heating the first coil then inserting a portion of the dowel into the first coil.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A road basket, the road basket comprising:
 a dowel, said dowel having a first end and a second end;   a first support frame including a first support frame first leg with a first coil wherein the first coil is a first spring coil including a first coil terminal end free from contact with the first support frame; and   a second support frame including a second support frame first leg with a second coil wherein the second coil is a second spring coil including a second coil terminal end free from contact with the second support frame;   wherein the first end of the dowel is secured to the first coil via a friction fit; and   wherein the second end of the dowel is secured to the second coil via a friction fit.   
     
     
         2 . The road basket of  claim 1  further comprising a second dowel, said second dowel including a second dowel first end and a second dowel second end, and said first support frame including a first support frame second leg with a third coil and said second support frame including a second support frame second leg with a fourth coil, wherein the third coil secures the second dowel first end and the fourth coil secures the second dowel second end. 
     
     
         3 . The road basket of  claim 2  wherein the first support frame first leg and first support frame second leg are connected by a first base frame member, and the second support frame first leg and second support frame second leg are connected by second base frame member. 
     
     
         4 . The road basket of  claim 3  wherein the first support frame first leg and the first support frame second leg are connected by a first intermediate frame member, and the second support frame first leg and second support frame second leg are connected by a second intermediate frame member. 
     
     
         5 . The road basket of  claim 1 , wherein the first coil is integral with the first support frame first leg. 
     
     
         6 . The road basket of  claim 1 , wherein an inner coil diameter of the first coil is smaller than an outer dowel diameter of the first end of the dowel. 
     
     
         7 . The road basket of  claim 1  wherein the dowel is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, glass fiber reinforced polymer, or fiber reinforced plastic. 
     
     
         8 . The road basket of  claim 1  wherein the first support frame only has a single support leg. 
     
     
         9 . The road basket of  claim 1  wherein the first coil is comprised of spring steel. 
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing a road basket, the method comprising:
 pultruding a non-metallic dowel configured to have an outer dowel diameter;   cutting the non-metallic dowel to a desired length, said non-metallic dowel having a first end and a second end;   providing a first coil including an inner coil diameter, said inner coil diameter is configured to be smaller than the outer dowel diameter;   welding a first frame, wherein at least a portion of the first frame comprises the first coil; and   constructing the road basket by heating the first coil then inserting a portion of the non-metallic dowel into the first coil.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising welding a second frame, wherein at least a portion of the second frame comprises a second coil. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of constructing a road basket comprises inserting the first end of the non-metallic dowel into the first coil and inserting the second end of the non-metallic dowel into the second coil. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the non-metallic dowel is inserted into the coil by force. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first coil is secured to the first end of the non-metallic dowel by friction and pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  where the first frame includes a single frame leg. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the non-metallic dowel is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, glass fiber reinforced polymer, or fiber reinforced plastic. 
     
     
         17 . A road basket comprising:
 a non-metallic dowel, said dowel having first end and a second end;   a first support frame including a first support frame first leg with a first coil wherein the first coil includes a first coil terminal end free from contact with a frame support leg; and   a second support frame including a second support frame first leg with a second coil wherein the second coil includes a second coil terminal end free from contact with a frame support leg;   wherein the non-metallic dowel comprises an outer dowel diameter;   wherein the first coil and second coil each comprises an inner coil diameter; and   wherein the outer dowel diameter of the non-metallic dowel is configured to be larger than the inner coil diameter of the first coil and the second coil.   
     
     
         18 . The road basket of  claim 17 , wherein the first end and second end of the non-metallic dowel are configured to be press fitted within the first coil and second coil. 
     
     
         19 . The road basket of  claim 17 , wherein the first coil is integral with the first support frame first leg. 
     
     
         20 . The road basket system of  claim 1  further comprising a second dowel, said second dowel including a second dowel first end and a second dowel second end, and said first support frame including a first support frame second leg with a third coil and said second support frame including a second support frame second leg with a fourth coil, wherein the third coil secures the second dowel first end and the fourth coil secures the second dowel second end.