Fiberglass guard rail

Abstract

A guardrail system for use along a roadway. The guardrail system can include a longitudinal body that can be made from one or more plastics and have two or more longitudinal void spaces formed therein. At least one of the void spaces can be continuous from a first end of the body to a second end of the body. The system can also include a longitudinal member disposed within the continuous void space. The longitudinal member can be made from one or more metals to provide flexibility and strength to the guardrail.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A guardrail for use along a roadway, comprising:
 a longitudinal body made from one or more plastics and having two or more longitudinal void spaces formed therein, wherein at least one of the void spaces is continuous from a first end of the body to a second end of the body; and   a longitudinal member disposed within the continuous void space, the longitudinal member made from one or more metals to provide flexibility and strength to the guardrail.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the longitudinal void spaces is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal member is disposed within the longitudinal void space that is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the longitudinal member is a stainless-steel rod or a hollow stainless-steel tube. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the longitudinal body comprises fiber reinforced plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the longitudinal void spaces is rectangular cuboid in shape. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the longitudinal void space that is rectangular cuboid in shape is at least half filled with a filler material. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the filler material comprises expandable polystyrene. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the longitudinal void spaces is cylindrical in shape,   the longitudinal member is disposed within the longitudinal void space that is cylindrical in shape,   the longitudinal member is a stainless-steel rod or a hollow stainless-steel tube, at least one of the longitudinal void spaces is rectangular cuboid in shape,   the longitudinal void space that is rectangular cuboid in shape is at least half filled with a filler material, and   the longitudinal body comprises fiber reinforced plastic.   
     
     
         10 . A guardrail system for use along a roadway, comprising:
 a first longitudinal body consisting essentially of one or more non-metallic materials, the first longitudinal body having two or more longitudinal void spaces formed therein;   a second longitudinal body consisting essentially of one or more non-metallic materials, the second longitudinal body having two or more longitudinal void spaces formed therein;   at least one substantially vertical post disposed between the first longitudinal body and the second longitudinal body;   a first longitudinal member disposed within any one of the longitudinal void spaces of the first longitudinal body;   a second longitudinal member disposed within any one of the longitudinal void spaces of the second longitudinal body, wherein the first and second longitudinal members are flexible and made from one or more metals, the first and second longitudinal members having a greater tensile strength than first and second longitudinal bodies; and   a splicer disposed within the first and second longitudinal members and configured to connect to the at least one substantially vertical post, such that when a force is imparted on the longitudinal bodies, the longitudinal members transfer the load of the force through the splicer to the post.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the at least one substantially vertical post is connected to both the first longitudinal body and the second longitudinal body, and   the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member both have an ultimate tensile strength that is at least 20% greater than the ultimate tensile strength of the first and second longitudinal bodies.   
     
     
         12 . A guardrail for use along a roadway, comprising:
 a longitudinal body made from fiber reinforced plastic;   at least two longitudinal void spaces formed within the body, wherein the longitudinal void spaces are non-concentric to each other and at least one longitudinal void space has a cross section that is different from at least one other; and   a longitudinal member housed within any one of the longitudinal void spaces, the longitudinal member made from one or more metals to add flexibility and strength to the guardrail.   
     
     
         13 . The guardrail of  claim 12 , wherein the longitudinal member is a hollow stainless-steel tube or a solid stainless-steel rod. 
     
     
         14 . The guardrail of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the longitudinal void spaces is rectangular cuboid in shape and at least one of the longitudinal void spaces is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         15 . The guardrail of  claim 14 , wherein the longitudinal void space that is rectangular cuboid in shape is at least half filled with a filler material. 
     
     
         16 . The guardrail of  claim 15 , wherein the filler material comprises expandable polystyrene. 
     
     
         17 . The guardrail of  claim 12 , wherein the longitudinal body has a first end and a second end, and wherein the longitudinal void spaces are continuous within the body and extend from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         18 . The guardrail of  claim 12 , wherein any one of the longitudinal void spaces is empty of any solid material or at least partially filled with one or more filler materials. 
     
     
         19 . The guardrail of  claim 12 , wherein the longitudinal void spaces are co-linear and aligned in a cross-wise dimension of the longitudinal body. 
     
     
         20 . The guardrail of  claim 12 , wherein each longitudinal void space is encapsulated and separated from one another by the body.