Rolling vehicle barrier

Abstract

A barrier comprises a substantially horizontal portion, a substantially rigid ramp portion, a stabilization enhancer, a substantially vertical portion, and a connector portion. The substantially horizontal portion comprising a first side and a second side. The substantially rigid ramp portion is positioned on the first side of the horizontal portion to guide a rolling vehicle onto the horizontal portion. The stabilization enhancer is configured to distribute at least a portion of a groundward force of the rolling vehicle in an effective amount to prevent substantial horizontal movement of the barrier. The substantially vertical portion is positioned on the second side of the horizontal portion to impede movement of the rolling vehicle when traveling towards the second side of the horizontal portion from the first side of the horizontal portion. The connector portion is where the horizontal portion connects to the vertical portion.

1 . A barrier comprising:
 a substantially horizontal portion comprising a first side and a second side;   a substantially rigid ramp portion positioned on the first side of the horizontal portion to guide a rolling vehicle onto the horizontal portion;   a stabilization enhancer configured to distributing at least a portion of a groundward force of the rolling vehicle in an effective amount to prevent substantial horizontal movement of the barrier;   a substantially vertical portion positioned on the second side of the horizontal portion to impede movement of the rolling vehicle when traveling towards the second side of the horizontal portion from the first side of the horizontal portion; and   at least one connector portion where the horizontal portion connects to the vertical portion.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises at least one of the following shapes:
 an L shape; or   a reversed T shape.   
     
     
         3 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises a curved shape. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector portion comprises at least one of the following:
 a hinge;   a weld;   a bolt;   an adhesive;   a magnet,   a lock-and-key; or   a rail.   
     
     
         5 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the barrier comprises a plurality of hinged sections. 
     
     
         6 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , further comprising a support member. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier according to  claim 6 , wherein the support member comprises at least one of the following:
 a block;   a tie;   a sheet; or   a rod;   
     
     
         8 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is configured to connect to at least one other barrier employing at least one of the following:
 a seal;   a flexible covering; or   a hard covering.   
     
     
         9 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises one or more support members positioned to contact the substantially vertical portion. 
     
     
         10 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises a non-solid volume located in at least one of the following:
 a cavity formed by the barrier; or   between an outer wall and an inner wall of the barrier.   
     
     
         11 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the stabilization enhancer comprises a multitude of distributed ground penetrating members of various lengths. 
     
     
         12 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the stabilization enhancer comprises at least one of the following:
 a spike;   a block;   a sheet;   a rod;   a street curb;   rubber; or   a sand bag.   
     
     
         13 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the ramp portion is part of the substantially horizontal portion. 
     
     
         14 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the substantially horizontal portion is further configured to support the rolling vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the groundward force comprises at least one of the following:
 at least a portion of the weight of the rolling vehicle; and   at least a portion of the approaching force of the rolling vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one connector portion comprises at least one hinge. 
     
     
         17 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , further comprising an energy absorber configured to absorb at least a portion of a horizontal force of the rolling vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein at the surface of the barrier comprises:
 a substantially deformable portion; and   a substantially rigid portion.   
     
     
         19 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is configured to impede a rolling vehicle from entering a highway work zone. 
     
     
         20 . The barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the substantially horizontal portion comprises at least two sections connected to each other using at least one hinge.