Portable speed bump assembly

Abstract

A portable speed bump assembly includes a dolly and a spool that is rotatably attached to the dolly. A speed bump unit is rolled around the spool and the speed bump unit is played outwardly from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction to laid the speed bump unit across a roadway. The speed bump unit compels traffic on the roadway to slow down while driving over the speed bump unit thereby reducing the average speed of the traffic. The speed bump unit is rolled around the spool when the spool is rotated in the first direction for storing the speed bump unit. A drive unit is attached to the dolly and the drive unit is in mechanical communication with the spool for rotating the spool in either the first direction or the second direction.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A portable speed bump assembly for temporarily deploying a speedbump across a roadway for reducing the speed of traffic on the roadway, said assembly comprising:
 a dolly having a spool being rotatably attached to said dolly, said spool being rotatable in a first direction or a second direction, said dolly including a push handle and a pair of rollers wherein said dolly is configured to be rolled along a support surface for transporting said dolly;   a speed bump unit being rolled around said spool, said speed bump unit being played outwardly from said spool when said spool is rotated in said second direction wherein said speed bump unit is configured to be laid across a roadway, said speed bump unit having an exposed surface being rounded such that said speed bump unit defined a Quonset shape when said speed bump unit is deployed wherein said speed bump unit is configured to compel traffic on the roadway to slow down while driving over said speed bump unit thereby reducing the average speed of the traffic, said speed bump unit being rolled around said spool when said spool is rotated in said first direction for storing said speed bump unit; and   a drive unit being attached to said dolly, said drive unit being in mechanical communication with said spool for rotating said spool in either said first direction or said second direction.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said dolly includes a frame which comprises a pair of end members each extending between and being perpendicularly oriented with a pair of outward members such that said frame defines a rectangular shape;   said pair of end members includes a front member and a rear member;   said front member has a front surface which curves forwardly between a top edge of said front member and a bottom surface of said front member;   said bottom surface is spaced downwardly from a bottom surface of each of said pair of outward members;   said front member has a rear surface which intersects said bottom surface of each of said pair of outward members;   each of said pair of rollers is rotatably attached to an outwardly facing surface of a respective one of said pair of outward members at a point being aligned with said rear member;   each of said pair of rollers and said bottom surface of said front member rests on the support surface when said dolly is stationary; and   said dolly is tipped such that said bottom surface of said front member is lifted from the support surface when said dolly is being rolled along the support surface.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said push handle has a central member extending between and being perpendicularly oriented with a pair of uprights;   a distal end of each of said pair of uprights is attached to a top surface of a respective one of said pair of outward members of said frame at a point located adjacent to said rear member of said frame; and   each of said uprights is oriented to angle rearwardly away from said frame wherein said central member is configured to be gripped for rolling said dolly.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said speed bump unit comprises a strip having a first end and a second end and a top surface extending between said first end and said second end;   said strip is elongated between said first end and said second end;   said strip has a hole extending through said top surface and a bottom surface of said strip;   said hole is located adjacent to said first end;   said speed bump unit includes a plurality of humps each having a front surface and a back surface and a bottom surface and a top surface;   said bottom surface of each of said plurality of humps is attached to said top surface of said strip wherein each of said plurality of humps is configured to be exposed when said strip is rolled off of said spool and positioned to extend across the roadway;   said plurality of humps is evenly spaced apart from each other and is distributed between said hole and said second end of said strip having said front surface and said back surface of each of said plurality of humps being spaced apart from an adjacent hump; and   said top surface of each of said humps curves upwardly from said bottom surface of said humps such that each of said plurality of humps has a Quonset shape.   
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said speed bump unit includes a plurality of reflectors;   each of said plurality of reflectors is attached to said top surface of a respective one of said plurality of humps wherein each of said plurality of reflectors is configured to be exposed when said strip is rolled off of said spool and positioned to extend across the roadway;   each of said plurality of reflectors is comprised of a light reflecting material wherein each of said plurality of reflectors is configured to reflect light from headlights of the traffic thereby enhancing visibility of said plurality of humps during darkened hours;   said plurality of reflectors includes a set of first reflectors and a set of second reflectors;   each of said first reflectors is aligned with a first lateral side of said respective hump; and   each said second reflectors is aligned with a second lateral side of said respective hump.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said spool has a central hub extending between a pair of wheels;   said spool has a shaft opening extending through each of said wheels and said central hub;   said shaft opening has a bounding surface;   said bounding surface has a keyway extending between each of said pair of wheels;   said spool has a prominence extending outwardly from an outside surface of said central hub; and   said prominence being elongated to extend substantially between said pair of wheels.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 said speed bump unit comprises a strip which has a hole extending through a top surface and a bottom surface of said strip;   said prominence on said outside surface of said central hub of said spool extends through said hole in said strip when said strip is initially attached to said spool thereby facilitating said strip to be wrapped around said central hub when said spool is rotated in said first direction.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 said dolly includes a frame which comprises a pair of end members each extending between and being perpendicularly oriented with a pair of outward members such that said frame defines a rectangular shape;   said frame includes a support panel extending upwardly from a top surface of a respective one of said pair of outward members of said frame;   said support panel has an upper end being rounded and a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface;   said drive unit comprises a motor being attached to said second lateral surface of said support panel at a point located closer to said upper end of said support panel than said frame;   said motor is actuatable to rotate in a first direction or a second direction;   said drive unit includes a drive shaft being coupled to said motor and extending through said panel having said drive shaft extending beyond said first lateral surface of said support panel such that said drive shaft is perpendicularly oriented with said first lateral surface;   said drive shaft has an outer surface and a distal end with respect to said first lateral surface of said support panel;   said drive shaft has a key being disposed on said outer surface;   said key extends from said first lateral surface of said support panel toward said distal end of said drive shaft;   said drive shaft is rotated in either a first direction or a second direction depending upon the directional rotation of said motor; and   said drive shaft extends through said shaft opening in said spool having said key extending through said keyway in said bounding surface of said shaft opening thereby securing said spool on said drive shaft.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said drive unit comprises a lock being movably integrated into said outer surface of said drive shaft, said lock being positioned between said key and said distal end of said drive shaft, said lock being biased to extend away from said outer surface, said lock being urgeable to recess into said outer surface. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 said drive unit includes a cap being attachable to said distal end of said drive shaft when said drive shaft is extended through said shaft opening in said spool such that said cap abuts a respective one of said pair of wheels of said spool thereby retaining said spool on said drive shaft; and   cap has a hole which insertably receives said lock when said cap is seated on said drive shaft for securing said cap to said drive shaft.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said drive unit includes:
 an extend button being movably integrated into said support panel, said extend button being electrically coupled to said motor, said motor being actuated to rotate in said second direction when said extend button is depressed;   a retract button being movably integrated into said support panel, said retract button being electrically coupled to said motor, said motor being actuated to rotate in said first direction when said retract button is depressed; and   a power supply being integrated into said support panel, said power supply being electrically coupled to said motor, said power supply comprising:
 a rechargeable battery being integrated into said support panel, said rechargeable battery being electrically coupled to said motor; and 
 a charge port being recessed into said support panel wherein said charge port is configured to insertably receive a charge cord, said charge port being electrically coupled to said rechargeable battery for charging said rechargeable battery. 
   
     
     
         12 . A portable speed bump assembly for temporarily deploying a speedbump across a roadway for reducing the speed of traffic on the roadway, said assembly comprising:
 a dolly having a spool being rotatably attached to said dolly, said spool being rotatable in a first direction or a second direction, said dolly including a push handle and a pair of rollers wherein said dolly is configured to be rolled along a support surface for transporting said dolly, said dolly including a frame, said frame comprising a pair of end members each extending between and being perpendicularly oriented with a pair of outward members such that said frame defines a rectangular shape, said pair of end members including a front member and a rear member, said front member having a front surface which curves forwardly between a top edge of said front member and a bottom surface of said front member, said bottom surface being spaced downwardly from a bottom surface of each of said pair of outward members, said front member having a rear surface which intersects said bottom surface of each of said pair of outward members, each of said pair of rollers being rotatably attached to an outwardly facing surface of a respective one of said pair of outward members at a point being aligned with said rear member, each of said pair of rollers and said bottom surface of said front member resting on the support surface when said dolly is stationary, said dolly being tipped such that said bottom surface of said front member is lifted from the support surface when said dolly is being rolled along the support surface, said push handle having a central member extending between and being perpendicularly oriented with a pair of uprights, a distal end of each of said pair of uprights being attached to a top surface of a respective one of said pair of outward members of said frame at a point located adjacent to said rear member of said frame, each of said uprights being oriented to angle rearwardly away from said frame wherein said central member is configured to be gripped for rolling said dolly, said frame including a support panel extending upwardly from said top surface of a respective one of said pair of outward members of said frame, said support panel having an upper end being rounded and a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface;   a speed bump unit being rolled around said spool, said speed bump unit being played outwardly from said spool when said spool is rotated in said second direction wherein said speed bump unit is configured to be laid across a roadway, said speed bump unit having an exposed surface being rounded such that said speed bump unit defined a Quonset shape when said speed bump unit is deployed wherein said speed bump unit is configured to compel traffic on the roadway to slow down while driving over said speed bump unit thereby reducing the average speed of the traffic, said speed bump unit being rolled around said spool when said spool is rotated in said first direction for storing said speed bump unit, said speed bump unit comprising:
 a strip having a first end and a second end and a top surface extending between said first end and said second end, said strip being elongated between said first end and said second end, said strip having a hole extending through said top surface and a bottom surface of said strip, said hole being located adjacent to said first end; 
 a plurality of humps each having a front surface and a back surface and a bottom surface and a top surface, said bottom surface of each of said plurality of humps being attached to said top surface of said strip wherein each of said plurality of humps is configured to be exposed when said strip is rolled off of said spool and positioned to extend across the roadway, said plurality of humps being evenly spaced apart from each other and being distributed between said hole and said second end of said strip having said front surface and said back surface of each of said plurality of humps being spaced apart from an adjacent hump; said top surface of each of said humps curving upwardly from said bottom surface of said humps such that each of said plurality of humps has a Quonset shape; and 
 a plurality of reflectors, each of said plurality of reflectors being attached to said top surface of a respective one of said plurality of humps wherein each of said plurality of reflectors is configured to be exposed when said strip is rolled off of said spool and positioned to extend across the roadway, each of said plurality of reflectors being comprised of a light reflecting material wherein each of said plurality of reflectors is configured to reflect light from headlights of the traffic thereby enhancing visibility of said plurality of humps during darkened hours, said plurality of reflectors including a set of first reflectors and a set of second reflectors, each of said first reflectors being aligned with a first lateral side of said respective hump, each said second reflectors being aligned with a second lateral side of said respective hump; 
   said spool having a central hub extending between a pair of wheels, said spool having a shaft opening extending through each of said wheels and said central hub, said shaft opening having a bounding surface, said bounding surface having a keyway extending between each of said pair of wheels, said spool having a prominence extending outwardly from an outside surface of said central hub, said prominence being elongated to extend substantially between said pair of wheels, said prominence extending through said hole in said strip when said strip is initially attached to said spool thereby facilitating said strip to be wrapped around said central hub when said spool is rotated in said first direction;   a drive unit being attached to said dolly, said drive unit being in mechanical communication with said spool for rotating said spool in either said first direction or said second direction, said drive unit comprising:
 a motor being attached to said second lateral surface of said support panel at a point located closer to said upper end of said support panel than said frame, said motor being actuatable to rotate in a first direction or a second direction; 
 a drive shaft being coupled to said motor and extending through said panel having said drive shaft extending beyond said first lateral surface of said support panel such that said drive shaft is perpendicularly oriented with said first lateral surface, said drive shaft having an outer surface and a distal end with respect to said first lateral surface of said support panel, said drive shaft having a key being disposed on said outer surface, said key extending from said first lateral surface of said support panel toward said distal end of said drive shaft, said drive shaft being rotated in either a first direction or a second direction depending upon the directional rotation of said motor, said drive shaft extending through said shaft opening in said spool having said key extending through said keyway in said bounding surface of said shaft opening thereby securing said spool on said drive shaft; 
 a lock being movably integrated into said outer surface of said drive shaft, said lock being positioned between said key and said distal end of said drive shaft, said lock being biased to extend away from said outer surface, said lock being urgeable to recess into said outer surface; 
 a cap being attachable to said distal end of said drive shaft when said drive shaft is extended through said shaft opening in said spool such that said cap abuts a respective one of said pair of wheels of said spool thereby retaining said spool on said drive shaft, cap having a hole which insertably receives said lock when said cap is seated on said drive shaft for securing said cap to said drive shaft; 
 an extend button being movably integrated into said support panel, said extend button being electrically coupled to said motor, said motor being actuated to rotate in said second direction when said extend button is depressed; 
 a retract button being movably integrated into said support panel, said retract button being electrically coupled to said motor, said motor being actuated to rotate in said first direction when said retract button is depressed; and 
 a power supply being integrated into said support panel, said power supply being electrically coupled to said motor, said power supply comprising:
 a rechargeable battery being integrated into said support panel, said rechargeable battery being electrically coupled to said motor; and 
 a charge port being recessed into said support panel wherein said charge port is configured to insertably receive a charge cord, said charge port being electrically coupled to said rechargeable battery for charging said rechargeable battery.