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  A weakened guardrail mounting connectionRelated Patent Categories: Fences, Highway GuardThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070063179. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This patent application claims priority from Patent Application Ser. No. 60/718,679, filed Sep. 19, 2005, entitled A Weakened Guardrail Mounting Connection, attorney docket no. 017575.1083. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates generally to guardrail systems and more particularly, to a weakened guardrail mounting connection. BACKGROUND [0003] Guardrail systems are widely used along heavily traveled roadways to enhance the safety of the roadway and adjacent roadside. Guardrail beams and their corresponding support posts are employed to accomplish multiple tasks. Upon vehicle impact, a guardrail acts to contain and redirect the errant vehicle. [0004] For many years, standard heavy gauge metal guardrails known as "W-beams" have been used on the nation's roadways to accomplish these tasks and others. Named after its characteristic shape, the "W-beam" is typically anchored to the ground using support posts made of metal, wood, or a combination of both. A terminal post is used at or near the terminal end of the guardrail system. Support posts other than the terminal posts are termed "length-of-need" (LON) posts. LON posts support the W-beam along the intermediary portion of the guardrail system between opposing terminal ends of the guardrail system. [0005] Wood support posts may be more readily available and more economical than metal posts in some geographical areas. In other areas, metal (e.g., steel) posts may be more readily available and more economical and may be preferred for their ease of installation using driving methods. As an additional benefit, wood support posts used in a LON or terminal portion of a guardrail system have been made to break away upon impact, thus producing a desired behavior during a collision by a vehicle at the impact site. However, in some environments, wood posts deteriorate more rapidly and alternate materials are sought. [0006] Commonly used steel posts do not break away in the desired fashion and are not optimal for use in the guardrail system and especially not suitable for use in the terminal section of a guardrail system. Break away steel support posts that are modified to allow for failure during a collision have recently become available. Examples include a "hinged breakaway post" and the "energy absorbing breakaway steel guardrail post" described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,063. Many such prior attempts require substantial time, money, and resources during fabrication, modification, and/or installation. SUMMARY [0007] In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a guardrail safety system includes a guardrail beam and a plurality of support posts in spaced apart relation to one another. Each support post is configured to be releasably coupled to the guardrail beam. A plurality of connectors couple the plurality of support posts to the guardrail beam. Each connector includes a head portion that is configured to provide a sufficiently strong connection between the guardrail beam and the support post to support the guardrail beam and a sufficiently weak connection between the guardrail beam and the support post to enable the support post to detach from the guardrail beam when struck by the errant vehicle. [0008] Technical advantages of particular embodiments of the present invention include a guardrail support post that has sufficient strength to redirect vehicles that collide along the length of the guardrail system at an angle to the flow of traffic. As a result, the guardrail system may fail in a designed manner even at a low level of tension. [0009] A further technical advantage of particular embodiments of the present invention may include a weakened connection between the support post and guardrail beam such that the support post detaches from the guardrail beam when struck by an errant vehicle. Specifically, a connector may be provided that adequately supports the guardrail beam while releasing from the guardrail beam when a lateral force is applied to the guardrail beam. Accordingly, in particular embodiments, an advantage may be that the connection is strong in shear and weak in tension. [0010] Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions and claims. Moreover, while specific advantages have been enumerated above, various embodiments may include all, some, or none of the enumerated advantages. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following brief descriptions, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts, in which: [0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a guardrail safety system that incorporates certain aspects of the present invention; [0013] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate a guardrail support post suitable for use with the guardrail system of FIG. 1, in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention; [0014] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate another guardrail support post suitable for use with the guardrail system of FIG. 1, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; [0015] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a LON guardrail support post suitable for use with the guardrail system of FIG. 1, in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention; [0016] FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate another LON guardrail support post suitable for use with the guardrail system of FIG. 1, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; [0017] FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate another LON guardrail support post suitable for use with the guardrail system of FIG. 1, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 7 illustrates a support post that includes a modified flange for the protection of a guardrail beam, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; [0019] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrates a flange protector for attachment to a support post for the protection of a guardrail beam, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Continue reading... Full patent description for A weakened guardrail mounting connection Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this A weakened guardrail mounting connection patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like A weakened guardrail mounting connection or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Support for supporting cable net, and security fence using the same Next Patent Application: Guardrail flange protector Industry Class: Fences ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the A weakened guardrail mounting connection patent info. 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