I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improved spacer pieces for securing a guard rail beam to a support post in a guard rail system.

II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional guard rail systems typically include a guardrail beam supported by a plurality of support posts positioned along a roadway. In such systems, it is common to use a spacer or blocking piece to offset the guard rail beam from the support posts. Spacer/blocking pieces help to prevent snagging of vehicle wheels during the early stages of an impact.

Any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, at the priority date of this application.

III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an improved spacer/blocking piece for a guard rail system.

The present invention provides a spacer piece for securing a guardrail beam to a support post in a guardrail system, the spacer piece including a breakable portion configured to break preferentially during an impact, and release the beam from the support post.

The spacer piece can be configured to mount the guardrail beam at the breakable portion.

The spacer piece can be configured to be mounted to the support post at a portion thereof that is not the breakable portion.

An upper portion and a lower portion can be separated by the breakable portion, the upper and lower portion being configured to be mounted to the support post.

The breakable portion can be provided as all or part of a narrowed neck between the upper portion and the lower portion.

The spacer piece can include a guardrail mounting plane and a support post mounting plane, the breakable portion only extending partway from the guardrail mounting plane the support post mounting plane.

The spacer piece can include opposing outer side walls that extend from a guardrail mounting side of the spacer piece to a support post mounting side.

The outer walls at the breakable portion can be thinner than at the upper and lower portions or the spacer.

The outer walls of the breakable portion can include apertures therein.

The breakable portion can include at least one internal wall, the internal wall(s) including apertures therein.

The spacer piece can be configured to permit more than one mounting position or orientation on the support post.

The upper and lower portions can each include multiple channels therein, for selectively receiving fastening elements, the selective positioning of fastening elements permitting more than one mounting position or orientation on the support post.

The upper and lower portions, at the support post mounting side, include laterally extending angled guide flanges.

At the support post mounting side, a hook portion can project from the topside of the upper portion.

At the guardrail mounting side, a lip tab can project from the underside of the lower portion.

The present invention also provides a guardrail system including: a guardrail beam; at least one support post; and spacer piece as described above in this section.

It will be appreciated that spacer pieces as described herein may also be referred to by persons skilled in the art as blocking pieces, block out pieces or offset pieces. For the purposes of simplicity, the term “spacer piece” shall be used predominantly throughout the specification, however, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that above noted terms would be readily interchangeable.

