Portable acoustical road barrier

Abstract

A portable acoustic road barrier for use with a road divider is disclosed comprising a frame having a lower horizontal panel frame portion, a first and a second vertical panel frame portion and an upper horizontal panel frame portion. A first and a second mount from the frame for removably securing the frame to the road divider. A sheet of acoustical blocking material is secured to the panel frame portions. The sheet of acoustical blocking material is flexible for enabling the sheet of acoustical blocking material and reinforcing tape to be rolled as a single unit for transportation.

Claims

1. A portable acoustic road barrier for use with a road divider, comprising: a frame having a lower horizontal panel frame portion extending between a first and a second end; a first and a second vertical panel frame portion; a first and a second lower connector connecting said first and second ends of said lower horizontal panel frame portion to said first and second vertical panel frame portions; an upper horizontal panel frame portion extending between a first and a second end; a first and a second upper connector connecting said first and second vertical panel frame portions to said first and second ends of said upper horizontal panel frame portion; said first and second vertical panel frame portion and said lower and upper horizontal panel frame portion being connected in proximity to the road divider; a first mount extending from said first end of said frame for removably securing said frame to the road divider; a second mount extending from said second end of said frame for removably securing said frame to the road divider; a sheet of acoustical blocking material having a first and a second side and bound by a material edge; said sheet of acoustical blocking material having a thickness of approximately one-eighth of an inch and a density of greater than one pound per square foot; a plurality of fasteners securing said flexible acoustical blocking material to said panel frame portions; and said sheet of acoustical blocking material and said reinforcing tape being flexible for enabling said sheet of acoustical blocking material to be rolled as a single unit for transportation and securing to said frame after assembly thereof.

2. A portable acoustic road barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second vertical panel frame portions are removably secured to said first and a second end of said frame; and said upper horizontal panel frame portion being removably secured to said first and second end of said first and second vertical panel frame portions.

3. A portable acoustic road barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first mount includes a first flange secured to said first end of said frame for fastening to a first portion of the road divider; and said second mount including a second flange secured to said second end of said frame for fastening to a second portion of the road divider.

4. A portable acoustic road barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first mount includes a first saddle secured to said first end of said frame for fastening to a first portion of the road divider; and said second mount including a second saddle secured to said second end of said frame for fastening to a second portion of the road divider.

5. A portable acoustic road barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first mount includes said first vertical panel frame portions extending into a first aperture in the road divider; and Said second mount indulging said second vertical panel frame portions extending into a second aperture in the road divider.

6. A portable acoustic road barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said material edge of said sheet of acoustical blocking material includes a first through fourth edge defining a perimeter of said sheet of acoustical blocking material.

7. A portable acoustic road barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sheet of acoustical blocking material comprises a sheet of flexible barium free formulation mineral filled to have a weight greater than one pound per square foot.

8. A portable acoustic road barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing tape comprises a woven polyester material.

9. A portable acoustic road barrier as set forth in claim 1, including a flexible reinforcing tape permanently affixed to said first side of said sheet of acoustical blocking material adjacent to said material edge.

10. A portable acoustic road barrier as set forth in claim 1, including a flexible reinforcing tape permanently affixed to said first side of said sheet of acoustical blocking material adjacent to said material edge; and said reinforcing tape being heat welded to said acoustical blocking material.

11. A portable acoustic road barrier as set forth in claim 1, including a flexible reinforcing tape permanently affixed to said first side of said sheet of acoustical blocking material adjacent to said material edge; and each of said reinforcing tape and said first side of the sheet of acoustical blocking material are simultaneously heated to an appropriate temperature and said reinforcing tape is pressed upon said first side of said sheet of acoustical blocking material.

12. A portable acoustic road barrier as set forth in claim 1, including a flexible reinforcing tape permanently affixed to said first side of said sheet of acoustical blocking material adjacent to said material edge; and said sheet of acoustical blocking material and said reinforcing tape are flexible for enabling the entire acoustical blocking material including said sheet of acoustical blocking material and reinforcing tape to be rolled as a single unit for transportation.

13. A portable acoustic road barrier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sheet of acoustical blocking material has a first and a second side and bound by material edge; a flexible reinforcing tape permanently affixed to said sheet of acoustical blocking material adjacent to said material edge; and said plurality of fasteners extending through said reinforcing tape and said sheet of acoustical blocking material for securing said flexible acoustical blocking material to said panel frame portions for inhibiting the flow of acoustic energy between said first and second sides of the acoustical blocking material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front view of the portable acoustical blocking system of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a magnified view along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the portable acoustical blocking system 10 of the present invention secured to a support shown as a fence;

(6) FIG. 5 is a graph of sound transmission loss as a function of frequency for the portable acoustical blocking system of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a graph of sound absorption as a function of frequency for the portable acoustical blocking system of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a front view of a first embodiment of a portable acoustical blocking system incorporating a decorative component of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 8 is a front view of a second embodiment of a portable acoustical blocking system incorporating a decorative component of the present invention;

(10) FIG. 9 is a side view of FIG. 8;

(11) FIG. 10 is a front view of a third embodiment of a portable acoustical blocking system incorporating a decorative component of the present invention;

(12) FIG. 11 is a side view of FIG. 10;

(13) FIG. 12 is a front view of a portion of the portable decorative acoustical blocking system of FIG. 7 illustrating a grid frame affixed to the acoustical blocking material;

(14) FIG. 13 is a sectional view along line 13-13 in FIG. 12;

(15) FIG. 14 is a sectional view along line 14-14 in FIG. 12;

(16) FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the projections shown in FIGS. 13 and 14;

(17) FIG. 16 is a front view of a portion of the portable decorative acoustical blocking system of FIG. 7 illustrating a three dimensional synthetic plant growth;

(18) FIG. 17 is a rear view of FIG. 16;

(19) FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 13 illustrating the connection of the three dimensional synthetic plant growth of FIG. 16 and the grid frame of FIG. 12 stapled onto the acoustical blocking material;

(20) FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 14 illustrating the removable connection of the three dimensional synthetic plant growth of FIG. 16 and the grid frame of FIG. 12 glued onto the acoustical blocking material;

(21) FIG. 20 is an isometric front view of a first embodiment of a portable acoustical road barrier,

(22) FIG. 21 is an exploded isometric front view of the portable acoustical road barrier of FIG. 20;

(23) FIG. 22 is a top view of the portable acoustical road barrier of FIG. 20;

(24) FIG. 23 is a front view of the portable acoustical road barrier of FIG. 20;

(25) FIG. 24 is a side view of FIG. 23;

(26) FIG. 25 is a front view of FIG. 23;

(27) FIG. 26 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 24;

(28) FIG. 27 is a front view of the interconnection of two of the portable acoustical road barriers of FIG. 20;

(29) FIG. 28 is a rear view of FIG. 27;

(30) FIG. 29 is an exploded isometric front view of a second embodiment of a portable acoustical road barrier,

(31) FIG. 30 is a top view of the portable acoustical road barrier of FIG. 29;

(32) FIG. 31 is a front view of the portable acoustical road barrier of FIG. 29;

(33) FIG. 32 is a right side view of FIG. 31;

(34) FIG. 33 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 32;

(35) FIG. 34 is an exploded view of FIG. 33;

(36) FIG. 35 is an exploded isometric front view of a third embodiment of a portable acoustical road barrier,

(37) FIG. 36 is a top view of the portable acoustical road barrier of FIG. 35;

(38) FIG. 37 is a front view of the portable acoustical road barrier of FIG. 36;

(39) FIG. 38 is a right side view of FIG. 37;

(40) FIG. 39 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 38; and

(41) FIG. 40 is an exploded view of FIG. 39.

(42) Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several Figures of the drawings.

DETAILED DISCUSSION

(43) FIGS. 1-3 are various views of the portable acoustical blocking system 5 of the present invention. The portable acoustical blocking system 5 comprises sheet of acoustical blocking material 10 having a first side surface 11 and a second side surface 12. The sheet of acoustical blocking material 10 is bound by a material edge 20. In this example, the sheet of acoustical blocking material 10 is bound by a top material edge 21, side material edges 22 and 23 and a bottom material edge 24. The material edges 21-24 define a perimeter of the sheet of acoustical blocking material 10. Although the parameter defined by the material edges 21-24 are shown as a rectangular configuration, it should be understood by those skilled in the art and that the sheet of acoustical blocking material 10 may take various configurations.

(44) FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. In this example, the sheet of acoustical blocking material 10 has a thickness of approximately one-eighth of an inch. The acoustical blocking material 10 comprise a heavy mineral filled, barium free visco elastic acoustical material having a density of greater than one pound per square foot. The sheet of acoustical blocking material 10 is flexible for enabling the sheet of acoustical blocking material 10 to be rolled for transportation and/storage.

(45) An important aspect of the present invention is the addition of a reinforcing tape 30 affixed to the first side of the sheet of acoustical blocking material 10 adjacent to the material edge 20. In this example, reinforcing tapes 31-34 are affixed adjacent to the material edges 21-24 respectively. The reinforcing tape 30 is heat welded to the first side 11 of the sheet of acoustical blocking material 10. In the heat welding process, both the first side 11 of the sheet of acoustical blocking material 10 and the reinforcing tape 30 are simultaneously heated to an appropriate temperature. After the acoustical blocking material 10 and the reinforcing tape 30 are simultaneously are heated to the appropriated temperature, the reinforcing tape 30 is pressed upon the first side 11 of the sheet of acoustical blocking material 10. In one example, the reinforcing tape comprises a woven polyester material but it should be understood that various other materials may be used as a reinforcing tape 30.

(46) Referring back to FIG. 1, a plurality of hangers 40 are secured to the sheet of acoustical blocking material 10. The plurality of hangers 40 enable the sheet of acoustical blocking material to be suspended from a support for inhibiting the flow of acoustic energy between the first side surface 11 and second side surface 12 of the acoustical blocking material 10.

(47) FIG. 3 is a magnified view along line 3-3 in FIG. 2 further illustrating one of the plurality of hangers 40. Each of the plurality of hangers 40 extends through the reinforcing tape 30 and the sheet of acoustical blocking material 10. The reinforcing tape 30 provides structural strength to the plurality of hangers 40 for suspending the sheet of acoustical blocking material from a support.

(48) In this example, the plurality of hangers 40 are shown as grommets having grommet apertures 42. Although the plurality of hangers 40 are shown as grommets having grommet apertures 42, it should be understood by those skilled in the art and that the plurality of hangers 40 may take various configurations.

(49) FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the portable acoustical blocking system 10 of the present invention secured to a support shown 60 as a fence. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that virtually any support may be used to suspend the portable acoustical blocking system 10 including scaffolding, staggered wood shadow box privacy fences, handrails, horizontal supports and the like. The portable acoustical blocking system 10 finds particular use along rail and road transportation.

(50) A plurality of flexible ties 50 secure the plurality of hangers 40 to the support 60 by extending through the grommet apertures 42 and encircling the support 60. In one example, the plurality of flexible ties 50 are metallic cable ties although various types of flexible ties may be used in the present invention.

(51) FIG. 5 is a graph of sound transmission loss as a function of frequency for the portable acoustical blocking system 5 of the present invention. The portable acoustical blocking system 5 been tested in independent certified acoustical labs and the sound transmission coefficient (STC) of 28 represents a 85% reduction of sound to the human ear.

(52) FIG. 6 is a graph of sound absorption as a function of frequency for the portable acoustical blocking system 5 of the present invention. In frequencies of 50 Hz and below, the heavy limp acoustical blocking material 10 begins to vibrate from low frequency sound waves. The acoustical blocking material 10 transforms low frequency sound waves into mechanical movement and internal friction energy within the acoustical blocking material 10. Laboratory tests indicate that this transformation process reduces these low frequencies from penetrating the acoustical blocking material 10 by over 60 percent relative to the human ear. In addition the acoustical blocking material 10 becomes as an absorbent material in these frequencies with test results showing in an NRC (noise reduction coefficient) as high as 0.78 (1.00 being the max). The acoustical blocking material 10 has a 0.078 NRC (noise reduction coefficient) at the very low freq of 40 Hz and a NRC (noise reduction coefficient) of 0.063 at 100 Hz. The acoustical blocking material 10 not only reduces sound as a barrier, but also acts as an acoustical absorbent material at very low frequencies. Very low frequencies are not reflected as other sound barriers. In contrast to a ridged barrier, the acoustical blocking material 10 mass flexes at low frequencies transforming the acoustical energy into inaudible internal friction energy.

(53) FIG. 7 is a front view of a first embodiment of a portable acoustical blocking system 5A incorporating a decorative component 70A of the present invention. The decorative component 70A is affixed to the acoustical blocking material 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4. The decorative component 70A provides a pleasant appearance to the acoustical blocking material 10.

(54) In this first embodiment of the portable decorative acoustical blocking system 5A, the decorative component 70A comprises a decorative element 80A supported by a grid frame 90A. The decorative element 80A is shown as a synthetic three-dimensional element representing a synthetic plant growth 80A. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the synthetic plant growth 80A is removeably affixed to the acoustical blocking material 10 by the grid frame 90A.

(55) FIGS. 8 and 9 are front and side views of a second embodiment of a portable acoustical blocking system 5B incorporating a decorative component 70B. In this second embodiment of the portable decorative acoustical blocking system 5B, the decorative component 70B is shown as a three-dimensional advertisement 80B affixed to the acoustical blocking material 10. The three-dimensional advertisement 80B may be either removeably affixed or may be permanently affixed to the acoustical blocking material 10. In one example, three-dimensional advertisement 80B is permanently secured to the acoustical blocking material 10 by a conventional adhesive.

(56) FIGS. 10 and 11 are front and side views of a third embodiment of a portable acoustical blocking system 5C incorporating a decorative component 70C. In this second embodiment of the portable decorative acoustical blocking system 5C, the decorative component 70B is shown as a two-dimensional work of art 80 C permanently affixed to the acoustical blocking material 10. The two-dimensional work of art 80 C may be an original artwork, a copy of fine art work or may be “street art” as found in many urban areas.

(57) FIG. 12 is a front view of a portion of the portable decorative acoustical blocking system 5A of FIG. 7. The grid frame 90A supports the decorative element 80A to form the decorative component 70A. The grid frame 90A provides a grid matrix for removeably affixing the decorative element 80 A.

(58) FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of a portion of FIG. 12 illustrating a staple 96A affixing the grid frame 90A to the acoustical blocking material 10. The staples 96A permanently affix the grid frame 90A to the acoustical blocking material 10. A plurality of projections 92A extend from multiple positions of the grid frame 90A.

(59) FIG. 14 is a side sectional view of a portion of FIG. 12 illustrating an adhesive 98A affixing the grid frame 90A to the acoustical blocking material 10. The adhesive 98A permanently affixes the grid frame 90A to the acoustical blocking material 10.

(60) FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the plurality of projections 92A extending from the grid frame 90A. Each of the plurality of projections 92A extends from a proximal end 93A and a distal end 94A. The distal ends 94A include an enlarged portion 95A.

(61) FIGS. 16 and 17 are front and rear views of the decorative element 80A of the portable decorative acoustical blocking system of FIG. 7. The decorative element 80A comprises a plurality of leaves 82A interconnected by connectors 83A. In this example, the connectors 83A include major connectors 84A and minor connectors 85A. The minor connectors 85A connect the leaves 82A to the major connectors 84A. A plurality of rings 86A extend from the major connectors 84A. Each of the plurality of rings 86A has an aperture 88A.

(62) Preferably, the plurality of leaves 82A including the major and minor connectors 84A and 85A as well as the plurality of rings 86A are formed from a one piece polymeric material. Only a portion of each of the plurality of rings 86A is affixed to the major connectors 84A enabling the rings 86A and the aperture 88A to be resiliently expanded. The smaller dimension of the aperture 88A enables the aperture 88A to resiliently engage the projections 92A.

(63) FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 13 illustrating the removable connection of the three dimensional synthetic plant growth of FIG. 15 and the grid frame of FIG. 12. The aperture 88A is forced over the enlarged portion 95A at the distal end of the projection 92 enabling the rings 86A to resiliently expanded and to subsequently engage the projections 92A.

(64) FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 14 illustrating the removable connection of the three dimensional synthetic plant growth of FIG. 16 and the grid frame of FIG. 12. The plurality of leaves 82A function to dissipate acoustical energy prior to impinging upon the acoustical blocking material 10 as indicated by the arrows. The addition of the plurality of leaves 82A dissipating acoustical energy increases the acoustical performance set forth in the graph in FIGS. 5 and 6.

(65) FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 14 illustrating the removable connection of the three dimensional synthetic plant growth of FIG. 16 and the grid frame of FIG. 12 glued onto the acoustical blocking material 10. An adhesive 98A affixes the grid frame 90A to the acoustical blocking material 10.

(66) FIGS. 20-26 illustrate a first embodiment of a portable acoustical road barrier 105 comprising an acoustical blocking panel 110 mounted on a road barrier 120. The road barrier 120 is defined by a first and a second side 121 and 122 and an upper surface 124. The road barrier 120 extends between a first end 125 and a second end 126. In this example, the road barrier is shown as a precast concrete traffic barrier well known to those skilled in the art. Precast concrete traffic barrier are typically used for reduce the risk of an out-of-control vehicle crossing the median and colliding with opposing traffic or roadway workers. Precast concrete traffic barrier are also used for directing traffic in a prescribed manner as well as protection against unwanted vehicular traffic around government buildings, utility facilities, historic landmarks, airports and the like. The present invention is adaptable to ASTM C 825 and NCHRP 350 precast concrete barriers as well as other types, styles and materials of road and non-road barriers.

(67) FIG. 21 is an exploded view of FIG. 20 further illustrating the portable acoustical road barrier 105 comprising a panel frame 130 and the acoustical blocking material 150. The panel frame 130 has a lower panel frame portion 131 and plural vertical panel frame portions 133 and 134 and an upper horizontal panel frame portion 132. The acoustical panel frame 130 defines an open acoustical aperture 136. The acoustical panel frame 130 extends between a first end 137 and a second end 138.

(68) The lower horizontal panel frame portion 131 is assembled to the first and second vertical panel frame portion 133 and 134 by lower connectors 141 and 142. The upper horizontal panel frame portion 134 is assembled to the first and second vertical panel frame portion 133 and 134 by upper connectors 143 and 144. The lower connectors 141 and 142, the upper connectors 143 and 144 may be any suitable type of fastener for securing the panel frame portions 131-134.

(69) The acoustical blocking material 150 has a first side surface 151 and a second side surface 152. A first side hook fasteners 155 is located on the first side surface 151 of the acoustical blocking material 150 whereas a second side loop fasteners 156 is located on the second side surface 152 of the acoustical blocking material 150. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the hook fasteners 155 and the loop fasteners 156 may be interchanged between the first and second side surfaces 151 and 152 of the acoustical blocking material 150. Although the hook and loop fasteners 155 and 156 are shown to temporarily fasten adjacent acoustical blocking materials 150, it should be understood that other means may be used to temporarily fasten adjacent acoustical blocking materials 150 as should be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

(70) As it will be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28, the hook and loop fasteners 155 and 156 are used to fasten adjacent acoustical blocking materials 150 together to form a continuous acoustical blocking materials web. The sheet of acoustical blocking material 150 is bound by a material edge 160. In this example, the sheet of acoustical blocking material 160 is bound by a bottom material edge 161, a top material edge 162, a left side material edge 163 and a right material edge 164. The material edges 161-164 define a perimeter of the sheet of acoustical blocking material 150.

(71) The left side material edge 163 and the right material edge 164 of the sheet of acoustical blocking material 150 defines a left and right overhang 165 and 166 that extend beyond the vertical panel frame portions 133 and 134 of the panel frame 130. As it will be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28, the hook left and right overhang 165 and 166 are used to form a continuous acoustical blocking materials web.

(72) In this example, the sheet of acoustical blocking material 150 has a thickness of approximately one-eighth of an inch. The acoustical blocking material 150 comprise a heavy mineral filled, barium free visco elastic acoustical material having a density of greater than one pound per square foot. The sheet of acoustical blocking material 150 is flexible for enabling the sheet of acoustical blocking material 10 to be rolled for transportation and/storage.

(73) A reinforcing tape 170 affixed to the first side 151 of the sheet of acoustical blocking material 160. In this example, a reinforcing tape 171 is affixed to the bottom material edge 161 and a reinforcing tape 172 is affixed to the top material edge 162.

(74) The reinforcing tape 170 is heat welded to the first side 151 of the sheet of acoustical blocking material 150. In the heat welding process, both the first side 151 of the sheet of acoustical blocking material 150 and the reinforcing tape 170 are simultaneously heated to an appropriate temperature. After the acoustical blocking material 150 and the reinforcing tape 170 are simultaneously heated to the appropriate temperature, the reinforcing tape 170 is pressed upon the first side 151 of the sheet of acoustical blocking material 150. In one example, the reinforcing tape comprises a woven polyester material but it should be understood that various other materials may be used as a reinforcing tape 170.

(75) The acoustical blocking material 150 is affixed to the acoustical panel frame 130 to form the acoustical blocking panel 110. A plurality of fasteners 180 extend through the reinforcing tape 170 and the sheet of acoustical blocking material 150 into the acoustical panel frame 130. The reinforcing tape 170 provides structural strength to the plurality of fasteners 180 for suspending and securing the sheet of acoustical blocking material 150 on the acoustical panel frame 150. In this example, the plurality of fasteners 180 are shown as screws but it should be understood by those skilled in the art and that the plurality of fasteners 180 may take various configurations. For example, the fasteners 240 may take the form of adhesives such as conventional adhesives, double back tape, hook and loop fasteners and the like.

(76) The acoustical blocking panel 110 comprises a mount 190 for securing the acoustical blocking panel 110 to the road barrier 120. In this example, the mount 190 comprises a first mount 191 extending from a first end 137 of the panel frame 130 for removably securing the panel frame 130 to the first end 125 of the road divider 120. The mount 190 comprises a second mount 192 extending from a second end 138 of the panel frame 130 for removably securing the panel frame 130 to the second end 126 of the road divider 120.

(77) In this first embodiment of the portable acoustical road barrier 105, the first and second mounts 191 and 192 comprise flanges secured to the left and right sides 133 and 134 of the panel frame 130. The first and second flanges 191 and 192 are secured adjacent to the first and second ends 125 and 126 of the road barrier 120 by fasteners 199 shown as large screws or the like.

(78) FIGS. 27 and 28 are front and rear views of the interconnection of two of the portable acoustical road barriers 105A and 105B of FIG. 20 on adjacent road barriers 120A and 120B. The road barriers 120A and 120B are placed in an abutting or near abutting relationship. The right side overhang 166A of the sound blocking material 150A of the portable acoustical road barriers 105A is overlaid by the left side overhang 165B of the sound blocking material 150B of the portable acoustical road barriers 105B.

(79) The first side hook fasteners 155A of the sound blocking material 150A of the portable acoustical road barriers 105A engages with the second side loop fasteners 156B the sound blocking material 150B of the portable acoustical road barriers 105B to secure the sound blocking material 150A to the sound blocking material 150B. The configuration of the hook and loop fasteners 155 and 156 located on opposed ends and oppose sides of the sound blocking material 150 permits multiple portable acoustical road barriers 105 to be extended in either the left or right direction in FIG. 27. This extension creates a continuous acoustical blocking materials web as road barriers 120 are placed in a conventional serial array.

(80) FIGS. 29-34 illustrate a second embodiment of a portable acoustical road barrier 205 comprising an acoustical blocking panel 210 mounted on a road barrier 220. The portable acoustical road barrier 205 is similar to the portable acoustical road barrier 205 shown in FIGS. 20-26 with similar parts labeled with similar reference numeral raised by 100.

(81) In this embodiment, the mount 290 comprises a first and a second mount 291 and 292 extending from the first and second ends of the panel frame 230 for removably securing the panel frame 230 to the road divider 220. The first and second mounts 291 and 292 comprise saddles having left and right legs 293 and 294 engaging with the left and right sides 221 and 222 of the road barrier 220. Preferably, the left and right legs 293 and 294 resiliently and frictionally engage with the left and right sides 221 and 222 of the panel frame 230 to secure the acoustical blocking panel 210 to the road barrier 220. Optional fasteners (not shown) may be used to secure the left and right legs 293 and 294 engaging with the left and right sides 221 and 222 of the road barrier 220.

(82) FIGS. 35-40 illustrate a third embodiment of a portable acoustical road barrier 305 comprising an acoustical blocking panel 310 mounted on a road barrier 320. The portable acoustical road barrier 305 is similar to the portable acoustical road barrier 105 shown in FIGS. 20-26 with similar parts labeled with similar reference numeral raised by 200.

(83) In this embodiment, the mount 390 comprises a first and a second mount 391 and 392 extending from the first and second ends 337 and 338 of the panel frame 330 for removably securing the panel frame 330 to the road divider 320. The first and second mounts 391 and 392 comprise extensions 393 and 394 of the left and right panel frame portions 313 and 314 extending into first and second apertures 327 and 328 in the upper surface 324 of the road divider 320.

(84) The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.