Injection-molded block-out spacer

摘要

A spacer is shown for spacing a post from a rail used alongside a road. The spacer is formed from an injection-molded plastic honeycomb structure. The honeycomb structure has a number of substantially parallel, internal webs, with the internal webs extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the post and the rail. The spacer can be formed with a post-interfacing side of the spacer having a stepped configuration that allows the spacer to engage with a variety of different shaped posts. Each of the substantially parallel internal webs of the spacer is provided with the stepped configuration at the post-interfacing end of each of the webs. A width of the bottom surface of the stepped surface is selected for engagement with a standard width flange on an I-beam type post. A width of an intermediate ledge surface on the stepped surface is selected for engagement with standard wooden square posts. The stepped surface is also provided with chamfered surfaces that fall along a locus of points having a radius approximately equal to the outer radius of a standard round wooden post. The spacer also has an internal partition extending between the post-interfacing side and the rail-interfacing side of the spacer and defining an opening through which a connector can be passed. The internal partition can be offset relative to a central longitudinal axis of the spacer so that a connector passing through the opening will not interfere with the central web of an I-beam type spacer.