AU2020100540A4 - Transportable accessway control - Google Patents

Abstract

- 10 A transportable pedestrian accessway control that is fully contained within a shipping container, which further comprises a vehicle barrier that is fully supported by the container. i7

Description

TRANSPORTABLE ACCESSWAY CONTROL

The present invention relates to a transportable accessway control. More particularly but not exclusively it relates to a transportable accessway control that is fully contained within a shipping container, and it further comprises a vehicle barrier that is fully supported by the container.

BACKGROUND

Transportable and discreet units for perimeter access are known. Generally, these units consist of a shipping container with in-built accessways for pedestrian entry and exit. The units may control the egress of a pedestrian from a public unsecured side to a secured side. Typically, these units may comprise a turn-style type gate within the container. Such a unit is sold with a system commercialised by Modular Security Systems Incorporated, an American company. One such product is the MAC Portal with vehicle access control gate. This system utilises a shipping container with a secure and controllable pedestrian pathway having an entrance on a unsecure side and an exit on a secure side. A transportable vehicle access control system, without pedestrian control, is shown in US9004807. The system comprises a vehicle barrier gate attached to a container unit, to control vehicle access from the unsecure side to the secure side.

These types of units may be used, for example, for crowd control in one-off events, and/or constructions sites. They are required to prevent public access to a secured site. Preferably, the systems are completely transportable and discreet units.

In this specification, where reference has been made to external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the present invention. Unless stated otherwise, reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

For the purpose of this specification, where method steps are described in sequence, the sequence does not necessarily mean that the steps are to be chronologically ordered in that sequence, unless there is no other logical manner of interpreting the sequence.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact, transportable control unit that control both vehicle and pedestrian access which overcomes or at least partially ameliorates some of the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.

- 2 STATEMENTS OF INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention may be said to consist in a transportable access control unit comprising or including a transportable rectanguloid or cuboid container, a barrier rectilinearly deployable from the container suitable to restrict vehicular access on a locus alongside the container and rectilinearly withdrawable back into the container to allow vehicular access on that locus, a pedestrian entrance door/gate (door) into the container, and a pedestrian exit door/gate (door) from the container accessible to a pedestrian who has entered the container.

In one embodiment, one or more of the barrier and doors are motorised for controllable movements.

In one embodiment, the barrier is hung from the roof and/or wall of the container.

In one embodiment, the receiving zone in the container is encaged as a safety measure.

In one embodiment, the encagement has an openable accessway.

In one embodiment, there is a control unit for at least one, some or all of the barrier and doors.

In one embodiment, a sign in zone between the pedestrian doors.

In one embodiment, the barrier slides.

In one embodiment, the barrier is hung.

In one embodiment, the barrier is composed primarily of metal.

In one embodiment, the container is a shipping container.

In one embodiment, the container is 20 or 40 foot long.

In one embodiment, the barrier is at least the width of a vehicle.

In one embodiment, the barrier can fully retract within the footprint of the container.

In a second aspect the present invention may be said to consist in a fenced site that requires vehicular access to be allowed by a rectilinearly movable barrier and

- 3 pedestrian access to be allowed through a container from which the barrier is mounted and is deployable/withdrawable.

In one embodiment, the container and barrier is of a unit as described above.

In one embodiment, the fencing of the site is staggered, the barrier being aligned to part of the fencing and the other part of the stagger being offset from that alignment.

In one embodiment, pedestrian egress from the fenced site can be allowed, or is allowed, via the container.

Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As used herein the term and/or means and or or, or both.

As used herein (s) following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

The term comprising as used in this specification [and claims] means consisting at least in part of. When interpreting statements in this specification [and claims] which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as comprise and comprised are to be interpreted in the same manner.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited above and below, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.)

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1: shows a front top perspective view of the system.

Figure 2: shows a plan schematic view of the system, in use.

- 4 Figure 3: shows a side cross sectional view of the system with the barrier extended, in use.

Figure 4: shows a plan schematic view of the system with the barrier retracted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the above drawings, in which similar features are generally indicated by similar numerals, a pedestrian and vehicle control system according to a first aspect of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 1.

The system 1 generally comprising a container 10, a barrier 30, a pedestrian entrance 20 and pedestrian exit 24.

The system 1 is preferably able to be fully encapsulated in a discreet unit 10, such a unit being similar or a shipping container 10. A shipping container allows rapid and easy deployment and transport of the system 1. Preferably, all features and axillary features of the system can be fitted within the container 10, and hence transported as one with the container 10. A unique aspect of this invention is that the system 1 comprises a barrier 30 that is able to be fully received within the defined volume of the shipping container 10.

The container 10 may be transported in the usual manner of shipping containers, for example by forklift or cranes. The typically features, such as lift points, associated with the transport means are encompassed within the system 1.

Figure 1 shows the barrier 30 extending from an opening 37. Figures 2 and 3 show the barrier 30 fully extended from the perimeter of the container 10. Figure 4 shows the barrier 30 fully within the perimeter defined by the walls 11 of the container 10. The barrier 30 is configured to be stored within the container 10 at a receiving zone 36. The receiving zone 36 may be fenced or barriered off by a safety barrier/encagement 3 to prevent any pedestrians or users engaging with the barrier 30.

Figure 2 shows a plan view schematic of a system 1 in use. The container 10 allows a pedestrian 7 to enter into a pedestrian entry 20 and follow a locus through the interior 12 of the container 10 through to a pedestrian exit 24 that provides access to the secured side. The pedestrian generally enters from the non-secured or public side.

Preferably the pedestrian exit 24 is secured by a pedestrian exit gate 23 that prevents access unless proper authorisation or control has been granted. In one embodiment the system 1 comprises a door 10 to that is configured to cover the pedestrian exit 24 wherein the system 1 is being transported or in other appropriate

- 5 situations. The door 22 may not be controlled by authorisation, whereas the door/gate 23 is controlled by authorisation.

Whilst the pedestrian is within the interior 12, the pedestrian 7 may enter their identification or other guest details into an input 41. The input 41 may be such as a computer screen and/or other peripheral inputs. Once any required details have been entered into the input 41, if satisfied, a controllable pedestrian exit gate 23 will open to allow the pedestrian to pass through the pedestrian exit 24 to the secured side. The pedestrian 7 in some embodiments may only have to swipe their access card or other security identification at a pedestrian card or keypad access point 42 to control the pedestrian exit gate 23 to open. In some embodiments the pedestrian 7 may have to both swipe an access card at the input 42 as well as entering any other data at the input

41. What data is entered and what access is given will depend on the system operator, or whatever requirements are required for access to the secured side. The system operator may be the site manager.

In other embodiments, there is no controllable security door 22, and the pedestrian must merely sign in with the details and can then carry on their locus through the pedestrian exit 24.

In one embodiment, the interior 12 comprises indicia 40 that may be used for the site induction or safety instructions or information relevant for the secured site. Preferably sign in information is input on a wirelessly enabled tablet. Preferably the system 1 comprises a wireless system is to receive and send information offsite, and/or to peripherals such as the access points 38, 41 and 42. Preferably one or more of the peripherals are internet enabled. Preferably the system 1 has a secured area 45 that allows access to the control unit 35 that controls the barrier 30 and/or the pedestrian exit gate 23. Access to the controlled area 45 may be via a gate/door/openable accessway 46.

A like control system, to the pedestrian control system, is used for control of vehicle access along a locus alongside the container 10, from the unsecured side to the secure side. A vehicle 6 is shown on a road 4 in Figure 2 on the public side. A user may input identification data, sign in date, a secure pin number, or swipe a card, at a vehicle access point 38. If the authentication is correct, or the sign-in is accepted, the barrier 30 will retract into the container 10 to allow the vehicle 6 to pass into the secured side. The barrier 30 is configured to be received into an opening 37 and subsequently received into a receiving zone 36 within the container 10.

Preferably the barrier 30 extends and retracts rectilinearly into and out of the container 10. In the preferred embodiment the barrier 30 is stored, extends, and retracts

- 6 parallel and adjacent a wall 11 of the container 10. Preferably the gate is on the internal side of a wall 11 of the container 10, that is opposite the wall 11 that comprises the pedestrian entrance 20. Preferably the barrier 30 is the longer wall of the container that extends in the elongate direction.

Once the vehicle 6 has passed, the barrier 30 a is configured to be able to extend out of the container 10. Preferably the barrier extends once the vehicle has passed after a predefined set of time, or will extend due to another input. Such other input may be received from a sensor being activated on an exit post 50. The exit post 50 may comprise wireless control 52 and/or be powered by solar power 51. The exit post 50 may comprise a sensor that senses when a vehicle 6 has passed and cleared the area where the barrier 30 is located, and once passed, the exit barrier 30 may be extended again to block the locus, accessway or road 4. Alternatively, the barrier 30 may be extended by an operator. The exit post 50 may be a remote, removable and transportable unit that can be located when the container 10 is located on-site.

The barrier 30 is preferably driven between its extended state and retracted state (extended state being where a vehicle 6 may pass, and retracted stated being where a vehicle 6 may not pass). Preferably the barrier 30 is motorised to be move, however in other embodiments the barrier 30 may be manually operable. Preferably the barrier 30 is driven by a motor to drive the barrier 30 between its extended state and retracted state, or state in between. A motor 32 is shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3. The motor 32 may be one or more of a variety of different motors that a person skilled in the art will be able to determine depending on the weight and length of the barrier 30. Preferably, the barrier 30 is cantilevered off the container 10, and is not supported by any other supports apart from the container 10.

In some embodiments, the barrier 30 may have a real or slide or guide that can interact with the supporting service that supports the container 10. Are you a real at the end of the barrier 30 may roll on the ground, as the barrier 30 extend and retracts.

The barrier 30 may be suspended by supports, preferably wheels 33 that are hung and/or supported by a guide 31. In other embodiments the barrier 30 may also have a bottom guide (not shown) to further suspend, support and/or retain the barrier 30.

Preferably, the guide 31 is hung from a ceiling of the container 10. The guide 31 may also be supported by the wall 11 of the container 10. In some embodiments the guide 31 is supported by both the ceiling and the wall 11 of the container 10.

- 7 Preferably the barrier 30 is mounted to the ceiling so as to achieve a low ground clea rance.

The barrier 30 is configured to be stored in the receiving zone 36 during transport, and also when the barrier 30 is retracted to provide access to the secured side.

The container 10 does not necessarily need to be a shipping container as such, but is generally a rectangular or cuboid shaped unit that defines an interior, base and walls. The container may not necessarily need to have a ceiling. In embodiments where there is no ceiling, the barrier 30 may be suspended off the walls, or supported by the base of the unit, or supported by both.

The container may be composed of steel, or like structural materials. The container needs to be able to support itself during transport.

The system may be joined up to power in-situ, or in remote locations, the system 1 may be configured to include its own electrical generator, or solar power system for self-sufficient power.

Preferably the system 1 acts with and/or comprises a on-site fence or barrier 2.

The barriers 2 extend from opposite ends of the container 10. Preferably these barriers 2 are offset or staggered from one another. Preferably one first barrier extends coplanar with the vehicle barrier 30, and the other second barrier 2 at the other end of the container 10 is staggered from the first barrier. Preferably the stagger is offset by a depth of the container 10. The barrier 30 may co-act with an end post 34, that may be in line with the barrier 2. The end post 34 is preferably removable.

The system 1 has a unique advantage of both having pedestrian access through an internal area of a container 10, as well as vehicle access integrated within the container 10. Where the vehicle access control is the vehicle barrier 30, that is configured to extend out of the container 10, to block an accessway adjacent the container 10.

A skilled person in the art will realise that the vehicle access barrier can extend either from the lengthwise direction of the container 10, or the depth wise direction of the container 10. A skilled person in the art will also realise that is possible to configure the pedestrian accessways appropriately depending on the location of vehicle barrier 30.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to elements or integers having known equivalents, then such equivalents are included as if they were individually set forth.

- 8 2020100540 09 Apr 2020

Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and/or improvements may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A transportable access control unit comprising or including a transportable rectanguloid or cuboid container, a barrier rectilinearly deployable from the container suitable to restrict vehicular access on a locus alongside the container and rectilinearly

5 withdrawable back into the container to allow vehicular access on that locus, a pedestrian entrance door/gate (door) into the container, and a pedestrian exit door/gate (door) from the container accessible to a pedestrian who has entered the container.

2. A unit of claim 1 wherein one or more of the barrier and doors are motorised for controllable movements.

10

3. A unit of claim 1 or 2 wherein the barrier is hung from the roof and/or wall of the container.

4. A unit of claim 2 or 3 wherein the receiving zone in the container is encaged as a safety measure.

5. A unit of claim 4 wherein the encagement has an openable accessway.