AU662622B2

AU662622B2 - Crowd control barrier

Info

Publication number: AU662622B2
Application number: AU38281/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Reg Dew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-05-01
Filing date: 1993-04-30
Publication date: 1995-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2013-04-30
Also published as: AU3828193A

Description

.rmc..u~ IP/00/0~1 1 2&WIA Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 662622

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT S CC St CC C I

L

Application Number: Lodged: PL 2218 1 ST MAY, 1992 I t t Invention Title: CROWD~ CONTROL BARRIER C C C The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me CROWD CONTROL BARRIER The present invention relates to improvements to barriers, and particularly but not exclusively to improvements to barriers suitable for the control of crowds at rock concerts or the like.

The provision of suitable crowd control apparatus at venues where large numbers of people are in attendance is of major importance from the point of view of protection of the performers from over-enthusiastic fans, and for the protection of the crowd from itself. It is well known that large crowds have a habit of surging, particularly towards the stage, leading to people towards the front of S 10 the crowd being trampled and crushed in the ensuing push.

Existing barriers are such that they require significant numbers of man hours to erect and dismantle, and they are also structurally inadequate for the function that they are intended to perform.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an effective, convenient portable crowd barrier. According to one aspect the invention provides a portable barrier adapted to be connected to other similar barriers in order to form a crowd control barrier, comprising a base member, a barrier member operatively connected to the base member in an erect position, and adapted to be placed in a second prostrate position for storage, said barrier including 20 connection means on at least one side adapted to operatively connect to adjacent barriers.

Suitably, the base member and the barrier member are connected by at least one support member. The support member is preferably pivotably attached to either or both of the base member and the barrier member. This construction allows the barrier -ember to be laid flat on the base member, providing a highly portable barrier which Can be manually lifted or forklifted into and out of place as required.

The base member is adapted to sit on the ground, and suitably extends on both sides of the barrier member, facilitating stability of the apparatus.

The barrier may also include means to permit the barrier member to be maintained in a substantially upright orientation when erected. This may take any suitable form, for example a ground engaging member such as a stake or Ssimilar attached to the base of the barrier member, It is presently preferred that a 7.

2 stop be located at the base of the barrier member to interengage or alternatively abut a corresponding part of the base member.

It is envisaged that the barrier of the present invention will form a modular element which, when combined with a number of similar modular elements, constitutes a barrier of a defined length.

The barrier member may be of any appropriate form which will prevent penetration by spectators and is suitably a screen such as a mesh screen.

The barrier member and base member are suitably dimensionally configured to form a square or rectangular structure in the laid flat position.

It is presently preferred that the barrier be provided with a pair of support members pivotably attached in parallel to the barrier member.

The apparatus may include a transverse structural support member suitably pivotably attached to the pivotable support member approximately intermediate the ends of the pivotable support member, which engages the C C 15 barrier member and is adapted in use to be substantially horizontal. This structural support member may double as a platform for security or crowd control personnel to maintain a vantage point with respect to the crowd. The structural S support member is suitably a piece of steel plate in the form of a step.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of a crowd control barrier according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the barrier of Figure 1; and iI Figure 3 is a rear perspective of the barrier of Figure 1.

Turning to the drawings, there is shown generally a barrier fu wwd control 10 including a base member 11 having a frame, and a front base plate of any suitable material, preferably a heavy gauge steel. The apparatus is oriented such that the front base plate 30 faces the crowd. It will be noted tha the base member extends on both sides of the barrier member 12, which contributes to the overall stability of the apparatus. The base member 11 is suitably adapted to sit on the ground or similar surface.

Ur 3 Barrier member 12 in the form of a metal screen is pivotably attached at one of its ends 14 to support member 13. Suitably the barrier member includes two such support members 13 pivotably attached to the barrier member 12 at the points 14 and '15 as indicated at Figure 2.

The barrier member 12 suitably includes horizontal frame members 21 and 22 and vertical frame members 23 and 24 defining a substantially square screen. Tubular support beams 25, 26 and 28 provide added rigidity to the barrier member 12. Support beam 26 also serves to engage the structural support member 18 when the member 18 is disposed in use horizontally.

Support member 13 in the embodiment shown is also pivotably attached at its other end at point 16 tr) the base member 11.

i In the embodiment shown, the support member includes a transverse A, A structural support member 18 pivotably attached to the support member 13 at an interriindiate point 19. In the erected state shown the structural support member 15 18 is substantially horizontal providing a rigid structural support and also defining a platform which can be used as a vantage point for security personnel.

The barrier member 12 includes an engaging means or stop 27 at its lower end adapted to engage the base member 11 so as to achieve a substantially vertical orientation when erected.

i, A 20 It is anticipated that in use at a venue, a plurality of such barriers will be joined together to form a substantially impenetrable barrier at, for example, the f~tot of a stage. The barriers may be joined together by any suitable means 16 such as via a hook on the base member 11.

A number of the barriers may also suitably define zones throughout the crowd to break up the crowd and so to prevent large scale surging from occurring.

In use, the barrier 10 may be transformed from the erected state shown in Figure 1 to a dismantled state as follows. The barrier member 12 is manually disengaged from the base member 11 at point 27 by pivoting the support members 13 about pivot points 16 and 17, and barrier member 12 about points 14 and 15, in the direction indicated by arrow A. The transverse structural support member 18 is substantially simultaneously manually disengaged from L~r r. I: 4 the barrier member 12 by pivoting it upwards about pivot point 19 in the direction indicated by arrow B. On further pivoting, the barrier member 12 is brought into substantially parallel alignment with the support members 13.

The combined barrier member 12 and support members 13 may then be further pivoted together in an opposite direction as indicated by arrow C about points 16 and 17 and laid flat on the upper surface of base member 11.

In this way a highly portable barrier is created. The reverse procedure as above described may be performed to erect the barrier.

It will be appreciated that variations and additions are possible within the spirit and scope of this invention.

H t (tt t litt

Claims

1. A portable barrier adapted to be connected to other similar barriers in order to form a crowd control barrier, comprising a base member, a barrier member operatively connected to the base member in an erect position, and adapted to be placed in a second prostrate position for storage, said barrier including connection means on at least one side adapted to operatively connect to adjacent barriers.

2. A barrier according to claim 1, further comprising at least one bracing member adapted to extend in an erect position on the opposite side of said barrier member to where a crowd is expected.

3. A barrier according to claim 2, wherein said bracing member and said barrier member are extended to said erect position by pivoting.

4. A barrier according to claim 2, wherein there are at least 2 bracing members, and in the erect position a transverse platform operatively extends from said barrier member to said bracing members. 0 0 0O

5. A crowd control barrier, comprising a plurality of connected portable barriers according to any one of the preceding claims. DATED this 5th day of July 1995. REG DEW 2 i7 B .WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS LEVEL 4, AMORY GARDENS 2 CAVILL AVENUE ASHFIELD NSW 2131 Gs< AUSTRALIA 4ea:t PNF:SZ:JL Vax Doc 015 AU003828193.WPC r L ABSTRACT A barrier for crowd control is disclosed. The barrier is suitably demountable and comprises a base member and a barrier member operatively connected to the base member enabling the barrier member to be moved from a first position where the barrier member overlies the base member to a second position where the barrier member forms a substantially erect barrier. It is envisaged that the barrier of the present invention will form a modular element which, when combined with a number of similar modular elements, constitutes a barrier of a defined length. It tt r I *i f 9o *r S rf Cr S .44.r 54 p.