GB2062051A - Portable barrier - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a barrier. Referring to Figure 1 a barrier is constituted by a barrier portion 11 formed as a lattice of levers connected in the manner of lazy tongs having wheels 23 connected to one end thereof and having its other end connected to a base 13. Rotation of a handle portion 20 in the direction of the arrow A raises pistons 17 disposed in uprights 15 separating the ends of the levers at the other end of the lattice and hence drawing in the barrier. The barrier portion 11 can be extended by reversing the movement of handle portion 20. Means 16 are provided for limiting the extension of the lattice. The barrier is particularly suitable for temporarily closing right of way. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Barrier This invention relates to barriers and in particular, but not exclusively, to barriers for temporarily closing rights of way.

According to the present invention there is provided a barrier comprising an extendable lattice consisting of multiplicity of levers pivotably connected together in a lazy tongs manner whereby opposed ends of the lattice can be expanded away from each other to form a barrier and contracted towards each other to collapse the barrier, the free ends of the levers at opposite ends of the lattice on one side of the lattice carrying, respectively, a base to rest on the ground and at least one wheel to run on the ground to support the barrier in a generally upright manner on the ground and to enable the barrier to be extended and contracted by acting on the levers at the base end only of the barrier and means to limit to extension of the lattice.

For the purpose of this specification the term lazy tongs includes any construction comprising a series of pairs of levers, each pair being pivotably connected at their midpoints and having their ends pivotably connected to the corresponding ends of an adjacent pair to form a row of pairs such that the construction can be extended or drawn in by bringing together or separating respectively the free ends of an end pair of levers.

The levers may be constituted by any rigid elongate member. For example they may be in the form of flat plates or tubes.

The barrier may further comprise lever means connected to the lever on the other side of the lattice at the base end thereof, the lever means being mounted on the base for movement towards and away from the base whereby movement of the lever means relative to the base enables the barrier to be extended and contracted.

The means for limiting the extension may comprise means for limiting the movement of the lever towards the base.

The lever means may be mounted on the base by means of a vertically extending telescopic connection.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the barrier in its extended position; Figure 2 is a view from above of the barrier of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows the barrier of Figure 1 in its drawn in position.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 a temporary road barrier, generally indicated at 10, has an extendable barrier portion generally indicated at 11 , which is constituted by a lattice consisting of a multiplicity of levers pivotably connected together in a lazy tongs manner. The barrier portion 11 lies in a generally vertical plane. The lattice is formed from a number of levers 12. Those levers which are inclined upwardly left to right in Figure 1 are constituted by a single steel tubular element 12a.

Those levers which are inclined downwardly left to right in Figure 1 are constituted by a pair of spaced parallel tubular elements 1 2b. Each single tubular element 1 2a passes between a pair of tubular elements 1 2b and is pivotably connected thereto at their midpoint. With the exception of those ends of the levers, which constitute the opposed ends of the lattice the ends of the single tubular elements 1 2a are pivotably connected between a respective pair of pairs of tubular elements 1 2b.

The barrier further includes a base 13, which comprises a flat ground engaging rectangular plate 14 and a pair of spaced parallel open ended tubular uprights 15, which extend upwardly from one end of the plate. The free end of the right hand most pair of tubular elements 1 2b of the lattice are pivotably connected between and to the uprights 15, by means of a pivot rod 1 6. The pivot rod 1 6 passes through each of the uprights 1 5 and serves as a stop for respective piston 1 7 slidably mounted in the upright 1 5 and extending through the open end thereof.

The right hand most single element 1 2a of the lattice passes between the projecting ends 1 8 of the piston 1 7 and is pivotably connected thereto by a pivot 1 9. This element of the lattice extends upwardly to form a handle or lever portion generally indicated at 20. The handle portion 20 is provided with a vertically extending grip 21.

The free end of the left hand most single element 1 2a is connected to an axle 22 between pair of spaced parallel wheels 23, which are rotatably mounted on the axle 22.

In use the base 1 3 is anchored by the user standing on the plate 14. The barrier can then be collapsed or drawn in from its Figure 1 position by rotating the handle portion 20 in the direction of the arrow A. This causes piston 1 7 to be raised within the uprights 1 5 and hence increases the separation of pivots 1 6 and 1 9. The effect of this movement is that the lattice is drawn in to its collapsed position shown in Figure 3, due to the opposed pairs of pivot points 25, 26 and 27 being forced apart. As the lattice is drawn into the collapsed position the wheels 23 run along the ground supporting the free end of the lattice.

Conversely the lattice can be erected by rotating the handle portion 20 in the direction of arrow B (see Figure 3), which drives pivot 19 towards pivot 1 6 and hence causes the lattice to extend into position shown in Figure 1. The movement of the handle portion 20 in the direction of arrow B is limited by pistons 17 engaging pivot 1 6 and hence pivot 1 6 limits the extension of the lattice.

In its collapsed position the barrier 10 can be tilted about axle 22 to lift plate 14 of the ground and the barrier can then be wheeled away.

It will thus be seen that the barrier 10 provides a readily transportable barrier which can be erected and removed extremely quickly: Further when stored the barrier 10 takes up relatively little space.

It will be appreciated that the handle portion 20 may be foldable downwardly in the direction of arrow B and base 14 may be foldable upwardly towards upright 1 5 so that the barrier 10 can form a compact boxable unit.

Alternatively base 14 may be slidable towards and away from wheels 23.

Claims (5)

1. A barrier comprising an extendable lattice consisting of a multiplicity of levers pivotably connected together in a lazy tongs manner whereby opposed ends of the lattice can be expanded away from each other to form a barrier and contracted towards each other to collapse the barrier, the free ends of the levers at opposite ends of the lattice one one side of the lattice carrying, respectively, a base to rest on the ground and at least one wheel to run on the ground to support the barrier in a generally upright manner on the ground and to enable the barrier to be extended and contracted by acting on the levers at the base end only of the barrier and means to limit the extension of the lattice.

2. A barrier as claimed in Claim 1 further comprising lever means connected to the lever on the other side of the lattice at the base end thereof, the lever means being mounted on the base for movement towards and away from the base whereby movement of the lever means relative to the base enables the barrier to be extended and contracted.

3. A barrier as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the means for limiting the extension of the lattice comprise means for limiting the movement of the lever means towards the base.

4. A barrier as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the lever means is mounted on the base by means of a vertically extending telescopic connection.

5. A barrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.