GB2084635A - Roadway barriers - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable barrier comprises self-standing supports 1 supporting removable bars 2. The support 1 has a generally open triangular frame comprising a base 3 and upwardly angled legs 4 which at their apex have slots 6,7 for the bars 2. At least the base of the support is hollow so that it can be filled with ballast such as sand or water. The ballast can be poured in through the slots 6,7 or through a filler hole (not shown) in the base. The bars may also be hollow. The supports and bars are made from plastics such as p.v.c. The open central portion 5 of the support increases its resistance to wind. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety Barriers This invention relates to safety barriers, especially for use on roadways for fencing off an excavation or other road work.

According to the present invention a safety barrier comprises a plurality of self-standing supports and a plurality of bars, each bar extending between and being detachably connected to the upper ends of a pair of said supports, and each support comprising a ground-engaging base and a pair of arms projecting upwardly from said base sothatthe support has a through-aperture, said arms being connected together at their upper ends, and at least said base being hollow and being fillable with ballast.

Further, according to the present invention there is provided a self-standing support for use with a safety barrier as aforesaid, said support comprising a ground-engageable base, and a pair of arms projecting upwardly from the base, so that the support has a through-aperture, at least said base being hollow so that it may receive ballast, said arms being -connected together at their upper ends, and the support being adapted at its upper end to receive detachably end portions of at least two bars.

Preferably the support is of generally triangular shape, and the through-aperture is also of generally triangualr shape.

Preferably also, the support is provided with four slots spaced equi-angularlyfor receiving end portions of four bars.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, which shows a perspective view of one arrangement of a safety barrier according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, a safety barrier consists generally of a plurality of self-standing supports 1, and a plurality of bars 2, each supported at its ends buy a pair of supports 1.

Each support 2 is in the form of generally triangular frame having a base 3 and a pair of legs 4 which project upwardly from the base 3 and meet at the upper apex of the triangle. The support 1 thus has a generally triangular through-aperture 5 defined by the base 3 and the legs 4.

Preferably, as shown, the front and rear walls of the legs 4 are mutually parallel, and the front and rear walls of the base 3 diverge downwardly therefrom to provide a sufficiently large ground-engaging bottom wall.

Adjacent its apex, the support has front and rear slots 6, and opposed slots 7 in the side walls of the legs. End portions of the bars 2 fitwithdrawably into the slots 6, 7, and said end portions may have a hook-like projection or notch for engagement with a co-operating formation in the slots, so as to prevent accidental or unintentional disconnection of the bars 2 from the supports 1.

The supports are hollow throughout, and the base at least may be filled with ballast, for example sand or water, which can be poured in through one or other of the slots 6, 7. Alternatively, only the base 3 may be hollow, and in this case, the base is provided with a filler hole, and the legs which are solid may be of smaller cross section than if they were hollow.

The supports and the bars are preferably made from plastics material, for example polyvinylchloride, and the bars also may be hollow.

As a result of the invention, the supports are light in weight, are easily handled and easily portable, and are not easily damaged. Also the relatively large through-apertures from front to rear and the relative narrowness of the supports when viewed from the side greatly increase their resistance to wind, so that the possibility of them being blown down is eliminated or greatly reduced, and visibility through or past a safety barrier is also greatly increased.

Moreover, the provision of the four holes 6,7 permits the supports to be used in line with the bars or at right angles to the bars, as may be required or desired to suit the prevailing conditions such as the ground contour, orto avoid unnecessary obstruction of a road or footpath, for example.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it is not essential that the supports be of generally triangular shape. Also the plastics material may alternatively be polyethylene.

1. -A safety barrier comprising a plurality of selfstanding supports and a plurality of bars, each bar extending between and being detachably connected to the upper ends of a pair of said supports, and each support comprising a ground-engaging base and a pair of arms projecting upwardly from said base so that the support has a through-aperture, said arms being connected together at their upper ends, and at least said base being hollow and being fillable with ballast.

2. A self-standing support for use with a safety barrier as claimed in claim 1, said support comprising a ground-engageable base, and a pair of arms projecting upwardly from the base, so that the support has a through-aperture, at least said base being hollow so that it may receive ballast, said arms being connected together at their upper ends, and the support being adapted at its upper end to receive detachably end portions of at least two bars.

3. A support as claimed in claim 2, which is of generally triangular shape, and the through-aperture is also of generally triangular shape.

4. A support as claimed in claim 2 or 3 which is provided with four slots spaced equi-angularly for receiving end portions of four bars.

5. A safety barrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

6. A self-standing support for a safety barrier as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Safety Barriers This invention relates to safety barriers, especially for use on roadways for fencing off an excavation or other road work. According to the present invention a safety barrier comprises a plurality of self-standing supports and a plurality of bars, each bar extending between and being detachably connected to the upper ends of a pair of said supports, and each support comprising a ground-engaging base and a pair of arms projecting upwardly from said base sothatthe support has a through-aperture, said arms being connected together at their upper ends, and at least said base being hollow and being fillable with ballast. Further, according to the present invention there is provided a self-standing support for use with a safety barrier as aforesaid, said support comprising a ground-engageable base, and a pair of arms projecting upwardly from the base, so that the support has a through-aperture, at least said base being hollow so that it may receive ballast, said arms being -connected together at their upper ends, and the support being adapted at its upper end to receive detachably end portions of at least two bars. Preferably the support is of generally triangular shape, and the through-aperture is also of generally triangualr shape. Preferably also, the support is provided with four slots spaced equi-angularlyfor receiving end portions of four bars. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, which shows a perspective view of one arrangement of a safety barrier according to the present invention. Referring to the drawing, a safety barrier consists generally of a plurality of self-standing supports 1, and a plurality of bars 2, each supported at its ends buy a pair of supports 1. Each support 2 is in the form of generally triangular frame having a base 3 and a pair of legs 4 which project upwardly from the base 3 and meet at the upper apex of the triangle. The support 1 thus has a generally triangular through-aperture 5 defined by the base 3 and the legs 4. Preferably, as shown, the front and rear walls of the legs 4 are mutually parallel, and the front and rear walls of the base 3 diverge downwardly therefrom to provide a sufficiently large ground-engaging bottom wall. Adjacent its apex, the support has front and rear slots 6, and opposed slots 7 in the side walls of the legs. End portions of the bars 2 fitwithdrawably into the slots 6, 7, and said end portions may have a hook-like projection or notch for engagement with a co-operating formation in the slots, so as to prevent accidental or unintentional disconnection of the bars 2 from the supports 1. The supports are hollow throughout, and the base at least may be filled with ballast, for example sand or water, which can be poured in through one or other of the slots 6, 7. Alternatively, only the base 3 may be hollow, and in this case, the base is provided with a filler hole, and the legs which are solid may be of smaller cross section than if they were hollow. The supports and the bars are preferably made from plastics material, for example polyvinylchloride, and the bars also may be hollow. As a result of the invention, the supports are light in weight, are easily handled and easily portable, and are not easily damaged. Also the relatively large through-apertures from front to rear and the relative narrowness of the supports when viewed from the side greatly increase their resistance to wind, so that the possibility of them being blown down is eliminated or greatly reduced, and visibility through or past a safety barrier is also greatly increased. Moreover, the provision of the four holes 6,7 permits the supports to be used in line with the bars or at right angles to the bars, as may be required or desired to suit the prevailing conditions such as the ground contour, orto avoid unnecessary obstruction of a road or footpath, for example. Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it is not essential that the supports be of generally triangular shape. Also the plastics material may alternatively be polyethylene. CLAIMS

1. -A safety barrier comprising a plurality of selfstanding supports and a plurality of bars, each bar extending between and being detachably connected to the upper ends of a pair of said supports, and each support comprising a ground-engaging base and a pair of arms projecting upwardly from said base so that the support has a through-aperture, said arms being connected together at their upper ends, and at least said base being hollow and being fillable with ballast.

2. A self-standing support for use with a safety barrier as claimed in claim 1, said support comprising a ground-engageable base, and a pair of arms projecting upwardly from the base, so that the support has a through-aperture, at least said base being hollow so that it may receive ballast, said arms being connected together at their upper ends, and the support being adapted at its upper end to receive detachably end portions of at least two bars.

3. A support as claimed in claim 2, which is of generally triangular shape, and the through-aperture is also of generally triangular shape.

4. A support as claimed in claim 2 or 3 which is provided with four slots spaced equi-angularly for receiving end portions of four bars.

5. A safety barrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

6. A self-standing support for a safety barrier as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.