GB2237044A

GB2237044A - A barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2237044A
Application number: GB9022535A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ambrose Dunne; Peter Dunne
Original assignee: P A D PATENT AND DESIGN COMPAN
Current assignee: P A D PATENT AND DESIGN COMPAN
Priority date: 1989-10-18
Filing date: 1990-10-17
Publication date: 1991-04-24
Also published as: IE893356A1; ZA908339B; GB9022535D0

Abstract

A barrier which comprises two support members (30) and a barrier member (60). Each of the support members (30) having a ground engaging base (31) and a post member (32). The post member (32) has a first recess (38) and a second recess (39). The first recess (38) has a shape or configuration for receiving a cooperating part (80) of a first barrier member (60); the second recess (39) has a different shape or configuration for receiving a cooperating pan (70) of a second barrier member (60). <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Title: A Barrier This invention relates to a barrier. In particular it relates to a system built wall.

Heretofore, walls made from concrete, bricks, blocks or the like are permanent structures. In order to move or remove a wall, it is necessary either to demolish it or, if time or finance permit, to remove individual bricks or blocks for erection elsewhere. Furthermore, a conventional wall requires a foundation the laying of which can be an expensive and time consuming task.

If a temporary barrier, as distinct from a permanent barrier is required, fencing is usually employed. While relatively easy and inexpensive to erect when compared with the erection of a wall, fencing, by its nature, does not enjoy the same degree of solidity that a wall enjoys.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a barrier having the solidity and permanence of a conventionally erected wall but also enjoying the features of ease of erection, without the need for a foundation, and removability.

The invention, therefore, provides a barrier which comprises two support members and a barrier member; each of the support members having a ground engaging base and a upstanding post member; each of the support members being in spaced apart relationship and having means for supporting the barrier member therebetween; the bases having means for enabling the support members to support the barrier member in the absence of respective foundations for said bases.

The invention also relates to a support member for use with the barrier according to the invention which support member comprises a ground engaging base having an upstanding post member; the post member having means for supporting a barrier member which support means comprises a first recess located on one face of the post member and a second recess located on another face of the post member; wherein the first recess, in cross-section, comprises a substantially u-shaped opening for receiving a cooperating first part of a first barrier; and the second recess comprises a substantially v-shaped cross section adapted for receiving a cooperating second part of a second barrier.

The invention also relates to a barrier member for use with the barrier according to the invention which barrier member comprises a barrier element having a first side edge and a second side edge; a first part projecting from the first side edge and adapted for cooperating with the first recess and a second part projecting from the second side edge and adapted for cooperating with the second recess.

Preferably, the support members and the barrier are made from concrete-like material.

The invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a barrier according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a support member according to the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a barrier member according to the invention; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support member of Figure 2 of the drawings, taken along the line IV-IV and viewed in the direction of the associated arrows; Figure 5 is a plan view of the support member of Figure 2 of the drawings; Figure 6 is a front elevation of the barrier member of Figure 3 of the drawings; and Figure 7 is a front elevation, partly in cross-section, of the support member of Figure 4 and of the barrier member of Figure 6 in use.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a barrier 10 according to the invention which comprises two similar support members 30 and a barrier member 60.

Referring now to Figures 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings, the support member 30 comprises a ground engaging base 31 and an upstanding post member 32. The post member 32 has means for supporting the barrier member 60. The base 31 is designed such that no foundations are necessary for enabling the post member 32 to support the barrier member 60. The post member 32 is square in cross-section having faces 33, 34, 35 and 36 and a top 37. The face 34 has a first recess 38 and the face 36 has a second recess 39.

The first recess 38 is, in cross-section as shown in Figure 4, substantially u-shaped and extends substantially the height of the post member 32. The depth of the recess 38 is slightly less than one half of the distance between the faces 34 and 36.

The recess 39 is substantially v-shaped in cross-section. More specifically, and again in crosssection, the recess 39 comprises a first face 41 parallel with the top 37. The depth of penetration of the face 41 is a few millimeters. The first face 41 leads into a second face 42 located transversely relative to the face 41 which face 42 expands slightly inwardly providing a gap 50 of increasing depth. A third face 43 is provided which extends more substantially inwardly and leads to a fourth face 44 parallel to the face 36. The fourth face 44 leads into a fifth face 45 which extends upwardly in the direction of the face 36. However, the fifth face 45 does not terminate in the same plane as the face 36; rather it leads to a sixth face 46 which tapers downwardly and outwardly in the direction of the face 36.Finally, the sixth face 46 leads into a seventh face 47 located transversely relative to the sixth face 46 and parallel to the top 37. The seventh face 47 leads into the face 36.

The barrier member 60 is substantially rectangular in shape having a top edge 61, a bottom edge 62, a first side edge 63 and a second side edge 64.

Between the edges 61-64, the barrier member can be fully enclosed, as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, or may be of lattice construction as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The first side edge 63 has a tongue 80 projecting therefrom the shape and size of which is adapted for mating with the first recess 38.

The second side edge 64 incorporates a hooklike projection 70. More specifically, the second side edge 64 has a first face 71 perpendicular to the top side edge 61. The first face 71 leads into a second face 72 which extends outwardly and downwardly relative to the side edge 61. The face 72, in turn, leads into a third face 73 parallel to the second side edge 64. The third face 73 leads into a fourth face 74 which extends upwardly and inwardly relative to the top side edge 61.

The fourth face 74, in turn, leads into a fifth face 75.

The fifth face 75 is co-planar with the first face 71.

The faces 72-74 constitute the hook-like projection 70.

Both the support member 30 and the barrier member 60 are made from a similar material preferably a concrete-like material.

To construct a wall or barrier 10, a plurality of support members 30 and barrier members 60 are made. The plurality of support members 30 are placed along the intended route of the barrier 10 in spaced apart relationship. The support members 30 are positioned so that all the first recesses 38 are facing in the same direction and all the second recesses 39 are facing in the opposite direction.

The first support member 60 is lifted into position so that the tongue 80 engages with the first recess 38 of one of the support members 30a. The projection 70 engages in the recess 39. Thus, the faces 42-46 will match with the faces 71-75. However, the dimensions of the recess 36 and/or the projection 70 are such that the faces 71-75 only contact the faces 42-46 at three different locations viz. at x, y and z (see Figures 4 and 7 of the drawings).The reasons for this limited but effective three point contact area are:1. to allow for interface mismatches due to mass production of the support members 30 and the barrier members 60; 2. to allow for lateral movement of the barrier member 60 relative to the support members 30; 3. to allow for expansion due to ambient temperature changes; and 4. to provide a firm rigid structure which is substantially similar to that of a conventionally built wall.

The above description and drawings relate to the provision of walls or barriers which are essentially linear in construction.

If it is desired to provide for a non-linear construction of a wall or barrier, each or some of the support members 30 may be provided with a respective additional recess 38a in the face 33 and/or a further recess (not shown) in the face 35. The recess 38a may be of the same shape and configuration as the recess 38; the further recess in the face 35 may be of the same shape and configuration as the recess 39.

The provision of the recess 38a and/or the further recess in the face 35 will permit barrier members 60 to be displaced at right angles relative to each other.

Some of the advantages of the barrier 10 according to the invention are that no foundations are required for the erection of the barrier 10. The support members 30 are simply placed on the ground along the intended route of the wall or barrier. Erection of the barrier 10 requires little or no skill in the technique of wall construction. The barrier 10, having regard to the material from which it is made, is not easily moved once in place. However, unlike a wall built from blocks and cement which, if it is desired to move would have to be knocked down and rebuilt, the barrier 10 of the present invention can be dismantled and moved to a new location when desired.

The invention is not limited by or to the specific embodiments described with can undergo considerable variation without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A barrier which comprises two support members and a barrier member; each of the support members having a ground engaging base and a upstanding post member; each of the support members being in spaced apart relationship and having means for supporting the barrier member therebetween; each of the bases having means for enabling the support members to support the barrier member in the absence of a respective foundation for said bases.

2. A barrier as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the support member comprises a ground engaging base having an upstanding post member; the post member having means for supporting a barrier member which support means comprises a first recess located on one face of the post member and a second recess located on another face of the post member; wherein the first recess, in cross-section, comprises a substantially u-shaped opening for receiving a cooperating first part of a first barrier; and the second recess comprises a substantially v-shaped cross section adapted for receiving a cooperating second part of a second barrier.

3. A barrier as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the second recess comprises a first face in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship relative to the top of the barrier which first face leads into a second face located transversely relative to the first face which second face extends inwardly providing a gap of increasing depth which second face leads into a third face located transversely relative to the second face and which also extends inwardly leading to a fourth face in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship relative to said other face which fourth face leads into a fifth face which extends upwardly in the direction of said other face which fifth face leadstinto a sixth face which extends downwardly and outwardly in the direction of said other face which sixth face leads into a seventh face located transversely relative to the sixth face and in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship relative to the first face.

4. A barrier as claimed in any of Claims 1-3 wherein the barrier member comprises a barrier element having a first side edge and a second side edge; a first part projecting from the first side edge and adapted for cooperating with the first recess, and a second part projecting from the second side edge and adapted for cooperating with the second recess.

5. A barrier as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the second side edge has a first face substantially perpendicular to the top of the barrier element which first face leads into a second face which extends outwardly and downwardly relative to the top of the barrier element which second face leads into a third face in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship relative to the second side edge which third face leads into a fourth face which extends upwardly and inwardly relative to the top of the barrier element which fourth face leads into a fifth face which is substantially coplanar relative to the first face.

6. A barrier as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the second face, the fifth and the sixth faces of the second side edge are in contact with the second, fifth and sixth faces respectively of the second recess.

7. A barrier as claimed in any of Claims 1-6 wherein the support members and barrier member are made from a concrete-like material.

8. A support member for use with a barrier as claimed in any of Claims 1-7 which support member comprises a ground engaging base having an upstanding post member; the post member having means for supporting a barrier member which support means comprises a first recess located on one face of the post member and a second recess located on another face of the post member; wherein the first recess, in cross-section, comprises a substantially u-shaped opening for receiving a cooperating first part of a first barrier; and the second recess, comprises a substantially v-shaped cross section adapted for receiving a cooperating second part of a second barrier.

9. A support member as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the second recess comprises a first face in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship relative to the top of the barrier which first face leads into a second face located transversely relative to the first face which second face extends inwardly providing a gap of increasing depth which second face leads into a third face located transversely relative to the second face and which also extends inwardly leading to a fourth face in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship relative to said other face which fourth face leads into a fifth face which extends upwardly in the direction of said other face which fifth face leads into a sixth face which extends downwardly and outwardly in the direction of said other face which sixth face leads into a seventh face located transversely relative to the sixth face and in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship relative to the first face.

10. A barrier member for use with a barrier as claimed in any of Claims 1-7 which barrier member comprises a barrier element having a first side edge and a second side edge; a first part projecting from the first side edge and adapted for cooperating with the first recess, and a second part projecting from the second side edge and adapted for cooperating with the second recess.

11. A barrier member as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the second side edge has a first face substantially perpendicular to the top of the barrier element which first face leads into a second face which extends outwardly and downwardly relative to the top of the barrier element which second face leads into a third face in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship relative to the second side edge which third face leads into a fourth face which extends upwardly and inwardly relative to the top of the barrier element which fourth face leads into a fifth face which is substantially coplanar relative to the first face.

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

13. A support member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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