GB2261461A - Barrier apparatus for use in protecting empty unused buildings against vandals - Google Patents

Abstract

Barrier apparatus (2) for use in protecting empty unused buildings (4) against vandals, which barrier apparatus (2) comprises a temporary barrier which is securable to a building (4) to block an access point (8) into the building (4) whilst the building (4) is empty and which is removable when the building (4) is to be used, and the barrier apparatus comprising a pair of channel members (10) for fitting to the building on opposite sides of the access point (8) and a plurality of infill members (12) which slide into the channel members (10) to block the access point (8), the infill members (12) being formed of re-usable interlocking components (14, 24). <IMAGE>

Description

BARRIER APPARATUS FOR USE IN PROTECTING EMPTY UNUSED BUILDINGS AGAINST VANDALS This invention relates to barrier apparatus for use in protecting empty unused buildings against vandals.

Vandals cause much damage to empty unused buildings such for example as empty flats, houses, factories and offices.

It is known to block access points such for example as windows, doorways and balconies with temporary barriers which are securable to the building. The known temporary barriers are sometimes made of plywood which is just nailed over an access point such for example as a window. Such temporary barriers are easily removed by vandals. More sophisticated barrier apparatus is known in which the temporary barrier is secured over an access point such for example as a window or a doorway and is secured from inside the building. This means that a securing member has to pass through the window or doorway and the current practise is simply to knock a hole in the window or door. Thus the window or door is permanently damaged and needs repair or replacing when the temporary barrier is removed.In addition to the problems of fixing the temporary barriers in a secure manner and in a manner which does not cause permanent damage, there is the further problem that the size of access points vary at different parts of a building and they also vary from building to building.

Difficulties thus arise in providing barrier apparatus of the required size.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided barrier apparatus for use in protecting empty unused buildings against vandals, which barrier apparatus comprises a temporary barrier which is securable to a building to block an access point into the building whilst the building is empty and which is removable when the building is to be used, and the barrier apparatus comprising a pair of channel members for fitting to the building on opposed sides of the access point, and a plurality of infill members which slide into the channel members to block the access point, the infill members being formed of re-usable interlocking components whereby the length of the infill members is variable by varying the number of the interlocking components used for each infill member, whereby infill members of different lengths to suit different sizes of access points can be formed on site simply by using an appropriate number of the interlocking components for each infill member, and whereby when the barrier apparatus is removed from the access point the interlocking components are separable from each other and storable for re-use as part of barrier apparatus blocking access points.

As indicated above, the access point can be windows, doorways, balconies or any opening whereby access may be gained to the building or to an area leading to the building.

The size of the access point is immaterial since the apparatus of the present invention can easily be formed on site to the required size. Fitting and installation are easy and it is not necessary to carry large bulky panels.

The fitting can easily be arranged to be such that no damage to the building occurs since it is only necessary to secure the channel members to the building on the two opposed sides of the access points.

The channel members will usually be fitted on opposed side edges of the access point. The infill members will then be slotted in position one on top of each other so that the infill members will then lie horizontally. If desired however the channel members may be fitted on top and bottom edges of the access point, the infill members would then be slotted in position side by side so that the infill members would then lie vertically.

Preferably, the interlocking components are box section components having a female connecting portion formed atone endand a complementary male connecting portion formed at the other end. Other types of interlocking components may however be employed.

When the interlocking components are box section components as mentioned above, then the infill members preferably include an end connecting member for each infill member, the end connecting member being such as to fit over the male connecting portion and to form the end of the infill member having the male connecting portion into an end which is of the same size as the end of the infill member having the female connecting portion, whereby both ends of the infill member are able to slide in substantially the same manner in channel members which are of the same size and construction.

Preferably, the channel members are formed of re-useable interlocking channel components. If desired however the channel members may be one piece members.

The channel members may include an end channel component for blocking one end of each channel member. Thus, for example, the end channel component may be used for stopping the infill members sliding through the bottom of the channel members when the channel members are mounted vertically.

Usually, the barrier apparatus will include a locking device for locking the other end of each channel member in order to stop the unauthorised removal of the infill members by reversing the assembly process.

The locking device may include any type of lock, for example a padlock or a combination lock. The use of a locking device facilitates the easy removal of the barrier apparatus.

The apparatus may include fastener means for securing the channel members to the opposed sides of the access point.

The fastener means may be rawl bolts, tap-in bolts, chemical bolts or any other suitable and appropriate fastener means.

The channel members can be fastened inside an opening or slightly wide of an opening. Generally, the channel members can be sited wherever most appropriate and expedient in dependence upon the structure of the building being made secure.

The channel members and the infill members may be made of any suitable and appropriate materials. Preferably metals are employed, for example steel. Reinforced plastics materials may however be employed if the plastics materials are made to be sufficiently strong.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows first barrier apparatus mounted about an access point in the form of a window.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded view of one of the infill members used in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows an alternative infill member to that shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows an alternative channel member to the channel members shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a further alternative channel member; Figure 7 shows an alternative end channel component to that shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a further channel member to that shown in Figure 5; Figure 9 shows an alternative end channel component to that shown in Figure 8; and Figure 10 shows an uppermost infill member provided with locking means.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 there is shown barrier apparatus 2 for use in protecting an empty unused building 4 against vandals. The barrier apparatus 2 is a temporary barrier which is securable as shown to a wall 6 of the building 4 to block an access point in the form of a window 8. The barrier apparatus 2 is used whilst the building 4 is empty and unused. The barrier apparatus 2 is removable when the building 4 is to be used.

The barrier apparatus 2 comprises a pair of channel members 10 which are fitted to the wall 6 as shown adjacent to opposed side edges of the window 8. The barrier apparatus 2 also comprises a plurality of infill members 12 which slide into the channel-members 10 to block the window 8.

As can best be seen from Figure 3, the infill members 12 are formed of re-useable interlocking components 14. The interlocking components 14 ensure that the length of the infill members 12 is variable by varying the number of the interlocking components 14 used for each infill member 12. This means that infill members 12 of different lengths to suit different sizes of window 8 or other access points can be formed on site simply by using an appropriate number of the interlocking components 14 for each infill member 12. When the barrier apparatus 2 is removed from the window 8, the interlocking components 14 are separable from each other and they are storable for re-use as part of barrier apparatus 2 for blocking another access point.

The channel members 6 have a rear side 16 which is provided with fixing apertures 18 as shown. These fixing apertures 18 receive fastener means in the form of rawl bolts, tap-in bolts or chemical bolts or any other suitable fastener means for fastening the channel members 10 to the wall 6. Removal of the channel members 10 from the wall 6 is then effected simply by undoing the fastener members after the infill members 12 have been removed from the channel members 10.

As can also be seen from Figure 3, the interlocking components 14 are box section components having a female connecting portion 20 formed at one end and a complementary male connecting portion 22 formed at the other end. The male connecting portion 22 slots into the female connecting portion 20 as will be appreciated from Figure 3.

As shown in Figure 3, the infill members 12 have an end connecting member 24 for fitting over the outermost male connecting portion 22. This forms the end of the infill member 12 having the outermost male connecting portion 22 into an end which is of the same size as the end of the infill member 12 having the female connecting portion 20. Thus both ends of the infill member 12 are able to slide in substantially the same manner in the channel members 10, the channel members 10 being of the same size and construction.

Without the end connecting member 24, the male connecting portion 22 would be a looser fit in its channel member 10 than would the female connecting portion 20.

Figure 4 shows an infill member 12 which is like the infill member 12 shown in Figure 3 except that the interlocking component 14 and the end connecting member 24 all have a bottom depending wall 26. If the lowermost infill member 12 does not locate at the bottom of the channel members 10 due to the end formation of the channel members 10 stopping the infill members 12 falling out of the channel members 10, then the wall 26 blocks any gap that might otherwise be formed and thus stops any attempt to insert a crowbar or the like into such a gap with a view to levering off the barrier apparatus 2.If the barrier apparatus 2 is fitted to the wall 10 outside of the window 8 as opposed to in the recess formed for the window 8, then providing the barrier apparatus 2 extends sufficiently far beneath the sill of the window 8, then insertion of a crowbar or the like will normally not be possible.

In Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that the channel members 10 are one piece solid channel members. In Figure 5, there is shown a channel member 10 which is formed of re-usable interlocking channel components 28. The lowermost channel component 28 is blocked by an end channel component 30. Thus, with vertically positioned channel members 10, the end channel component 30 stops the infill members 12 sliding through the bottom of the channel members 10.

Figure 6 shows a single fixed length channel member 10 with an end channel component 30 which is of an alternative design to that shown in Figure 5. Figure 7 shows a yet further alternatively designed end channel component 30.

Figure 8 shows another fixed length channel member 10 with another design of end channel component 30.

Figure 9 shows a yet further alternative end channel component 30.

Figure 10 shows an infill member 12 which is designed to be the uppermost infill member 12 in formed barrier apparatus 2. The interlocking components 14 are provided with keyhole :apertures 32 for receiving any suitable and appropriate form of locking device (not shown) for locking the infill members 12 in position. This is to stop the unauthorised removal of the infill members 12 simply by reversing the assembly process. As an alternative to using a specific locking device such for example as a padlock, a bar (not shown) could be fixed across the top of the channel members 10 and secured to the wall 6 in the same manner as the channel members 10.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, other shapes may be employed for the channel members 10 and also for the infill members 12. When the barrier apparatus is removed from the wall 10, the holes formed by the bolts or other devices in the fixing apertures 18 can easily be plugged or filled, thus leaving the wall 10 and the window 8 in its original condition. The barrier apparatus 2 can be used to block any suitable and appropriate aperture providing access to a building.

Claims (9)

1. Barrier apparatus for use in protecting empty unused buildings against vandals, which barrier apparatus comprises a temporary barrier which is securable to a building to block an access point into the building whilst the building is empty and which is removable when the building is to be used, and the barrier apparatus comprising a pair of channel members for fitting to the building on opposed sides of the access point, and a plurality of infill members which slide into the channel members to block the access point, the infill members being formed of reusable interlocking components whereby the length of the infill members is variable by varying the number of the interlocking components used for each infill member, whereby infill members of different lengths to suit different sizes of access points can be formed on site simply by using an appropriate number of the interlocking components for each infill member, and whereby when the barrier apparatus is removed from the access point the interlocking components are separable from each other and storable for re-use as part of barrier apparatus blocking access points.

2. Barrier apparatus according to claim 1 in which the interlocking components are box section components having a female connecting portion formed at one end and a complementary male connecting portion formed at the other end.

3. Barrier apparatus according to claim 2 in which the infill members include an end connecting member for each infill member, the end connecting member being such as to fit over the male connecting portion and to form the end of the infill member having the male connecting portion into an end which is of the same size as the end of the infill member having the female connecting portion, whereby both ends of the infil member are able to slide in substantially the same manner in channel members which are of the same size and construction.

4. Barrier apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the barrier apparatus is formed of reusable interlocking channel components.

5. Barrier apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the channel members include an end channel component for blocking one end of each channel member.

6. Barrier apparatus according to claim 5 and including a locking device for locking the other end of each channel member in order to stop the unauthorised removal of the infill members by reversing the assembly process.

7. Barrier apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including fastener means for securing the channel members to the opposed sides of the access point.

8. Barrier apparatus according to claim 7 in which the fastener means are rawl bolts, tap-in bolts, or chemical bolts.

9. Barrier apparatus for use in protecting empty unused buildings against vandals, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.