GB2263929A - Adjustable barrier - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the provision of apparatus for obstructing an aperture, particularly for use in buildings to securely obstruct doors, windows and the like. The apparatus comprising a central rigid barrier or grille portion 3 having a plurality of telescopically adjustable arms 4 extending therefrom. The arms each being securely locatable into a boundary material surrounding the aperture or into a bracket attached to such. The extension of each arm being fixed by a readily releasably locking arrangement, such as a grub screw to enable the barrier to be rapidly removed in cases of emergency. <IMAGE>

Description

ADJUSTABLE BARRIER The present invention relates to an adjustable decorative barrier which may be used to obstruct an opening or aperture, particularly for use in domestic dwellings.

Buildings contain many windows, doorways, passageways and similar openings which may take a wide range of shapes and sizes. Often it is desired to block or obstruct such openings or apertures which, for example, may be particularly vulnerable to intruders.

Devices to obstruct such apertures commonly take the form of a steel grille or wrought-iron structure "madeto-measure" and to special order for each aperture in each location.

Therefore, a delay is incurred while the structure is made and also the cost of "made-tomeasure items is relatively high. Such structures can be aesthetically unpleasing, conveying a prison-like feel, and so may be unsuited to domestic dwellings.

In addition to the disadvantages of cost and delay, such steel grilles or wrought-iron structures are generally securely fixed and may become a dangerous hazard in the event of a fire or other emergency, due to their original purpose of obstructing passage through an aperture.

To eliminate the need for a "made-to-measure" grille or barrier for each aperture, it is desired to have a single barrier or range of standard barriers which may be adjusted to fit apertures of a wide' range of sizes and shapes.

It is also desired to overcome the disadvantage of a barrier becoming a dangerous hazard in the event of an emergency by designing a barrier which may be quickly and easily removed or moved aside when required yet securely and impassibly obstructs the aperture when in use.

The object of the present invention therefore is to provide a decorative barrier or security grille which is immediately available "off the shelf" using standard components yet will fit a wide range of sizes and shapes of aperture, is aesthetically pleasing and is secure and impassable in use, whilst remaining rapidly removable to allow unimpeded progress through the aperture when required.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for obstructing an aperture, comprising, a barrier including adjustable securing means for readily releasibly securing the barrier in a position to obstruct an aperture, in use.

Preferably, the apparatus is formed from a main barrier portion having a plurality of adjustable arms (preferably six) extending therefrom securely locatable on or into the boundary material defining the aperture i.e. the aperture frame.

Further preferably, said adjustable securing means may include a pivot or hinge means to enable the barrier to be opened or swung aside in order to allow free access to the aperture.

The main barrier portion is optionally formed from one or more modular components or sections such that coarse adjustment of the size of the barrier is made by adding or removing such modular sections and fine adjustment of the barrier to fit the aperture is made using the adjustable extending arms.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention in use; Fig. 2 shows the central interchangeable portion of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows the preferred method of locating the barrier in the aperture frame; Fig. 4 shows a second preferred method of locating the barrier in the aperture frame; Figs. 5 - 7 show alternative methods of fixing the barrier of Fig. 1 to an aperture frame; and Figs. 8 and 9 show a further preferred form of an adjustable extending arm.

Fig. 10 shows a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1. The barrier comprises a main barrier portion 3 made from any strong rigid material, for example wrought-iron work or steel bars, which is readily releasibly secured to an aperture frame 2 by locating and securing the ends of one or more extension arms 4 to the aperture frame 2.

Extendable arms 4 allow the barrier to be adjusted horizontally to fit a wide range of apertures of varying size or shape. Extendable arms 4 are adjusted to the required length and secured at that length by locking means 5.

In the preferred embodiment, extendable arms 4 are telescopic into the main barrier portion, adjustable by sliding in and out, and secured at the required length by means of a grub screw/lock screw.

The mechanism for adjusting the length of the extendable arms and holding such at the required length may be of any suitable type; for example, the extendable arms may be adjusted to the required length by use of a rack and pinion device, a combination of sliding and/or twisting movements or a mechanism based on a screw thread. Adjustable arms may be held at the required length simply by the force of friction or a more complicated means such as a lock and key, a locating peg or bolt, a spring-clip engaging with the arms or any other suitable means.

The barrier size is finely adjusted vertically by sliding end portions 1 in or out of the central barrier portion 3; then held in the required position by locking means 14 similar to locking means 5 or any other suitable type.

Fig. 2 shows a further preferred embodiment of the present invention including a securing mechanism 6 which enables a central portion 7 of the barrier to be removed and replaced with a larger or smaller central portion depending upon the size of barrier required. The securing means 6 may be of any suitable type such as a nut and bolt, spring-clip or catch which holds the central portion 7 to the main portion 3 rigidly but removably. A nut and bolt arrangement is used in the preferred embodiment.

Fig. 3 shows the preferred method of locating the extendible arms 4 into the aperture frame 2 by using a locating bracket 13 defining a hole in the aperture boundary material into which an extendible arm securely fits.

Fig. 4 shows a second preferred method for locating the extendible arms 4 into the aperture boundary material 2, also including a hinge or pivoting mechanism 8 to allow the barrier to be swung horizontally or vertically aside (depending upon the orientation of extendible arms 4) and thus allow free access to the aperture without requiring total removal of the barrier.

Fig. 5 shows an extendible arm 4 located on the boundary aperture material 2 via a bracket 9 which allows for pivoting movement of the barrier. Bracket 9 is constructed such that the barrier may be removed from the bracket when the barrier is located in a certain plane, but may not be removed when in use obstructing the aperture.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative style of bracket 10 for use when location of the extendible arm 4 directly into the aperture boundary material, as in Fig. 4, is not possible. The bracket 10 having a opening 11 capable of receiving the extendible arm 4 and thus securely but removably fixing the extendible arm to the aperture boundary material.

Fig. 7 shows yet another alternative bracket 12 for pivotably holding the extendible arm 4.

It will be clear from diagrams 4 - 7 that any suitable means may be used for locating extendible arms 4 into the aperture boundary material 2 in addition to those described above.

A further alternate preferred type of extending arm is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In this embodiment, a tubular sleeve 20 fits over a projecting member 21 protruding from the main central portion of the barrier. Member 21 may itself be fixed or extendable as desired. Sleeve 20 is telescopically adjustable over member 21 and is secured at the desired extension by grub screw 22 or other suitable locking means As shown in Fig. 8, the tip portion 23 of sleeve 20 is formed so as to be securely locatable into a hole in boundary material 2. Alternatively, tip portion 23 may be located into a bracket 24 as shown in Fig. 9 The design of the barrier is not restricted to that shown in Figs. 1 - 9, and Fig. 10 shows an alternative modular barrier design using one or more central portions 14 connected together using sleeves 13 and connected to end portions 12 having extendible arms 4 engaging with boundary material 2o In this second embodiment, the size of the barrier is coarsely adjusted by adding or removing central portions 14.

Fine horizontal adjustment is achieved using adjustable extending arms 4 which are held at the required length by securing means 5 as described above.

Each central portion may be adjusted vertically by telescoping in and out of sleeves 13, and held at the required length using a grub screw 15.

Claims (9)

1. An apparatus for obstructing an aperture, comprising: a central rigid barrier portion and a plurality of arms adjustably extending therefrom, the arms operatively readily releaseably securing the barrier in position to obstruct the barrier.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim I, wherein the amount of extension of each arm is telescopically adjustable.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a locking means releaseably and adjustably securing the extension of one of the arms.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the locking means is a grub screw.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the locking means is a key operable lock.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each arm is locatable either into a bracket mounted on the aperture boundary material or into a hole in the aperture boundary material.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising pivot or hinge means enabling the apparatus to be operatively swung aside.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the barrier portion comprises a plurality of modular sections.

9. An apparatus for obstructing an aperture, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.