GB2277764A

GB2277764A - Road vehicle halting device

Info

Publication number: GB2277764A
Application number: GB9309481A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Basil Walter Lowndes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-05-07
Filing date: 1993-05-07
Publication date: 1994-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-07
Also published as: GB9309481D0; GB2277764B

Abstract

A road vehicle halting device (10) comprises first and second generally elongate end arm members (11, 12) and at least one generally elongate intermediate arm member (13), the or each intermediate arm member (13) being connected by pivotal connections at or adjacent each of its ends to two further of the arm members (11 - 13) whereby the device (10) is extendable from a closed condition in which each of the arm members (11 - 13) lie alongside one another to an open condition when at least some of the arm members (11 - 13) lie transverse to one another, the device further comprising a plurality of support elements (28), each supporting a generally upwardly extending spike (40). <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Road Vehicle Halting Device Description of Invention This invention relates to a road vehicle halting device.

One such device is described in my previous Patent No. GB 1480331 in which a support carries a plurality of generally conical spikes which are releasable from the support as a vehicle is driven over the device and a vehicle wheel impinges upon the spikes, whereby the tyres of the vehicle are punctured and the vehicle is constrained to come to a halt.

According to one aspect of the invention I provide a road vehicle halting device comprising first and second generally elongate end arm members and at least one generally elongate intermediate arm member, the or each intermediate arm member bering connected by pivotal connections at or adjacent each of its ends to two further of the arm members whereby the device is expendable from a closed condition in which the arm members all lie generally alongside one another to an open condition when at least some of the arm members lie transverse to one another, the device further comprising a plurality of support elements each supporting, in use, a generally upwardly extending spike.

It has been found that when a vehicle is driven over the device, notwithstanding that the road vehicle may be halted, undesirably the device may be moved along and/or across the road unless it is fixed relative to the road.

Hence the device may prove inefficient in halting a second vehicle which is driven behind the first mentioned halted vehicle, because of the mispositioning of the device.

Particularly where the device is used as a road block, it is desirable for the device readily to be foldable to the closed condition to allow vehicles to pass through the road block. Hence it is not always desirable permanently to fix the device to the road.

In accordance with the invention, the device has a plurality of downwardly extending road engaging formations which, in the event of a vehicle being driven over the device, dig into or otherwise fix the device relative to the ground to permit or at least lessen the likelihood of movement of the device over the road surface.

According to a second aspect of the invention I provide in combination a device according to the first aspect of the invention and a deployment apparatus comprising a chamber in which the device is received in the closed condition, the chamber having a mouth through which the device can be extended.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a road vehicle halting device in accordance with the invention shown partly in a closed condition, partly in an open condition, and shown connected to a further device in accordance with the invention, FIGURE la is an enlarged view of one part of the device of figure 1, FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side view of another part of the device of Figure 1 showing a spike and support element, FIGURE 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but of a modified arrangement, FIGURE 4 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 3, but of an alternative arrangement and showing the spike separated from its support element, FIGURE 5 is a side view of another spike for use with a device in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 6 is an underside plan view of a spike for use with the device in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 but of a yet still further spike, FIGURE 8 is a view similar to Figures 5 and 7 but of a yet still alternative spike, FIGURE 9 is a perspective view showing a deployment apparatus for deploying the device according to the invention.

Referring to figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a road vehicle halting device 10 comprising a pair of end arm members 11 and 12 and a plurality of (in this example six) intermediate arm members 13. Each of the arm members 11-13 is generally elongate and conveniently is made in a light strong material such as aluminium. The arm members 11 to 13 are pivoted at their ends in the manner shown so as to provide a device which may be moved from a fully closed position wherein each of the arm members 11 to 13 lie alongside one another in generally parallel fashion as are the arm members 13 immediately adjacent end arm member 11, and a fully open condition in which the arm members 11 to 13 extend transverse to one another, as are the arm members 13 immediately adjacent end arm member 12.

As shown, the device 10 is connected to a further device 10' which is of substantially identical construction to device 10, but could be of a different length i.e.

having a different number of intermediate arm members 13 as desired.

Each of the arm members 11-13 comprises at one end, a tag 14 which extends generally transversely of the longitudinal extent of the arm member, and secured to the tag 14, is a mounting part 15. In the present example, the mounting parts 15 are secured to their respective tags 14 by rivets 16 so as to be rigid with the tag 14. The next arm member 13 has a pivot opening 17 in which is received a pivot pin 18 which secures the end of the next arm member below the mounting part 15, to the mounting part 15. All of the intermediate arm members 13 are constructed substantially identically but arranged alternately in opposite orientations. The ends of the arm member 11-13 opposite to the ends which are provided with the tags 14, is rounded, and the tags 14 having rounded recesses 19 to permit the arm members 11 to 13 to pivot relative to one another.

However, the amount of relative pivoting is restricted by stop means provided, in this example, by engagement between a side edge E of the arm member and the edge of the recess 19 of the tag 14.

Any alternate stop means to restrict the amount of relative pivoting could alternatively be provided. For example, the arm members 11-13 may be provided with formations extending upwardly or downwardly from the general plane of the arm members 11-13 which abut when the arm members 11-13 are in preferred transverse relationship to the next adjacent arm member 11-13.

The end arm members 11 and 12 are similarly constructed to one another, but being oppositely orientated, but arm member 11 has a pivot pin 18t which is adapted to be gripped by a clip 20 (see figure la) provided on a mounting part 15 of an end member of another similar device to permit the devices to be connected together. In figure la, clip 20b and member 12 is shown connected to a pivot pin 18' of a further end member 11' of another device 10'. Any desired number of devices 10,10' can thus be connected together to provide to a road vehicle halting apparatus of any desired extent.

The clips 20 each comprise a sliding part 21 including a pair of resiliently biased arms 22a,22b, which are adapted to be engaged around the pivot pin 18' of the next device 10'. The pivot pin 18' preferably has a groove in which the edges of the arms 22a,22b, are received.

It will be appreciated that when the arm members 11 to 13 are closed relative to one another, juxtaposed edges 25,26, thereof abut.

Each of the arm members 11 to 13 has attached to an upper surface 27 thereof, a plurality of support elements comprising cups 28 as shown in figure 2. The cups 28 are moulded from a suitable plastics material, and each has embedded within the plastic material, a washer 29 adjacent a base 30 of the cup 28, to give rigidity to the connection between the cup 28 and the respective arm member 11 to 13.

The arm members 11 to 13 each have an opening 31 through which a threaded fastener 32 passes, into a hollow 33 of the cup 28. A nut 34 is received on the threaded fastener 32 to thus attach the cup 28 to the respective arm member 11 to 13.

The fastener 32 in the present example has a head comprising a downwardly extending spike 35, for a purpose hereinafter explained, as well as flats 36 to facilitate gripping the fastener 32 as the nut 34 is thightened.

Received within and extending from each of the hollows 33 of cups 28, is a spike 40 which is made of metal, and has a sharpened tip 41. The spike 40 is retained releasably within the hollow 33 of the cup 28 by virtue of frictional engagement between an external wall part 42 of the spike 40, and an internal boundary wall 43 of the hollow 33 of the cup 28.

In use, the device 10 is laid across a road in an open condition with the spikes 40 extending upwardly, and the spikes 35 of fasteners 32 extending downwardly into engagement with the ground. In the event that a vehicle is driven over the device 10, and a tyre of the vehicle impinges upon a spike 40, the spike 40 will be removed from its cup 28 and become embedded in the vehicle tyre as the tyre rotates. This is possible because of the pointed tip 41 of the spike 40 cuts its way into the tyre to cause a puncture. The compressed air from inside the tyre is released in a controlled manner by virtue of the spike 40 being hollow and there being openings such as shown at 44 from the external wall of the spike 40 into the hollow 45 thereof. The hollow 45 opens to the base 46 of the spike 40 and thus can pass from the spike 40 once the spike 40 has been released from its cup 28.

At the same time, the spikes 35 of fasteners 32 which extend downwardly from the device 10, will be driven into the ground, at least in the regions of the device where the vehicle wheels pass over the device 10. Thus any tendency for the device to migrate over the surface of the road is reduced.

For vehicles such as cars and lorries, the spikes 40 are preferably arranged to extend vertically as shown in figure 2. However, for a vehicle such as a motorbike, it is preferred for the spikes 40 to extend at an angle to the vertical towards the oncoming wheel, preferably at an angle to the vertical V of between and and at leas an angle of to the vertical V. In figure 3, there is shown a spike 40a which is similar in construction to the spike 40 of figure 2, but the spike 40a is received in a cup 28a in which the hollow 33a of the cup 28 is moulded at an angle to the vertical V so that the spike 40a extends in a desired direction i.e. preferably towards oncoming vehicles at an appropriate angle.

It is preferred that at least some of the spikes received in support elements of the device extend generally vertically as does spike 40 in figure 2, whilst only some of the spikes extend at an angle to the vertical as illustrated in figure 3. In this way, the device 10 is effective against different types of vehicle.

In both of the embodiments so far described, it will be appreciated that when a spike 40 or 40a becomes embedded in a vehicle tyre, the spike 40,40a is simply pulled from its support element 28,28a, overcoming any frictional force between the spike 40,40a and support element 28,28a.

In figure 4, a modified arrangement is shown in which an external wall part 42b of a lower part of a spike 40b, i.e. that part which is received within a cup 28b secured to any one of the arm members 11 to 13, is provided with a male threaded formation 50. The boundary wall 43b of the hollow 33k of the cup 28k is similarly provided with corresponding female threaded formation 51 so that the spike 40b has to be screwed into the hollow 33b of cup 28b.

The helix angles of the threaded formations 50 and 51 are preferably such that as the spike 40b is pulled relative to the cup 28b by virtue of being embedded in a vehicle tyre, this imparts a rotational movement to the spike 40b which thus causes it to be unscrewed from its cup 28b as it becomes embedded in the vehicle tyre.

If desired, the spike 40k may otherwise be constructed similarly to spikes 40. Alternatively a helical formation 53 may be provided on the external wall part 44b of the spike 40b which would first enter the vehicle tyre.

In this way, as the spike 40b is driven home, the spike 40b is caused to rotate about a rotational axis 54.

In another arrangement shown in figure 6, instead of the spike being screwed into its respective cup, the spike shown at 40c is a push fit. However, in an opening 45c of the spike 40c, which opens from the spike 40c at a base 46c thereof, there are provided three rib formations 55 which extend generally longitudinally within the spike 40c and are each adapted to engage with flats of a nut such as nut 34 of the fastener 32 seen in figure 2 so that the spike 40c is restrained from rotating at least until it has been pulled clear of its respective cup. Also of course, the spike 40c is only able to be fully received in its cup in particular axial orientations coinciding with where the formations 55 engage the flats of the nut.

In each of the embodiments so far described, the spikes 40-40c are generally pyramidal having three base sides, and are hollow and there are openings into the hollow to allow for the controlled release of compressed air from a vehicle tyre in which the spike has become embedded. In figure 7, there is shown a generally conical spike 40d which is essentially solid but is provided with one or more channels C cut into the external wall part of the spike 40d in the region of the wall part 44d which would enter the vehicle tyre, so as to allow air through the puncture caused by the spike 40d to pass along the channels C.

In figure 8, a spike 4Oe of an entirely different construction to the spikes 40-40d so far described is shown. The spike 40e is generally of cylindrical configuration, the top edge of the cylinder being cut at an angle to the vertical V as shown, to provide a pointed tip 56. It will be appreciated that the spike 40e shown in figure 8, when driven into the tyre of a vehicle, would cut a core in the tyre which would be blown from the inner hollow 45e of the spike 40e by the release of compressed air from within the tyre.

If desired, the spike 40e may be provided with an external helical formation such as the spike 40b of figure 5, and/or with a threaded formation which co-operates with a corresponding threaded formation of a cup, and/or with internal formations similar to formations 55 shown in figure 6.

Referring now to figure 9, there is shown a device 10 substantially as shown in figure 1, but may alternatively have any of the modifications or alternatives described with reference to figures 2 to 8.

The device 10 is shown extending partly from a deployment apparatus 60 which comprises an internal chamber 61 in which the entire device 10 is receivable in a closed condition.

The apparatus 60 includes a handle 63, and rollers 64 to facilitate dragging the apparatus 60 over the ground whilst deploying or de-deploying the road vehicle halting device 10.

The device 10 itself is provided with a handle 65 which may, for example by attached to end member 12 or otherwise as desired.

The device 60 includes a drawer 62 which is received in runners 63 of the device 60 so that the drawer 62 and device 60 can slide from the chamber 61.

The drawer 62 itself has inturned guide means 64 to guide the arm members 11-13 of the device as they slide out of thechamber 61 and off the drawer 62 onto the ground.

The apparatus 60 is conveniently carried on a motorcycle and the device 10 may quickly be deployed by placing the apparatus 60 on the ground, and either pulling the device 10 from the apparatus 60 using the handle 65, whilst another person holds the handle 63 to prevent the apparatus 60 moving over the ground, or alternatively, by fixing the end member 12 relative to the ground, and pulling the apparatus 60 over the ground using the handle.

In either event, the device 10 may quickly be deployed as a temporary road block for example, or in other circumstances where it is desired to halt a vehicle by disabling the vehicle and hence causing it to come to a halt.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

The device 10 may be of any desired length, having any number of intermediate arm members 13 as desired.

Any desired number of support elements and spikes may be provided along each of the arm members 11 to 13 as are considered necessary.

The manner in which the arm members 11-13 are pivoted relative to one another may be altered, although in each case, when the device is in a closed condition, the arm members 11-13 lie alongside another generally flat and in a common plane, rather than overlapping when the arm members 11-13 could jamb during deployment of the device 10.

Instead of providing fasteners 32, the heads of which have spikes 35, any other arrangement of downwardly projecting members whi.ch dig into or otherwise locate the device relative to the ground may be provided.

For example, if desired, the arm members 11-13 may have downwardly deformed portions e.g. at their edges 25,26 with serrated or tooth like parts, or the arm members 1113 may be provided with rubber feet.

Instead of mounting parts 15 which stand proud of the top surface 27 of the arm members 11-13, the ends of the arm members 11-13 may be of reduced thickness whereby the tags 14 and mounting parts are provided as integral extensions of the elongate extent of the arm members 1113.

In each of the embodiments described, the spikes each have a generally cylindrical base which is received by a support element having a hollow of a corresponding shape.

If desired, the spikes may have a non-round base e.g. square, and the hollows of the support elements may be suitably shaped to receive the spikes.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description the following claims or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A road vehicle halting device comprising first and second generally elongate end arm members and at least one generally elongate intermediate arm member, the or each intermediate arm member being connected by pivotal connections at or adjacent each of its ends to two further of the arm members whereby the device is extendable from a closed condition in which each of the arm members lie alongside one another to an open condition when at least some of the arm members lie transverse to one another, the device further comprising a plurality of support elements, each supporting a generally upwardly extending spike.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein when the device is in a closed condition juxtaposed edges of the arm members abut over at least substantially their entire extent.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein each member comprises at one end, a generally transversely extending tag, the tag having a mounting part rigidly secured to it or integrally provided therewith whereby the end of the next arm member extends beneath and is pivotable relative to the mounting part.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein when the device is in a closed condition each of the arm members lie in a generally common plane.

5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein stop means are provided to prevent the arm members relatively pivoting beyond a fully open condition so that the device is extendible to the open condition by pulling one end member away from the other.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims which has a plurality of downwardly extending road engaging formations.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the road engaging formations comprise spikes which in the event of a vehicle driving over the device, dig into the ground.

8. A device according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein road engaging formations are secured to any desired end and/or intermediate arm member.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the road engaging formations are secured at the pivotal connections between the arm members.

10. A device according to any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the arm members carry one or more of the support elements and the road engaging formations each comprise a part of a fastener which ext:ends through the respective end or intermediate arm member to secure a support element to an upper surface of the member.

11. A device according to claim 6 wherein the end and/or intermediate arm members are provided with portions deformed out of the general plane of the arm members towards the ground.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the deformed portions include serrations which in the event of a vehicle driving over the device, dig into the ground.

13. A device according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the deformed portions comprise edge parts.

14. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the arm members includes openings therethrough adapted to receive pins which in use are driven into the ground to fix the device to the ground.

15. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein the support elements each comprise a cup attached to an upper surface of a respective arm member, the cooperation between cup and spike being such as to permit the spike readily to be released from a hollow of the cup when a vehicle tyre impinges on the spike.

16. A device according to claim 15 wherein the cups are each moulded in a plastics material.

17. A device according to claim 16 wherein a washer in embedded in the plastic material to give the cup rigidity, the washer including an opening to receive a fastener which attaches the support element to the arm member.

18. A device according to claim 17 wherein the washer is embedded in the plastic material adjacent a base of the cup which lies in contact with a respective member to which the cup is attached.

19. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein the spikes are each a simple push fit into a respective cup, frictional engagement between an external wall part of the spike and a boundary surface of the hollow being sufficient to maintain the spike in the cup until the spike becomes embedded in a road vehicle tyre when the spike will be released from the cup.

20. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 19 wherein the cups and the spikes have interengaging threaded formations so that the spikes are screwed into and out of their respective cups.

21. A device according to claim 20 wherein the helix angles of the interengaging threaded formations and the constructions of the spikes are such that when a vehicle is driven over the device and a spike becomes embedded in the vehicle tyre, the spike is rotated and pulled and so is released from its threaded engagement with the cup.

22. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the spikes each include an external helical formation which, in use, becomes embedded in the tyre of a vehicle which impinges upon the spike.

23. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 wherein each spike extends from its respective support element generally vertically.

24. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 which includes a plurality of spikes at least some of which extend upwardly from their respective support elements at an angle to the vertical.

25. A device according to claim 24 in which the angled spikes each extend at an angle less than to the vertical.

26. A device according to claim 25 where appendant to claim 15 wherein the cups of the angled spikes each has a hollow which is moulded to support the spike at the particular angle.

27. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 19 or 22 to 26 where not appendant to claim 20 wherein at least some of the cups are attached to the device by a fastener which includes a nut which is located within the hollow of the cup, and the respective spike includes formations which co-operate with the nut whereby the respective spike is receivable in the cup only in one or more specific axial orientations.

28. A device according to claim 27 wherein the spikes which include the formations each have an internal hollow which opens at a base end of the spike to receive the nut, the hollow including inwardly extending formations which co-operate with the nut within the respective cup to permit the spike to be fully received in the cup at the one or more specific axial orientations only.

29. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 19 or claims 22 or any one of claims 26 to 28 when not appendant to claims 20 or 21, wherein the spikes each include a nonround extending wall part e.g. square which co-operates with a corresponding non-round hollow of its respective cup.

30. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 29 wherein the spikes each include passage means to facilitate the passage of compressed air from a tyre through the puncture caused by the spike, in a controlled manner.

31. A device according to claim 30 wherein the spikes are hollow, openings being provided from an external wall of the spike into the hollow which opens at a base end of the spike.

32. A device according to claim 30 wherein the spike is solid, one or more channels being cut into an external wall of the spike to provide the passage means.

33. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 32 wherein the spikes are each generally conical or generally pyramidal and have a pointed end.

34. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 32 wherein the spikes each comprise a cylinder which is hollow and has a sharpened tip.

35. A device according to claim 34 wherein at the tip the cylinder is cut at an angle to the longitudinal axis to provide a pointed end.

36. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the device comprises a pair of end arm members and a plurality of intermediate arm members between the end members.

37. A device according to claim 36 wherein at least one of the end arm members of the device is adapted to connect with the opposite corresponding end arm member of a similar device so as to provide a road vehicle halting apparatus comprising a plurality of devices connected together.

38. A device according to claim 37 wherein one of the end arm members comprises a clip which engages with a pivot pin provided on the opposite corresponding end arm member of the next device whereby the connected end members are relatively pivotally connected together.

39. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

40. A combination of a device according to any one of the preceding claims and a deployment apparatus comprising a chamber in which the device is received in the closed condition, there being a mouth from the chamber through which the device can be extended.

41. A combination according to claim 40 wherein the deployment apparatus includes a drawer having a pair of runners along which the ends of the arm members of the device run as the device is deployed.

42. A combination according to claim 40 or claim 41 wherein the deployment apparatus includes a handle to enable the device to be dragged over the ground during deployment of the device.

43. A combination according to any one of claims 40 to 42 wherein the deployment apparatus includes rollers to facilitate dragging the apparatus ove the ground.

44. A combination of a device and deployment apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

45. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.