GB2286834A

GB2286834A - Preventing climbing of poles

Info

Publication number: GB2286834A
Application number: GB9402771A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Alfred Allsop; Glyn Wilde
Original assignee: DARFEN Ltd
Current assignee: DARFEN Ltd
Priority date: 1994-02-14
Filing date: 1994-02-14
Publication date: 1995-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2014-02-14
Also published as: GB9402771D0; GB2307926A; GB2307926B; GB2286834B; GB9701215D0

Abstract

An anti climb device (1) for a substantially cylindrical pole (5) comprises either an elongate rigid rail (2) mounted on the pole via an arm (3), or barbed wire mounted on W-shaped brackets (30, 31). <IMAGE>

Description

ANTI CLIMB DEVICE FOR A POLE The present invention relates to an anti climb device for a pole, for example an anti climb device for an electricity line carrying pole, or a telephone line carrying pole.

A conventional anti climb device for a pole comprises first and second brackets, each having two laterally extending arms which extend in directions away from each other, and a central fixing portion for fitment to the pole. The central fixing portion comprises a strip of metal in the form of a segment of a circle, the inner surface of which fits closely the outer surface of the cylindrical pole. The bracket is attached to the pole by coach bolts or nail, which are driven into the pole. In use, two such brackets are fitted to a pole and each on opposite sides of the pole and at substantially the same level, so as to provide four substantially radially extending arms. Barbed wire is then wound around and between the arms, to provide a grid of barbed wire held away from the pole, and presenting a barrier to climbing of the pole.

However, the conventional anti climbing device has a disadvantage that, because each bracket is formed of a single piece of metal having an arcuate portion which fits closely the outer surface of a cylindrical pole, a separate size of bracket needs to be manufactured for each separate diameter of pole which is used. In the UK, standard pole diameters range from 150mm to 470mm, and therefore one size of bracket will not accommodate each of these pole diameters.

A further problem ith the conventional anti climb device is that once the brackets are fitted to the pole, the barbed wire must be manually wound around the brackets and around the pole. This is time consuming both for fitment of the brackets, and also for subsequent replacement of the bracket since the brackets and the wire need to be replaced.

Specific embodiments of the present invention aim to improve on the conventional anti climb devices.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided.

an anti climb device for a substantially cylindrical pole, the device comprising: an elongate rigid guard rail; and a support arm for supporting the guard rail to the pole, the support arm having a first end adapted for fixing to the pole and a second end adapted for attachment to the guard rail; wherein, in use a main length of the support arm extends transversely to a main length of the pole, a main length of the guard rail being held transversely to the length of the support arm such that the guard rail is held at a point spaced apart from an outer surface of the pole.

Preferably, the support arm extends substantially radially from a main axis of the pole.

Preferably, a main length ot the guard rail comprises a substantially arcuate strip.

Preferably a main length of the guard rail describes an arc which is substantially concentric with a segment of the outer surface of the pole.

Preferably, the guard rail and/or support arm is provided with a plurality of protruding spikes. This may impede bodily contact with the anti climb device, and impede passage over the anti climb devices.

Preferably, the device has a support bracket comprising at least two support arms, a first support arm having a first end which attaches directly to the pole at a position above a general level of the guard rail; and the second support arm having a first end which attaches to the pole at a position below the general level of the guard rail.

Preferably, a length of barbed or razor wire is wrapped around the guard rail and/or support arm and may be permanently fixed thereto.

Preferably, the anti climb device is fabricated from mild steel. The device is preferably hot dip galvanised to BS 729 or near equivalent.

The invention includes an anti climb barrier comprising a plurality of anti climb devices arranged around a substantially cylindrical pole, each anti climb device comprising an elongate rigid guard rail and a support arm for supporting the guard rail to the pole, the guard rail arranged to lie along a line substantially transverse to a main axis of the pole and spaced apart from the pole; the arrangement being such that the plurality of guard rails are distributed around the pole to present a substantially continuous barrier which, in plan view, encompasses an area as viewed perpendicular to the main central axis of the pole which is greater than the cross sectional area of the pole in a plane substantially perpendicular to the main axis of the pole.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bracket for fixing to a substantially cylindrical pole to form part of an anti climb barrier, the bracket comprising: a first rigid arm arranged to extend transversely with respect to a main length of the cylindrical pole; and a dog leg fixing portion having one or a plurality of apertures for accommodating one or more fixing devices for fixing the dog leg portion to part of a circumference of the pole, wherein the dog leg portion is adapted to be fittable to a range of poles of differing diameters, the circumference of the pole being, in use, positioned at an interior angle of the dog leg portion.

Preferably, the dog leg portion comprises first and second elongate members joined together at respective first ends thereof, the lengths of the members angled with respect to each other to contain the interior angle therebetween, the arrangement being such that on fixing the bracket to a first pole of a first circumference, the first and second elongate members abut the surface of the pole at respective first and second positions around the circumference of pole, such that a region between the first and second positions and the main central axis of the pole as viewed in a direction along the length of the pole, describes a first fan shaped segment having a first angle adjacent the main axis; and on fixing the bracket to a second pole having a second, larger, circumference, the bracket abuts the outer surface of the pole at third and fourth positions around the circumference of the second pole such that a second region between the third and fourth positions and the main axis of the pole, when viewed in a direction along the length of the pole, describes a second fan shaped segment having a second angle adjacent the main axis, wherein the second angle is smaller than the first angle.

Preferably, one end of the first rigid arm is attached to a second end of the first elongate dog leg member.

Preferably a second rigid arm is attached to a second end of the second dog leg member, and the first and second rigid arms extend away from each other.

Preferably the first and second rigid arms and the first and second dog leg members are formed from a single length of rigid material, eg. steel, which may be in strip form.

Preferably, each dog leg member is provided with a plurality of substantially cylindrical through hole apertures dist::ibuted along the length of the dog leg member, allowing a variety of positions at which a fixing device may be attached along the length of the dog leg member.

Preferably, when viewed in plan view, the bracket is substantially "W" shaped, the outer arms of the "W" corresponding with the first and second rigid arms.

Each dog leg member may be provided with an elongate slot along the length of the member to allow insertion of a fixing device at any position along the slot.

Preferably each arm is provided with five or more notches, around which barbed wire may be wrapped.

The invention includes an anti climb device for a pole, the anti climb device comprising at least one bracket, the bracket comprising first and second elongate members each having a first end and a second end, the first ends of the two elongate members being joined together to enclose an interior angle, and the main axis of the first and second members being arranged transverse to each other, each elongate member being provided with one or a plurality of apertures, the elongate members being arranged in "V" shaped formation to allow fixing of the bracket to a pole such that the pole resides substantially at the interior angle between the first and second elongate members, and the first and second elongate members each abut the outer surface of the pole at substantially only one position respectively.

Preferably, a said aperture is provided substantially at each of the two positions of abutment.

Preferably the anti climb device comprises two or more "W" shaped brackets, and a length of barbed wire wrapped there around.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective view a pole fitted with a plurality of first anti climb devices according to a first specific embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows the first anti climb device in plan view when fitted to the pole; Figure 3 shows a pair of second anti climb devices according to a second specific embodiment of the present invention fitted to a pole; Figure 4 shows schematically in plan view a layout of the second anti climb device when fitted to the pole; Figure 5 shows in perspective view a third anti climb device according to a third specific embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 shows a bracket comprising the third anti climb device;; and Figure 7 shows a method and arrangement of fitting the third anti climb device to a first or a second poles the first and second poles having differing diameters and circumferences.

Referring to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a first embodiment anti climb device 1 for a pole, for example a wooden pole, comprises an arcuate guard rail 2 comprising a strip of steel bent into a substantially semi circular shape; and first and second support arms 3,4 for fixing the guard rail to the pole at a distance therefrom, each support arm being fixable to the pole at a first end 5 by means of a coach bolt 6 driven into the wood of the pole, and capable of being attached to the guard rail at a second end 7 by welding of the support arm to the guard rail. The second support arm 4 is attached to the pole similarly as the first support arm, a first end of the second support arm being attached to the pole, and a second end of the second support arm being attached to the guard rail.The guard rail and support arms are preferably entwined with barbed wire 8 which is wrapped around the guard rail and support arms and permanently attached thereto, for example by welding.

Preferably the whole anti climb device structure is of mild steel, which is hot dip galvanised to BS 729.

In use, a plurality of anti climb devices, in this case a pair, are fitted to a pole as shown in figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. A first anti climb device 1 is attached at upper and lower attachment points 5,10 so as to securely hold the first anti climb device to the pole such that the guard rail extends in a substantially horizontal direction, partially encircling the circumference of the pole at a distance therefrom.

The second anti climb device is fitted at an opposite side of the pole, preferably on the same horizontal level as the first anti climb device, such that the guard rail of the second anti climb device partially encircles the remaining portion of the circumference of the pole. The first and second anti climb devices present a substantially continuous guard rail barrier spaced apart from the outer surface of the pole.

As the devices are covered with barbed wire, a person climbing the pole finds it difficult to grasp either the support arms or the guard rails of the devices, and thereby finds it difficult to use the device to assist in climbing the pole. Because the guard rails are spaced apart laterally from the pole, a person intending to climb the pole must release their hold on the pole in order to get round the anti guard device, which in practice is difficult. The distance between the guard rail and the outer surface of the pole is selected such that a person cannot climb between the guard rail and the pole, there being insufficient space therebetween.

As shown in figure 2, the guard rails of the first and second anti climb devices do not form a perfect circle in plan view, but are slightly off set with respect to each other. However, in other embodiments of anti climb device the devices may have guard rails which match up exactly and form a substantially circular rim encircling the circumference of the pole at a distance therefrom.

As the anti climb device of figures 1 and 2 has a first support arm extending upwardly and a second support arm extending downwardly the arms attached to the pole at upper and lower fixing positions 5,10 at the respective first ends of the first and second arms, if a person climbs up the pole a sufficient distance to undo the coach bolt at the lower fixing position 10, there still remains the problem of undoing the upper coach bolt at the upper fixing position 5. In order to reach the upper fixing point, the climber of the pole is faced with the problem of overcoming the anti climb device.

Referring to figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, a second embodiment of anti climb device is shown. The second embodiment anti climb device is substantially similar to the first anti climb device, except that four support arms attach to an arcuate guard rail to the pole at four separate fixing positions, comprising two lower fixing positions and two upper fixing positions.

The second embodiment comprises an arcuate guard rail 20 comprising a strip of metal material and first, second, third and fourth support arms 21-25 respectively each having a first end for fixing to the pole, and a second end fixable to the guard rail. Preferably the second ends are permanently fixed to the guard rail by welding. The first and third arms extend in a direction downwardly with respect to the horizontal, whilst the second and fourth arms extend from their first to second ends in a direction upwardly from the pole to the guard rail.The first and second arms have their second ends fixed to the guard rail at a first position along a length of the guard rail, and the third and fourth arms have their second ends fixed to the guard rail at a second position along the length of the guard rail, the first and second positions and the general lengths of the support arms describing an arcuate segment in plan view as shown in figure 4.

In use the second anti climb device is fitted to a pole, in conjunction with another second anti climb device as shown in figures 3 and 4, to provide a substantially continuous guard rail around a circumference of the pole and spaced apart therefrom by the support arms, the guard rail and support arms being covered in spiked projections, for example barbed wire.

The second anti climb device may have an advantage as compared to the first anti climb device of being stronger and more robust in construction, each second anti climb device being fixed to the pole at four fixing points, by four coach bolts, one at each fixing point, whereas each first anti climb device is fixed to the pole at only two points.

The first anti climb device may have an advantage of being cheaper and easier to manufacture, whereas the second anti climb device may have an advantage of increased strength and rigidity as compared to the first anti climb device.

Whilst the first and second anti climb devices as shown above have arcuate or semi circular guard rails, such that when a plurality of such devices are fitted to a pole, there is provided a substantially continuous guard rail which encompasses a substantially circular area as viewed in a direction along the length of the pole of greater area than the cross section of the pole as viewed in the same direction, other embodiments according to the present invention are not restricted to arcuate or semi circular guard rails, but may have straight, or angled guard rails, so as to form, in conjunction with other similar anti climb devices, a hexagonal, square, octagonal or other shaped cross sectional area about the pole.

Further, whilst embodiments of the invention have been shown as being wrapped with barbed wire, other embodiments may include razor wire, or may include spiked projections formed from the guard rail and or support arms themselves. Further, the anti climb device may be coated with a material to impede passage of the person over the anti climb device. The material may be for example grease or an other substance which sticks to a climbers clothes, thereby deterring climbing of the pole.

Referring to figure 5 of the accompanying drawings a third embodiment of an anti climb device is shown, comprising first and second substantially "W" shaped brackets 30,31, attached to a pole, and wound with barbed wire.

Referring to figure 6, each "W" shaped bracket comprises first and second elongate arms 33,34 joined by a dog leg portion 35 comprising first and second dog leg members 36,37. The dog leg portions 36,37 each have first ends joined together to enclose an interior angle e, the lengths of the first and second dog leg members being transverse to each other and pointing outwardly. The second ends of first and second dog leg members 36,37 are attached to the arms of the bracket 33,34 respectively.

Each dog leg member is provided with a plurality of through hole apertures 39 for fitment of coach bolts there through, for attachment to the pole as shown in figure 5.

The arms of the bracket are provided with notches 40, around which barbed wire may be wound when the brackets are fitted to the pole as shown in figure 5. Preferably each dog leg portion has six or more through holes, and each arm has five or more notches. As each arm has five or more notches, this allows five circuits of barbed wire to be wrapped around the pole in concentric squares which enclose the circumference of the pole as shown in figure 5.

The plurality it of apertures 39 may be replaced by a single elongate slot or a plurality of elongate slots. A plurality of apertures are provided to allow adjustability in fitment of the bracket to a range of poles having a wide range of circumferences.

Referring to figure 7 of the accompanying drawings, a method of fitment of a bracket according to the third embodiment to a first or a second pole the first and second poles having first and second diameters respectively is shown.

A first bracket 40 is fitted to a first pole 41 of smaller diameter at one side of the pole, and a second bracket 42 (shown dotted in figure 7) is fitted to the other side of the pole, around a same circumference as the first bracket. Coach bolts are fitted through the apertures 39 and driven into the pole, such that the first and second points of contact and between the dog leg arms and the outer surface of the first pole form a segment in cross sectional view having a radial angle e, defined by the first and second points of contact the main axis of the first pole. When the "W" bracket is fitted to a pole of small diameter, the coach bolts are fitted at apertures near the interior angle 50 enclosed near the first ends of the dog leg members, the coach bolts being fitted a distance L1 from the first ends of the dog leg members.

Where the bracket is fitted to a second pole of larger diameter 70, the outer surface of the second pole touches the first and second dog leg members at third and fourth positions 71,72 and the dog leg members are attached to the outer surface of the pole at apertures positioned a second length L2 from the first ends of the dog leg members, where the length L2 is greater than the length L1 for the small diameter first pole.

Thus, with a rigid "W" shaped bracket, a range of circumferences of pole may be accommodated using a single bracket. This may have an advantage as compared to prior art brackets having a fixing portion which closely fits an outer circumference of a pole, in which there is a general lack of adjustability of the conventional bracket, requiring a separate conventional bracket for each pole diameter.

In a modification of the third embodiment, where a certain amount of flexibility is allowed at the connection between the first and second dog leg members, in order to allow the angle enclosed between the lengths of the first and second dog members to vary, an even greater range of pole diameters may be accommodated.

In use, two such third embodiment brackets are fitted to a pole at substantially the same horizontal level around the pole, and barbed wire is wrapped around each arm of the bracket to form five concentric square barbed wire rails around the pole. The square barbed wire rails enclose a cross section area in plan view which is greater than the cross sectional area of the pole, and the cross sectional area of the pole is positioned centrally with respect to the cross sectional area described by the five barbed wire rails.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. An anti climb device for a substantially cylindrical pole, the device comprising: an elongate rigid guard rail; and a support arm for supporting the guard rail to the pole, the support arm having a first end adapted for fixing to the pole and a second end adapted for attachment to the guard rail; characterised in that in use the main length of the support arm extends transversely to a main length of the pole, a main length of the guard rail being held transversely to the length of the support arm such that the guard rail is held at a point spaced apart from an outer surface of the pole.

2. An anti climb device according to claim 1, characterised in that the support arm extends substantially radially from a main axis of the pole.

3. An anti climb device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that a main length of the guard rail comprises a substantially arcuate strip.

4. An anti climb device according to claim 3, characterised in that a main length of the guard rail describes an arc which is substantially concentric with a segment of the outer surface of the pole.

5. An anti climb device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guard rail or the support arm is provided with a plurality of protruding spikes.

6. An anti climb device according to claim 5, characterised in that a length of barbed wire or razor wire is wrapped around the guard rail or support arm.

7. An anti climb device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device has a support bracket comprising at least two support arms, a first support arm having a first end which attaches to the pole at a position above a general level of the rail guard, and a second support arm having a first end which attaches to the pole at a position below the general level of the guard rail.

8. An anti climb barrier comprising a plurality of anti climb devices arranged around a substantially cylindrical pole, characterised in that each anti climb device comprises an elongate rigid guard rail and a support arm for supporting the guard rail to the pole, the guard rail arranged to lie along aline substantially transverse to the main axis of the pole and spaced apart from the pole; the arrangement being such that the plurality of guard rails are distributed around the pole to present a substantially continuous barrier.

9. A bracket for fixing to a substantially cylindrical pole to form art of an anti climb barrier, the bracket comprising a first rigid arm arranged to extend transversely with respect to a main length of the cylindrical pole, characterised in that the bracket also comprises a dog leg fixing portion having one or a plurality of apertures for accommodating one or more fixing devices for fixing the dog leg portion to part of a circumference of the pole.

10. A bracket according to claim 9, characterised in that the dog leg portion is adapted to be fitted to a range of poles of differing diameters, the interior angle of the dog leg portion being positioned in use to the circumference of the pole.

11. A bracket according to claim 9, characterised in that the dog leg portion comprises first and second elongate members joined together at respective first ends thereof, the lengths of the members angled with respect to each other to contain the interior angle there between, the arrangement being such that on fixing the bracket to a first pole on a first circumference, the first and second elongate members abut the surface of the pole at respective first and second positions around the circumference of the pole, such that a region between the first and second positions and the main central axis of the pole as viewed in a direction along theiength of the pole describes a first fan shaped segment having a first angle adjacent the main axis.

12. A bracket according to claim 11, characterised in that on fixing the bracket to a second pole having a second larger circumference, the brncketbuts;the outer surface of the pole at third and fourth positions around the circumference of the second pole such that a second region between the third and fourth positions and the main axis of the pole, when viewed in the direction along the pole, describes a second fan shaped segment having a second angle adjacent the main axis, wherein the second angle is smaller than the first angle.

12. A bracket according to claim 10, characterised in that one end of the first rigid arm is attached to a second end of the first elongate dog leg member.

13. A bracket according to claim 12, characterised in that a second rigid arm is attached to a second end of the second dog leg member.

14. A bracket according to claim 13 characterised in that the first and second rigid arms extend away from each other.

15. A bracket according to claim 13, characterised in that the first and second rigid arms and the first and second elongate dog leg members are formed from a single length of rigid material.

16. A bracket according to claim 9, characterised in that each dog leg member is provided with an elongate slot along the length of the member to allow insertion of a fixing device at any position along the slot.

17. A bracket according to claim 9, characterised in that when viewed in the plan view the bracket is substantially "W" shaped, the outer arms of the "W" corresponding with the first and second rigid arms.

18. A bracket according to claim 9, characterised in that each arm is provided with a plurality of notches around which barbed wire or the like may be wrapped.

19. An anti climb device for a pole, the anti climb device comprising at least one bracket, the bracket comprising first and second elongate members each having a first and second end, the first ends of the two elongate members being joined together to enclose an interior angle, and the main axis of the first and second members being arranged transverse to each other, each elongate member being provided with one or a plurality of apertures, the elongate members being arranged in "V" shaped formation to allow fixing of the bracket to a pole such that the pole resides substantially at the interior angle between the first and second elongate members, and the first and second elongate members each abut the outer surface of the pole at substantially only one position respectively.

20. An anti climb device according to claim 19, characterised in that said aperture is provided substantially at each of the two positions of abutment.

21. An anti climb device according to claim 19, characterised in that it comprises two or more "W" shaped brackets and a length of barbed wire wrapped there around.