GB2290565A

GB2290565A - Intruder barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2290565A
Application number: GB9512636A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jnr Michael Joseph King
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-06-25
Filing date: 1995-06-21
Publication date: 1996-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-21
Also published as: GB9512636D0; GB2290565B

Abstract

An intruder barrier for mounting on a wall or fence to deter climbing, comprises an axle (5) which is rotatable on its supporting members (6) and on which are rotatable sleeves (1) provided along their length with protruding spikes (4) arranged alternately in opposite directions at acute angles to the axle. <IMAGE>

Description

ANTI-INTRUDER BARRIER This invention relates to an anti-intruder barrier.

Anti-intruder barriers are well known and examples are given in prior art documents GB2256207 and GB2076038 as well as other systems, for example barbed wire systems and U-staple systems.

Some systems use spinning components which often become stiff and sometimes lock due to close fitting components and corrosion of ungalvanised axles. Some systems use hollow sections of the spikes which allow water to be trapped inside and cause corrosion from the inside of the barrier.

Systems using expanded weld mesh and similar materials can be manipulated by threading wire through the mesh then tying it back thus preventing rotation.

Some systems, for example as described in GB2256207 attempt to keep the spaces between the spikes below the width of a clenched hand which is about 65 cm to restrict an intruder from getting a hold on the barrier; however, the space is still fairly large and can provide some form of grip for a would be intruder.

Other systems try to reduce the use of the space between each spinner and spike by placing square washers or studded spacers on the system at great expense.

According to the present invention there is provided an anti-intruder barrier comprising a plurality of spikes mounted on a sleeve, the sleeve being rotatable on an axle and the axle in turn being rotatable on its supporting members, wherein the spikes are disposed at acute angles to the long axis of the axel in alternate directions thus covering the entire length of the barrier with rotating spikes.

Preferably, the spikes are of solid square or round cross-section and are welded to the rotating sleeve.

Preferably, each rotating sleeve has a sequence of spikes comprising four pairs of spikes, each pair having two spikes disposed at approximately 900 to one another, the four pairs being spaced circumferentially around the rotating sleeve.

Preferably, the distance between each sequence of rotating spikes and therefore each sleeve at their outer most points is kept to a minimum.

Preferably, each end of the rotating sleeve is splayed reducing the contact friction between adjacent rotating sleeves and producing protruding sharp pointed edges as a further deterrent.

Preferably, the spikes project to a distance of approximately 400 millimetres from the axel.

Preferably, each rotating sleeve carries two projections additional to the spikes further preventing a hand or foot hold on the rotating sleeve.

Preferably, all parts of the barrier are galvanised or zinc plated for protection against corrosion.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of an anti-intruder barrier in accordance with the present invention; Fig 2 is an end elevation of the anti-intruder barrier of Fig 1; Fig 3 is a side elevation of a rotating sleeve and the spikes of the anti-intruder barrier of Fig 1; Fig 4 is a side elevation of an anti-barrier showing a number of the rotating sleeves on a single axel; Fig 5 is an end elevation of a rotating sleeve of an anti-intruding barrier in accordance with the present invention; and Fig 6 is a schematic representation of the supporting means of the axel of an anti-intruder barrier in accordance with the present invention.

Fig 7 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of an anti-intruder barrier in accordance with the present invention; Fig 8 is an end elevation of the anti-intruder barrier of Fig 7; and Fig 9 is a side elevation of a number of the anti intruder barriers of Fig 7.

Referring to the drawings, an anti-intruder barrier 10 has been designed so as to require the minimum installation whilst maintaining the maximum deterrent to would be intruders. The barrier 10 is intended for new and existing walls, railings and metal fencings.

The barrier 10 has an axel 5 supported at each end by a support bracket 6. The axel 5 is free to rotate on the support brackets 6. A number of rotating sleeves 1 are disposed axially along the axel 5 such that the rotating sleeves 1 are free to rotate about the axel 5.

Each sleeve 1 has a number of spikes 2 welded onto it.

The spikes 2 are formed in pairs, each rotating sleeve 1 supporting four pairs of spikes 2. Each pair of spikes 2 has two spikes 2 disposed at approximately 900 to each other. The pair of spikes 2 is welded to the rotating sleeve 1 at the 900 angle such that the two spikes 2 project from the rotating sleeve 1 each at an angle of approximately 450 to the sleeve 2. The spikes 2 point in the direction of the axis of the axel 5 each adjacent spike 2 along the axel 5 pointing in an opposite direction along the axel 5.

The four pairs of spikes 2 are regularly circumferentially disposed about the rotating sleeve 1.

The spikes 2 are made of sold square or round cross sectioned material of approximately 10 millimetre width. The pairs of spikes 2 are formed from a single length of material bent at right angles to from two spikes 2. The spikes 2 form a rotating barrier of approximately 400 millimetres.

The rotating sleeve 1 has splayed ends 3 at each end of the sleeve 1. The splayed ends 3 reduce the friction between the contacting ends of each sleeve 1 and also enhance the deterrent effect of the barrier 10 in appearance and appliance due to the sharp pointed edges of the splayed ends 3. In addition the outer edges 4 of the spikes 2 are formed with pointed edges as a further deterrent to intruders.

The axel 5 is made from 16 millimetre solid square or round bar. The rotating sleeve 1 is formed of a 25 millimetre hollow section. Thus the difference in size between the sleeve 1 and the axel 5 allows the two components a large amount of relative movement. The contact between the surfaces of the axel 5 and the sleeve 1 are minimised thus reducing the effects of corrosion.

The support brackets 6 supporting the axel 5 can be positioned at equal spaces along the axel 5. This arrangement is particularly applicable if the barrier 10 is to be attached along a wall 9. The outer edges 7 of the support brackets 6 are pointed to impede a foot or hand hold. In addition to the spikes 2, the rotating sleeve 1 has two anti-grip fins 8 which are welded at opposite ends of the sleeve 1 at opposite sides of the sleeve 1 to one another.

The distance between the edges 4 of the spikes 2 is such that a hand hold cannot be gained between the spikes 2. The ends 4 of the spikes 2 are separated by only a distance of approximately 20 millimetres, the approximate width of an adult finger, removing the possibility of gaining a hand or foot hold between the spikes 2.

The support brackets 6 shown in Fig 6 may be of a variety of forms which result in the axel 5 being supported a distance above and to one side of the wall 9.

In use the barrier 10 is mounted by means of the support brackets 6 to a wall 9. The rotating sleeves 1 are mounted on the axel 5 such that they are placed end to end such that the ends 4 of the spikes 2 are adjacent on another preventing a hand or foot hold between the spikes 2. The rotating sleeves 1 are free to rotate about the axel 5 and the axel 5 is free to rotate on the support brackets 6 such that no hold can be obtained on the spikes 2. The angling of the spikes 2 away from the axel 5 whilst the spikes 2 run in the direction of the axis of the axel 5 result in a greater length of the axel 5 being protected by the spikes 2.

In a second embodiment of the anti-intruder barrier shown in Figs 7 to 9, the barrier has additional projections 11 which replace the anti-grip fins 8 of the previous embodiment. The projections 11 are in the form of flat rectangular pieces of metal which are attached at the centre of the rectangle to opposite sides of the rotating sleeve 1 with each half of the rectangle projecting perpendicularly to the rotating sleeve 1. The projections 11 provide a further to an intruder and removes a possible hand or foot hold.

The projections 11 are positioned on the rotating sleeve 1 such that the projections 11 are pointing between two of the pairs of spikes 2 (Fig 8).

When a number of rotating sleeves 1 are disposed on the axle 5, the projections 11 are arranged such that the projections 11 on each adjacent sleeve 1 are pointing in orthogonal directions.

Improvements and modifications to the above can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An anti-intruder barrier comprising a plurality of spikes mounted on a sleeve, the sleeve being rotatable on an axle and the axle in turn being rotatable on its supporting members, wherein the spikes are disposed at acute angles to the long axis of the axle in alternate directions thus covering the entire length of the barrier with rotating spikes.

2. An anti-intruder barrier as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the spikes are of solid square or round cross-section and are welded to the rotatable sleeve.

3. An anti-intruder barrier as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein each rotatable sleeve has a sequence of spikes comprising four pairs, each pair having two spikes disposed at approximately 900 to one another, the four pairs being spaced circumferentially around the rotating sleeve.

4. An anti-intruder barrier as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the distance between each sequence of rotating spikes and therefore each sleeve at their outer most points is kept to a minimum.

5. An anti-intruder barrier as claimed in any proceeding Claim wherein each end of the rotatable sleeve is splayed reducing the contact friction between adjacent rotating sleeves and producing protruding sharp pointed edges as a further deterrent.

6. An anti-intruder barrier as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the spikes project to a distance of approximately 400 millimetres from the axle.

7. An anti-intruder barrier as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein each rotatable sleeve carries projections additional to the spikes further preventing a hand or foot hold on the rotating sleeve.

8. A anti-intruder barrier as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the additional projections are two fins attached at opposite ends of the rotatable sleeve and at opposite sides to each other.

9. An anti-intruder barrier as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the additional projections are flat metal pieces attached at their centre at opposite ends of the rotatable sleeve.

10. An anti-intruder barrier as claimed in any preceding Claim all parts of which are galvanised or zinc plated for protection against corrosion.

11. An anti-intruder barrier as claimed in any preceding Claim which is site-assembled.

12. An anti-intruder barrier substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.