GB2323113A - Improvements in or relating to barriers - Google Patents

Abstract

A barrier assembly (10) comprising a pair of uprights (11, 12) arranged in a horizontally spaced relationship to support a pair of vertically separated horizontal barrier elements (13, 14) by means of jaws (20, 20a, 20b, 26). Two of the jaw elements (20, 26) are fixed with respect to the uprights, whereas the remaining jaw elements (20a, 20b) are vertically movable by means of relatively rotatable sleeves (40, 41) and co-operating cam surfaces (42, 43) on posts (15). The movable jaws allow addition of or removal of the barrier boards from the barrier assembly.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO BARRIERS THIS INVENTION relates to barriers.

According to this invention a barrier assembly comprises a barrier element, spaced uprights, and means operatively associated with the uprights and movable between holding and release positions in which the barrier element is held with respect to or releasable with respect to the uprights.

The means may comprise two jaws and means for changing the distance between the jaws.

One jaw may be fixed on the upright.

The jaws in the holding position may embrace upper and lower edges of the barrier element.

The means may comprise cam means for moving one jaw.

The cam means may comprise two parts of the upright movable relative to each other. The two parts may comprise upper and lower sleeves on an upright element, the sleeves having cooperable cam surfaces.

There may be spaced upper and lower said barrier elements.

The means operatively associated with the uprights may be operative to hold or release both barrier elements.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment with possible modifications will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a barrier; Fig. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of part of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3A and 3B are side views of two different conditions; and Fig. 4 is similar to part of Fig. 2 in a different condition.

A barrier assembly or unit 10, for example for use as a hazard warning or traffic (including pedestrian) control device, for example in guarding the flanks of trenches dug during the laying of cables, can be assembled and disassembled and comprises spaced uprights 11, 12 detachably held or secured to upper and lower planks or barrier elements 13, 14. The unit is largely formed of plastics.

The uprights 11, 12 are generally similar each comprises an upright post 15 the lower end of which is received in an aperture 16 in a foot 17 and includes an enlarged portion 18 located in a recess 19 in the lower surface of the foot 17 so that the foot 17 cannot move downwards off the tube 15. The portion 18 may be formed by an outer sleeve fixed to the tube 15.

A lower bracket 20 rests upon a flat top surface 22 of the foot 17 and has an aperture 23 which receives the post 15 and an upwardly facing parallel sided slot 24 which receives and closely embraces the lower edge 14a of the plank 14. A similar but inverted bracket 20a can be moved into and out of a position in which it similarly embraces the upper edge 14b of the plant 14. Rivets or bolts 25 secure together the lower brackets 20 to the respective posts 15.

The lower edge 13a of the plank 13 is similarly releasably embraced by a lower bracket 20b. Bracket 26 embraces the upper edge 13b of the plank 13. The bracket 20b is the same as bracket 20.

The bracket 26 provides a flat upwardly facing surface 27 and underneath has a boss 28 with recess 29 which receives the top of the post 15. Straight ribs 30, 31 define slots 30a, 31a with respective flat sides of the boss 28 facing the respective ribs 30, 31.

The upper edge 1 3b is located selectively in slot 30a or 31 a.

Rivets or bolts 25 extend through a rib 30 or 31, bracket 26 and the post 15 to secure these parts together.

A two-part sleeve 40, 41 is slidably and rotatably received on each post 15 between the brackets 20a and 20b. The upper and lower sleeve parts have respective confronting faces 42, 43 inclined to the tube axis so that whilst part of face 42 engages face 43, rotation of part 40 causes the part 40 to move axially up or down on the post 15 depending on the relative positions of faces 42, 43.

The foot 17 is rotatable on the tube 15 so that in use, Fig. 2, the foot extends transverse to the plane of the planks 13, 14 but for storage or transport the foot 17 can be rotated (Fig. 1 chain dotted line) to be in the plane of the planks. One side face 17a of the foot 17 has projecting rib 50 and the opposite face has a corresponding recess 51 so that similar uprights can be stacked with rib 50 of one upright received in recess 51 of a lower one.

The width of the foot 17 is substantially the same as the width of the bracket 26 so that when stacked on a horizontal surface the posts 15 can be substantially horizontal.

The uprights 11, 12 can be positioned as desired along the planks.

The upper plank 13 and if desired the lower plank 14 can carry reflective material on one or both upright side faces 39.

A lamp 60 can be mounted on one or both surfaces 27.

Normally the two brackets 26 would have different orientations (Figs.

1, 2) so that a lamp would face in different directions on the two brackets 26. Each bracket 26 has an upstanding rib 61 at one edge of the surface 27 which is received in a clip 62 on the lamp to hold the lamp removably in place.

Each plank 13, 14 in the embodiment shown is hollow with internal longitudinal webs defining cells. End caps 70 have extensions 71 removably received in respective cells. The end caps 70 are somewhat flexible and include an outer flange and a web defining two apertures. One end of a cord is secured to each cap 70 and the other end of each cord is secured to a respective toggle which can pass through an aperture to hold loosely together the end caps of adjacent planks.

Each unit 10 when assembled is portable and can be carried by a user. The flexible cords allow adjacent units to lie in different planes. The feet 17 in use can be at different levels so that the planks are in use inclined with respect to the horizontal.

The brackets, feet and end caps are robust and slightly flexible so that in the assembly or unit 10 they act as shock absorbers and provide some protection against damage caused by rough handling of the unit.

Figs. 3A and Fig. 4 show the unlocked position prior to disassembly and Fig. 3B the locked or operative position.

To disassemble the unit the part 40 of each upright is rotated (Fig 3B) to allow it to move downwards on post 15 whereby bracket 20b disengages from the lower edge of plank 13; the other end of the plank can similarly be disengaged from the other upright.

The parts 41, 40, 20a, 20b can then be slid upwards to allow bracket 20a to disengage from the upper edge of plank 14 to allow plank 14 to be removed from the upright, and similarly from the other upright.

To assemble the unit the plank 14 is received in the brackets 20, brackets 20a are moved to embrace upper edge 14b, plank 13 is placed in the slots in brackets 20b, and parts 40 are rotated to urge brackets 20a, 20b apart and into engagement with the respective planks so that plank 13 is held between brackets 20b and 26 and plank 14 is held between brackets 20, 20a.

When disassembled the planks can be stacked and the uprights can be stacked for storage or transport, which is more convenient and occupies less overall space than stacks of assembled units 10.

In a modification, the enlargement 18 is omitted and the foot can be disassembled from the tube 15. In use the tube is removably located in an upwardly facing recess in the foot 17 where it is held by a friction grip.

Instead of the cam surfaces 42, 43, other means can be used to hold the brackets 20a, 20b in operative position in the assembled unit.

Claims (10)

1. A barrier assembly comprising a barrier element, spaced uprights, and means operatively associated with the uprights and movable between holding and release positions in which the barrier element is held with respect to or releasable with respect to the uprights.

2. A barrier assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the movable means may comprise two jaws and means for changing the distance between the jaws.

3. A barrier assembly according to Claim 2, wherein one of said jaws is fixed on a respective upright.

4. A barrier assembly according to Claim 2, or Claim 3, wherein the jaws, in the holding position, embrace upper and lower edges of the barrier element.

5. A barrier assembly according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the movable means includes cam means for moving one of said jaws.

6. A barrier assembly according to Claim 5, wherein the cam means comprises two parts of a respective upright, movable relative to each other.

7. A barrier assembly according to Claim 6, wherein the two parts comprise upper and lower sleeves on an upright element, the sleeves having co-operable cam surfaces.

8. A barrier assembly according to any preceding claim, including spaced upper and lower barrier elements.

9. A barrier assembly according to Claim 8, wherein the means operatively associated with the uprights are operative to hold or release both barrier elements.

10. A barrier assembly according to Claim , comprising upper and lower generally horizontal barrier elements, a pair of horizontally spaced upright posts, each post having fixedly attached thereto an upper jaw for the upper barrier element and a lower jaw for the lower barrier element, lower and upper jaws for the upper and lower barrier elements respectively being slidably engaged for longitudinal movement along said upright posts, and cam means rotatable on each post to cause said respective slidable jaws to move longitudinally with respect to the posts selectively to hold and release the barrier elements.