GB2376026A

GB2376026A - Security fence

Info

Publication number: GB2376026A
Application number: GB0110930A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Melanie Ann Mcgee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-05-04
Filing date: 2001-05-04
Publication date: 2002-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-04
Also published as: GB2376026B; GB0110930D0

Abstract

A security fence 10 comprising an array of elongate resiliently flexible members 22 which are mounted to the fence to hang downwardly on at least one side, where the members are formed with hooks or barbs at their ends or at intervals along their length. The fence may also comprise a carrier 20 for the barbed members formed from a rolled strip of material which can be unrolled for fixing to the fence (Figure 3, not shown).

Description

SECURITY FENCES The present invention relates to security fences.

Various forms of security fence are currently in use or have been proposed hitherto. These different types of security fence vary in effectiveness but generally a determined intruder can find a way of climbing over them.

I have now devised a security fence which is particularly difficult to climb over.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a security fence which includes an array of elongate, resiliently flexible members which are mounted to the fence to hang downwardly on at least one side thereof, said members being formed with hooks or barbs.

The hooks or barbs may be formed at the lower or free ends of the resiliently flexible or springy members. The hooks or barbs may, additionally or instead, be formed at intervals along the length of at least some of the resiliently flexible members.

The resiliently flexible or springy members are preferably of various different lengths. Preferably the resiliently flexible members are arranged to hang down at various different angles.

Preferably the resiliently flexible members are arranged so that their upper ends project at an inclined angle outwardly and downwardly from the side of the fence. Preferably the upper ends of the resiliently flexible members are attached to an inclined under-surface of a mount.

Preferably the upper ends of the resiliently flexible members are attached (directly or via respective mounts) to a carrier. This carrier may comprise, for example, a strip of metal or other sheet material, or a length or mesh.

It will be appreciated that a security fence in accordance with the present invention may be formed by fixing, to an existing fence, such a carrier having a multiplicity of barbed members.

Thus, also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a carrier to one side of which the ends of an array of elongate, resiliently flexible members are mounted, said members being formed with hooks or barbs.

Preferably the carrier is provided in the form of a roll, which may be unrolled for fixing across one side of a fence.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of a security fence in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a front view of the security fence shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a top view of a roll of barbed carrier strip for forming the security fence; FIGURE 4 is a front view of the roll of barbed carrier strip; FIGURE 5 is a front view of the barbed carrier strip when rolled out; FIGURE 6 is an enlarged front view of one of the barbs of the carrier strip; and FIGURE 7 is a side view of the barb shown in Figure 6. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a security fence comprising uprights 10 having V-section tops 11: metal mesh 12 extends the uprights 10; arrays of wire 14 extend between the bifurcated arms of the top sections 11 and coils of barbed wire 16 are supported between the two arrays of wires 14. Thus far described, the security fence is of a generally known form.

In accordance with the present invention, a carrier strip 20 is mounted across the outer side of the fence, between the uprights 10 and adjacent their top ends, just below their V-section tops 11. A multiplicity of flexible, barbed members 22 are carried by the carrier strip 20: referring to Figures

6 and 7, each barbed member 22 comprises an elongate, resiliently flexible member having one end attached to an inclined under-surface of a mount 24 which is attached to the carrier strip 20, such that the member 22 hangs outwardly and downwardly; the lower or free end of the member 22 is formed with an upturned, sharp hook 23. It will be noted from Figures 2 and 5 that the barbed members 22 are distributed over the area of the carrier strip 20 and their mounts 24 are oriented such that the barbed members hang at various different angles: further, the barbed members 22 are of various different lengths.

The end of each member 22 may be formed with more than one hook 23. Further, although the hooks or barbs 23 being located only at the ends of the members 22, they may instead be provided at spaced intervals along the length of each member 22.

The barbed members 22 are resiliently flexible or springy and are of a material resistant to being cut with a knife or saw or to being cropped with bolt cutters.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the barbed strip may be supplied in a roll R, which is then unrolled for fixing across the security fence. Typically, the main portion of this fence, below the V-section top, is 3 metres high, with the barbed carrier strip covering the upper 1 metre of this. Thus, the lower 2 metres of the fence are left clear of barbs so as to present no danger to passers by.

It will be appreciated, however, that the array of depending barbed members 22 present an extremely effective obstacle to any intruder attempting to climb over the fence from that side of the fence: any such intruder would find the barbs 23 attaching to the intruder's clothes or directly to his body; further movement of the intruder would lead to him becoming even more ensnared.

Claims

Claims 1) A security fence which includes an array of elongate, resiliently flexible members which are mounted to the fence to hang downwardly on at least one side thereof, said members being formed with hooks or barbs.
2) A security fence as claimed in Claim l, in which the lower, free ends of said members are formed with said hooks or barbs.
3) A security fence as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which said members are formed, at intervals along their lengths, with said hooks or barbs.
4) A security fence as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said members are of various different lengths.
5) A security fence as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said members are arranged to hang down at various different angles.
6) A security fence as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said members are arranged so that their upper ends project at an inclined angle outwardly and downwardly from the side of the fence.
7) A security fence as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the upper ends of said members are attached to an inclined under-surface of a mount.
8) A security fence as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the upper ends of said members are attached to a carrier which comprises a strip of material.

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9) A security fence substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10) A carrier for fixing to a fence, the carrier having one side to which the ends of an array of elongate, resiliently flexible members are mounted, said members being formed with hooks or barbs.
11) A carrier as claimed in Claim 10, in the form of a roll to be unrolled for fixing to a fence.