GB2430003A

GB2430003A - Barrier for use on a road

Info

Publication number: GB2430003A
Application number: GB0616641A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Patrick Greene
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-20
Filing date: 2006-08-21
Publication date: 2007-03-14
Also published as: GB0616641D0; GB0517136D0

Abstract

The barrier 10, primarily for use on roads to cordon off areas where work is being undertaken, comprises a substantially rectangular frame 11, 12 of metal or the like with feet that are adapted to provide transverse stability or to engage with transverse stability elements. At least one horizontal strip 20 for carrying a sequence of red and white reflective rectangles 21 and/or suitable notices extends between the sides of the frame slightly below the top of the frame. The frame may include an infilling array or grid 13. The feet of the frame may each include a strut transverse to the plane of the frame to give it stability, or may be simple peg or rod shaped to fit into separate heavy blocks which will be placed transverse to the frame. Alternatively, the frames may each have an integral transverse strut 14 at one end and have interlocking means 15, 16 so that 20 they can be engaged in a series.

Description

1 2430003 Road Hazard Warning Device The present invention relates to road

hazard warning devices.

Roads and other places carrying vehicular and/or foot traffic, both public highways and semi-private or private grounds, often require maintenance or repair.

It is generally necessary to provide some sort of barrier around the area where work is being carried out, both to warn people off and to prevent them from encroaching on such areas.

In some circumstances, traffic cones are adequate. In many situations, however, a more continuous barrier is required. Sometimes a row of posts joined by plastic tape or netting is sufficient. Often, however, a relatively solid and con- tinuous physical barrier is required.

One common form of such barrier consists of a line of pillars joined by plank-like members. The pillars have weighted bases, so that they stand firm, and have sockets around their upper ends. The plank-like members are typically hollow and made of plastics material, and engage in the sockets in the pillars.

The pillars and plank-like members are suitably coloured in bright colours.

This system suffers from various drawbacks; in particular, it requires careful placement of the pillars for stability, and the planks are liable to disengage from the pillars.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved form of barrier for use as a road hazard warning device.

According to the invention there is provided a barrier comprising a substan- tially rectangular frame of metal or the like having feet which are either adapted to provide transverse stability or to engage with transverse stability elements, and, extending between the sides of the frame slightly below the top of the frame, a horizontal strip for carrying warning material. There may be a plurality of strips at different heights.

The frame preferably includes an influling array or grid.

The horizontal strip may carry a sequence of red and white reflective rectangles, or may be used for suitable notices. I0

The feet of the frame may each include a strut transverse to the plane of the frame to give it stability, or may be simple peg or rod shaped to fit into separate heavy blocks which will be placed transverse to the frame. Alternatively, the frames may each have an integral transverse strut at one end and have izuerlocking means so that they can be engaged in a series.

A barrier unit in accordance with the invention will now be described in detail by way of an example and with reference to the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the barrier unit 10 comprises a frame formed of a length of galvanized pipe 11 bent into an inverted U shape and a bottom rung 12 of similar (though preferably slightly smaller diameter) welded to the pipe 11.

The frame is typically around 1000 mm high and 3000 mm long. The frame is filled by a grid of relatively light wires or rods 13.

One side of the frame has a transverse foot 14 which gives it good stability against falling over or being pushed over. The side of the frame at that end has a pair of pins 15 attached to it as shown; the other side of the frame has a pair of sockets 16 attached to it. Two adjacent frames can therefore be joined together by engaging the pins of one frame in the sockets of the other. A line of frames of any desired length can therefore be formed, straight or bent as desired, with all the frames interlocked and therefore supporting each other.

Barriers of the form described so far as generally known for use in control- ling crowds, but not for road use.

The frame has a horizontal strip of galvanized metal 20 welded between its two sides as shown. The strip 20 is preferably approximately 150 mm wide, and is attached at about that distance below the top of the frame.

For road use, this strip has a red and white warning pattern provided on it; this pattern can conveniently be formed by attaching to it a series of reflective panels 21 of plastics material, alternately red and white. UK regulations for use on public roads require such a strip of panels, 150 x 225 mm (and with white at both ends; the end panels may therefore need to be positioned slightly inwards of the ends of the strip). To minimize the chance of the panels becoming detached in use, the strip 20 may conveniently be slightly wider than 150 mm, so that the edges of the panels 21 do not protrude beyond the edges of the strip 20.

In other situations, the strip 20 can have any convenient warning or other notices attached to it, either instead of or over the panels 21. For such uses, the dimensions of the strip are not critical, but the dimensions discussed above allow the panel to be used on roads as well.

The frame may have two or more strips if desired, positioned one above the other. This will allow the road markings panels to be placed on one strip and any other to have desired notices on it.

Claims

Claims 1 A barrier comprising a substantially rectangular frame of metal

or the like having feet which are either adapted to provide transverse stability or to engage with transverse stability elements, and, extending between the sides of the frame slightly below the top of the frame, a horizontal strip for carrying warning mater- ial.
2 A barrier according to claim 1 including a plurality of strips at different heights.
3 A barrier according to either previous claim including an infihling array or grid.
4 A barrier according to any previous claim wherein the horizontal strip (or one of the strips) carries a sequence of red and white reflective rectangles.
5 A barrier according to any of claims I to 4 wherein the horizontal strip (or one of the strips) carries suitable notices.
6 A barrier according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the feet of the frame each include a strut transverse to the plane of the frame to give it stability.
7 A barrier according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the feet of the frame is each simple peg or rod shaped to fit into separate heavy blocks which will be placed transverse to the frame.

S
8 A barrier according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the frames each have an integral transverse strut at one end and have interlocking means so that they can be engaged in a series.

s 9 A barrier substantially as herein described and illustrated.

Any feature of novelty or combination thereof within the meaning of Article 4H of the International Convention (Paris Convention).