GB2437626A

GB2437626A - Adjustable barrier for filling around obstacles

Info

Publication number: GB2437626A
Application number: GB0707737A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Jon Massey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-04-29
Filing date: 2007-04-23
Publication date: 2007-10-31
Also published as: GB0707737D0; GB0608562D0

Abstract

A barrier assembly 10 for use for when filling a hole 12 around an item such as a pipe 16. The assembly 10 comprises first and second side members 18, 20 with an intermediate member 22 extending therebetween. A plurality of elongate members 24 are slidably restrainably mounted on the intermediate member 22 to be extendable beneath the hole 12 for a required distance, to extend wholly across the hole 12, or to engage against the pipe 16. The assembly is placed beneath or behind the hole and the hole filled against the assembly from the other side.

Description

I

Barrier Assemy This invention concerns improvements in or relating to barrier assemblies, and particularly but not exclusively such assemblies usable when filling a hole with concrete.

In the construction industry it is often necessary to fill a hole for instance in a floor, through which a pipe, column or other elongate item extends. At present a joiner or other worker would measure the shape of the item extending through the hole and then cut out an appropriately shaped piece of board and secure this in place below the hole. This is a relatively time consuming procedure, and usually such boards are only usable once in view of the different shape and particular location of items which extend through holes. Such items could be steel columns, or piping such as soil, gas or water supply pipes.

According to the present invention there is provided a barrier assembly, the assembly including first and second side members, an interconnecting member extending between the first and second side members to maintain them spaced from each other, a plurality of parallel elongate members restrainably located between the first and second side members, the elongate members being aligned substantially normally to the interconnecting member, and slidingly movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the first and second side members, and also to each other.

The interconnecting member preferably extends through an elongate opening in the elongate members.

Formations may be provided on the elongate members slidingly engageable with formations on adjacent elongate members. The formations may include one or more male members slidingly engageable in elongate female formations on adjacent elongate members, which female formations may be grooves. Each elongate member may have one or more male formations on one side, and a female formation on an opposite side. One or more formations may be provided on the first and/or second members to permit mounting thereof in a required position, and the formations may comprise through holes.

Joining formations may be provided on the first and/or second side members to permit two or more barrier assemblies to be interconnected together. A male joining formation may be provided on the first side member, and a female joining member on the second side member.

The invention also provides a method of closing with concrete a hole through which an item extends, the method including locating a barrier assembly according to any of the preceding four paragraphs immediately beneath the hole, and sliding the elongate members to extend wholly across the hole or across the hole until the respective elongate member engages against the item, pouring concrete into the hole, and after the concrete has set removing the barrier assembly.

The barrier assembly may be mounted in position beneath the hole by fastening means extending through the formations in the first and second side members into an object or fixture adjacent the hole.

Alternatively, an elongate fixing member may extend from the barrier assembly through the hole, and be fixed thereabove. The elongate fixing member may be a cable tie.

A barrier material may be located on the barrier assembly before filling the hole with concrete, and the barrier material may be plastics material sheeting.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a first barrier assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view from beneath of the assembly of Fig. 1 in use; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view from above of the assembly of Fig. I being used as in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic first side view of the component of the assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an opposite side view of the component shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an end view of the component shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a second barrier assembly according to the invention.

Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings show a barrier assembly 10 for use for instance when filling a rectangular hole 12 for instance in a concrete beam 14 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 around a pipe 16 which extends through the hole 12.

The assembly 10 comprises first and second side members 18, 20 in the form of blocks of plastics material. An intermediate member 22 in the form of a strip of plastics material, extends between the side members 18, 20.

A plurality of elongate members 24 are restrainably mounted on the intermediate member 20. For clarity only some of the elongate members 24 are shown, but in practice adjacent members 24 extend across the whole of the space between the side members 18, 20. Each elongate member 24 comprises a strip of material with a central elongate slot 26 which extends for the whole length of the member 24 save for end closed portions 28. The intermediate member 22 extends through the slot 26.

On a first side of the elongate member 24 (Fig. 4) a plurality of male members 30 are provided on either side of the slot 26. The male members 30 comprise an upstanding cylindrical portion 32 from which extends an upstanding strip 34 aligned in a longitudinal direction. The strip 34 has a widest central part and tapers away towards each end.

On the opposite side of the elongate members 24 (Fig. 5), elongate open ended grooves 36 are provided on either side of the slot 26. In the assembly 10 the elongate members 24 are all arranged such that they have male members 30 on the same side, and the grooves 38 on the opposite side such that the strips 34 can slidingly locate in the grooves 38.

In use as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the assembly 10 can be used to substantially close the hole 12 around the pipe 16 to permit concrete to be poured into the hole 12 around the pipe 16. The elongate members 24 can be slid so as to wholly extend across the hole 12 as shown at A, or can be slid until they abut against the pipe 16 as shown at B. A sheet of plastics material (not shown) will usually be located on the assembly 10. The assembly 10 can be held in position by screws or other fastening means extending through holes 40 provided in the first and second side members 18, 20.

Alternatively, the assembly 10 could be held in position by f9r instance a cable tie or other member extending from the assembly 10 through the hole 12, and this could be mounted above the hole 12 for instance by a bar extending thereacross. Concrete is then poured into the hole 12 onto the assembly 10 and left to set. Once the concrete has set the assembly 10 can be removed for reuse at a different location where it will probably be required for the assembly 10 to adopt a different shape by respective sliding of the elongate members 24.

Fig. 7 shows a similar barrier assembly 40 with first and second side members 42, 44, and an intermediate member 46. Sixteen elongate members 48 are slidably restrainably mounted on the intermediate member, and all of these are shown in this drawing.

There are thus described a barrier assemblies which can be used and reused in a wide number of different situations to readily provide a barrier to enable concrete to be poured in to fill holes. The assembly has a relatively straightforward construction and can thus be inexpensively manufactured for long term robust operation, and without the requirement for any particular skills for a user of the assembly.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, respective male and female attachment members may be provided on the first and second side members to permit two barrier assemblies to be joined together. In some situations it may be required for two barrier assemblies to face each other, with the respective elongate members extending across the hole and at some points meeting each other. The assembly could have a different configuration to enable the various components to move relative to each other.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A barrier assembly, the assembly including first and second side members, an interconnecting member extending between the first and second side members to maintain them spaced from each other, a plurality of parallel elongate members restrainably located between the first and second side members, the elongate members being aligned substantially normally to the interconnecting member, and slidingly movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the first and second side members, and also to each other.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the interconnecting member extends through an elongate opening in the elongate members.

3. An assembly according to claims 1 or 2, in which formations are provided on the elongate members slidingly engageable with formations on adjacent elongate members.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, in which the formations include one or more male members slidingly engageable in elongate female formations on adjacent elongate members.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, in which the female formations are grooves.

6. An assembly according to claims 4 or 5, in which each elongate member has one or more male formations on one side, and a female formation on an opposite side.

7. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which one or more formations is provided on the first and/or second members to permit mounting thereof in a required position.

8. An assembly according to claim 8, in which the formations comprise through holes.

9. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which joining formations are provided on the first andlor second side members to permit two or more barrier assemblies to be interconnected together.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, in which a male joining formation is provided on the first side member, and a female joining member on the second side member.

11. A method of closing with concrete a hole through which an item extends, the method including locating a barrier assembly according to any of the preceding claims immediately beneath the hole, and sliding the elongate members to extend wholly across the hole or across the hole until the respective elongate member engages against the item, pouring concrete into the hole, and after the concrete has set removing the barrier assembly.

12. A method according to claim 11 when dependent on claim 7, in which the barrier assembly is mounted in position beneath the hole by fastening means extending through the formations in the first and second side members into an object or fixture adjacent the hole.

13. A method according to claim 11 when dependent on claim 7, in which an elongate fixing member extends from the barrier assembly through the hole, and is fixed thereabove.

14. A method according to claim 13, in which the elongate fixing member is a cable tie.

15. A method according to any of claims 11 to 14, in which a barrier material is located on the barrier assembly before filling the hole with concrete.

16. A method according to claim 15, in which the barrier material is plastics material sheeting.

17. A barrier assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A method of closing with concrete a hole through which an item extends, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 5 19. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.