GB2446402A

GB2446402A - Road cone adaptor for use in forming a temporary barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2446402A
Application number: GB0702683A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Frank Harrison
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-02-12
Filing date: 2007-02-12
Publication date: 2008-08-13
Also published as: GB0702683D0

Abstract

The road cone adaptor 1, for forming barriers for controlling vehicles and pedestrians around hazards such as road works etc., comprises a hollow profiled receiver 3 shaped to engage a traffic cone C and at least one coupling element 6,7 for retaining a connecting portion of a barrier element, the coupling element having a longitudinal axis disposed parallel to the central axis of the receiver. The or each coupling element preferably has a hollow tubular shape with an outer diameter adapted to be received in a female connecting portion of a barrier element and an inner diameter adapted to receive a male connecting portion of a barrier element. The adaptor may have a single coupling element disposed co-axially with the profiled receiver or alternatively may have two or more coupling elements secured on the opposite side of a supporting adaptor plate 5 to the receiver. Also claimed is an adjustable length traffic barrier system and a method of indicating a hazard or delineating an edge.

Description

PEDESTRIAN AND TRAFFIC CONTROL BARRIER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pedestrian and traffic control bather and more particularly to a roadway delineation barrier of the type used to separate pedestrian and adjacent moving traffic. The invention further relates to a bather system adapted to guide pedestrians and moving traffic along a predetermined path or away from hazards.

Background to the Invention

It will be appreciated by the skilled reader that, although the description of the present invention is directed to pedestrian and traffic control barriers, the invention is not so limited and may be used for guiding or directing traffic along predetermined routes, around hazards or for keeping traffic away from vuinerable roadside workers, including motorway maintenance crews, telecommunication cable-laying technicians and gas or water pipeline repair workers.

Most pedestrian and motorists are familiar with the sight of road and pavement excavations whether occupied by active work crews or abandoned for more *1SS favourable work conditions. In some situations, it is sufficient to cover the excavation holes and allow foot or vehicle traffic to be supported on these covers.

Due to the unfortunately high incidence of accidents relating to such covers, it is I..

* 20 now more commonly accepted that barriers are erected around such excavation holes or adjacent any roadworks being undertaken.

* It is also commonly accepted that there is a need to protect active work crews in any situation where vehicles are passing nearby, not specifically to prevent accidental ingress of vehicles but more to make vehicle drivers aware of the exposure of and potential danger to these individuals. Additionally, various types of bathers are used to prevent workers from walking out of the active area of work into the path of oncoming vehicles. It is also well known to provide crowd control barriers not only to retain pedestrians and onlookers from crossing a predetermined line but also to direct moving crowds or lines of people.

There are several well appreciated problems with existing barrier systems, including ease or speed of deployment and inflexibility, that is, they are job specific. Many barrier systems use heavy and awkwardly shaped bather elements which make deployment diflicult and there is a need to use skilled assemblers, often at irregular hours.

The offsite storage, transport and deployment of such barrier systems can add significantly to the cost of an event or job where traffic or pedestrian control is required.

One solution is to provide relatively lightweight barrier elements each having a pair of transverse or laterally disposed feet for stability. Additional stability is provided by linking the bather elements together. To avoid storage problems, the feet are usually pivotable so that they may be disposed in line with the length of the barrier. In use, however, the feet are easily shifted from their transverse orientation, consequently resulting in instability of at least a section of the barrier.

If one barrier element of a linked system is unstable and accidentally or deliberately pushed over, adjacent bather elements may be carried with it * . potentially resulting in the entire bather length being knocked over. me.

Bathers having fixed transverse or laterally disposed feet provide storage and 25 transportation difficulties, however, it is the protruding nature of the stabilising *. feet that are considered hazardous in certain situations. For example, where these barriers are used to separate fast moving crowds or vehicles, there is a danger that * if the feet are struck, the impact will dislodge at least one barrier element. In recently observed incidents, individuals moving with a crowd have tripped over the protruding feed and been injured, including by being trampled. The same problem arises in road running events where competitors will take a "tight line" around a corner and can trip over these protruding feet. Similarly, in cycling races, if a cyclist were to hit one of these feet, an entire cycle pack or "peloton" can be brought down.

Although not specifically aimed at solving the above problems, there are several road barrier or pedestrian barrier systems which avoid the use of bather elements which have such transverse or laterally disposed feet. A common solution is to provide a collar which can be mounted on a post and which incorporates brackets for securing a plank or other planar element. One such arrangement incorporates a tape dispenser having a spring return to hold tension on the tape stretched between two posts. These arrangements are suitable only where a visual reminder of a demarcation line is sufficient, for example, as a visual reminder of the edge of a work area or to direct an orderly queue of people.

Exemplary of the prior art is UK Patent Publication No. GB 1 524 381 to Swintex Limited, which discloses a support for a barrier adapted for seating on the upper portion of a traffic cone having a plurality of rectangular apertures for receiving one end of a plank, the other end of which being engaged in a corresponding rectangular aperture of another support placed a spaced distance away on another traffic cone. The plurality of rectangular apertures are spaced in fixed relationship to one another and normally spaced at 900 intervals. In the illustrated embodiment, two of the three apertures shown have their major axes in one vertical plane and the third has its major axes in a vertical plane at right angles thereto. It is noted in this prior art disclosure that the number and relative disposition of the apertures can be altered. A similar arrangement is disclosed in :s*::: 25 UK Patent Publication No. GB 2 287 497 A to JSP Limited where a collar for mounting over a post or cone has a plurality of brackets having inwardly tapering walls adapted to engage and grip the ends of planks which are pushed firmly into the brackets so that they are gripped by the inwardly tapering walls and ribbed * formations Within the brackets. *

* 30 The disadvantages of the above inventions include a fixed arrangement of barrier elements with any one configuration of support and the limited type of barrier elements that can be used with these supports, that is, a plank of a fixed height and width dimension.

There are known solutions to above problems, however, many of these solutions have disadvantages in themselves. One solution is suggested in UK Patent Publication No. GB 2 327 968 A and again in US Patent Application Publication No. US 2006/0032426 Al, where a collar is rotatably coupled to a road cone, a collar being provided at each end of a barrier element such as a pole.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate the limitations perceived in the prior art and to provide a road cone adaptor which seeks to alleviate the

disadvantages of the prior art.

It is particularly an object of the invention to provide a road cone adaptor adapted to sit on and be supported by a standard sized road cone or post having receivers to engage coupling element portions of barrier elements without constraining the relative angles between the barrier elements coupled thereto.

it is further an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable length traffic barrier system which seeks to alleviate the above disadvantages and which may be used with a range of barrier elements of different dimensions and having coupling elements of differing diameters, without alteration or adjustment.

It will be appreciated by the skilled reader that references to "road cones" are not intended to be limited, in that there are similar products available which are not conical but achieve the same function using an upright member and a support : foot. It is to be understood that references to road cones include these non-conical *.*S arrangements and arrangements of self-supporting posts of circular and non-circular cross-section. "S

Summary of the Invention S. S

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* :" Accordingly, the present invention provides a road cone adaptor of the type used to support a bather element, the adaptor comprising: a hollow profiled receiver having a central longitudinal axis, the receiver being shaped so as to engage a road traffic cone; and at least one coupling means for retaining a connecting portion of a barrier element, the or each coupling means having a central longitudinal axis disposed parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the receiver.

In a preferred construction, the profiled receiver is substantially frusto-conically shaped so as to sit in close-fitting engagement with the apex of a road traffic cone.

Advantageously, the or each coupling means has a hollow tubular shape having an outer diameter adapted to be received in a female connecting portion of a barrier element and an inner diameter adapted to receive a male connecting portion of a barrier element.

In one alternative arrangement, a single coupling means is disposed co-axially with the central longitudinal axis of the profiled receiver.

Preferably, two of more coupling means are secured to one surface of a supporting adaptor plate, the receiver being secured to the opposite surface thereof.

Conveniently, a flange, plate or other surface is provided on or adjacent the or each coupling means so as to provide a stop for the connecting portion of a barrier means coupled thereto.

The invention further provides an adjustable length traffic barrier system n... 20 comprising: * * a plurality of road traffic cones; a plurality of road cone adaptors of the type suitable for engagement with *: * and supported by a road traffic cone, each adaptor including a first profiled * * receiver portion adapted to engage the top of a road traffic cone and at least one coupling means for retaining a connecting portion of a barrier element; and a plurality of barrier elements adapted to engage the traffic cone adaptors and be supported solely thereby.

The primary advantage of this arrangement is that it obviates the requirement for ground engaging feet on the barrier elements themselves, support being provided solely by the road traffic cones.

Conveniently, each barrier element has a connecting portion at each end thereof for engaging the coupling means of a road cone adaptor mounted on the top or apex of a road traffic cone.

Advantageously, each barrier element has a male connecting portion at one end and a female connecting portion at the opposite end thereof, the female connecting portion being adapted to fit over the outer diameter of a hollow tubular coupling means of the road cone adaptor and the male connecting portion being adapted to be received within the inner diameter of said coupling means.

Optionally, adjacent bather elements are secured to one another with a fastening clip.The invention yet further provides a method of indicating a hazard or delineating an edge, the method comprising: positioning a plurality of road cones around the hazard or along the edge; securing an adaptor to the top of each road cone, the adaptors each having at least one receiving means for retaining a connecting portion of a barrier : *** 20 element; and * * sequentially placing bather elements around the hazard or along the edge :: by engaging the respective connecting portions with the or each receiving means S..

* of the adaptor. ** .

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The method of the invention provides an easily deployable barrier system which requires minimal assembling skill and does not require disproportionately large storage space.

Advantageously, the method includes mounting a warning sign or other notification to one or more of said barrier elements, so as to recommend or advise of actions to be taken or hazards to be avoided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, two embodiments of road cone adaptor in accordance with the invention. The drawings also show several arrangements of barrier systems assembled from standard road traffic cones and differently profiled bather elements, together with the adaptors of the invention. hi the drawings: Figures Ia to Id are a top plan view, a front elevation, a side elevation and bottom plan view of a first embodiment of road cone adaptor; Figure 2 shows the first embodiment of adaptor mounted on a standard road cone; Figures 3a to 3c show side elevations of three different barrier systems constructed using traffic cones having the first embodiment of adaptor mounted thereon together with a plank or pole shaped barrier element, a relatively short pedestrian bather element and a standard length pedestrian bather element; Figures 4a to 4c are first and second front elevations and a plan view of a barrier element carrying a directional sign mounted between of traffic cones via adaptors of the invention, a barner element carrying a warning sign mounted between : ... traffic cones as before, and an arrangement of barrier elements disposed between three traffic cones in a more stable configuration either for enclosing a hazard or to which a directional or warning sign is mounted; S..

* Figures 5a to Sd are a top plan view, a front elevation, a side elevation and bottom * 25 plan view of a second embodiment of road cone adaptor; **.

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5*5SS* * Figure 6 shows the second embodiment of adaptor mounted on a standard road cone; *8-Figures 7a and 7b show front elevations of the basic components for constructing a first length of barrier and a barrier system constructed using traffic cones having the second embodiment of adaptor mounted thereon together with a plurality of shaped plastic bather elements.

Detailed Perspective of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures la to id, a first embodiment of road cone adaptor 1 comprises a hollow frusto-conically shaped receiver 3 so sized and shaped as to fit securely to the apex A of a standard road cone C, as shown in Figure 2. The receiver 3 supports a plate 5 to which a pair of tubular coupling elements 6,7 is fixed. The coupling elements 6,7 are illustrated as being of equal dimensions but may be different so that one element is adapted to receive a male connecting portion of a bather element and the other is adapted to be received within a female connecting portion of a bather element. It will be apparent to the skilled reader that variations of the above arrangements are envisaged. It will also be apparent that the illustrated embodiments are directed solely to conical road cones and that upright poles having a support base or foot are not described in detail, although they are functionally equivalent, particularly when combined with an adaptor having a correspondingly shaped receiving portion.

Figure 2 shows the road cone adaptor 1 in position on the apex A of a standard road cone C which is provided with a base portion B providing stability thereto and doing so without adding substantially to the width of the cone.

As illustrated in Figures 3a to 3c, a variety of different barrier elements may be combined with standard traffic cones C fitted with the adaptor 1 to provide a ** 25 range of barrier system profiles. In Figure 3a, a first profile of barrier element 10 s. of the type used to cordon off long lengths of roadway, lawn or frontage is shown.

The span between road cones C is consequently large and facilitates the rapid *..: deployment of the barrier profile. Each bather element 10 has connecting portions 12 which engages the coupling elements 6,7 of the adaptor 1 mounted on each cone. The adaptor provides linkage between the barrier elements 10 and the standard road cones C provide support and stability. In Figure 3b, a second profile of barrier element 20 is shown. This profile has a shorter span and is more commonly used for cordoning off relatively small areas, such as roadside hazards or where a high degree of flexibility is required in the shape of barrier length. As more supporting cones C are used per unit length of bather, the structure is more stable and can withstand knocks from a jostling crowd, for example. As before, each barner element 20 has connecting portions 22 which engage the coupling elements 6,7 of the adaptor I mounted on the apex A of each cone C. In a simplified bather arrangement, as shown in Figure 3c, the third bather profile comprises a planar barrier element 30 having connecting portions 32 at each end for linking via the coupling elements 6,7 of the adaptors 1 mounted in push-fit engagement with the cone C. As will be seen more clearly in this third barrier profile arrangement, the adaptor plate 5 provides a linking means between each of the barrier elements 30 via their respective connecting portions 32. Ideally, the planar third bather profile 30 comprises a longitudinal tubular element having a T-shaped connecting portion 32 at each end which includes a transverse tubular element adapted slidingly to receive the coupling elements 6,7 of the adaptors 1.

In an alternative construction, the planar barrier elements 30 comprise a substantially flat or plank-like element having connecting portions 32 which hook or have wedge-shaped connectors which push-fit into tubular or correspondingly shaped coupling elements 6,7.

In Figures 4a to 4c, hazard warning barrier arrangements are illustrated utilising a barner element similar to that of the second profile element 20, described hereinabove with respect to Figure 3b. At least one barrier element is supported via its connecting portions 22 by standard road cones C on which adaptors I of the invention are mounted. As illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b, a single barrier element 20 carrying a directional sign DS or a hazard warning sign WS is suspended between a pair of road cones C via an adaptor 1 mounted on each cone apex A. These arrangements are suitably deployable on roadways and footpaths * 30 for directing vehicular and pedestrian traffic. In another arrangement, as illustrated in Figure 4c, a hazard may be delineated by a bather arrangement formed using three cones, disposed in an equilateral triangular formation,, each having an adaptor I of the invention thereon and three bather elements (of any profile desired).

Different formations may be provided using different barrier profiles and different numbers to provide polygonal formations of substantially any size or shape. One or more of the barrier elements may carry directional or warning signs. The triangular formation as illustrated may be used to stabilise further the arrangements shown in Figures 4a and 4b.

Referring now to Figures Sa to 5b, a second embodiment of road cone adaptor 51 comprises a frusto-conical receiving portion 53 so sized and shaped as to fit securely to the apex A of a standard road cone C, as shown in Figure 6. The second embodiment of adaptor 51 is substantially similar to that of the first embodiment of adaptor 1 except that the receiving portion 53 supports a plate 55 to which a singular tubular coupling element 57 is fixed. The coupling element 57 has an outer diameter adapted to be received within a female connecting portion of a barrier element and has inner diameter adapted to receive a male connecting portion of the barrier element disposed at an end thereof opposite that at which the female connecting portion is disposed.

Figure 6 shows the second embodiment of road cone adaptor 51 in position on the apex of a standard road cone C, having a base portion B providing stability to the cone without extending substantially the overall width of the cone in use.

Finally, with reference to Figures 7a and 7b, a fourth profile of barrier element 60 is shown, having a length similar to that of the first bather profile 10. A plurality of such barriers 60 is combined with the appropriate number of road cones, each having a cone adaptor 51 mounted thereon, to form a barrier system of the type used to cordon off long lengths of roadway, pavement or lawn, for example. The barrier element 60 is provided with a male coupling portion at one end and a corresponding female coupling portion at the opposite end thereof. Although the male and female coupling portions are so sized and shaped to interlock, they are : adapted such that the female portion received the outer diameter of the coupling element 57 which in turn is adapted to receive the male coupling portion of an adjacent barrier element within its inner diameter.

In use, the barriers systems of the invention are very easily deployed in that it is necessary only to position the required number of cones along a defined path, sit the road cone adaptors on the cones and mount the barrier elements on or into the adaptors. Optionally, adjacent bather elements are secured to one another with a fastening clip. When disassembling, the reverse procedure is used.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. * *** * * **** *. * * ** * ** * *** * ** *

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Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A road cone adaptor of the type used to support a barrier

element, the adaptor comprising: a hollow profiled receiver having a central longitudinal axis, the receiver being shaped so as to engage a road traffic cone; and at least one coupling means for retaining a connecting portion of a barrier element, the or each coupling means having a central longitudinal axis disposed parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the receiver.
2. A road cone adaptor as claimed in Claim 1, in which the profiled receiver is substantially frusto-conically shaped so as to sit in close-fitting engagement with the apex of a road traffic cone.
3. A road cone adaptor as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2, in which the or each coupling means has a hollow tubular shape having an outer diameter adapted to be received in a female connecting portion of a barrier element and an inner diameter adapted to receive a male connecting portion of a barrier element.
4. A road cone adaptor as claimed in any one of Claims I to 3, in which a single coupling means is disposed co-axially with the central longitudinal axis of the profiled receiver.
5. A road cone adaptor as claimed in any one of Claims I to 3, in which two of : ... 20 more coupling means are secured to one surface of a supporting adaptor plate, the *S..

receiver being secured to the opposite surface thereof.
6. A road cone adaptor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a S..

* flange, plate or other surface is provided on or adjacent the or each coupling * means so as to provide a stop for the connecting portion of a barrier means **SS coupled thereto.
7. An adjustable length traffic barrier system comprising: a plurality of road traffic cones; a plurality of road cone adaptors of the type suitable for engagement with and supported by a road traffic cone, each adaptor including a first profiled receiver portion adapted to engage the top of a road traffic cone and at least one coupling means for retaining a connecting portion of a barrier element; and a plurality of barrier elements adapted to engage the traffic cone adaptors and be supported solely thereby.
8. A traffic barrier system as claimed in Claim 7, in which each barrier element has a connecting portion at each end thereof for engaging the coupling means of a road cone adaptor mounted on the top or apex of a road traffic cone.
9. A traffic barrier system as claimed in Claim 8, in which each barrier element has a male connecting portion at one end and a female connecting portion at the opposite end thereof, the female connecting portion being adapted to fit over the outer diameter of a hollow tubular coupling means of the road cone adaptor and the male connecting portion being adapted to be received within the inner diameter of said coupling means.
10. A traffic bather system as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9, in which adjacent barrier elements are secured to one another with a fastening clip.

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11. A method of indicating a hazard or delineating an edge, the method comprasmg: positioning a plurality of road cones around the hazard or along the edge; *U.

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securing an adaptor to the top of each road cone, the adaptors each having *5SS s:..; at least one receiving means for retaining a connecting portion of a barner element; and sequentially placing barrier elements around the hazard or along the edge by engaging the respective connecting portions with the or each receiving means of the adaptor.
12. A method of indicating a hazard or delineating an edge, which includes mounting a warning sign or other notification to one or more of said barrier elements, so as to recommend or advise of actions to be taken or avoided.
13. A road cone adaptor substantially as herein described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
14. A traffic bather system substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 3,4 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
15. A method of indicating a hazard or delineating an edge substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 3,4 and 7 of the accompanying drawings. * S * *SS S... * S S... S. * * *. * *5

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