GB2460253A

GB2460253A - Freestanding traffic or crowd control barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2460253A
Application number: GB0809234A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Dawson; Gordon Mcdonough
Original assignee: Melba Products Ltd
Current assignee: Melba Products Ltd
Priority date: 2008-05-21
Filing date: 2008-05-21
Publication date: 2009-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2028-05-21
Also published as: GB2460253B; GB0809234D0

Abstract

The barrier comprises a first panel 10 capable of standing in an upright configuration and at least one further panel 18 pivotally attached at one of the two opposed ends of the first panel and which is pivotable about an upright axis and can be temporarily fixed in selected angular positions relative to the first panel. The first panel is preferably a generally rectangular, hollow plastic framework which includes a pair of spaced apart, rotatably attached legs 16 which can be aligned or misaligned with the first panel. The barrier preferably includes two further panels, one at each end, each of which can be located in a fixed storage position parallel to and superimposed on at least one face of the first panel. The or each further panels preferably include an extendible leg which can be moved to contact the ground. The pivotal attachment of the or each further panel to the first panel preferably includes inter-engaging protuberances which define the selectable relative angular positions of the panels.

Description

A FREESTANDING BARRIER

This invention concerns barriers intended to be freestanding around areas to be cordoned off to prevent pedestrian or vehicle access such as at the sites of road works or where crowd control is required. Such barriers are usually brightly coloured to provide a visual cordon and are often placed end-to-end in line.

Ideally, such barriers should be collapsible to assume a flat configuration for storage and transportation yet be readily deployed when required.

Typically, the barriers will be in the region of two metres in length and a metre in height when standing on foldable or removable legs. Such barriers are typically blow moulded or injection moulded in a plastics material and each is usually formed as a framework defining an array of apertures, as opposed to a solid panel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved freestanding barrier which may assume a shorter length in a collapsed condition for storage and transportation but which may be readily deployed to full size for use and which can assume an otherwise than flat configuration when deployed.

According to the present invention there is provided a freestanding barrier comprising a first panel member having a base, a top and two opposed ends, with means at the base for enabling the first panel member to be freestanding in an upright configuration, and at least one further panel member pivotally attached to the first panel member at least at one of its two opposed ends thus to be pivotable about an upright axis thereon, and locating means enabling the or each further panel member to be temporarily fixed selectively in angular positions respectively aligned with and misaligned with the first panel member.

The means enabling the first panel member to be freestanding in an upright configuration may comprise a pair of spaced legs rotatably attached to the base of the first panel member thus selectively to be aligned with and misaligned with the first panel member.

The first panel member may be generally reCtangular, of hollow plastics section and formed as a framework defining a plurality of apertures.

A pair of said further panel members may be pivotally attached respectively to the two opposed ends of the first panel member, each being selectively locatable independently in fixed angular positions respectively aligned with and misaligned with the first panel member.

The or each further panel member may be located in a fixed storage position parallel to and superimposed on at least one face of the first panel member.

The or each further panel member may be temporarily located in a fixed position at an acute angle to the plane of the first panel member.

The or each further panel member may be temporarily located in a fixed position normal to the plane of the first panel member.

The or each further panel member may have a leg extendible into contact with a surface from which the first panel member is upstanding.

The or each further panel member may be of hollow plastics section and formed as a framework defining at least one aperture.

The pivotal attachment of the or each further panel member to the first panel member may include interengaging protuberances to define the selectable angular relationship of the or each further panel member with the first panel member.

The protuberances may enable the respective panel members to be angularly displaced selectably by 45° and 90°.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I is an elevation of a freestanding barrier made in accordance with the invention in a partially collapsed condition for storage; Fig. 2 illustrates the barrier in a fully collapsed condition for storage; and Fig. 3 illustrates the barrier in a partly deployed condition.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the barrier comprises a first panel member 10 formed as a framework defining a plurality of apertures 11.

The first panel member 10 is of blow moulded plastics material having a width in the region of 133 centimetres and a height in the region of 75 centimetres.

The panel defines a base 12, a top 13 and two opposed ends 14. Removably attached to the first panel member 10 in the region of its base 12, towards the opposed ends 14, is a pair of legs each comprising a fixed part 15 on which is rotatably mounted a foot 16 thus to lie flat aligned with the first panel member 10 or to be rotated relative to the part to lie normal to the plane of the first panel member 10 whereby the latter may be placed freestanding in an upright condition on the ground.

At each of the opposed ends 14 there are upper and lower hinge posts 17 on which is pivotally mounted a further panel member 18 of generally rectangular form and having hinge sockets 19 which are lowered onto the hinge posts 17 of the first panel member 10. Each further panel member 18 is formed as a framework defining an internal aperture 20 similar to apertures 11 of the first panel member 10. On a side of each further panel member 18 remote from its hinge sockets 19 is a post 21 which may be used to grasp the barrier or for connection to a further such barrier using attachment means (not shown) for connecting together the adjacent posts 21 of the two barriers.

In use, the upper region of the first panel member 10 and those of the further panel members 18 may have attached thereto brightly coloured strips of material 22 for high visibility.

One or more sockets 23 may be provided on the first panel member for the attachment of a post 24 on which may be attached, for example, a lamp or a signage board. A further signage board 25 may be removably attached to a plurality of corner pieces 26 of the panel member 10.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it can be seen that the two further panel members 18 may be pivoted to lie in superimposed relationship with and parallel to the first panel member 10 on one face thereof, the hinge posts 17 being offset to one side of the first panel member 10 for this purpose. The hinge sockets 19 of the further panel members 18 are similarly offset to ensure that the panel members 18 lie flat against one face of the first panel member 10 in this configuration. Thus, the overall length of the panel is reduced for storage and transportation.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it is possible also to adopt a configuration such as is illustrated in Fig. 3 whereby the further panel members 18 may be located at 90° to the first panel member 10 thus to provide for alignment or attachment of further freestanding barriers arranged normal to the first panel member 10.

The pivotal attachment of the or each further panel member 18 to the first panel member includes inter-engaging protuberances on the hinge posts 17 and the hinge sockets 19 respectively which serve to determine the angular relationship of the or each further panel member with respect to the first panel member so that the further panel members may be fixed in a number of selectable positions, typically at 45° increments. In this way, the further panel members 18 may be fixed in the configurations illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 by way of the inter-engaging protuberance. Each further panel member 18 is moved between its respective fixed positions by lifting it in relation to the first panel member 10, rotating it to the next required position, and lowering it. This arrangement prevents the further panel members 18 from swinging freely about their hinged connections to the first panel member 10.

Ideally, the fixed parts 15 of the legs are a push-fit over recessed portions in the base region of the first panel member 10 so that, if required, they may be removed, although this arrangement is selected predominantly for ease of initial assembly whereupon the legs will remain in place for both use and storage and transportation, the feet 16 being readily rotatable for this purpose.

Each further panel member 18 may have a leg which can be lowered to the ground to provide additional stability to the barrier as a whole.

While the barrier has been described as having further panel members at both opposed ends of the first panel member, in an alternative arrangement there may be a further panel member attached at one end only. The or each further panel member is readily removable to afford a user flexibility of configuration and length of the barrier.

The or each further panel member may have hinge sockets at one side and hinge posts at the other so that one or more further panel members may be linked together.

Alternatively, the or each further panel member may have hinge sockets at both sides to enable connection to the first panel member of another such barrier, so that successive barriers may be linked together, the further panel members serving as connectors.

It will be appreciated that there are many advantages achieved by a freestanding barrier made in accordance with the invention in that its overall length is variable, which is convenient for storage and transportation, that the barrier is readily extended for use as a standard two metre long barrier, but affording additional configurations as described in relation to Fig. 3.

Claims

CLAIMS1., A freestanding barrier comprising a first panel member having a base, a top and tow opposed ends with means at the base enabling the first panel member to be freestanding in an upright configuration, and at least one further panel member pivotally attached to the first panel member at least at one of its two opposed ends thereof thus to be pivotable about an upright axis thereon, and means enabling the or each further panel member to be temporarily fixed selectively in angular positions respectively aligned with and misaligned with the first panel member.
2. A freestanding barrier according to claim I wherein the means enabling the first panel member to be freestanding in an upright configuration comprises a pair of spaced ground-engaging legs rotatably attached to the base of the first panel member thus selectively to be aligned with and misaligned with the first panel member.
3. A freestanding barrier according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first panel member is generally rectangular, of hollow plastics section and formed as a framework defining a plurality of apertures.
4. A freestanding barrier according to any preceding claim including a pair of said further panel members pivotally attached respectively to the two opposed ends of the first panel member, each being selectively locatable independently in fixed angular positions respectively aligned with and misaligned with the first panel member.
5. A freestanding barrier according to any preceding claim wherein the or each further panel member is capable of being located in a fixed storage position parallel to and superimposed on at least one face of the first panel member.
6. A freestanding barrier according to any preceding claim wherein the or each further panel member is capable of being temporarily located in a fixed position at an acute angle to the plane of the first panel member.
7. A freestanding barrier according to any preceding claim wherein the or each further panel member is capable of being temporarily located in a fixed position normal to the plan of the first panel member.
8. A freestanding barrier according to any preceding claim wherein the or each further panel member has a leg extendible into contact with a surface from which the first panel member is upstanding.
9. A freestanding barrier according to any preceding claim wherein the pivotal attachment of the or each further panel member to the first panel member includes inter-engaging protuberances to define the selectable angular relationship of the or each further panel member with the first panel member.
10. A freestanding barrier according to claim 9 wherein the protuberances enable the respective panel members to be angularly displaced selectively by 45° and 900.