GB2500607A

GB2500607A - Barrier for restricting the movement of pedestrians

Info

Publication number: GB2500607A
Application number: GB1205262.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Mclean
Original assignee: ZND UK Ltd
Current assignee: ZND UK Ltd
Priority date: 2012-03-24
Filing date: 2012-03-24
Publication date: 2013-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-24
Also published as: GB2500607B; GB201205262D0

Abstract

The barrier 301 comprising a frame 302 and two pairs of legs 303, 304, 305 and 306 configured to support the frame above ground level. Each leg is formed from a tube having a first end attached to the frame and a second end at least partially closed by material providing a conical or dome-shaped surface. The material forming the dome-shaped surface may be part of the tube wall of the legs. A method of manufacturing such a barrier is also disclosed. Further claimed is a barrier comprising a frame and two pairs of legs wherein the first end of each leg is formed into a substantially square shaped cross-section. Also claimed is a barrier with a hook 315 fixed to one end of the frame and a loop 316 fixed to the other, the hook having a main portion parallel to the frame and an end portion that points towards the frame.

Description

A Barrier

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a barrier and a method of manufacturing a barrier. In particular, the invention relates to a barrier of the type used to restrict the movement of pedestrians

2. Description of the Related Art

Barriers used to restrict the movement of pedestrians are well known.

Typically, such barriers comprise a frame having legs welded to the frame for supporting the frame above the ground. Typically, such a barrier has four legs each having a first end welded to a lowermost member of the frame barrier and a free end which rests upon the ground.

An example of such a barrier is disclosed in the applicant's granted United Kingdom patent number 2 431 957, and an example of such a barrier is shown in Figure 1. A problem with such barriers is the potential hazard presented by the nature of the legs 102 when the barrier 101 is tipped onto its side. Potentially, this could occur in situations where the pedestrians form part of a crowd that either inadvertently or purposely push the barrier over.

The potential hazard presented by the feet 102 is shown in Figure 2, in which the barrier 101 is shown with a uppermost rail 201 of its frame 202, and just two of its legs 102A and 102B resting on the ground. In this position, the other two legs 1 02C and 1 02D extend from the lower most rail 203 of the frame 202 up to their free ends 204. The legs are formed from steel tubes that have been cut at an oblique angle to their longitudinal axis to provide a fiat surface for resting upon the ground when the barrier is placed in its usual upright orientation. However, such a shape, in the orientation shown in Figure 2, provides a relatively sharp edge that points upwards, and therefore presents a danger to anyone who may fall upon the end of the leg.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a barrier in accordance with claim 1.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a barrier in accordance with claim 7.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a prior art pedestrian barrier 101 in an upright orientation; Figure 2 shows the prior art pedestrian barrier 101 having been pushed over onto its side; Figure 3 shows a pedestrian barrier 301; Figure 4 shows a length of cylindrical steel tubing providing a start element 401 for making a leg of the barrier; Figure 5 shows a first stage element 501 formed from the start element 401 by a tube end forming process; Figure 6 shows a second stage element 603 formed by cutting the end portion 500 of the second stage element 501; Figure 7 shows a second perspective view of the second stage element 603: Figure 8 shows a completed leg 303 formed by swaging the second end of the second stage element 603; Figure 9 illustrates a method by which the legs (such as legs 303 and 305) of the barrier 301 are attached to the frame 302; Figure 10 shows the first end of the barrier 301 with the legs 303 and 305 attached; Figure 11 shows a partial view of the end of the barrier 301 in the process of being connected to a similar barrier 301k and Figure 12 shows the barrier 301 connected to the barrier 301A by means of the hooks 315 of barrier 301 hooked onto the loops 316 of barrier 301 A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Figure 3 A pedestrian barrier 301 embodying the present invention is shown in Figure 3. Similar to conventional barriers, the barrier 301 comprises frame 302 having four legs 303, 304, 305 and 306 for supporting the frame 302 above a ground surface.

The frame 302 has a lower member 307, to which the legs 303 to 306 are attached, an upper member 308 and end members 309 and 310 connecting respective ends of the lower member 307 and upper member 308. In the present example, the lower member 307, the upper member 308 and the two end members 309 and 310 form a substantially rectangular shape, and are formed of just two C-shaped tubular elements 311 and 312 that are joined at joints 313 midway along the end members 309 and 310. I.e.

the lower tubular element 312 provides the lower member 307 and the lower halves of the side members 309 and 310, while the higher tubular element 311 provides the upper member 308 and the upper portions of the side members 309 and 310.

A plurality of parallel bars 314 are attached to, and extend between, the lower member 307 and upper member 308.

Similar to conventional barriers, the barrier 301 is provided with a pair of hooks 315 attached to the first end member 310 and a pair of loops 316 attached to the second end member 309. Thus, in use, the hooks 315 may be located within the loops 316 of another barrier of the same type as barrier 301. The hooks 315 differ from those of the prior art and these will be further discussed below.

The legs 303 to 306 all have the same form, which will be discussed below, and which has been specifically arranged to avoid the danger presented by the prior art barrier legs discussed above.

Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 S The method steps of producing a leg for the barrier, such as leg 303, 304. 305 or 306 are illustrated in the Figures 4 to 8. As all the legs are essentially the same, Figures 4 to 8 will refer to the leg 303 by way of

example.

Initially, to create a leg of the barrier 301, cylindrical steel tubing is cut to the required length to provide a start element 401 as shown in Figure 4.

The start element 401 then undergoes a tube end forming process in which a first end 402 is flared out, such that an end portion 500 adjacent to the first end 402 is provided with a substantially square cross-section. In the present example, this is achieved by a swaging process in which the starting element 401 is held in a clamping device and a square shaped tool is pressed into the open end 402. Such swaging processes are known in the art of tube end forming and machines suitable for performing this process are known. This process results in the first stage element 501 shown in Figure 5.

The first stage element 501 is then subjected to a cuffing process in which opposing side walls 502 and 503 of the end portion 500 are cut away to provide a pair of similarly profiled edges 601 and 602 as shown in Figure 6. The profiled edges 601 and 602 are curved to fit around the lower member 307 of the frame 302 of the barrier 301.

The second stage element 603, formed by this cutting process, is shown in a first perspective view in Figure 6 and a second perspective view in Figure 7.

The second stage element 603 then undergoes further tube end forming processing at its second end 604, to provide a dome-shaped surface 801 as shown in Figure 8. This is achieved by holding the second stage element 603 in a clamp and pressing the second end 604 into a cup-shaped tool, which forces the end 604 of the tube inwards to form the dome-shape.

Thus, the completed leg 303 is formed as shown in Figure 8. It may be observed that the second end 604 still as an opening 802, but this is relatively small compared to the size of the opening before processing.

In the present embodiment, the second end 604 of the leg 303 is provided with a convex curved surface, or dome-shaped surface 801.

However, in an alternative embodiment, the end 604 undergoes an alternative swaging process in which the end 604 is deformed such that it is partially closed and forms a conical-shaped surface rather than a dome-shaped surface. (In such a case, the conical surface is truncated, so as not to provide a pointed end to the leg.) In the present embodiment, the dome-shaped surface is formed of the tube material of the leg, i.e. the material forming the dome-shaped surface is part of the tube wall of the leg. However, in alternative embodiments, the dome-shaped surface is formed on a separate foot that is attached to the end of the leg by welding. In one such embodiment, the foot is a mushroom shape; the enlarged head providing the dome shaped surface and a cylindrical portion having a diameter chosen to be a good fit within the open end of the square-cut leg. In one such embodiment, the foot is formed of steel and is welded into the end of the tubular leg.

Figure 9 The means by which the legs of the barrier 301 are attached to the frame 302 is illustrated in Figure 9.

Firstly, the lower member 307 of the frame 302 is pre-processed to receive the legs, such as legs 303 and 305 shown in Figure 9. The lower member 307 is formed of cylindrical steel tubing, and said tubing is pressed to provide flats, or indents 901 and 902 on opposite sides of the lower member 307. The indents 901 and 902 have a length extending along the lower member 307 that is slightly longer than the non-profiled edges 903 and 904 of the leg 303. Thus, the non-profiled edges 903 and 904 may be located against the indents 901 and 902 respectively while the profiled edges 601 and 602 rest against, and extend around the cylindrical shape of the lower member 307. The leg 303 is then fixed to the lower member 307 by welding to the indented portions 901 and 902 of the lower member 307.

The remaining legs 304, 305 and 306 are attached to the lower member 307 in a similar way. Thus, for example, the lower member 307 is provided with two further indents 905 and 906 to which the leg 305 is fixed.

Figure 10 The first end of the barrier 301 is shown with the legs 303 and 305 attached in Figure 10. In this example, the legs 303 and 305 are each attached to the lower member 307 by four spot welds 1001; two spot welds 1001 at each of the indented portions 901, 902, 905 and 906.

In a similar manner to that disclosed in the applicant's patent GB 2 431 957, a steel rod 1002 has an end welded to each of the legs 303 and 305, so that the legs form a relatively strong structure.

The two hooks 315 may also be seen in Figure 10. Each hook 315 has an attachment portion 1003 that is rigidly attached to the first end member 310, for example by spot welds. The hooks 315 also have a main portion 1004 connected to the attachment portion 1003 by a bend portion 1005, such that the main portion 1004 extends substantially parallel to the first end member 310. The hooks 315 also have an end hook portion 1006 adjacent the free end 1007 of the hook. The end hook portion is connected to the main portion 1004 of the hook 315 by a 90 degree bend 1008 such that the end hook portion 1006 is arranged to point back towards the first end member 310. As will be described below with respect to Figures 11 and 12, the end hook portion 1006 provides a means for preventing the barrier 301 from being separated from another similar barrier when the barrier 301 forms part of a chain of three or more barriers.

Figures 11 and 12 A partial view of the end of the barrier 301 is shown in Figure 11 in the process of being connected to a similar barrier 301A in Figure 11. The barrier 301 is shown connected to barrier 301A in Figure 12 by means of the hooks 315 of barrier 301 hooked onto the loops 316 of barrier 301A. The loops 316 of barrier 301A are shown in cross-section in Figure 11 and 12 for the purposes of clarity.

To connect the barriers 301 and 301A together, the barrier 301 has been lifted up and the end hook portions 1006 have been lowered into the holes provided by the loops 316 of barrier 301A. As may be seen in Figure 11, the end hook portions 1006 have a sufficiently small length to allow them to be passed through the loops 316. In addition, the vertical alignment of the hooks 315 and 316 on the barriers 301 and 301A are such that when the is barrier 301 is lowered back down to the ground surface. The end hook portions 106 are ata level below the bottom of the respective loops 316. This allows the barrier 301 to be moved in a horizontal direction away from barrier 301A such that the end hook portion 1006 extends around the bottom edge of the loop 316 to achieve the configuration shown in Figure 12.

As the end hook portions 1006 are hooked around the bottom edges of the loops 316, the barrier 301 must firstly be moved horizontally towards barrier 301A, before the hooks 315 can be lifted out of the loops 316.

Furthermore, in cases where the second end of the barrier 301 is attached to a third barrier, the horizontal movement of the barrier 301 towards the barrier 301A will be prevented unless the third barrier is also moved. Thus, when the barrier 301 is connected to two other barriers in this way, it cannot be lifted out of its position unless at least one of the barriers to which it is attached is firstly moved towards it. Therefore, when many barriers similar to barrier 301, are connected together in a chain, it is not possible for a person to simply lift one of the barriers in the middle of the chain and unhook it from its neighbour. This feature is useful to prevent a chain of barriers from being broken by the action of an unauthorised person.

Claims

Claims 1. A barrier comprising: a frame; and two pairs of legs configured to support said frame above ground level, wherein each said leg is formed of a tube having a first end attached to said frame and a second end at least partially closed by material providing a conical or dome-shaped surface.
2. A barrier according to claim 1 wherein said tube is formed of the same type of material as said material providing said conical or dome-shaped surface.
3. A barrier according to claim 1 wherein said tube has a tube wall and said material is a part of said tube wall.
4. A barrier according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said tube has: a central portion having a circular cross-section; and a first end portion at said first end that is formed into a substantially square shaped cross-section with opposing faces profiled to fit around a lower member of said frame.
5. A barrier according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said lower member of said frame is generally cylindrical and is provided with indents, or flats, to which said legs are welded.
6. A barrier according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said barrier has a hook fixed to a first end member at a first of said frame and a loop attached to a second end member at the opposite second end of said frame, said hook has a main hook portion extending substantially parallel to said first end member and an end hook portion at a free end of said hook, said end hook portion arranged to point towards said first end member, and the length of said end hook portion is sufficiently small to allow said end hook portion to pass through the corresponding loop of a similar barrier.
7. A method of manufacturing a barrier comprising: obtaining a frame; deforming a first end portion at a first end of a tube to provide a conical or dome-shaped surface; and fixing said tube to said frame to provide a leg for said barrier having a conical or dome-shaped free end.wherein said tube has a circular cross-section and said method comprises: deforming a second end portion at the opposite second end of said tube, so that said second end portion is fornied into a substantially square shaped cross-section; cutting opposing faces of said second end portion to provide a profile to fit around a lower member of said frame; and attaching said second end of said tube to said lower member.
8. A method of manufacturing a barrier according to claim 7 wherein said lower member of said frame is generally cylindrical and said method comprises providing said lower member with indents, or flats, to which said legs are welded.
9. A barrier comprising: a frame; and two pairs of legs attached to a lower member of said frame for supporting said frame above ground level, wherein each said leg is formed of a tube and said tube has: a central portion having a circular cross-section; and a first end portion at said first end that is formed into a substantially square shaped cross-section with opposing faces profiled to fit around said lower member of said frame.
10. A barrier according to claim 9 wherein said lower member of said frame is generally cylindrical and is provided with indents, or flats, to which said legs are welded.
11. A barrier for pedestrians, wherein said barrier has a hook fixed to a first end member of a frame and a loop attached to a second end member of said frame, said hook has a main portion extending substantially parallel to said first end member and an end portion at the free end of said hook, said end portion pointing towards said first end member, and the length of said end portion is sufficiently small to allow said end portion to pass through the corresponding 1oop of a similar barrier.