GB2506334A

GB2506334A - Modular interlocking barrier panels

Info

Publication number: GB2506334A
Application number: GB1212262.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher James Whiteley
Original assignee: Oxford Plastic Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Oxford Plastic Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2012-07-10
Filing date: 2012-07-10
Publication date: 2014-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2032-07-10
Also published as: GB201212262D0; GB2506334B

Abstract

A barrier panel 1 which is interlocked with like panels to form a barrier comprises a latch 4 pivotal between a first, stowed, position in which the latch 4 is engaged with a retaining slot 6, and a second position in which the latch member extends outwardly to connect with latching portion 7 of a like barrier; the latch pivotal about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the panel. Vertically extending members 12, 14, are provided on both sides of the panel so adjacent barriers can be connected together; for example by a clip 15 that may allow the panel to pivot and slide along an axis such that it may act as a gate. The retaining and latching portions engaging the pivotal latch are preferably formed as slots in the panel and resiliently retain the latch 4. Also claimed is a panel having first and second vertically extending and aligned members 12, 14 at opposite edges of the panel formed by apertures 11, 13, preferably forming elongate bars of circular cross section for connection to adjacent neighbouring barriers.

Description

Barrier Panel and System This invention relates to a barrier panel which can be interlocked with other barrier panels, and to a barrier system comprising a number of interlocked panel.

S

There are many barrier systems available which are used to keep people away from hazardous areas such as road works, construction works, building sites and so forth. One such barrier system uses the Oxford AvalonTM barrier available from Oxford Plastic Systems Limited, of Enstone, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.

Projecting from one end of the barrier are an upwardly directed pin and a downwardly directed pin. On the other end of the barrier are two vertically spaced bores. One of these barriers can be interlocked with a like barrier with the pins being received by their respective bores.

The present invention relates to a simple and safe barrier system, in which an individual barrier which is locked in a line of barriers, can be unlocked and pivoted in such a way that it can be used as a gate to permit access to a site.

Viewed from one aspect there is provided a barrier panel adapted to be interlocked with like panels to form a barrier, the panel having a front face, a rear face, a first side, a second side, a top and a bottom; wherein on the first side of the panel, adjacent the top, there is provided a latch member which is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the front and rear faces of the panel, and is movable between a first position in which the latch member extends inwardly from said first side of the panel and is engaged with a retaining portion, and a second position in which the latch member extends outwardly, away from said first side of the panel; on the second side of the panel, adjacent the top, there is provided a latching portion which is adapted to interlock with the latch member of a first adjacent like barrier panel when that latch member is in the second position; on the first side of the panel, at a position between the top and the bottom, there is provided a first vertically extending member, and on the second side of the panel, at a position between the top and the bottom, there is provided a second vertically extending member; so that the first vertically extending member can be joined to the second vertically extending member of the first adjacent like panel, and the second vertically extending member can be joined to the first vertically extending member of a second adjacent like panel.

Thus such a panel can be used as part of a barrier, in which on the second side it S may be joined to a first adjacent like panel and on the first side it is joined to a second adjacent like panel. On the second side of the panel it is joined to the first adjacent like panel, by means of the latch member of that first like panel engaging in the latching portion of the first panel, and also by means of a clip or other joining member joining the adjacent vertically extending members so as to permit relative motion about a first vertical axis. On the first side of the panel it is joined to the second adjacent like panel by means of the latch member of the panel engaging in the latching portion of that second like panel, and also by means of a clip or other joining member joining the respective vertically extending members so as to permit relative motion about a vertical axis.

Thus viewed from another aspect of the invention there is provided a barrier comprising a panel as above described, a first adjacent like panel and a second adjacent like panel, connected together as above described.

To use the panel as a gate when it is used as part of such a barrier, on the first side of the panel the latch member of the panel is disengaged from the latching portion of the second like panel, and the panel can be pivoted to an open state about the vertical axis adjacent the second side of the panel. The latch member can be pivoted to the first position and engaged with the retaining portion whilst the gate provided by the panel is in an open state.

The latch member can also be engaged with the retaining portion when the panel is not in use, during storage or transportation for example, to prevent damage to the latch member.

The latch member may be, for example, essentially "U" shaped, with the end of the legs of the U being pivotally mounted adjacent the top of the barrier, and the base of the U engaging over the retaining portion of the panel, or over the latching portion of a like panel, as appropriate. More generally, the latch member may comprise two elongate members, which are pivotally mounted at one end to the panel and between which extends a transverse member, displaced towards the other end of the elongate members. However, other configuration would be possible, such as an "L" shape.

S Each vertically extending member is preferably elongate, so when that a vertically extending member of the panel is joined to a vertically extending member of an adjacent like panel, not only is pivoting about a vertical axis possible, but also relative sliding movement. This means that the relative vertical positions of the panels can be adjusted, for example to take account of uneven surfaces or the fact that one panel is on one level and the other is on a different level -as would be the case if there is a kerb and one is on a pavement and one is on a road.

The first vertically extending member and the second vertically extending member are preferably vertically aligned and of the same length.

Preferably, on the first side of the panel there is provided a vertically spaced pair of first vertically extending members, and on the second side of the panel there is provided a vertically spaced pair of second vertically extending members. In use, preferably both members of both pairs are joined to the vertically extending members of adjacent panels.

Preferably, each vertically extending member does not project from its respective side of the panel, although that would be a possibility. Instead, each vertically extending member is within the confines of the front and rear faces of the panel and is defined by a vertically elongate aperture extending between the front and rear faces which is positioned inwardly from the edge of the panel, so that the material between the outer edge of the aperture and the side of the panel constitutes the vertically extending member.

This arrangement is of use even if the remainder of the panel is not as described with reference to the first aspect of the invention. Thus, viewed from one aspect, the invention provides a barrier panel adapted to be interlocked with like panels to form a barrier, the panel having a front face, a rear face, a first side, a second side, a top and a bottom; wherein adjacent the first side there is provided a first vertically elongate aperture extending between the front and rear faces which is positioned inwardly from the edge of the panel, so that the material between the outer edge of the aperture and the side of the panel constitutes a first vertically extending member; adjacent the second side there is provided a second vertically elongate aperture extending between the front and rear faces which is positioned inwardly S from the edge of the panel, so that the material between the outer edge of the aperture and the side of the panel constitutes a second vertically extending member; wherein the first vertically extending member is aligned vertically with the second vertically extending member, so that the panel can be connected along the first side with a first like panel, with the first vertically extending member of the panel being connected to the second vertically extending member of the first like member, and so that the panel can be connected along the second side with a second like panel, with the second vertically extending member of the panel being connected to the first vertically extending member of the second like member.

Each vertically extending member is preferably of circular cross section.

A vertically extending member may be joined to an adjacent vertically extending member by means of one or more clips, the clip having a first portion that engages around one member and can rotate around that member and can be moved along that member, and a second portion that engages around the other member and can rotate around that other member and can moved along that other member.

The latch member and the latching portion are preferably such that the latch member is gripped resiliently when interlocked with the latching portion. The latching portion may comprise two parts separated by a slot, into which part of the latch member engages. The two parts may be resilient so that the latch member is gripped resiliently when in the slot. The slot may be arcuate. Preferably, the slot of the latching portion is defined between a portion of a top part of the panel and an upstand adjacent the second side of the panel, so that the latch member latches over the upstand.

The latch member and the retaining portion are preferably such that the latch member is gripped resiliently when engaged with the retaining portion. The retaining portion may comprise two parts separated by a slot, into which part of the latch member engages. The two parts may be resilient so that the latch member is gripped resiliently when in the slot. Preferably, the slot is arcuate.

The latching portion and the retaining portion are preferably of plastics material.

S Preferably the panel is of moulded plastics material, for example being blow moulded, and the latching and retaining portions are preferably integrally moulded parts of the panel. The latch member is separate and may be of a plastics material or of metal, and secured to the panel by means of a pivot pin of plastics material or of metal. The expression "pivot pin" encompasses a pair of axially aligned pins.

The bottom of the panel may be shaped so as to provide a foot adjacent one side and foot adjacent the other side, with a space between them.

To reduce the amount of material used and to provide visibility through the panel there may be one or more apertures across the panel, extending from the front face to the rear face.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a panel in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the panel; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a barrier formed by three panels in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is an enlarged view showing two panels prior to latching together; Figure 5 is an enlarged view showing an intermediate state of the two panels being latched together; Figure 6 is an enlarged view showing the two panels engaged; Figure 7 is an enlarged view showing clips used to clip two panels together; FigureS is a further enlarged view showing a clip joining two panels; Figure 9 shows two panels displaced vertically; Figure 10 is an enlarged view of part of two panels displaced vertically; Figure 11 is a further enlarged view of the panels displaced vertically; and Figure 12 is a view showing panels forming a barrier in a stacked arrangement for storage or transportation.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a barrier panel 1 has a main body 2 which has a front face a rear face and two sides. Adjacent the top end 3 of the main body, on one side is a latch member 4 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 5. In the closed position shown in Figure 1, the latch member is received in a retaining slot 6.

On the other side of the main body is a latching portion 7 which can receive the latch member 4 of another panel when it is in an extended state as shown in Figure 2. At the bottom 8 of the main body, it is shaped to provide two feet 9. The main body 2 is provided with two horizontally extending holes 10.

On one side of the main body are provided two vertically extending slots 11 which define a pair of vertically extending cylindrical members 12. On the other side, a similar par of vertically extending cylindrical members 13 are defined in the same way by slots 14. The cylindrical members 12 are each provided with a clip 15 so that they can be attached to the cylindrical members 13 of a like panel.

In Figure 3 the panel 1 is shown connected to a like panel 1' on one side and a like panel 1" on the other side. It will be appreciated that any number of panels could be connected together in this way to form a complete barrier, and that the barrier need not be linear -for example four panels could be joined together to form a square.

Clips 15 on the panel 1 are used to connect the cylindrical member 12 of panel ito the cylindrical members 13 of panel 1'. Similarly clips 15 on the panel 1" are used to connect the cylindrical member 12 of panel 1" to the cylindrical members 13 of panel 1. The latch member 4 of panel 4 is engaged with the latching portion 7 of panel 1'. However, the latch member 4 of panel 4" is not engaged with the latching portion 7 of panel 1. This means that panel 1" can pivot relative to panel 1 about vertical axis Y-Y in the direction of arrow A, or the reverse direction, and can thus serve as a gate.

The process for latching the panels together is shown in more detail in Figures 4, 5 and 6. Figure 4 shows panels 1"; and 1 in the state shown in Figure 3. The latch member 4 is received in the retaining portion 6 of panel 1 ". As can be seen, the latching portion 7 of panel 1 has a slot 16 between the main part of the panel and an upstand 25. As shown in Figure 5, the latch member 4 is pivoted in the direction of arrow B so that it leaves a slot 17 of the retaining portion and moves towards the latching portion 7 of panel 1. As can be seen, the latch member comprises two side portions 18 and 19 which are mounted on the pivot pin 5, between which extends a transverse portion which is adapted to snap into and out of the slots 16 and 17.

Figure 6 shows the latch member fully engaged with the latching portion 7 of panel 1.

Figures 7 and 8 shown in more details how the cylindrical members 12 and 13 are clipped together. A clip 15 is clipped to both cylindrical members, with curved portions 21 and 22 clipping around cylindrical member 12 of panel 1 and curved portions 23 and 24 clipping around cylindrical members 13 of panel 1'.

The clips allow for relative pivoting of the panels 1 and 1', so that one of the panels could act as a gate, as described above. They also allow for relative vertical sliding movement of the panels. As shown in Figure 9, panel 1' has been displaced vertically upwards in the direction of arrow C, with respect to panel 1. As shown more clearly in Figures 10 and 9, the permissible amount of displacement depends on the vertical extent of the cylindrical members 12 and 13. As shown there is maximum displacement, with clip 15 being at the top of cylindrical member 12 and at the bottom of cylindrical member 13.

Figure 12 shows how a number of panels 1, in this case by way of example only four panels, can be stacked in a flat configuration for storage and transport.

It will be understood that expressions such as "vertical" and "horizontal" are used with reference to the panel as it is intended to be used and do not imply a particular orientation of the panel during manufacture, storage or transportation, for example.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A barrier panel adapted to be interlocked with like panels to form a barrier, the panel having a front face, a rear face, a first side, a second side, a top and a S bottom; wherein on the first side of the panel, adjacent the top, there is provided a latch member which is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the front and rear faces of the panel, and is movable between a first position in which the latch member extends inwardly from said first side of the panel and is engaged with a retaining portion, and a second position in which the latch member extends outwardly, away from said first side of the panel; on the second side of the panel, adjacent the top, there is provided a latching portion which is adapted to interlock with the latch member of a first adjacent like barrier panel when that latch member is in the second position; on the first side of the panel, at a position between the top and the bottom, there is provided a first vertically extending member, and on the second side of the panel, at a position between the top and the bottom, there is provided a second vertically extending member; so that the first vertically extending member can be joined to the second vertically extending member of the first adjacent like panel, and the second vertically extending member can be joined to the first vertically extending member of a second adjacent like panel.
2. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the latch member and the latching portion are such that the latch member is gripped resiliently when interlocked with the latching portion of a like panel.
3. A panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the latching portion comprises two parts separated by a slot, into which slot a part of the latch member of the like panel can be engaged.
4. A panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slot of the latching portion is defined between a portion of a top part of the panel and an upstand adjacent the second side of the panel.
5. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the latch member and the retaining portion are such that the latch member is gripped resiliently when engaged with the retaining portion.
6. A panel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the retaining portion comprises two parts separated by a slot, into which slot a part of the latch member engages.
7. A panel as claimed in claim 6, wherein the slot of the retaining portion is arcuate.
8. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the latch member comprises two elongate members, each of which is pivotally mounted at one end to the panel and between which extends a transverse member, displaced towards the other ends of the elongate members.
9. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein on the first side of the panel there is provided a vertically spaced pair of first vertically extending members, and on the second side of the panel there is provided a vertically spaced pair of second vertically extending members.
10. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each vertically extending member is elongate.
11. A panel as claimed in claim 10, wherein each vertically extending member is within the confines of the front and rear faces of the panel and is defined by a vertically elongate aperture extending between the front and rear faces which is positioned inwardly from the edge of the panel, so that the material between the outer edge of the aperture and the side of the panel constitutes the vertically extending member.
12. A panel as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein each vertically extending member is of circular cross section.
13. A panel as claimed in 10, 11 or 12, wherein at least one of the vertically extending members is provided with a clip adapted to be connected to a vertically extending member of a like panel.
14. A panel as claimed in claim 13, wherein the clip has a first portion that engages around the vertically extending member of the panel so as to permit relative rotation between the clip and the member and relative longitudinal sliding movement between the clip and the member, and the clip has a second portion that is adapted to engage around the vertically extending member of the like panel so as to permit relative rotation between the clip and that member of the like panel, and relative longitudinal sliding movement between the clip and that member of the like panel.
15. A barrier comprising a plurality of panels as claimed in any preceding claim.
16. A barrier panel adapted to be interlocked with like panels to form a barrier, the panel having a front face, a rear face, a first side, a second side, a top and a bottom; wherein adjacent the first side there is provided a first vertically elongate aperture extending between the front and rear faces which is positioned inwardly from the edge of the panel, so that the material between the outer edge of the aperture and the side of the panel constitutes a first vertically extending member; adjacent the second side there is provided a second vertically elongate aperture extending between the front and rear faces which is positioned inwardly from the edge of the panel, so that the material between the outer edge of the aperture and the side of the panel constitutes a second vertically extending member; wherein the first vertically extending member is aligned vertically with the second vertically extending member, so that the panel can be connected along the first side with a first like panel, with the first vertically extending member of the panel being connected to the second vertically extending member of the first like member, and so that the panel can be connected along the second side with a second like panel, with the second vertically extending member of the panel being connected to the first vertically extending member of the second like member.
17. A panel as claimed in any claim 16, wherein on the first side of the panel there is provided a vertically spaced pair of first vertically extending members, and on the second side of the panel there is provided a vertically spaced pair of second vertically extending members.
18. A panel as claimed in claim 16 or 17, wherein each vertically extending S member is elongate.
19. A panel as claimed in claim 18, wherein each vertically extending member is within the confines of the front and rear faces of the panel and is defined by a vertically elongate aperture extending between the front and rear faces which is positioned inwardly from the edge of the panel, so that the material between the outer edge of the aperture and the side of the panel constitutes the vertically extending member.
20. A panel as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein each vertically extending member is of circular cross section.
21. A panel as claimed in 18, 19 or 20, wherein at least one of the vertically extending members is provided with a clip adapted to be connected to a vertically extending member of a like panel.
22. A panel as claimed in claim 21, wherein the clip has a first portion that engages around the vertically extending member of the panel so as to permit relative rotation between the clip and the member and relative longitudinal sliding movement between the clip and the member, and the clip has a second portion that is adapted to engage around the vertically extending member of the like panel so as to permit relative rotation between the clip and that member of the like panel, and relative longitudinal sliding movement between the clip and that member of the like panel.
23. A barrier comprising a plurality of panels as claimed in any of claims 16 to 22.