GB2595212A - Social distancing barrier system and kit therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A demountable social distancing barrier for use in safely organizing and managing queues of pedestrians. The barrier comprises: at least first and second base elements; at least first and second support elements demountably lockable within the first and second base elements; and at least one partition panel removably mountable between and supported by the first and second support elements. The first and second base elements are at least partially located below ground level and may be permanently installed ground anchor sockets. The first and second base elements and the first and second support elements respectively, are lockable and unlockable to one another using interlocking mechanisms comprising relatively rotatable female member and male member. The female member being configured only to receive the male member when the male member is in a preferred orientation to the female member and upon the male member having been received by the female member, the male member being rotatable to locate the male member within the female member. The demountable social distancing barrier further comprises at least one demountable roof support and at least one roof panel detachably affixed thereto. The roof support may be retractable.

Description

SOCIAL DISTANCING BARRIER SYSTEM AND KIT THEREFOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a social distancing barrier system and a kit of parts therefor and particularly, but not exclusively, to a demountable social distancing barrier system that can be erected easily and quickly; which can be demounted easily and quickly; and which can be stowed in a compact manner for transportation and storage. The invention finds advantageous application in the protection of people queuing to enter a shop, such as a supermarket, to enter an event, such as a football match and the like, whereat it is necessary to socially distance (physically distance) each person in the queue from neighbouring people in the queue at time where there is a risk of viral transmission and social distancing measures are required to protect the public as a whole.

Aspects of the invention relate to a social distancing barrier system, to a kit of parts for forming the system and to a method of installation of the system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus. It is easily transmitted from one human to another and has caused a global pandemic. Social distancing is a measure to reduce the spread of this and other viruses. Social distancing, which is also referred to as "physical distancing," means keeping space between a first person and a second person, in particular, when they are outside of their homes in order to prevent the transmission of virus from one human to another. To practice social or physical distancing, it is necessary to have a physical distance of at least 2m (at least 6 feet) between people. Keeping such a physical space between people is one of the best tools to avoid transmission of viruses, such as, but not limited to, COVI D- 19. Alternatively, personal protective equipment (PPE) may be used, such as masks, gloves, face-screening helmets, goggles and the like. Such PPE needs to be used properly and the wearer of PPE normally needs to be trained or educated in its proper and effective deployment. The disposal of such PPE also needs to be conducted properly and responsibly and again training or education may be required. Such disposable PPE is not necessarily suitable for use by the public in general.

Practicing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses affects many aspects of normal daily lives. For example, sports stadiums, religious venues, festivals, restaurants and many other establishments and environments where people gather together have had to completely close because social distancing cannot easily be practiced throughout all areas. Other, more essential services, such as supermarkets, which have needed to remain open to the public have implemented queue systems and marked areas outside of the entrance using markers and lines spaced 2m on the floor to indicate where people must stand in order to ensure that customers are appropriately and safely spaced apart. Limits on the numbers of customers that can enter the store in total; as well as restrictions on the numbers of customers permitted within individual aisles have contributed to long queues of physically distanced customers waiting for long periods of time for their turn to enter the shop. The queuing times are also compounded by the reduction in consumer choice for products, such as food items with many restaurants and other food outlets closed due to safe implementation of social distancing measures not being possible, practical, cost-effective, quick enough to introduce or cost-prohibitive. Long waiting times in long queues presents a few issues beyond mere inconvenience. Inclement weather can make queuing unpleasant and long queues that weave and wind their way into carparks used by customer traffic and delivery vehicles can be unsafe.

Whereas mobile queuing barriers are known, for example, from W02004016858, wherein a barrier system of particular use in queuing situations, for deterring entry of personnel into prohibited areas and for guiding flows of people is disclosed. Which mobile barrier comprises a main pillar and at least one demountable satellite pillar wherein each of said main and satellite pillars includes rolling means, such as wheels or castors, enabling the pillar to be moved easily along a surface. Such a system, whilst suitable to corral queuing pedestrians through a set route, such systems do not consider nor address requirements relating to social distancing, reducing viral transmission and protection of pedestrians from inclement weather.

It is thought that "lockdowns", the most stringent method of implementing area-wide or nationwide social-distancing, may need to be eased gradually. In such a gradual release of a lockdown, only certain sections of society may be able to restart conducting certain, more essential aspects of life and social distancing measures will need to continue even in such partial-lockdowns. Some activities, such as the attendance at live sporting events, the necessity to implement social distancing presents a significant obstacle for sporting officials and organisations. It is essential that steps are taken to mitigate the social and economic impact of long-term closures of a variety of organisations, sporting stadiums religious and cultural venues as well as other businesses by enabling them to safely reopen A further consideration is that in future, if there are further outbreaks of COVID-19 or other viruses, such "waves" of virus spread may need to be combatted by quickly and effectively re-introducing social distancing measures in order to mitigate against virus transmission.

It is in consideration of these and other hurdles incumbent with social-distancing measures that the present invention has been developed. It is desirable to have temporary solutions to achieve social distancing that can be quickly and easily implemented when necessary; and, at times when viral transmission is significantly reduced, that can be quickly and easily stopped or removed. It is also desirable, for health, social and economic reasons, in so far as it is safely possible, to allow people to take part in more social activities, such as attending sporting, musical, artistic and religious events.

The invention may be utilised in a wide number of applications. Though of particular benefit for external use, the invention may be used indoors or outdoors. The invention may find advantageous application in essential services, less-essential locations and in the leisure industry. For example, it is foreseen that the invention may have application at hospitals, GP surgeries, dentals surgeries, supermarkets, garden centres, shops, take-away food outlets, certain work places, rubbish tips, churches, mosques, and other religious venues, football stadiums, concert halls, parks and public gardens as mere examples.

To address these problems, the applicant has developed a demountable social-distancing barrier that can be quickly and easily erected when required; and which can be quickly and easily disassembled and stowed for future repeated use. The demountable social-distancing barrier solution taught herein further may comprise a collapsible weather cover to protect against weather (in particular wet weather, snowy weather and very sunny weather), which collapsible weather cover can be collapsed into a stowed condition for storage and/or transportation. A more permanent base element is installed in the location where the queue is to be organised which provides a co-operative interlocking mechanism facilitating a quick, optionally "twist-and-lock" style with other demountable and storable elements of the social-distancing barrier system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the invention provide a demountable social distancing barrier, a demountable social distancing barrier system, a kit of parts and a method as claimed in the appended claims.

According to one aspect of the invention for which protection is sought, there is provided a demountable social distancing barrier comprising at least first and second base elements, at least first and second support elements demountably lockable within the first and second base elements and at least one partition panel removably mountable between and supported by the first and second support elements, the first and second base elements being at least partially located below ground level, the first and second base elements and the first and second support elements respectively, being lockable and unlockable to one another using interlocking mechanisms comprising a female member and a male member, the female member being configured only to receive the male member when the male member is in a preferred orientation to the female member, upon the male member having been received by the female member, the male member being rotatable to locate the male member within the female member, the demountable social distancing barrier further comprising at least one roof support and at least one roof panel detachably affixed thereto.

Optionally, a roof support is removably interconnectable to said first demountable support element; and a roof support is removably interconnectable to said second demountable support element.

Optionally a roof support is movable between a first stowed position and a second assembled position where, in said second assembled position, the roof support is configured to hold a roof panel outwardly, beyond the plane of said partition panel. In this way a weather cover is provided. A person can stand below the roof panel and be sheltered, at least to some extent from inclement weather. A second roof panel can also be supported, outwardly, beyond the plane of said partition panel and on the opposite side thereof so that a second person can stand on that opposite side of the partition panel, safely separated from the first person, and also sheltered from wet weather.

Optionally, the at least one roof support comprises arms which move between the first stowed position wherein the arms are disposed at a first acute angle relative to one another such that the arms are substantially adjacent to one another; and the second assembled position wherein the arms are disposed at a second angle relative to one another, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle.

Optionally, a locating member is provided to limit the extent to which the arms are pivotally movable and to hold the arms in the second assembled position.

Optionally, a pivoting mechanism is provided which allows arms of the roof support to pivotal moved between the first stowed and second assembled positions.

Optionally, the arms are profiled to receive a roofing panel.

Optionally, the social distancing system is provided with a capping element for securely holding one or more pairs of arms of the roof support in the second assembled position and/or for retaining one or more roofing panels between adjacent arms.

Optionally, the arms comprise a channel on one or both side faces thereof into which a roofing panel is slidably receivable.

Optionally, said channels are sized relative to a thickness of the roofing panel such that a roofing panel is friction fitted into the channels in spaced apart arms of spaced apart roof supports.

Optionally, a connector is provided, which connector is fittable into an upper end of a demountable post and provides a lock for limiting upwards movement of a panel securely held by the demountable post; and which connector is shaped to receive said roofing support.

Optionally, the first and second base elements are not readily releasable from installation within the ground.

Optionally, the first and second base elements are embedded and installed within the ground using a bonding agent comprising one or more of: cement, concrete, tarmac, resin, asphalt concrete, polymer concrete.

Optionally, the first and second support elements are lockable and unlockable to the first and second base elements enables the barrier to be erected, demounted and re-erected without damage or requiring repair.

Optionally, the female member is provided by a shaped socket within the base unit; and the male member is provided on a bottom end of a support element.

Optionally, a top portion of the base unit exposes only a portion of the underlying, underground socket, into which the male member, when the male member is in a preferred orientation, can be fitted, the socket being shaped and sized such that the male member once fitted into the socket can be rotated therein such that, further rotation of the male member is required for removal of the male member therefrom.

Optionally, one of the female and male members are further provided with means to draw the male and female members together.

Optionally, the demountable social distancing barrier comprises one or more levelling mechanisms. A levelling mechanism may be disposed within said first and said second demountable supporting elements and provides for vertical adjustment, toward and away from the first and second base elements respectively.

According to another aspect if the invention for which protection is sought, there is provided a kit of parts for forming a demountable social distancing barrier according to any relevant preceding paragraph.

Optionally, the kit of parts comprises at least: two base elements, two posts, two connectors, a partition panel, two roofing panels, two roof supports and a capping element.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of a sports stadium, generally illustrating turnstiles at three entrances and showing how queues of fans would usually be spaced less than 2m apart in normal conditions, and thus upon implementation of social distancing measures, immediately neighbouring turnstiles could not be utilised; and Figure 1 also shows a schematic diagram of part of a social distancing barrier system according to an embodiment of the invention and how the installation of the system allows immediately neighbouring turnstiles to be utilised; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of part of the social distancing barrier system (shown schematically on the right-hand side of Figure 1), in an installed and in-use configuration; FIGURE 3 shows a kit of parts, in an exploded view, for forming the demountable social distancing barrier system shown in Figure 2; FIGURE 4 shows cut-through view, end on, of an installed, assembled and erect social distancing barrier system wherein a demountable support element is locked into a base unit that is installed in the ground, and wherein a partition panel secured to the support element and a collapsible roof support is affixed to a top end of the demountable support element and is locked in an erect configuration; FIGURE 5A shows installed demountable support elements and panels, having connectors for the roof supports attached thereto; FIGURE 5B is an enlarged view of a connector for a roof support; FIGURE 50 is a top plane view of the series of three, installed demountable support elements and panels of Figure 5A; FIGURE 6A shows a collapsible roof support in a collapsed state; and FIGURE 6B shows a collapsible roof support in an erect, assembled state ready to receive at least one roofing panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the social distancing barrier system and a kit of parts therefor of the present invention are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the way in which certain aspects of the invention can be implemented and do not represent an exhaustive list of all of the ways the invention may be embodied. Indeed, it will be understood that the social distancing barrier system and a kit of parts therefor described herein may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimised to show details of particular components. Well-known components, materials or methods are not necessarily described in great detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Any specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention.

In Figure 1 a sports stadium 300 having entrances Y2', Y3' and Y4' is schematically shown. Currently the passage of fans through the entrances 'Y2', 'Y3' and Y4' is controlled, optionally by, for example, turnstiles Ti, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6. In the current climate social distancing within the stadium itself could be controlled by reducing the number of fans permitted to spectate and thus allowing empty seats to provide the necessary safe distances between fans from separate households. However, before that, as fans arrive for a start time of the event, for example kick-off time at a football match, numerous fans will arrive at the same time and will be present outside of the stadium. In previous times, where viral transmission was not a concern, the fans could line up in separate queues for each of the turnstiles Ti and T2. However, in the current climate, that would not permit social distancing and so adjacent entrances would need to be closed. Within the remaining queues, for example 01 and 03, the need for 2m spacing between queuing fans increases significantly the length of those queues 01, 03 beyond what was anticipated when the stadium 300 and its external space was designed. The queues 01, 03 (the length of which is not fully illustrated in Figure 1) could therefore reach out into car parks and roads and put people in dangerous situations. However, the provision of a modular demountable social distancing barrier system 100 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, would allow lines of people queuing to be spaced physically closer than 2m, whilst providing a physical barrier between them, which would prevent the transmission of virus between fans in adjacent queues and provide protection.

Though not illustrated, the same benefit can be delivered to supermarkets where the total limit on the number of customers permitted to shop at any one time has resulted in queues of customers developing which extend for a long distance given the requirement for 2m spacing between shoppers. It has been observed in recent times that shoppers have been standing in carparks and this is not safe. Furthermore, the time spent in such queues can be long, and can particularly unpleasant when the weather is wet. In providing the modular demountable social distancing barrier system 100, the present invention allows a single long queue to be halved by placing people, safely, in two side by side queues that are separated and protected by the barrier 100. Thus, customers can be positioned in safer areas, in a controlled and organised manner, and protected from wet weather.

The social distancing barrier system 100 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is shown schematically in Figure 1 and sections of the system 100 are shown in Figures 2 to 6B. As shown in Figures 2 to 5A, the system 100 comprises demountable supporting arrangements 20, which optionally may comprise supporting elements 21 (also referred to as posts 21) and base elements 25. Additionally, the social distancing barrier system 100 of Figure 1 optionally comprises partition panels 10, 10a, 10b; collapsible roof supports 34 having pivotally moveable arms 14a, 14b; roofing panels 18a, 18b; and capping elements 12.

The support elements 21 may optionally be generally circular in cross-section. though in other arrangements and applications, other cross-sectional shapes may be used, for example, rectangular. Optionally, the support elements 21 comprises a generally hollow structure, with a bottom end thereof retaining, or having integrally formed therewith a male locking member 23 (described below). An upper end of the tubular support element 21 may be open. Optionally, diametrically opposed grooves or channels or slots 15 extend, longitudinally, from the open top end towards the bottom end of the supporting elements 21. The slots 15 may be shaped in a complimentary manner to the shape of the partition panels 10, 10a, 10b such that the partition panels 10, 10a, 10b can be slidably fitted between two posts 21. In the presently illustrated arrangement, the partition panels 10, 10a, 10b are generally square-U-shaped; in other embodiments, other shapes may be used, for example a partition panel 10 with a profiled shaped edge may slidingly mate and fit with a complimentarily profile-shaped slot 15. A slot 15 and/or edge of the partition 10, may be "T"-shaped or trapezoidal (for example in a dovetail type fitting).

In some embodiments, the system 100 may comprise a levelling feature 11. Such a levelling feature 11 may be incorporated within the post 21 and may provide for a degree of vertical adjustment (upwards away from and downwards toward the ground G). Optionally a levelling mechanism 11 may incorporate a screw thread arrangement within the lower region of the post 21.

Partition panels 10a, 10b, 10 are optionally substantially rectilinear as shown. The partition panels 10a, 10b, 10 may be made of any suitable material of suitable weight, strength and rigidity characteristics. Optionally, the partition panels 10a, 10b, 10 are made of plastic material, for example Perspex0; and further optionally, the partition panels 10a, 10b, 10 may be, at least substantially, transparent. The partition panels 10, 10a, 10b are slidably located into the diametrically opposed, longitudinal slots 15 that extend from the top end towards the bottom end of the supporting elements (posts) 21 (see Figure 3).

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, each demountable supporting arrangement 20 comprises a base element 25. In use, the base element 25 is located in part below ground level and optionally in part, at ground level G. Preferably, an upper surface 29 of the base element 25 should be set flush with a surface G of the ground in which it is embedded. Accordingly, the base element 25 is a relatively permanent feature of the modular barrier system 100 and once installed it is intended to remain in situ in readiness for when installation of the system 100 is required. In this way, the social distancing barrier system 100 can be rapidly deployed from a demounted stowed position and installed quickly and easily by interlocking the supporting posts 21 to the pre-fitted base elements 25.

The base element 25 comprises a female element or socket 24 into which a male element or male locking component 23 can be inserted, twisted and securely located. The male element 23 in some optional arrangements is attached to a means (not shown) for drawing the male part toward the female part in order to draw up the male part towards an underside of the base element until the male part abuts and is locked and engagingly located against the base element 25.

In Figures 3 and 5A, the location and embedding of the base elements 25 below ground level G is illustrated. The base elements 25 are embedded and installed within the ground G by drilling, digging, cutting or otherwise forming a small and shallow footing; and using a bonding agent to securely and permanently embed the base unit 25 in position. Base units 25 may be permanently embedded in the ground G using one or more of: cement, concrete, tarmac, resin, asphalt concrete, polymer concrete or other suitable agent. It will be understood that the base elements 25 are not readily releasable from installation within the ground and are the only non-readily removable component of the system 100.

When not in use, the base unit 25 may be closed off by a cap (not shown). The base unit 25 sits flush with the ground level G and does not provide a trip hazard in anyway. Optionally, the cap for use to close of the base unit when the social distancing barrier system 100 is in a demounted stowed position, may be coloured, reflective, decorative or camouflaged as required.

The posts 21 and base units 25, by being lockable and unlockable to one another using interlocking mechanisms 23/24 comprising the female member 24 and male member 23, provide the modular barrier system 100 that can be demounted and stored during times of low virus transmission and/or better weather. Furthermore, the twist-and-lock feature enables the modular barrier system 100 to be quickly and easily reintroduced in periods where viral transmission rates require strict adherence to social distancing measures and/or periods of wetter weather. Because the female member 24 is configured only to receive the male member 23 when the male member 23 is in a preferred orientation to the female member, installation is simply a matter of aligning the male member 23 correctly, slotting the male member 23 into the female socket 24 and then rotating the male member, optionally by rotating the post 21, to locate the male member 23 within the female member 24 and beneath the upper surface 29 of the base unit 25.

The modular demountable social distancing barrier 100 beneficially comprises detachably, interconnected roof supports 34 as shown in Figures 3 to 6B and roof panels 18a, 18b detachably affixed thereto. Referring to Figures 3, 6A and 6B, it can be seen that the roof supports 34 may each comprise two arms 14a, 14b. The two arms 14a, 14b can move between a first stowed position (see Figure 6A) wherein the arms 14a, 14b are disposed at a first acute angle relative to one another such that the arms 14a, 14b are substantially adjacent to one another; and a second assembled position (see Figure 6B) wherein the arms 14a, 14b are disposed at a second, greater, angle relative to one another. In this position, the arms 14a, 14b reach out either side of the partition panel 10 (see Figure 3) and provide a means by which a weather covering 18a, 18b can be installed either side of the partition 10, 10a, 10b in order to provide some weather shelter for people standing on either side of the partition.

The extent to which the arms 14a, 14b can be moved is controlled. In various arrangement, a locating member 16 may be provided to limit the extent to which the arms 14a, 14b are pivotally movable and may hold and provide a central weight bearing support for the the arms 14a, 14b in the second assembled position (see Figures 4 and 6B).

A pivoting mechanism 30 is provided which allows arms 14a, 14b of the roof support 32 to be pivotally moved between the first stowed and second assembled positions. The pivoting mechanism 30 may comprise one or more pins. In other arrangements articulating mechanisms may take many and various forms and the movement of roofing supports between the stowed and weather-proofing positions may deviate from that shown herein.

Optionally, the arms 14a, 14b a profiled to receive a roofing pane118a, 18b. The arms 14a, 14b may comprise a channel Cl, C2 on one or both side faces 1, 2 thereof into which a roofing panel 18a, 18b is slidably receivable. Whilst it is envisaged that a number of suitable ways may be used to hold the roofing panels 18, 18a, 18b, optionally, the use of channels C1, 02 sized relative to a thickness of the roofing panel 18, 18a, 18b such that a roofing panel 18, 18a, 18b is friction fitted into the channels C1, 02 provides a demountable system that can be quickly assembled and disassembled without the time consuming need to unscrew numerous fixings or screw in numerous fixings and furthermore enables the panels 18, 18a, 18b once removed to be stacked (vertically or horizontally) in a compact arrangement for transportation to a storage facility until next required.

Optionally, a capping element 12 may be provided. The capping element 12 may securely affix and hold one or more pairs of arms 14a, 14b of the roof supports 34 in the second assembled position. Optionally, the capping element 12 may be provided as a strip. Optionally, the capping element may also be shaped or otherwise configured to help to retain one or more roofing panels 18, 18a, 18b in the weather covering position.

A connector 32 is provided. The connector 32 is fittable into an upper end of a demountable post and provides a lock for limiting upwards movement of a panel 10, 10a, 10b securely held by the demountable post 21. As shown in Figure 5B, the connector 32 may have a bar 26 or a pair of projections 36 that extend radially outward beyond a central bar 38. The connector 32 is thereby shaped at its bottom or lower end to fit into a central bore 19 of the post 21 until the projections 36 meet an edge of the post 21 and/or and upper edge 17 of the panel 10 shaped to receive said roofing support 32.

The roofing panels 18a, 18b are optionally substantially rectilinear as shown. The roofing panels 18a, 18b may be made of any suitable material of suitable weight, strength and rigidity characteristics. Optionally, the roofing panels 18a, 18b are made of plastic material, acrylic sheet, for example Perspex(); and further optionally, the roofing panels 18a, 18b may be, at least substantially, transparent.

The roofing panels 18a, 18b and/or partition panels 10a, 10b, 10b may be used as billboards, advertising areas and/or may be coloured in a complementary manner to the location at which they are located. The roofing panels 18a, 18b and/or partition panels 10a, 10b, 10b may be used to display sponsorship or advertising logos, information, branding and the like. In some arrangements at least part of at least some of the panels may be integrally coloured and may be constructed from, for example coloured plastics material. Graphics may be printed onto and/or adhered to the panels 18a, 18b, 10, 10a, 10b. Additionally or alternatively, the panels 18a, 18b, 10, 10a, 10b may be constructed such that they are capable of receiving therein removable and replaceable advertising or branding signage, logos, event information, opening time information, government issued information about, for example, safety requirements and reasons for social distancing. The removable and replaceable advertising material can, for example, be revised and updated when the modular barrier system 100 is reinstalled and can be tailored to the location whereat the system 100 is installed. For example, in Figure 1, the sports stadium 300 shown therein may utilize the square metres of premium advertising space located next to queues 05, 06 of fans and supporters to promote sponsors' businesses, to advertise merchandise, to inform about food and drink promotions and/or as a further example to inform the people queuing of rules and measures that must be followed once inside the stadium.

In total the number of components per 2 metres of partition may be as low as twelve which may include: two base elements 25, two posts 21, two connectors 32, a barrier panel 10, two roofing panels 18a, 18b, two roof supports 34 and a capping element 12. After the initial, onetime-only installation of the base units 25, the remaining ten components can be interlocked and disconnected without fiddly fixings, glues, nails or other complicated parts being required. The disassembly and reassembly can be conducted repeatedly and reliably. Beneficially, the construction, demounting and reconstruction of the modular demountable social distancing barrier can be conducted without needing to manage a complicated inventory and without needing to replace consumable parts. In this way a modular, temporary, but robust barrier that cannot accidentally be moved (as with other known temporary barriers that require freestanding posts with bases) is provided which allows queues to be safely arranged in a more compact manner whilst protecting the people queuing against viral transmission and weather.

It can be appreciated that various changes may be made within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS1. A demountable social distancing barrier comprising: at least first and second base elements; at least first and second support elements demountably lockable within the first and second base elements; and at least one partition panel removably mountable between and supported by the first and second support elements, the first and second base elements being at least partially located below ground level, the first and second base elements and the first and second support elements respectively, being lockable and unlockable to one another using interlocking mechanisms comprising a female member and a male member, the female member being configured only to receive the male member when the male member is in a preferred orientation to the female member and upon the male member having been received by the female member, the male member being rotatable to locate the male member within the female member, the demountable social distancing barrier further comprising at least one roof support and at least one roof panel detachably affixed thereto.
2. 2. A demountable social distancing barrier according to claim 1 wherein a roof support is removably interconnectable to said first demountable support element; and a roof support is removably interconnectable to said second demountable support element.
3. 3. A demountable social distancing barrier according to claim 1 wherein said roof support is movable between a first stowed position and a second assembled position where in said second assembled position said roof support is configured to hold a roof panel outwardly, beyond the plane of said partition panel.
4. 4. A demountable social distancing barrier according to claim 3 wherein the at least one roof support comprises arms which move between: said first stowed position, wherein the arms are disposed at a first acute angle relative to one another such that the arms are substantially adjacent to one another; and said second assembled position, wherein the arms are disposed at a second angle relative to one another, and wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle
5. 5. A demountable social distancing barrier according to claim 4 comprising a locating member to limit the extent to which the arms are pivotally movable and to hold the arms in the second assembled position.
6. 6. A demountable social distancing barrier according to claim 4 or 5 comprising a pivoting mechanism which allows arms of the roof support to pivotal moved between the first stowed and second assembled positions.
7. 7. A demountable social distancing barrier according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the arms are profiled to receive a roofing panel.
8. 8. A demountable social distancing barrier according to claim 7, in which the social distancing system is provided with a capping element for securely holding one or more pairs of arms of the roof support in the second assembled position and/or for retaining one or more roofing panels between adjacent arms.
9. 9. A demountable social distancing barrier according to any preceding claim 4 to 8 wherein the arms comprise a channel on one or both side faces thereof into which a roofing panel is slidably receivable.
10. 10. A demountable social distancing barrier according to claim 9 wherein said channels are sized relative to a thickness of the roofing panel such that a roofing panel is friction fitted into the channels in spaced apart arms of spaced apart roof supports.
11. 11. A demountable social distancing barrier according to any claim 4 to 10 wherein a connector is provided, which connector is fittable into an upper end of a demountable post and provides a lock for limiting upwards movement of a panel securely held by the demountable post; and which connector is shaped to receive said roofing support.
12. 12. A demountable social distancing barrier according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second base elements are not readily releasable from installation within the ground.
13. 13. A demountable social distancing barrier according to claim 12, wherein the first and second base elements are embedded and installed within the ground using a bonding agent comprising one or more of: cement, concrete, tarmac, resin, asphalt concrete, polymer concrete.
14. 14. A demountable social distancing barrier according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the first and second support elements being lockable and unlockable to the first and second base elements enables the barrier to be erected, demounted and re-erected without damage or requiring repair.
15. 15. A demountable social distancing barrier according to any preceding claim wherein the female member is provided by a shaped socket within the base unit; and the male member is provided on a bottom end of a support element.
16. 16. A demountable social distancing barrier according to claim 15 wherein a top portion of the base unit exposes only a portion of the underlying, underground socket, into which the male member, when the male member is in a preferred orientation, can be fitted, the socket being shaped and sized such that the male member once fitted into the socket can be rotated therein such that, further rotation of the male member is required for removal of the male member therefrom.
17. 17. A demountable social distancing barrier according to claim 16 wherein one of the female and male members being further provided with means to draw the male and female members together.
18. 18. A demountable social distancing barrier according to any preceding claim comprising one or more levelling mechanisms, wherein a levelling mechanism is disposed within said first and said second demountable supporting elements and provides for vertical adjustment, toward and away from the first and second base elements respectively.
19. 19. A kit of parts for forming demountable social distancing barrier according to any preceding claim
20. 20. A kit of parts for forming a demountable social distancing barrier according to claim 19 comprising at least: two base elements, two posts, two connectors, a partition panel, two roofing panels, two roof supports and a capping element.