GB2612601A - Panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A panel 10 for use as a barrier panel or temporary support frame comprises a planar panel body 12 with a plurality of retainer structures 24a,b,c,d defining channels 30a,b,c,d for reinforcing bars. The panel further comprises two lateral reinforcing bars 20a, 20b and one or more transverse reinforcing bars 22a, 22b of more rigid form than the planar panel body and located in the channels the two lateral reinforcing bars to provide legs and the one or more transverse reinforcing bars extending between the two lateral reinforcing bars to stiffen the planar panel body 12 between the two lateral reinforcing bars. The panel may be assembled without the need for additional fixing components by locating the reinforcing bars in the channels. The channels may intersect. Also claimed are multiple panels arranged in a stack. Also claimed is a pallet of panels. Also claimed is a method of manufacturing defining integral retainer structures.

Description

Panel assembly product and method

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a panel for use as a barrier panel or sign frame support structure, and to an assembly method for such panels. More specifically, the invention relates to freestanding temporary installations for roadwork and traffic control, such as temporary barriers and temporary sign frame structures that are frequently moved, stored and redeployed and may be deployed for temporary use on site for several days or weeks.

Background

Several temporary barrier designs are known, such as those used as temporary safety barriers for construction sites, and more recently also in event management or crowd guidance. Several conflicting requirements are placed on temporary barriers.

Temporary barriers need to be both robust and safe for practical handling by workers and/or passersby, should be sufficiently stable to withstand environmental influences and wind loads, should be relatively light-weight so as to allow single-person lifting ideally from ground level to truck height, have a relatively small footprint for transport and storage, and many other regulatory requirements and customer expectations.

United Kingdom Patent Publication GB2548124A by the present applicant discloses a barrier panel supported on two fixed feet with third support foot swivelable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the support foot extends perpendicularly to the plane of the barrier panel. The design of GB2548124A provides a stable barrier with a single-moulded barrier panel and a foot that can be collapsed for transportation and storage.

The present invention seeks to provide a panel design that is easier to manufacture.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a panel for use as a barrier panel or temporary support frame, as defined in claim 1.

The panel comprises a planar panel body. The planar panel body comprises a plurality of retainer structures defining channels for locating reinforcing bars, wherein the panel further comprises two lateral reinforcing bars and one or more transverse reinforcing bars of more rigid form than the planar panel body and located in the channels, the two lateral reinforcing bars to provide legs and the one or more transverse reinforcing bars extending between the two lateral reinforcing bars to stiffen the planar panel body between the two lateral reinforcing bars.

The reinforcing bars constitute panel-strengthening components. The reinforcing bars may be made from plastics material, specifically reinforced material, such as fibre-reinforced material. The reinforcing bars may be made from fibre-reinforced plastics pultrusions.

The panel body may comprise one or more apertures, and may be constituted by a frame structure comprising a plurality of struts, or a lattice, so as to be suitable as a lightweight temporary barrier in environment in which low wind resistance is desired, and/or in which visibility should not be blocked. Alternatively, the panel may comprise one or more solid faces.

In some embodiments, the transverse reinforcing bars and the lateral reinforcing bars are retained by the retainer structures of the planar panel body.

The retainer structures are structures forming a channel for holding the reinforcing bars on the panel body. In embodiments, the retainer structures are integrally formed with the panel body, for instance integrally moulded as a unitary body. In embodiments, the panel body is prefabricated with retainer channels structures on it. The retainer structures provide free locations at an axial end of a channel via which the reinforcing bar may be inserted into the channel. As such, at least some retainer structures are designed to hold a reinforcing bar on the planar panel body but do allow axial movement of a reinforcing bar within a channel.

In some embodiments, the two lateral reinforcing bars are located in a lattice plane and the one or more transverse reinforcing bars are located in the lattice plane, so as to be held captive between the lateral reinforcing bars.

The channel structures are shaped to hold the reinforcing bars in a plane such that a bar extending across the end of another bar blocks axial movement of the bar. As will be appreciated, if the retainer structures allow axial movement of a reinforcing bar within a channel, removal of a first reinforcing bar in one direction can be prevented by a second reinforcing bar located in the same plane to block the end of the first reinforcing bar. Likewise, by providing two reinforcing bars, one at each end of the first reinforcing bar, removal of the first reinforcing bar in two directions can be blocked.

In some embodiments, the lateral and transverse reinforcing bars are held within a thickness profile of the planar panel body.

In some embodiments, the planar panel body has a thickness of no more than 3.81 cm, no more than 2.54 cm, no more than 1.90 cm, or no more than 1.27 cm.

By thickness, a stacking thickness is meant of the panel-to-panel distance between two panel bodies stacked on top of each other. It will be appreciated that the reinforcing bars may be thinner than the stacking thickness, e.g. having a width in at least one direction of less than 2.54 cm, less than 1.90 cm, or less than 1.27 cm.

In some embodiments, the retainer structures are provided by a series of hoops and/or hook sections.

In some embodiments, the retainer structures define a plurality of individual elongate channels for receiving the reinforcing bars, wherein two or more elongate channels intersect.

The expression "intersect" is understood as meaning that two or more channels cross each other. Intersections may comprise four-way intersections of two channels, three-way intersections of two channels, or elbow intersections of two channels.

In some embodiments, the retainer structures comprise apertures for transverse insertion of a reinforcing bar across the channel.

The apertures may be provided by space between spaced-apart retainer structures. The apertures may be provided by holes or recesses in a continuous retainer structure, such as a window in a wall or a recess in an upstanding lip.

In some embodiments, the retainer structures comprise one or more integral end stop structures to block a channel.

The end stop structure may be solid to resist deformation. It will be understood that the panel body may be of relatively thin, flexible form. The end stop structure may be of similar flexibility as the panel body and may be shaped as a socket or other suitable solid structure to block a reinforcing bar. Like channel-forming retainer structures, the end stop structures may be integral with the panel body, e.g. integrally moulded.

In some embodiments, at least one of the integral end stop structures comprises a resiliently deformable portion for temporarily unblocking the channel structure.

The integral end stop structure may deformable by way of a live hinge connection.

In some embodiments, at least one of the integral end stop structures comprises a ramp structure facilitating insertion of a reinforcing bar into the channel.

In some embodiments, at least one of the integral end stop structures comprises a releasable catch structure shaped to inhibit removal of a reinforcing bar from the channel.

The shape may be provided by an asymmetric profile, viewing along the axis of a channel passage, comprising a steeper ramp structure or wall structure providing a barrier in the bar-removing direction.

In some embodiments, the panel further comprises attachment means for affixing a sign panel.

The attachment means may be provided in the form of a ledge or hook-profiled trays. The attachment means may be provided by pins such as one or more drop-lock pins.

In some embodiments, the panel is used as a support panel structure of a temporary road sign frame.

In some embodiments, the panel is used together with another panel, the panels hingedly connected to provide a collapsible temporary road sign frame.

The panels may be connected via an, in use, horizontally extending hinge at or near their respective top ends, when erected, in the manner of an A-frame.

In some embodiments, the panel is used as a barrier panel of a temporary barrier.

In some embodiments, the temporary barrier comprises a foot section for anchoring the legs of the panel, the legs being anchored in the foot section.

In some embodiments, a plurality of panels according to any one of the aforementioned embodiments is arranged as a stack, the stack optionally provided on a pallet for storage and transportation.

In some embodiments, the panels are provided on a pallet comprising a plurality of panels stacked according to claim 18. The panels may be part of temporary barriers, or may be part of temporary sign frame structures.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method as defined in claim 20, for manufacturing a panel in accordance with any one of the embodiments of the first aspect. The method comprises providing a panel body comprising integral retainer structures defining a lattice of intersecting retainer channels, the retainer structures comprising at least one resiliently deformable retainer structure to block a retainer channel. The method further comprises inserting a first reinforcing bar into one of the retainer channels, temporarily deforming the deformable retainer structure to temporarily unblock the retainer channel to allow it to be bypassed by a second reinforcing bar, inserting the second reinforcing bar into another one of the retainer channels such that the second reinforcing bar blocks removal of the first reinforcing bar, and allowing the deformable retainer structure to resume its channel-blocking configuration to block removal of the second reinforcing bar.

Embodiments of the method aspect may be used in combination with, and/or make use of, any one or more embodiments disclosed in relation to the preceding aspects.

Description of the Figures

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic front view illustration of a panel; Figure 2 is a schematic rear view illustration the Figure 1 panel; Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of an assembly step of a panel; Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of another assembly step of a panel; Figures 5A to 5C are schematic illustrations of further assembly steps of a panel; Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of a variant of a panel; Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of another variant of a panel; and Figure 8 is an isometric view of a sign frame comprising panels in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

Description

With reference to the Figures, a panel 10 comprises a panel body 12 of generally quadrilateral shape with a top edge 14a, a lower edge 14b, and two lateral edges 16a, 16b to be supported, in use, on two legs 18a,18b. The legs 18a,18b may be positioned directly on ground underneath, or may be intended to be located in one or more support block elements.

The panel body 12 is of generally unitary form such as injection-moulded plastic material or blow-moulded plastic material. The panel body 12 has a panel thickness of no more than about an inch (1 inch = 2.54 cm), and in some embodiments of no more than 3/4 inch (1.9 cm) or no more than 1/2 inch (1.27 cm). To provide an illustration of scale, the panel 10 may have a face area in the region of a square metre, e.g. 120 cm x 80 cm, however may also be considerably larger, e.g. 2 or 3 metres long and about 1.5 metres high. As may be imagined, by providing a panel body 12 of such size and narrow thickness, a panel body of moulded material form can be relatively flexible.

Even if made of relatively rigid blow-moulded material the panel body 12 may exhibit a certain flexibility allowing it to bend.

Referring to Figure 2, the panel body 12 is supported by two vertical (in use) reinforcing bars 20a, 20b and two horizontal On use) reinforcing bars 22a, 22b. The two reinforcing bars 20a, 20b constitute lateral support posts. The support posts help to maintain the panel 10 upright. The reinforcing bars 20a, 20b, 22a, 22b are made of a stiffer material than the panel body 12. Exemplary materials of the reinforcing bars may be reinforced plastics material, for instance fibre-reinforced plastics material, such as pultrusions or extrusions. The reinforcing bars may be of solid cross-section profile so as to allow them to be made with a thinner cross section, however the invention is not necessarily so limited and the reinforcing bars may comprise a hollow section profile.

The panel body 12 comprises series of hoop structures 24 linearly arranged, constituting retainer structures that define a channel passage, the channel passage axially extending through the series of hoop structures 24. A first channel passage 30a is defined by a first series of hoop structures 24a extending along the lateral edge 16a. A second channel passage 30b is defined by a second series of hoop structures 24b extending along the lateral edge 16b. A third channel passage 30c is defined by a third series of hoop structures 24c extending along the top edge 14a transversely (in use, horizontally) between the first channel passage 30a and the second channel passage 30b. A fourth channel passage 30d is defined by a fourth series of hoop structures 24d extending along the lower edge 14b transversely (in use, horizontally) between the first channel passage 30a and the second channel passage 30b. Additional channel passages may be defined by additional serially arranged hoop structures 24. As illustrated, the panel body 12 comprises several transverse beams or struts integrally moulded with the panel body 12, however not every one of the transverse beams is necessarily provided with retainer structures to define a channel.

The hoop structures 24 are integrally moulded with the panel body 12. As an alternative to a series of spaced-apart hoop structures, the channel passages may be provided by continuous channel wall structures, by rail structures or re-entrant structures such as grooves with an internal cross-section wider than the mouth of the re-entrant structure. The channel structures may be partially open along some or all of the channel circumference, and may be open along some or all of the length of a channel. For instance, the channel structure may be provided by a series of hook structures and/or C-section profiles comprising at least one opposite orientation or alternating orientation, or other configurations suitable for retaining a elongate bars while allowing axially sliding insertion or removal.

The channel passages 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d are aligned in a plane and so there are several (here: four) intersections 31 where the horizontal channel passages meet with vertical channel passages. In Figure 2, two intersections 31 are constituted by 1-junctions where the ends of the fourth channel passage 30d meet the first and second channel passages 30a, 30b. Two intersections 31 are constituted by elbow junctions where the end of the third channel passage 30c meet the first and second channel passages 30a, 30b.

The hoops 24 (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d) of each channel passage (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, respectively) are spaced apart such that free areas remain at the locations of the intersections 31. Thereby, certain intersections 31 permit axial access into the channel passages, e.g. the third channel passage 30c can be accessed axially by crossing the first channel passage 30a.

Turning to Figures 3 and 4, in order to assemble a panel 10, a panel body 12 is provided. The transverse reinforcing bars 22a, 22b may be inserted axially (in a direction indicated by arrows L in Figure 3) into a respective channel passage 30c, 30d by passing them across the first channel passage 30a (or, alternatively, across the second channel passage 30b) to be located between the first and second channel passages 30a, 30b. Subsequent insertion of the lateral reinforcing bars 20a, 20b into the first and second channel passages 30a, 30b (see arrows V in Figure 4), results in the lateral reinforcing bars 20a, 20b blocking the intersections 31, thereby holding the transverse reinforcing bars 22a and 22b captive between the lateral reinforcing bars 20a, 20b. It will be appreciated that the transverse reinforcing bars 22a, 22b may be axially slidable depending on tolerances, but are kept inboard of the lateral reinforcing bars 20a, 20b because the retainer structures 24 (here in the form of hoops) hinder removal from the plane of the panel body 12.

At their distal (in use: lower) end, the legs 18a, 18b comprise shoe structures 26a, 26b providing an axial end stop for the channel passages 30a, 30b. The lateral reinforcing bars 20a, 20b, once inserted into the channel passages 30a, 30b, respectively, engage each one in a shoe structure 26a, 26b and are therefore seated in the legs 18a, 18b (see Figure 2).

Near the upper end 14a of the panel body 12, the channel passages 30a, 30b comprise tabs 28a, 28b comprising live hinge features constituting resiliently deformable retention features. The live hinge features are sufficiently strong to maintain a rest position in which the tabs 28a,28b block the channel passages 30a, 30b unless subjected to a deforming load. Thereby, the tabs 28a, 28b provide axial end stops for the channel passages 30a, 30b. Referring to a side view illustration of Figures 5a, 5b and Sc, the tabs 28a, 28b are of tapered, wedge-shaped form in the insertion direction (here: towards the legs 18a, 18b, respectively).

Due to their taper, the tabs 28a, 28b comprise a ramp structure providing a directionally-disengaging feature that assists in resiliently moving the tabs 28a, 28b from the channel passage when engaged from a first direction and resists deformation when engaged from a second direction opposite the first direction.

In their rest position, the tabs 28a, 28b extend into the channel passages 30a, 30b and thereby block the ends thereof. Together with the shoes 26a, 26b, the tabs 28a, 28b provide axial end stops at opposite ends of a channel passage. It will be appreciated that access to the respective channel passage is provided by resiliently bending away the tabs 28a, 28b. Conveniently, due to the tapering in the insertion direction, the tab 28a may be pushed laterally away from the channel 30a by the lateral reinforcing bar 20a as it is inserted through the hoops 24a, as shown in Figure 5B, thereby temporarily unblocking the channel 30a to permit the reinforcing bar 20a to bypass the tab 28a. Once the reinforcing bar 20a is slotted into its respective channel passage 30a, the tab 28a resiliently resumes its rest position, practically snapping into a bar-locking position (see Figure 5C), and thereby blocks the channel passage 24a. Due to the wedge contour of the tab 28a, axial movement of the reinforcing bar 20a in the reverse direction, out of the channel passage 24a, causes the reinforcing bar 20a to abut the back wall of the tab 28a, practically inhibiting removal of the reinforcing bar 20a unless the tab 28a is moved away. As such, a reinforcing bar may be inserted for assembly of a reinforced panel 10 without reliance on tools. The reinforcing bar 22a is then held captive in the channel passage 24a by the series of hoop structures 22a along the channel, by the shoe structure 26a at the lower end and by the tab structure 28 at the upper end.

The arrangement of vertical and transverse reinforcing bars provides a support lattice of reinforcing bars that increases the rigidity of the panel body 12. The panel 10 can be assembled without the need for additional fixing components such as screws, bolts, rivets, clamps, end caps, adhesive or the like. Whilst such additional fixing components may still be used in some embodiments, it will be appreciated that the design reduces and practically avoids reliance on such additional fixing means. This allows relatively thinner components to be used, particularly reinforced fibre pultrusions, of small cross section that might otherwise be avoided due to practical difficulties in assembling small cross section components.

The present invention allows panel bodies with thinner strut structures to be used as temporary barrier panels or other support elements such as temporary sign frame structures. Such thinner strut structures are often used to support or affix ballast, such as sand bags, at a height of between 30 cm and 40cm above ground. Existing sign panel or barrier frames therefore comprise either other ballast solutions such as a ballast block, or are made from a sufficiently rigid material such as metal profiles.

The present panel 10 may be made from thin plastics material, using thin struts of narrow width in the stacking direction and of low height in the upstanding direction, because the assembly uses intersecting reinforcing bars and resiliently deformable retainer features to axially arrest the frame-strengthening components on the panel body 12. It will be appreciated that, when assembled, the reinforcing bars may be slidable axially within their channels by an amount permitted by production tolerances. With tighter tolerances, the reinforcing bars may be in abutment and not exhibit axial movement once inserted into their respective channels. The reinforcing bars of a lattice do not require to be affixed to another, and can therefore remain individually removable once a respective retaining member is removed from an intersecting channel passage. The assembly is stable simply by locating reinforcing bars relative to each other in a plane such that their removal is inhibited either by blocking cross-bars providing end stops at intersections channel structures, or by locking structures, wherein the locking structures may be provided by fixed structures such as the shoes described herein or by resiliently deformable structures such as the tabs described herein.

The panel 10 of Figures 1 to 4 is of symmetric form, allowing the transverse reinforcing bars to be inserted from either side. It will be appreciated that structures forming the channel passages, such as hoops, may be positioned at some of the intersections 31 such that insertion may only be possible from one side.

Figure 6 shows a panel 10a that is similar to the embodiment of Figure 1, and so the same numerals are used for like elements while avoiding repetition of a detailed description for like components. At one lateral edge 16b, the panel 10a comprises a single continuous channel structure 25 that blocks the intersections 31 of the vertical channel passage 30b with the transverse channel passages 30c and 30d, such that transverse reinforcing bars 22a, 22b are to be inserted via the first lateral edge 16 through the intersections 31 with the first channel passage 30a. The transverse reinforcing bars 22a, 22b may be locked by one (vertical) reinforcing bar (not shown). The channel structure 25 may be provided with another reinforcing bar.

Figure 7 shows a three-leg panel 10c which may be a design more appropriate for wider panels. A central vertical reinforcing bar 20c is held within a channel passage provided by channel structures to provide a lateral reinforcing bar for transverse reinforcing bars 23a, 23b. The arrangement is such that each of the reinforcing bars is held in its respective channel passage, secured against axial removal, by an axial end stop structure provided by an intersecting reinforcing bar or by an integrally moulded axial end stop, whereby the end stop may be a solid structure such as the shoe or a resiliently deformably structure such as a tab.

It will be appreciated that Figures 6 and 7 show partial assemblies in which not all of the reinforcing bars have been fully inserted.

The degree of flexibility of the components may depend on the material composition, thickness and cross-section of the reinforcing bar, of the panel body 12, as well as spacing between the channel wall structures such as the channel-defining retainer structures 24. Depending on the thickness of the components, the panel body 12 and/or the reinforcing bars 22a, 22b may exhibit a certain degree of flexibility. The tab geometry and corresponding bar geometries may be designed relatively tightly such that deforming the tab for removal of a lateral reinforcing bar requires significant force that requires the use of tools or even specialist tools. Such less flexible arrangements may be chosen to reduce the risk of tampering with the panel.

The design principle disclosed herein facilitates the disassembly of individual components for repair, replacement and/or recycling, while providing a relatively thin panel using reinforcing elements. Should one of the reinforcing bars or the panel body fail, replacement of a broken component is easily possible due to the reversible assembly and disassembly. By avoiding the need for fixtures such as screws, bolts, rivets or adhesive, issues such as fraying or wear are avoided such as wear of repeatedly used threaded sockets or adhesive contact surfaces. Thereby, the design increases the longevity and re-usability of the individual components of a barrier panel.

By way of the reinforcing elements, the panel may be sufficiently stable to be freestanding, or upstanding from a support in which it is located. In particular, the panel can be designed to be sufficiently strong and rigid to support small loads, such as sign panels mounted to it, or the load of a passer-by leaning on it, without collapsing due to an inherent flexibility of the narrow panel width.

It will be appreciated that the reinforcing bars are provided to increase the rigidity of the panel body 12 and are not relied upon to connect portions of the panel body 10. The panel body 10 may be of unitary construction, or preassembled to form a self-supporting body, before the reinforcing bars are inserted. Removal of the reinforcing bars will therefore not result in separation of panel components of the panel body. The reinforcing bars are held axially within a channel passage by end stops, blocking the channel passage but without requiring a fixation means to extend through the cross-section of the reinforcing bar.

It will be appreciated that, while the panel 10 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 has a front side concealing the reinforcing structures and a rear side revealing reinforcing structures, this configuration is not necessarily used in all embodiments. Embodiments may comprise a skin structure provided by a moulded panel body concealing channel structures and reinforcing elements on both panel faces. Conversely, embodiments may comprise window structures on both panel faces, front and back, to reveal reinforcing elements. Reinforcing elements may be of contrasting colour to the panel body to provide markers or high-visibility elements.

The illustrated embodiments show transverse reinforcing bars inboard of lateral reinforcing bars extending perpendicular to the transverse bars (e.g., oriented vertically to intersect with horizontal bars). However, it will be appreciated that other configurations may be used such as 90-degree rotated configurations, using a principle as described above in which one ore more reinforcing bars are inserted first and blocked by subsequently inserted bars, and that one or more of the subsequently inserted bars constitute final bars that are held by integral end stop structures of the panel body.

Figure 8 shows a rear view of a sign frame 100 comprising two panels, one panel 40a as a front section and one panel 40b as a rear section, the front and rear sections being hingedly connected to provide a collapsible frame. Each panel 40a, 40b comprises a single-moulded unitary body 42 comprising two integral legs 44 each supported on a free foot 46 and integral cross members 48 extending between the legs 44. The unitary bodies 42 of the support panels 40a, 40b comprise relatively thin legs and cross bars and relatively large open spaces between the legs, which reduces the overall mass of the product, providing a lower lifting weight.

The legs 44 and the cross members 48 are provided with series of spaced-apart hoops 52 integrally moulded to provide retainer structures defining channel passages each allowing a reinforcing bar 60 to be inserted axially and retained along the plane of the panel body 42, along the legs 44 and along a few of the cross members 48. The legs 44 comprises an external rim structure 51 also providing a channel structure with openings 50 located spaced apart along the rim structure 51 and located at the intersections of the cross members 48 with the legs 44, to provide access to the channel passages defined by the hoops 52 of the cross members 48. The feet 46 of each leg 44 are provided with an integral shoe structure 54 providing an end stop. The top ends of each leg 44 (the top ends being, in use, the upper ends) are provided with resiliently deformable tabs 56. The resiliently deformable tabs 56 extend, when in their rest position, into the channel passage of each leg 44 and thereby provide an end stop.

In the manner of the schematic illustration of Figures 5A, 5B, 5C, the tabs 56 can be temporarily bent, against their inherent resilience, out of the channel passage to allow insertion of a reinforcing bar 60, to resume their rest position after having been bypassed by the reinforcing bar 60.

The reinforcing bars 60 provide frame-strengthening components. The frame-strengthening components may be made from a reinforced material, such as fibre-reinforced material. The frame-strengthening components may be fibre-reinforced plastics rods such as pultrusions or extrusions. As such, the entire frame structure 100 may be made from plastics material and/or composite plastics material, practically avoiding a risk of corrosion that may be observed with other materials. The frame structure 100 and frame-strengthening components 60 may be resiliently deformable. For instance, the frame-strengthening components may under influence of a force be resiliently bendable by an angle of over 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or more degrees and still resume their original shape after removal of the force. For instance, the frame structure 100 and frame-strengthening components 60 may deform under the load of a vehicle driving onto them, and resume their original shape after removal of the load.

While suitable fixtures such as bolts, screws, rivets, adhesive etc may be used during the assembly of the frame 100, the support lattice provided by the frame-strengthening components 60 does not rely on such fixtures.

As illustrated in Figure 8, a frame-strengthening component may provide additional functionality, such as providing a hinge axle or attachment feature for other components. It will also be appreciated that not all cross members 48 are provided with a reinforcing bar. The cross members 48 nearest the feet 46 are spaced about cm from the feet 46 and therefore about 30 cm above ground when in use. Those cross members may be used to affix ballast such as sand bags. As will be appreciated, the risk of a cross member 48 deforming or breaking under the load of a ballast element is reduced by provision of a reinforcing bar.

Whilst specific embodiments of the invention are described hereinbefore, it will be appreciated that these merely represent examples and that a number of modifications, alterations or variants are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A panel for use as a barrier panel or temporary support frame, the panel comprising a planar panel body, the planar panel body comprising a plurality of retainer structures defining channels for reinforcing bars, wherein the panel further comprises two lateral reinforcing bars and one or more transverse reinforcing bars of more rigid form than the planar panel body and located in the channels, the two lateral reinforcing bars to provide legs and the one or more transverse reinforcing bars extending between the two lateral reinforcing bars to stiffen the planar panel body between the two lateral reinforcing bars.
2. 2. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the transverse reinforcing bars and the lateral reinforcing bars are retained by the retainer structures of the planar panel body.
3. 3. The panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two lateral reinforcing bars are located in a lattice plane and wherein the one or more transverse reinforcing bars are located in the lattice plane, so as to be held captive between the lateral reinforcing bars.
4. 4. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lateral and transverse reinforcing bars are held within a thickness profile of the planar panel body.
5. 5. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the planar panel body has a thickness of no more than 3.81 cm, no more than 2.54 cm, no more than 1.90 cm, or no more than 1.27 cm.
6. 6. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retainer structures are provided by a series of hoops and/or hook sections.
7. 7. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retainer structures define a plurality of individual elongate channels for receiving the reinforcing bars, wherein two or more elongate channels intersect.
8. 8. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retainer structures comprise apertures for transverse insertion of a reinforcing bar across the channel.
9. 9. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the retainer structures comprise one or more end stop structures to block a channel.
10. 10. The panel according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the integral end stop structures comprises a resiliently defon-nable portion for temporarily unblocking the channel structure.
11. 11. The panel according to claim 9 or 10, wherein at least one of the integral end stop structures comprises a ramp structure facilitating insertion of a reinforcing bar into the channel.
12. 12. The panel according to claim 10 or 11, wherein at least one of the integral end stop structures comprises a releasable catch structure shaped to inhibit removal of a reinforcing bar from the channel.
13. 13. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising attachment means for affixing a sign panel.
14. 14. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, used as a support panel structure of a temporary road sign frame.
15. 15. The panel according to claim 14, used together with another panel, the panels hingedly connected to provide a collapsible temporary road sign frame.
16. 16. The panel according to any one of claims 1 to 13, used as a barrier panel of a temporary barrier.
17. 17. The panel according to claim 16, wherein the temporary barrier comprises a foot section for anchoring the legs of the panel, the legs being anchored in the foot section.
18. 18. A plurality of panels according to any one of the preceding claims arranged as a stack, the stack optionally provided on a pallet for storage and transportation.
19. 19. A pallet comprising a plurality of panels stacked according to claim 18. 5
20. 20. A method of manufacturing a panel according to any one of claims 1 to 18, the method comprising: providing a panel body comprising integral retainer structures defining a lattice of intersecting retainer channels, the retainer structures comprising at least one resiliently deformable retainer structure to block a retainer channel, the method further comprising inserting a first reinforcing bar into one of the retainer channels, temporarily deforming the deformable retainer structure to temporarily unblock the retainer channel to allow it to be bypassed by a second reinforcing bar, inserting a second reinforcing bar into another one of the retainer channels such that the second reinforcing bar blocks removal of the first reinforcing bar, and allowing the deformable retainer structure to resume its channel-blocking configuration to block removal of the second reinforcing bar.