GB2134164A

GB2134164A - Portable barrier assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB2134164A
Application number: GB08301711A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith David Handy
Original assignee: Glasdon Ltd
Current assignee: Glasdon Ltd
Priority date: 1983-01-21
Filing date: 1983-01-21
Publication date: 1984-08-08
Also published as: GB8301711D0; GB2134164B

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a portable barrier assembly comprising upright posts 10, for example in the form of A-frames, to stand on the ground and planks 11 to be supported by the posts. In order to provide a simple self- supporting assembly, the planks are of I-shaped cross-section and the upper ends of the posts have tubular sockets 15 with elongate slits (16) along the upper side thereof to receive the lower flanges (19) of the planks. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Portable barrier assemblies The invention relates to portable barrier assemblies for highway, industrial or other guarding applications.

The invention provides a portable barrier assembly comprising a post to stand on the ground or other surface, a plank to be supported on the post, socket means on the post and edge means extending lengthwise of the plank to be engageable in and released from the socket means solely by sliding movement of the plank in the lengthwise direction of the plank whereby the plank is rigidly connected to the post against movement in all other directions.

The edge means on the plank may comprise a flange extending along at least one edge of the plank and the socket means is shaped to receive the flanged edge of the plank.

In the latter case the socket means may comprise a C-shaped channel the inner crosssection of which is shaped to receive the flange on the plank, the wall of which is formed with a slit through which the plank connected to the flange can extend from the socket.

The plank is preferably I-shaped in crosssection the cross pieces of the I at either end thereof providing flanges, either of which can be engaged in the socket means on the post.

In any of the above arrangements the post may comprise an A-frame and the socket means is formed at the apex of the A.

Alternatively the post may comprise an inverted Y having socket means at the upper end of the upright of the Y, the spaced lower ends of the Y providing feet for the post.

The following is a description of some specific embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a post and pian road barrier assembly; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a plank being mounted on the post; Figure 3 is a further detailed perspective view of a plank mounted on a post; Figure 4 is a detailed view of two planks mounted on a post: Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further form of post and plank assembly; Figures 6 to 11 are detailed views of the further assembly; and Figures 12 to 14 are detailed perspective views of a modification to the post of the assembly shown in Figures 5 to 11.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is shown a portable barrier assembly comprising upright posts 10 and a plank 11. Each upright post 10 comprises a squaresection tubular metal A-frame having legs 12, an intermediate cross-member 13 braced to the legs by struts 14. At the apex of the A-frame there is a socket 1 5 comprise a rectangular hollow tubular section member extending transversely to a plane containing the A-frame on either side of the A and having a narrow slit 16 extending lengthwise along the centre of the upper wall thereof.

The plank 11 is a moulded plastics extrusion of I-section having a main wall 1 7 and upper and lower transverse hollow tubular flanges 18, 1 9 respectively. The sides of the main wall 1 7 of the plank are coloured with alternate red and white areas or other markings or insignias as required.

The plank is mounted on a post as illustrated in Figure 2 by offering up and engaging the lower flange 19 of the plank in the socket 15 with the main wall 17 of the plank extending upwardly out of the socket through the slit 16 in the top wall of the socket. The flange 1 9 is a close fit in the socket so that the plank is rigidly connected to the socket against any movement other than sliding into and out of the socket. Thus a plan mounted at its ends on two spaced posts 10 are illustrated in Figure 1 forms a stable assembly. Ballast in the form of sand bags can be laid over the cross-members 1 3 of the posts to increase the stability of the assembly. The posts may be dimensioned to support the plank one metre from the ground or any other required height.

A lower rail 20 can be added to the assembly to provide an additional barrier and also to provide a warning for blind persons of the presence of the barrier. The lower rail 20 is a hollow rectangular section plastics extrusion and has short tethers 21 extending through the wall of the rail and formed with end caps 22. The ends of the rail are fed through the small rectangular openings formed between the struts 14, 12 and cross-members 13 of the posts. The tethers 21 are drawn upwardly over the struts 14 to resist withdrawal of the ends of the rail from the posts.

The assembly of Figure 1 shows a single plank supported on a pair of posts to provide a short barrier. Where a longer barrier is required, a series of planks can be supported end-to-end on the spaced posts, the adjacent ends of each pair of planks being inserted into the opposite ends of a socket of a single post as illustrated in Figure 4.

Also where a long plank is used a post can be disposed at the centre of the plank.

Reference is now made to Figures 5 to 11 of the drawings which show a further form of post. In this case the post 10 is in the form of an inverted Y as indicated at 25. The upright of the Y is formed by a pair of spaced parallel square tube section legs 26 the upper ends of which are connected by a vertically extending short channel section member 27. The parallel legs are further connected towards their lower ends by transverse plate 28 and are splayed outwardly to form the divergent legs 29 of the Y the ends of which provide feet for supporting the post. The legs 29 are braced by cross-member 30. A socket 31 of hollow rectangular cross-section extends transversely to the post from the upper end of the post immediately below the channel 27 of similar form to the socket 15 of the post 10 described in the first embodiment to receive, in this case, the upper flange 18 of a plank 17.The lower wall of the socket 31 is formed with a central slit 32 to receive the main wall of the plank depending downwardly from the flange 18. The transverse member 28 towards the lower ends of the legs 26 is formed with a key-hole slot 23 enlarged at its upper end and restricted at its lower end. A rail 20 may be mounted on the post by trapping the capped end 22 of the tether 21 at the end of the rail in the key-hole slot 33 as illustrated in Figure 7. The length of the tether 27 is such that the end of the rail lies between the lower ends of the legs 26. The side walls of the channel 27 at the upper end of the post may also be formed with key-hole slots 34 and further planks 11 may be suspended from the upper end of the post by means of tethers 35 having plastic end caps 36.One end of the tether 35 is inserted through and trapped in the key-hole slot 34 in the channel 27 so that the plank 11 is suspended from the channel. A further plank can be similarly mounted on the other side of the post if so required.

The base of the channel is formed with openings 37 for attachment of a light-fitting 38 as illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings.

The post can also be used for suspending a flexibie panel sign 40 on the post as illustrated in Figure 5. The upper end of the panel 40 has an enclosed rigid cross-member to brace the panel and a flexible loop 41 is mounted at the centre of the cross-member. The loop is passed over the top of the post and is lodged on the upper side of the socket 31 to suspend the panel on the post. The panel also had a rigid lower cross-member from which straps 42 extend which are located around the lower ends of the legs of the posts. Pegs 43 on the divergent legs 29 engage in the openings in the lower cross-member and located so that the panel is held in tension from the loop 41. A rigid panel could be mounted in a similar way. In the arrangement shown in Figure 5, the plank 11 is attached at one end to the upper end of the post and the other end of the plank rests on the ground so that the post is supported inclined from the vertical with the sign panel facing in an upwardly inclined direction.

Figures 12 to 14 illustrate a further modification of the arrangement shown in Figure 5 in which the plank 1 7 holding the post up is omitted and a third leg 45 is attached to the lower cross-member 28 of the post to form a tripod with the two legs of the Y.

Claims

1. A portable barrier assembly comprising a post to stand on the ground or other surface, a plank to be supported on the post, socket means on the post and edge means extending lengthwise of the plank to be engageable in and released from the socket means solely by sliding movement of the plank in the lengthwise direction of the plank whereby the plank is rigidly connected to the post against movement in all other directions.

2. A barrier assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the edge means on the plank comprise a flange extending along at least one edge of the plank and the socket means is shaped to receive the flanged edge of the plank.

3. A barrier assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the socket means comprises a C-shaped channel the inner cross-section of which is shaped to receive the flange on the plank, the wall of which is formed with a slit through which the plank connected to the flange can extend from the socket.

4. A barrier assembly as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the plank is I-shaped in crosssection the cross pieces of the I at either end thereof providing flanges, either of which can be engaged in the socket means on the posts.

5. A barrier assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the socket means has openings at opposite ends thereof to receive edge means on two planks extending into opposite ends of the socket.

6. A barrier assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the post comprises an A-frame and the socket means is formed at the apex of the A.

7. A barrier assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the post comprises an inverted Y having socket means at the upper end of the upright of the Y, the spaced lower ends of the Y providing feet for the post.

8. A barrier system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the post is provided with a further leg forming a tripod with the two legs of the Y to form a self-supporting post.

9. A barrier assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the post is provided with one or more key-hole shaped apertures for receiving a headed end of a tether for supporting a further plank or planks on the post.

10. A barrier assembly substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, Figures 5 to 10, Figure 11 or Figures 12 to 14 of the accompanying drawings.