Barrier system and barrier units therefor

• US 5,213,312 A
• Filed: 08/16/1991
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Great Barrier Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Great Barrier Industries Limited
• Inventors: MacDonald, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US07/745,691
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 256/1, 256/24, 256/26, 256/73, 256/DIG. 6, 160/351, 482/15, 482/16, 211/13, 414/341
• US Class Current: 256/26
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/022 Pedestrian barriers; Barriers for channelling or controlling crowds E01F13/024, E01F13/028 take precedence; corrals E04H17/18
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/70 Storing, transporting, placing or retrieving portable devices
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 17/18 Corrals, i.e. easily transportable or demountable enclosures

Abstract

A crowd control barrier system is formed by regular barrier units interlocked end to end, with special wheeled units at intervals which provide elevated platforms for crowd surveillance. The special units can be converted to provide mobile storage racks for the regular units, which mobile racks can be wheeled onto a trailer or other vehicle for transportation and storage. The regular barrier units are formed of two continuous tubular members, one forming a frame for a vertical panel and one side of a base frame, and the other forming the other side of the base frame and vertical members welded to vertical portions of the first member to form vertical stanchions supporting the panel.

Claims

1. A portable dismountable barrier system comprising a plurality of separate, free-standing barrier units releasably connectable in end to end relationship to form an elongated barrier, said units comprising units of a first type and a plurality of units of a second type for each first unit, the units of the first type providing support for said plurality of second units for transportation when the barrier is in a dismounted condition, and an elevated surveillance platform when the barrier is in an assembled condition, in which the units of the first type have a wheeled base frame supporting a superstructure which in a first, folded condition forms a stacking horse for units of the second type, and in a second extended condition forms the elevated surveillance platform.

2. A system according to claim 1, further including a vehicle having a platform for receiving a plurality of units of the first type when stacked with units of the second type, and a loading ramp via which the units of the first type may be wheeled onto and off the vehicle.

3. A system according to claim 1, the platform having screens surrounding it on three sides.

4. A system according to claim 1, the superstructure comprising struts forming an inverted V-shaped frame at each end of the platform, and a cross rail joining the frames to form the stacking horse, parts forming the elevated stacking frame being pivotally mounted to the cross rail for movement between folded positions not projecting beyond the stacking horse, and extended positions forming a platform and screens surrounding the platform on three sides.

5. A free-standing barrier unit adapted to be connected in end to end interlocking relationship with adjacent free-standing barrier units of a second type, said barrier unit further comprising support for storage of a plurality of said second type of barrier units, and an elevated surveillance platform when the barrier unit is connected to adjacent units of said second type, comprising a wheeled base frame supporting a superstructure which in a first folded condition forms a support in the form of a stacking horse for units of the second type, and in a second extended condition forms said elevated surveillance platform, the superstructure comprising struts forming an inverted V-shaped frame at each end of the platform, and a crossrail joining the frames to form the stacking horse, parts forming the elevated stacking frame being pivotally mounted to the crossrail for movement between folded positions not projecting beyond the stacking horse, and extended positions forming the elevated surveillance platform and screens surrounding the platform on three sides.

6. A unit according to claim 5, wherein the base frame further supports a tray or locker.

7. A unit according to claim 5, including means to couple said unit to other similar units to form a train.

8. A barrier unit comprising a panel support frame element having spaced vertical members in a common vertical plane, a barrier panel extending between said vertical members in said vertical plane, and a horizontal member connecting bottom ends of said vertical members and forming a loop extending laterally to one side of said vertical plane, said vertical and horizontal members being formed by a single continuous length of rigid tubing;

a perimeter frame element formed by a closed loop of rigid tubing, said perimeter frame element comprising vertical portions adjacent and secured to said vertical members, the adjacent vertical portions and vertical members together forming end stanchions, a lower horizontal portion forming a loop extending laterally to an opposite side of said vertical plane, and an upper horizontal portion in said vertical place above said barrier panel;

vertically spaced hooks secured to one of said end stanchions; and

vertically spaced eyes secured to the other of said end stanchions to receive the hooks of an adjacent barrier unit.

9. A barrier unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the vertical members and vertical portions are connected by vertical welds.