GB2233694A

GB2233694A - Crash barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2233694A
Application number: GB9013122A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Dawson
Original assignee: Melba Products Ltd
Current assignee: Melba Products Ltd
Priority date: 1989-06-14
Filing date: 1990-06-12
Publication date: 1991-01-16
Also published as: GB9013122D0

Abstract

A crash barrier 10 comprises a moulded plastics block 11 having complementary projection 12 and recess 13 at opposite ends so that a number of the devices can be assembled in a line with the projections and recesses interengaged, which will maintain a connection under an impact in the direction A if not too great to form a curved barrier. Upright members 26 may support a lamp, or reflective material 27, or may have hooks for locating a flexible mesh barrier. The device may be nestable one on another and may have flexible handles.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CONTROL OR HAZARD WARNING DEVICES This invention relates to control or hazard warning devices.

According to one aspect of the invention a control or hazard warning device comprises a member having formations at opposite ends so that a plurality of the devices can be assembled with the formations at the adjacent ends of adjacent blocks interengaging.

The formations at the opposite ends may be complementary.

The assembly may be by relative longitudinal movement.

The formations at the respective ends may comprise a projection and a recess and the projection may have inwardly inclined flanks.

The device may include a socket for receipt of a post, and may comprise an upright member.

The device may include upwardly open recess means.

The complementary formations may permit a degree of lateral bending of the assembly whilst maintaining a connection between adjacent devices.

The device may include handle means for use in lifting the device.

The device may have a top formation engageable with a bottom formation of a similar device to permit nested stacking of the devices.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment with possible modificatione will now be described by way of example with referenoe to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hazard warning or control device assembly; Fig. 2 shows a modification; and -Figs. 3 and 4 show further modifications.

A hazard warning or control device 10 comprises a compression moulded plastics member 11 which at its ends has formations 12, 13 which can mate and interengage with corresponding formations on an adjacent device 10 to form a line assembly 14 of nesting devices 10.

In the case shown formation 12 is a projection with inwardly inclined flanks 15 which can be received in a corresponding recess 16 by relative longitudinal movement between the devices 10.

The device 10 may for example weigh 30 to 50 Kilos and may be 30cm x 30cm in cross section and about 1 metre long.

The formations 12, 13 may be such that adjacent devices 10 are nested by relative movement transverse to their length.

Should the assembly 14 receive a transverse impact (arrow A) the formations 12, 13 will, if the impact is not too great, maintain a connection between adjacent devices 10 whilst permitting some deflection from an inline position, to form generally a curved barrier.

The device may be provided with recesses 20, 21 with closed bottom wall for receipt for example of ballast, or water. The recesses 20, 21 may be provided with removable recessed lids 22.

Through bores 23 may be provided for receipt of pins 24 for holding the devices on the ground 9, the pins being driven into the ground.

Each device 10 is preferably provided with a socket 25 for removable receipt of a plastics bendable post 26 which may carry reflective material 27 and/or a lamp and may be used to support flexible mesh barrier material 28 schematically indicated and removably secured by suitable means to the posts 26.

The device 10 may be assembled to define a boundary or barrier e.g. to road works, or at junctions or on car parks.

In Fig. 2 a U-shaped insert block 40 can be used to provide restricted passage through the barrier. For example two blocks 40 could be placed in the assembly at a spacing corresponding to the separation of the wheels of an ambulance.

In some cases a road cone warning device is attached to the device 10.

The posts 26 could be solid.

The devices 10 may be secured to the ground by double-sided bitumen pad.

In a modification the top-opening recesses 22 are omitted Rnd there may be bottom-opening recesses.

Instead of receiving securing pins 24 the apertures 23 may receive rigid posts 30 having one or more hooks 31 for locating the mesh 28, see Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the top surface 36 of the element 10 may have a projection, for example in the form of an elongate rib 32 which cs.n be received in a corresponding recess 33 in a similar element 10 placed or nested on top.

A lifting handle may be provided at each end of the element 10. Thus, as shove in Fig. 4, a cord 34 extends through apertures 35 in top 36 and has transverse bars 37 located in ciownwsrds open recesses to hold the cord 34 in the element 10. The cord can be stored or located in a recess 38 in projection 32 so as not to project above the rib 32.

There may be a recess 23 at eac corner for receipt of a post 30.

In a modificstion the block ii llas a recess 16 in at least one end of at least one of the upright side faces lia so that two blocks can be assembled at right angles with the projection 12 of one block entering into the recess 16 in the side of the other block.

In a further modification a corner piece is provided, for example a generally cube member having a projection 12 and a recess 16 in respective adjacent side faces so that the corner piece can be assembled with the ends of two nerrbers 11 respectively engaged with the recess and projection and at right angles.

Claims

1. A control or hazard warning device comprising a memberhavmg formations at opposite ends so that a plurality of the devices can be assembled with the formations at the adjacent ends of adjacent blocks interengaging.

2, A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the formations at the opposite ends are complementary.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the formations at the respective ends comprise a projection and a recess.

b. A device as claimed in Claim 3, in which the projection has inwardly inclined flanks.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the formations permit assembly by relative longitudinal movement.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claims, having top and bottom formations engageable with respective bottom or top formations of a similar device to permit nested stacking of the devices.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an upright member.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 7, in which the upright member is adapted for locating a flexible barrier.

9. A device as claimed in Claim 7, in which the upright member carries material for reflecting light.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 7, in which the upright member is adapted to carry a lamp.

11. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, having handle means for use in lifting the device.

12. A device as claimed in Claim 11, comprising two flexible handles which can be stored below the upper surface of the device.

13. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, having a socket for receipt of a post.

14. A control or hazard warning device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1, or Fig. 3, or Fig. 4, of the accompanying drawings.

15. A line assembly of devices as claimed in any preceding Claim.

16. An assembly as claimed in Claim 15 including a flexible barrier supported on the upright members of the devices.