AU2010100347B4

AU2010100347B4 - A knitted material

Info

Publication number: AU2010100347B4
Application number: AU2010100347A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Nicholas James Nichols
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-03
Filing date: 2010-04-14
Publication date: 2013-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 2018-04-03
Also published as: AU2010100347A4

Abstract

A knitted material comprising a first portion of knitted material which is 5 made from a non-reflective material; and a second portion of knitted material, which is made from a reflective material, wherein the first portion of knitted material being knitted to second portion of knitted material.

Description

P/00/0 12 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: "A KNITTED MATERIAL" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 1 TITLE "A KNITTED MATERIAL" FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a knitted material. In particular, the 5 invention relates to a knitted material for use as a safety fence and/or road barrier and will therefore be described in this context. However, it should be appreciated that the knitted material may be used for other purposes, such as shade sails or scaffolding mesh. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 Road barriers provide both a physical barrier and an indicator to motorists and pedestrians that work is being carried out on a section of road or construction area. There are many different types of road barriers depending upon the type of works being carried out. For example, large plastic roadside barriers, that are able to be filled with water or particulate 15 material, are often used to provide protection to roadside workers. In many circumstances, road works are performed on a single lane of a dual carriageway or multi carriageway. Accordingly, the space that is allowed for a roadside barrier is relatively narrow. In these circumstances, narrow posts with flexible netting is often used as a roadside barrier. This 20 netting typically comes in two forms. The first form is thermo plastic netting. Thermo plastic netting can be reused over time. However, it is relatively expensive, relatively heavy and cumbersome to assemble and disassemble. The second type of netting is typically made of a knitted fabric. Often the knitted fabric is made of different colours, such as red and yellow, to assist 25 motorists and/or pedestrians in identifying a roadside barrier. This type of roadside barrier is very cheap to manufacture and quick and easy to install. One difficulty with barrier fences is that it is difficult to see at night. This can cause motorists to crash into the roadside barrier destroying the roadside barrier. In extreme circumstances, this can also cause damage 30 to a motorist's vehicle or the motorist themselves. Reflective material has been adhered to roadside barriers in order to increase visibility. However, this reflective material is expensive to apply and, depending upon the 2 adhesive used, can delaminate from the roadside barrier. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to overcome and/or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages or to provide the consumer with a useful 5 or commercial choice. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one form, although not necessary the only or broadest form, the invention resides in a knitted material comprising: a first portion of knitted material which is made from a non-reflective 10 material; and a second portion of knitted material, which is made from a reflective material, wherein the first portion of knitted material being knitted to second portion of knitted material. 15 The first portion of knitted material is typically made from a monofilament. The monofilament is normally round. The monofilament may be made from a variety of materials, including high density polyethylene. Preferably, the denier of the monofilament is greater than 300. More preferably, the denier of the monofilament is greater than 400. Most 20 preferably, the denier of the monofilament is greater than 500. Preferably, the monofilament is UV stabilised. The monofilament material is preferably brightly coloured. Preferably, the monofilament is coloured red, orange or yellow or a combination thereof. 25 The second portion of knitted material is preferably made from a reflective tape. The tape is normally a flat reflective tape. The tape is preferably between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm in width. More preferably, the tape is between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm in width. Most preferably, the tape is approximately 0.37 mm in width. 30 The tape is preferably at least 200 microns in thickness. More preferably, the tape is 250 microns in thickness. Most preferably, the tape is at least 300 microns in thickness.

3 The tape preferably has a tensile strength of at least 250 grams. More preferably, the tape has a tensile strength of at least 300 grams. Most preferably, the tape has a tensile strength of at least 350 grams. Typically, the tape has a tensile strength of approximately 379 5 grams. The reflective tape may be made from a variety of materials, including a polyester film. Reflective matter, such as glass beads, may be located on one or either side of the tape. The reflective matter may be laminated on to either of the two sides. 10 The reflective tape may be located along the weft or the warp of the knitted material. Normally the knitted material is made using a lockstitch construction. However, it should be appreciated that other types of stitch constructions may be used. 15 The knitted material is typically used to produce fencing. However, it is envisaged that the knitted material may be used for other applications, such as shade sails or scaffolding mesh. When the knitted material is used for barrier fencing, the knitted material typically has reinforced eyelets knitted into pillars located at the top, 20 bottom and/or centre of the fencing for ease of installation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment, by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section of barrier fencing 25 according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a first portion of the knitted material shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a second portion of the knitted material shown in FIG. 1. 30 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a section of knitted material 10 that is used for the construction of barrier fencing. The knitted material 10 used for barrier 4 fencing is formed from a first portion 20 of a knitted material and a second portion 30 of a knitted material. The first portion 20 of knitted material forms a majority of the knitted material 10. The first portion 20 of knitted material is made from 5 100% round 500-denier monofilament as shown in FIG. 2. The monofilament is made from a high density polyethylene. The monofilament is orange in colour making the knitted material used to produce the barrier fence highly visible during the day. The second portion 30 of knitted material is made from flat, 10 reflective tape. The reflective tape is 0.37 mm wide and has a thickness of 300 microns as shown in FIG. 3. The reflective tape has a tensile strength of 379 grams. The reflective tape is made from a polyester film with glass beads laminated on to both sides of the tape. However, it should be appreciated that the glass beads may be laminated on to a single side of the 15 tape. The reflective tape makes the knitted material used to produce the barrier fence highly visible at night. The first portion 20 and second portion 30 of the knitted material are knitted together using a 12 gauge 6 bar knitting machine. A lockstitch construction is used to prevent fraying if the knitted material 10 20 which is used to produce barrier fence is cut or torn. Further, eyelets 40 are formed in the first portion 20 of knitted material at the top, bottom and centre of the barrier fencing material for ease of installation. Still further, the lockstitch construction of the first portion 20 of the knitted material is a much denser construction adjacent the eyelets 40 as opposed to the first portion 25 20 of the knitted material located adjacent the middle of the knitted material 10. The combined use of the first portion 20 of knitted material and the second portion 30 of knitted material knitted together provides a cost effective and highly durable knitted material for the construction of barrier 30 fencing which can be quickly and easily installed in a variety of locations. The knitted material is highly visible at night or in dark situations, lighter weight compared to other options, more flexible and easier to install.

5 It will also be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A knitted material comprising: a first portion of knitted material which is made from a non-reflective material; and 5 a second portion of knitted material, which is made from a reflective material, wherein the first portion of knitted material is knitted in with the second portion of knitted material, and wherein eyelets are formed in the knitted material. 10 2. The knitted material of claim 1 wherein the first portion of knitted material is made from a round monofilament having a denier of greater than

300. 3. The knitted material of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the second portion of knitted material is made from a flat, reflective tape which has a width 15 between 0.2 and 0.6 mm. 4. The knitted material of any one of the preceding claims wherein the second portion of the knitted material has a tensile strength of at least 250 grams. 5. The knitted material as herein before described with reference to the 20 accompanying drawings.