AU2016101790A4 - Collapsible expandable barrier improvements - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract An expandable barrier comprising at least one first expandable partition, at least one first non-expandable partition, where the at least one expandable partition is pivotally connected to a side of the at least one non-expandable partition. Each of the partitions have ground engaging legs that provide support to the overall structure and allow for customization of the shape of the barrier to suit a variety of situations.

Description

ι 2016101790 12 Oct 2016

COLLAPSIBLE EXPANDABLE BARRIER IMPROVEMENTS

The present invention relates to barriers and manhole guards, in particular those barriers/guards that are adjustable and can be manipulated in order to adapt to a user's requirements.

Background

Temporary barriers are used in many varying situations, in particular they are used around construction sites and road repairs or servicing where access is required to a manhole or other access point. The temporary barrier is used to help guide pedestrians, and other workers, safely around an uncovered opening so as to avoid or reduce the likelihood that a person will inadvertently fall into the opening.

Uncovered openings are of a great concern in built-up or residential areas, in particular on city streets where there are at times a large number of pedestrians in close proximity to the uncovered opening. With a large amount of infrastructure often located beneath pavement surfaces, the necessary regular maintenance of such services can create a significant hazard and adequate protection needs to be available so as to ensure that all occupational health and safety issues are addressed, whilst at the same time be able to adapt to the size and location of the uncovered opening.

Traditional barriers/manhole barriers are of a fixed size, typically square, as the main access point is of a fixed diameter (round). Due to increases in the placement of services beneath sidewalks and pavements, access points have become larger and more prevalent so as to allow greater access to carry out maintenance or repair. This is particularly relevant where many services are located along the same path, for example telecommunications services, which include optic fibre connections, as well as electrical services and inspection points for water and sewerage.

Standard manhole barriers, whilst effective of guarding manhole openings or other similarly small sized openings, are ineffective in cordoning off larger areas as it requires the joining together of several smaller manhole barrier protection sections to create an appropriately sized perimeter around the larger access point. 2 2016101790 12 Oct 2016

In trying to adapt known manhole barriers to protect larger or irregular access points there is a compromise being made in terms of the stability and rigidity of the barrier and having a barrier of optimal size without taking up more space on the sidewalk/pavement than is absolutely necessary. In addition, traditional manhole barriers cannot be readily modified to suit varying environments, which is pertinent for larger access points that may have 6 or 8 or more adjacent covers that need to be removed and replaced as needed.

For example, in high foot traffic areas workers may, at peak times, only require one or two of the adjacent openings to be removed, thus allowing greater movement of foot traffic around the worksite. At other times, when there is less foot traffic, the workers may then remove additional access covers to increase access to the work site. Using traditional manhole barriers to cordon off such an increased area in such a manner is time-consuming, as the worker needs to either retrieve barrier sections from a storage facility in order to extend the barrier. Additionally, these sections need to be then taken away and stored when the barrier size needs to be reduced.

Summary of the invention

An expandable barrier comprising a at least one first expandable partition; at least one first non-expandable partition; the at least one expandable partition being pivotally connected to a side of the at least one non-expandable partition.

In preference, the at least one first expandable partition is removably pivotally connected to a side of the at least one first non-expandable partition.

In preference, the at least one first expandable partition has a length with opposing proximal and distal ends, the at least one first expandable partition being adapted to expand and contract the length. 3 2016101790 12 Oct 2016

In preference, the at least one first expandable partition includes a first partition located at the proximal end and a second partition located at the distal end.

In preference, the first partition is a first end post and the second partition is a second end post.

In preference, the first and second end posts have ground engaging partitions.

In preference, the first and second end posts have joining means adapted to provide engagement by interconnecting with adjacent posts.

In preference, the at least one first non-expandable partition is pivotally attached to a second non-expandable partition.

In preference, the at least one first non-expandable partition includes a pair of ground engaging legs.

In preference, the at least one first expandable partition includes a pair of ground engaging legs.

In preference, the at least one first non-expandable partition includes at least one ground engaging wheel.

In preference, the at least one first expandable partition includes at least one ground engaging wheel.

In preference, the expandable partition includes a plurality of hinged interconnected elements.

In preference, the plurality of hinged interconnected elements form a lattice structure.

In preference, the second non-expandable partition is adapted to removably securely receive a first partition 4 2016101790 12 Oct 2016

In preference, the expandable barrier is an expandable manhole barrier.

In preference, the expandable barrier is an expandable access point barrier.

An expandable barrier kit including any of the above.

Brief description of the drawings

For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described with reference to an embodiment described with the assistance of drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a first perspective view of the expandable barrier of the present invention in a closed or concertinaed position,

Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the expandable barrier shown in figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the expandable barrier of the present invention in an open or extended position,

Figure 4 is a further view of the expandable barrier from figure 3 with the expandable partition in an open position unattached from an adjacent non-expandable partition.

Description

According to the present invention, there is provided an expandable barrier 10 which includes a plurality of elements 15 that are interconnected to one another by hinges so as to define a barrier structure that forms the first expandable partition 20. This first expandable partition 20 is positioned between a first end post 22 (proximal end) and a second end post 24 (distal end). The first and second end posts being a pair of square or round tubular upright structures. Each end post 22 and 24 has a ground engaging portion 26 and 28 respectively. The elements 15 of the first expendable partition 20 are shown as slats interconnected to one another in the form of a scissor action lattice structure. With each slat being adjacent to one another and pivotally affixed to the first and second posts by way of the bracket mounting points 30 a - d. 5 2016101790 12 Oct 2016

The first end post 22 is adapted to releasingly engage with an adjacent upright by way of the joining means 32 and 33, which in this embodiment are shaped to nest and engage with the profile of the adjacent upright tubular structure 40 in a releasable manner. At the opposite end 24 of the first expandable partition 20, the second post 24 also has joining means 34 and 35, again shaped to securely receive the adjacent upright 41. In such a configuration, the first and second end posts 22 and 24 respectively are then able to pivot, to some extent, about the adjacent upright element 40 or 41. In an alternative embodiment, the joining means 32-35 may comprise of joining elements that are securely affixed to the adjacent uprights 40 and 41 as well as the first and second end posts 22 and 24 but have a pivoting means positioned between to allow relative movement or articulation between the first and second end post and the adjacent upright.

The non-expandable partition 50 includes the upright tubular sections 41 and 42 with ground engaging legs 43 and 44. A mesh section 48 fills the interior between the uprights and the top section 50 and bottom section 51. The resulting non-expandable partition 50 has sufficient rigidity and strength to support adjacently placed barrier elements, such as an adjacently placed non-expandable partition and/or expandable partition. Attachment means 55 can be used to removably secure the adjacent replaced barrier element, such as the non expandable partition 58, which is substantially the same as that shown in item 50.

An additional second expandable partition 60 is connected to an end of the non-expandable partition 58 so as to form a substantially rectangular structure that comprises of four non-expandable partitions and two expandable partitions, in this embodiment the expandable partitions being substantially diagonally positioned relative to one another.

As can be seen in figure 1 and figure 2, the ground engaging partitions of both the expandable partition and non-expandable partitions are in ground engaging contact. This provides increased stability of the overall expandable barrier 10. As seen in figure 2, the ground engaging partitions of the expandable partition 20 and the adjacent non-expandable partition 64 are substantially in line with one another. 2016101790 12 Oct 2016 6

In figure 3 the expandable partition 20 and 60 are in the open position and the expandable barrier 10 area is greatly increased with the ground engaging legs of the non-expandable partition along with the ground engaging legs of the expandable partitions are working together to provide support to the expandable barrier 10.

As each of the non-expandable and expandable partition segments are joined to one another by attachment means that allow for them to move or pivot with respect to one another then the expandable barrier 10 can be shaped to suit specific requirements, such as unusual openings, with greater ease. For example, the second end post 24 of the first expandable partition 20 can be moved away from the centre of the expandable barrier along with its immediately adjacent tubular upright 41 of the non-expandable partition 50 by simply picking up the 2 elements and moving them outwards, as the joining means 34 and 35 allows for such movement.

In addition, as shown in figure 4, the first end post 22 of the first expandable partition 20 can be unattached from its adjacent upright and pivoted open to allow access to an interior of the expandable barrier 10. The first end post 22 of the first expandable partition 20 providing support, as without it the first expandable partition would collapse under its own weight and potentially pull the remaining structure down with it. Without the ground engaging leg 28, the first expandable partition would have to be returned to its concertina and closed position, as shown in figure 1. A wheel element can be used in place of the ground engaging leg.

Accordingly, by allowing the first expandable partition 20 to remain in its extended form then this therefore allows for greater flexibility of configurations and use without sacrificing strength and safety of the expandable barrier system.

Claims (9)

1. Claims

   1. An expandable barrier comprising a at least one first expandable partition; at least one first non-expandable partition; the at least one expandable partition being pivotally connected to a side of the at least one non-expandable partition.
2. 2. The expandable barrier of claim 1, wherein the at least one first expandable partition is removably pivotally connected to a side of the at least one first non-expandable partition.
3. 3. The expandable barrier of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one first expandable partition has a length with opposing proximal and distal ends, the at least one first expandable partition being adapted to expand and contract the length.
4. 4. The expandable barrier of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the at least one first expandable partition includes a first partition located at the proximal end and a second partition located at the distal end.
5. 5. The expandable barrier of any one of the above claims, wherein the first partition is a first end post and the second partition is a second end post.
6. 6. The expandable barrier of any one of the above claims, wherein the first and second end posts have ground engaging partitions.
7. 7. The expandable barrier of any one of the above claims, wherein the first and second end posts have joining means adapted to provide engagement by interconnecting with adjacent posts.
8. 8. The expandable barrier of any one of the above claims, wherein the at least one first non-expandable partition is pivotally attached to a second non-expandable partition.
9. 9. An expandable barrier kit comprising the expandable barrier of any one of the above claims.