GB2262759A - Collapsible vehicle barrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for restricting access of a vehicle into or from a given area is in the form of a container (10), two posts (18, 19) storable in the container, mounting means for supporting the posts in an erected position and retaining means (20, 21, 22) to secure the posts in that position. In one preferred form of the invention, the posts are mounted upon pivots (13, 14), by means of which the posts may be swung from their stored to their erected position. <IMAGE>

Description

Access Restricting Device The present invention is an access restricting device, whereby passage of a vehicle into or from a given area is restricted.

It is a common requirement to be able temporarily to prevent vehicles moving beyond a given point, as a matter of convenience, safety or security. For example, it may be desired to prevent unauthorised vehicles making use of a limited and/or private parking area, or approaching too closely to a particular building. A store, shop or other building to which ready access may be required in normal use may need to be protected against ram-raiding when left unoccupied. As another example, vehicles displayed for sale, for instance on a garage forecourt, may need to be secured against unauthorised removal.

In all of the foregoing situations, the system or device used to restrict the undesired access must be able to be removed or otherwise converted into a condition in which desired access is permitted. Preferably the necessary removal or conversion should be achievable quickly and/or with minimal effort.

With such considerations in mind, various barrier post devices have been developed and are available, whereby an upright post can be erected on a temporary basis at a given vehicle access point and can be collapsed, telescoped or otherwise removed from operative position when desired. In particular such posts may be mounted upon or within the ground surface for pivoting between operative and non-operative positions.

Since such barrier post devices often have a security function and are therefore potential targets for either simple vandalism or planned attack, for example by ramming, they must be installed with care, usually by bolting into the ground or by mounting in concrete. However each post can limit access across only a given width of the opening in question and it may therefore be necessary to install two or more post devices when the opening is relatively wide. Such installing may prove to be time-consuming and unduly costly.

It would therefore be advantageous if the number of such devices required for a given opening could be reduced, in order thereby to reduce the installation costs entailed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an access restricting device by means of which that aim may be achieved.

The access restricting device according to the present invention comprises an elongate rigid container, at least two posts of such dimensions as to be storable within the container in a first position in which said posts are in mutually overlapping relationship, mounting means to support said posts in a second position in which they extend from said container in a mutually generally parallel relationship, and retaining means to secure said posts in said second position.

By using the device according to the invention, a wider access opening or frontage may be protected with a single installation than is possible using existing similar devices.

The elongate rigid container may be formed of a metal, especially one which is able to withstand prolonged exposure to adverse conditions without deteriorating, or of a suitable rigid plastics material, for example a glass-reinforced plastic. The preferred material for this purpose is steel.

At least two posts are provided and for most locations two will suffice. If, in the erected position, the posts are located at the opposite ends of the container, the device will protect an opening significantly wider than the length of the container. However, if desired, one or more additional posts may be provided, located within the same container and designed to be erected therefrom, in order to extend the length over which protection is afforded by the device.

Each post is preferably of generally uniform cross-section although it may taper if desired. The cross-section is preferably hollow and may suitably be rectangular (including square) or circular. The overall length of each post is determined largely by its desired height in the erected position. The length of the container is determined largely by the desired lateral spacing of the posts in that position. In general, the optimum length of each post is a little less than the internal length of the container. Typically, the container may be 0.75 to 1.5 metres in overall length, and the posts may typically be of a length approximately within that range.

In their first or stowed position, the posts are disposed in the container in a mutually overlapping relationship. Preferably the extent of mutual overlap is equal to a major part of the length of each post, for example at least three-quarters of that length. The posts may lie within the container side-by-side or with one superimposed on the other.

Mounting means are provided to support the posts in their second position, wherein they extend, generally parallel to each other, from the container. The mounting means may take the form of sockets, into which the ends of the posts may be fitted, or transverse pins upon which the posts may advantageously be pivoted. By pivoting the posts in this way, they may be able to swing about the pivots in a simple action from their mutually-overlapping stowed position into their mutually-parallel projecting position. In this form of the invention, the pivots may be mutually staggered within the container to allow the posts to overlap when stowed. It is then preferred that the two posts be of different lengths, so that they may project to an equal extent from the container when erected.

A retaining means is provided to secure the posts in their erected second position.

The retaining means may be in the form of a cross-bar or other member abutting the erected post but in a particularly preferred form of the invention the retaining means for each post is a bolt, slidable from a retracted position into a locking position in which it extends into a hole or socket in the side of the post.

Very preferably, the container is closed in both positions by a lid or by two or more lid sections. For example, the lid may be formed in two sections, which together close the container in its stowed condition, one section being of such a length as to extend between the posts in their erected position and thereby close the container. In this form of the invention, the retaining means may take the form of a pair of bolts mounted upon the lid (preferably its underside) and slidable apart to engage the respective posts.

To assist the user in erecting the posts, a means for maintaining each post in its erected position may be provided, in addition to the retaining means already described. This additional means may advantageously take the form of self-locating retaining pins which engage the posts when the erect position has been attained. The use of said additional retaining means reduces the risk of the posts collapsing prematurely and thereby causing a hazard to the user.

As a further aid to use, a lifting device may be provided. This may take the form of a driven means to raise the posts into their erect positions or may simply comprise a handle or recess incorporated in each post near its unfixed end to aid lifting the posts manually.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example only, one preferred embodiment of the access restricting device according to the present invention and wherein: Fig. is a longitudinal sectional view of the device in its inopera tive condition; Fig. 2 is a corresponding view of the device in its operative, erected condition; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device in the latter condition.

The illustrated device comprises a container in the form of a generally rectangular box 10, formed of steel and reinforced at positions 11 along one of its longer sides. The box 10, in its inoperative condition, is closed by a lid 12 in two sections 12a and 12b of different lengths. Within the box 10 are transverse pivot pins 13, 14, which are supported between pairs of upright plates 15 and held in position by half-bearings 16, which are in turn retained in place by plates 17 and bolts 18.

Pivoted upon the pivot pins 13 and 14 are steel posts 18 and 19 respectively. Each post is assembled from four parallel lengths of box section and is therefore extremely strong. The posts are cut away at their ends nearer to the pivots in order to allow them to swing around the pivots without fouling the adjacent structure. The pivot pin 13 is higher in the box than the pivot pin 14 and the post 18 is correspondingly shorter than post 19, such that, when the posts are swung into the upright positions shown in Fig. 2, the upper ends of the posts are at the same height.

The lid section 12a is of such a length that it fits closely into the space between the two posts in their erected positions.

In that position, the lid section may be locked in place by means of a locking unit 20 on its underside, from which unit two long bolts 21, 22 may be extended to engage slots in the sides of posts 18 and 19 respectively.

Locking the lid section 12a in position in this way thereby locks the posts in their upright positions. The locking unit 20 is operated by a key inserted in a lock 23 on the upper side of the lid section.

The whole device is set securely in the ground with the lid flush with the ground surface. The device is located with the length of the box extending across the opening or frontage to be protected. When access past the device is required, the lid section 12a is unlocked and removed, to enable the posts to be swung downwardly about their respective pivots into the nested position within the box 10 which is illustrated in Fig. 1. The two lid sections are placed to close the box and are secured in position by the locking unit 20. In this condition, the bolt 22 engages a socket in the end of the box, while the bolt 21 engages a corresponding socket on the underside of the lid section 12b.

The posts, when erected, form a very strong and effective barrier to vehicles.

If, however, the posts become damaged in use, for example as a result of deliberate or accidental collision of a vehicle with a post, the damaged post can readily be replaced while the device remains in the ground, by removal of the relevant bolts 18, plate 17 and half-bearing 16.

In one alternative embodiment of the invention, the mechanically-operated locking unit 20 is replaced by an electrically-operated locking system.

Claims (12)

1. An access restricting device which comprises an elongate rigid container, at least two posts of such dimensions as to be storable within the container in a first position in which said posts are in mutually overlapping relationship, mounting means to support said posts in a second position in which they extend from said container in a mutually generally parallel relationship, and retaining means to secure said posts in said second position.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the elongate rigid container is of steel.

3. A device as claimed in either of the preceding claims, wherein said posts, when in said second position, are located at opposite ends of said container.

4. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said posts are of generally uniform, hollow section.

5. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the length of each post is a little less than the internal length- of the container.

6. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means comprise sockets into which the ends of the posts may be fitted.

7. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the mounting means comprise pins, transverse to the length of the container, upon which the posts are pivoted.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pivot pins are mutually staggered within the container and the posts are of different lengths.

9. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the retaining means for each post is a bolt, slidable from a retracted position into a locking position in which it extends into a hole or socket in the side of the post.

10. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the container is closed by a lid in two or more sections, one said lid section being of such a length as to extend between the posts in their erected position.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the lid, or said one section thereof, is lockable in place in both the first and second positions of the posts.

12. An access restricting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.