WO2002081824A1

WO2002081824A1 - Arresting barrier

Info

Publication number: WO2002081824A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/001529
Authority: WO
Original assignee: Pendlebury, Leonard, Malcolm
Priority date: 2001-04-05
Filing date: 2002-03-28
Publication date: 2002-10-17
Also published as: GB2374372B; GB0108522D0; AU2002251222A1; WO2002081824B1; EP1373642A1; GB2374372A

Abstract

To prevent a vehicle gaining access through an entrance, a barrier member (12) includes penetration means, e.g. in the form of spears (28) with pointed ends (32). These are preferably overlaid, in the direction of potential impact, by a guard plate (14) which is strong or rigid enough not to be deformed by impact of a person or animal, but will be deformed by a vehicle in motion such that the heads of the spears (28) will project therethrough , e.g. through apertures (62).

Description

ARRESTING BARRIER

The present invention relates to barriers and particularly to barriers intended to prevent a vehicle gaining access through an entrance.

In this specification, the term "vehicle" means a motorised vehicle such as a car, van or truck, or any other vehicle of a similar type.

It is common for thieves to obtain illegal entry into industrial or commercial premises using a vehicle as a battering ram to break down gates, doors and barriers.

Co-pending patent application No. GB 0003331.6 describes a barrier having a main crash bar and a pair of auxiliary bars spaced apart from the main crash bar. The barrier also comprises a pair of support means each having a pair of arms which are pivotally attached to one another, and means to brace the arms. At least one of the arms is secured in position.

In use, the arms are arranged to comprise an upright member and a generally horizontal member and either one or more members can be secured to a substrate, such as a wall and floor respectively of a building. In the event of the barrier being rammed, the force from the impact is resisted by the auxiliary bar and taken by the support, through the brace,

to the ground.

The disadvantages of this barrier are that, having rammed the barrier and possibly weakened it, the vehicle is free to be used to ram it again and again until it is weakened to such an extent that the thieves may gain entry. Furthermore, the vehicle is then available for the thieves to use to get away from the crime scene.

The present invention is intended to provide barrier means which attempts to overcome the disadvantages of the above mentioned type of barrier.

The present invention provides barrier means to prevent a vehicle gaining access through an entrance, comprising a barrier member and mounting

means for mounting the barrier member thereon, characterised in that the barrier member comprises penetration means for penetrating at least one part of a vehicle driven thereon.

The penetration means may comprise retention means adapted to prevent the vehicle withdrawing away from the penetration means. The penetration means preferably comprises at least one spear comprising a shaft having a proximate end attached to the barrier member and a distal end projecting outwardly from the barrier member.

The shaft may have a cross section which is substantially circular in shape. The distal end of the shaft may terminate as a point.

Advantageously, the, or each spear may comprise a head, disposed at the distal end of the shaft, which may comprise at least one cutting edge, and which advantageously has a cross section which is substantially square in shape. The head may also comprise the retention means.

The retention means may comprise at least one latching member which is

preferably pivotably attached to the head. Additionally, or alternatively, the retention means may comprise at least one barb.

The barrier means may also comprise a guard plate disposed, in normal circumstances, in a first state, substantially overlying the penetration

means and adapted to be capable of maintaining that first state when impacted by a maximum force capable of being exerted by a person or an animal, but capable of being deformed into a second state, when impacted by a minimum force consistent with a vehicle in motion, so that at least the head of the, or each, spear extends beyond the guard plate. The guard plate is preferably attached to the barrier member and may comprise regions of weakness suitably disposed to aid the deformation

thereof from the first state into the second state.

The guard plate may be attached to the barrier member by at least one metallic bond, preferably a weld.

Alternatively, the guard plate may be detachably attached to the barrier member.

Advantageously, the guard plate comprises at least one aperture suitably disposed so as to provide a route for at least the head of the or each spear to extend therethrough during and after deformation into the second state.

The mounting means may comprise at least one support member which may comprise pivot means to pivotably attach the barrier member thereto so as to pivot intermediate a first barrier member end and a second barrier member end.

The barrier member may comprise a weight disposed proximal to either the first barrier member end or the second barrier member end to act as a counterbalance . Alternatively a barrier means which does not comprise pivot means may comprise barrier removal means to temporarily remove the barrier thereby

allowing access through the entrance.

The barrier means may also comprise stop means adapted to limit the distance of travel of the barrier member.

The barrier means may also comprise locking means for locking the barrier member in a desired position. At least part of the locking means may be disposed on the support means and/ or at least part of the locking means may be disposed on the barrier member.

The barrier member may be formed from box section and preferably reinforced.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-

Figure 1 is a schematic front elevation of one embodiment of barrier, shown without a guard plate, according to the present invention,

Figure 2 is a partial plan view of the barrier member shown in Figure 1 but including a guard plate, as shown in Figure 3, Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the guard plate shown in Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a partial side elevation of one of the spears shown in Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the spear shown in Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the spear shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, barrier means 10 comprises a barrier member 12, having a guard plate 14, and support means 16 for supporting the barrier member thereon.

The barrier member 12 comprises an elongate member, formed from reinforced box section, having a first end 18 and second end 20. The barrier member 12 comprises a stepped region 22, proximate the first end 18, having a lower bend 23 and an upper bend 24. A pivot hole 25 is

disposed in the region of the lower bend 23. A counter balance 26 is attached to the barrier member 12 between the upper bend 24 and the first end 18 thereof.

A strengthening gusset plate 27 is welded to the barrier member 12 in the region of the step 22. Spears 28 each having a proximate end section 30 welded to the barrier member 12 and a distal end section 32 projecting outwardly thereof, are disposed at regular intervals along the length of the barrier member.

Referring now also to Figures 4, 5 and 6, each spear 28, comprises a shaft 34, formed from steel and having a circular cross section. The shaft 34 extends between the proximal end 30 and the distal end 32. The distal end 32 comprises a head 36 formed from steel and having a rectangular cross section. The head 36 terminates as a diminishing rectangular cross section comprising four faces 38 each separated by a cutting edge 39 which converge to form a point 40.

The head 36 also comprises a latching member 42 and a recess 44. The latching member is mounted on a pivot pin 46 to usually hang down perpendicular to the head 36 (as shown in Figure 4). From its usual position the latching member is pivotable into the recess 44. The guard plate 14 is disposed and shaped to overlie the points 40 of the spears 28 and comprises a first end 50 and a second end 52 which are welded to the barrier member 12. In an alternative embodiment the guard

plate 14 may be detachably attached to the barrier member 12. The guard plate 14 also comprises two plate supports 54,56, which are welded to the guard plate but not to the barrier member, thereby forming regions of weakness 58, 60, respectively. Apertures 62, are suitably disposed along the length of the guard plate 14, each to line up with a corresponding

spear 28.

The support means 16 comprises a first upright post 64 and a second upright post 66 across which the barrier member 12 is supported. The first and second posts 64,66 are embedded in concrete 68 in the ground 70. A bracket 74 having a pivot pin 76 is mounted on top 72 of the post 64. The cooperation of the pivot pin 76 with the pivot hole 25 enables the barrier member 12 to be pivotally raised about the top 72 of the first post 64, thereby allowing access between the first and second posts 64,66. The first post 64 also comprises a stop 78 which, in use, abuts the barrier member to prevent it being pivotally raised beyond a desired limit.

The second post 66 supports the second end 20 of the barrier member and comprises conventional means for locking the second end 20 to the top 80

thereof.

In use, the barrier means 10 is positioned in an entrance to premises where it is desired to prevent vehicles gaining access. The guard plate 14 has sufficient resilience to withstand the impact exerted on it by a person and will thereby prevent any contact between that person and the spears, which may cause injury. However, on impact by a vehicle, the guard plate 14 collapses, aided by the regions of weakness 58,60, and the heads 36 of the spears 28 are exposed

beyond the guard plate, through the apertures 62.

The points 40 and the cutting edges 39 penetrate the body of the impacting vehicle. During penetration, the body of the vehicle abuts the latching member 42 pivoting it into the recess 44. Once the body of the vehicle has passed over the length of the latching member 42, the latching member 42 drops down perpendicular to the head 36, thereby latching behind the internal surface of the body of the vehicle. The vehicle is thereby retained in that position preventing it from being used to further ram the barrier or to flee the area.

In alternative embodiments of this invention (not shown) the barrier member 12 may not be pivotal about the support means 16, but may be raised vertically or moved horizontally to allow access through the entrance.

Also, in a further embodiment (not shown) the support means 16 may comprise a single upright post which is capable of supporting, raising and locking the barrier member.

Furthermore, an alternative embodiment may comprise the barrier member supported between two adjacent walls of an entrance. Although the embodiments described above are in relation to a barrier member that is mounted so as to be moveable, with respect to the mounting means, for permitting authorised passage of a vehicle, it will be appreciated that such barrier member could be fixed with respect such mounting means, and further more, whether or not moveable with respect the mounting means, may be mounted at any suitable height above the ground or at ground level.

Claims

1. Vehicle barrier means to prevent a vehicle gaining access through an entrance, comprising a barrier member and mounting means for mounting the barrier member thereon, characterised in that the barrier member comprises penetration means for penetrating at least one part of a vehicle driven thereagainst.

2. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the penetration means comprises retention means adapted to prevent the vehicle withdrawing from the penetration means.

3. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, wherein the penetration means comprises at least one spear comprising a shaft

having a proximate end, attached to the barrier member, and a distal end projecting outwardly in relation to the barrier member.

4. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the shaft has a cross section which is substantially circular in shape.

5. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claim 3 and 4 wherein the distal end terminates as a point.

6. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claims 3 to 5 wherein the, or each, spear has a head disposed at the distal end of the shaft.

7. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the head has a substantially square cross sectional shape.

8. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claims 6 and 7 wherein the head comprises cutting edges.

9. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claims 6 to 8, wherein the spear head comprises the retention means.

10. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the retention means is pivotably attached to the head.

11. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claims 2 to 10, wherein the retention means comprises at least one latching member.

12. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claims 2 to 11, wherein the retention means comprises at least one barb.

13. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising a guard plate disposed, in normal circumstances, in a first state, substantially overlying the penetration means and capable of maintaining that first state when impacted by a maximum force capable of being exerted by a person or animal, and also capable of being deformed into a second state, when impacted by a minimum force consistent with a vehicle in motion, so that at least the head of the or each spear extends beyond the

guard plate.

14. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the guard plate comprises regions of weakness disposed to aid the deformation thereof from the first state to the second state.

15. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claim 13 and Claim 14, wherein the guard plate is attached to the barrier member.

16. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the guard plate is attached to the barrier member by at least one metallic bond.

17. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the or each metallic bond is a weld.

18. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claims 13 to 15, wherein the guard plate is detachably attached to the barrier member.

19. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claims 13 to 18, wherein the guard plate comprises at least one aperture suitably disposed so as to provide a route for at least the head of the or each spear to extend therethrough, during deformation into, and when in, the second state.

20. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means comprises at least one support member.

21. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the, or each, support member comprises pivot means to pivotably attach the barrier member thereto.

22. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the barrier member is pivotably attached so as to pivot intermediate a first barrier member end and a second member barrier end.

23. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claim 22, wherein either the first barrier member end or the second barrier member end comprises a weight adapted to provide a counter balance.

24. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising barrier removal means to temporarily remove the barrier to allow access through the entrance.

25. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the barrier means comprises barrier stopping means adapted to limit the movement of the barrier member to within set parameters.

26. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising locking means for locking the barrier member in a desired position.

27. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claim 26, wherein at least a part of the locking means is disposed on the support means.

28. Vehicle barrier means as claimed in Claims 26 and 27 wherein at least a part of the locking means is disposed on the barrier members.