PORTABLE BARRIER CLIP

Abstract

Components for a visual safety warning barrier or for a guide barrier to identify allowable and/or prohibited traffic areas are described. A clip (1) is attached to a tubular member (2). The clip (1) has a body member (3) with spaced first (4) and second (5) ends to define an open segment (6). The diameter of the body member (3) is substantially identical to the diameter of the tubular member (2). An open hook (8) extends from the outer surface (9) of the body member (3) to accommodate the link (10) of a chain. The tubular member (2) is urged through the open segment (6) causing the first (4) and second (5) ends to flex outwards sufficient for the interior surface (7) of the body member (3) to mate with the exterior surface (11) of the tubular member (2) as the ends (4,5) return to their initial positions, retaining the clip (1) on the tubular member (2). By applying sufficient pressure either to the tubular member (2) or to the clip (1), the ends (4,5) again flex enabling release of the clip (1). When used in a barrier system, the chain (25) can readily be detached from the hook (8) creating a passageway. Where there is an immediate and urgent requirement to pass through the barrier, pressure applied to the chain (25) releases the clip (1) from its stanchion (23), allowing the clip (1) and chain (25) to drop to the floor and creating the necessary passageway.

Claims

1. A portable barrier clip for removable attachment to an elongated member, said clip comprising: a retaining collar having a first end, a body member depending from said first end and terminating in a second end, said second end being spaced from said first end to define an open segment of said retaining collar, said body member having an interior surface substantially complementary in configuration to the exterior surface of said elongated member; and a securing means fixed to said body member for securing a chain, tape, rope, wire or band; characterized in that: for operative connection and disengagement of said clip to said elongated member, said body member can readily flex to expand said open segment sufficient to enable said body member to be placed over or removed from said elongated member, said body member for said operative connection being adapted to retract so that substantially the entire length of said interior surface of said body member mates with said exterior surface of said elongated member sufficient to retain said clip on said elongated member.

2. A clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing means is an open hook.

3. A clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing means is a closed eyelet.

4. A set of components for a barrier, said components comprising at least two of said clips as defined in any one of claim 1.

5. A set of components as defined in claim 4 which includes at least one said clip with a said securing means being an open hook, and at least one second said clip with a said securing means being a closed eyelet.

6. A set of components as defined in claim 4 which includes a multiple of said clips of various dimensions to accommodate operative connection to said elongated members of various configurations.

7. A portable barrier comprising: two elongated member supports such as stanchions to be used to define the extremities of said barrier; two of said clips as defined in any one of claim 1 for connection to respective said elongated member supports; and a length of chain, tape, rope, wire or band that can be connected between said two clips.

8. A portable barrier as defined in claim 7 which is a visual safety warning barrier.

9. A portable barrier as defined in claim 7 which is a guide barrier to identify allowable and/or prohibited traffic areas.

10. A clip as defined in any one of claim 1 to 3, or a set of components as defined in any one of claims 4 to 6, or a portable barrier as defined in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein said chain is a metal or plastic chain.

11. A clip as defined in claim 10, or a set of components as defined in claim 10, or a portable barrier as defined in claim 10, wherein said chain is a plastic chain.

12. A clip as defined in claim 11, or a set of components as defined in claim 11, or a portable barrier as defined in claim 11, wherein said chain is a coloured plastic chain, the colour selected being indicative of the purpose of said barrier.

13. A set of components as defined in claim 4, wherein said chain is a metal or plastic chain.

14. A set of components as defined in claim 13, wherein said chain is a plastic chain.

15. A set of components as defined in claim 14, wherein said chain is a coloured plastic chain, the colour selected being indicative of the purpose of said barrier.

16. A portable barrier as defined in claim 7, wherein said chain is a metal or plastic chain.

17. A portable barrier as defined in claim 15, wherein said chain is a plastic chain.

18. A portable barrier as defined in claim 17, wherein said chain is a coloured plastic chain, the colour selected being indicative of the purpose of said barrier.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the clip of the invention attached to a tubular member of circular cross-section;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the clip of the invention attached to a tubular member of square cross-section; and

[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the clips illustrated in FIGS. 1 & 2 used as components in a guide barrier to identify allowable and/or prohibited traffic areas.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] With reference to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, a clip (1) is attached to a round pipe-like tubular member (2) of diameter D. The clip (1) has a curved body member (3) with spaced first (4) and second (5) ends to define an open segment (6). The diameter of the body member (3) as determined with reference to its interior surface (7) is substantially identical to the diameter D of the tubular member (2). An open hook (8) extends from the outer surface (9) of the body member (3) to accommodate the link (10) of a chain (FIG. 3). The clip (1) is conveniently manufactured from a plastics material.

[0033] In use, to affix the clip (1), the tubular member (2) is urged through the open segment (6) causing the first (4) and second (5) ends to flex outwards in respective directions U and V. The interior surface (7) of the body member (3) mates with the exterior surface (11) of the tubular member (2) as the ends (4,5) return to their initial positions, thus retaining the clip (1) on the tubular member (2). By applying sufficient pressure to the tubular member (2) in direction A or sufficient pressure to the clip (1) in direction B, the ends (4,5) again flex in their respective directions U and V enabling release of the clip (1).

[0034] Turning to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, a clip (11) is attached to a pipe-like tubular member (12) of square cross-section of diameter E. The clip (11) has a body member (13) of square cross-section with spaced first (14) and second (15) ends to define an open segment (16). The diameter of the body member (13) as determined with reference to its interior surface (17) is substantially identical to the diameter E of the tubular member (12). A closed eyelet (18) extends from the outer surface (19) of the body member (13) to accommodate the link (20) of a chain (FIG. 3). The clip (11) is conveniently manufactured from a plastics material.

[0035] In use, to affix the clip (11), the tubular member (12) is urged through the open segment (16) causing the first (14) and second (15) ends to flex outwards in respective directions S and T. The interior surface (17) of the body member (13) mates with the exterior surface (21) of the tubular member (12) as the ends (14,15) return to their initial positions, thus retaining the clip (11) on the tubular member (12). By applying sufficient pressure to the tubular member (12) in direction H or sufficient pressure to the clip (11) in direction Z, the ends (14,15) again flex in their respective directions S and T enabling release of the clip (11).

[0036] The barrier (22) illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises: a first stanchion (23) of circular cross-section to which the clip (1) of FIG. 1 is attached; a second section (24) of square cross-section to which the clip (11) of FIG. 2 is attached; and a plastic chain (25), having one link (20) at one end permanently fixed to the eyelet (18) of the clip (11) on stanchion (24), and another link (10) at its other end removably fixed to the hook (8) of the clip (1) on stanchion (23).

[0037] In use, the barrier (22) can function as a guide barrier to identify allowable and/or prohibited traffic areas, such uses being well known in theatres, airports and the like. Should a person require to pass through the barrier (22) in normal circumstances, the chain (25) can readily be detached from the hook (8), and the chain (25) dropped, thus creating a passageway between the stanchions (23,24). However, in circumstances where there is an immediate and urgent requirement to pass through the barrier to escape, for example, a fire in a building, where there is likely to be a significant number of panicked people seeking passage through the barrier simultaneously, the pressure applied to the chain (25) as such people push against the chain (25) is sufficient for the clips (1,11) to be easily disengaged from their respective stanchions (23,24), allowing the clips (1,11) and chain (25) to drop to the floor and creating the necessary passageway between the stanchions (23,24).

[0038] The present invention thus offers a number of advantages over the prior art which include: [0039] has multiple uses, including: as a component in a visual safety warning barrier; and as a component in a guide barrier to identify allowable and/or prohibited traffic areas; [0040] light weight in construction; [0041] less costly to manufacture; [0042] easier to deploy; and [0043] can provide a barrier which may be readily disengaged in an emergency.

[0044] The terms comprising or comprises as used throughout the specification and claims are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components referred to but not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature/s, integer/s, component/s or group thereof.

[0045] It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are only exemplification of the various aspects of the present invention and that modifications and alterations can be made thereto without departing from the inventive concept as defined in the following claims.