BARRIER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

Abstract

A barrier system is provided including a plurality of barrier members arranged in an end to end manner to form an elongate barrier structure. A first end barrier member is located at a first end of the elongate barrier structure and a second end barrier member is located at a second end of the elongate barrier structure. Each of the first and second end barrier members have base anchor means provided or associated with at least an outermost end thereof to anchor a base of the first and second end barrier members to a surface on which the barrier system is to be located in use. A pair of barrier members consisting of two adjacent barrier members, which are not the first and second end barrier members but which are adjacent to each of the same, are provided with channel means located on, at or adjacent at a top thereof.

Claims

1. A barrier system, said barrier system including a plurality of barrier members arranged in an end to end manner to form an elongate barrier structure, a first end barrier member located at a first end of the elongate barrier structure and a second end barrier member located at a second end of the elongate barrier structure, each of the first and second end barrier members having base anchor means provided or associated with at least an outermost end thereof to anchor a base of the first and second end barrier members to a surface on which the barrier system is to be located in use, and wherein a pair of barrier members consisting of two adjacent barrier members, which are not the first and second end barrier members but which are adjacent to each of the same, are provided with channel means located on, at or adjacent at a top thereof, and at least one barrier member adjacent said barrier member pairs which is not the first and second end barrier members is not provided with channel means on, at or adjacent a top thereof.

2. The barrier system of claim 1 wherein the channel means are only provided on each pair of barrier members directly adjacent the first and second end barrier members.

3. The barrier system of claim 1 wherein the channel means are provided on each pair of barrier members directly adjacent the first and second end barrier members, plus one further pair of barrier members only.

4. The barrier system of claim 3 wherein the one further pair of barrier members is located centrally or substantially centrally of the barrier system or elongate barrier structure.

5. The barrier system of claim 1 wherein a join between each of the first and second end barrier members and an adjacent barrier member is provided with or is associated with a further or second base anchor means at a base of the barrier member(s).

6. The barrier system of claim 1 wherein a join or a first inboard bolted joint between each of the first and second end barrier members and an adjacent barrier member is joined by one or more joining members or joining plates.

7. The barrier system of claim 1 wherein each barrier member of the system, at least between the first and second end barrier members, consists of a first connection end and a second connection end; the first connection end having connection means in the form of a mortise and tenon connection, and the second connection end having connection means in the form of a mortise and tenon or a joining member, joining plate and/or a bolted joint.

8. The barrier system of claim 1 wherein the base anchor means includes a tray member having a base wall that is arranged to be flush or substantially flush with a base of an end barrier member, and one or more upstanding side walls associated with the base wall.

9. The barrier system of claim 8 wherein anchor engagement means or members are provided on or associated with the base anchor means to allow the same to be anchored to the surface in use, said anchor engagement means including any or any combination of one or more bolts, pins, screws, inter-engaging members, posts, apertures, channels or through holes.

10. The barrier system of claim 8 wherein an end housing or end cap is provided on, over or associated with the tray member to close the tray member in use.

11. The barrier system of claim 5 wherein the second or further base anchor means includes a base member with one or more anchor engagement means or members associated with the same.

12. The barrier system of claim 11 wherein the base member has such dimensions that it extends outwardly beyond the base of the end barrier member with which it is joined or associated with in use.

13. The barrier system of claim 1 wherein the dimensions or width of the channel means is arranged such that at least part of the channel means protrudes outwardly from at least one side of the barrier member, thereby creating a shoulder portion between a lower or base surface of the channel means and an outer surface of the side wall of the barrier member.

14. The barrier system or claim 1 wherein the channel means consists of or includes a U-shaped or substantially U-shaped member and/or includes a base wall and two upstanding side walls provided on opposite sides of the base wall.

15. The barrier system of claim 14 wherein the upstanding side walls each have an uppermost free edge defining an opening to the at least one channel means, and wherein said free edges are provided with an inwardly protruding lip, flange or member.

16. The barrier system of claim 14 wherein the upstanding side walls each have an uppermost free edge defining an opening to the at least one channel means, and wherein a closure member is provided over or associated with the opening to close the opening in use.

17. The barrier system of claim 1 wherein securing means or members are provided on or associated with the channel means to allow the channel means to be secured to the barrier member or to a top or top surface of the barrier member in use.

18. The barrier system of claim 1 wherein joining means or one or more joining members are provided to allow joining together of two adjacent channel means or members in use.

19. The barrier system of claim 1 wherein end channel sections are provided with or associated with one or both ends of the channel means in use.

20. A method of using a barrier system, said method including the steps of arranging a plurality of barrier members in an end to end manner to form an elongate barrier structure, a first end barrier member located at a first end of the elongate barrier structure and a second end barrier member located at a second end of the elongate barrier structure, providing base anchor means with at least an outermost end of each of the first and second end barrier members to anchor a base of the first and second end barrier members to a surface on which the barrier system is to be located in use; and wherein on a pair of barrier members consisting of two adjacent barrier members, which are not the first and second end barrier members but which are adjacent to each of the same, providing channel means on, at or adjacent a top thereof; and leaving at least one barrier member adjacent said barrier member pairs which is not the first and second end barrier members without channel means on, at or adjacent a top thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0108] FIGS. 1a-1c (PRIOR ART) show examples of different conventional barrier systems;

[0109] FIGS. 2a-2d (PRIOR ART) show examples of different base anchor means that can be used to anchor the barrier systems shown in FIGS. 1a-1c;

[0110] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a barrier system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0111] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the detail F in FIG. 3;

[0112] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the detail G in FIG. 4;

[0113] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the barrier system in FIG. 3;

[0114] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the detail H in FIG. 6;

[0115] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the detail I in FIG. 7;

[0116] FIG. 9 is a side view of the barrier system in FIG. 3;

[0117] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the detail A in FIG. 9;

[0118] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the detail B in FIG. 10;

[0119] FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 9;

[0120] FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken along line E-E in FIG. 9; and

[0121] FIG. 14 is an end view of the barrier system in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0122] The embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use the invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting the scope.

[0123] While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be made in the details of the invention's construction and the arrangement of its components without departing from the scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification.

[0124] Referring to FIGS. 3 through 14, there is illustrated a barrier system 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The barrier system 300 comprises a plurality of individual barrier members joined together in an end to end manner.

[0125] In particular, barrier system 300 comprises a first end barrier member 302 and a second end barrier member 304. A third barrier member 306 is provided adjacent to first end barrier member 302 and a fourth barrier member 308 is provided adjacent to second end barrier member 304. A fifth barrier member 310 is provided adjacent to third barrier member 306 and a sixth barrier member 312 is provided adjacent to fourth barrier member 308. A seventh barrier member 314 is provided adjacent to fifth barrier member 310 and an eighth barrier member 316 is provided adjacent to sixth barrier member 312. Remaining barrier members 318 are provided in between seventh barrier member 314 and eight barrier member 316.

[0126] Although the following description refers to the barrier members 302-316 being individual barrier members, two or more of the barrier members can be pre-joined together during or post manufacture to form a length of barrier members so as to reduce the time taken to connect adjacent barriers in an end to end manner on site at which the barrier system is to be constructed. For example, a length of two barrier member could be provided having a mortise and tenon connection at each end of the length and a bolted joint provided in the join between the two barrier members forming the length.

[0127] In accordance with the present invention, the first and second end barrier members 302, 304 are both provided with first and second base anchor means at the free end and the end joining to an adjacent barrier member 306, 308 respectively (i.e. at the first bolted joint of the barrier system).

[0128] The first base anchor means in this example is an anchor tray 8, as previously described with reference to FIG. 2a. The second base anchor is a four point anchor plate 24, as previously described with reference to FIG. 2b. No other base anchor means are provided on the barrier system 300. It will be appreciated that different base anchors could be provided at the ends of the first and second end barrier members if required.

[0129] Channel means in the form of two channel members 320 are provided on a top surface 322 of the third and fifth barrier members (forming a barrier member pair) 306, 310, and on a top surface 322 of the fourth and sixth barrier members (forming a barrier member pair) 308, 312. Channel end sections 324 are joined to the ends of the channel members 320 and are located on the first and seventh barrier member 302, 314 and on the second and eight barrier members 304, 316 respectively.

[0130] Each of the barrier members 302-318 of the system is similar or the same in form and comprises a base surface 326, two upstanding and opposing side walls 328, 330, a top surface 322, and end wall 12 and an opposing end wall 332.

[0131] Each channel member 320 comprises a base wall 334 and two opposing side walls 336, 338 protruding upwardly from the edges of base wall 334, thereby forming a U-shaped channel. The channel members 320 are often referred to as T-Top members and it is to be noted that the channel members could be enclosed if required and/or could be integrally formed with the barrier members if required. Securing means in the form of a plurality of nuts and bolts 340 are provide which are located through slots 342 defined in base wall 334 and slots 344 defined in top surface 322 of the barrier members to allow the channel member 320 to be joined to the same in use.

[0132] The base wall 334 of the channel member 320 is of a width that is greater than the width of the top surface 322 of the barrier members 302-318 such that portions of base wall 334, 334 protrude outwardly from top surface 322 on both sides thereof. This creates a shoulder portion between the base wall portions 334, 334 and the barrier side walls 330, 328 respectively. The shoulder portion is used to prevent the vehicle or an object from riding too far up the barrier member following impact of the vehicle or object with the barrier member in use and to retain the vehicle or object on one side of the barrier member.

[0133] The top free edges 346, 348 of the side walls 336, 338 include an inwardly protruding flange so as to prevent any sharp edges from being exposed at the top of the barrier member.

[0134] In accordance with the present invention in one embodiment, the channel members 320 are only provided on the third and fifth barrier members 306, 310 and the fourth and sixth barrier members 308, 312 (i.e. the two barrier members forming a barrier member pair adjacent the end barrier members of the barrier system) of the barrier system. The two adjacent channel members 320 at each end of the barrier system are arranged in an end to end manner with channel end sections 324 provided at each end of the pair of channel members. The abutting ends of the channel members 320 are joined together via joining means in the form of a joining plate 350 located on an inwardly facing surface of the side walls 336, 338 which overlaps with the side walls of the two adjacent channel member side walls. Nuts and bolts 352 are located through apertures provided in the joining plate and through apertures defined in the side walls of the channel member side walls 336, 338.

[0135] In the illustration, each channel member 320 is the same length as the barrier member 306, 310 on which it is located. A longitudinal axis of the channel member 320 is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the barrier members 306, 310. Thus, in one example, each channel member is 6 m long, the barrier member is 6 m long and the combined length of the two channel members is 12 m long, spanning two barrier members.

[0136] Each channel end section 324 includes a top surface 354 and side walls 356 which have a narrowing taper from an end 358 abutting with an end of the channel member 320 to an end 360 adjacent the top surface 322 of the barrier member. The top surface 354 also has a narrowing taper from end 358 towards end 360.

[0137] The channel end sections 324 are provided on barrier members 302, 314, 304 and 316 (i.e. at either end of the barrier member pairs having the channel members provided on the same).

[0138] It is to be noted that FIG. 12 shows part of a mortise and tenon arrangement 325 used to join together two adjacent barrier members at one end thereof.