Fences – Rail – Braced
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-10
2001-10-02
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Fences
Rail
Braced
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296234
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a crush barrier, comprising a support and an essentially vertically positioned flat screen, fixed to said support.
In the prior art crush barriers are usually used to form a temporary partition for people or animals. In the prior art crush barriers are usually made up of metal tubes. With this arrangement a number of horizontally positioned tubes arranged above one another form a screen which can be held in the vertical position by tubes which are positioned transversely to the screen and form a support. So as to be able to form a closed partition from separate crush barriers, the crush barriers are provided at either end with coupling means, with the aid of which crush barriers positioned next to one another can be detachably fixed to one another.
A significant disadvantage of the crush barriers according to the prior art is the poor handling characteristics of the crush barriers. Firstly, the crust barriers according to the prior art from a rigid construction. The known crush barriers are therefore difficult to stand take up a relatively large amount of space during storage and transport. Secondly, the known crush barriers are usually made of steel and are therefore relatively heavy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention is to provide a crush barrier with the aid of which, in use, a safe and reliable partition can be constructed, the crush barriers being of relatively lightweight and compact construction.
Said aim is achieved in the present invention in that said support forms an essentially rectangular flat element that is hingebly connected to said support with the aid of one or more arms, the various features being such that the screen is able to hinge from a folded-down position essentially parallel to the support into an opened-out position essentially transverse to the support. The advantage of this measure is that, in use, the crust barrier according to the present invention forms a construction that requires a relatively large amount of space, whilst the crush barrier can be folded down to give a relatively compact unit during transport and storage.
Furthermore, according to the present invention it is advantageous that the crush barrier comprises two arms an essentially rectangular step, wherein said step is arranged between two arms, at one longitudinal edge thereof is hingebly fixed to said arms and at the other longitudinal edge has means with the aid of which the step can be fixed to the screen when the crush barrier is in the opened-out position.
The advantage of placing a step between the arms and the screen is firstly that the rigidity of the crush barrier in the opened-out position increases significantly. Secondly, in use, the step can be used by, for example, security personnel. When security staff take up position on the step they are standing higher than the public on the other side of the crush barrier and are therefore easily able to maintain supervision or to provide assistance.
According to the present invention, it is furthermore advantageous that, in the opened-out position, the arms and the step are located on one side of the screen, the support comprising an essentially open surface on that side of the screen and the support comprising an essentially closed surface on the other side of the screen.
In use, the public and the like will be located on one side of the crush barrier whilst the officials, security staff and the like will be located on the other side. As a result of the chosen construction, the crush barrier is free from obstacles on the public side. The general public is consequently able to take up position on the essentially closed surface of the support on the public side of the screen. As a result of the weight of the general public on the support, the crush barrier will be extra firmly fixed onto the substrate and the risk of the crush barrier falling over is minimal. Nobody has to be able to take up position on the support on the other side of the crush barrier. The support is therefore provided with an essentially open surface on this side. As a result of this measure, the weight of the support remains as low as possible.
Furthermore, according to the present invention is advantageous that the screen is provided at the bottom with lips having holes through them which, in the opened-out position of the crush barrier, are in line with the holes through the support.
Locking elements can be placed in the holes through the lips and the support. With the aid of these elements the screen can firstly be fixed in a vertical position. At the same time, two crush barriers located next to one another are fixed to one another by the locking elements. What is achieved as a result of this measure is that the crush barriers can be erected and dismantled relatively easily and quickly.
Furthermore, it is advantageous that the crush barrier is essentially made of aluminium. The crush barrier according to the present invention can be made of any suitable material. However, by constructing the crush barrier of aluminium a relatively lightweight crush barrier is produced. The ease of handling of the crush barriers improves as a result of this measure.
Furthermore, it is a advantageous that the screen is partially open. The effect of this measure is that the openings in the screen can be used for looking through the screen. Moreover, the openings can be used for feeding air and sound. If the crush barrier according to the present invention is, for example, used at pop concerts, where large groups of people are restrained with the aid of the crush barrier, these people are able to look, breathe and receive sound through the openings in the screen.
The present invention will now be described with reference to a number of figures, in which:
REFERENCES:
patent: 3107900 (1963-10-01), De Paolo
patent: 4909483 (1990-03-01), van Herpen
patent: 4979725 (1990-12-01), Hutchings, II et al.
patent: 5356119 (1994-10-01), Schock
patent: 5599006 (1997-02-01), Gevaux et al.
patent: 5722642 (1998-03-01), Bradshaw
patent: 641 118 (1993-09-01), None
patent: 2 228 510 (1990-08-01), None
Browne Lynne H.
Cottingham John
Young & Thompson
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