WO2004070117A1

WO2004070117A1 - Retractable barrier system

Info

Publication number: WO2004070117A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/000517
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian James Prismall
Original assignee: Primac Limited
Priority date: 2003-02-08
Filing date: 2004-02-09
Publication date: 2004-08-19
Also published as: GB0302921D0; GB2412399A; US7802605B2; GB0514866D0; GB2412399B; US20060162872A1

Abstract

A retractable barrier system comprises a plurality of barrier posts (12) interconnectable by flexible barrier material (24), and a dispenser device (10) upon which the posts (12) can be carried and from which the posts (12) can be dispensed, in sequence, to erect a barrier

Description

RETRACTABLE BARRIER SYSTEM

This invention relates to a retractable barrier system, and in particular

to a system whereby a retractable barrier can be erected swiftly, when

required.

Retractable barriers are available in a number of forms, and typically

comprise a rotatable spool upon which a length of a flexible barrier material,

for example in the form of webbing, is wound. A spring arrangement is

usually provided to urge the spool to rotate in a direction to take up any slack

in the barrier material. In use, the spool is fixed in a desired position and,

when the barrier is to be erected, the free end of the barrier material is pulled

to unwind barrier material from the spool, the free end of the barrier material

being secured in a suitable position by using a suitable fastening device. As

the material is drawn from the spool, the spool is rotated against the spring

biasing thereof. When the barrier is no longer required, the barrier material is

released by releasing the fastening device. The spring biasing of the spool

causes the spool to rotate, the barrier material being wound onto the spool. In

some applications the spool is located within a housing which is permanently

secured to, for example, a wall, a piece of -----urniture or a permanent or semi-

permanent structure. It is also common to mount such spools upon moveable

posts to allow the erection of temporary barriers in any location including

outdoors. Barriers of this type are used in a range of applications, including

queue or flow management in shops, airports, conference centres or arenas,

and the like. Where there is a change in the flow of people through an area,

there may be a requirement to alter the layout of the barriers used in queue or

flow management. If the layout is to be changed rapidly in response to a

change in queue or flow patterns, then it is desirable to use a barrier system

capable of being reconfigured quickly. It is an object of the invention to

provide a system capable of use in such circumstances or for short term

intermittent use.

According to the present invention there is provided a retractable

barrier system comprising a plurality of barrier posts interconnectable by

flexible barrier material, and a dispenser device upon which the posts can be

carried and from which the posts can be dispensed, in sequence, to erect a

barrier. One of the posts is preferably connected to the dispenser device by

flexible barrier material.

Each post conveniently carries one or more spring biased rotatable

spools upon which flexible barrier material can be wound, a free end of the

barrier material being securable to an adjacent post or securable to, for

example, a wall mounted bracket or a free-standing anchor post by a suitable

connector. One or more similar spools may be provided on the dispenser unit

The connector is preferably of releasable form and may include a socket

having an opening formed therein and a coupling member which can be fitted

completely into the socket through the opening thereof, subsequent angular movement of the coupling member resulting the coupling member occupying

an orientation in which it cannot pass through the opening.

The posts are preferably designed to be of a nestable form, thereby

increasing the number of posts which can be carried in a compact fashion by

the dispenser device.

The dispenser device may be wheeled, and may be arranged to permit

retraction of the wheels or to allow the wheels to be locked against movement.

The dispenser device preferably includes a post support arrangement

for carrying the posts. The post support arrangement may include arms which

can, in one embodiment, be lowered to assist in loading the posts into or onto

the dispenser device.

One or more display boards may be provided on the dispenser device.

The or at least one of the display boards may be electrically powered or

controlled. When electrically powered, the display board may be powered

from a battery or storage device mounted upon the dispenser device, or may

be solar powered. Where battery power is used, the battery may be

rechargeable using, for example, a plug or socket which can be connected to a

wall mounted socket or plug, or using solar energy. In an alternative

arrangement, a conductor may extend along the barrier material to allow the

transmission of electrical energy and/or control signals along the barrier to the

display board.

The invention further relates to a flexible barrier material incorporating

an electrical conductor, and to a connector comprising a housing having an opening therein and a coupling device which, in one orientation, can pass

completely through the opening into the housing, subsequent angular

displacement of the coupling device preventing passage of the coupling

device through the opening.

The invention will --urther be described, by way of example, with

reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating a retractable barrier

system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention in a stowed

condition;

Figure 2 illustrates the system of Figure 1 in an extended condition;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view illustrating dispensing of the

barrier system;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side view illustrating retraction of the

barrier system;

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a post;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view illustrating part of the post of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling member;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a housing;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the coupling member;

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate two alternative designs of post;

Figures 12 to 14 are side, front and plan views, respectively, of a

further post design; and Figures 15 to 17 are side, front and plan views, respectively of a post of

an alternative barrier system.

Referring to the drawings, a retractable barrier system is shown which

comprises a dispenser device 10 upon which, in the stowed condition shown

in Figure 1, is a plurality of posts 12. Each post 12 takes the form of sheet

material, for example a sheet of steel, which has been folded to form two

walls 14 of a generally pyramidal body. The lower edges of the walls 14 are

turned inwardly as shown in Figure 6 to form a channel 16 in which a ballast

material 18 is provided. A rubber or rubber-like strip 20 is provided along the

lower edges of the walls 14 and beneath the channel 16 to resist sliding

movement of the post 12, in use, and also to nrmimise the risk of damage to a

floor surface upon which the system is used.

At the apex of each post 12 is provided a generally cylindrical housing

22 containing a spring biased spool arrangement of any suitable form, a length

of flexible barrier material in the form of webbing 24 being secured to the

rotatable spool located wimin the housing 22.

The housing 22 of each post 12 is provided with a pair of laterally

extending arms 26.

The free end of the webbing 24 associated with each post carries a

coupling member 28 of the type shown in Figures 7 and 9. As illustrated, the

coupling member 28 includes a central body part 30 having a slot 32 provided

therein through which the free end of the webbing extends, the webbing

conveniently being folded and sewn to prevent removal of the coupling member 28 from the webbing. From the sides of the central part 30 extend a

pair of flanges 34, the central parts of which are provided with rounded pips

36.

Each post 12 has mounted thereon a socket 38 of form shown in Figure

8. The socket 38 comprises a housing 40 having an opening 42 formed

therein. The opening 42 is of dimensions tailored to the dimensions of the

coupling member 28 so as to allow the coupling member 28 to be passed

completely through the opening 42 by inserting the coupling member 28

sideways or side edge first into the opening 42. Once located completely

within the housing 40, the rotation of the coupling member 28 through

approximately 90° moves the coupling member 28 into an orientation in

which it cannot pass through the opening 42 and so is secured within the

housing 40 of the socket 38. To function in this manner, the dimension 44

shown in Figure 9 should be slightly smaller than the width 46 of the opening

42, and the dimension 48 shown in Figure 9 should be greater than the width

46 of the opening 42.

It will be appreciated that the connector arrangement shown in Figures

7 to 9 is releasable, but unintentional release of the connector arrangement is

very unlikely to occur.

As shown in Figure 1, when stowed, the posts are arranged with the

coupling member of each post connected to the socket of an adjacent post.

The dispenser device 10 comprises a housing 50 carried by retractable

wheels 52 to allow the housing to be moved reasonably easily. The housing 50 is provided with a pair of arms 54 which extend parallel to one another.

The arms 54 are adapted to cooperate with the arms 26 associated with each

post 12 such that the posts 12 are carried by the dispenser device 10.

The dispenser device is provided with a housing 56 cont-iining a spool

of design similar to the spools associated with the posts, the webbing of the

spool associated with the dispenser device having, at its free end, a coupling

device of the type described hereinbefore which is received within the socket

of one of the posts.

The lower edge of the dispenser device may be provided with a rubber

or rubber-like material strip similar to that provided on the posts.

The system shown in Figure 1 is intended for use in conjunction with a

wall mounted socket 58 of form similar to that described hereinbefore. As

shown, the coupling member 28 associated with one of the posts is received

by the wall mounted socket 58.

When the barrier system of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 is to

be erected, the dispenser device is moved away from the wall. As the

dispenser device is moved, the webbing 24 associated with an end one 12a of

the posts 12 is pulled from the spool until the webbing is fully unwound from

the spool. Continued movement of the dispenser device will cause the end

post 12a to be pulled from the dispenser device 10, and in webbing 24 being

unwound from the spool of the next post 12b. Again, once the webbing 24 is

fully unwound the post 12b will be pulled from the dispenser device 10.

Movement continues until either the barrier is fully extended (as shown in Figure 2) or until the barrier has reached the desired length. Once either of

these conditions has been reach, the wheels 52 of the dispenser device 10 are

retracted, braked or locked to resist movement thereof.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the coupling members 28 are provided

with pips 36. The provision of the pips 36 allows a degree of articulation

between each coupling member 28 and the associated socket 38, thereby

accommodating slight undulations and/or slopes in the surface upon which the

system is to be used. This may be particularly advantageous where the system

is used outside.

To return the system to its stowed condition the wheels 52 of the

dispenser device are extended and the dispenser device moved back towards

its starting position. The initial movement results in webbing being taken up

onto the associated spool, such movement continuing until the arms 54 of the

dispenser device 10 engage the arms 26 of one of the posts. Once such a

position has been reached, continued movement of the dispenser device

causes the post to tilt, as shown in Figure 4. The tilting movement results in

the arms 26 lifting or rising slightly, due to the location of the housing 22

forward of the rear tips of the side walls 14, the lifting movement being

sufficient to allow the arms 26 to ride onto the arms 54 to allow the post to be

carried by the dispenser device 10. Movement of the dispenser device

continues until all of the posts have been collected and returned to their

stowed configuration shown in Figure 1. Although the illustrated arrangement includes a pair of arms 26

associated with each post, it may be possible to provide more arms 26, or only

a single arm 26.

As shown in Figure 4, the dispenser device 10 conveniently carries one

or more display boards 60. Although the display boards may be arranged

simply to support printed or hand written signage, they could take the form of

electrically powered displays powered from, for example, batteries carried by

the dispenser device 10. The batteries may be rechargeable, and the dispenser

device may include a plug or socket to allow the batteries to be recharged

automatically when the dispenser device is in a stowed condition.

Alternatively, the display boards may be solar powered. Another alternative

is for the display boards to be powered and/or controlled using one or more

electrical conductors associated with and extending along the webbing 24.

For example, a conductor may be secured to or woven into the webbing.

Although the arrangement described hereinbefore makes use of a single

wall mounted socket to which the webbing of one of the posts was already

secured, systems are envisaged in which a number of sockets, for example

wall mounted sockets, are provided at appropriate locations. When the barrier

is required, the dispenser unit is moved to the desired location, the coupling

member associated with the end one of the posts is secured to the chosen

socket and the dispenser unit is then moved to erect the barrier as described

hereinbefore. It is also envisaged that the system may be used in conjunction

with a socket mounted upon a free standing anchor post which could also be carried by the dispenser device so that, when the barrier is to be erected, the

dispenser device is positioned at one end of the desired barrier location, the

anchor post is removed from the dispenser device and appropriately

positioned, and the dispenser device is moved away to erect the barrier.

It will be appreciated that the design of post described hereinbefore is

advantageous in that the posts are of a nestable design, part of each post being

receivable within an empty space formed in an adjacent post. Such a design

allows an increased number of posts to be carried by the dispenser device. It

will be appreciated that the invention may be used with other post designs,

and in particular other nestable post designs, for example of the type shown in

Figures 10 and 11. These designs include a V-shaped base 64 from which an

angled post member 66 extends, the upright carrying the spool housing. In

the design of Figure 10 the post member 66 extends from the apex of the base

64, the Figure 11 arrangement having the post member 66 extending from one

of the free ends of the base 64.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 illustrate a further alternative post design. This

design includes a generally V-shaped base 68. A pair of side members 70 a

secured close to the ends of the base 68, and a front support member 72 is

connected to the base 68 at the apex of the V-shape. The side members 70

and front support member 72 together serve to support a housing 74

containing the spool, etc and to which arms or other components to allow

dispensing/collection of the posts can be mounted. Conveniently, the base 68

and members 70, 72 are of weighted tubular or bar form. Arrows 76 illustrate some directions in which webbing may be retracted from or connected to the

post. It will be appreciated, however, that the arrows 76 are merely examples

of suitable directions. As with the other post designs described hereinbefore,

the arrangement of Figures 12, 13 and 14 is designed to allow the posts to nest

together.

Although the arrangements described hereinbefore make use of a single

spool on each post, more spools could be provided on one or more of the

posts. Figures 15 to 17 illustrate an alternative post design in which each post

is provided with a pair of housings 22 containing spools, one spool housing

being located close to the top of each post and the other spool housing being

located at approximately half the height of the post. The webbing associated

with both of the housings 22 is connected or connectable, in use, to an

adjacent one of the posts. The post comprises a generally inverted U-shaped

base 78 from the front of which an inverted U-shaped, angled upright 80

extends. A pair of side member 82 serve to support the upright 80. Cross

members 84 interconnect the limbs of the upright 80 and carry the housings

22.

A number of modifications and alterations may be made within the

scope of the invention. For example, in one envisaged arrangement, the

housing 22 is of a shape other than generally cylindrical as mentioned

hereinbefore. Further, the arms 54 of the dispenser arrangement may be

adapted to permit a degree of lifting and lowering thereof to assist in the

collection of the posts. In such an arrangement, the dispenser device is moved to a position adjacent a post to be collected, the arms 54 are lowered to a

height slightly lower than the arms 26 of the post, and the dispenser device is

moved to a position in which the arms 54 thereof are positioned below the

arms 26. The arms 54 can then be raised to lift the post 12 from the ground

and allow continued movement of the dispenser device to collect other posts.

A further alternative is to replace the arms 26 with an alternative

support means to allow the posts 12 to be carried by the dispenser device 10.

One possible technique may be to provide each post 12 with an opening or

openings into or through which the arms 54 may extend when the post 12 is

carried by the dispenser device 10. The opening(s) may be provided in a

socket secured to the post 12, if desired. It will further be appreciated that,

depending upon the position of the opening(s), only a single arm 54 may be

required in some possible embodiments.

In each of the arrangements described hereinbefore, the posts 12 are

designed such that the webbing 24 is dispensed from the rear side of the post,

in the direction of movement of the dispenser device 10 during dispensing.

However, it will be appreciated that this need not be the case and the webbing

24 could, for example, be dispensed from the front side of the post. In such an

arrangement, if wall mounting is desired, it may be desirable to mount a spool

onto the wall in a suitable location, the end of the webbing of the wall

mounted spool being securable to one of the posts. It will ---urther be

appreciated that the posts may be designed to allow webbing to be secured to,

for example, the sides thereof. Although the term webbing is used frequently herein, other types of

flexible elongate member may be used as the barrier material, and the

invention is not restricted to the use of webbing for this purpose.

Further alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of

the invention.

Claims

1. A retractable barrier system comprising a plurality of barrier posts

interconnectable by flexible barrier material, and a dispenser device upon

which the posts can be carried and from which the posts can be dispensed, in

sequence, to erect a barrier.

2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein one of the posts is connected

to the dispenser device by flexible barrier material.

3. A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein at least one of the

posts carries one or more spring biased rotatable spools upon which flexible

barrier material can be wound, a free end of the barrier material being

securable to a fixing.

4. A system according to Claim 3, wherein the fixing is provided on

another post.

5. A system according to Claim 3, wherein the fixing comprises a wall

mounted bracket or a free-standing anchor post.

6. A system according to any of Claims 3 to 5, wherein one or more

similar spools are provided on the dispenser unit.

7. A system according to any of Claims 3 to 6, wherein the barrier

material is securable to the fixing by a releasable connector.

8. A system according to Claim 7, wherein the connector includes a

socket having an opening formed therein and a coupling member which can

be fitted completely into the socket through the opening thereof, subsequent angular movement of the coupling member resulting the coupling member

occupying an orientation in which it cannot pass through the opening.

9. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the posts

are designed to be of a nestable form.

10. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the

dispenser device is wheeled.

11. A system according to Claim 10, wherein the wheels of the dispenser

device are retractable.

12. A system according to Claim 10, wherein the wheels can be locked

against movement.

13. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the

dispenser device includes a post support arrangement for carrying the posts.

14. A system according to Claim 13, wherein the post support arrangement

includes at least one arm.

15. A system according to Claim 14, wherein the or each said arm is

lowerable to assist in loading the posts into or onto the dispenser device.

16. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or

more display boards are provided on the dispenser device.

17. A system according to Claim 16, wherein the or at least one of the

display boards is electrically powered or controlled.

18. A system according to Claim 17, wherein when electrically powered,

the display board is powered from one of a battery, a storage device mounted

upon the dispenser device, or solar powered.

19. A system according to Claim 18, wherein, where battery power is used,

the battery is rechargeable.

20. A system according to Claim 17, wherein a conductor extends along

the barrier material to allow the transmission of electrical energy and/or

control signals along the barrier to the display board.

21. A flexible barrier material incorporating an electrical conductor.

22. A connector comprising a housing having an opening therein and a

coupling device which, in one orientation, can pass completely through the

opening into the housing, subsequent angular displacement of the coupling

device preventing passage of the coupling device through the opening.

23. A retractable barrier system substantially as hereinbefore described

with reference to the accompanying drawings.