Barrier

Abstract

A moveable barrier 10 or chain of moveable barriers comprises first linkages 34a / 34b and electrical connector 100 at a first end, and second linkages 36a / 36b and electrical connector 102 at a second e

Description

The present invention is concerned with movable barriers such as pedestrian barriers. Movable pedestrian barriers are well known and widely used e.g. at public events and on construction sites. They may for example be used to exclude pedestrians from areas that are hazardous or private, to define walkways, to channel queues of pedestrians and so on. Compared with fixed barriers such as brick walls, fences or bollards, movable barriers can be moved from place to place on-site in response to changing circumstances, and from one site to another. One widely used form of pedestrian barrier comprises a tubular metal frame supportable in an upright configuration by a pair of ground-engaging legs, and provided at each of its two ends with linkages for connecting to other, similarlyformed, barriers, so that the barriers can be linked together in elongate chains. These linkages may comprise pins on one barrier for receipt in corresponding sockets on the next. Movable barriers are often used in unlit areas, making it necessary or at least desirable to provide such barriers with some form of lighting, both to make the barrier itself visible and to help pedestrians to see their surroundings. This can be done by retrofitting a light source such as an LED light bar to the pedestrian barrier. This approach is unsatisfactory for several reasons. Cabling, through which the retrofit lighting is powered, is typically left exposed and needs to be routed to a power supply. Cabling may, for example, be secured to the structure of the barrier using removable fixings such as cable ties. Long chains of barriers may require voluminous cabling. Safety of such arrangements is questionable and the time taken fortheir installation is considerable. Where barriers need to be moved from one place to another, e.g. as work progresses on a construction site, the labour involved in disassembling, moving and reinstating the cabling and lights can be a significant burden. A better solution is needed to the problem of providing movable barriers with lighting. According to the present invention, there is a movable barrier having a first end and a second end, the first end being provided with a first linkage and the second end being provided with a second linkage, the first linkage being connectable to a second linkage of a similarlyformed neighbouring barrier to couple the movable barrier to the neighbouring barrier, wherein the movable barrier further comprises a first electrical connector at the first end, at least one light source drivable by electrical power received through the first electrical connector to provide illumination in the vicinity of the pedestrian barrier, and a second electrical connector at the second end for connecting to a complementary electrical connector of the neighbouring barrier to supply to the neighbouring barrier electrical power received through the first electrical connector. Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 depicts a pedestrian barrierembodyingthe present invention viewed from one side and linked to another, similarly formed, barrier; Figure 2 depicts part of the pedestrian barrier; Figure 3 depicts parts of a cross bar and uprights of the pedestrian barrier with some detail being cut away and indicated in phantom, to reveal internal features; and Figure 4a depicts end regions of two neighbouring pedestrian barriers; and Figure 4b depicts an electrical connector arrangement of the two neighbouring pedestrian barriers at an enlarged scale. The pedestrian barrier 10 depicted in the drawings comprises upper and lower crossbars 12, 14 connected by end uprights 16a, 16b and by intermediate uprights 18 to form an approximately rectangular barrier panel 20 having a first end 22 and a second end 24. The pedestrian barrier 10 is movable, being configured to rest upon the ground stably with the barrier panel 20 in an upright orientation but lacking any permanent foundation to keep it in one location. The pedestrian barrier 10 has first and second ground-engaging arrangements 26,28 separated from one another along its length. In the present embodiment each of the ground-engaging arrangements comprises a pair of legs 30a, 30b depending in a “V” formation from the lower crossbar 14 so that ends 32a, 32b form feet to rest upon the ground. The invention imposes no particular limitations on the materials or mode of construction of the pedestrian barrier 10, but in the present example it comprises steel tubing with various joints formed by welding. An anti-corrosive layer may be provided, e.g. by anodization. The pedestrian barrier 10 is configured to be releasably coupled to neighbouring barriers 10a at its first and second ends, so that multiple pedestrian barriers 10 are able to be linked to one another in an elongate chain. For this purpose, the pedestrian barrier 10 comprises linkages 34a, 34b of a first type at its first end and linkages 36a, 36b of a second type at its second end, the linkages of the first type being receivable by or otherwise able to couple to the linkages of the second type. The coupling thus formed permits one pedestrian barrier 10 to turn relative to its neighbour through a range of angles, so thatthe chain of pedestrian barriers 10 need not be a straight line, viewed from above - it can incorporate corners and it can approximate curves. In the present embodiment, the linkages 34a, 34b of the first type comprise pins 40 and the linkages 36a, 36b of the second type comprise sockets 42 to receive the pins 40. The pins 40 are substantially “n”-shaped, having one upright limb 44 welded to the first end upright 16a and another upright, depending limb46 which is insertable into the corresponding socket 42 to form the coupling. The sockets 42 each comprise a block welded to the second end upright 16b and having an upright bore (not seen) to receive the limb 46 of the corresponding pin 40. Coupling two barriers 10, 10a simply involves raising the barrier 10a sufficiently to drop the depending limbs 46 into the sockets 42, and releasing one barrier 10 from the other 10a is equally straightforward. The linkages between adjacent barriers 10, 10a may take different forms in other embodiments of the invention. In accordance with the present invention, the pedestrian barrier 10 is provided with electrical light emitters. In the present embodiment the electrical light emitters comprise light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”) 50, although other current or future light-emitting technology may be adopted in other embodiments. The LEDs 50 are arranged in the upper crossbar 12, being aligned with openings in the form of slots 52 in the crossbar, through which light is emitted. In the present embodiment numerous LEDs 50 are provided at intervals along at least the majority of the length of the upper crossbar 12. The slots 52 face downwards and outwards from two sides of the upper crossbar 12 (only the slots 52 on one side of the upper cross bar 12 are visible in Figures 1 and 2, but the end of one slot 52a on its other side can be seen in phantom in Figure 3) to illuminate the ground in the vicinity of the pedestrian barrier 10. The LEDs 50 are housed in a lighting housing 54, indicated in phantom in Figure 3, which is removable from the pedestrian barrier 10 for replacement or repair. In the present embodiment the upper crossbar 12 is tubular and the lighting housing 54 is insertable through an end 56 thereof. For this purpose, at least one of the end uprights 16a, 16b is removably coupled to the upper and lower crossbars 12,14. The first end upright 16a has an elbowed upper portion 60 whose free end 62 (see Figure 3) receives a cylindrical connector 64. The connector is receivable in the end 56 of the upper crossbar 12. Threaded fasteners 66 (see Figure 2) pass through aligned holes 68 (see Figure 3) in the first end upright and in the connector 64 to secure these parts together. Threaded fasteners 70 pass through aligned holes 72 in the upper crossbar 12 and in the connector to secure these parts together. A lower elbowed portion of the first end upright is similarly coupled to the lower crossbar 14 through threaded fasteners 74 (see Figure 1), so that by removing the threaded fasteners 70, 74, the first end upright 16a can be removed, after which the lighting housing 54 can be slid out of the upper crossbar 12. The lighting housing 54 contains the LEDs 50 and needs to provide for light from them to emerge. It may have individual windows for this purpose, but in the present embodiment the lighting housing54 has a transparent housing wall 80 formed, in this example, of clear acrylic material. The lighting housing54 of the present embodiment also contains a bank of electrical batteries 82 for driving the LEDs 50. The batteries 82 are rechargeable. In other embodiments the batteries 82 are omitted. The lighting housing 54 may form an enclosure for the LEDs 50 (and the batteries 82 if present) which is sealed against ingress of water. Electrical wiring is provided for connecting the LEDs 50 to an electrical power supply (not shown). In the present embodiment, the pedestrian barrier 10 has a first electrical connector 90 at its first end 22, and a second electrical connector 92 at its second end 24, the first electrical connector 90 of one pedestrian barrier 10 being receivable by the second electrical connector 92 of a neighbouring pedestrian barrier 10a. In this way, power-supply connections to the pedestrian barriers 10,10a can be daisy chained. That is, electrical connections to multiple pedestrian barriers 10,10a can be made in series. The arrangement minimises exposed cabling, and allows for very straightforward assembly and disassembly of chains of pedestrian barriers 10, 10a. In the present embodiment, and as best seen in Figure 4b, a first junction box 100 on the first end upright 16a leads via a short length of cable 102 to the first electrical connector 90, and a second junction box 102 on the second upright 16b carries the second electrical connector 92. Electrical wiring (not seen in the drawings) conducts electrical power from the electrical connectors 90, 92 to the LEDs 50 through parts of the end uprights 16a, 16b and the upper cross bar 12 to the LEDs 50, and also connects the first electrical connector to the second electrical connector for onward transmission of power. The first electrical connector 90 may serves as a power input, receiving electrical power to drive the LEDs 50, with the second electrical connector 92 serving as a power output, sending power received from the power input to the next pedestrian barrier 10 in the chain, or vice versa. Electrical supply may be at low voltage (e.g. 12V) for safety. Input electrical supply may be connected to one end of a daisy chain of pedestrian barriers 10, 10a through one of the electrical connectors 90, 92. The electrical supply may come from an on-site supply (e.g. a connections to a mains supply, or to an on-site generator), in which case a transformer will typically be provided to step down voltage. Additionally or alternatively, an on-site renewable power source may be provided, which may comprise a wind turbine or solar cells, with battery capacity (e.g. from the integral batteries 82) and / or the on-site supply being used to continue operation when the renewable power source cannot provide the necessary power. In some embodiments, provision is made to adjust the lighting level provided, based on the proximity of pedestrians. In the present embodiment the pedestrian barrier 10 is provided with a movement sensor, and more specifically with a passive infra-red movement sensor 104, and with control electronics to increase the light output of the LEDs 50 in response to movement detected in the vicinity. Thus, for example, the LEDs 50 may by default be off, or may be in a dim state, when no movement is detected, and then be switched on, or brightened, for a preset period in response to detection of movement. Additionally or alternatively, the pedestrian barrier 10 may be provided with an ambient light sensor and with control electronics configured to turn on the LEDs 50, and / or to brighten then, in response to low levels of ambient light, whereby the LEDs 50 can be lit at night and when low light levels make them necessary, but switched off when high levels of ambient light make them unnecessary. The LEDs 50 of the present embodiment are of a type capable of providing white light and of providing light of other colours. In the present embodiment, the colour of their emitted light can be changed to provide pedestrians with visible signals. For example, red light may be used to indicate that a pedestrian barrier 10 adjoins a forbidden or dangerous area of land, and green light to represent a safe route. At public events with multiple entry points (e.g. at a sport stadium with multiple stands), the lighting of pedestrian routes may be colour coded to match, for each route (blue for one stand, red, for another, and so on) with each spectator being given the colour of the route to their seat or place (e.g. on a ticket or mobile phone application). In such embodiments, one pedestrian barrier 10 may serve as a master module, having control electronics for controlling output light colour fora complete daisy chain of barriers. Control may for example be through an application running on a computing device which may transmit control signals to the control electronics through an unwired communications protocol such as WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, LTE etc. The above embodiments are presented by way of example and not of limitation. Any number of variants and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims. For example, the physical structure of the movable barrier could be formed of plastics in place of metal. It could comprise a mesh barrier panel in place of the tubular structure depicted. The ground-engaging feet / legs that maintain the movable barrier upright may be replaced with some other feature such as a broad base to the barrier. The mechanical coupling between neighbouring barriers may take quite a different form, e.g. a bolted connection, and so on.

Claims

1. A movable barrier having a first end and a second end, the first end being provided with a first linkage and the second end being provided with a second linkage, the first linkage being connectable to a second linkage of a similarly formed neighbouring barrier to couple the movable barrier to the neighbouring barrier, wherein the movable barrier further comprises a first electrical connector at the first end, at least one light source drivable by electrical power received through the first electrical connector to provide illumination in the vicinity of the pedestrian barrier, and a second electrical connector at the second end for connecting to a complementary electrical connector of the neighbouring barrier to supply to the neighbouring barrier electrical power received through the first electrical connector.

2. A movable barrier as claimed in claim 1 comprising a tubular member which contains the light source, the tubular member having an opening through which light from the light source is emitted.

3. A movable barrier as claimed in claim 2 comprising a housing containingthe light source, the housing being removably received in the tubular member.

4. A movable barrier as claimed in claim 3 in which the housing is sealed against ingress of water.

5. A movable barrier as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 further in which the tubular member is a cross member of a barrier panel.

6. A movable barrier as claimed in claim 5 when dependent on claim 3 in which an end of the cross member is coupled to an upright member through a coupling which is releasable, so that releasing and removing the upright member gives access to an open end of the tubular member through which the housing is able to be removed.

7. A movable barrier as claimed in claim 2 or in any of claims 3 to 6 when dependent on claim 2, comprising at least five light sources at different locations along the tubular member.

8. A movable barrier as claimed in claim 2 or in any of claims 3 to 7 when dependent on claim 2 further comprising rechargeable electrical cells contained in the tubular member.

9. A movable barrier as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 in which the housing further contains rechargeable electrical cells able to drive the light emitter.

10. A movable barrier as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a motion sensor and control electronics configured to activate the light emitter, or to change its brightness, in response to detection of motion.11.A movable barrier as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising an ambient light sensor and control electronics configured to control the light emitter in response to sensed ambient light level.

12. A movable barrier as claimed in any preceding claim in which the light emitter is able to selectively emit light of two or more different colours.

13. A chain of movable barriers as claimed in any preceding claim in which the first electrical connector of each movable barrier, save for one movable barrier at an end of the chain, is connected to the second electrical connector of a neighbouring movable barrier in the chain, whereby electrical power is transmitted through the chain to power the movable barriers’ light emitters.

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