Electric barrier device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motorized barrier device, an access control system for managing access to a protected area, and an installation for protecting the protected area. The motorized barrier device includes a housing (11), a horizontal rigid beam (21) having a storage position and a barrier position raised relative to the storage position, a pair of folding arms (29, 39) between the housing and the horizontal rigid beam, and a motorized gear arrangement (28, 39) for raising the horizontal rigid beam from the storage position to the barrier position and lowering the horizontal rigid beam from the barrier position to the storage position.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric barrier device. [Background technology]

[0002] Motorized barrier devices are designed to cyclically raise and lower a barrier. The barrier can be in the form of a bollard, boom, etc. Motorized barrier devices can be deployed as either a permanent fixture or a portable fixture. Motorized barrier devices can be employed as stand-alone items that are manually operated. Alternatively, motorized barrier devices can be operated by remote control, smartphone app, etc. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a motorized barrier device, an access control system for managing access to a protected area, and an equipment for protecting a protected area. The motorized barrier device includes a housing, a horizontal rigid beam having a storage position and a barrier position raised relative to the storage position, a pair of folding arms between the housing and the horizontal rigid beam, and a motorized gear arrangement for raising the horizontal rigid beam from its storage position to its barrier position and lowering the horizontal rigid beam from its barrier position to its storage position. The motorized gear arrangement includes a horizontal shaft, a motor for rotating the horizontal shaft in one direction and in the opposite direction, and a pair of worm gears at the ends of both shafts for driving the pair of folding arms from a substantially horizontal folded position to a substantially upright extended position when the horizontal shaft is rotated in one direction, and from their substantially upright extended positions to their substantially horizontal folded positions when the horizontal shaft is rotated in the opposite direction. The left and right worm gears correspondingly rotate the left and right folding arms at approximately right angles between their folded positions and their extended positions. The motorized barrier device includes a self-winding flexible barrier attachment that forms a rigid frame in its barrier position and is initially stored in a housing and raised to form a barrier supported by the rigid frame in the barrier position. The flexible barrier attachment allows the horizontal rigid beam to be determined as its barrier position by raising the horizontal rigid beam until the flexible barrier attachment is stretched in tension in the height direction. The flexible barrier attachment is self-winding when the horizontal rigid beam is lowered from its barrier position to its stored position. The flexible barrier attachment also preferably includes a spring-loaded self-winding left cable and a spring-loaded self-winding right cable to ensure widthwise tension.

[0004] The motorized barrier device of the present invention may be equipped with flexible barrier attachments of different lengths and / or different heights for different applications. The flexible barrier attachments have a maximum height limited by the length of the attachments, since each folding arm in the folded state is necessarily shorter than half the length of the motorized barrier device. The motorized barrier device is designed to have an appropriate gear ratio depending on the intended application in terms of the weight of the flexible barrier attachments, the time to raise and lower the flexible barrier attachments, etc.

[0005] The motorized barrier device of the present invention can be deployed end-to-end to completely surround a protected area, e.g., a construction site, a swimming pool, etc. The motorized barrier device can be deployed in a groove to fit flush with the border adjacent to the protected area for their convenience and / or aesthetics. The motorized barrier device can be installed to meet national technical standards in terms of sturdiness, barrier height, etc. for different applications. For example, the motorized barrier device of the present invention can be installed to comply with swimming pool fencing regulations.

[0006] An access control system for managing access to a protected area may employ one or more motorized barrier devices of the present invention to prevent physical access for security reasons, safety reasons, etc. Such access control systems may automatically control access to the protected area by employing commercially available data recognition capabilities including bar card readers, biometric recognition, vehicle registration recognition, etc., among others.

[0007] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like parts are alike numbered and in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a combined front perspective and schematic view of a motorized barrier device with a flexible barrier attachment constructed from sheet material in a stowed position. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded front perspective view of the motorized barrier device in a stowed position; [Figure 2B] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded rear perspective view of the motorized barrier device in its stowed position. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4A] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded front perspective view of the motorized barrier device in the barrier position; [Figure 4B] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded rear perspective view of the motorized barrier device in its barrier position; [Figure 5A] A close-up view of the left worm gear of the motorized barrier device in its retracted position. [Figure 5B] A close-up view of the right worm gear of the motorized barrier device in its retracted position. [Figure 6A] A close-up view of the left worm gear of the electric barrier device in its barrier position. [Figure 6B] A close-up view of the right worm gear of the electric barrier device in its barrier position. [Figure 7A] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded front perspective view of a motorized barrier device with a flexible barrier attachment comprised of a horizontal wire in a barrier position; [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is a partially exploded rear perspective view of the motorized barrier device of FIG. 7A in its barrier position. [Figure 8A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an access control system for allowing access to a swimming pool. [Figure 8B] 8B is a transverse cross-section taken along line AA in FIG. 8A. [Figure 9A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an access control system that denies access to a swimming pool. [Figure 9B] 9B is a transverse cross-section taken along line BB of FIG. 9A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] 1-6 show a motorized barrier device 10 having a generally rectangular parallelepiped housing 11 with a front panel 12, a rear panel 13, a top panel 14, a bottom panel 16, a left end panel 17 and a right end panel 18. The top panel 14 is formed with a top longitudinal slot 19 extending therealong. The housing 11 has external dimensions of length L, width W and height H. The length L may be in a wide range of lengths, for example 1 m to 3 m. The width W may be in a wide range of widths, for example 20 cm to 40 cm. The height H may be in a wide range of heights, for example 15 cm to 35 cm. The motorized barrier device 10 may be powered by a mains power source, a rechargeable battery or the like.

[0010] The barrier device 10 includes a horizontal rigid beam 21 having a left beam end 21A and a right beam end 21B, the horizontal rigid beam 21 having a storage position and a barrier position raised relative to the storage position. The horizontal rigid beam 21 is preferably flush with the top plate 14 in its storage position. The barrier device 10 includes a spring-loaded self-rolling flexible barrier mount 22 mounted on the housing 11. The flexible barrier mount 22 includes a leading flexible barrier mount edge 22A attached to the horizontal rigid beam 21. The flexible barrier mount 22 may be made of a sheet material, a mesh material, or the like. The flexible barrier mount 22 may be made of a cloth, a plastic, a metal, or the like.

[0011] The barrier apparatus 10 includes a horizontal shaft 23 having a left shaft end 23A and a right shaft end 23B and coextensive with the horizontal rigid beam 21. The barrier apparatus 10 includes an electric motor 24 for rotating the horizontal shaft 23 clockwise and counterclockwise via a gear transmission 26. The electric motor 24 is preferably a commercially available low profile tubular motor. The electric motor 24 preferably includes an automatic switch off feature which automatically switches it off when the motorized barrier apparatus 10 is in its retracted position and its barrier position.

[0012] The barrier device 10 includes a left worm gear 28 on the left shaft end 23A for driving the left folding arm 29 between the folded position and the extended position. The left folding arm 29 includes a left upper arm 31 and a left lower arm 32. The left upper arm 31 includes a leading left upper arm end 31A pivotally connected to the horizontal rigid beam 21 and a trailing left upper arm end 31B with a left upper arm gear wheel 33. The left lower arm 32 includes a leading left lower arm end 32A with a left lower arm gear wheel 34 that engages with the left upper arm gear wheel 33 and a trailing left lower arm end 32B driven by the left worm gear 28. The barrier device 10 further includes a leading side left support arm end 36A having a rotatable connecting bracket 37 rotatably connected to the trailing side left upper arm end 31B and the leading side left lower arm end 32A, and a trailing side left support arm end 36B rotatably connected to the housing 11, such that the left support arm 36 moves in conjunction with the left folding arm 29.

[0013] The barrier device 10 includes a right worm gear 38 on the right shaft end 23B for driving the right folding arm 39 between the folded position and the extended position. The right folding arm 39 has a right right arm 41 and a right lower arm 42. The right right arm 41 includes a leading right arm end 41A pivotally connected to the horizontal rigid beam 21 and a trailing right arm end 41B with a right right arm gear wheel 43. The right lower arm 42 includes a leading right lower arm end 42A with a right lower arm gear wheel 44 that engages with the right right arm gear wheel 43 and a trailing right lower arm end 42B driven by the right worm gear 38. The barrier device 10 further includes a right support arm portion 46 including a leading side right support arm end 46A having a rotatable connecting bracket 47 rotatably connected to the trailing side right upper arm end 41B and the leading side right lower arm end 42A, whereby the right support arm portion 46 moves in conjunction with the right folding arm portion 39.

[0014] The flexible barrier attachment 22 preferably includes a self-winding left cable 48 that is spring-loaded on the left side of the barrier device 10 and a self-winding right cable 49 that is spring-loaded on the right side of the barrier device 10. The left cable 48 and the right cable 49 are preferably sewn to the left and right edges of the flexible barrier attachment 22, respectively. The left cable 48 has a cable end 48A that is attached to the housing 11 and an opposite cable end 48B that is attached to either the horizontal rigid beam 21 or the leading left upper arm end 31A. The right cable 49 has a cable end 49A that is attached to the housing 11 and an opposite cable end 49B that is attached to either the horizontal rigid beam 21 or the leading right upper arm end 41A.

[0015] The flexible barrier attachment 22, the left folding arm 29, and the right folding arm 39 are dimensioned such that the flexible barrier attachment 22 restrains the left folding arm 29 and the right folding arm 39 from being fully extended. In other words, by raising the horizontal rigid beam 21 until the flexible barrier attachment 22 is taut in the vertical direction, further elevation of the horizontal rigid beam 21 is restrained, whereby the flexible barrier attachment 22 determines the barrier position of the horizontal rigid beam 21. The housing 11, the horizontal rigid beam 21, the left folding arm 29, and the right folding arm 39 form a rigid frame 50 to support the flexible barrier attachment 22 in their substantially upright extended position. The taut extension of the left cable 48 and the right cable 49 in the vertical direction in turn results in the taut extension of the barrier material therebetween. The left worm gear 28 and the right worm gear 38 are essentially self-locking in the sense that the barrier device 10 will remain in its barrier position without operation of the electric motor 24.

[0016] The barrier device 10 may be operated by a manual up / down switch 51, an up / down remote control 52, a smartphone app 53, or the like. The barrier device 10 may generate an alarm in case of malfunction or the like. The barrier device 10 may be operated by a controller 54 having a user interface 56. The barrier device 10 may be automatically operated depending on its deployment. For example, the barrier device 10 may be automatically operated according to a predefined timing schedule. Alternatively, the barrier device 10 may be automatically operated depending on the ambient light conditions, for example, in its stowed position during the day and in the barrier position at night, or vice versa. Yet again, the barrier device 10 may also be automatically operated by an access control system 57 employing commercially available data recognition capabilities including bar card readers, biometric recognition, vehicle registration recognition, among others.

[0017] Operation of the barrier device 10 between its stowed position and its barrier position is as follows.

[0018] In its stored position, the horizontal rigid beam 21 is in its stored position flush with the top plate 14, the flexible barrier attachment 22 is fully automatic and the left folding arm 29 and right folding arm 39 are folded inwardly towards each other. To facilitate reducing the height H of the barrier device 10, the left bracket 37 allows the left upper arm 31 to overlap the left lower arm 32 and the right bracket 47 allows the right upper arm 41 to overlap the right lower arm 42. The left folding arm 29 and right folding arm 39 are preferably generally horizontal in the stored position of the barrier device 10.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 5A, looking at the left worm gear 28 from the gear transmission 26, the clockwise rotation of the horizontal shaft 23 causes the left worm gear 28 to rotate the left lower arm 32 upwards by approximately a quarter turn, and then rotate the left upper arm 31 upwards relative to the left lower arm 32 to extend the left folding arm 29. Then, as shown in Fig. 5B, the right worm gear 38 simultaneously rotates the right lower arm 42 upwards by a quarter turn, and then rotates the right upper arm 41 upwards relative to the right lower arm 42 to extend the right folding arm 39. Thus, the horizontal rigid beam 21 rises from its retracted position to its barrier position until it is restrained by the full extension of the flexible barrier attachment 22 to form a rigid frame 50.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 6A, looking at the left worm gear 28 from the gear transmission 26, the counterclockwise rotation of the horizontal shaft 23 causes the left worm gear 28 to rotate the left lower arm 32 downward by approximately a quarter, and then rotate the left upper arm 31 downward relative to the left lower arm 32 so that the left upper arm 31 overlaps the left lower arm 32. Then, as shown in Fig. 6B, the right worm gear 38 simultaneously rotates the right lower arm 42 downward by approximately a quarter, and then rotates the right upper arm 41 downward relative to the right lower arm 42 so that the right upper arm 41 overlaps the right lower arm 42. Thus, the rigid beam 50 controllably collapses, allowing the flexible barrier attachment 22 to automatically unwind in preparation for the subsequent ascent.

[0021] 7A and 7B show a barrier device 10 including a flexible barrier attachment 61 constituted by a horizontal wire 62 extending between a left cable 48 and a right cable 49. Stretching the left cable 48 and the right cable 49 taut in height in turn stretches the horizontal wire 62 between them taut.

[0022] 8A-9B show an installation 100 including a swimming pool 101 constituting a protected area. The installation 100 includes a pool deck 102 constituting a boundary surrounding the swimming pool 101. The installation 100 includes a groove 103 formed in the pool deck 102. The groove 103 preferably has the same height and width as the barrier device 10 so as to receive the barrier device snugly. FIGS. 8A and 9A show an access control system 200 for managing access to the swimming pool 101. The access control system 200 includes 12 barrier devices 201 surrounding the swimming pool 101 and a controller 202 for controlling their operation. The barrier devices 201 are deployed in the grooves 103 such that the barrier devices fit flush with the pool deck 102 in their retracted position (see FIGS. 8A and 8B). Adjacent barrier devices 201 are positioned close enough together to block passage between them. The barrier device 201 preferably includes a flexible barrier attachment 203 that allows the swimming pool 101 to be viewed therethrough in inaccessible locations (see Figures 9A and 9B).

[0023] While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be understood that many variations, modifications, and other applications of the invention can be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electric barrier device, a) a housing; b) a horizontal shaft attached to the housing, the horizontal shaft having a left shaft end and a right shaft end; c) a horizontal rigid beam having a left beam end and a right beam end, the horizontal rigid beam having a stowed position and a barrier position raised relative to the stowed position; d) a left folding arm, a left upper arm portion having a leading left upper arm end pivotally connected to the horizontal rigid beam and a trailing left upper arm end having a left upper arm gear wheel; a left lower arm portion having a leading left lower arm end and a trailing left lower arm end, the leading left lower arm end including a left lower arm gear wheel that engages with the left upper arm gear wheel; a left support arm portion including a leading-side left support arm end having a rotatable connection bracket rotatably connected to the trailing-side left upper arm end and the leading-side left lower arm end, and a trailing-side left support arm end rotatably connected to the housing; Including, a left folding arm, the left folding arm being rotatable between a substantially horizontal folded position overlapping the horizontal axis and a substantially upright extended position; e) a right folding arm, a right upper arm portion having a leading right upper arm end pivotally connected to the horizontal rigid beam and a trailing right upper arm end having a right upper arm gear wheel; a right lower arm portion having a leading right lower arm end with a right lower arm gear wheel that engages with the right upper arm gear wheel, and a trailing right lower arm end; a right support arm portion including a leading-side right support arm end having a rotatable connection bracket rotatably connected to the trailing-side right upper arm end and the leading-side right lower arm end, and a trailing-side right support arm end rotatably connected to the housing; Including, the right folding arm is rotatable between a substantially horizontal folded position overlapping the horizontal axis and a substantially upright extended position; a right folding arm, the right folding arm and the left folding arm being folded toward one another in their substantially horizontal folding position, and the right folding arm and the left folding arm being substantially parallel in their substantially upright extended position; f) a left worm gear on the left shaft end for driving the left folding arm between the folded position and the extended position; g) a right worm gear on the right shaft end for driving the right folding arm between the folded position and the extended position; h) a motor for rotating the horizontal axis in a certain direction to drive the left worm gear and the right worm gear so that the horizontal rigid beam is raised from the storage position to the barrier position, and the housing, the left folding arm, the right folding arm and the horizontal rigid beam form a rigid frame; a motor rotating the horizontal shaft in opposite directions to drive the left worm gear and the right worm gear such that the motor lowers the horizontal rigid beam from the barrier position to the storage position; i) a self-rolling flexible barrier attachment that is initially stored in the housing at the stored position and raised to form a barrier supported on the rigid frame at the barrier position, the flexible barrier mounting allows the barrier position of the horizontal rigid beam to be determined by raising the horizontal rigid beam from the stored position to an extended height; a flexible barrier mounting that is automatically rolled up when the horizontal rigid beam is lowered from the barrier position to the stowed position; An electric barrier device comprising:

2. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible barrier attachment includes a self-rewinding left cable on a left side of the barrier device and a self-rewinding right cable on a right side of the barrier device.

3. 1. An access control system for managing access to a protected area, comprising: (a) at least one motorized barrier device according to claim 1 or 2; (b) a controller for controlling the at least one motorized barrier device; and An access control system comprising:

4. 3. An installation for protecting a protected area, comprising at least one motorized barrier device according to claim 1 or 2 for controlling access to said protected area.

5. 5. The facility of claim 4, further comprising a boundary adjacent to the protected area and a groove in the boundary for deploying the at least one motorized barrier device therein, the horizontal rigid beam in the stored position being flush with the boundary.

6. The arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the trench surrounds the protected area and the at least one electrically powered device is disposed in the trench to surround the protected area.

7. 5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein the at least one motorized barrier device allows for viewing through the protected area.

8. 5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein the protected area is a swimming pool.

9. 5. The facility of claim 4, further comprising an access control system for controlling the at least one motorized barrier device.

10. 1. A method for managing access to a protected area, comprising: (a) providing at least one motorized barrier device according to claim 1 or 2; (b) controlling the at least one motorized barrier device; A method comprising:

11. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the facility includes a boundary adjacent to the protected area and a groove in the boundary for deploying the at least one motorized barrier device therein, the horizontal rigid beam of which in its stored position is flush with the boundary.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the trench surrounds the protected area and the at least one powered device is disposed in the trench to surround the protected area.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one motorized barrier device allows for viewing of the protected area therethrough.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the protected area is a swimming pool.

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