Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to an intrusion-prevention enclosure.
Intrusion-prevention enclosures are known which are used to prevent
indiscriminate access to specific regions on the part of individuals, animals,
vehicles or others; this need usually arises from two basic reasons:
preventing uncontrolled access to locations where dangerous or discomfort-
causing situations occur for assigned personnel (industrial ovens, presses,
more or less rapidly rotating working parts, machines with optical, acoustic,
inhalable, deafening emissions), or preventing intruders from removing or
damaging products, devices or equipment on sale or in operation (theft,
vandalism, unauthorized or dangerous uses).
These intrusion-prevention enclosures are usually constituted by
mutually associated modular panels, which are installed on supporting
means which can be fixed to the ground. In the particular field, the general
trend is to provide enclosures which are easy and quick to assemble, but
their assembly requires, in known commercially available types, the
combined intervention of at least two operators, with corresponding high
installation costs.
The aim of the present invention is to meet the above-mentioned
requirements, by providing an intrusion-prevention enclosure in which
assembly is simple and can be performed even by a single operator, with
lower installation costs and short execution times.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide an
enclosure which, thanks to its particular constructive characteristics, is
capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an enclosure
which is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, effective in
operation,
and also competitive from an economic standpoint.
This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent
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hereinafter are achieved by an intrusion-prevention enclosure, of the type
which comprises a plurality of modular panels which can be mutually
associated in an orderly and predefined manner so as to provide a barrier
structure, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of ground supporting
uprights provided, substantially proximate to a respective upper end, with
detachable engagement means, which can engage in openings of said
panels, for the facilitated assembly of said enclosure by a single operator.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will
become better apparent from the following detailed description of a
preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an intrusion-prevention
enclosure according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting
example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an intrusion-prevention enclosure
according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation view of an anchoring element, associated
with an upper end of an upright, of a second embodiment;
Figure 3 is a top view of an anchoring element, associated with an
upper end of an upright, of a second embodiment;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the detail IV of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the detail V of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the detail VI of Figure 1.
With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally
designates an intrusion-prevention enclosure, which comprises a plurality of
modular panels 2, a plurality of uprights 3 provided, proximate to a
respective upper end 3a, with detachable engagement means for the panels
2, and comprises fixing means for detachably fixing the panels 2 to the
uprights 3, for rapid assembly by a single operator of the panels 2 on the
uprights 3 in a predefined and ordered manner, so as to provide a barrier
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structure which is arranged appropriately according to requirements.
The uprights 3 are provided with respective pedestals 4 for resting on
the ground, are internally hollow along their entire length, and have a
substantially square transverse cross-section; the panels 2 are each
constituted by a plurality of vertical and horizontal rods 5, which are
mutually associated so as to form a net, and the detachable engagement
means can engage in openings of the panels 2, which are constituted by
meshes 6 formed between the rods 5.
Advantageously, said engagement means comprise at least one
substantially L-shaped wing 7, which is associated peripherally with the
upper end 3a of each upright 3, and preferably there are two pairs of wings
7, one pair for each of two adjacent sides 3b of the upright 3; conveniently,
the free side 7a of each wing 7 is directed upward for the insertion in a
respective upper mesh 6 of a panel 2, so as to support it hung from at least
one upright 3, with the last horizontally arranged rod 5 rested on the second
side 7b of the wing 7, comprised between the upright 3 and the free side 7a.
In a first embodiment, each upper end 3a is rigidly provided
peripherally with at least one wing 7 for supporting the panel 2 and
preferably with two pairs of wings 7, one pair on each of two adjacent sides
3b, as shown in Figure 5; for example, the wings 7 can be provided by
stamping or blanking, or can be constituted by contoured plates which are
welded or fixed by means of screws to the upper ends 3a of the uprights 3.
In a second embodiment, the enclosure 1 comprises a plurality of
detachable anchoring elements 8, each associated with a respective upper
end 3a and provided peripherally with at least one wing 7 for supporting the
panel 2. Each anchoring element 8 is provided, in an upper region, with at
least one folded tab 9, which can be fitted in a cavity 10 of the upper end 3a
so as to substantially straddle it, for engagement to the upright 3. The
cavity
10 substantially coincides with the open upper end 3 a of the hollow upright
3. As shown in Figure 2 and in Figure 3, each anchoring element 8 is
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constituted by a plate 8a which is substantially folded at 90°, each
portion
8b, 8c of which preferably comprises two wings 7 and one folded tab 9.
The fixing means comprise a plurality of screw elements 11, which
can be inserted in respective slots 12, which are distributed at predefined
heights along each hollow upright 3, and a plurality of corresponding
perforated plates 13 and closure nuts 14. Each one of the screw means 11 is
substantially L-shaped and can be inserted with a first portion 11 a in a
corresponding slot 12, from which it protrudes with a second threaded
portion 1 lb; each one of the plates 13 is affected by a hole 13a for fitting
on
the second threaded portion 11 b, on which it is possible to screw the closure
nut 14.
The nut 14, screwed onto the second threaded portion llb of the
screw element 11, conveniently allows to fasten, between the plate 13 and
the upright 3, two vertical lateral rods 5, each of a respective panel 2 of
two
converging panels, for detachably fixing the panels 2 to the uprights 3.
Advantageously, during the screwing of the nut 14 onto the second
threaded portion 11 b, the first portion 11 a abuts inside the upright 3
against
one of the sides 3b which are adjacent to the side affected by the slot 12 for
the insertion of the respective screw element 11, thus allowing to provide a
rotation-preventing coupling and therefore allowing a single operator to
fasten the panels 2 to the uprights 3.
Advantageously, each plate 13 comprises two mutually opposite
folded edges 13b, which prevent the rods 5 from accidentally disengaging.
Positively, the vertical rods 5 of the panels 2 are folded so as to form,
on each panel 2, a regular distribution of horizontal folds 15 adapted to
stiffen its structure.
In practical operation, a single operator, after arranging the uprights 3
at the selected distance, fastens the last upper horizontal rod 5 of each
panel
2 to the wings 7 provided on the uprights 3, arranging each panel 2 between
two respective uprights 3. The panels 2, which rest with their last horizontal
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rod 5 on the second side 7b of the respective pairs of wings 7, thus hang by
themselves from the uprights 3; in this manner, a single operator can fix the
panels 2 to the uprights 3, by inserting the screw elements 11 in the
respective slots 12 and then fastening the lateral vertical rods 5 of two
converging panels 2 between the plates 13 and the uprights 3, by simply
screwing the closure nut 14 onto the second threaded portion 11 b of each
screw element 11.
Effectively, depending on the contingent requirements, it is possible
to change, by reducing them, the dimensions of the panels 2, simply by
cutting their rods 5 proximate to the intersections, until the selected size
is
obtained.
In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the
intended aim and objects, since the intrusion-prevention enclosure l,
advantageously constituted by a small number of components which can be
assembled conveniently, can be installed easily and quickly by a single
operator, with evident gains in economic terms and in terms of installation
times.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous
modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the
appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other
technically equivalent ones.
In the exemplary embodiments shown, individual characteristics,
given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with
other different characteristics which exist in other exemplary embodiments.
Terms as "upper" or "lower" are intended to only refer to the
arrangement shown on the exemplary drawings and therefore will be
interpreted as having no limiting effect on the subject-matter disclosed
and/or claimed.
Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during
the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject
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of a disclaimer.
The embodiment of the present invention shall be carried out in the
most scrupulous compliance with the statutory and regulatory provisions
related to the products of the invention or correlated thereto and following
any required authorization of the corresponding competent authorities, with
particular reference to regulations related to safety, environmental pollution
and health.
In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and the
dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art
without thereby abandoning the scope of the protection of the appended
claims.
