VEHICLE AND PERSONAL BARRIER FOR CONSTRUCTION SITE

BARRIERE POUR VEHICULES ET PIETONS POUR CHANTIER DE CONSTRUCTION

English Abstract

A combined pedestrian and vehicle barrier for a construction site and having upright post members spaced apart, the members having retention means, vehicle barrier members of predetermined length and height and defining support means at each end, engagable with said retention means on the posts, an intermediate fence rail extending between the posts adjacent to the upper extremity of the vehicle barrier members, and, personal fence panels located between the posts, and extending above the intermediate fence rails.

French Abstract

Une barrière combinée pour véhicules et piétons pour un chantier de construction et comportant des éléments de montant verticaux espacés, les éléments comportant des moyens de rétention, des éléments de barrière pour véhicule dune longueur et dune hauteur prédéterminées et définissant des moyens de support à chaque extrémité, pouvant se mettre en prise avec lesdits moyens de rétention sur les montants, une traverse de clôture intermédiaire sétendant entre les montants adjacents à lextrémité supérieure des éléments de la barrière pour véhicule, et des panneaux de clôture personnels situés entre les montants et sétendant au-dessus des traverses de clôture intermédiaire.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS;
1. A combined pedestrian and vehicle barrier construction site fence system

comprising:
a plurality of upright post members spaced apart, the members defining an H
shaped
transverse cross section, and upper and lower ends;
pairs of retention side flanges on opposite sides of said post members ;
base plates attached to said lower ends of said posts adapted to be secured to
the
ground;
vehicle barrier members of predetermined length and height and defining
predetermined upper edges ;
end support connectors secured to each end of each said vehicle barrier member

inter-engageable between respective pairs of said side flanges on said posts;
an intermediate transverse fence rail extending between said posts adjacent to
the
upper edges of said vehicle barrier members; said fence rail forming a
downwardly
open channel fitting over said upper edges of said vehicle barrier members,
and,
personal fence panels located between said posts, and extending above said
intermediate fence rails and above said vehicle barrier members .
2. The combined pedestrian and vehicle barrier construction site fence
system
as claimed in claim 1 wherein said intermediate fence rail is secured to said
upright posts by generally right angular brackets.

3. The combined pedestrian and vehicle barrier construction site fence
system
as claimed in claim 2 wherein the vehicle barrier members define a
predetermined
length, and wherein said personal fence panels comprise rectangular
frameworks,
formed with a length corresponding to the length of said vehicle barrier
members and
fitting between respective upright posts, and generally L-shaped brackets
securing said
rectangular frameworks to said upright posts.
4. The combined pedestrian and vehicle barrier construction site fence
system
as claimed in claim 3, wherein the personal barriers further comprise wire
mesh
material supported in said frames, permitting pedestrians to view the work on
the
construction site.

Description

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a combination barrier for construction sites and in
particular to
an accident preventative barrier for protecting a site from accidents to both
vehicles and
pedestrians.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Barriers for protecting construction sites are of a wide variety. In some
cases, simple
fences are erected. In other cases, elaborate barricades of plywood and
overhead
protection are provided. In some cases openings are provided at intervals for
viewing
by pedestrians.
Usually these barriers are erected on a custom basis on site. In many cases
they use
new lumber, and involve various trades. When the building is finished and they
are no
longer required, the fences are then scrapped.
These practices are clearly a waste of resources, and also pose problems for
disposal.
It is desirable to provide a modular barrier which can be erected around a
construction
site and which can be taken down and reused at another site. In this way, the
barriers
can be put up by unskilled labour, and the problems of disposing of waste
material are
eliminated.
Another problem also arises in connection with protecting construction sites,
for
example, protecting outsiders from unauthorised entry into the construction
site and
becoming injured.
Clearly pedestrian barriers are intended to protect pedestrians from accidents
in the
construction site, and to exclude unwanted intrusion.
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However many construction sites are located close to road ways and highways,
and the
possibility of vehicles going out of control and plunging into the
construction site are
serious. It is therefore desirable to provide a combined barrier which both
excludes
pedestrians and also provides substantial protection against incursions by
vehicles.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With a view to providing a combined pedestrian and vehicle barrier in a
modular
construction, the invention comprises a construction site fence system having
a plurality
of upright post members spaced apart, the members defining retention means,
vehicle
barrier members being of predetermined length and height and defining support
means
at each end engagable with said retention means on said posts, an intermediate
fence
rail extending between said posts adjacent to the upper extremity of said
vehicle barrier
members, and, personal fence panels located between said posts, and extending
between said intermediate fence rails and said posts.
The invention further provides such a combined barrier wherein the upright
posts are of
H-shaped cross section, defining retention means on opposite sides thereof for

engagement with said vehicle barrier members.
The invention further provides such a combined barrier wherein the vehicle
barrier
members define a predetermined height and a uniform cross section along their
upper
edges, and wherein said intermediate fence rail defines a generally U-shaped
channel,
facing downwards and engaging said upper edges of said vehicle barrier
members, and
wherein said intermediate fence rail is secured to said upright posts by
generally right
angular brackets.
The invention further provides such a combined barrier wherein the vehicle
barrier
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members define a predetermined length, and wherein said personal fence panels
comprise rectangular frameworks, formed with a length corresponding to the
length of
said vehicle barrier members and fitting between respective upright posts, and
generally L-shaped brackets securing said frame to said posts.
The invention further provides such a combined barrier wherein the personal
barriers
are further formed of wire mesh material supported in said frames, permitting
pedestrians to view the work on the construction site.
The invention further provides such a combined barrier wherein said upright
posts are
formed with base plates, adapted to be secured to the ground.
The invention further provides such a combined barrier wherein the vehicle
barrier
members are formed with end support means at each end of each said barrier,
and
wherein each end support means inter engage with said retention means on said
upright posts.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed
out
with more particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure.
For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and
specific
objects attained by its use, reference should be made to the accompanying
drawings
and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred
embodiments of the invention
IN THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of a portion of a typical construction
site, illustrating
the fence system of the invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of a fence post, and a vehicle barrier member,
and a
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personal barrier partly cut away;;
Figure 3 is a section along the line of 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a section along the line of 4-4 of Figure 3; and,
Figure 5 is an end elevation of a typical vehicle barrier, known as a "jersey"
barrier.
DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
As illustrated generally in Figure 1, the invention is there shown embodied in
a
construction site barrier indicated generally as (10). The barrier comprises a
plurality of
upright posts (12) , fastened to the ground at spaced intervals. Between the
posts (12)
there are lower vehicle barrier members (14), typically formed of elongated
precast
concrete, and defining lower wide angled portions (16) , and upper steeply
angled
portions (18). Such vehicle barrier members are well known and are used in
many
countries. They provide in the lower portions, a means of deflecting the
wheels of a
vehicle, so that the vehicle may be redirected into a direction more or less
parallel with
the barrier, and thereby less likely to cause a major vehicle crash.
As is well known, the lower wide angled portions (16) flare outwardly in order
to, as far
as possible, deflect the wheels in the manner described above. The upper
angled
portion is more steeply angled. Such barriers are widely used in separations
of
highways in many countries. As a rule they have a standard length and a
standard
height. Located generally above the vehicle barrier members (14), there are
personal
barrier screens (20), typically, although not necessarily formed of a wire
mesh material,
permitting pedestrians to view the building site, whilst excluding entry.
Referring now in more detail to the Figures 2 - 5, it will be seen that the
posts (12) are
of generally H-shaped section (Figure 4) and are mounted on base plates (22),
and
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reinforced by gussets (24). The plates will typically be fastened to the
ground. The H-
shaped section configuration is seen to define a central web, and side flanges
(26) on
either side of the web.
The typical concrete vehicle barriers (14) incorporate in most cases, steel
connecting
elements (28) (Fig 5) at each end. These connecting elements are found to
interfit
between the side flanges (26) of the vertical posts (12) and provide a secure
means of
maintaining the vehicle barrier members in alignment.
In order to provide for further security, an intermediate rail namely,
channel, (30) (Fig 3)
is secured transversely, normal to the axis of the posts (12) by means of L-
shaped
attachment brackets (32). The channel (30) is dimensioned to make a fit around
the
top of the vehicle barriers (14) (Fig 1). It is open downwardly and embraces
the upper
edge of barriers (14)
In order to provide a personal barrier, extending above the vehicle barrier
members
(14), the invention further provides the screens (20). Screens (20) are
typically formed
of wire mesh, although they could be solid screens if desired. The screens
(20) are
formed with frames (34), of generally L-shaped sections, which are welded into
a
rectangular shape.
The frames (34) will have a length corresponding to the length of the vehicle
barriers
(14), so as to fit snuggly between adjacent upright posts (12). They may be of
any
70 suitable height deemed necessary, in this case reaching an upper limit
of around six
feet from the ground, or about three feet above the edge of the barriers (14).
These
dimensions are not critical and are given here merely by way of general
guidance. The
frames ( 34) are secured in the H-shaped sections of the posts by L-shaped
brackets
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as shown (Fig 3). Mesh screen material (38) is secured in the frames (34).
It will be seen that by means of the invention, a modular prefabricated
construction site
barrier is provided, which may be erected around a construction site, and when
no
longer required, may be dismantled and reused at another site. At the same
time, the
entire barrier provides protection against intrusion, both by vehicles and by
personnel in
an effective and yet aesthetically pleasing manner. The vehicle barrier
members, and
the wire mesh personal personal barriers are both effective for the purpose
and are
also generally unsuitable for posting of bills, or graffiti, which are an
unsightly addition to
construction site barriers in many cases.
The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
which
is given here by way of example only. The invention is not to be taken as
limited to any
of the specific features as described, but comprehends all such variations
thereof as
come within the scope of the appended claims.

Representative Drawing