Abstract: A control mechanism for a retractable reeled tape comprising tape wound on a rotatably mounted spindle so as to be retractably deployable therefrom to selected lengths, said control mechanism comprising: a pawl and tooth arrangement bearing on the spindle such as, when engaged, to permit rotation of the spindle in a direction whereby tape is wound onto the spindle, but to obstruct rotation of the spindle in a direction whereby tape is unwound therefrom; and a clutch mechanism operable to disengage the pawl such that, with the pawl so disengaged, the spindle is free to rotate in either direction. A barrier tape dispenser incorporating such a control mechanism, a tape barrier system comprising multiple such dispensers, and a temporary barrier incorporating such dispensers on suitable uprights, are also described.

Abstract: A barrier unit for mounting on a road traffic control upright is described, comprising a hollow tape cartridge with a spindle rotatably mounted therein having tape wound thereon. A deploying aperture is provided in the cartridge through which a leading edge of tape projects to allow the tape to be dispensed by unwinding from the spindle. The cartridge has a receiving means on the tape cartridge to engagingly receive a leading edge of tape from another like cartridge and a mounting means associated with a lower part of the cartridge to mount the tape cartridge on or about an upper part of the road traffic control upright, allowing deployment of a temporary barrier system using several such cartridges and/or like mountings. A temporary barrier system and a method of temporary barrier deployment are also described.