COMPACT STACKABLE FENCE SUPPORT

Abstract

A stackable barrier including a generally planar fence portion and a plurality of generally identical supports, supporting the generally planar fence portion, each of the generally identical supports including a generally triangular main planar portion and a pair of oppositely directed side portions which extend in respective planes angled with respect to main planar portion, each of the plurality of generally identical supports being arranged with respect to the generally planar fence portion such that planes of the main planar portion of at least two of the generally identical supports are not mutually parallel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to barriers generally.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following U.S. patents are believed to represent the current state of the art: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,182,948; 5,934,035; 5,533,714 and 4,827,873.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an improved, stackable, barrier.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a stackable barrier including a generally planar fence portion and a plurality of generally identical supports, supporting the generally planar fence portion, each of the generally identical supports including a generally triangular main planar portion and a pair of oppositely directed side portions which extend in respective planes angled with respect to main planar portion, each of the plurality of generally identical supports being arranged with respect to the generally planar fence portion such that planes of the main planar portion of at least two of the generally identical supports are not mutually parallel.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the pair of oppositely directed side portions each form an angle in the range of 70-120 degrees with respect to the main planar portion. Preferably, the generally planar fence portion is fixedly mounted onto the plurality of generally identical supports.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the generally planar fence portion includes a peripheral frame which supports and encloses fencing. Preferably, the plurality of generally identical supports are formed of a single piece of metal which is bent to define the main planar portion and the pair of oppositely directed side portions.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the pair of oppositely directed side portions extend in first and second planes which intersect along a plane which is generally perpendicular to the main planar portion. Preferably, the first and second plane are angled with respect to each other by more than 90 degrees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a barrier constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view illustration of the barrier of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional illustrations of the barrier of FIGS. 1 & 2, taken along respective lines IIIA-IIIA and IIIB-IIIB in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial illustration of a plurality of stacked barriers constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view illustration of the stacked barriers of FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 6A and 6B are sectional illustrations of the barrier of FIGS. 4 & 5, taken along respective lines VIA-VIA and VIB-VIB in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-3B, which illustrate a stackable barrier constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The term “stackable” as used throughout is intended to include both stackable and nestable. The barrier is particularly suited for crowd control and other temporary placement applications, but is not limited to such applications.

As seen in FIGS. 1-3B, the barrier, designated by reference numeral 100, includes a generally planar fence portion 102 which is preferably fixedly mounted, as by welding, onto a pair of supports 104, one being a mirror image of the other. Planar fence portion 102 may be of any suitable construction and preferably includes a peripheral frame 106, formed of tubular metal, such as steel, which supports and encloses welded or woven fencing 108.

Supports 104 preferably are formed of a single piece of sheet metal which is bent to define a generally triangular main planar portion 110 and a pair of oppositely directed side portions 112 and 114 which extend in respective planes 116 and 118 which form an angle beta, which is typically in the range of 70-100 degrees, with respect to main planar portion 110. Typically, when assembled to fence portion 102, the side portions 112 of supports 104 extend away from a central axis of the fence portion 102 toward the edges thereof, and side portions 114 of supports 104 extend inwardly toward the center of the fence portion.

Planes 116 and 118 preferably intersect along an imaginary line 120, extending in a plane perpendicular to main planar portion 110, and are angled with respect to each other by more than 90 degrees. Line 120 is preferably nearly, but not exactly perpendicular to main planar portion 110, as seen with particularly in FIG. 3A. Preferably, the angle alpha between line 120 and main planar portion 110 is approximately in the range of 90-130 degrees. Preferably planar fence portion 102 and its peripheral frame 106 lie in a plane in which lies along line 120 and which is parallel to top surfaces 122 and 124 of respective oppositely directed side portions 112.

Preferably main planar portion 110 is formed with one or more cutouts 130, to reduce unnecessary material and weight.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4-6B, which illustrate a plurality of stacked barriers 100 of the type described hereinabove in FIGS. 1-3B, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is appreciated that the non-perpendicularity of main planar portion 110 and line 120 enables space efficient stacking of multiple barriers 100, as shown. Thus the planes of main planar portion 110 and the planar fence portion 112 are not perpendicular, but are separated by an angle alpha.

As seen with particular clarity in FIG. 4, stacking of barriers 100 is achieved by pushing at least one barrier 100 onto an existing stack of barriers as indicated by arrows 150, such that side portions 114 of the additional barrier lie in front of the side portions 114 of the barriers already in the stack, and main planar portions 110 of the additional barrier lie inwardly of the main planar portions 110 of the barriers already in the stack relative to the center of the barriers. Typically, stacking of barriers 100 results in an enlargement of the stack in a direction perpendicular to the plane of fence portions 102. However, the frames 106 of the barriers in the stack are aligned, as seen with particular clarity in FIG. 6A.

It is noted particularly from a consideration of FIG. 6A, that the two supports 104 are oppositely aligned with respect to the plane of planar fence portion 102. Thus the planes of main planar portions 110 of the two supports 102 are not parallel to each other. This feature is important for the stackability and nestability of the barriers 100 in general and of the supports 104 in particular.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.

Claims

1. A stackable barrier comprising:

a generally planar fence portion; and

a plurality of generally identical supports, supporting said generally planar fence portion, each of said generally identical supports including a generally triangular main planar portion and a pair of oppositely directed side portions which extend in respective planes angled with respect to main planar portion, each of said plurality of generally identical supports being arranged with respect to said generally planar fence portion such that planes of said main planar portion of at least two of said generally identical supports are not mutually parallel.

2. A stackable barrier according to claim 1 and wherein said pair of oppositely directed side portions each form an angle in the range of 70-120 degrees with respect to said main planar portion.

3. A stackable barrier according to claim 1 and wherein said generally planar fence portion is fixedly mounted onto said plurality of generally identical supports.

4. A stackable barrier according to claim 1 and wherein said generally planar fence portion includes a peripheral frame which supports and encloses fencing.

5. A stackable barrier according to claim 1 and wherein said plurality of generally identical supports are formed of a single piece of metal which is bent to define said main planar portion and said pair of oppositely directed side portions.

6. A stackable barrier according to claim 5 and wherein said pair of oppositely directed side portions extend in first and second planes which intersect along a plane which is generally perpendicular to said main planar portion.

7. A stackable barrier according to claim 6 and wherein said first and second plane are angled with respect to each other by more than 90 degrees.