DETERRENT STRUCTURE

Abstract

A deterrent structure which is attached to an upper end of a barrier and which has an attack side overhang which is V-shaped in cross section and a defended side overhang which has a convex outer surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a deterrent structure for use with a barrier. As used herein “barrier” designates a perimeter barrier which may comprise a fence made from wire or other metallic components, a wall which may be solid or have a palisade form, or any similar structure.

A wall, intended to prevent a perimeter from being crossed by unauthorised persons, can be breached in several ways. It is possible for a person to burrow beneath the wall—this can be resisted to a considerable extent by means of an anti-dig structure comprising mesh or concrete. An intruder who has access to suitable implements can break through the wall. This can be a noisy, laborious and time-consuming exercise which can attract attention from security personnel who can then take appropriate action. A third possibility is for an intruder to scale or climb over the wall. If the wall is high use can be made of a grappling hook or a similar implement which can be engaged with an upper end of the wall. The hook then provides an anchor force for a rope or net which is suspended from the upper end of the wall and which provides a means whereby an intruder can scale the wall. The invention is concerned with a deterrent structure which is intended, to a substantial extent, to address the last type of action.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a deterrent structure which comprises an elongate tubular body which has a first section which in cross section is V-shaped and a second section which in cross section has a convex outer surface.

The deterrent structure preferably includes at least one rib which is of complementary shape to an inner surface of the body and which is attached to said inner surface, and a support structure which is secured to the rib.

The body of the deterrent structure may include a surface portion which extends between an edge of the outer convex surface to an outer edge of the first section.

The convex surface, and preferably the entire body may comprise sheet material.

The sheet material may be metallic. It is possible though to replace any surface of the body of the deterrent structure with a suitable mesh material. A benefit of using mesh material is that the weight and cost of the body of the deterrent structure are reduced. Resistance of the body to wind effects is also lowered. However, the use of a mesh material can be such that anchor points are formed which allow for engagement with ropes, hooks or other mechanisms which can be used by an intruder to climb over the deterrent structure and over a barrier to which the structure is mounted.

The body may include a formation which preferably is downwardly facing, and which is configured to be engaged with a portion of an upper end of the barrier. The formation may be U-shaped or channel-shaped.

The invention further extends to a deterrent structure which is secured to a barrier which includes an upper end, an attack side and a defended side, the deterrent structure comprising a body which is configured to be engaged with the upper end of the barrier, wherein the body includes an attack overhang section which extends transversely from the attack side and a defended overhang section which extends transversely from the defended side and which has an outer convex surface.

On the defended side the body may include a wall in the form of a plate or similar mechanism which abuts an upper surface of the defended side adjacent the upper end.

The body preferably has an outer surface which is made from a sheet material.

The attack overhang section may form, viewed from one side and in cross section, an included angle which is less than 35°, preferably about 30°.

In one form of the invention the attack overhang section has a downwardly facing surface which extends to an outer edge of the attack overhang section which is displaced from the attack side of the barrier and an inclined upper wall which extends from the outer edge to an upper location which is above the upper end of the barrier.

Preferably the outer convex surface of the defended overhang section has a lower periphery which is lower than the upper end of the barrier and an upper portion which interfaces at an upper edge with the wall of the attack overhang section at the said upper location.

Preferably the body is tubular and includes, inside the tubular body, at least one reinforcing rib which is of complementary form to an inner surface of the body and which is secured to the said inner surface.

The convex outer surface is shaped continuously and smoothly to avoid a creation of a formation which could provide an anchor point for use by an intruder attempting to scale the deterrent structure using, for example, a grappling hook or the like.

The body may be made in whole or in part from sheet material which preferably is metallic. It also falls within the scope of the invention for the body to be made wholly or in part from mesh material which may be metallic. It is possible for the body to be formed from a combination of sheet material and mesh material.

The body may include a number of constructional supporting elements which may be in the form of reinforced ribs which are profiled to facilitate the shaping of the convex outer surface, of the surface portion, and of the downwardly facing lower surface. The ribs in a longitudinal sense may be spaced from one another and may be configured to be secured to the upper end of the barrier and to an inner surface of the barrier. This can be done in any appropriate way. In one embodiment of the invention use is made of one or more base plates which are fixed to a surface of the upper end of the barrier. The ribs may extend upwardly from the base plate, or base plates, at intervals which are spaced apart in a horizontal direction. Material which forms at least the convex outer surface may be fixed to the ribs after the ribs have been mounted, via the base plate or plates to the barrier.

In one embodiment the body, in cross section, includes an upper section which overlies an upper end of the barrier and which is configured to be secured thereto, a downwardly facing lower surface which extends transversely from the attack side to an outer edge, a portion which defines a flat surface and which extends from the outer edge upwardly to a transition location and which forms an included angle with the downwardly facing lower surface which is 30° or less, a wall which extends downwardly from said upper section on the defended side, adjacent the upper end of the barrier, to a lower edge, and an arcuate section which extends from the transition location to the lower edge of the wall thereby to form an outwardly facing convex surface which forms an overhang on the defended side of the barrier.

As used herein “attack side” denotes a side of the barrier which faces outwardly from an area which is protected by the barrier, and “defended side” means a side of the barrier which faces an area which is protected by the barrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an angled perspective view from above of a deterrent structure, according to the invention, engaged with an upper end of a barrier,

FIG. 2 is a side view in cross section of the deterrent structure and the upper end of the barrier, shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 depicts an internal construction of the deterrent structure viewed in the direction of an arrow “3” in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is an angled perspective view from above of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but on a slightly enlarged scale and illustrates an internal construction of the deterrent structure, and

FIG. 6 is a view in elevation of the deterrent structure mounted to the top of the barrier as seen from a defended side of the barrier and illustrating internal components of the deterrent structure.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates in perspective and from above three deterrent structures 10, each according to the invention mounted to an upper end 12 of a barrier 14. FIG. 5 is an angled perspective view from above on an enlarged scale of a single deterrent structure 10 mounted to the upper end 12 of the barrier 14. FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 are views in various directions of the deterrent structure 10 illustrating its internal construction.

The barrier 14 is representative of a typical arrangement and is non-limiting. In this instance the barrier is of a palisade nature and is formed from a number of elongate concrete or metallic columns 20 which have lower ends embedded in the ground and which are horizontally spaced apart from each other by intervals 22 which are sufficiently narrow to prevent passage of an intruder between adjacent columns.

The barrier 14 has an attack side 24 and a defended side 26 (see FIG. 2). The barrier is erected as required along a perimeter line, not shown, of an area which is to be protected. The defended side 26 faces towards a protected area while the attack side 24 faces outwardly away from the protected area. This type of construction is conventional.

The deterrent structure 10 is designed to make it difficult for an intruder to climb over the upper end 12 of the barrier. The barrier may be of substantial height e.g. 6 or 8 meters. This type of barrier is used in high security installations. The height is such that the barrier can only be breached by a person climbing over the upper end if use is made of a grappling hook, a net or the like which is fixed in some way to the upper end so that a mechanism is created whereby the person can climb to the top of the barrier.

The deterrent structure 10 includes an elongate tubular body 50 of a defined length 52 which may be of the order of 2.5 meters. This is exemplary only. The body has a first section 54 which, referring to FIG. 2, extends to the right side of the barrier and a second section 56 which, again referring to FIG. 2, extends to the left side of the barrier 14. The first section 54 defines what is referred to herein as an attack overhang section 58 which extends transversely from the attack side 24. The second section 56 forms a defended overhang section 60 which extends transversely from the defended side 26. The defended overhang section 60 has an outer convex surface 62.

The body 50 has a downwardly facing U-shaped channel 70 which is designed to be engaged closely with the upper end of the barrier 14. The channel is formed by a wall 72 on the attack side 24 of the barrier, a parallel wall 74 which is spaced from the wall 72 on the defended side of the barrier and a cover plate 76 which is fixed to opposed upper ends of the walls 72 and 74.

The body 50 has an internal construction which includes four shaped reinforced ribs 78 each of which extends upwardly from a respective base plate arrangement 80. Each base plate arrangement is secured by means of suitable fasteners 82 to the cover plate 76 which is fixed to the upper end 12 of the barrier 14.

The ribs 78 are of complementary shape to an inner surface 84 of the body 50. This profiling of the ribs allows the ribs to be fixed securely to the inner surface 84. Each rib is attached to supporting structure 86 of a T-shape which is fixed to the base plate arrangement 80 and the cover plate 76.

The attack overhang section 58 extends transversely from the barrier on the attack side 24, and has a lower downwardly facing overhang surface 90 which has an inner edge 92 adjacent the attack side 24 and an outer edge 94 which is remote from the inner edge 92. The surface 90 is slightly downwardly inclined. The attack overhang section, viewed from one side, has a V-shape and has an upper wall 96 with an inclined outer surface 100 which extends from the outer edge 94 to an upper location 102 which is above the upper end 12 of the barrier. The surface 100 is flat and is inclined to the lower surface 90 thereby to form an included angle 104, with the lower surface, which is of the order of 30° or slightly less.

The convex outer surface 62 of the defended overhang section 60 has an upper portion 106 which interfaces at an upper edge with the wall 96 at the upper location 102, and a lower periphery 108 which is secured to a lower edge 112 of the wall 74. The convex outer surface 62 is continuous from the upper portion 106 to the lower periphery 108.

The deterrent structure 10 is of formidable size and weight. It is essential therefore to fix the structure 10 firmly to the upper end of the barrier 14 in a manner which enables the body 50 to resist substantial wind loading forces and bending moments.

If an intruder attempts to scale the deterrent structure 10 from the attack side 24 the downwardly facing lower surface 90 is difficult to traverse. The inclined outer surface 100 of the wall 96 is such that an intruder on the surface 100 would tend to slide off. If a grappling hook or similar mechanism were thrown over the deterrent structure 10 the convex surface 62 on the defended side 26 of the barrier 14 provides no purchase or formation with which the grappling hook can engage.

The size of the body 50 can be varied to meet operational requirements. However the mass and expense of the body must be taken into account. Typically the downwardly facing lower surface 90 which forms a part of the overhang on the attack side 24 has a lateral dimension 120 which is of the order of 45 cm. The convex surface 62 on the defended side 26 has a lateral dimension 122 from the defended side which is of the order of 30 cm. The distance 126 between the upper end 12 of the barrier 14 and a top of the upper portion 106, which is at the upper location 102, is of the order of 30 cm. Although these dimensions are exemplary they are nonetheless preferred for they represent an effective compromise between security effectiveness, material requirements and cost.

Claims

1. A deterrent structure (10) which comprises an elongate tubular body (50) which has a first section (54) which in cross section is V-shaped and a second section (56) which in cross section has a convex outer surface (62).

2. The deterrent structure (10) of claim 1 which includes at least one rib (78) which is of complementary shape to an inner surface (84) of the body (50) and which is attached to said inner surface, and a support structure (86) which is secured to the rib (78).

3. A deterrent structure (10) which is secured to a barrier (14) which includes an upper end (12) an attack side (24) and a defended side (26), the deterrent structure (10) comprising a body (50) which is configured to be engaged with the upper end (12) of the barrier, wherein the body (50) includes an attack overhang section (58) which extends transversely from the attack side (24) and a defended overhang section (60) which extends transversely from the defended side (26) and which has an outer convex surface (62).

4. The deterrent structure (10) of claim 3 wherein the body (50) has an outer surface (90, 100, 62) which is made from a sheet material.

5. The deterrent structure (10) of claim 3 wherein the attack overhang section (60) has a downwardly facing surface (90) which extends to an outer edge (94) of the attack overhang section (60) which is displaced from the attack side (24) of the barrier and an inclined upper wall (96) which extends from the outer edge (94) to an upper location (102) which is above the upper end (12) of the barrier.

6. The deterrent structure (10) of claim 5 wherein the outer convex surface (62) of the defended overhang section (60) has a lower periphery (108) which is lower than the upper end (12) of the barrier and an upper portion (106) which interfaces at an upper edge with the wall (96) of the attack overhang section (58) at the said upper location (102).

7. The deterrent structure (10) of claim 3 wherein the body (50) is tubular and includes, inside the tubular body, at least one reinforcing rib (78) which is of complementary form to an inner surface (84) of the body and which is secured to the said inner surface.

8. The deterrent structure (10) of claim 3 wherein the body (50) includes a downwardly facing U-shaped channel (70) which is closely engaged with the upper end (12) of the barrier (14).