BARRIER ASSEMBLY

This invention relates generally to barriers and components therefor for enclosing or for restricting access or passage. The barriers of the present invention may be used for example on balconies, verandahs, stairs, ramps, mezzanines, access bridges and the like.

One form of barrier currently in use comprises a plurality of horizontally disposed parallel spaced apart steel cables which are secured to and extend between upright posts. Multiple tensioning devices are provided at the ends of each cable. One problem associated with barriers of this type is that the horizontally disposed cables provide for a readily climbable arrangement which limits the effectiveness of the barrier. In addition, the tensioning devices are generally complex and expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a barrier assembly which alleviates one or more of the aforementioned problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a barrier assembly which includes a frame, which in an installed position includes an upper end and a lower end, two or more spacer members extending between the upper and lower end and which are spaced apart from one another and an upper rail at the upper end extending between the spacer members, the barrier assembly further including a plurality of flexible lines anchored at anchoring points at the upper and lower ends of the frame and extending therebetween and a tensioning device operable to cause the flexible lines to adopt a taut mode.

The frame may further include a lower rail, the spacer members being operatively connected to the upper and lower rails so as to form a rigid structure. The flexible lines may include one or more cable elements. As used herein the term cable elements includes for example, metal wire, rope, plastics or other flexible elements or a plurality thereof which may be twisted or woven together. Preferably steel cables are provided. Anchoring of the flexible lines may be effected by passing the lines through holes or slots in the rails.

In one form each flexible line may include a linear section between the upper and lower ends of the frame, the linear sections being spaced apart from one another when in the taut mode. Preferably the linear sections are generally parallel to one another and may be disposed in a generally upright configuration. According to one embodiment the

flexible lines include two cable elements which are mounted in spaced relation to one another at anchoring points at least one of the upper and lower ends. In another embodiment the flexible lines include two cable elements which mounted in spaced relation to one another at anchoring points at both the upper and lower ends. In one form the tensioning device may include a coupling element which operatively couples the two cable elements which may form a flexible line together the coupling element being movable toward one end of the frame to cause the flexible line to adopt the taut mode. As will be appreciated the coupling element and the two parts of the cable elements which are anchored in spaced apart form a triangular shaped configuration in conjunction with the upper and/or lower rail. In one form the cable sections are mounted in spaced relation to one another at both ends the tensioning device including two coupling elements each being movable towards a respective one end to cause said flexible line to adopt the taut mode. The coupling element may include a ferrule, clamp or the like, which can be movable along the flexible line and subsequently fixed thereto in a selected position. The ferrule may be fixable to the flexible line by swaging.

In another form the tensioning device may include a tensioning mechanism operatively connected to the frame and operable to cause relative displacement between the anchoring points at the upper and lower ends thereof. In one embodiment the tensioning mechanism may include complementary threaded members each being operatively mounted to respective sections of the frame, the arrangement being such that relative rotation between the threaded members causes displacement of the respective sections of the frame. The threaded members may include a bolt having a threaded shank which is adapted to cooperate with a plate having a complementary threaded aperture therein. The plate may be operatively connected to one of the spacer members and the bolt operatively mounted to one of the rails. The bolt may be adapted to be rotated so as to cause relative displacement between the bolt and the plate. The mechanism may further include a housing mounted to one of said rails for receiving the bolt therein and said plate is secured to one of the spacer members.

If desired a barrier device may include tensioning devices as described above with reference to both forms together.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in these drawings:

^■ Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of an embodiment of barrier assembly according to the invention; • Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of a further embodiment of barrier assembly according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of barrier assembly according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic end view of an embodiment of barrier assembly with the flexible lines in the non taut mode;

Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation of the barrier assembly shown in figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic end view of the barrier assembly shown in figures 4 and 5 with the flexible lines in the taut mode;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the barrier assembly shown in figure 6; and Figure 8 is a schematic sectional view of a tensioning device according to a further embodiment.

Referring to figure 1 there is shown a barrier assembly 10 which is mounted to upright posts 61 and 62 which are fixed to a floor or base. The barrier assembly 10 includes a frame .12 which includes upright members 13, 14, 15 and 16 which are secured to upper and lower rails 17 and 18 to form a rigid structure. Flanges 64 on the posts 61 and

62 are adapted to be secured to upright members 13 and 15.

The barrier assembly 10 further includes a plurality of flexible lines which extend between the upper and lower ends of the frame. In figure 1, three of these lines are identified by numerals 22, 23 and 24. The other lines shown are of a similar configuration. As shown with reference to flexible line 22 it extends between the upper and lower rails 17 and 18. The line 22 comprises two cable elements 26 and 27 and is anchored to the top rail at anchor point 31 and to the bottom rail at anchor points 33 and 34. The anchor points are formed by slots in the rails. The flexible line 22 includes a linear section 35 which comprises the two cable sections 26 and 27 in close proximity to one another. The linear section is of adjacent lines are generally arranged in an upright configuration and are generally spaced apart and parallel to one another. In the embodiment of figure 1 the

flexible lines are formed from a continuous length of cable extending from one end of the frame to the other.

In the embodiment illustrated in figure 2 the flexible lines differ from that shown in figure 1 in that each line has four anchor points 33, 34, 36 and 37, two on the top rail and two on the bottom rail. The same reference numerals as used in figure 1 have been used to identify the same integers on figure 2. Figure 3 illustrates a further embodiment which is similar in many respects to those embodiments illustrated in figures 1 and 2 and like reference numerals have been used to identify similar parts. In this embodiment only three upright members 13, 14 and 15 are provided and the anchoring points are provided by apertures in the rails.

Two embodiments of tensioning device . are illustrated, the first being shown in figures 1 to 7 and the second in figure 8. The first embodiment tensioning device includes two ferrules 38 and 39 which couple the cable elements 23 and 24 of each flexible line 22 together. Initially these ferrules are movable along the flexible lines. As a result of this the flexible lines can be caused to adopt a taut mode whereupon the ferrules can be fastened to the flexible lines such as swaging.

The operation of the tensioning device is best understood by reference to figures 4 to 7. In figures 4 and 5 the flexible lines are shown in a new taut mode both ferrules being adjacent one another. By moving the ferrules towards respective rails the triangular configuration part is reduced in size thereby tensioning each line and providing lineal- sections which are parallel and spaced apart from one another. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the lines in the taut mode.

The second embodiment tensioning device is shown in figure 8 and includes a housing 41 for receiving an end portion of an upright member 15. The housing 41 is in the form of a sleeve operatively mounted to the lower rail 18. The device further includes an actuator 44 in the form of a bolt 45 having a shank 46 at least part of which is threaded and a bolt head 47. A washer 48 is fixedly secured to the shank 46 adjacent the bolt head 47. The washer 48 bears on the base of the housing 41. The sleeve has a hole in its base which accommodates the bolt head 47. The threaded shank 46 is adapted to cooperate with a complementary threaded disc 49 which is fitted to the upright member 15. Rotation of the bolt 47 causes relative displacement of washer 48 and disc 49. The bolt head may be

rotated by use of a tool such as an alien key, spanner or the like.

In another embodiment of the tensioning device a wedge may be inserted between the spacer and rail, the arrangement being such that the insertion of the wedge causes displacement of the respective sections of the frame. The spacer members may include an aperture to receive a wedge, and a wedge to act on the spacer and rail components. In yet another embodiment of the tensioning device a ramped collar mounted on a seat connected to the rail may be used to act upon a pin inserted through the spacer. Rotation of the ramped collar will cause the displacement of the respective sections of the frame to create tension in the cable. Throughout . this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. Finally, it is to be understood that the inventive concept in any of its aspects can be incorporated in many different constructions so that the generality of the preceding description is not to be superseded by the particularity of the attached drawings. Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.