CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 63/414,137 filed on October 7, 2022. The entire contents of U.S. Application No. 63/414,137 are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to modular barriers and barrier systems.

[0003] Barriers and barrier systems are used in a variety of settings including warehouses and storefronts (e.g., grocery stores and other retail storefronts which use shopping carts). These barriers are often used to protect certain infrastructure, such as shelving or product displays, from being accidentally impacted by people or vehicles (e.g., shopping carts). For example, a barrier can block a shopping cart, preventing it from hitting a product shelf, while still being out of sight (i.e., positioned low to the ground), instead of, e.g., obstructing a customer or employee’s view of the shelf or display or otherwise providing an undesirable sight to customers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In a general aspect, a barrier includes a rail having a length extending along a longitudinal axis of the barrier. The rail includes a partition extending across the width of the rail and defining a first cavity and a second cavity, the first cavity defined by a top of the rail and a top surface of the partition, and the second cavity defined by a bottom surface of the partition and a bottom of the rail including a first opening for receiving a support leg. The rail also includes a first groove disposed within the second cavity, the first groove extending along the longitudinal axis of the barrier and configured for receiving an upper end of the support leg. The top of the rail includes a first upper guide, and the bottom of the rail includes a first lower guide, both the first upper guide and the first lower guide extending along the longitudinal axis of the barrier. The rail further includes a first rigid plate having an upper end and a lower end, each being disposed within the first upper guide and the first lower guide, respectively.

[0005] In another general aspect, a barrier system may include a first barrier, a second barrier, and a first connector, the first connector sized and configured for sliding onto a first end of the first barrier and a second end of the second barrier and attached to the first end and the second end, wherein each of the first barrier and the second barrier may include a rail having a length extending along a longitudinal axis of the barrier, the rail including a partition extending across the width of the rail and defining a first cavity and a second cavity, the first cavity defined by a top of the rail and a top surface of the partition, and the second cavity defined by a bottom surface of the partition and a bottom of the rail including an opening for receiving a support leg. Each of the first and second barriers may further include a groove disposed within the second cavity, the groove extending along the longitudinal axis of the barrier and configured for receiving an upper end of the support leg. Each barrier may further include an upper guide and a lower guide, both of which extend along the longitudinal axis of the barrier, the upper guide formed within the top and the lower guide formed within the bottom, and a rigid plate having an upper end and a lower end, each being disposed within the upper guide and the lower guide, respectively.

[0006] Embodiments of these aspects may have one or more of the following features.

[0007] In some embodiments, the barrier may further include a first end cover disposed at a first end of the rail, the first end cover enclosing the first end of the rail and a first end of the first rigid plate. The rail may further include a second groove disposed within the first cavity or the second cavity, the second groove extending along the longitudinal axis of the barrier and configured for receiving a first fastener, and the first end cover is attached to the first end of the rail by a fastener extending through a first through hole in the first end cover and into the second groove.

[0008] In one embodiment, the rail may further include a sidewall connecting the first upper guide with the first lower guide, wherein the sidewall, the first upper guide, and the first lower guide together form a track, and a cross section of the track is substantially c-shaped. In certain embodiments, the rail may form a single extruded part. In one embodiment, the first plate may cover a surface of the sidewall facing away from the rail and prevent the sidewall from being directly impacted by an object.

[0009] In some embodiments, the track may have a second opening through which a middle portion of the first rigid plate is exposed. In one embodiment, a portion of the first rigid plate extending outside the first upper guide and the first lower guide may have a fatjade including a periodic pattern, the fatjade facing away from the rail. [0010] In one embodiment, the rail may further include a second upper guide and a second lower guide, both of which extend along the longitudinal axis of the barrier, the second upper guide formed within the top and the second lower guide formed within the bottom, and the barrier may further include a second rigid plate having an upper end and a lower end, each being disposed within the second upper guide and the second lower guide, respectively. In certain embodiments, the barrier may further include a first end cover disposed at a first end of the rail, the first end cover enclosing the first end of the rail, a first end of the first rigid plate, and a first end of the second rigid plate. In one example, the barrier may further include a second end cover disposed at a second end of the rail, the second end cover enclosing the second end of the rail, a second end of the first rigid plate, and a second end of the second rigid plate, wherein all ends of the first and second rigid plates are enclosed.

[0011] In some embodiments, the support leg of the barrier may have a lower end configured for attachment to an anchoring surface.

[0012] In those embodiments in which the barrier system having multiple barriers, the first connector may be substantially straight along a first axis and aligns the first barrier and the second barrier along the first axis. In certain embodiments, the first connector may have a flange, the flange attached to the first end and the second end.

[0013] In other embodiments, the first connector may be substantially L-shaped at a fixed angle, the first connector having a cavity and a plurality of ribs inside the cavity, wherein a first rib of the plurality of ribs abuts the first end and a second rib of the plurality of ribs abuts the second end.

[0014] In some other embodiment, the first connector may include a lower end bracket attached to the first end, an upper end bracket attached to the second end, and a coupling mechanism, the coupling mechanism coupling the lower end bracket to the upper end bracket and allowing a range of angles between the lower end bracket relative to the upper end bracket.

[0015] In one embodiment, the barrier may further include a second rail having a length extending along the longitudinal axis of the barrier and includes a second partition extending across the width of the second rail and defining a third cavity and a fourth cavity, the third cavity defined by the top of the body and a top surface of the second partition, and the fourth cavity defined by a bottom surface of the second partition and a bottom of the second rail including a second opening for receiving a second support leg. The second rail may also include a second groove disposed within the fourth cavity, the second groove extending along the longitudinal axis of the barrier and configured for receiving an upper end of the second support leg, and a second upper guide and a second lower guide, both of which extend along the longitudinal axis of the barrier, the second upper guide formed within the top and the second lower guide formed within the bottom. The barrier may further include a first connector sized and configured for sliding onto a first end of the first rail and a second end of the second rail and attached to the first end and the second end, the first connector being substantially straight and aligning the first rail and the second rail along a common longitudinal axis, wherein the upper end of the first rigid plate is disposed within the first upper guide, and the lower end of the first rigid plate is disposed within the first lower guide.

[0016] The aspects of these inventions have certain advantages. For example, the bulk of the barrier is constructed as a single integral rail having multiple cavities, grooves, and guides for supporting other important components of the barrier. In particular, vertically opposing guides are configured to receive the rigid plate while horizontally opposing grooves are configured to receive an upper end of an anchoring mechanism (e.g., support leg). Once positioned within the guides, one of the cavities provides for lower material cost and allows the rail to deform and flex for better impact absorption. Another of the cavities provides space for the anchoring mechanism to be slidably received for adjustable positioning.

[0017] Other advantages include that the top and bottom of the barrier are rounded in shape without sharp edges and the potentially sharp edges of the rigid plate are all concealed by the guides and the end covers. This improves safety for individuals and vehicles in the vicinity of the barrier. The rounded shape of the top of the barrier also prevents debris and water from resting. The structure of the barriers also advantageously allows the rigid plate to be manufactured (e.g., by being cut from sheet metal) separately from the remainder of the barrier, allowing the rigid plate to be interchangeable or replaceable.

[0018] Other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rendering of a barrier.

[0020] FIG. 2A is a front view of the barrier of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the barrier of FIG. 1. [0022] FIG. 2C is a top view of the barrier of FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 3 A is a perspective view of a portion of the barrier of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional end view of the barrier of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of an end of the barrier and an end cover of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a pair of barriers joined by a straight connector.

[0027] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of one of the barriers of FIG. 5A.

[0028] FIG. 5C is a perspective view of one of the barriers of FIG. 5A and the straight connector of FIG. 5B connected to the barrier without being fixed to the barrier.

[0029] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a pair of barriers joined by a fixed angle connector.

[0030] FIG. 6B is an exploded view of the arrangement of barriers shown in FIG. 6A.

[0031] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a pair of barriers joined by an adjustable angle connector.

[0032] FIG. 7B is an exploded view of the arrangement of barriers shown in of FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

1 OVERVIEW

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, a barrier 100 has legs 110 that attach the barrier 100 to a surface 105 (e.g., a floor in a retail establishment). Very generally, the barrier 100 is positioned to prevent people or vehicles (e.g., shopping carts) from inadvertently proceeding past a certain point and, in some examples, impacting an object on the other side of the barrier 100 (e.g., a shelving unit). For example, the barrier 100 prevents, in a grocery store, a shopping cart from impacting a food shelving area or display section, reducing the likelihood of damage to infrastructure used to hold or otherwise display food. [0034] The barrier 100 has a face plate 120, which, provides a sturdy exterior for the barrier 100 at a location where the barrier 100 is most likely to be impacted. In this embodiment, the face plate 120 of the barrier 100 has a diamond plate design for providing a pleasing aesthetic. In this example, the barrier 100 includes end covers 135, 145 at a first end 130 and a second end 140, respectively. The end covers 135, 145 include a rounded edge to decrease the likelihood of a person or vehicle from being hurt or damaged by catching on or running up against either of the ends 130, 140.

[0035] In some examples, the barrier 100 has a rail 190 with a rounded top 150, similar to the end covers 135, 145, to reduce the likelihood of injury or damage caused by a person, vehicle, or device impacting the barrier 100 as well as to cover and protect upper and lower edges of the face plate 120. As will be described in greater detail below, the rounded top 150, in combination with a rounded bottom 160 of the rail 190 (see FIG. 3A), provides a track for installation of the face plate 120. While, in this example, the rounded top 150 and the rounded bottom 160 are rounded, in other examples, different tops may exhibit different shapes.

[0036] Referring to FIGs. 2A-2C, the legs 110 have anchoring mechanisms 112 (e.g., screws), which fix the legs 110 and, by extension, the barrier 100 to a surface.

[0037] A bottom side of a partition 170 of the barrier 100 has a track 172, a shape of which is defined by grooves 174 (not pictured; pictured and described subsequently in FIG. 3B). As described in greater detail below in conjunction with FIG. 3B, the track 172 holds flanges 114 of the legs 110, which have a shape configured to correspond to the shape of the track 172, allowing the legs 110 to be slid along the track 172 and located (and subsequently coupled) at any point along the track 172 and, thereby, the bottom side of the partition 170 and the barrier 100. The flanges 114 are coupled to the bottom side of the partition 170 by coupling mechanisms 116 (e.g., screws).

[0038] The rounded top 150 provides a uniform top surface for the barrier 100 that lacks sharp edges to improve safety of individuals and vehicles in the vicinity of the barrier 100 and prevents debris and water from resting on the top of the barrier 100.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 3A, the face plate 120 can slide along a track 122 of the barrier 100. The track 122 has a shape defined by a face 180 of the barrier, and a guide 152 of the rounded top 150 and a guide 162 of the rounded bottom 160, where each of the guides 152, 162 extends laterally from the rounded top 150 and the rounded bottom 160, respectively. The face plate 120 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the track 122. This design advantageously allows the face plate 120 to be manufactured (e.g., by being cut from sheet metal) separately from the remainder of the barrier 100, allowing the face plate 120 to be interchangeable, replaceable (in the case of, e.g., damage), and contained (by the guides 152, 162), as the face plate 120 may have rough edges due to, e.g., the process of cutting sheet metal to create the face plate 120. In this example, a side 185, opposite to the face 180, is similarly configured with a track, guides, and a face plate.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 3B, a cavity 182 of the barrier 100 is defined by interiors of the rounded top 150, the sides 180, 185, and the partition 170. The cavity 182 contains, on interior surfaces of the faces 180, 185, receiving grooves 184, which may be used to receive coupling mechanisms (e.g., screws) to couple ends of the barrier 100 to, e.g., the end cover 135 or, as will be described in further detail below, a connector. Similarly, a cavity 186 is defined by the bottom side of the partition 170 and interiors of the faces 180, 185 and the rounded bottom 160. Similar to the cavity 182, the cavity 186 contains, on interior surfaces of the faces 180, 185, receiving grooves 188, which, similar to and in combination with the receiving grooves 184, may be used to receiving coupling mechanisms for similar purposes as the receiving grooves 184. Further, the cavity 186 contains, as briefly described above, the receiving grooves 174, which, in combination with the partition 170, define the track 172 which houses the flange 114 of the leg 110. The receiving grooves 188 extend from interior surfaces of the faces 180, 185. In this example, the receiving grooves 184, 188 extend the length of the barrier 100; however, in other examples, the receiving grooves 184, 188 may not extend the entire length of the barrier 100 and instead may be located only near the ends of the barrier 100.

[0041] As can be seen in this cross-sectional view, the rounded bottom 160 is made up of flanges 164 which extend from the faces 180, 185 to abut the leg 110. As partially described above, by concealing the interior components of the barrier 100 located in the cavity 186, the rounded bottom 160 provides a uniform surface that can improve the safety of persons and vehicles nearby the barrier 100.

[0042] In some embodiments, the rounded top 150, the sides 180, 185, the partition 170, all the groves including 184, 174, 188, all the guides including 152, 162, and the rounded bottom 160 are formed together as a single integral extruded rail. 2 END COVER

[0043] Referring to FIG. 4, the end cover 135 can be attached to the first end 130 by coupling mechanisms 132 (e.g., screws). The coupling mechanisms 132 extend through apertures 134 in the end cover 135 and into the receiving grooves 184, 188 of the barrier 100, coupling the end cover 135 to the first end 130 of the barrier 100. The end cover 135 simultaneously locks the face plate 120 into the track 122, preventing the face plate 120 from moving laterally along the track 122 and covering an edge of the face plate 120, which, as described above, may be rough due to the process of manufacturing the face plate 120. The end cover 135 thereby provides a rounded edge for the barrier 100 while also securing the face plate 120. However, as will be described in further detail below, attachments other than the end cover 135 can also be attached to the end 130 without the need for reconfiguring the end 130, depending on the contextual needs of the barrier 100 and a potentially broader barrier system, of which the barrier 100 is a component.

3 S TRAIGHT B ARRIER CONNECTOR

[0044] Referring to FIGs. 5A-5C, a pair of barriers 510a, 510b are shown coupled together by a straight connector 500. The straight connector 500 is used in embodiments in which barriers are needed to extend collinearly over a length longer than the length of a single barrier. As such, the barriers 510a, 510b are configured similarly to the barrier 100, and, in some examples, could be used in a broader barrier system in tandem with the barrier 100 and potentially other barriers, using combinations of any or all of the end cover 135, the straight connector 500, and other connectors as described in further detail below.

[0045] Each barrier 510a, 510b includes a track 522, defined by guides 552, 562, for supporting respective face plates 520a, 520b. The straight connector 500 connects the barriers 510a, 510b such that the face plates 520a, 520b appear as a single face plate. However, in other examples, the face plates 520a, 520b may be formed as a single integral plate, such that the tracks 522 are aligned by the straight connector 500 to substantially form one track. In this arrangement, a single face plate 520 can be inserted into an end of either of the barriers 510a, 510b and slid through the tracks 522 to provide a single face plate for both of the barriers 510a, 510b.

[0046] As shown most clearly in FIGs. 5B and 5C, the straight connector 500 has a flange 502 for allowing the straight connector 500 to couple the barriers 510a, 510b. The flange 502 includes holes 504 (only one of the holes 504 is shown in FIG. 5B) for receiving a bolt or a screw through each of the holes 504 and into one of a bottom surface 570 or a rounded bottom surface 560 of the barriers 510a, 510b. The flange arrangement secures the straight connector 500 to each of the barriers 510a, 510b together and to each other. Because the straight connector 500 is sized commensurately with the barriers 510a, 510b, it can be slid onto the barriers (as shown in FIG. 5C) to enable the straight connector 500 to be easily installed and to, as described above, provide a seemingly uniform transition from the barrier 510a to the barrier 510b.

4 FIXED ANGLE CONNECTOR

[0047] Referring to FIGs. 6A-B, the barriers 510a, 510b are shown coupled together by a fixed angle connector 600. In this embodiment, the barriers are held together at a fixed angle of, as shown here, 90 degrees. In other examples, fixed angle connectors may couple barriers at other fixed angles).

[0048] The fixed angle connector is attached to the barriers 510a, 510b via coupling mechanisms (e.g., screws), and coupling mechanisms 620 couple a side 602 to the faceplate 520a, 520b by extending through apertures 606 in the side 602. In some examples, coupling mechanisms (not pictured) may also couple a side 604 of the fixed angle connector 600 to a face plate (not pictured) on the opposite side of the barriers 510a, 510b from the face plates 520a, 520b, respectively. In this example, the fixed angle connector 600 is rounded, with the sides 602, 604 being curved, to reduce the likelihood of a person or vehicle being hurt or damaged by catching on or running up against the fixed angle connector 600. An interior cavity 630 of the fixed angle connector 600 contains ribs 632, 634, which abut ends 530a, 530b of the barriers 510a, 510b, respectively. The ribs 632, 634 prevent face plates of the barriers 510a, 510b, such as the face plates 520a, 520b, from moving laterally along their respective tracks (e.g., the track 522a), locking the face plates in place in a manner similar to the above-described end cover 135 in FIGs. 1 and 4.

5 ADJUSTABLE ANGLE CONNECTOR

[0049] Referring to FIGs. 7A-B, the barriers 510a, 510b are shown coupled together by an adjustable angle connector 700 which, unlike the fixed angle connector 600, enables the ends 530a, 530b to be connected within a range of angles relative to each other. The adjustable angle connector 700 has three parts: a lower end bracket 710, an upper end bracket 720, and a coupling mechanism 730 (e.g., a pin).

[0050] The lower end bracket 710 connects to the end 530b, while the upper end bracket 720 connects to the end 530a. Each of the end brackets 710, 720 function similarly to the ribs 622, 624 of the fixed angle connector 600 and to the end cover 135 by, when coupled to the ends 530a, 530b, locking in the face plates 520a, 520b, restricting their lateral movement along the tracks 522.

[0051] The end brackets 710, 720 have prongs 712, 722, respectively. The prongs 712, 722 are substantially similar, except each of the prongs 712 are positioned unevenly on the lower end bracket 710 relative to the prongs 722 on the upper end bracket 720, such that the prongs 712, 722, when coupled together, sandwich each other, stacking one over the other. The prongs 712, 722 have apertures 714, 724, respectively, and the coupling mechanism 730 extends through the apertures 714, 724, providing an easily installable and removable mechanism for coupling the end brackets 710, 720 and, by extension, the barriers 510a, 510b, together.

[0052] The end brackets 710, 720 are coupled to the ends 530a, 530b in a manner similar to the coupling of the end cover 135 to the end 130 (as depicted in FIGs. 1 and 4 and described above). The upper end bracket 720 couples to the end 530a by extending coupling mechanisms (e.g., screws) through apertures 726, 728 and into receiving grooves in the barriers 510a, 510b, respectively (not pictured; depicted in the barrier 100 in FIG. 4 as the receiving grooves 184, 188). The lower end bracket 710 couples to the end 530b in a similar manner.

6 ALTERNATIVES

[0053] While the end cover 135 and each of the connectors 500, 600, 700 are depicted as being used in isolation, each can be used in combination to connect a series of barriers to create a barrier system. The commonalities between the mechanisms by which each of the connectors 500, 600, 700 and the end cover 135 couple to ends of above-described barriers, such as the barrier 100, enable (in some examples, fixed-length) barriers to be produced that can then be used in a storefront to create a modular barrier system whose shape conforms to the context of its use. As such, a barrier system may use any number of any or all of the end cover 135 and the connectors 500, 600, 700 to connect barriers to form a barrier system. Further, due to the designs of the end cover 135 and the connectors 500, 600, 700, each may be easily removed so that face plates used by barriers in such a barrier system may be readily replaced or changed to accomplish a different aesthetic fatjade.

[0054] In the above-described examples, face plates are described and depicted as being made of sheet metal with a diamond-plate facade. However, the face plates can be made of other materials, such as acrylic, wood veneer, plastic laminate, decorative panels, etc., and can also have different facades. Further, different material or facade face plates can be swapped out and interchanged in a barrier or barrier system, as described above, without requiring the barrier or barrier system be uninstalled or wholly replaced.

[0055] A number of embodiments of the invention have been described.

Nevertheless, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the following claims. Accordingly, other embodiments are also within the scope of the following claims. For example, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Additionally, some of the steps described above may be order independent, and thus can be performed in an order different from that described.