Safety barriers or warning strips are often required to temporarily restrict access to specific areas. Such areas might include areas around construction sites, areas where maintenance work is being carried out, or other areas that pose a safety risk to the general public. In addition, it is often necessary to cordon off areas within chemical or manufacturing plants in order to prevent the exposure of personnel to safety hazards such as spillages or dangerous machinery. Furthermore, it is often appropriate to restrict access to particularly sensitive areas, such as those under investigation by the police, or areas of particular environmental interest.

Rather than providing a physical barrier, preventing access to a person intent on entering the restricted area, it is often sufficient to provide a mere indication that the area is restricted. At present, coloured

warning tapes, e. g. of polythene, are used for this purpose. Such tapes can be found in restricted areas of building sites, and areas of scaffolding close to public areas, and are typically patterned with red and white stripes. Similar tapes are used by the police to indicate areas that are being investigated or might contain evidence. The police tapes in particular may contain a printed message. The tapes are unrolled from a storage reel or roll and stretched across part of the boundary to the restricted area. The tapes are typically tied to appropriate upright supports.

Although commonly used, these tapes have many disadvantages and drawbacks. For example, the tape must be tied around two suitable points around the boundary of the restricted area. This can be time consuming, and/or awkward if there is not a suitable point for the tape to be tied to. Secondly, although the tapes generally have a slight amount of elasticity which may enable them to maintain a small degree of tension in the barrier, the expansion before reaching the elastic limit of the tape is small. This means that the elastic limit is easily exceeded during the tying operation, thereby permanently stretching the tape. Commonly, with polythene materials of this type, stretching in one direction results in a decrease in the width of the tape thereby rendering it less visible and hence less useful as a warning device.

The physical properties of the tapes also mean that the barriers are susceptible to weather damage. Thus, strong winds can stretch the tape causing the barrier to sag, tear, and thereafter flap in the wind.

A further disadvantage is that the warning tapes, being tied on the side supports, are awkward to remove once the barrier is no longer required. Often this will result in the tape, or remnants of the tape, just being left dangling or flapping in the wind. This is a common sight around construction sites and scaffolding arrangements around town centres.

The above-described warning tapes are of course not reusable, being damaged during tying, during use, or during removal. The wastage involved is an inefficient use of resources and is ultimately harmful to the environment and wildlife.

As an alternative to tapes, chains are regularly used to provide temporary barriers. These chains also have disadvantages. Firstly, the chains are relatively heavy,' resulting in barrier sag. A more lightweight chain results in a decrease in the (already limited) visible width. The chain is cut to an appropriate length, until eventually it becomes too short to be of use. The cutting process is inconvenient, and the wasted chain is perhaps more of a problem than wasted tape, given the higher per unit cost of the chain.

Furthermore, the physical properties of the chain mean that it can be very difficult to secure to suitable anchor points. For example, the bulkiness of the chain means that it can not be tied off easily. It is also more prone to slipping on the anchor points than the tapes above, causing the barrier to fall or sag. The chain is also liable to become a tangled mess in storage.

It would be desirable to obviate, or at least mitigate one or more of the drawbacks associated with the prior art.

It is one aim of the present invention to provide a reusable warning device. It is the second aim of the invention to provide a warning device that is substantially robust, and resistant to weather damage.

Further aims and objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description.

According to the invention, there is provided a warning device comprising an extendible cord having fixing means at each end, and a warning strip suspended from the elastic cord.

Preferably, the warning strip comprises a plurality of holes for receiving the elastic cord.

More preferably, the warning strip additionally comprises a plurality of folds across the longitudinal axis of the strip. Each successive fold may be in an alternate direction.

The warning strip may be foldable from a first flattened position to a second extended position.

The warning strip may additionally comprise at least one cord grip for securing at least one end of the warning strip in one of the first flattened or second extended positions.

The fixing means may comprise a hook.

Alternatively, the fixing means may comprise a loop of the elastic cord secured by crimp. The fixing means may additionally comprise a toggle positioned between the end loop and the warning strip.

The holes in the warning strip may be formed in a single line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strip.

Preferably, the holes are offset from the central axis of the strip.

There will now be described, by way of example only, an embodiment of the invention, with reference to the following figures of which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of the warning device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a front elevation of a warning device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of a warning device in accordance with a further example embodiment.

Figures 1 and 2 show the warning strip according to an embodiment of the invention, generally depicted at 10.

The warning device comprises an elastic cord 12, and a warning strip 14 suspended from the elastic cord. The warning strip is ? planar, elongated, rectangular strip, formed with a series of holes 16 through which the elastic cord 12 is threaded.

The strip is made from a suitably robust, weatherproof, tear-resistant, and flexible material. For example, a flexible reinforced PVC strip could be used. Laminated card or other laminated material could be used. The elastic cord is for example shock cord.

A series of. folds 15 are formed in the warning strip, extending across the strip perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 26. Successive folds are made in alternate directions, to form a concertina effect on the strip, as best seen in Figure 1. This feature allows the warning strip to be moved from a first folded position to a second extended position. The folds may be gradual folds of the type shown in Figure 1, or may be sharp folds, as shown in the example of Figure 3,. The type of fold would largely depend on the type of material employed.

The warning device is also provided with fixing means at each end of the elastic cord. In this embodiment, the fixing means comprises a hook 19 attached to the cord 12.

The hook is, for example, of moulded nylon or other suitable plastic material.

The warning device additionally comprises a pair of cord grips 18. The cord grips prevent the movement of the ends of the warning strip along the length of the cord, and therefore retain the warning strip in either the first folded or the second extended positions.

Typically, the cord grip will comprise a small plastic unit threaded onto the elastic cord. A spring within the cord grip biases the cord grip so that it is securely fixed to the cord. A button on the cord grip, when

depressed, allows the cord grip to be released and moved along the length of the cord.

The cord grip is such that it is too large to pass through the holes in the warning strip, and thus, the end positions of the warning strip are determined by the positions of the cord grips.

In use, the warning device is generally stored in the first folded position, that is, the cord grips are positioned close together, and the warning strip is folded down on itself to provide a compact unit. The remaining length of the elastic cord may conveniently be coiled around the folded warning strip. When the warning device is required, the cord is simply uncoiled and the fixing means are attached to suitable anchor points.

The fixing means illustrated in Figure 1 offer various fixing arrangements. For example, if hooks or loops are available at the points at which the barrier is to be secured, the hooks 19 may simply be placed over such hooks or loops. If necessary, the cord can be wrapped around the support to form a loop, with the hook secured to the cord. Both of these fixing methods are quick, convenient and easily detachable.

It is evident that other fixing means could be used within the scope of the invention. For example, the ends of the cord may be provided with loops 24 and toggles 20, as shown in Figure 3. In the arrangement of Figure 3, an end loop 24 is formed by doubling back the cord and securing it to itself by a crimp 22. Between the end loop 24 and the warning strip 14, a toggle 20 is

provided. The toggle 20 is a cylindrical toggle threaded onto the elastic cord, being securely fixed thereto.

In use, the loops 24 may simply be placed over hooks on a support. Alternatively, the cord may be wrapped around a support and the loop secured over the toggle. In a further example, the fixing means may be clamps.

Typically, the two anchor points will be placed apart by distance that exceeds the relaxed length of the elastic cord. Thus, when the warning device is in position, it will be in a state of tension. This self-tensioning of the warning device significantly reduces sagging and flapping of the device.

The warning strip is extended along the length of the elastic cord by depressing the cord grip and sliding along the length. The concertina-like folding arrangement allows the warning strip to be extended to a greater or lesser extent, depending upon the distance between the two anchor points. This arrangement offers a high degree of versatility, in that the device can be used over a relatively large range of distance.

The warning device can be made to any suitable length.

Typically, the relaxed length of the elastic cord will be around 1 to 2 metres, being capable of extension 2 to 4 metres. The length of the warning strip is chosen so that it may be fully extended over the normal range of use of the device.

For still greater distances, the fixing arrangement of this embodiment allows two or more devices to be connected in series. The hook of a second device may be

secured to the cord of the first, and is prevented from slipping from the cord by catching against the hook of the first device. For a loop and toggle arrangement, the loop of one device can be placed over the toggle of the other. In both cases, with the free ends are available to attach to suitable anchor points.

For distances around or less than the relaxed length of the cord, it may be desirable to wrap the ends of the cord around the anchor points, or even to double the cord back on itself across the entire extended length of the barrier.

As can be seen on Figure 2, the holes 16 on the warning strip are placed in a line which is off-centre from the longitudinal axis of the strip. The extra weight of the strip below the holes ensures that the equilibrium position of the strip is hanging vertically. Thus, although a gust of wind may rotate or flip the warning strip, when the wind dies down the strip will revert to the vertical position.

Figure 2 shows the warning strip as being patterned on the planar surface. Typically, the strip will be patterned with alternate coloured sections, so that the strip is highly prominent. The strip may be patterned with red and white stripes, or may be coated with a highly reflective material. The strip would ideally be similarly patterned on both sides, so that it is visible from both directions. On the example shown in Figure 2, diagonal patterning 17 is provided on the warning strip.

Of course, any colouring or patterning may be used on the strip, depending on the application. Words may be included to provide a warning message, or alternatively advertising logos or slogans.

The present invention provides a reusable, robust warning device, with a much-improved lifetime. The self- tensioning nature of the device allows a precise and secure fit between gaps of different sizes.

The extendible nature of the cord ensures that the barrier is shock absorbing, and therefore has increased resistance to wind, or indeed misuse. As the barrier is highly resilient, it can be easily lowered or raised to allow people to pass through, without sustaining damage.

Importantly, the visible warning strip is not under any stress or strain, as it hangs freely from the cord. This increases the lifetime of the device, and prevents degradation of the strips visibility.

In addition, the fixing means provide easy attachment to a variety of anchor points, or indeed additional devices.

Further modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention herein intended.