The invention to which this application relates is a barrier system of a type which is particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to prevent the acces s o f vehicles and/or pedestrians into an area which is cordoned off by said barrier system.

The use of barrier systems to prevent access to specific areas, is well known, and the barrier can be provided in a linear manner so as to prevent passage onto another area of land or alternatively, can be used to form an enclosed area to prevent access to be gained into that enclosed area.

In which ever embodiment, a common form of barrier system is that which is provided of a sufficient height so as to prevent or deter access being gained by a person on foot as they are unable, or are deterred from, climbing over the barrier.

There is also a need, in other circumstances, to prevent vehicle access and it will be appreciated that a barrier which represents an obstacle to a person on foot may not represent a significant barrier to a moving vehicle.

Conventionally therefore, the provision of a barrier system for vehicles, is a completely different system to that which would be used to prevent acces s by a person on foot due to differences in strength and the different manner in which a person would gain access over the barrier, whereas a vehicle would typically gain access through the barrier. This creates a problem in that if a barrier system is already in place to prevent access being gained by a person on foot, then conventionally, if acces s by vehicles is to be presented, the existing barrier system will have to be removed and replaced by a barrier system which is suitable to prevent acces s by persons and/or vehicles. This takes time and creates considerable additional expense.

The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a means whereby a barrier system can be provided which is of use in preventing acces s by persons on foot and/or vehicles. A further aim is to provide a means by which an existing barrier system which is already in place to prevent access by persons on foot, can be adapted to provide a barrier system to prevent acces s by vehicles, without the need to remove the existing barrier system.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a barrier system, said barrier system comprising a series of blocks at spaced intervals along the barrier system, wherein said blocks are interlinked by at least one elongate member.

In one embodiment a plurality of spaced elongate members are provided. In one embodiment the provision of more than one elongate member increases the strength of the barrier system such as to enable the same to withstand larger vehicles attempting to pass therethrough.

In one embodiment the barrier system includes a series of panels, said panels interlinked by one or more support members, and wherein to at least one side of said panels, the blocks are provided.

In one embodiment the support members are respectively located at and linked to a block. Typically, the length of each block is positioned substantially at 90° to the length of its associated support member. Further typically, the length of each block is positioned substantially at 90° to the length of the barrier system. In one embodiment, the elongate member which links said blocks, is a separate item to the panels which form the said barrier.

In one embodiment, each of said blocks, is placed adjacent to a support member for the barrier.

In one embodiment, said panels are formed as mesh panels. Typically, said mesh panels comprise a mesh size of up to 1 5mm. Further typically, said mesh panels comprise a mesh size of up to 10mm. Yet further typically, said mesh panels comprise a mesh size of up to 6mm.

In one embodiment, at least some of said blocks, are connected mechanically, by mechanical engagement means, to the support member and interconnected via the elongate member.

In one embodiment, the mechanical engagement between the block and the support member, includes a member which pas ses through engagement means formed on, or attached to, said block and engagement means formed on or attached to support member.

In one embodiment, said one or more support members are permitted by the mechanical engagement to pivot with respect to a block. Typically, said pivoting action reduces the force applied to said block, thereby reducing the ability to penetrate the barrier system.

In one embodiment, the elongate member or members which connect said blocks, pass around a locating member at each respective block. In one embodiment, the elongate member is formed by a series of portions, each of said portions attached to at least two spaced adj acent blocks so as to connect the same. Typically, apart from the opposing end blocks, each of said blocks is therefore connected to an end of at least two elongate members.

In one embodiment, when the support members are provided, the blocks are located at/or towards the bottom of the support members and most typically, lie on a support surface which also acts to support the panels which form the barrier.

Typically, the height of the panels can be selected to perform particular functions but are most typically greater than the height of the block.

In one embodiment, the provision of the inter-connected blocks, are as part of a new barrier system in which the blocks and elongate members may be used to form the barrier, or may be used with panels and support members to form the barrier, and the interconnection of the same is performed at the time of installation.

Alternatively, the blocks and elongate member can be retro fitted to an existing barrier formed from panels and support members, so as to convert the same into a barrier system which can form a barrier against acces s being gained by vehicles as well as by persons on foot and without the need to remove the existing barrier system. Thus, there is provided a means by which a barrier system for preventing access by persons on foot can be adapted on site into a barrier system which also prevents access by vehicles.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming a barrier system, said method comprising the steps of locating a series of support members at spaced intervals along a predefined line, connecting panels between said support members, to form a linear barrier along said predefined line, locating, to at least one side of the said linear barrier, a series of blocks, at spaced intervals, and wherein the barrier system is formed by providing an elongate member and interconnecting the said blocks via said elongate member and engaging the said blocks with an adjacent support member.

In one embodiment, the blocks and elongate member are provided as retrofit items to an existing linear barrier.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figure 1 illustrates a portion of a barrier system formed in accordance with the invention in a first embodiment from a first side.

Figure 2 illustrates the barrier system of figure 1 from a second side.

Figure 3 illustrates an end elevation of a portion of the barrier system in accordance with the invention in accordance with the first embodiment,

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the mechanical connection between the support members and the blocks in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; and

Figures 6a— d illustrate a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated a barrier system (2) in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention which is formed from a series of panels (4) which are mounted and supported along a predefined linear path as indicated by arrow (6), by support members (8), at spaced intervals.

It should be appreciated that the barrier which is formed, need not be entirely along a straight line but that the panels (4) can be connected to support members (8) at different orientations so as to allow the barrier (2) to follow a required path to suit the particular use and environment at that location.

The bottom edge of the panels (4) and the support members (8) are typically placed onto a support surface (10) as shown. The panels (4) are constructed as mesh panels, which prevent a pedestrian attack due to its mesh size. The mesh size is generally smaller than or up to 6mm and in any event does not exceed 1 5mm.

The barrier system further comprises a series of blocks (12) which, in this instance, are located on one side of the barrier which is formed and, most typically, are located on the side of the barrier opposing that side from which attempts to gain access will originate, for example, as shown, the attempt to gain access by the vehicle (14) and therefore the barrier blocks (12) are located on the opposing side of the barrier from that on which the vehicle is located. As can be seen, the blocks (12) are positioned such that the length of each block (12) is at 90° to the longitudinal axis of the barrier system (2) . The length of each block is also positioned at 90° to the longitudinal axis of each associated support member (8) , such that an "L" shape is formed between the blocks (12) and the panels (4) and support members (8) , as can be seen when viewing the barrier system (2) side-on. The respective blocks, are spaced apart as shown and are interconnected via an elongate member (1 6) which is formed from a series of portions, which are shown in more detail in figure 3, which shows an end view of the barrier and in which it will be seen that each portion (1 8) of the elongate member, comprises a loop (20) at a first end and a second loop (22) at an opposing end, with the length of each portion, in this embodiment, being equivalent to the spacing apart of adj acent blocks. The blocks (12) are typically located at the same location as the support members (8) as shown in order to provide the maximum support for the barrier.

Referring now to figures 3, 4 and 5, the arrangement of the blocks (12) with regard to the support members (8) is shown in more detail. The elongate member is typically formed of a series of portions (1 8) of steel cable and the blocks are engaged with the adjacent support member (8) via mechanical engagement means which comprise a member (24) which passes through first and second engagement means (26) formed, or located on, the block (12) and which have an aperture therein to allow the member (24) to pas s therethrough. The member typically has a stop lip or plate (28) which prevents the member from completely passing through the apertures in the engagement means (26) .

Also provided, are engagement means (30) which are formed from or attached to the support member (8) . In this particular embodiment, engagement means (30) are formed by folding the same out from the structure of the support member (8) . The engagement means (30) also include an aperture therein so that the member (24) passes therethrough and thereby allows engagement to be achieved between the engagement means (30) of the support member (8) and the engagement means (26) of the block (12) . The engagement of the respective blocks, is then achieved by pas sing the loops (22) and (20) of the respective elongate portions (1 8), around the member (24) of the respective blocks as shown in figure 3,4 and 5 and hence the blocks (12) are both located with support members of the barrier and with respect to each other. The support members (8) are designed to pivot with respect to the blocks (12) . Such a pivoting action is permitted by the engagement mechanism (24, 26, 28, 30) . This provides an added level of security to the barrier system (2) in that it makes penetration of the barrier by human force more difficult because the support member (8) and panels (4) pivot on the as sociated block (12) when force is applied, and this pivoting action prevents continuous loading that could lead to increased penetration of the barrier system (2) .

Turning now to Figures 6a-d there is illustrated a further embodiment of the invention. In this case the barrier system (100) is formed of a series of blocks (102) located at spaced intervals along the length of the barrier. The blocks are interconnected by means of first and second spaced, parallel elongate members (104, 106) as shown. The blocks are provided with anchor points (108) which receive a locating member (1 10) as shown. Also, although in this embodiment the barrier system is not provided with panels or support members it should be appreciated that the blocks as shown and the locating members therefore can be used to allow the selective location of the support members therewith.

The anchor points also allow the location of loops (1 12) at the end of the elongate members (104,106) therewith so as to allow the effective barrier to extend between the blocks as shown and provide the barrier effect. Typically the number of elongate members provided can be increased to strengthen the barrier effect which is created.

This therefore allows a barrier system to be formed, which prevents or minimises access by both persons on foot and vehicles into a restricted area. It also provides a barrier system which is relatively rapidly deployable and, yet further, allows a barrier system of a type which may, for example, be formed only of panels (4) and support members (8), to be adapted, by the subsequent fitting of the blocks and elongate members, into a barrier system which can prevent access being gained by vehicles also.