Title: A mobile or movable barrier

The present invention relates generally to the field of fences and/or barriers. More specifically, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to a fencing system used for the protection and protection of personal safety and equipment and facilities in residential, highway, commercial area, public places, government facilities or the like. The metal fencing system also plays an important role in anti-terrorism operations.

Fences or barriers come in a variety of types, styles and structures. Fences or barriers intended for outdoor use are typically secured to the ground using posts inserted underground, or by affixing them to an existing artificial structure such as concrete or asphalt. Fences or barriers intended for indoor use are often mobile and able to support themselves without permanent fixation to the floor or walls.

Furthermore, mobile or movable barriers are known or are used aiming at closing the traffic of pedestrians and in almost all cases, they are barriers that rest on the ground by way of a feet or a base and, thanks to the friction developing between the ground and the feet or base of the barrier, it is difficult to displace them by exerting a horizontal thrust thereon. Friction is proportional to the weight of the barrier and to a coefficient which depends both on the paving type and on the characteristics of the feet or base of the barrier.

An important drawback of the above-mentioned type of barriers is that, if a horizontal thrust exerted by the crowd exceeds the resistance offered by the friction, the barrier begins scraping against the ground and displacing and, if it finds an obstacle in its path, the barrier will easily overturns, just because of the horizontal thrust which develops an overturning moment whose extent exceeds that of the stabilizing moment developed by the weight of the barrier itself about the center of rotation.

Therefore, when using traditional barriers, it is necessary to increase the weight of the object in order to get stability; however, an increased weight means increasing costs, greatly reducing the capability of easily handling the barrier, and making its transportation and storage difficult because a means of transport, such as for example a lift truck, is often necessary.

In particular, heavy barriers, such as for instance the "new jersey" ones, cannot be displaced quickly, which results in a major drawback in the case of accidents whereby it is necessary to quickly modify the arrangement of the barriers, for instance whenever it is necessary to create a passage and allow for a transit of rescue vehicles.

Furthermore, many mobile or movable barriers are cumbersome, and are less than convenient to install, uninstall, and mobilize.

US 2017009485 A1 relates to a portable fence system comprising a plurality of interlocking fence units. Each fence unit has a main frame and at least one-wheel assembly deployable from a withdrawn position to an extended ground-engaging position for rolling. A fence member is pivotally affixed to a forward portion of the main frame. The fence member may be lowered into a horizontal position for storage and raised into a vertical position for use. Downwardly and rearwardly inclined braces extend from a top portion of the fence member to the rear edge of the frame. Protective coverings are placed on portions of the fence member to prevent injuries from impact therewith. Couplers are provided along opposing side portions of the fence member, so that adjacent fence units may be interconnected and arranged to provide the desired length and configuration for the fence system.

WO 2022034590 A1 relates to a modular fence assembly, including multiple fence modules each comprising: a barrier comprising a pair of substantially parallel end posts, and a base configured to stabilize the respective fence module on a surface. The modular fence assembly further includes multiple connectors each configured to connect two adjacent fence modules of the multiple fence modules, wherein: each of the multiple connectors is configured as a double hinge having a pair of parallel internal channels, and each of the internal channels is configured to embrace an end post of one of the two adjacent fence modules. The multiple fence modules and the multiple connectors are configured to be assembled into a fence.

US 6.257.559 B1 relates to a portable fence is practically easy and fast to be installed along the boundary of a keep-off area to restrict and entry of the unconcerned at construction or events-holding sites and is conveniently compact to carry and store due to its foldability. This fence comprises a conjunction screen formed by connecting a plurality of fence components, preferably formed of synthetic resin by blow molding, side by side through a hinge mechanism such that they are foldable to each other and a support means or stay pivotably mounted onto a lower fringe portion of said conjunction screen, and stably provides a restricted area at a site where an access of the unconcerned is restricted in an easy and fast manner and is convenient to carry and store due to its foldability. The addition of a weight container thereto further enhances the standing stability thereof. It is an object of the present invention to minimize and possibly alleviate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

Another object of the present invention is thus to provide a mobile or movable barrier, suitable for implementing modular fences, particularly safe and such as not to easily displace and overturn whenever the crowd presses against it.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a movable barrier that is lightweight and simultaneously is easy to position and little bulky to transport.

A further object of the invention is to implement a movable barrier that, in case of need, can be displaced manually, without any need for using means of transport.

The objects are achieved by a mobile or movable barrier in accordance with the invention with the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are indicated in dependent claims.

The present invention relates to a mobile or movable barrier, where the mobile or movable barrier comprises a frame, a footboard and a support, where the footboard and the support are connected to opposite sides of the frame.

In one embodiment according to the present invention, the footboard and/or the support may be releasably connected to the frame of the mobile or movable barrier, but it could also be envisaged that the footboard and/or support may be permanently connected to the frame of the mobile or movable barrier, for instance through welding, bolt and nuts or the like.

The mobile or movable barrier may also be used without the footboard.

According to one embodiment, the footboard may comprise a main part, where the main part may be in contact with a ground on which the mobile or movable barrier is placed on when the footboard is connected to the frame, and an upwardly extending part, where the upwardly extending part may be provided with a hook device arranged for being hung off on a hanger or holder provided in or on the frame of the mobile or movable barrier.

According to one aspect, the main part and the upwardly extending part are designed such that that they form an angle of substantially 90 degrees with each other. However, it could be envisaged that the footboard may be manufactured in such a way that the main part and the upwardly extending part form an angle between them which may be slightly smaller or slightly larger than 90 degrees, for instance an angle which may be between 85 degrees and 105 degrees.

An end of the upwardly extending part may then, for example, be bent into an inverted U- shape, so as to form the hook device, whereby the inverted U-shape or hook device may be suspended from a holder provided in the frame of the mobile or movable barrier.

The hook device may be provided to extend over an entire width of the upwardly extending part of the footboard, or only over a part or parts of the width of the footboard

The mobile or movable barrier may also comprise at least a pair of wheels, where each wheel may be arranged towards an end of the width of the frame. However, the mobile or movable barrier may also comprise more than two wheels. In such an embodiment the wheels may be grouped and/or distributed at equal lengths along a longitudinal direction of the frame of the mobile or movable barrier.

Furthermore, according to one aspect, the at least one pair of wheels may be arranged to be brought from an inactive position, where the wheels are not in contact with the ground, and to an active position where the wheels are in contact with the ground and thus may be used to move or relocate the mobile or movable barrier. The mobile or movable barrier may then comprise a system to regulate the wheels between the inactive and active position and vice versa, and to lock the wheels in any desired position between the active and inactive position.

The frame of the mobile or movable barrier may, in one embodiment, comprise a right element, a left element, a top element and a bottom element, where the elements are, in appropriate ways, connected to each other to form the frame. The elements may, for instance, be welded to each other, or connected to each other through a number of bolts and nuts.

Furthermore, the elements may, for instance be, channel elements, rod elements, pole elements or the like, and they may be solid or hollow.

To further stiffen the frame of the mobile or movable barrier, a number of inner or intermediate elements may be connected to the frame of the mobile or movable barrier, where the inner or intermediate elements are arranged between the left and right elements and furthermore in appropriate ways connected to the top element and bottom element of the frame of the mobile or movable barrier.

The inner or intermediate elements may have the same size and form, or they may have different size and form. Furthermore, the inner or intermediate elements may, for instance, be channel elements, rod elements, pole elements, and they may be solid or hollow.

In one embodiment two of the inner or intermediate elements may be wider and stronger than the remaining inner or intermediate elements, so as to reinforce the frame of the mobile or movable barrier.

A hinderance element may furthermore be connected to the frame of the mobile or movable barrier, where such a hinderance element may be a Plexiglas, a grid element, a bar element, a lattice element or the like. The hinderance element is connected to the frame of the mobile or movable barrier in appropriate ways.

Furthermore, the hinderance element may be connected the frame in front of the frame, at back of the frame or also within the frame of the mobile or movable barrier, to the elements forming the frame.

According to one aspect, the frame of the mobile or movable barrier may be provided with a hanger or holder for the hook device of the footboard, where the hanger or holder may be in form of one or more slots or slits extending over at least a part or parts of a length or width of the frame.

According to one aspect, the hanger or holder for the hook device of the footboard may be arranged at a lower half of the frame, but a certain height above the ground.

In one embodiment the support may comprise two support elements, where each support element may comprise a sloping element, where each sloping element is arranged to be brought into contact with one of the inner or intermediate elements of the frame of the mobile or movable barrier.

The sloping elements of the support may be fixedly or permanently connected between the inner or intermediate elements of the frame and the support. However, it could also be envisaged that the sloping elements could be removably connected between the inner or intermediate elements of the frame and the support, whereby the sloping elements of the support and the inner or intermediate elements may then be provided with appropriate connection means in order to be connected to each other.

The connection means may, for instance, be in form of attachment lugs, slits, bolts and nuts or the like.

In one embodiment the support may have a tapered form, where an end of the support having a widest length is to be connected to the bottom element of the frame through appropriate fastening means. The bottom element of the frame may then be provided with corresponding receiving means.

An opposite end, i.e. an end with the narrowest width, of the support may furthermore be provided with a handle, a lug, lifting eye or the like, in order to ease the handling and/or moving of the mobile or movable barrier.

According to one embodiment, each of the support elements may be provided with a frictionincreasing device, such that a friction developed between the ground and the mobile or movable barrier, when the mobile or movable barrier is in use, will increase the larger a horizontal thrust exerted on the mobile or movable barrier is.

Such a friction-increasing device may, for instance, be a number of sharp “teeth", “nails” or the like.

According to one aspect, the mobile or movable barrier may comprise a holding and locking mechanism, where the holding and locking mechanism is arranged to be brought from an active position, in which the holding and locking mechanism will lock the footboard to the mobile or movable barrier, and to an inactive position, in which the footboard may be removed from the mobile or movable barrier.

In one embodiment the holding and locking mechanism may comprise two forks, where each of the forks may be connected to a first link arm through a mounting plate, where the first link arm may be connected to a second link arm. Similarly, a third link arm may be connected to the second link arm through on of its ends, while an opposite end of the third link arm may be connected to a bottom element of the frame. The second link arm may then be provided with a slit extending over a part of a length of the second link arm, in order to allow the first and third link arm to slide along the slit when the holding and locking mechanism is operated through an operating handle.

The second link arms of each fork may then be connected through an element, to which element the operating handle may be connected to.

When the operating handle is lifted or lowered, the element is rotated, whereby a rotation of the element is transferred to a rotation of the second link arm. When the second link arm is rotated, this rotation is transferred to a movement of the first and third link arm, whereby the forks may be brought from an inactive position to an active position, or vice versa.

The link arms, the element and the bottom element of the frame may be connected to each other or between each other in appropriate ways.

In one embodiment the mobile or movable barrier may also comprise a serrated element, where the serrated element may be connected to an upper side of the frame of the mobile or movable barrier, and where the serrated element may prevent someone from jumping over the mobile or movable barrier.

Furthermore, the serrated element may comprise a joint or the like on each of its sides, such that the serrated element can be tilted back or down from its active position, whereby the serrations of the serrated element in an inactive will be pointed downwards.

According to one embodiment, the frame of the mobile or movable barrier may be provided with a number of locking and holding devices, such that two or more mobile or movable barriers arranged next to each other may be locked" to each other when the mobile or movable barriers form a row.

A chain, wire or the like may then be passed or threaded through the number of locking and holding devices provided in each mobile or movable barrier, whereafter the chain, wire or the like is locked.

The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a mobile or movable barrier according to the present invention,

Figures 2A-2C shows in greater detail different parts of the mobile or movable barrier according to figure 1, from different views,

Figure 3 show the mobile or movable barrier according to figure 1, from above and from a side,

Figure 4 shows a detail of a footboard of the mobile or movable barrier and a holder for the footboard,

Figures 5A-5B show further details of the mobile or movable carrier according to figure 1,

Figure 6 shows yet a detail of the mobile or movable barrier according to the present invention,

Figures 7A-7B show the mobile or movable barrier when ready to use, where figure 7A shows the mobile or movable barrier in a perspective view from behind, while figure 7B shows the mobile or movable barrier in a perspective view from front,

Figure 8 shows a holding and locking mechanism for the mobile or movable barrier, and

Figures 9A-9B show an alternative embodiment of the mobile or movable barrier, where figure 9A shows the holding and locking mechanism in an active position, and figure 9B shows the holding and locking mechanism in an inactive position.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a mobile or movable barrier B according to the present invention, where it can be seen that the mobile or movable barrier B comprises a frame F, a footboard 20 and a support S.

The footboard 20 and the support S are arranged on opposite sides of the frame F.

Furthermore, the footboard 20 is arranged to be removably connected to the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B. The frame F comprises one left element 1, one right element 2, two inner or intermediate elements 5 arranged between the left and right elements 1 , 2, where the elements 1, 2, 5 are connected to a top element 15 and a bottom element 3 in order to form the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B according to the present invention.

The elements 1, 2, 5, 15, 3 may be welded to each other to form the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B, or the elements 1, 2, 5, 15, 3 may be connected to each other by use of bolts and nuts or the like.

The elements 1, 2, 5, 15, 3 may, for instance be, channel elements, rod elements, pole elements or the like, and they may be solid or hollow.

Furthermore, a number of rod or pole elements 13 are arranged between the left element 1 and a first inner or intermediate element 5, between the first inner or intermediate element 5 and a second inner or intermediate element 5, and between the second inner or intermediate element 5 and the right element 2.

A hinderance element 14 is furthermore connected to a foremost side of the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B, where the hinderance element 14 may be, for instance a Plexiglas, a grid element, a bar element, a lattice element or the like.

The hinderance element 14 may be connected to the elements 1, 2, 5, 15, 3 and the rod or pole elements 13 in appropriate ways, for instance through bolts and nuts or the like.

At least one of the footboard 20 and support S is releasably connected to the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B, such that the footboard 20 and/or support S may be disconnected and removed away from the mobile or movable barrier B when not needed.

The footboard 20 and the support S, by being arranged on opposite sides of the frame of the mobile or movable barrier B, will to a much greater extent be able to prevent the mobile or movable barrier B from tipping over when, for example, demonstrators push or shove on the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B.

The mobile or movable barrier B is also provided with a pair of wheels W, where the wheels W will ease the transportation or movement of the mobile or movable barrier B when needed. In one embodiment the pair of wheels W may be arranged to be moved from an inactive position, where the pair of wheels W are not in contact with the ground, and to an active position where the pair of wheels W are in contact with the ground and thus may be used to move or relocate the mobile or movable barrier B.

The mobile or movable barrier may then comprise a system to regulate the wheels W between the inactive and active position and vice versa, and to lock the wheels W in any desired position between the active and inactive position.

The footboard 20 comprises a main part 20A, see also figures 3 and 4, where the main part 20A is to be in contact with a ground when the mobile or movable barrier B is in use, and an upwardly extending part 20B. An end of the upwardly extending part 20B is provided with a hook device 20C, such that the footboard 20 may be hang off in or on a hanger 21 or holder provided in the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B.

The end of the upwardly extending part 20B is bent into an inverted U-shape, so as to form the hook device 20C, whereby the hook device 20C can be inserted in and suspended from a the hanger 21 or holder provided in the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B.

As can be seen in figure 4, the upwardly extending part 20B extends substantially vertically up from the main part 20A of the footboard 20, whereby the main part 20A and the upwardly extending part 20B form an angle of substantially 90 degrees with each other, but it can also be envisaged that the upwardly extending part 20B and the main part 20A may be designed to form an angle between them which may be slightly smaller or slightly larger than 90 degrees, where the angle may be between 85 degrees and 105 degrees.

Figures 2A-2C show in greater detail different part of the mobile or movable barrier B according to figure 1, where figure 2A shows an enlarged view of a holding and locking mechanism H for the footboard 20, where the holding and locking mechanism H is arranged to be brought from an inactive position, in which the holding and locking mechanism H is arranged substantially perpendicular to the footboard 20, and to an active position in abutment with the footboard 20, so as to secure and keep the footboard 20 in its locked position. In this locked position the hook device 20C is arranged inside the hanger 21 or holder provided in the frame F of the mobile or movable carrier B and the holding and locking mechanism H will prevent that the hook device 20C of the footboard 20 can be lifted out from the hanger 21 or holder provided in the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B. If, for some reason, it is desired to remove the footboard 20 from the mobile or movable barrier B, for instance when transporting and/or storing of the mobile or movable barrier B, the holding and locking mechanism H will be brought to its inoperative position, whereafter the footboard 20 is lifted up in order to release the hook device 20C from the hanger 21 or holder provided in the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B. When the hook device 20C is brought out of abutment with the hanger 21 or holder, the footboard 20 can be removed from the frame F and the mobile or movable barrier B.

When the footboard 20 is to be attached to the mobile or movable barrier B, the holding and locking mechanism H must be brought to its inactive position, such that the hook device 20C of the footboard 20 can be inserted into and hang off OR from the hanger 21 or holder provided in the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B. When the hook device 20C is suspended from the hanger 21 or holder, the holding and locking mechanism H is brought to its active position in which the holding and locking mechanism H is in contact with an upper side of the footboard 20, whereby the footboard 20 is locked and thus will not be able to be removed from the mobile or movable barrier B.

The holding and locking mechanism H comprises two “forks" 22, where each “fork" 22 is arranged towards an end of the footboard 20, where each “fork” 22 furthermore is connected to a first link arm 27 through a first mounting plate 28. The first link arm 27 is in turn connected to a second link arm 31. A third link arm 33 is also connected to the second link arm 31 through one of its ends, while an opposite end of the third link arm 33 is connected to the bottom element 3 of the frame F, through an attachment lug 100.

Each fork 22 is also connected to the bottom element 3 of the frame F through a connection 29, where the connection 29 allows the forks 22 to rotate about the connection 29 when the holding and locking mechanism H is operated.

Furthermore, the second link arm 31 is provided with a slit 31A over a part of its length, such that the first link arm 27 and third link arm 33 can slide along the slit 31 A when the holding and locking mechanism H is operated.

The two second link arms 31 of the forks 22 are connected to each other through an element 30, where the element 30 may have a circular shape, such as a pipe or the like.

The element 30 is furthermore fixedly connected to an operating handle 26 of the holding and locking mechanism H. When the operating handle 26 is lifted or lowered, the element 30 is rotated, whereby a rotation of the element 30 is transferred to a rotation of the second link arm 31. When the second link arm 31 is rotated, this rotation is transferred to a movement of the first link arm 27 and third link arm 33, whereby the “forks” 22 can be brought from an inactive position to an active position, or vice versa.

Figure 2C shows further details of how the element 30 is connected to the second link arm 31 and also how the wheels W, through an axle A, is connected to the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B.

Figure 6 shows how the operating handle 26 of the holding and locking mechanism H is connected to a plate element 35 provided with a number of teeth 35A, where the plate element 35 may be locked to a locking plate 34 fixed to the bottom element 3 of the frame F when the operating handle 26 of the holding and locking mechanism H has brought the holding and locking mechanism H to an active or inactive position.

Figure 6 shows furthermore the holding and locking mechanism H in an inactive position, i.e. the forks 22 have been lifted to a position where the forks 22 are brought into abutment with the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B, such that the footboard 20 may be lifted up and removed from the mobile or movable barrier B. The operating handle 26 may then be locked in this inactive position through the plate element 35 and the locking plate 34.

The operating handle 26 of the holding and locking mechanism H may also be provided with two such plate elements 35 provided with a number of teeth 35A as shown in figure 1, such that the operating handle 26 may be locked in both the active and inactive position of the holding and locking mechanism H, whereby the operating handle 26 may be locked in the inactive position of the holding and locking mechanism H as described in figure 6, while the locking handle 26 may be locked in the active position of the holding and locking mechanism H through an upper plate element 35 and an upper locking plate 34 as shown in figure 1.

Figure 3 show the mobile or movable barrier according to figure 1, from above and from a side, where it can be seen that the support S comprise two support elements 7, where each support element 7 is releasably connected to a sloping element 36 and where each sloping support element 36 is arranged to be brought into contact with one of the inner or intermediate elements 5 of the frame F. For the sake of simplicity, are forks 22 of the holding and locking mechanism H omitted from figure 3, but it should be understood that the forks 22 are a part of the mobile or movable barrier B according to the present invention.

The sloping elements 7 of the support S and the inner or intermediate elements 5 are provided with appropriate connection means in order to be connected to each other. The connection means may, for instance, be in form of a weld, attachment lugs, slits, bolts and nuts or the like.

The support S has a tapered form, where an end of the support S having a widest length is to be connected to the bottom element 3 of the frame F through fastener means.

The bottom element 3 of the frame F is then provided with corresponding receiving means.

An end of the support is furthermore provided with a handle 11 , a lug, lifting eye or the like, in order to ease the handling and/or moving of the mobile or movable barrier B.

Furthermore, each of the support elements 7 is provided with a friction-increasing device 102, such that the friction developed between the ground and the mobile or movable barrier B will increase the larger a horizontal thrust exerted on the mobile or movable barrier B is.

Such a friction-increasing device 102 may, for instance, be a number of sharp “teeth", “nails” or the like.

Figure 4 shows how the footboard 20, through the hook device 20C of the upwardly extending part 20B of the footboard 20 is hung up in a hanger 21 or holder provided in the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B.

As explained above, the forks 22 of the holding and locking mechanism H, when the holding and locking mechanism H is in its active position, will prevent that the hook device 20C of the footboard 20 can be lifted out of engagement with the hanger 21 or holder provided in the frame F of the mobile or movable barrier B, as the forks 22, being forced towards an upper surface of the main part 20A of the footboard 20, will press the footboard 20 downwards towards the ground on which the mobile or movable barrier B is placed on.

Figures 5A-5B show how a serrated element 101 comprising a plurality of serrations may be attached to an upper side of the mobile or movable barrier B, where the serrated element 101 will prevent someone from jumping over the mobile or movable barrier B when the mobile or movable barrier B is in use.

An element or the top element 15 is connected to the top of the frame F in appropriate ways, whereafter the serrated element 101 is connected to the channel element or top element 15.

The serrated element 101 may comprise a joint or the like on each of its sides, such that the serrated element 101 can be brought from its raised position to a tilted position, in which tilted position the plurality of serrations will lie flat or be pointed downwards.

Figures 7A-7B show in greater detail the mobile or movable barrier B when ready to use, and also the holding and locking mechanism H when the forks 22 are in their active position, i.e. when the forks 22 are pressing towards the footboard 20.

Figure 8 shows when the holding and locking mechanism H is brought to its inactive position, i.e. when the forks 22 are out of abutment with the footboard 20, such that the footboard 20 can be removed from the mobile or movable barrier B.

Figures 9A-9B show an alternative use of the mobile or movable barrier B according to the invention, in perspective view from front and from behind, where it can be seen that the mobile or movable barrier B can be used without the footboard 20. When the footboard 20 is removed, the forks 22 will form the support towards the ground on which the mobile or movable barrier B is placed on.

Figure 9B shows the mobile or movable barrier B when the holding and locking mechanism H has been brought to its inactive position, i.e. the forks 22 are lifted up, whereby the mobile or movable barrier B can be transported, stowed away etc.

The invention has now been explained with several different embodiments. Only elements related to the invention are described and a skilled person will understand that one may make several alterations and modifications to the mobile or movable barrier described and shown embodiments that are within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.