Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a straddle-barrier assembly for preventing unauthorised passage of a vehicle, and in particular to a road mounted straddle-barrier assembly. Background Art

Road mounted straddle-barriers are well known and generally have one or more members hinge mounted to a road surface and able to be raised to a position which prevents a vehicle from straddling the barrier, or lowered to a position hich permits a vehicle to straddle the barrier. The straddle-barrier is provided with a lock whereby unauthorized lowering, and thus

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unauthorized vehicle passage is prevented but pedestrian traffic is not affected.

A disadvantage of such barriers is that it is necessary to leave the vehicle to operate the barrier.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a barrier which avoids that disadvantage. Disclosure of the Invention

According to one aspect the present invention consists in a straddle-barrier assembly comprising a base adapted for fixed mounting to a road surface; a barrier mounted to the base by means permitting the barrier to be raised to an operative position for preventing a vehicle from passage, and permitting the barrier to be lowered to an inoperative position enabling a vehicle to pass thereover; and remotely controllable means for driving the barrier between the operative and the inoperative position. The term "road surface" as herein used includes surfaces such as pavements, footpaths, garage floors, driveways, parking areas and the like. Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

In a preferred embodiment the barrier consists of two hingedly connected elements, the remote ends of which are pivotally connected to formations which in turn are mounted for translation with respect to the base, whereby one of the remote ends is movable with respect to the other. As the remote ends of the

elements are moved towards each other, the apex formed at the hinged connection between the two elements is raised above the base to an operative position.

For preference one formation is driven towards or away from the other by a rotatable screw cooperatively engagable with a corresponding thread of the formation.

Preferably also, the barrier is driven between the operative and inoperative positions by an electric motor which may be remotely controlled, for example by means of radio signals.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a straddle-barrier assembly and drive means according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the straddle-barrier assembly in the operative position;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a screw and pivot assembly for driving the barrier.

Referring to the drawings a straddle-barrier assembly 1 comprises a base 2 adapted for fixed mounting to a road surface. The base 2 includes a lockable cover plate 3 to deny unauthorised access to the interior. Mounting bolts 4 are housed within the lockable region of the base. A barrier 5 is mounted to the base 2 by

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means permitting the barrier to be raised to the operative position and lowered to the inoperative position.

The barrier 5 consists of two substantially Vee shaped elements 6 and 7 hingedly. connected at their respective apexes 8 and 9 by hinge 10. The remote ends 11 and 12 of the elements and are pivotally connected to threaded formations 13, such that the axes of the pivotal connections are parallel to the axis of the hinge 10. The remote ends of one of the Vee shaped elements are movable with respect to the remote ends of the other element so that as the remote ends of the elements are brought into closer proximity, the apex formed at hinge 10 is raised above the base.

The barrier 5 is driven by two parallel rotatable shafts 14 and 15 having respective, oppositely threaded end portions 16 and 17. The threaded end portions are cooperatively engagable with corresponding threaded formations 13. The two shafts 14 and 15 are connected for simultaneous rotation via an intermediate chain and sprocket assembly 18.

The remote ends of the two Vee shaped elements 6 and 7 are pivotally connected to threaded formations 13, whereby as the shafts rotate, the threaded formations, engaged with their respective shafts, are driven closer together or further apart depending on the direction of

rotation, thereby effecting the raising or lowering of the barrier.

An electric motor 19 powered by a battery 20 drives the shafts 14 and 15 via a drive chain and sprocket assembly 21. The operation of the motor 19 is controlled by a remote signal receiver 22. The motor 19 and battery 20 are housed within the lockable region of the base.

Cam formations 23 associated with shafts 14 and 15 are rotatingly engagable with elements 6 and 7 of the barrier. These cam formations initiate the raising of the barrier from the inoperative position, and thereby prevent locking of the barrier and drive means.

The straddle-barrier assembly also may be provided with an overload detector (not illustrated) on motor 19 which reverses the motor if the barrier 5 encounters an obstruction when it is being raised or lowered. A safety interlock device is also provided in conjunction with the vehicle. The interlock device is desirably positioned under the bonnet of the vehicle and is activated by the same radio frequency as the straddle-barrier assembly. If the vehicle ignition circuit is "off" the interlock device disables the ignition circuit in response to the signal which raises barrier 5 and re-enables the ignition circuit in response to the signal which lowers barrier member 5,

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thus preventing the car from being driven out accidentally against the barrier while the barrier is raised.

An L.E.D 24 may be conveniently used to illuminate the apex of the barrier when in the operative position. The display is automatically illuminated at night and switched off during daylight. The L.E.D. sign operates from a light-sensing detector in the apparatus. A second L.E.D. may be used to illuminate a name or vehicle number for identification purposes.

In this embodiment, the remote controller is a compact specific frequency radio signal transmitter which may be conveniently mounted within the vehicle, or carried by the operator. However, it is within the scope of the invention that the remote control is effected by other means such as by insertion of a magnetically encoded card into a reader, or a pressure sensitive pad or other means whereby the motor may be actuated remotely and selectively.

Further, although reference has been made to an electric motor powered by a battery, it will be appreciated that other driving means such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, and other sources of motive power such as a remote electricity source, compressed gas, or gravity could also be used.

In another embodiment the elements of the barrier, when in the inoperative position, may rest on a support,

for example a centrally located pyramid formation, so as to be inclined at an angle to the horizontal, thereby eliminating the need for the cam formations to initiate the raising of the barrier.

Furthermore the elements of the barrier need not be hinge connected at the apex but may be joined by a chain or other flexible coupling and may be locked together as the barrier is raised.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.