This invention relates generally to safety barriers and, more particularly but not necessarily exclusively, to an illumination system for a temporary safety barrier and a temporary safety barrier incorporating such an illumination system.

Temporary safety barriers are well known, and in extensive use in potentially hazardous environments such as construction and roadwork sites, to prevent or deter unauthorised entry to specified areas or locations in and around such sites. Many different designs and configurations of such temporary barriers are known, but typical such barriers comprise at least one barrier member having means for supporting itself, or being supported, in a substantially upright configuration on the ground or similar solid surface. As required by statute in many jurisdictions worldwide, such as the BSI standard in the UK, a temporary barrier of this type carrier a panel along its upper horizontal edge comprised of red and white reflective material. The primary function of this reflective panel is to increase the visibility of the barrier to vehicle drivers during the night, wherein the passing of vehicle headlamps increases the luminosity of the reflective material and highlights at least the upper edge of the barrier to a vehicle driver as they approach and pass it.

However, in unlit or poorly lit areas, the reflective panel has little effect on the visibility of the barrier to pedestrians (unless they are carrying and using a torch or similar light emitting device), and many incidents and accidents have been identified whereby a pedestrian has been injured because they did not see a barrier, wherein the pedestrian has sustained an injury either through bumping into the barrier or, worse, falling into a hole or entering a hazardous area from which the barrier was intended to protect them.

It is known to mount a lamp on a temporary safety barrier, and it is a standard feature on many types of such barrier to provide a mounting hole to enable a separate lamp to be fitted thereon by means of a nut and bolt assembly. Such lamps are primarily used in secured construction sites or for motorway maintenance, and are not widely used unless required by statute/regulation for a specific purpose, for several reasons. Firstly, the significant additional cost of providing such lamps is prohibitive, especially in view of the inherent risk that they may be damaged or stolen. Furthermore, such lamps tend to be relatively heavy and require large consumable battery packs which expire after a period of use and need to be replaced regularly if used frequently, thus further increasing the financial overhead associated therewith. Still further, there is a significant time overhead with the fitting, maintenance and removal of such lamps, and their use tends, therefore, to be kept to a minimum except where dictated by statute or regulation and, in general, locations such as residential areas and streets, there is currently no such regulation for providing a lamp/light source in relation to temporary barriers. It is an object of aspects of the present invention to address at least some of these issues and, in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an illumination system for a safety barrier, the system comprising a power supply coupled to at least one light emitting device, and at least one generally tubular light guide formed of a light transmissive fibre-optic material, an input of said light guide being coupled to said light emitting device such that light emitted from said light emitting device is transmitted through said light guide, in use, at least said light emitting device and said light guide being configured to be mounted on an outer surface of a safety barrier.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a housing in which said at least one light emitting device and said power supply are housed, and from which said at least one light guide extends, said housing being configured to be mounted on an outer surface of said safety barrier. The system may comprise at least two light guides formed of a light transmissive fibre-optic material, an input of each light guide being coupled to a light emitting device. In this case, an input of each light guide may be coupled to a respective light emitting device.

Optionally, the or each light guide, when mounted for use on an outer surface of said safety barrier, may have a proximal wall adjacent said outer surface of said safety barrier and an opposing distal wall, wherein a surface of said distal and/or proximal wall may be provided with a refractive portion configured to converge light incident thereon from the or a respective light emitting device so as to create a discrete illuminated portion at said distal wall, in use. Indeed, the or each light guide may have a plurality of refractive portions provided in or on its distal wall, said refractive portions being arranged in spaced apart relation along its length such that, in use, a plurality of discrete illuminated portions are created at a distal wall of a respective light guide, giving the visual impression of a plurality of discrete LEDs arranged along the length of the light guide. In an exemplary embodiment, the refractive portions may comprise respective cuts or notches formed in said distal wall of the or each light guide. The rear surface of the proximal wall of the or each light guide may be provided with a reflective coating. The system may further comprise an actuator for selectively switching the or each light emitting device on and off. The actuator may include a manually operable switch. Alternatively or in addition, the system may comprise a light sensor having an output coupled to said actuator, said light sensor being configured to detect a level of ambient light in the environment in which said safety barrier is located, wherein said actuator is configured to switch the or each light emitting device on when said ambient light level drops below a predetermined threshold. Alternatively or in addition, the system may further comprise an orientation sensor configured, in use, to detect an orientation of said safety barrier, wherein said actuator is configured to switch the or each light emitting device off when tilting of said safety barrier by more than a predetermined angle is detected.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the system may further comprise a motion sensor and an audible signalling device, wherein said audible signalling device is configured to be actuated in response to detection of motion in the vicinity of said safety barrier, in use. Optionally, the power supply may comprise one or more disposable or rechargeable battery cells.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a safety barrier assembly comprising a rigid barrier member and at least one support member for supporting said barrier member in a substantially upright configuration, in use, the assembly further comprising an illumination system comprising a power supply coupled to at least one light emitting device, and at least one generally tubular light guide formed of a light transmissive fibre-optic material, an input of said light guide being coupled to said light emitting device such that light emitted from said light emitting device is transmitted through said light guide, wherein at least said light emitting device and said light guide are mounted on an outer surface of said safety barrier.

The barrier member may comprise an elongate recess or groove extending

substantially horizontally along at least a portion of its width, wherein said light guide is retained within said recess or groove. Optionally, an inner surface of said recess or groove may be provided with a coating or layer of reflective material. The barrier member may, optionally, comprise a panel of reflective material extending substantially horizontally along at least a portion of its width, and said light guide is configured to be mounted above or below said panel and substantially parallel therewith.

In an exemplary embodiment, the illumination system may comprise a housing within which said power supply and said at least one light emitting device are housed and from which said at least one light guide extends, said housing being mounted on said outer surface of said barrier member. The illumination system may comprise at least two light guides, each light guide extending from a respective side of said housing, said housing being mounted on said outer surface of said barrier member, generally centrally along its width, and said light guides being mounted on said outer surface of said barrier member so as to extend substantially horizontally from respective side edges of said housing.

The or each light guide may have a proximal wall adjacent said outer surface of said barrier member and an opposing distal wall, wherein a surface of said distal and/or proximal wall may be provided with a refractive portion configured to converge light incident thereon from the or a respective light emitting device so as to create a discrete illuminated portion at said distal wall, in use. Advantageously, the or each light guide may have a plurality of refractive portions provided on a surface of its distal wall, said refractive portions being arranged in spaced apart relation along its length such that, in use, a plurality of discrete illuminated portions are created at a distal wall of a respective light guide. In an exemplary embodiment, the refractive portions may comprise respective cuts or notches formed in said distal wall of the or each light guide.

The or each light emitting device may comprise an amber light emitting diode.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts comprising a safety barrier and an illumination system substantially as described above.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specific description in which embodiments of the present invention are described, by way of examples only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a safety barrier having an illumination system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention mounted thereon; Figure 1 A is a schematic front view of an illumination system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figures IB and 1C are respective schematic side and front views of a portion of a fibre-optic light guide of an illumination system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the refractive portions;

Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic partial front view of the safety barrier of Figure 1, illustrating elements of the illumination system;

Figures 3A, 3B and 3C are schematic respective side, front and perspective side views of the housing of an illumination system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged schematic partial front view of an illumination system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 5 A and 5B are schematic front views of an illumination system according to respective first and second exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 6A is a schematic perspective view illustrating a barrier assembly according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 6B is a schematic perspective view of a barrier assembly according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a temporary safety barrier 10 comprising, generally, a barrier member 12 supported in an upright, substantially vertical configuration by a pair of feet 14 located at the lower edge of the barrier member 12. A panel 16 of red and white reflective sections 18a, 18b is provided on the outer surface of the barrier member 12 and runs along a substantially portion of its width, just below the upper edge.

Referring additionally to Figure 1 A of the drawings, the safety barrier is provided with an illumination system comprising a housing 20 which is mounted on the outer surface of the barrier member 12, generally centrally of its width. A pair of generally tubular light guides 22a, 22b extend from respective opposing side edges of the housing and are mounted and retained in an elongate recess or groove provided in the outer surface of the barrier member, located just below the reflective panel 16, such that the light guides 22a, 22b extend substantially horizontally along a respective portion of the width of the barrier member. The light guides are formed of a light transmissive fibre-optic material, such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with a high UV stability, or the like. The light guides 22a, 22b may have a substantially circular cross-section, although the present invention is not necessarily intended to be limited in this regard..

Within the housing 20, there is provided a power supply comprised, for example, of one or more disposable alkaline batteries and coupled to a respective light emitting diode (not shown), which may advantageously be amber in colour. The advantage of utilising amber light is that it is generally more detectable to the human eye, but the present invention is not necessarily intended to be limited in this regard. Each LED is arranged within the housing and coupled at an input end of a respective light guide 22a, 22b, such that, in use, light emitted thereby is transmitted through the light guide, along its length.

Referring additionally to Figures IB and 1C of the drawings, the surface of the distal wall of each light guide 22a, 22b (i.e. the wall at the front, furthest from the surface of the barrier member) is provided with a plurality of refractive portions 25 arranged in spaced (e.g. 20-50mm) apart configuration along the length of the respective light guide. The refractive portions may, for example, comprise small diagonal cuts or notches in the outer surface of the light guide that are each configured to refract and converge light at the distal wall of the light guide, such that they appear as discrete illuminated portions (i.e. simulate an array of LEDs) thereon. The net visual result is that, in use, the spaced apart discrete illuminated portions created by respective refractive portions appear similar to a plurality of spaced apart LEDs configured in spaced apart relation along the length of each light guide.

The inner surface of the above-mentioned recess or groove in the barrier member may be provided with a layer or coating of reflective material, thereby to further enhance the brightness of the resultant illumination by reflecting light from the LED(s) and any light from an external source onto the distal wall of the light guide(s). Alternatively, of course, a reflective layer or coating may be provided on the outer surface of the proximal wall of each light guide, to the same purpose. The terminated ends of the light guides may be provided with a reflective portion (or so-called "mirror cap") on the inner or outer end surface thereof, the mirror cap being configured to "send back" (by reflection) any of the light incident thereon, thereby effectively recycling the illumination to the opposite end of the cable and potentially enhancing the luminosity of the system by 20-25%. The mirror cap may, for example, comprise a piece of reflective material on the inner surface of the terminated end(s) of the light guide(s).

Referring additionally to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, it can be seen that the housing 20 comprises an enclosure having a substantially vertical outer wall 20a and a tapered inner wall 20b which is mounted against the surface of the barrier member. A pair of openings 24 is provided on respective opposing side walls of the housing 20, through which respective light guides project, in use. A power supply in the form of, for example two AA sized alkaline batteries within a sealed box, is located within the housing, and a pair of LEDs 23a, 23b are also located therein and configured such that their output is coupled to an inlet of a respective light guide 22a, 22b. The housing 20 is advantageously closed and sealed during normal use, but may comprise a cover that can be removed or opened to enable the sealed battery box to be removed and replaced when the batteries therein expire.

In use, when the LEDs are switched on, the light emitted thereby is transmitted along the proximal wall of the respective light guide, and a portion thereof is refracted and converged toward the opposing distal wall at the refractive portions. The light emitted by the LEDs may be continuous, but is more likely to be a flashing output, e.g. 0.060 second pulses every 3 seconds, which is thought to enable over 21,000 hours of continual operation or 2.5 years in accordance with one specific exemplary embodiment of the invention. The resultant luminous intensity achievable may be between 0.07 and 0.80 mcd, giving a borderline visibility in darkness of around 30 metres, and a useful visibility distance in darkness of around 10 metres.

The illumination system proposed adds little significant weight to the barrier assembly, possible around 50 - 100 grams. The system, when the housing is in the closed configuration may advantageously be waterproof. The illumination system may be removably or permanently mounted to an existing barrier member, as required.

In some exemplary embodiments, a light sensor may be provided and configured within an actuation circuit associated with the LEDs, such that the LEDs are switched off when the ambient light around the system is above a predetermined brightness threshold. Thus, the system can be configured to switch the LEDs off during daylight hours to conserve power and extend the life of the batteries. In some embodiments, the system may further comprise an orientation switch, such as a mercury switch or the like, for detecting tilting of the barrier member, the switch being configured within an actuation circuit associated with the LEDs, such that the LEDs are switched off if it is determined that the barrier has been tilted by an angle greater than some predetermined threshold, thereby indicating that the barrier member is stacked in storage and, therefore, not in use.

In theory, the batteries may be rechargeable, and some exemplary embodiments of the invention may include rechargeable batteries that may, for example, be recharged by a solar panel system mounted on the barrier member or on one barrier member of a series of such members. In an exemplary embodiment, the system may further comprise other warning signalling devices, such as an audible signalling device. In this case, a motion sensor may be provided and configured within an actuation circuit associated with the signalling device, such that the signalling device is triggered in the event that motion in the vicinity of the barrier member is detected. Alternatively, or in addition, the motion sensor may be configured within an actuation circuit associated with the LEDs, such that the LEDs are caused to operate in a different mode (e.g. faster flash, or from static to flash) in the event that motion is detected in the vicinity of the barrier member.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art, from the foregoing description, that modifications and variations can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, whilst the invention has been described above in the form of a generally central housing 20 having a pair of light guides 22a, 22b extending from opposing side edges thereof, from the centre of the barrier to the ends, other configurations are envisaged. Referring to Figure 5A of the drawings, a housing 20' could be provided at one edge of the barrier, from which extends a single, long light guide 22a' which runs along substantially the entire width of the barrier member. Referring to Figure 5B of the drawings, in yet another exemplary embodiment, a housing 20" may be provided at each of the two opposing side edges of the barrier member, with a single, long light guide 22a" extending therebetween. In this case, each housing 20" has an LED 23a", 23b" therein, for directing light into a respective end of the light guide 22a".

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the barrier/illumination system may be configured to enable the illumination to be visible from both sides of the barrier. Referring to Figures 6A and 6B of the drawings, the light guide(s) 22a, 22b may be placed along the top edge of the barrier member 10, with 'window' portions being provided in the barrier member 10 to allow the illumination to be seen from three perspectives: front, rear and top. Referring specifically to Figure 6A of the drawings, such 'window' portions may comprise spaced apart, transparent (or open) slots 40, whereas referring to Figure 6B of the drawings, alternatively, the 'window' portion may comprise a single, elongate transparent (or open) panel 42. The housing 20 could then, in one exemplary embodiment of the invention, be mounted generally centrally on the top edge of the barrier member 10 (as shown in Figure 6 A of the drawings), or it could be provided on the front or rear surface of the barrier member 10, below the 'window' portion(s) (as shown in Figure 6B of the drawings). The 'window' portion(s) could be provided with a UV resistant coating to help extend the longevity of the fibre-optic light guides before any natural irradiation damage (manifested as "yellowing" of the cables) occurs. It will be appreciated that the fibre-optic cables, or sections thereof, can be replaced when any such damage starts to have a detrimental effect on the operation of the system.