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Supporting Temporary Barriers

This invention relates to a base for supporting a temporary barrier. In some case, a temporary barrier such as a fence may be provided with support posts, and a base for supporting a post may have a socket for receiving an end portion of a support post. Alternatively, if an end part of the fence support post is hollow and open ended - for example the support post is in the form of a tube - the base may have a spigot which is received within the end part of the support post. Other barriers such as panels of plastics material may be provided with a support post or spigot and the base will have a socket for receiving an end portion of that. In other cases such a barrier panel of plastics material may be provided with a socket to receive a spigot projecting from a base. The bases may be made of concrete or of plastics material, such as recycled plastics material. Their function is to prevent unwanted displacement of the support post and to resist the temporary barrier, such as a fencing panel, being knocked or blown over. A problem with such bases is that they may present a trip hazard to pedestrians. A number of solutions have been proposed, such as colouring the base with a bright colour.

An object of the present invention is to provide a base which presents a significantly smaller trip hazard. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a base for a temporary barrier, comprising (i) a support portion of plastics material on which is provided an upwardly extending spigot or socket for engaging with a part of the barrier; (ii) first and second elongate, horizontally extending, ground engaging stabilising members of plastics material and connected to the support portion, the stabilising members extending in diametrically opposite directions from the support portion to respective remote ends of the stabilising members; and (iii) an elongate stiffening member which is connected to the first stabilising member and to the second stabilising member and extends horizontally from adjacent the remote end of the first stabilising member to adjacent the remote end of the second stabilising member. The use of the stiffening member, provides stiffness to the elongate stabilising members and means that the profile of the stabilising members can be kept low so as to reduce the danger of a pedestrian tripping over a foot of the base. In preferred embodiments, therefore, each stabilising member is of low profile. By low profile is meant that the height of the stabilising members over major parts of their respective lengths is below a height that would provide a significant risk of tripping for a pedestrian. In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the height of the stabilising members over major parts of their respective lengths does not exceed about 40 mm. However, in some preferred embodiments of the invention the stabilising members have lower heights than 40 mm. In these preferred embodiments, at least over a major part of the length of the stabilising members from their respective remote ends, the height of the stabilising member, above the ground on which the base is resting, does not exceed about 35 mm, or about 30 mm, or about 25 mm, or about 20 mm, or about 15 mm or about 12.5 mm. In some embodiments, the preferred maximum height over the major part of the length of each stabilising members is about 25 mm.

Preferably, the upper surface of the elongate part of each stabilising member, is profiled so as to avoid abrupt edges, for example having rounded edges and a rounded end, so as to reduce further the risk of tripping.

Where it is said that the height a stabilising member above the ground on which the base is resting, does not exceed a particular dimension, in some embodiments this refers to not exceeding that dimension at least for a length of the elongate part of the stabilising member from its end to a point which at least about 95% of the length of the stabilising member from its remote end, or about 90%, or about 85% or about 80% where about 75%, or about 70%, or about 65%, or about 60%, or about 55%, or about 50%. Where it is not possible to define an exact length of a stabilising member, for example because it is not a separate element of the base, the above references to the length of the stabilising member from its remote end are references to the distance from the remote end of the stabilising member to the upwardly extending axis of the spigot or socket of the base. The two stabilising members may be of the same longitudinal extent, or the arrangement may be asymmetrical. The length of the stabilising members will depend on the application for which the base is intended, and will be chosen to prevent tipping over of the barrier with which the base is to be used.

The stiffening member serves to reinforce the stabilising members. The stiffening member may be in the form of a rod or a tube. The stiffening member may be of a suitable material to so as to be substantially rigid, or to be semi-rigid so as to have a sufficient degree of flexibility to assist in assembly of the base . For example the member may be of a metal such as steel. However, in preferred embodiments, the member is of a fibre reinforced plastic material. Preferably the member is manufactured by a pultrusion technique. Such a member may comprise fibres, for example of glass or carbon, in a suitable resin such as a vinyl ester resin. Such members have been used in the reinforcement of concrete. For reasons of cost, it is preferred to use glass fibres in a resin matrix, formed by pultrusion. Generally such a stiffening member will have increased resilience as compared to metal members.

As noted above, the stiffening member may be in the form of a rod. The rod may have a hollow centre, so as to be tubular. The stiffening member may have any desired cross section, such as being circular, oval, square, oblong, flat, cruciform or any other desired cross section, whether solid or hollow.

The engagement of the base with a barrier may be directly, for example by means of a socket of the base receiving a spigot of the barrier panel; or a spigot of the base engaging with a socket of the barrier panel; or the engagement with the barrier may be by way of a socket of the base receiving the end of a support pole for a barrier or a fence; or a spigot of the base engaging within a hollow support pole of a barrier or fence. There may be a plurality of spigots or sockets on the base. This is applicable in particular where the bas engages with poles of a fence since if tow spigots or bores are provided the base will provide a junction between two fencing panels.

The or each spigot or socket may be formed by plastics material, by metal, or by a combination of materials. Some embodiments of the present invention involve the use of an upwardly extending member providing a spigot for the base which engages in a hollow fencing support pole. However, some embodiments use an upwardly extending member which is hollow so as to serve as a socket to receive e.g. a fence pole. Preferably, there are two spaced upwardly extending members, and others could be provided if desired.

The or each upwardly extending member may be made of metal, such as steel. The or each upwardly extending member may be in the form of a tube. The free end of the or each upwardly extending member may be chamfered to facilitate insertion into a support tube for fencing or the like. Alternatively, it could taper and this could be provided by using a plurality of upwardly extending member portions of different external diameter, joined together in series. Similarly if a socket is provided, this could be wider initially to assist insertion of a fence pole or the like, and will then narrow to provide a secure seating of the pole. Again this could be achieved by using a plurality of upwardly extending member portions of different external diameter, joined together in series. In a preferred arrangement, the or each upwardly extending member has a lower end which is connected to an open ended hollow member extending in the direction of the stiffening member, through which the stiffening member passes. The or each upwardly extending member then passes upwardly through an associated aperture in the support portion of the base. If there is a plurality of upwardly extending members, there may be an individual aperture for each upwardly extending member or there may be a common aperture for a plurality of upwardly extending members. In some embodiments, the lower surface of the hollow member is flat. The hollow member may for example be a portion of box section. The cross section of the hollow member may be rectangular, for example square. However the cross section of the hollow member may be of any other cross section, such as circular, elliptical or polygonal. The hollow member may be of metal such as steel.

If an upwardly extending member defining a spigot or socket is metal, and the hollow member is also metal, then the two may be joined together by welding. In one embodiment, there are two metal upwardly extending members joined to a common hollow member, on opposite sides thereof, to form a metal component. An equivalent component could instead be a moulded or fabricated component of other material such as plastics. Assembly is simple in such arrangement, with the or each upwardly extending member being pushed through the aperture in the support member, and the stiffening member being pushed into position, through the hollow member.

Preferably, the support portion of the base and the first and second stabilising members are integrally formed, for example being a single moulding of plastics, for example formed by injection or blow moulding. In some embodiments, particularly those for use with a barrier panel of plastics rather than a support pole for fencing, the support portion of the base is provided with an integrally formed upwardly extending plastics part which can either define a spigot or socket of the base, or can be provided with a separate socket or spigot member which can be a separately moulded member, for example injection moulded.

The stabilising members may be connected to the upwardly extending part of the support portion, part way up, for example by curved transition regions. The ends of the stabilising members may be provided with portions which restrain the stiffening member against longitudinal movement when the stiffening member is in position, at last one of the portions being capable of flexion so that the stiffening member can be inserted, and then returning resiliently to keep it in position. The stabilising members define feet for the base and could be of an appropriate high visibility colour such as yellow or orange.

In some embodiments, there could be a plurality of stiffening members, which are preferably substantially parallel to each other. Each stiffening member would extend from adjacent the remote end of the first stabilising member to adjacent the remote end of the second stabilising member.

The stiffening member could extend through a bore or an open recess formed in each stabilising member. ln some embodiments of the invention, the support portion comprises a ballast member, which serves to provide a ballast weight. Such a ballast member could be of relatively dense material compared to the material of the remainder of the base, for example being relatively inexpensive, relatively low quality plastics material such as recycled PVC. Typically the recycled plastics will be of a grey or black colour but would be concealed by an upwardly extending part of the support portion which serves as a cover for the ballast weight. The presence of a ballast weight is particularly useful where the support post for the temporary barrier is a pole of a fencing panels

The ballast weight will be of relatively low quality plastics as compared to other components of the base, such as the stabilising members and the support portion. These other components typically will be of injection or blow moulded plastics which is of higher quality.

In some embodiments, the stabilising members serve as a cover, or at least a partial cover, for the or each stiffening member.

In some embodiments a base with a ballast weight is used with a barrier panel such as a moulded plastics panel. However in the case of such panels, the panel itself could be constructed to have a concentration of mass lower down which will serve as a built in ballast so a separate ballast weight is not necessary. In the case of such barriers, which may be provided with means to interlock with other barriers, it may be sufficient to have a single bore which receives a support post for a single panel or a single spigot which engages with the barrier panel.

In some embodiments of the invention, the support portion comprises a ballast member, and serves to provide a ballast weight. The ballast member is of relatively dense material compared to the material of the stabilising member, for example being the relatively inexpensive, relatively low quality plastics material such as recycled PVC. Typically the recycled plastics will be of a grey or black colour.

If the base has an upwardly extending support portion of plastics material, this may cover a ballast weight The upper surface of the base may be provided with apertures, either side of projecting members which provide upwardly extending spigots or sockets, so that the bases can be stacked in an offset configuration with one base having its projecting members passing through the apertures of the base above.

A base in accordance with embodiments of the invention presents a reduced risk of tripping to pedestrians, because the protruding foot is of low profile, preferably has rounded edges, and is preferably brightly coloured. According to another aspect there is provided a base as above described in combination with one or more barrier portions. For example, the base could be in combination with a pole of a fencing panel or in combination with two poles of two fencing panels. Alternatively, the base could be in combination with a panel of a barrier with an integrally provided socket or spigot.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a base in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view;

Figure 3 is a side elevation;

Figure 4 is an underneath perspective view;

Figure 5 is an end view; Figure 6 is an end view of a metal component comprising two spigots and a hollow box section;

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the portion marked A on Figure 1 ; Figures 8a, 8b and 8c show alternative spigots; Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a number of bases stacked in an offset manner; Figure 10 shows a base in use;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a modified base; Figure 12 is an end view of the modified base;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a base for receiving a spigot of a barrier; Figure 14 is a top plan view of the base of Figure 13; Figure 15 is an underneath plan view of the base; Figure 16 is a side view of the base; Figure 17 is a section on the line A-A of Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a perspective view of a modified base for receiving a spigot of a barrier;

Figure 19 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a base for receiving fence poles;

Figure 20 is an underneath perspective schematic view of the base of Figure 19; and

Figure 21 is a section through the base of Figures 19 and 20.

Referring now in detail to the Figures, in Figures 1 to 7 there is shown a base 1 for receiving fence poles. This base comprises a moulded part 2 of plastics, defining an integrally formed central support member 3, first stabilising member 4 and second stabilising member 5. The base 1 further comprises a stiffening rod 6 and a pair of metal spigots 7a and 7b projecting up from the support member. The metal spigots are connected, e.g. by welding to a hollow box section 8 and project upwardly through an aperture 9 in the support member. The stiffening rod 6 passes through and is connected to the stabilising members 4 and 5 and passes through the hollow box section 8. The stiffening rod passes continuously from adjacent the free end of stabilising member 4 to adjacent the free end of stabilising member 5. the free end of Figure 6 shows the metalwork used, comprising the spigots 7a, 7b welded to the box section 8.

The rod 6 is of fibre reinforced resin, manufactured by pultrusion.

Apertures 10 are provided to facilitating lifting and manipulation. A series of pairs of apertures 1 1 are provided along the stabilising members 4, 5 to assist in stacking, as described below. In each pair the spacing between the apertures 11 matches the spacing between the spigots 7a and 7b. The pairs of apertures are spaced at regular intervals along the stabilising members 4, 5.

Figures 7 show how a portion 12 at the remote end of the stabilising member 5 restricts longitudinal movement of the stiffening rod. The remote end of the stabilising member flexes to permit insertion of the stiffening rod 6 and then snaps back to hold the stiffening rod 6 in place. A similar structure can be provided at the remote end of the stabilising member 4 so that the stiffening rod is secured in place.

The upper ends of the spigots may be chamfered, as shown at 13 in Figure 8a, to facilitate insertion into a tubular fence post. Alternatively, the spigot may be provided with a tapered end 14 as shown in Figure 8b. Figure 8c shows how an alternative spigot could be provided with a taper by means of spigot portions 15 and 16 of reduced diameter.

Figure 9 shows a series of bases 1 stacked on each other with the pairs of spigots 7 of each base projecting through the regularly spaced pairs of apertures 11 of the bases above. The bases can thus be stacked in a space saving manner, for storage or transport Figure 10 shows, diagrammatically, a fence panel 17 with a supporting pole 18 received on one of the spigots 7a of the base 1. A second supporting pole 19 is received on the other of the spigots 7b and carries a second fence panel 20. In an embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 1 and 12, instead of spigots a base 21 has upwardly extending socket portions 22a and 22b which receive a support pole for a barrier such as fencing. Otherwise, the construction corresponds to that of the preceding embodiment. Instead of a one piece plastic moulding, the part 2 of the base could be made of a number of separate mouldings that are joined together, such as a central moulding defining the support member, which is connected by a joint to one moulding defining the stabilising member 4 and is connected by a joint to one moulding defining the stabilising member 5.

Additional ballast in the form of, for example, prefabricated weights or sandbags for the stabilising members could be used to provide additional stability if required.

With reference to Figure 3, laterally extending metal tabs 23 and 24 could be provided at the ends of box section 8, to engage against portions of the moulded plastics part 2 and assist in ensuring stability of the construction.

The plastics part 2 of low profile in the above embodiments, throughout its length. It has rounded edges along its sides and at both ends to reduce further the risks of tripping. The plastics part may also be coloured brightly to bring the attention of the base to pedestrians.

Figure 13 shows another embodiment of the invention, in the form of a base 25 for receiving a spigot portion of, for example, a plastics barrier. The base comprises an integrally moulded plastic component defining an upwardly extending support member 26 from which project a stabilising member 27 and a stabilising member 28 in diametrically opposed directions. There are curved transition portions 29 and 30 respectively between stabilising member 27 and support member 26, and stabilising member 28 and support member 26. The support member 26 is provided with a socket 31 in the form of a bore passing vertically downwards part way through the support member, with an opening at is upper end. The socket can receive a spigot of a barrier (not shown). The socket could be an integral part of the support member 26, or could be a separate plastics component connected to the support member, for example by co-moulding, bonding or any other suitable technique.

In this embodiment, the interior of the support member 26 is provided with a ballast weight in the form of a block 32 of plastics material, such as high density recycled PVC. In some embodiments, part of the bore 31 forming the socket could pass through the ballast weight. The ballast weight could be omitted in some

embodiments.

A stiffening rod 33 passes through and is connected to the stabilising members 27 and 28, and passes continuously from adjacent the free end of stabilising member 27 to adjacent the free end of stabilising member 28. The rod passes under support member 26 and in a groove 34 formed in the bottom face of ballast weight 32.

The rod 33 is of fibre reinforced resin, manufactured by pultrusion. The ends of the stabilising members 27 and 27 are provided with downwardly projecting portions 35 and 36 which prevent movement of the rod out from its position. The ends of the stabilising members are resilient so that an end can be bent upwardly to permit insertion of the road, and will then flex back to retain it in position. Alternatively an arrangement such as shown in Figure 7 of the previous embodiment could be used to retain the rod.

At least part of the socket 31 could be provided with a series of circumferentially spaced, radially inwardly extending ridges 37 to engage the surface of a spigot inserted into the socket.

Figure 18 shows a base which is similar to that of Figures 13 to 17, with a support member 38, stabilising members 39 and 40, a socket 41 in the support member and a stabilising rod (not shown). In this embodiment, the support member is less substantial than in the previous embodiment because it does not contain a separate ballast weight. This base is for use with a barrier which provides its own ballast weight.

In both the embodiment of Figures 13 to 17 and Figure 18, The major parts of the stabilising members from their free ends to where they join the support member, are low profile. These parts of the stabilising members have rounded edges along their sides and at their free ends to reduce further the risks of tripping. The base or at least the stabilising members may also be coloured brightly to bring the attention of the base to pedestrians.

Figures 19 to 21 illustrate, in schematic form only a modification of the

embodiments of Figures 1 to 12. There is a moulded plastics component 42 with upwardly projecting metallic spigots or socket 43 and 44. In this embodiment there are two stiffening rods 45 and 46, again preferably of fibre reinforced resin made by pultrusion. Rod 45 passes through a metal box section 47 and rod 46 passes through a metal box section 48. The box sections are interconnected by a metal cross member 49, to which are connected the sockets or spigots 43 and 44, for example by welding, which pass upwardly through apertures in the component 42. In a practical embodiment of such an arrangement, other features of the base would correspond to those of the embodiments of Figures 1 to 12, modified as appropriate to account for the fact that there are two stiffening rods rather than one central stiffening rods.

It will be appreciated that the invention can be expressed broadly in a number of different ways.

For example, viewed from another aspect of the invention, there is provided a base for supporting a temporary barrier, the base having a portion for engaging with the barrier, wherein the base comprises:

(i) a first member of plastics material, the first member having a bottom part from which the first member extends upwardly to a top part of the first member, the first member defining, at least in part, the portion to engage with the barrier; ii) a stabilising member of a plastics material, the stabilising member having a first part which is connected to the first member and an elongate ground-engaging second part which is connected to the first part and extends horizontally to a region remote from the first member; and

(iii) an elongate stiffening member which is connected to the second part of the stabilising member and extends horizontally from adjacent the bottom of the first member, to adjacent said region remote from the first member. In some embodiments of this aspect of the invention, there is also provided a second stabilising member of a second plastics material, the second stabilising member having a first part which is connected to the first member and an elongate ground-engaging second part which is connected to the first part and extends horizontally to a second region remote from the first member, in the opposite direction to the second part of the first stabilising member; and the elongate stiffening member is also connected to the second part of the second stabilising member and extends horizontally from adjacent the base of the first member, to adjacent said second region remote from the first member. Viewed from another aspect of the invention there is provided a base for supporting a temporary barrier, the base having a portion for engaging with the barrier, wherein the base comprises; wherein the base comprises a central part of plastics material which includes the portion for engaging with the barrier, a pair of elongate, low-profile stabilising members connected to the central part and extending away from the central part in opposite directions to respective free ends, the stabilising members being of plastics material, and an elongate stiffening member connected to both stabilising members and extending continuously from adjacent the free end of one stabilising member to adjacent the free end of the other stabilising member. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a base for supporting a temporary barrier, the base having a portion for engaging with the barrier, wherein the base comprises:

(i) a support member of plastics material, the support member being provided with the portion to engage with the barrier; ii) a first stabilising member of a plastics material which is connected to the support member and has an elongate ground-engaging part which extends horizontally from the support member to an end which is remote from the support member; iii) a second stabilising member of a plastics material which is connected to the support member and has an elongate ground-engaging part which extends horizontally from the support member in a direction opposite to the elongate part of the first stabilising member to an end remote from the support member and

(iv) an elongate stiffening member which is connected to the first stabilising member and the second stabilising member and extends horizontally from adjacent said end of the first stabilising member, to adjacent said end of the second stabilising member.

In embodiments of the various aspects of the invention, there is provided a base for a temporary barrier, comprising (i) a support portion of plastics material on which is provided an upwardly extending spigot or socket for engaging with a part of the barrier; (ii) first and second elongate, horizontally extending, ground engaging stabilising members of plastics material connected to the support portion, the stabilising members extending in diametrically opposite directions from the support portion to respective remote ends of the stabilising members; and (iii) an elongate stiffening member which is connected to the first stabilising member and to the second stabilising member and extends horizontally from adjacent the remote end of the first stabilising member to adjacent the remote end of the second stabilising member. In some embodiments, the remote ends of the first and second stabilising members are provided with retaining portions which retain the stiffening member. In some embodiments, at least one of the first and second stabilising members is provided with a resiliently deformable portion at its remote end so that the retaining portion can be moved to permit insertion of the stiffening member and can return subsequently to retain the stiffening member. ln some embodiments, the stiffening member passes through portions of the first stabilising member and the second stabilising member. In some embodiments, the stiffening member is of fibre reinforced resin. In some embodiments, the stiffening member has been formed by a pultrusion process. In some embodiments, the stiffening member is in the form of a rod or tube.

In some embodiments, the first and second stabilising members have rounded portions along their peripheries to reduce the hazard of tripping by pedestrians.

In some embodiments, the support portion and the stabilising members are integrally formed of plastics material. In some embodiments, the support portion is provided with a pair of laterally spaced spigots or sockets. In some embodiments, the support portion is provided with an assembly comprising a first upwardly projecting member, a second upwardly projecting member and an interconnecting member connecting the first and second upwardly projecting members, the interconnecting member being provided with a longitudinally extending passage through which the stiffening member passes, and the upwardly projecting members passing through the support portion and serving as the spigots or sockets. In some embodiments, the interconnecting member is hollow and defines the longitudinally extending passage. In some embodiments, the interconnecting portion is a box section having open ends. In some

embodiments the interconnecting portion is provided with laterally extending flanges. In some embodiments, the upwardly projecting members and the interconnecting member are of metal.

In some embodiments, along the first and second stabilising members there is provided a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced apertures whose lateral spacing matches the spacing of the laterally spaced spigots or sockets, the pairs being spaced by equal amounts so that the bases can be stacked in a longitudinally offset fashion with the spigots or sockets of one base passing through aligned apertures in the or each base above. ln some embodiments, there are provided two, laterally spaced stiffening members.

In some embodiments there are provided two, laterally spaced stiffening members, wherein there are provided two laterally spaced stiffening members and wherein the support portion is provided with an assembly comprising a first upwardly projecting member, a second upwardly projecting member and an interconnecting member connecting the first and second upwardly projecting members, the interconnecting member being provided with a first hollow member defining a longitudinally extending passage through which one stiffening member passes, and a second laterally spaced second hollow member defining a longitudinally extending passage through which the other stiffening member passes, and the upwardly projecting members passing through the support portion and serving as the spigots or sockets. In some embodiments the stabilising members are of low profile. In some embodiments the height of each stabilising member over a major part of its length from its remote end, does not exceed 40 mm. In some embodiments the height of each stabilising member over a major part of its length from its remote end, does not exceed 25 mm.

Embodiments of the invention provide a base for a temporary barrier which has a spigot or socket to receive a fencing pole or to cooperate with a plastics fencing panel. The base has a support portion of plastics material on which is provided the spigot or socket. A pair of stabilising members of plastics material of low profile extending in opposite directions from the support portion. A stiffening member is connected to each stabilising member and extends horizontally from adjacent the remote end of one stabilising member to adjacent the remote end of the other stabilising member. In one form a pair of metal tubes extend upwardly and are connected to a hollow metal portion through which the stiffening member passes. In another form, a plastics portion projects upwardly and defines a socket. The stiffening member may be of fibre reinforced resin and may be made by a pultrusion process.