Security mesh panel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a security panel ( 1 ), for example for use in a security barrier, and to a method of forming the security panel. The security panel ( 1 ), comprises an expanded metal mesh ( 2 ), the mesh hating apertures ( 9 ) therethrough bounded by a plurality of sides ( 11 ), at least one of said apertures ( 9 ) having at least one side ( 11 ) to which is affixed a separate barbed structure ( 4 ), the barbed structure having at least one barb ( 14 ) extending in a plane of the panel ( 1 ) in towards another side ( 11 ) of said aperture ( 9 ).

1 . A security panel ( 1 ), comprising an expanded metal mesh ( 2 ), the mesh having apertures ( 9 ) therethrough bounded by plurality of sides ( 11 ), at least one of said apertures ( 9 ) having at least one side ( 11 ) to which is affixed a separate barbed structure ( 4 ), the barbed structure having at least one barb ( 14 ) extending in a plane of the panel ( 1 ) in towards another side ( 11 ) of said aperture ( 9 ).  
   
   
       2 . A security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , in which said barbed structures ( 4 ) are affixed to all sides ( 11 ) of said at least one aperture ( 9 ).  
   
   
       3 . A security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the barbed structure ( 4 ) has a plurality of said barbs ( 14 ) extending in the plane of the panel ( 1 ) in towards another side ( 11 ) of said aperture ( 9 ).  
   
   
       4 . A security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the barbed structure ( 4 ) comprises a plurality of barbed points ( 15 , 16 , 17 ) grouped in threes, a first ( 15 ) and a second one ( 16 ) of said barbed points extending in opposite directions parallel with the corresponding side ( 11 ) of said aperture ( 9 ), and the third one ( 17 ) of said barbed points extending transversely away from the corresponding side ( 11 ) of said aperture ( 9 ).  
   
   
       5 . A security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , in which said at least one barb ( 14 ) has a plurality of barbed points ( 15 , 16 , 17 ), each of said barbed points extending towards another side ( 11 ) of said aperture ( 9 ).  
   
   
       6 . A security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , in which each side ( 11 ) of an aperture ( 9 ) is formed from an elongate strip of metal ( 6 ), each of said strips of metal being joined integrally to adjacent strips of metal ( 6 ) at mesh nodes ( 8 ), the barbed structure ( 4 ) being affixed to just one corresponding strip of metal ( 6 ).  
   
   
       7 . A security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the barbed structure ( 4 ) is affixed to said one corresponding strip of metal ( 6 ) at one or more points lying between said mesh nodes ( 8 ).  
   
   
       8 . A security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the barbed structure ( 4 ) lies entirely between mesh nodes ( 8 ).  
   
   
       9 . A security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the barbed structure ( 4 ) has a channel ( 12 ) with a complimentary shape to the corresponding strip of metal ( 6 ) to which the barbed structure ( 4 ) is affixed, the strip of metal ( 6 ) being seated in the channel ( 12 ) when the barbed structure ( 4 ) is affixed to the corresponding strip of metal ( 6 ).  
   
   
       10 . A security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 9 , in which each barb ( 14 ) has a corresponding base portion ( 18 ) that extends laterally away from said channel ( 12 ) in the plane of the panel ( 1 ).  
   
   
       11 . A security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the barbed structure ( 4 ) has at least one pair of said barbs ( 14 ) spaced along the length of the corresponding strip of metal ( 6 ) and extending in the plane of the panel ( 1 ) in towards another side ( 11 ) of the same aperture ( 9 ), each one of said pair of barbs ( 14 ) having a base portion ( 18 ) that is distinct from base portions ( 18 ) of any adjacent barbs ( 14 ).  
   
   
       12 . A security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the barbed structure ( 4 ) has one or more tabs ( 24 ) which wrap around the corresponding strip of metal ( 6 ).  
   
   
       13 . A security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 12 , in which said tab(s) ( 24 ) is/are provided between base portions ( 18 ) of an adjacent pair of barbs ( 14 ).  
   
   
       14 . A security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 12 , in which the barbed structure ( 4 ) has at least one pair of said barbs ( 14 ) spaced along the length of the corresponding strip of metal ( 6 ), and at least one of said tabs ( 24 ) is positioned between said adjacent pair of barbs ( 14 ).  
   
   
       15 . A security fence, comprising at least two upright fence supports ( 32 ), and a security panel ( 1 ), said security panel being supported by said fence supports ( 32 ), wherein the security panel ( 1 ) is as claimed in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       16 . A method of forming a security panel ( 1 ), comprising the steps of: making a plurality of non-intersecting cuts in a sheet of metal; expanding the cut sheet to form an expanded metal mesh ( 2 ), the mesh having apertures ( 9 ) therethrough bounded by a plurality of sides ( 11 ); forming one or more barbed structures ( 4 ) in metal separate from the expanded metal mesh ( 2 ), the or each barbed structure ( 4 ) having at least one extending barb ( 14 ); and affixing at least one of said barbed structures ( 4 ) to a side ( 11 ) of at least one of said apertures ( 9 ) so that at least one barb ( 14 ) extends in a plane of the panel ( 1 ) in towards another side ( 11 ) of said aperture ( 9 ).  
   
   
       17 . A method of forming a security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 16 , in which the method comprises the step of affixing the or each barbed structure ( 4 ) between a pair of nodes ( 8 ) of the metal mesh ( 2 ).  
   
   
       18 . A method of forming a security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 16 , in which the method comprises the steps of forming the barbed structure ( 4 ) with at least one extending tab ( 24 ), and then wrapping the or each tab ( 24 ) around portions of the metal mesh ( 2 ) bounding the aperture ( 9 ) in order to affix the barbed structure ( 4 ) to said side ( 11 ) of said aperture ( 9 ).  
   
   
       19 . A method of forming a security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 16 , in which the method comprises the step of welding the barbed structure ( 4 ) to the metal mesh ( 2 ) at one or more points between nodes ( 8 ) of the metal mesh ( 2 ).  
   
   
       20 . A security panel ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the barbed structure ( 4 ) has one or more tabs ( 24 ) which wrap around the corresponding strip of metal ( 6 ).