Barrier safety system

Abstract

A barrier safety system ( 3 ) for supporting a barrier rail ( 1 ) between a pair of frangible upright posts ( 2 ) includes a pair of pins ( 8 ) insertable in respective sockets ( 4 ) in the posts, the pins each having a weakened portion designed to break upon the application of a vertically downward load onto the barrier rail within or above a predetermined range. In one embodiment stop members ( 10 ) are provided to vary the distance the support pin may be inserted into the socket for accommodating different sizes of barriers, to thereby ensure that similar leverage is applied to the weakened portion by different sized barrier rails such that they all break the pin when a similar load has been applied to the top of the barrier rail. In another, preferred, embodiment the weakened portion is in the form of a generally ‘V’-shaped notch ( 9 a ) providing a sharply defined fracture point for the pin when under load.

1 . An equestrian barrier safety system, comprising:
 a barrier rail for being supported in a generally horizontal condition by spaced upright barrier members;   a pair of barrier rail support pins on top of which the barrier rail is horizontally restable in use at a resting area, each pin including a weakened portion at which the pin will break when subjected to downward load transmitted by the barrier rail;   a complementary pair of sockets, each for receiving one of the pins, said sockets being receivable horizontally by the respective upright barrier member in use; and   adjustable stop members for inserting the barrier rail support pins into the respective socket to a selectable depth, the depth being predetermined to provide a variable horizontal distance between the weakened portion and the resting area of the barrier rail to suit the diameter and weight of the barrier rail intended to be supported by the pins,   whereby the adjustable stop members provide an adjustably positionable breaking point of each pin to enable different leverage to be applied to the weakened portion by different diameter barrier rails, such that the pins may break when the same or a similar load has been applied to the top of the barrier rail.   
   
   
       2 . An equestrian barrier safety system according to  claim 1  wherein the weakened portion includes a waist region. 
   
   
       3 . An equestrian barrier safety system according to  claim 1  wherein the weakened portion includes a generally ‘V’-shaped notch defining a generally sharp fracture point for the pin when under load. 
   
   
       4 . An equestrian barrier safety system according to  claim 1  wherein the stop members comprise stop pins receivable in respective bores in the support pin substantially at right angles to the major axis thereof. 
   
   
       5 . An equestrian barrier safety system according to  claim 1  wherein each support pin is made of a substantially non-ductile material. 
   
   
       6 . An equestrian barrier safety system according to  claim 5  wherein the substantially non-ductile material is aluminum alloy. 
   
   
       7 . An equestrian barrier safety system according to  claim 1  wherein the socket for each pin is in the form of a circular tube for receiving a respective support pin, and a flange is provided in the form of a plate adapted to be secured to one of said upright barrier members. 
   
   
       8 . An equestrian barrier safety system according to  claim 7  wherein the flange includes apertures for securing the flange to the upright barrier member by connectors. 
   
   
       9 . An equestrian barrier safety system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the barrier rail has a diameter of about 150-300 mm. 
   
   
       10 . An equestrian barrier comprising a pair of upright barrier members, at least one generally horizontal barrier rail and a safety system for breakably supporting the rail on the upright members, the safety system comprising:
 a pair of barrier rail support pins on top of which the barrier rail rests at a resting area, each pin including a weakened portion at which the pin will break when subjected to downward load transmitted by the barrier rail;   a complementary pair of sockets, each for receiving one of the pins, said sockets held horizontally by the respective barrier upright members; and   adjustable stop members for inserting the pins into the socket to a selectable depth, the depth being predetermined to provide a variable horizontal distance between the weakened portion and the resting area of the barrier rail to suit the diameter and weight of the barrier rail intended to be supported by the pins,   whereby an adjustably positionable breaking point may be provided by each pin to enable different leverage to be applied to the weakened portion by different diameter barrier rails, such that they all break the pin when the same or a similar load has been applied to the top of the barrier rail.   
   
   
       11 . An equestrian barrier safety system according to  claim 10 , wherein the socket for each pin is in the form of a circular tube for receiving a respective support pin, and a flange is provided in the form of a plate adapted to be secured to one of the upright barrier members. 
   
   
       12 . A safety system for an equestrian barrier comprising a pair of upright barrier members and at least one barrier rail, the safety system comprising:
 means for supporting the barrier rail in a generally horizontal condition;   means for releasing the support means when said barrier rail is subjected to a sufficient downward load; and   means for adjusting the releasing means to suit the diameter and weight of the barrier rail supported by the supporting means.   
   
   
       13 . The barrier of  claim 12 , wherein the supporting means comprises:
 a pair of barrier rail support pins on top of which the barrier rail is horizontally restable in use at a resting area; and   a complementary pair of sockets, each for receiving one of the pins, each of said sockets being receivable horizontally by the respective upright barrier member in use.   
   
   
       14 . The barrier of  claim 13 , wherein the releasing means comprises:
 a weakened portion provided on each pin at which the pin will break when subjected to downward load transmitted by the barrier rail.   
   
   
       15 . The barrier of  claim 14 , wherein the adjusting means comprises adjustable stop members for inserting the barrier rail support pins into the respective socket to a selectable depth, the depth being predetermined to provide a variable horizontal distance between the weakened portion and the resting area of the barrier rail. 
   
   
       16 . An equestrian barrier safety system according to  claim 13 , wherein the socket for each pin is in the form of a circular tube, and a flange is provided in the form of a plate adapted to be secured to each upright barrier member. 
   
   
       17 . A method of supporting an equestrian barrier rail from a pair of upright barrier members, comprising:
 positioning a socket horizontally on each upright barrier member;   positioning a barrier rail support pin in each socket, each said pin having a weakened portion at which the pin breaks when subjected to downward load of sufficient force; and   horizontally resting the equestrian barrier rail on a resting area on the pins.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
 selecting a predetermined depth at which the horizontal distance between the weakened portion and the resting area suits the diameter and weight of the barrier rail.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of:
 adjusting a stop member to provide the predetermined depth.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further including the step of placing the equestrian barrier rail on the support pins.