Hazard isolation and warning barrier

Abstract

A hazard isolation and warning barrier ( 11 ) has straight pieces ( 10 A) and corner pieces ( 10 B) with an exposed surface ( 12 ), an undersurface ( 14 ), first ends ( 21 ) and second ends ( 25 ), suction cups ( 52 ) and activation rings and stems ( 50 ), male connectors ( 56 ), female connectors ( 58 ), warning pole holes ( 35 ), suction cup holes ( 54 ), and an adhesive material layer ( 13 ) along the perimeter of the undersurface ( 14 ). The barrier ( 11 ) also has warning poles ( 36 ) and warning tape ( 39 ). The pieces ( 10 A and 10 B) connect together via the male and female connectors ( 56 and 58 ). Warning poles ( 36 ) fit into warning pole holes ( 35 ) and warning tape ( 39 ) is attached to the warning poles ( 36 ) using rings ( 37 ). Embodiments with warning signs ( 38 ), notice markers ( 32 ), and different male and female connectors ( 22 and 26 ) provide additional variations of the barrier. The combination of the barrier pieces ( 10 A and 10 B), adhesive material ( 13 ), suction cups ( 52 ), warning poles ( 36 ), and warning tape ( 39 ) allow the barrier to effectively define and segregate a hazardous work area, isolate and prevent the spread of liquid spills, and warn and divert foot traffic.

1 . A barrier for isolating a work area and warning of hazardous conditions, comprising:
 (a) a plurality of elongated pieces of a predetermined shape and size having one or more exposed upper surfaces, an undersurface, a first end, and a second end; and   (b) a flexible material attached to at least the portion of said undersurface of said elongated pieces that may come into contact with a floor surface, such that at least the outer perimeter of said undersurface may lay contiguous to said floor surface; and   (c) means for connecting said elongated pieces together by connecting said first end of one piece to said second end of a corresponding piece;   
     whereby said barrier is formed by attaching said pieces together in such a way as to isolate a predetermined floor surface area. 
   
   
       2 . The barrier of  claim 1 , further including a means for warning foot traffic and other people of a potential hazard. 
   
   
       3 . The barrier of  claim 2 , wherein said warning means is at least one warning pole of a predetermined shape and height that is attached to the outer surface of at least one of said elongated pieces. 
   
   
       4 . The barrier of  claim 3 , further including warning tape and means for attaching said warning tape to said warning pole at a predetermined location. 
   
   
       5 . The barrier of  claim 3 , further including at least one warning marker attached to said warning pole. 
   
   
       6 . The barrier of  claim 5 , wherein said warning marker is a warning sign. 
   
   
       7 . The barrier of  claim 3 , further including at least one warning pole hole and into which said warning pole may be inserted. 
   
   
       8 . The barrier of  claim 7 , further including a suction cup at the end of said warning pole hole at the undersurface of said elongated piece, whereby said warning pole may be used to urge said suction cup to create a suction between said undersurface and a floor surface. 
   
   
       9 . The barrier of  claim 1 , further including at least one means for creating a suction between said undersurface and a floor surface. 
   
   
       10 . The barrier of  claim 9 , whereby said means for creating a suction comprises at lease one member with a suction cup attached and at least one hole in said outer surface of at least one of said elongated pieces, cut that said member extends from said hole and is attached to a suction cup located at said undersurface of said elongated piece, whereby said member may be used to activate said suction cup to create a suction between said undersurface and a floor surface. 
   
   
       11 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible material is a removable gasket. 
   
   
       12 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated pieces are hollow. 
   
   
       13 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible material has adhesive properties, whereby said material may grip to a floor surface. 
   
   
       14 . The barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said means for connecting said elongated pieces together comprises male and female connectors located at said first and said second ends of said pieces, whereby the male connector of one piece may be connected to said female connector of a corresponding other piece. 
   
   
       15 . The barrier of  claim 14 , wherein said male connector extends away from at least one of said first and second ends of said elongated pieces, and said female connector is an indention in said exposed surface of said elongated pieces in the shape of said male connector and is located at least at one of said first and said second ends of said elongated pieces, whereby said elongated pieces may be connected by urging said male connector of one of said elongated pieces into said female connector of a corresponding other piece. 
   
   
       16 . The barrier of  claim 14 , wherein said male connector extends away from at least one of said first and second ends of said elongated pieces, and said female connector is an indention in at least one of said first and second ends of another of said elongated pieces,
 whereby said elongated pieces may be connected by urging said male connector of one of said elongated pieces into said female connector of a corresponding other piece.   
   
   
       17 . A barrier for isolating a work area, diverting foot traffic, and warning of hazardous conditions, comprising:
 (a) a plurality of elongated pieces having one or more exposed upper surfaces, a bottom base surface, a first end, a second end, and at least one connector located at least at one of said first end or said second end;   (b) a flexible material attached to the base surface so that said material may lay contiguous to and flush with a floor surface;   (c) at least one warning pole attached to and extending from said exposed upper surface;   (d) warning tape attached to said warning pole and extending to any other warning poles;   (e) a suction cup located at approximately at the level of the material layer and said base surface;   (f) means for activating said suction cup wherein said suction cup will form a suction with a floor surface; and   (g) said elongated pieces being joined at said first and second ends using said connectors;   
     whereby said barrier pieces, flexible material, suction cups, warning poles, and warning tape will work together to effectively isolate a work, spill, or other hazardous area. 
   
   
       18 . A method of creating an isolated work area using a barrier, the barrier comprising a plurality of elongated pieces of a predetermined shape and size having at least one exposed upper surface, an undersurface, a first end, a second end, and a flexible material attached to at least the portion of said undersurface that may contact a ground surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing connecting means on said first end of one piece that can connect to a corresponding connecting means on said second end of      (b) connecting said elongated pieces such that the connected pieces will form a shape that will separate the work area from the surroundings;   (c) applying pressure to said elongated pieces to ensure said layer of flexible material on said bottom surface is contiguous with a floor surface;   (d) providing a means for warning people; and   (e) attaching said warning means to said barrier;   
     whereby said barrier will isolate a hazardous working area, warn foot traffic of the area, and contain liquid spills. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said means for warning people comprises at least one warning pole of a predetermined shape, size, and height attached to said exposed upper surface of said barrier, warning tape, and means for attaching said warning tape to said warning pole, the method further comprising the steps of:
 (a) attaching said warning poles to said barrier such that said poles extend from said pieces;   (b) attaching said warning tape to one of said warning poles;   (c) extending said warning tape from said one pole to another of said warning poles; and   (d) repeating the previous steps for attaching and running said warning tape as required to effectively isolate said hazardous area.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said barrier further comprises a means for creating a suction between said undersurface and a floor surface, the method further comprising the step of:
 (a) providing a means for activating said means for creating a suction;   (b) using said means for activating to create a suction between said barrier and said floor surface; and   (c) repeating the previous steps for creating a suction as required to urge said barrier to adhere to said floor surface.