Crowd barrier

Abstract

A portable barrier ( 11 ) comprising a base portion ( 13 ) and a barrier portion ( 15 ). The base portion ( 13 ) is adapted to rest on the ground and the barrier portion ( 15 ) is moveable relative to the base portion between a collapsed condition in which it locates against the base portion for compactness and an erected condition in which it extends upwardly from the base portion to perform a barrier function. A connection means ( 100 ) is provided for connecting adjacent barriers ( 11 ) together to form a barrier assembly ( 10 ). The connection means ( 100 ) is in the form of a pin connection system comprising spigots ( 101 ) on one side of the barrier ( 11 ) and corresponding sockets ( 103 ) on the other side of the barrier, the arrangement being that the spigots ( 101 ) of one barrier engage in the corresponding sockets ( 103 ) of an adjacent barrier thereby to provide a connection between the two barriers. The barrier portion ( 15 ) comprises a panel ( 33 ) supported within a peripheral frame ( 31 ), the peripheral frame having a recess ( 50 ) into which an adjacent edge portion of the panel ( 33 ) is received and concealed. Welding (typically spot welding) is used to secure the panel ( 33 ) within the surrounding peripheral frame ( 51 ).

1 . A portable barrier comprising a base portion, a barrier portion mounted on the base portion for movement between an erected condition upstanding from the base portion and collapsed condition, connection means on at least one side of the portable barrier for releasably connecting the barrier to an adjacent barrier, the barrier portion comprising a panel supported within a peripheral frame, the peripheral frame having a recess into which an adjacent edge portion of the panel is received and concealed, and means for captively retaining the edge portion of the panel in the recess. 
     
     
         2 . A portable barrier according to  claim 1  wherein the panel comprises a perforation panel. 
     
     
         3 . A portable barrier according to  claim 1  wherein the means for captively retaining the edge portion of the panel in the recess comprises welding between the panel and the peripheral frame. 
     
     
         4 . A portable barrier according to  claim 1  wherein the panel is rectangular and the peripheral frame comprises four frame elements arranged in a rectangular configuration, one corresponding to each side of the rectangular panel. 
     
     
         5 . A portable barrier according to  claim 4  wherein each frame element has a longitudinal channel defining the recess for receiving the adjacent side edge of the panel. 
     
     
         6 . A portable barrier according to  claim 1  wherein frame element at the upper end of the barrier portion is configured to present an exposed surface which is profiled (such as by being rounded) or each for safety and aesthetic purposes. 
     
     
         7 . A portable barrier according to  claim 1  wherein the barrier portion is hingedly connected to the base portion for movement between the erected and collapsed conditions and wherein there is provided a strut structure is hingedly connected between the barrier portion and the base portion to provide bracing for the barrier portion when it is in the erected condition, the strut structure being so disposed as to be on the side of the barrier portion away from the crowd to be controlled, and a cross-member supported on the strut structure to provide a step when the barrier is in the erected condition. 
     
     
         8 . A portable barrier according to  claim 1  wherein the base portion defines a platform on the side of the barrier exposed to the crowd to be controlled 
     
     
         9 . A portable barrier according to  claim 8  wherein the base portion comprises a base frame adapted to rest on the ground and grating attached to the base frame, the grating being configured to provide grip and to facilitate shedding of water from the platform. 
     
     
         10 . A portable barrier according to  claim 8  wherein the platform has an outer edge remote from the erected barrier portion configured to define a ramp surface. 
     
     
         11 . A portable barrier according  claim 10  wherein the ramp surface is defined by an extruded member configured for the purpose. 
     
     
         12 . A portable barrier according to  claim 10  wherein the outer edge of the platform is defined by an element of the base frame. 
     
     
         13 . A portable barrier according to  claim 1  further comprising means for releasably anchoring the base portion to the ground. 
     
     
         14 . A portable barrier according to  claim 1  wherein the connection means comprises a pin joint connector. 
     
     
         15 . A portable barrier according to  claim 14  wherein the pin joint connector comprises a projecting pin defining a spigot on one side of the barrier and a socket on the other side of the barrier, the arrangement being that the socket of one barrier is adapted to receive a corresponding spigot on an adjacent barrier. 
     
     
         16 . A portable barrier according to  claim 15  wherein the connection means comprises two pin joint connectors comprising two spigots on one side and two corresponding sockets on the other side, one spigot being on the base portion and the other spigot being on the barrier portion. 
     
     
         17 . A portable barrier according to  claim 16  wherein the spigot on the base portion projects from the base frame element defining the ramp section of the platform. 
     
     
         18 . A portable barrier according to  claim 17  wherein the base frame element is configured at one end to receive the pin defining the spigot and configured at the other end as a corresponding socket. 
     
     
         19 . A portable barrier according to  claim 18  wherein the base frame element comprises an extruded hollow section. 
     
     
         20 . A portable barrier according to  claim 1  wherein the barrier portion incorporates an access way. 
     
     
         21 . A portable barrier according to  claim 1  further comprising a side element comprising an elongate structure having a longitudinal inner side face and a longitudinal top face, the elongate structure being adapted to locate against an abutment defined by the base portion with the longitudinal inner side face contacting the abutment and the longitudinal top face providing an extension of a platform surface defined by the base portion, the outer side of the elongate structure opposed to the longitudinal inner side face being configured to provide a ramp surface. 
     
     
         22 . A portable barrier according to  claim 1  further comprising an extension comprising a lower extension portion adapted to locate on the upper end of the barrier portion and an upper extension portion adapted to extend upwardly of the lower extension portion to provide an extension barrier section as an extension of the barrier portion. 
     
     
         23 . A side element for a portable barrier according to  claim 1  wherein the side element comprises an elongate structure having a longitudinal inner side face and a longitudinal top face, the elongate structure being adapted to locate against an abutment defined by the base portion with the longitudinal inner side face contacting the abutment and the longitudinal top face providing an extension of a platform surface defined by the base portion, the outer side of the elongate structure opposed to the longitudinal inner side face being configured to provide a ramp surface. 
     
     
         24 . An extension for a portable barrier according to  claim 1  wherein the extension comprises a lower extension portion adapted to locate on the upper end of the barrier portion and an upper extension portion adapted to extend upwardly of the lower extension portion to provide an extension barrier section as an extension of the barrier portion. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A barrier assembly comprising a plurality of barriers according to  claim 1  connected one to another. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled)