Foldable barrier structure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a foldable barrier structure comprising a compartment bounded by a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls, at least one pair of opposed side or end walls being formed from a flexible, foldable material incorporating a stiffening element and a means for receiving a hinge member which permits folding of a central region of each opposed side or end wall of the at least one pair of side or end walls. Also provided is a multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure comprising a multiplicity of such compartments connected, affixed or adhered to one another end to end, as well as a flood defence barrier comprising a first multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure provided with a continuous length of water impermeable material extending across the individual structures along at least one side of the barrier; a second multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure provided with a continuous length of water impermeable material extending across the individual structures along at least one side of the barrier; and fastening means for fastening the first multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure to the second multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable barrier structure comprising a compartment bounded by a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls, at least one pair of opposed side or end walls being formed from a flexible, foldable material incorporating a stiffening element and a means for receiving a hinge member which permits folding of a central region of each opposed side or end wall of the at least one pair of side or end walls. 
     
     
         2 . A foldable barrier structure according to  claim 1  wherein each opposed side or end wall of the at least one pair of side or end walls has a width extending from its first end to its second end, and its central region extends from the centre of the wall equidistantly towards each of the first and second ends of the wall and the central region has a width of up to 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10% or 5% of the width of the wall. 
     
     
         3 . A foldable barrier structure according to  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the stiffening element is incorporated with the flexible material by means selected from one or more of:
 a) adhering the stiffening element to the flexible material; 
 b) affixing the stiffening element to the flexible material by affixing means provided within the central region of the stiffening element and substantially away from the top and the bottom of the wall; 
 c) laminating the stiffening element with the flexible material; and/or 
 d) enclosing at least a major portion of the stiffening element within the flexible material 
 optionally wherein the incorporation of the stiffening element with the flexible material is such that the stiffening element is embedded in or on the flexible material. 
 
     
     
         4 . A foldable barrier structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the stiffening element is:
 a) not a metallic mesh-form material; 
 b) not a metallic material; and/or 
 c) is a plastics material. 
 
     
     
         5 . A foldable barrier structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  4  wherein the stiffening element is manufactured from a material which is:
 a) different from the flexible material; or 
 b) the same as the flexible material, and having thickness substantially greater than that of the flexible material. 
 
     
     
         6 . A foldable barrier structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  5  wherein the stiffening element is provided in the form of at least a first section and a second section, the means for receiving a hinge member being provided between the said first and second sections, optionally wherein the means for receiving a hinge member is provided by the flexible, foldable material in a region between the said first and second sections, or extending over or under the said region. 
     
     
         7 . A foldable barrier structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  6  wherein the stiffening element comprises one or more panels, optionally wherein the one or more panels comprise one or more closed panels. 
     
     
         8 . A foldable barrier structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the compartment has a base wall formed from a flexible, foldable material; and/or
 wherein the flexible, foldable material comprises polypropylene; and/or 
 wherein the stiffening element comprises correx; and/or 
 which is self-supporting; and/or 
 further comprising a lid extending at least partially over the top of the compartment. 
 
     
     
         9 . A multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure comprising a multiplicity of compartments according to any one of  claims 1  to  8  connected, affixed or adhered to one another end to end. 
     
     
         10 . A multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure according to  claim 9  which folds in an accordion-like manner; and/or
 wherein some or all of the individual compartments contain a fill material, which may be selected from sand, earth, soil, stones, rocks, rubble, concrete, debris and combinations of two or more thereof; and/or 
 further comprising a means for preventing a fill material from falling between adjacent individual compartments, which may comprise a material extending between the compartments and fastened to the inside of each of the side walls adjacent to the other individual compartment; and/or 
 wherein some or all of the individual compartments comprise an openable base; and/or 
 wherein some or all of the individual compartments comprise a lifting means. 
 
     
     
         11 . A flood defence barrier comprising:
 a. a first multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure according to any one of  claim 9  or  10  provided with a continuous length of water impermeable material extending across the individual structures along at least one side of the barrier;   b. a second multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure according to any one of  claim 9  or  10  provided with a continuous length of water impermeable material extending across the individual structures along at least one side of the barrier; and   c. fastening means for fastening the first multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure to the second multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure.   
     
     
         12 . A flood defence barrier according to  claim 11  comprising a first multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure connected by a first, non-releasable fastening means, wherein the multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure comprises at least one second, releasable, fastening means effective for releasably fastening the first multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure to a second multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure; and/or
 wherein the opposite side of the multi-compartmental foldable barrier structures to the water impermeable side is water permeable; and/or 
 wherein the material extends beyond the side of the multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure such that it can cover the fastening means for fastening the first multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure to a second multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure; and/or 
 wherein the material comprises the fastening means for fastening the first multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure to a second multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure; and/or 
 wherein the material extends underneath the multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure; and/or 
 wherein the fastening means for fastening the first multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure to the second multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure comprises a zip and/or buckles. 
 
     
     
         13 . The flood defence barrier according to any one of  claim 11  or  12  further comprising a compressible member extending at least part of the distance from the top to the bottom of at least one side of the multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure and/or comprising a compressible member extending at least part of the distance along the base of at least one side of the multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure, optionally
 wherein the compressible member comprises foam; and/or 
 wherein the compressible member is resiliently compressible; and/or 
 wherein a compressible member extending at least part of the distance along one side of a multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure is offset from a compressible member extending at least part of the distance along an adjacent side of another group of one or more individual compartments when the two are attached by a fastening means for fastening the first multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure to the second multi-compartmental foldable barrier structure. 
 
     
     
         14 . The flood defence barrier according to any one of  claims 11  to  13 , further comprising a lid extending at least partially over the top of at least one of the individual compartments, optionally wherein the lid is at least partially formed by the water impermeable material extending from the side of the barrier at least partially over the top of the barrier. 
     
     
         15 . Use of the foldable barrier structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  10  for;
 a) military or civil fortification; 
 b) personnel protection; or 
 c) flood or environmental defence.