Border Security Barrier

Abstract

A method of installing a reusable security barrier is presented that allows quick installation and removal. In one preferred embodiment, the method comprising providing precast concrete panels having a generally rectangular profile elevation, digging a foundation trench having a length equal to or longer than the panel width, lifting and placing the panel such that a portion of the panel is inserted inside the trench and a portion extends generally vertically upward from the trench forming a barrier, and filling and packing the portion of the trench unfiled by the panel with a filler material to provide a solid foundation. The method can further comprise utilizing multiple panels placed side edge to side edge with their bottom portions inserted inside a trench to form a longer security barrier. The method can further comprising removing the precast concrete panels from the trench for reuse in a second site security barrier when the original security barrier is no longer needed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of installing a security barrier comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a precast concrete panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, two side edges and a width of the distance between the two side edge;   (b) digging a foundation trench, the trench having a trench length greater than the precast concrete panel width, a trench opening with a width greater than the thickness of the precast concrete panel, and a trench bottom at a depth equal to a desired panel insertion depth;   (c) lifting and placing the precast panel into the trench with the bottom edge of the panel resting on the trench bottom and the top edge of the panel being generally vertically above the bottom edge and above the trench; and   (d) filling that portion of the trench unfilled by the panel with a filler material to support the panel in its generally vertical position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the providing step, the precast concrete panel has an open security grid comprising an opening in the panel with bars extending through the opening such that there is a visual path through the panel yet human access is prevented. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the providing step, the precast concrete panel does not have an open security grid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the providing step, the precast concrete panel has a means for attachment to assist lifting the panel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the providing step comprises multiple precast concrete panels, the digging a foundation trench comprises digging a trench that has a length greater than the sum of the widths of the precast panels, and the lifting and placing step comprises lifting each of the multiple precast panels into the trench such that one side edged of each panel is adjacent to a side edge of another panel and the panels extend along the length of the trench. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the filling step, the filler material comprises gravel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in the filling step, the filler material comprises the material originally removed in the digging a foundation trench step. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of packing the filler material into the foundation trench to complete fill the trench. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the precast concrete panel has a width at least about 8 feet, a height at least about 20 feet, and a thickness at least about 5 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of removing the precast panel from the foundation trench 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of reusing the precast concrete panel removed from the foundation trench in a second security barrier installation.