Barrier system and method of manufacture and use

Abstract

A barrier system comprising a container and an expandable barrier structured to be stored in the container. The expandable barrier comprising a plurality of first panels and a plurality of second panels, a plurality of first hinged connectors connecting adjacent first panels and a plurality of second hinged connectors connecting adjacent second panels. A plurality of support members, each support member having first and second sides wherein the first side of each support member is connected to a corresponding first hinged connector and the second side of each support member is connected to a corresponding second hinged connector so that each support member extends between a pair of adjacent first panels and a pair of adjacent second panels wherein in a first position in which the expandable barrier is stored in the container and in an unexpanded state, the first panels are positioned in a stacked arrangement and the second panels are positioned in a stacked arrangement with each support member sandwiched between adjacent first and second panels and wherein in a second position in which the expandable barrier is fully deployed from the container and in an expanded state, the first panels are positioned in a linear arrangement and the second panels are positioned in a linear arrangement parallel to the first panels with each support member extending perpendicularly between a pair of adjacent first panels and a pair of adjacent second panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A barrier system comprising:
 a container; and   an expandable barrier structured to be stored in the container, the expandable barrier comprising:   a plurality of first panels and a plurality of second panels;   a plurality of first hinged connectors connecting adjacent first panels and a plurality of second hinged connectors connecting adjacent second panels;   a plurality of support members, each support member having first and second sides, wherein the first side of each support member is connected to a corresponding first hinged connector and the second side of each support member is connected to a corresponding second hinged connector so that each support member extends between a pair of adjacent first panels and a pair of adjacent second panels;   wherein, in a first position in which the expandable barrier is stored in the container and in an unexpanded state, the first panels are positioned in a stacked arrangement and the second panels are positioned in a stacked arrangement with each support member sandwiched between adjacent first and second panels; and   wherein, in a second position in which the expandable barrier is fully deployed from the container and in an expanded state, the first panels are positioned in a linear arrangement and the second panels are positioned in a linear arrangement parallel to the first panels with each support member extending perpendicularly between a pair of adjacent first panels and a pair of adjacent second panels.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of expandable barriers, wherein the first panel of each expandable barrier is connected to a corresponding third connector connecting the adjacent first panel of the adjacent expandable barrier, and wherein the second panel of each expandable barrier is connected to a corresponding fourth connector connecting the adjacent second panel of the adjacent expandable barrier such that a continuous chain of expandable barrier systems is formed. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one deterrence feature. 
     
     
         4 . A method for providing a barrier, the method comprising: providing a barrier system comprising: 
 a container; and   an expandable barrier structured to be stored in the container, the expandable barrier comprising: 
 a plurality of first panels and a plurality of second panels; 
 a plurality of first hinged connectors connecting adjacent first panels and a plurality of second hinged connectors connecting adjacent second panels; 
 a plurality of support members, each support member having first and second sides, wherein the first side of each support member is connected to a corresponding first hinged connector and the second side of each support member is connected to a corresponding second hinged connector so that each support member extends between a pair of adjacent first panels and a pair of adjacent second panels; and 
   placing the expandable barrier in the container in an unexpanded state, wherein the first panels are positioned in a stacked arrangement and the second panels are positioned in a stacked arrangement with each support member sandwiched between adjacent first and second panels.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 deploying the expandable barrier from the container such that the expandable barrier is in an expanded state, wherein the first panels are positioned in a linear arrangement and the second panels are positioned in a linear arrangement parallel to the first panels with each support member extending perpendicularly between a pair of adjacent first panels and a pair of adjacent second panels.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 engaging a deterrence feature, the deterrence feature coupled to at least one of the group consisting of the first panel and the second panel.   
     
     
         7 . An expandable barrier comprising:
 a first panel and a second panel;   a plurality of channels, wherein each channel defines a first end and a second end and wherein the first panel is hingedly connected to the first end of each channel and the second panel is hingedly connected to the second end of each channel   a plurality of support members each defining a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each support member is hingedly connected to the first panel and the second end of each support member is slidably and hingedly connected to a corresponding channel;   a plurality of legs each defining a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each leg is rotatably attached to the second panel;   wherein, in a first position in which the expandable barrier is collapsed, the first panel, the second panel, the plurality of legs and the plurality of channels are positioned in a parallel and stacked arrangement, and wherein each support member is received within a corresponding channel; and   wherein, in a second position in which the expandable barrier is fully deployed, the first panel and second panel are positioned substantially perpendicular to the plurality of channels, each of the plurality of support members extends at predetermined angle from the first panel to the channels, and the plurality of legs extends angularly from the second panel.   
     
     
         8 . The expandable barrier of  claim 7 , wherein, in the first position, the first panel is adjacent the plurality of channels, the second panel is adjacent the first panel and the plurality of legs are adjacent the second panel. 
     
     
         9 . The expandable barrier of  claim 7 , further comprising a deterrence feature. 
     
     
         10 . The expandable barrier of  claim 7 , wherein the second end of the support member is structured to lockingly engage with the channel in the second position. 
     
     
         11 . A barrier system comprising a plurality of expandable barriers according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of expandable barriers is positioned adjacent to another one of the plurality of expandable barriers to form a barricade; and further comprising a plurality of barrier connectors to secure at least one of the group consisting of (i) adjacent ones of the plurality of channels, (ii) adjacent first panels; and (iii) adjacent second panels. 
     
     
         12 . A method for providing a barrier, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of expandable barriers, each of the expandable barrier comprising: 
 a first panel and a second panel; 
 a plurality of channels, wherein each channel defines a first end and a second end and wherein the first panel is hingedly connected to the first end of each channel and the second panel is hingedly connected to the second end of each channel 
 a plurality of support members each defining a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each support member is hingedly connected to the first panel and the second end of each support member is slidably and hingedly connected to a corresponding channel; 
 a plurality of legs each defining a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each leg is rotatably attached to the second panel; 
   positioning the expandable barrier such that the first panel, the second panel, the plurality of legs and the plurality of channels are in a parallel and stacked arrangement, and wherein each support member is received within a corresponding channel.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 deploying the expandable barrier, wherein the first panel and second panel are positioned substantially perpendicular to the plurality of channels, each of the plurality of support members extends at predetermined angle from the first panel to the channels, and the plurality of legs extends angularly from the second panel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 engaging a deterrence feature, the deterrence feature coupled to at least one of the group consisting of the first panel and the second panel.