Crowd Control Barrier

Abstract

A crowd control barrier system comprising a crowd control barrier, first and second crowd control barrier posts, the crowd control barrier comprising a first side edge and a second side edge, the first side edge and second side edge being affixed, in use, to the first and second crowd control barrier posts respectively, the crowd control barrier comprising a single piece of knitted fabric and having releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the crowd control barrier to the first and second crowd control barrier posts.

1 . A crowd control barrier system comprising a crowd control barrier, first and second crowd control barrier posts, the crowd control barrier comprising a first side edge and a second side edge, the first side edge and second side edge being affixed, in use, to the first and second crowd control barrier posts respectively, the crowd control barrier comprising a single piece of knitted fabric and having releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the crowd control barrier to the first and second crowd control barrier posts. 
     
     
         2 . A crowd control barrier for use in the crowd control barrier system of  claim 1  comprising a first side edge and a second side edge, the first side edge and second side edge being affixed, in use, to first and second crowd control barrier posts respectively, the crowd control barrier comprising a single piece of knitted fabric and having releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the crowd control barrier to the first and second crowd control barrier posts. 
     
     
         3 . A crowd control barrier according to  claim 2 , which further comprises a channel extending along its top edge, the channel, in use, housing supporting means. 
     
     
         4 . A crowd control barrier according to  claim 2 or claim 3 , which is elasticated along its bottom edge. 
     
     
         5 . A crowd control barrier according to any of  claims 2 to 4 , wherein the direction of greatest stretch in the fabric runs from the top edge of the barrier to the bottom edge of the barrier. 
     
     
         6 . A crowd control barrier according to any of  claims 2 to 4 , further comprising a plurality of apertures having a diameter of between 1 mm and 5 mm. 
     
     
         7 . A crowd control barrier according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of apertures is located about at least a portion of the circumference of the crowd control barrier. 
     
     
         8 . A crowd control barrier according to any of  claims 3 to 6 , wherein the channel houses supporting means, the supporting means being an elongate member. 
     
     
         9 . A crowd control barrier according to  claim 8 , wherein the elongate member protrudes from each end of the channel. 
     
     
         10 . A crowd control barrier according to  claim 9 , wherein the protruding end of the elongate member forms a loop for attachment to a crowd control barrier post. 
     
     
         11 . A crowd control barrier according to  claim 9 , wherein each protruding end of the elongate member carries a ball-shaped fitting, for engagement, in use, with a slotted aperture on or fixed to each of the first and second crowd control barrier posts. 
     
     
         12 . A crowd control barrier according to any of  claims 8 to 10 , wherein the elongate member is secured to the channel at a point within 20 cm of each end of the channel. 
     
     
         13 . A crowd control barrier according to any of  claims 8 to 12 , wherein the elongate member is an elastic elongate member. 
     
     
         14 . A crowd control barrier according to  claim 13 , wherein the length of the portion of the elastic elongate member which is housed within the channel is up to 10% shorter than the length of the channel. 
     
     
         15 . A crowd control barrier according to any of  claims 3 to 14 , wherein the channel is formed by a fold in the fabric forming the crowd control barrier. 
     
     
         16 . A crowd control barrier according to  claim 15 , wherein a line of sonic welding runs parallel to the fold, the line of sonic welding being between 2 and 5 mm deep, and being located at a distance of between 0 and 6 mm from the fold. 
     
     
         17 . A crowd control barrier according to any of  claims 3 to 15 , wherein the depth of the channel is from 10 mm to 150 mm. 
     
     
         18 . A crowd control barrier according to any of  claims 2 to 17  wherein the height of the crowd control barrier is between 100 mm and 1000 mm. 
     
     
         19 . A crowd control barrier according to any of  claims 2 to 18 , wherein the single piece of knitted fabric is folded to create a double-sided crowd control barrier. 
     
     
         20 . A crowd control barrier according to  claim 18 , wherein the fold is positioned along the top edge of the crowd control barrier, and a channel is formed by sealing a horizontal line along the length of the crowd control barrier, parallel to the fold. 
     
     
         21 . A crowd control barrier according to  claim 19 or 20 , wherein the height of each side of the crowd control barrier is independently between 100 mm and 1000 mm. 
     
     
         22 . A crowd control barrier according to any of  claims 19 to 21 , wherein the double-sided crowd control barrier comprises a first side and a second side, and wherein the first side and the second side are spaced from each other along at least a portion of their height by a distance of between 2 and 10 cm. 
     
     
         23 . A crowd control barrier according to any of  claims 2 to 21  wherein, in use, the lower edge of the crowd control barrier is angled outwardly at an angle of up to 50°. 
     
     
         24 . A crowd control barrier according to any of  claims 2 to 23 , wherein the single piece of fabric has been treated with one or more additives selected from the list comprising: stiffeners, softeners, water repellents (eg fluorocarbon), odour suppressants, fragrances, micro-encapsulated fragrances, optical brightening agents, dyes, anti-static, dirt repellents, anti-microbial, anti-viral and/or anti-bacterial agents. 
     
     
         25 . A crowd control barrier according to  claim 2 , wherein the crowd control barrier defines at least one channel arranged to receive a crowd control barrier post, the at least one channel being provided along a lateral edge of the crowd control barrier. 
     
     
         26 . A kit of parts comprising a crowd control barrier and at least one crowd control barrier post, the crowd control barrier comprising a first side edge and a second side edge, the first side edge and second side edge being affixed, in use, to first and second crowd control barrier posts respectively, the crowd control barrier comprising a single piece of knitted fabric and having releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the crowd control barrier to the first and second crowd control barrier posts. 
     
     
         27 . The kit of parts of  claim 24  wherein the crowd control barrier has any of the features of any of  claims 2 to 24 . 
     
     
         28 . A crowd control barrier post for use in the crowd control barrier system of  claim 1 , the crowd control barrier post comprising first and second attachment means protruding from a side wall of the post, the first attachment means protruding from a position vertically above the second attachment means. 
     
     
         29 . A crowd control barrier post according to  claim 28 , wherein the first and second attachment means are connected by a resilient member. 
     
     
         30 . A crowd control barrier post according to  claim 27 or 28 , wherein the first and second attachment means comprise a clip having two arms, the two arms extending outwardly from the crowd control barrier post, and the distal ends of the two arms being spaced a distance apart and carrying attachment means. 
     
     
         31 . A crowd control barrier post according to  claim 30 , wherein the distal ends of the two arms are spaced between 2 and 10 cm apart. 
     
     
         32 . A crowd control barrier system according to  claim 1 , further comprising first and second bases, the first and second crowd control barrier posts being connected, in use, to the first and second bases respectively, the first and second crowd control barrier posts comprising an elongate post and having releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the first and second crowd control barrier posts to the first and second bases. 
     
     
         33 . A base for use in the crowd control barrier system of  claim 32 , the base comprising a downwardly extending spike which, in use, is inserted into the ground to stabilise the crowd control barrier post. 
     
     
         34 . A base according to  claim 33 , wherein the spike is removable. 
     
     
         35 . A base according to any of  claims 32 to 34 , which comprises at least one removable weight. 
     
     
         36 . A crowd control barrier system according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a transparent screen extending upwardly from the top of the crowd control barrier. 
     
     
         37 . A transparent screen for use in the crowd control barrier system of  claim 36 , the transparent screen being retained between first and second retaining members, the first and second retaining members being releasably fixed, in use, to the first and second crowd control barrier posts. 
     
     
         38 . A post cover formed of a single piece of knitted fabric, the piece of knitted fabric being bonded along two opposing edges to form a tubular post cover. 
     
     
         39 . A post cover according to  claim 38 , wherein one end of the tubular post cover is sealed. 
     
     
         40 . A post cover according to  claim 38 or claim 39 , wherein the bottom edge of the post cover, forming an open end of the tubular post cover, comprises an elasticated edge. 
     
     
         41 . A post cover according to any of  claims 38 to 40 , wherein the top of the post forms a discrete surface. 
     
     
         42 . A post cover according to any of  claims 38 to 40 , wherein the fabric has been treated with one or more additives selected from stiffeners, softeners, water repellents (eg fluorocarbon), odour suppressants, fragrances, micro-encapsulated fragrances, optical brightening agents, dyes, anti-static, dirt repellents, anti-microbial, anti-viral and/or anti-bacterial agents. 
     
     
         43 . A method of manufacturing a crowd control barrier according to any of  claims 2 to 24 , which method comprises the steps of
 a) providing a single piece of knitted fabric;   b) folding the piece of knitted along a line parallel to an edge of the fabric, and;   c) bonding the fabric in a line substantially parallel to the fold to create a channel, at a distance of from 10 mm to 150 mm from the fold; and, optionally,   d) severing the fabric at regular intervals corresponding to the desired finished size of the crowd control barrier.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  further comprising the step of inserting the supporting means into the channel. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 or claim 44 , further comprising the preceding step of treating the fabric with one or more additives selected from stiffeners, softeners, water repellents (eg fluorocarbon), odour suppressants, fragrances, micro-encapsulated fragrances, optical brightening agents, dyes, anti-static, dirt repellents, anti-microbial, anti-viral and/or anti-bacterial agents. 
     
     
         46 . A method of manufacturing a post cover, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a single piece of knitted fabric having opposing longitudinal edges;   b) folding the single piece of knitted fabric to bring the opposing longitudinal edges together;   c) bonding the opposing longitudinal edges together; and   d) severing the fabric at regular intervals corresponding to the finished height of the post cover.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising the preceding step of treating the fabric with one or more additives selected from stiffeners, softeners, water repellents (eg fluorocarbon), odour suppressants, fragrances, micro-encapsulated fragrances, optical brightening agents, dyes, anti-static, dirt repellents, anti-microbial, anti-viral and/or anti-bacterial agents. 
     
     
         48 . The crowd control barrier system of  claim 1 , which further comprises a stand extending from the top of the crowd control barrier post, and being removably attached to the post, the stand carrying a banner. 
     
     
         49 . The crowd control barrier system of  claim 48 , wherein the banner comprises a channel extending about at least a portion of its periphery, and at least a portion of the stand extends through said channel. 
     
     
         50 . The crowd control barrier system of  claim 48 or 49 , wherein the stand extends into an at least partially hollow interior of the crowd control barrier post. 
     
     
         51 . The crowd control barrier system of  claim 1 , which further comprises a holder for the retention, in use, of an article or articles for use by the public.