Reusable Border Security Barrier

Abstract

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

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of installing a temporary reusable security barrier comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a plurality of precast concrete panels having a rectangular prism shape with a top edge, a bottom edge, two narrow sides, the distance between the two narrow edges forming a width of the panel, and to wide side edges, the distance between the two wide side edge forming a thickness of the panel;   (b) digging a foundation trench, the trench having a trench length greater than the sum of the widths of the precast panels, 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 panels into the trench with the bottom edges of the panels resting on the trench bottom and the top edges of the panel being generally vertically above the bottom edge and above the trench, the panels arranged such that a narrow edge of one panel is adjacent to a narrow edge of another panel with a narrow opening between a narrow edges of adjacent panels to provide a line of sight through the barrier while preventing human access through the barrier; and   (d) filling that portion of the trench unfilled by the panels with a filler material to support the panels 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 in the filling step, the filler material comprises gravel. 
     
     
         6 . 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. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of packing the filler material into the foundation trench to completely fill the trench. 
     
     
         8 . 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. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of removing the precast panel from the foundation trench. 
     
     
         10 . 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. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the providing step, comprises renting the precast concrete panels. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the digging and lifting steps comprises digging a foundation trench about 8 feet deep and placing about 8 feet of the panels into the trench. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the panels are arranged in a generally linear configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the panels are arranged in a staggered, non-linear configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the panels are angled away from linear in an alternating manner such that a top view would resemble a wave formation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the panels are generally parallel but alternating panels are spaced apart outward from a linear path. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the narrow opening is no more than about five inches between panels. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the narrow opening is no less than about 1.5 inches between panels.