This application is a U.S. national phase application of Intl. App. No. PCT/GB2018/051266 filed on May 10, 2018, which claims priority from GB1707483.2 filed on May 10, 2017, and GB1713320.8 filed on Aug. 18, 2017. The entire contents of Intl. App. No. PCT/GB2018/051266, GB1707483.2 and GB1713320.8 are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vehicle impact barrier system and to one or more vehicle impact barrier units for use therein. More particularly, but not exclusively, to a deployable or portable vehicle impact barrier system that can be utilised on a temporary basis for example, at a festival, market or concert. The invention finds advantageous application in locations where other vehicle impact barriers cannot be installed or where it is undesirable to permanently locate vehicle impact barriers, for example, in parks, fields, and areas temporarily pedestrianised. In areas temporarily pedestrianised, for example, a street or number of streets which at other times allow the passage of vehicles, but in which an event is hosted, for example, a temporary market, a portable and temporary vehicle impact barrier system according to the present disclosure may be very beneficial. The vehicle impact barrier system may be used on a longer-term or permanent basis if required.

Aspects of the invention relate to a vehicle impact barrier system, to an impact barrier unit, and to a method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide barriers that are suitable for withstanding impacts from a vehicle. Such barriers typically comprise concrete blocks placed upon the ground, or vertical posts embedded within the ground. In order to provide sufficient resistance to impacts from vehicles moving at typical speeds (e.g. 30 to 60 kilometres per hour), the concrete blocks must be very heavy and large, or the posts must be deeply embedded in the ground, to enable them to absorb and/or disperse the high energies involved. Such barriers cannot be placed in locations that are only temporarily being used to host an event where crowds of people may be present. For example, a festival hosted over a few days in a field or a festive market held in a town for only a few weeks. In such situations where after the event has finished, the site will go back to being a field, or an area where traffic can pass, the temporary installation of concrete blocks or barriers embedded in the ground may not practical, may cause damage to the site, may be economically prohibitive and/or may take too long.

The present invention seeks to provide an improvement in the field of vehicle impact barriers that has particular application for situations in which a temporary barrier solution is required. The invention may be utilised in applications other than for temporary barrier solutions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle impact barrier system comprising a series of impact barrier units and at least one linkage means, wherein a first impact barrier unit is linked to at least one other impact barrier unit by said at least one linkage means. The vehicle impact barrier units may be freestanding and by not being affixed to the ground, they can move and interfere with the progression of a vehicle and arrest the vehicle.

Optionally, the at least one linkage means comprises a first linkage means coupled to a lower portion of a first impact barrier unit and also coupled to a lower portion of a second impact barrier. The connected units drag about a vehicle to arrest its progress.

Optionally, each impact barrier unit comprises an outer shell and an internal structure. The outer shell may be lighter in weight than the internal structure and may be made of a high-density plastics or other suitable material. The outer shell may be decorated or coloured to match a theme of an event at which the impact barrier unit is being used.

Optionally, the outer shell provides an incomplete shroud over the internal structure such that a bottom portion of the internal structure extends below lowest edges of the outer shell. This may facilitate lifting of the impact barrier unit by a fork-lift for loading and off-loading the units.

Optionally, the internal structure is arranged to provide multiple anchors for engagement with a vehicle, said multiple anchors may be disposed at two or more different heights above ground level.

Optionally, the impact barrier units are each free-standing and the whole system is free-standing and portable.

Optionally, the first linkage means is coupled to the internal structure of the first unit and the second linkage means is also coupled to the internal structure of the first unit.

Optionally, the internal structure comprises a series of rows of anchoring members, wherein the anchoring members of a first row are disposed at a different height above ground level compared to the anchoring members of a second row. A front most row of anchoring members may project to a first height and a second row of anchoring members disposed further away from the front of the unit than the first row may project to a second height, and the second height is preferably greater than the first height.

Optionally, the internal structure comprises a plurality of rows of anchoring members and the anchoring members of a front most row project to a first height and wherein anchoring members of a further row project to a second height that is greater than the first height. At least one or more subsequent rows of anchoring members project to progressively greater heights still.

Optionally, the internal structure comprises a plurality of fins and wherein anchoring members project from each fin. Optionally, the anchoring members are generally triangular in shape.

Each fin may have an upper edge that follows a generally diagonal path extending between a front edge and rear edge, said upper edge may be interrupted by a series of anchor members such that the upper edge comprises a series of plateaus and peaks.

Optionally, a leading or front most anchor member of each fin is disposed lower most and front most, and projects from an angled section of the upper edge. Said angled section may be inclined at an angle of between about 15° and about 30°. Optionally, the angled section is inclined at an angle of about 20° and the leading or front most anchor member points in a slightly more forward direction compared to other anchor members in the series.

Optionally, a plurality of fins are aligned and affixed together in spaced relationship and thereby the series of rows of anchoring members are provided.

Optionally, the first linkage means passes through one or more fins of the internal structure and the second linkage means passes though one or more of the other fins of the internal structure.

Optionally, the plurality of fins comprises first and second end-most fins and the first linkage means passes through the first end-most fin and the second linkage means passes through the second end-most fin.

Optionally, the internal structure comprises six fins, arranged in parallel and arranged in a spaced arrangement. The fins may each comprise one or more or a series of slots and the internal structure may further comprise one or more or a matching number of transverse members, onto which said fins are slot-fitted and affixed.

Optionally, each internal structure comprises four transverse members, onto which six fins are slot-fitted and attached, wherein each fin has a front edge and a rear edge, the rear edge having a greater height above ground level than the front edge, and wherein first and second end-most fins receive part of the first linkage means and part of the second linkage means respectively.

Each internal structure may comprise a central bottom plate having an aperture with an internal thread for receiving, locating and fastening a locking bolt. A further plate may be disposed between two fins and affixed thereto and may be disposed above the central bottom plate. The further plate may comprises an aperture appropriately aligned relative to the internal thread in the bottom plate such that the locking bolt is securely held in place therein and such that said two linkage means are securely coupled to the internal structure of the impact barrier unit.

Optionally, each impact barrier unit comprises an outer shell and an internal structure. Optionally, said internal structure comprises a bottom structure, and wherein the bottom structure is located in a bottom half of said unit and is sized, arranged and of a weight such that the impact barrier unit has a low centre of mass.

Optionally, between 85% and 90% of the mass of the unit is provided by the bottom structure.

Optionally, the outer shell is generally wider at its bottom than at its top such that it has a tapered or bell-shaped form.

Optionally, the bottom structure comprises at least one fin, wherein said at least one fin comprises first and second bottom edges and wherein the first and second bottom edges are disposed at an angle of between about 120° and about 160°.

Optionally, the first and second bottom edges are disposed at an angle of 150°.

Optionally, one or more fins comprise one or more teeth provided thereon.

Optionally, said internal structure comprises a spindle member and wherein said spindle member comprises one or more anchor members provided thereon.

Optionally, said first linkage means is coupled to an upper portion of said spindle members of the first and second impact barrier units respectively; and wherein said second linkage means is coupled to the bottom structures of the first and second impact barrier units respectively.

Optionally, each vehicle impact barrier unit has a total mass of 300 kg or more, has a height of 2 m or more and has 85% or more of its mass situated below half of its height.

According to another aspect of the invention for which protection is sought, there is provided a vehicle impact barrier unit for use in a system according to any of the relevant preceding paragraphs.

According to yet another aspect of the invention for which protection is sought, there is provided a method of restricting passage of a vehicle from a first location to a second location, the method comprising providing a plurality of free standing units linked one to the next in series between said first and second locations, wherein each free-standing unit has a total mass of 300 kg or more, has a height of 2 m or more and has 85% or more of its mass below half of its height.

According to an even further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of restricting passage of a vehicle from a first location to a second location, the method comprising providing a plurality of free standing units linked one to the next in series between said first and second locations, wherein each free standing unit has an outer shell and an internal structure, the internal structure comprising a plurality of rows of anchoring members and wherein the anchoring members of a front most row project to a first height and wherein anchoring members of a row spaced back from the front most row project to a second height that is greater than the first height and wherein at least one or more subsequent rows of anchoring members project to progressively greater heights still.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

