Patent Application
20200095740
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of barriers of existing art and more specifically relates to portable barriers.
Frequently workers must erect static barriers on the job. These barriers typically come in an assembly of parts. The parts generally include a large amount of telescopic posts, bracing members and framed barrier surfaces. Transporting and storing these barriers is a cumbersome task that exhausts labor workers and their budget. Generally, the individual parts must be bundled for transport. Large quantities of telescopic posts, bracing members, and barrier surfaces must be counted and bundled before transport. It is important that the exact number of individual parts is accounted for the assembly. Once transported to a worksite, these bundles are typically unloaded with a heavy machinery. Laborers must take company time and resources to double check the number of pieces. The pieces must then be assembled on the worksite, taking even more time. A suitable solution is desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,801 to J. Moreng relates to a portable, collapsible steeplechase hurdle or fence. The described portable, collapsible steeplechase hurdle or fence includes a barrier member of light weight, reinforced construction which is adapted to rest on the ground, at one longitudinal edge, in the erected condition and which is preferably curved in the direction toward the opposite or uppermost longitudinal edge, support legs pivoted in back of the barrier member to swing between erected positions, in which the legs extend downwardly from the uppermost edge of the barrier member for engagement with the ground, and stored positions in which the legs lie against the barrier member, and bracing link members pivotally connected to the barrier member and legs and being movable between extended and collapsed positions respectively corresponding to the erected and stored position of the legs, with such bracing link members being automatically retained in either their extended or collapsed positions for preventing inadvertent displacement of the legs from either their erected or stored positions, respectively.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known portable barrier art, the present disclosure provides a novel collapsible barrier system and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an effective and efficient collapsible barrier system and method.
A collapsible barrier is disclosed herein. The collapsible barrier preferably includes a substantially rectangular sheet. The substantially rectangular sheet includes an upper-horizontal edge, a lower-horizontal edge, a first-vertical edge, and a second-vertical edge. A metallic webbing is integrated with the substantially rectangular sheet to provide suitable strength and load bearing capabilities. A first telescopic post has a first-upper edge and a first-lower edge. The first telescopic post is disposed a first-distance from the first-vertical edge. A second telescopic post has a second-upper edge and a second-lower edge. The second telescopic post is disposed a second-distance from the second-vertical edge. A first foot extends the first-distance perpendicularly from the first-lower edge of the first telescopic post. A second foot extends the second-distance perpendicularly from the second-lower edge of the second telescopic post. The first-bracing member joins the first telescopic post to the first foot. A second-bracing member joins the second telescopic post to the second foot. At least one hinge mechanically couples the first telescopic post to the substantially rectangular sheet, and the second telescopic post to the substantially rectangular sheet. A first-normal plane extends a first-planar distance perpendicularly along the first-vertical edge. A second-normal plane extends a second-planar distance perpendicularly along the second-vertical edge. The first telescopic post and the second telescopic post are aligned parallel to the first-vertical edge and the second-vertical edge. The first-distance and the second-distance are substantially equal. The collapsible barrier is configured to be stacked. During use the present invention is non-destructive to surfaces in which it removably couples to.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a collapsible barrier system and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to portable barriers and more particularly to a collapsible barrier as used to improve the efficiency of barriers.
Generally, the collapsible barrier includes a substantially rectangular sheet. The substantially rectangular sheet includes an upper-horizontal edge, a lower-horizontal edge, a first-vertical edge and, a second-vertical edge. The upper-horizontal edge and the lower-horizontal edge may be longer than the first-vertical edge and the second-vertical edge. The upper-horizontal edge and the lower-horizontal edge may be substantially equal and be approximately 10-feet. A toe-board may be disposed along the lower-horizontal edge. A metallic webbing is integrated with the substantially rectangular sheet to provide suitable strength and load bearing capabilities.
The collapsible barrier includes a first telescopic post having a first-upper edge and a first-lower edge. The first telescopic post is disposed a first-distance from the first-vertical edge. The first-distance may be approximately 1.5-feet. The collapsible barrier includes a second telescopic post having a second-upper edge and a second-lower edge. The second telescopic post is disposed a second-distance from the second-vertical edge. The second-distance may be approximately 1.5-feet. A first foot extends the first-distance perpendicularly from the first-lower edge of the first telescopic post. A second foot extends the second-distance perpendicularly from the second-lower edge of the second telescopic post. The first foot and the second foot may be stored away when the first telescopic post and the second telescopic post are erected.
A first-bracing member joins the first telescopic post to the first foot. A second-bracing member joins the second telescopic post to the second foot. At least one hinge mechanically couples the first telescopic post to the substantially rectangular sheet. The first telescopic post may be pivotably connected to the substantially rectangular sheet and configured to pivot axially toward the first-vertical edge. The first foot may be configured to fit parallel to the substantially rectangular sheet when the first telescopic post is pivoted about its axis outwardly towards the first-vertical edge. At least one hinge mechanically couples the second telescopic post to the substantially rectangular sheet. The second telescopic post may be pivotably connected to the substantially rectangular sheet and configured to pivot axially toward the second-vertical edge. The second foot may be configured to fit parallel to the substantially rectangular sheet when the second telescopic post is pivoted about its axis outwardly towards the second-vertical edge.
A first-normal plane extends a first-planar distance perpendicularly along the first-vertical edge. The first-planar distance may be sized such that the first-normal plane extends past the first foot when the first foot is aligned parallel to the substantially rectangular sheet. A second-normal plane extends a second-planar distance perpendicularly along the second-vertical edge. The second-planar distance may be sized such that the second-normal plane extends past the second foot when the second foot is aligned parallel to the substantially rectangular sheet. The first telescopic post and the second telescopic post are aligned parallel to the first-vertical edge and the second-vertical edge. The first-distance and the second-distance are substantially equal. The collapsible barrier may be made of light-weight material and is configured to be stacked. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of collapsible barriers as described herein, methods of collapsible barrier installation will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in
A first telescopic post 120 has a first-upper edge 121 and a first-lower edge 122. A second telescopic post 130 has a second-upper edge 131 and a second-lower edge 132; the second telescopic post 130 is disposed a second-distance 117 from the second-vertical edge 118. A first foot 140 extends the first-distance 115 perpendicularly from the first-lower edge 122 of the first telescopic post 120. A second foot 150 extends the second-distance 117 perpendicularly from the second-lower edge 132 of the second telescopic post 130. A first-bracing member 141 joins the first telescopic post 120 to the first foot 140. A second-bracing member 151 joins the second telescopic post 130 to the second foot 150. At least one hinge 170 mechanically couples the first telescopic post 120 to the substantially rectangular sheet 110 and, the second telescopic post 130 to the substantially rectangular sheet 110.
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It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for collapsible barrier installation, are taught herein.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
