Barb stiffening process and product

#The invention relates to a barbed tape and a process for forming a barbed tape wherein the barbs of the tape are stiffened against bending.

#Barbed tape is widely used as an anti-personnel barrier in numerous private and government applications such as prison facilities, military installations, and the securing of private residences and the like. Such tape typically includes an elongated generally flat central support structure having clusters of barbs at spaced apart locations. Each cluster of barbs typically comprises a first pair of barbs extending from a root on one edge of the tape and a second pair of barbs extending from a root on the opposite edge of the tape. Each barb is a generally elongated planar structure having two generally opposed edges converging toward one another and meeting at a very sharp point. The barbs in each pair lie in a common plane, with points extending in generally opposite directions relative to one another.

#The above described barbed tape is formed into a helical configuration such that the plane of the tape is aligned generally perpendicular to the axis of the helix. Thus, the points of the barbs extend in generally tangential directions relative to the helix, while the roots to which the pairs of barbs are joined extend generally in radially outward and inward directions relative to the helix.

#A detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a helical coil of barbed tape disposed along a fence;

#FIG. 2 illustrates a section of conventional barbed tape;

#The invention relates to a barbed tape having stiffened barbs which is suitable in numerous applications as an anti-personnel barrier.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a typical use of such tape. As shown, the barbed tape is formed into a helical structure 10 which can then be positioned as desired, for example on a fence 12 as shown, to prohibit or inhibit the passage of intruders and the like. Typical uses include positioning the tape along fences or walls, perimeters of military installations or prison facilities and the like, and numerous other uses wherein an anti-personnel barrier is desired.

#FIG. 2 illustrates a section of conventional barbed tape. As shown, the tape typically has a central supporting portion 14 upon which barb clusters 16 are disposed at spaced apart locations. For simplicity, FIG. 2 shows a portion of such tape having a single barb cluster 16. Of course, additional substantially identical barb clusters 16 are generally spaced along the entire length of the barbed tape. Each barb cluster 16 includes two pairs of oppositely extending barbs 18 disposed on opposite edges of central supporting portion 14. Each pair of barbs 18 is arranged substantially tangential to the surface of the helical structure, with one pair facing helically outward and one pair inward.