Extensible barrier

#The present invention relates to barriers and, in particular, it concerns barriers that are easily and quickly erected and offer high security features.

#Of most relevance to the present invention is a barrier described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,708 to Cochraine, wherein the barrier is extensibly deployed from a vehicle, and which includes at least three coils of barbed tape supported and spaced from one another with an upper coil located above two lower coils. The coils are spaced apart parallel to one another, and are supported by transverse rods located along the respective lengths of the coils.

#A shortcoming of the aforementioned system is due to the barrier structure being connected and supported using transverse rods. This makes the structure relatively expensive and time consuming to produce. The weight of the rods also adds additional compressional stress to the structure that may limit the height of the structure. In addition, the rods may limit transportability due to their weight as well as reducing compressibility of the coils due to their bulk.

#The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a barrier that is constructed and operable in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a barbed cable used in the barrier of FIG. 1;

#The present invention is a barrier construction and method of deployment thereof.

#The principles and operation of the barrier according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

#Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a transverse sectional view of the barrier 10 that is constructed and operable in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The barrier 10 is composed of six coils 20 that are each axially extensible. The preferred diameter of the coils is within the range 45 cm to 150 cm. The coils 20 are disposed so that they are in substantially mutually parallel alignment and each coil 20 is in substantially direct contact with adjacent coils 20. The coils 20 are disposed to form a multi-layered structure 30 composed of three layers 40, 50, 60; a bottom layer 40 composed of three coils 20 and a middle layer 50 composed of two coils 20 and a top layer 60 composed of one coil 20. The coil 20 of the top layer 60 is supported by the two coils 20 of the middle layer 50 and the two coils 20 of the middle layer 50 are each supported by two coils 20 of the bottom layer 40. Inter-coil connectors 70 connect adjacent coils 20 at a plurality of points along the coils 20 where the coils meet tangentially. The inter-coil connectors 70 preferably connect adjacent coils 20 at every winding (not shown) of the coils 20 where the coils 20 meet tangentially. The inter-coil connectors 70 are typically metal clips or steel wire.