Abstract:
A portable security system comprises two security units, located on opposite sides of a roadway or other path for vehicles, each consisting of at least two hollow barrier devices filled with a ballast material such as water, sand, chunks of rubber or the like. Adjacent barrier devices in each security unit are interconnected side-by-side using first and second beams, which extend through respective fork lift openings formed in the center of the barrier devices. A gate spans the two security units, and is movable between an open position permitting the passage of vehicular traffic along the roadway and a closed position.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional application Serial No. 60/289,106 for all commonly disclosed subject matter. U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/289,106 is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to form a part of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to a security systems, and, more particularly, to a portable security system which is effective to prevent or at least slow the progress of a vehicle engaged in an attempted unauthorized entry into a facility such as a military base, power plant or other restricted access installation.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Security at restricted access installations such as military bases, nuclear power plants and other facilities is of critical concern, particularly at facilities where personnel are housed on site, sensitive equipment is located or hazardous material is stored. One technique employed by terrorists and other groups which can have devastating results is a suicide mission where a truck or other vehicle filled with explosives is driven into the vicinity of one or more target buildings at an installation and detonated. Standard gates, fences or other obstacles deployed along the roadway leading to the installation are often ineffective to stop this type of attack, unless they are constructed to be permanent structures. In many instances, it is not desirable or feasible to install permanent barriers or other obstacles due to the temporary nature of the installation, space requirements and a variety of other factors.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    It is therefore among the objectives of this invention to provide a security system which is portable, which is easy to assemble and operate and which is effective to stop or slow the progress of unauthorized vehicular traffic into restricted access areas.  
           [0005]    These objectives are accomplished in a portable security system according to this invention which includes two security units, located on opposite sides of a roadway or other path for vehicles, which are spanned by an automatic or manually operated gate. Each security unit consists of at least two barrier devices which are generally rectangular-shaped structures formed of rigid plastic or a similar material having a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed side walls and opposed end walls which collectively form a hollow interior. At least two barriers devices are positioned side-by-side on each side of the roadway, and then they are filled with a ballast material such as water, sand, chunks of rubber or the like. Adjacent barrier devices in each group are interconnected by a first and second beams, which extend through respective fork lift openings formed in the center of the barrier devices. A gate spans the two security units, and is movable between an open position permitting the passage of vehicular traffic along the roadway and a closed position.  
           [0006]    In one presently preferred embodiment, the gate which spans the two security units is formed of metal, fiberglass, plastic or the like, and it has a hollow interior which receives a steel cable. One end of the cable is secured to one of the beams connecting the barrier devices of one security unit located on one side of the roadway where the gate is pivotally mounted, and the other end of the cable is formed with a loop. In the closed position of the gate, the loop end of the cable is secured to a hook, shackle or similar element mounted to one or both of the beams extending between the barrier devices of the other security unit. The gate may also be provided with a tire puncture strip which extends downwardly onto the roadway with the gate in a closed position. In an alternative embodiment, the gate comprises a length of cable having one end affixed to one or both beams connecting the barrier devices of one security unit and its opposite end releasably mounted to a hook, shackle or the like carried by the beam(s) of other security unit.  
           [0007]    In the event of an attack in which a vehicle attempts to proceed along the roadway toward a base or installation, the steel cable which forms the gate or is affixed to the gate arm is immediately engaged by the vehicle. The force of impact is transferred by the cable to each group of barrier devices within both security units which are effective to prevent or at least resist further forward movement of the vehicle. Essentially any number of barrier devices mounted side-by-side can be employed to form the two security units on either side of the roadway, each filled with a ballast material, thus providing substantial mass which would have to be dragged along by the vehicle in order for it to proceed forward once the cable is engaged. If the tire puncture strip is employed, the progress of the vehicle would be further impeded due to flat tires.  
           [0008]    The portable security system of this invention is easily moved from one location to another by simply emptying the ballast material from the barrier devices, disconnecting the beams and removing the gate. All components can then be quickly and easily reassembled at another site as desired. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two security units located on either side of a roadway, with a gate arm in the closed position;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a disassembled view of the beam structure for mounting two barrier devices side-by-side;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 except depicting a hook for securing one end of the gate arm to the beam structure;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 wherein a cable is depicted which spans the two security units as an alternative to the gate arm of FIG. 1; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is an assembled view of the beam structure illustrating one manner of attaching an end of the cable thereto. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    Referring now to FIG. 1, the portable security system of this invention comprises two security units  8  and  9  located on opposite sides of a roadway or other path for the transit of vehicles. Each security unit  8 ,  9 , in turn, consists of two barrier devices  10  which are mounted side-by-side in a manner described in detail below. The construction of the barrier devices  10  shown in FIG. 1 is identical, and therefore only one is described in detail herein.  
         [0015]    Each barrier device  10  comprises a top wall  12 , a bottom wall  14 , opposed end walls  16 ,  18 , and, opposed sidewalls  20 ,  22  which are interconnected to collectively define a hollow interior. In the presently preferred embodiment, each of the walls  12 - 22  are formed of a semi-rigid plastic material chosen from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, acrylonitrile or butadiene styrene, high impact styrene, polycarbonates and the like. These plastic materials are all inherently tough and exhibit good energy absorption characteristics. They will also deform and elongate, but will not fail in a brittle manner at energy inputs which cause other materials to undergo brittle failure. Additionally, materials of this type are unaffected by weather and have excellent basic resistance to weathering, leaching and biodegradation. Additives such as ultraviolet inhibitors can be added thereto, making such materials further resistant to the effects of weather. They also retain their mechanical and chemical properties at low ambient temperatures.  
         [0016]    The hollow interior is preferably filled with a “ballast” material such as water or other liquid, or a flowable solid material such as sand, concrete and the like. For this purpose, the walls  12 - 22  of barrier device  10  have a thickness in the range of about one-eighth inch to one inch so as to perform satisfactorily in service. The barrier device  10  is preferably in the range of about six to eight feet in length, and, at the wall thickness noted above, has a weight when empty of about 80 to 140 lbs. When filled with a liquid such as water, the overall weight of the barrier is in the range of about 1400 to 2200 lbs. Flowable solid material such as sand and the like increase the weight of barrier device  10  further.  
         [0017]    Each sidewall  20  and  22  includes a substantially vertically extending curb reveal  26  which extends from the bottom wall  14  to a horizontally extending ledge or step  28  best shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, the curb reveal  26  has a vertical height of nine inches, measured from the bottom wall  14  upwardly. The horizontal extent of the step  28  is preferably on the order of about 1½ inches measured in the direction from the outer edge of curb reveal  26  toward the hollow interior  24  of barrier device  10 .  
         [0018]    Extending upwardly at an acute angle from the step  28  is an intermediate section  30  which terminates at a vertically extending upper section  32 . The upper section  32 , in turn, extends from the intermediate section  30  to the top wall  12  of barrier  10  which is formed with a pair of fill holes  33  preferably having a diameter in the range of about 3-4 inches. Additionally, a number of stabilizers  34  are integrally formed in the intermediate section  30 , at regularly spaced intervals between the end walls  16 ,  18 .  
         [0019]    In the presently preferred embodiment, a pair of hollow sleeves  36  are located within the hollow interior of each barrier device  10  and extend between the sidewalls  20 ,  22 . For ease of illustration, only one of the sleeves  36  is shown in the Figures. A portion of each sleeve  36  is located in the intermediate section  30  of each sidewall  20 ,  22 , and extends partially into the upper sections  32  thereof. The two sleeves  36  are positioned in the spaces between the three stabilizers  34  formed in the sidewalls  20 ,  22 , and provide added internal support to the barrier  10  so that it retains its shape when filled with a ballast material.  
         [0020]    Each of the sleeves  36  define a pass-through hole or channel adapted to receive the tines of a forklift truck to permit handling of the barrier devices  10 . These pass-through holes are also used to mount the beam structure for connecting to barrier devices  10  side-by-side. With reference to FIG. 2, a first beam  38  and a second beam  40  each have a reduced diameter section  42  at opposite ends which is sized to fit within the pass-through holes formed by the sleeves  36  in the barrier devices  10 . The beams  38 ,  40  are preferably formed of steel or other rigid material. As best seen in FIG. 1, the reduced diameter sections  42  protrude beyond the surface of the side wall  20  of one barrier device  10  and beyond the surface of side wall  22  of the other barrier device  10  in each of the security units  8  and  9 . Each reduced diameter section  42  is positioned to mount an angle bracket  44  formed with holes  46  which align with holes  48  in the sections  42  to receive bolts  50 .  
         [0021]    In order to provide additional stability and a platform for mounting other structure, as described below, a steel plate  52  is secured between the first and second beams  38 ,  40 . Aligning bores  54  and  56  formed in the plate  52  and beams  38 ,  40 , respectively, receive bolts  50  to mount same together. In one presently preferred embodiment, the plate  52  mounts one end of a gate arm  60  which spans the space between the security units  8  and  9 . See FIG. 1. The gate arm  60  is preferably formed of metal, fiberglass or plastic and carries an endless cable  62  which extends along the length of the gate arm  60  and forms a loop  64  at one end. As best shown in FIG. 3, the loop  64  of cable  62  is releasably connected to a hook  66  with the gate arm  60  in the closed position. The hook  66 , in turn, is mounted by a U-shaped connector  68  to the plate  52 . The opposite end of cable  62  is looped around the second beam  40  of the security unit  9  to secure it in place. See FIG. 1. As schematically depicted in FIG. 2, the gate arm  60  is raised and lowered by operation of a motor  70  which rotates a shaft  72  connected to the gate arm  60 . The gate arm  60  may also be manually raised and lowered, if desired. Additionally, a strip of sharp objects (not shown) capable of puncturing vehicle tires can be attached to the gate arm  60  so that it lies on the roadway with the gate arm  60  in the closed position.  
         [0022]    In an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the gate arm  60  is replaced by a length of cable  74  formed with loops  76  at each end. In FIG. 4, one loop  76  is releasably mounted to a hook  66  connected to the plate  52  of security unit  8  as described above in connection with a discussion of FIG. 3, and the loop  76  at the opposite end of the cable  74  is connected to a shackle  77  mounted by a connector  68  to the plate  52  of security unit  9 . Alternatively, one end of the cable  74  may be mounted to one plate  52  using a number U-shaped connectors  68  as depicted in FIG. 5, while the opposite end of cable  74  is releasably connected to a hook  66 . With the cable  74  in an extended position to block the passage of vehicles between the security units  8 ,  9 , each end of the cable  74  is secured to a plate  52 . To permit the passage of vehicles between the security units  8 ,  9 , one end of the cable  74  is detached from a hook  66  and the cable  74  is allowed to rest on the ground so that the vehicle can drive over it.  
         [0023]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.  
         [0024]    For example, only two barrier devices  10  are shown in the Figs. as comprising the security units  8  and  9 . It should be understood that essentially any number of barrier devices  10  mounted side-by-side could be employed to form the units  8 ,  9  if additional mass is desired.  
         [0025]    Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.