Patent Publication Number: US-2002009329-A1

Title: Connector device

Description:
[0001] The present invention relates to a connector device and in particular, but not exclusively, to a tape end connector device forming part of a personnel barrier system that includes an extendable tape.  
       [0002] Personnel barrier systems are used in many situations to control the movement of people, for example to control queues in banks, shops, airports etcetera and to restrict movement and/or access, for example in art galleries and museums. Such barriers typically include a set of posts that are supported on heavy bases and are interconnected by extendable tapes, held in spring-loaded cassettes mounted in the tops of the posts. Alternatively, the cassettes may be permanently attached to fixed points, for example on a wall or a check-out counter in a shop.  
       [0003] There are a number of different manufacturers of such systems apart from ourselves, including Tensator Ltd in the UK, Lavi in the USA and Unifila in Mexico. These manufacturers all make systems that are incompatible with each other. What is more, some of these manufacturers make, or have made, different systems that are mutually incompatible (for example, Tensator&#39;s Mk II &amp; III systems). There are therefore a proliferation of systems available, each of which can be used only with other components of the same system. As a result, users of the systems are tied to that system and cannot purchase spare part from another manufacturer, or change to another manufacturer without replacing the entire system.  
       [0004] A vital part of such a barrier system is the end connector that is used to connect the free end of the extendable tape to a fixing point on the top of another post or at a fixed location, such as a wall. These end connectors and the corresponding fixing points to which they can be attached vary significantly from one system to another, with the result that different systems are incompatible. Examples of the different prior art fixing points are shown in the accompanying drawings, which are described in more detail below.  
       [0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an end connector that is compatible with the fixing points of two or more of the prior art barrier systems.  
       [0006] According to the present invention there is provided a connector device for use with a personnel barrier system, the connector device including a first connecting structure suitable for engaging a first fixing point including a fixing member having a substantially T-shaped cross-section, said first connecting structure including a pair of opposed, inwardly-extending wall elements that, in use, engage the T-shaped fixing member, said wall elements defining between them an elongate slot having a substantially T-shaped cross-section, and a second connecting structure suitable for engaging a second fixing point having slot with a substantially V-shaped cross-section, said second connecting structure including a pair of outwardly-extending wall elements that, in use, engage the V-shaped slot of said second fixing point.  
       [0007] The connector device can be connected to any of the prior art fixing points described above and is compatible with each of those barrier systems. It can therefore be used as a universal connector, enabling the owner of one of the earlier systems to buy spare parts for that system, or to use components of two or more systems, without difficulty.  
       [0008] Advantageously, said first connecting structure and said second connecting structure are substantially co-axial. For example, the first connecting structure including a T-shaped slot may be provided within the second connecting structure. This provides a very compact arrangement.  
       [0009] Advantageously, said connector device includes a pair of substantially parallel connector elements each of which has a substantially T-shaped cross-section, the inner portions of said connector elements comprising said inwardly-extending wall elements that, in use, engage the T-shaped fixing member of the first fixing point, and the outer portions of said connector elements comprising said outwardly-extending wall elements that, in use, engage the V-shaped slot of said second fixing point.  
       [0010] Advantageously, the rear faces of the outwardly-extending wall elements subtend an angle of between 80° and 100°, preferably approximately 90°, to match the V-shaped slots of the prior art systems.  
       [0011] Advantageously, the front faces of the T-shaped connector elements are arcuate and concave, the centres of curvature of said arcuate faces being substantially coaxial. This provides a good fit with the cylindrical posts.  
       [0012] Advantageously, the front part of the T-shaped slot has a width ofbetween 6.5 mm and 8.5 mm, preferably approximately 7.0 mm, and the rear part of the slot has a width of between 10.5 mm and 11.5 mm, preferably of approximately 10.8 mm.  
       [0013] Advantageously, the distance between the outer edges ofthe wall elements is between 16.5 mm and 17.0 mm, preferably approximately 16.6 mm  
       [0014] Advantageously, the connector device includes at least one stop member within said elongate slot, for limiting axial movement of said T-shaped fixing member along said slot. This ensures that the connector device is positioned correctly when in use.  
       [0015] Advantageously, the connector device includes a cap member that closes one end of said elongate slot.  
       [0016] Advantageously, the connector device includes attachment means for attaching said connector device to the free end of a tape.  
       [0017] Advantageously, the connector device is moulded in a plastics material. 
     
    
    
     [0018] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
     [0019]FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a first prior art fixing point;  
     [0020]FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a second prior art fixing point;  
     [0021]FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a third prior art fixing point;  
     [0022]FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a fourth prior art fixing point;  
     [0023]FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the front and one side of a connector device according to the present invention;  
     [0024]FIG. 6 is a perspective view from the rear and one side of the connector device:  
     [0025]FIG. 7 is a side view of a body element of the connector device;  
     [0026]FIG. 8 is a plan view of the body element;  
     [0027]FIG. 9 is an inverted plan view of the body element;  
     [0028]FIG. 10 is a front view of the body element;  
     [0029]FIG. 11 is a rear view of the body element;  
     [0030]FIG. 12 is a plan cross-sectional view of the body element at an enlarged scale, on line XII-XII of FIG. 7;  
     [0031]FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the body element;  
     [0032]FIG. 14 is a side view of a top cap of the connector device;  
     [0033]FIG. 15 is an inverted plan view of the top cap;  
     [0034]FIG. 16 is a plan view of a bottom cap of the connector device;  
     [0035]FIG. 17 is an side cross-sectional view of the bottom cap;  
     [0036]FIG. 18 is a plan view of a body element according to a second embodiment of the connector device;  
     [0037]FIG. 19 is a rear view of the body element;  
     [0038]FIG. 20 is a side view of the body element;  
     [0039]FIG. 21 is a front view of a bottom cap of the second connector device;  
     [0040]FIG. 22 is a bottom plan view of the bottom cap, and  
     [0041]FIG. 23 is a rear view of the bottom cap. 
    
    
     [0042] The fixing points of various prior art personnel barrier systems are shown in cross-section in FIGS.  1 - 4 . These illustrate respectively the Mark II and III systems of Tensator Limited, and the fixing points on the tape cassettes of Unifila and Lavi.  
     [0043] The Tensator Mk. II fixing point consists of a moulded plastics component having the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 1. This component would normally be mounted on the top of a removable post or at a fixed location, such as on a wall or a check-out counter. The component includes a base  2  and a fixing member  4  having a substantially T-shaped cross-section, said T-shaped fixing member including a body portion  6  having a width of 3.4 mm and a height of 3.7 mm, and an arrow-shaped head portion  8  having a width of 9.0 mm and a maximum height of 2.8 mm. The T-shaped fixing member  4  may be engaged in use by a connector device attached to the free end of a tape, the connector device having a T-shaped slot that corresponds to the shape of the T-shaped fixing member  4 .  
     [0044] The Tensator Mk. III fixing point shown in FIG. 2 is more compact than the Mk. II fixing point and includes an arcuate base  12  and a T-shaped fixing member  14  having a body portion  16  with a width of 6.0 mm and a height of 1.5 mm, and an flat head portion  18  with a width of 10.0 mm and a height of 1.2 mm. The connector device for the Mk. III system again has a T-shaped slot that matches the T-shaped fixing member  14 .  
     [0045] The fixing point of the Unifila barrier system is shown in FIG. 3 and includes a V-shaped slot  20  formed in the cylindrical wall  22  of the tape cassette. The wall  22  has an internal radius of 32.2 mm and an external radius 38.0 mm. The slot  20  has a width of approximately 17.0 mm at its base and 13.6 mm at the outer circumference of the wall  22 , and the inclined sides  24  of the slot each subtend an angle of approximately 45° with the arcuate base  26  of the slot.  
     [0046] The fixing point of the Lavi system shown in FIG. 4 and is similar in shape to that of the Unifila system but it has different dimensions. The V-shaped slot  30  is formed in the cylindrical wall  32  ofthe tape cassette, which has an internal radius of 29.3 mm and an external radius 35.0 mm. The slot  30  has a width of approximately 19.5 mm at its base and 16.5 mm at the outer circumference of the wall  32 , and the inclined sides  34  of the slot each subtend an angle of approximately 45° with the arcuate base  36  of the slot.  
     [0047] The fixing points on the posts of the Unifila and Lavi systems (which are not illustrated) are intended to be similar to those provided on the cassettes but in practice we have found that there are significant differences in their dimensions. For example, we have found that the slot in the Unifila post has a width of approximately 19.0 mm at its base and 14.2 mm at the outer circumference of the wall, and the inclined sides of the slot each subtend an angle of approximately 40° with the base of the slot. The slot in the Lavi post typically has a width of approximately 19.0 mm at its base and 15.8 mm at the outer circumference of the wall, and the inclined sides of the slot each subtend an angle of approximately 40° with the base of the slot. These variations in the dimensions of the Lavi and Unifila fixing points, and the different form of the fixing points of the two Tensator systems, make it difficult to design a connector device that will work satisfactorily with all the prior art fixing points.  
     [0048] A connector device according to the present invention is shown in FIGS.  5 - 17  of the accompanying drawings. The connector device is a moulded plastics component that is attached to the free end of an extendable tape (not shown).  
     [0049] The connector device has a top cap  38 , an elongate body element  40  that is approximately 7 cm long and a bottom cap  41 . In cross-section, the body  40  is substantially semi-elliptical, having a narrow rear end  42  and a wide front end  44 . The rear end  42  includes a slot  46  in which the free end of the tape is located. Elliptical depressions  48 , which serve as finger grips, are provided in the flanks of the body.  
     [0050] The front end  44  of the body  40  includes a first connecting structure  50  that is suitable for engaging the T-shaped fixing members  4 , 14  used in the Tensator Mk. II &amp; III systems, and a second connecting structure  52  that is suitable for engaging a V-shaped slots  20 , 30  used in the Lavi and Unifila systems.  
     [0051] The first connecting structure  50  includes a pair of opposed, inwardly-extending wall elements  54  that, in use, engage the T-shaped fixing members  4 , 14 . The wall elements  54  define between them an elongate slot  56  having a substantially T-shaped cross-section, that extends along the length of the body  40 . The narrow front part of the T-shaped slot  56  has a width of approximately 7.0 mm while the wide rear part of the slot has a width of approximately 10.8 mm, to fit the T-shaped fixing members  4 , 14  used in the Tensator Mk. II &amp; III systems.  
     [0052] The second connecting structure  52  includes a pair of outwardly-extending wall elements  58  that, in use, engage the V-shaped slots  20 , 30  of the Lavi and Unifila systems. The distance between the outer edges ofthe wall elements  58  is approximately 16.6 mm. to fit the V-shaped slots  20 , 30  of the Lavi and Unifila posts and cassettes.  
     [0053] The first and second connecting structures  50 , 52  are constructed in the form of a pair of substantially parallel connector elements  60  that extend from the front end  44  of the body  40 . Each of the connector elements  60  has a substantially T-shaped cross-section, the inner portions of the connector elements  60  forming the inwardly-extending wall elements  54 , and the outer portions of the connector elements forming the outwardly-extending wall elements  58 .  
     [0054] The rear faces  62  of the outwardly-extending wall elements  58  subtend an angle of approximately 90°, to match the inclined sides  24 , 34  of the V-shaped slots  20 , 30 . The front faces  64  of the T-shaped connector elements  60  are arcuate and concave, the centres of curvature of said arcuate faces being substantially coaxial and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body member  40 . The radius of curvature is approximately 32 mm, which is an approximate average of the radii of the Tensator, Lavi and Unifila posts and cassettes.  
     [0055] At the upper end of the slot  56 , a pair of stop members  66  are provided, for limiting axial movement of a T-shaped fixing member along said slot. The stop members  66  comprise a pair of short walls that extend rearwards from the inner edges of the inwardly-extending wall elements  54 .  
     [0056] The rear part of the body element  40  includes a trapezoidal cavity  70  that extends through the body element parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof and that communicates with the slot  46 . A dividing wall  72  that includes a circular orifice  74  extends across this cavity, towards its upper end, dividing the cavity into an upper part  70   a  and a lower part  70   b . The lower part  70   b  of the cavity accommodates the end of the barrier tape (not shown), which in use extends into the cavity through the slot  46 .  
     [0057] The top cap  38 , which is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, is a push fit in the upper part  70   a  of the cavity and includes a profiled plate  76  that closes the upper ends of the cavity  70  and the elongate slot  56 , and a depending shaft  78 . The end of the shaft  78  includes a bore  79  for receiving a steel retaining pin (not shown) that passes through a loop in the end of the barrier tape, to retain it in the cavity  70 .  
     [0058] The bottom cap  41 , shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, is a push fit in the lower part  70   b  of the cavity and includes a substantially flat plate  80  that closes the lower end of the cavity  70 , without obstructing the elongate slot  56 . The plate includes a bore  82  for receiving the steel retaining pin.  
     [0059] The body element  40  is preferably moulded in one piece from a plastics material. To this end, the walls may be very slightly tapered, for example at an angle of between 1° and 2°, to enable release from the mould.  
     [0060] A second form of the connector device is shown in FIGS.  18  to  23 . In this embodiment of the invention, the body element  40  includes two moulded pips  86 , 88  on its rear edge, at either end of the slot  46 . Those pips  86 , 88  serve as bumpers that absorb the shock when the connector hits the cassette as the tape is retracted and strengthen the moulding along that edge.  
     [0061] The bottom cap  41  of the second connector device includes a detent  90  that engages the fixing point to prevent unintentional release of the connector. The detent  90  comprises a moulded plastic rib that extends rearwards from the rear wall  92  of the cap. The wall  92  is resilient, allowing the detent to be pressed in slightly when the connector is attached to the fixing point. Alternatively, the cap may be provided with a locking device, such as a grub screw, a rotatable cam or a resiliently-biassed catch.  
     [0062] Various modifications of the connector device are possible. For example, the body element may be moulded in two or more places that are assembled together, for example by gluing or welding.