Abstract:
A modular, movable, barricade which has, along its bottom edge, a one or more of supporting feet configured to allow stacking during storage and/or transport. Individual, similar barricade modules may be easily assembled into customized configurations for use by complementary attachment means along the side edges. After use, an assembled customized configuration may be easily disassembled into individual barricade modules by detaching the attachment means. The modules may then be stacked for storage and/or transport until further use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional application Ser. No. 62/126,149, filed Feb. 27, 2015, and whose contents are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention include movable barricades, and more specifically, modular, movable barricades. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A common method of creating barricaded spaces or crowd control is by the use of movable barricades. 
     Movable barricades are used in a wide variety of applications. Some examples are: 
     Parks 
     Parking 
     Restaurant 
     Street Fairs 
     Carnivals 
     Construction Sites 
     Police Activities 
     Ski Resorts 
     Private Pools 
     Sports 
     Universities 
     Military 
     Concerts 
     Airports 
     Stadiums 
     Golf 
     Parties 
     Camps 
     Rental Companies 
     Malls 
     Casinos 
     Convention Centers 
     Theaters 
     Zoos; and 
     Other Events. 
     The barricades are often modular units, which can be configured as needed for each use. Typically, multiple barrier units are set up as needed and then moved away and stored until the next use. 
     In the prior art, such barricades are usually made of metal. However, metal barricades are heavy, hard to maneuver and set up, tend to rust/corrode, and take up a lot of space to store between uses. 
     Thus, it is desired to have a method and system for creating barricaded spaces or crowd control which overcome these prior art limitations. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is a modular, movable barricade that is stackable for storage purposes. 
     Another object of the present invention is a modular, movable barricade that is stackable for transport purposes. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is a modular, movable barricade that is lightweight. 
     Still another object of the present invention is a modular, movable barricade in which individual barricades are easily connected and disconnected from each other. 
     And another object of the present invention is a modular, movable barricade in which multiple individual barricades may be assembled into customized configurations. 
     An embodiment of the present invention is a modular, movable, barricade which has, along its bottom edge, a one or more of supporting feet configured to allow stacking during storage and/or transport. Individual, similar barricade modules may be easily assembled into customized configurations for use by complementary attachment means along the side edges. After use, an assembled customized configuration may be easily disassembled into individual barricade modules by detaching the attachment means. The modules may then be stacked for storage and/or transport until further use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view schematic of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side view schematic of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top view schematic of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view schematic of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is an angular front view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is an angular bottom view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 11-14  show multiple units of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  connected together. 
         FIGS. 15-16  show multiple units of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  in a stacked configuration. 
         FIG. 17  shows the foot portions of two units of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  in stacked configuration. 
         FIG. 18  shows the foot portions of three units of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  in stacked configuration. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of this invention comprise a modular movable barricade  1 . (In this Specification, the embodiment is referred to interchangeably as a “barricade”, a “module”, or a “unit”.) For one embodiment, typical dimensions of the barricade  1  may be approximately 78 inches long, 39.5 inches high, and 2 inches deep (excluding the unit&#39;s “feet”); however, for specific applications, the barricade unit  1  may have, and would preferably have, dimensions chosen for that specific application. 
     Preferably, the barricade  1  is made of plastic. Plastic allows for a more economical and lighter unit compared to a metal construction. Also, the plastic is preferably recyclable, such as polypropylene. This choice of plastic addresses ecological and environmental concerns about using the barricade modules  1 . 
     Each barricade module  1  has built-in connecting mechanism components  2 ,  3  for connecting to other identical or very similar barricade modules  1 . Along one side of the module  1  is a grabbing mechanism  2 ; on the opposite side of the module is a receiving mechanism  3 . The grabbing mechanism  2  of one module  1  is connectable to the receiving mechanism  3  of an adjacent module  1 , preferably by “snapping” it into place. Alternatively, the connecting mechanism components  2 ,  3  may be held together by a suitably shaped pin inserted into and between them. This connection method allows for rapidly, and flexibly creating barricaded areas to meet the users&#39; needs. 
     Along the underside of the barricade module  1  are “feet”  4 ,  5  which extend generally perpendicularly from the body of the module  1 . Each foot  4 ,  5  angles away and downward from the underside of the barricade  1 . The feet  4 ,  5  have a cross section in which the top surface is complementary (opposite) to the bottom surface. For example, the feet  4 ,  5  may be flat, have an arc-shaped cross section, or a trapezoidal-shaped cross section. 
     These feet  4 ,  5  support and maintain the module  1  in a vertical position during use. These feet  4 ,  5  are integral to the module and are also preferably made of plastic. Preferably, the feet  4 ,  5  are created along with the creation of the module  1 , for example, by a molding process. Thus, the entire module  1  has a single piece construction for additional strength. 
     The feet  4 ,  5  are arranged in pairs. In each pair, one foot  4  extends outward from the body of the module  1  in one direction and the other foot  5  extends outward from the body of the module  1  in the opposite direction. 
     By way of example only, for one embodiment, the feet  4 ,  5  are preferably tapered with a maximum width (at the connection to the body of the module  1 ) of approximately 4 inches. The span from the tip of one foot  4  to the tip of the other foot  5  in the pair is approximately 20 inches; however, for specific applications, the barricade unit  1  may have, and would preferably have, feet  4 ,  5  with dimension chosen for that specific application. 
     The feet  4 ,  5  in each pair are preferably placed in a staggered arrangement. Further, the feet  4 ,  5  in each pair are preferably shaped so that the “front” foot  4   b  of a second module  1   b  can be placed under the corresponding “front” foot  4   a  of a first module  1   a  while at the same time, the “back” foot  5   b  of that second module  1   b  can be placed over the corresponding “back” foot  5   a  of that first module  1   a  (see  FIGS. 17 and 18 ). Thus, the combination of stagger and shape allow multiple modules  1   a ,  1   b  to be stacked closely together during transport and storage. 
     Preferably, there are two sets of feet  4 ,  5  for each module  1 , located closer to the ends of the module  1  than to each other. However, other numbers and arrangement of pairs of feet  4 ,  5  may be chosen for specific applications. 
     In another embodiment of this invention, the barricades  1  may be customized, during or after manufacture, with one or more colors and/or with information desired by the user. Also, signs may be attached to the barricades  1  in varying colors and/or with such information. Examples of such information include without limitation: 
     name 
     trademark 
     logo 
     website 
     sponsors 
     supporters; and 
     advertisers. 
     Individual modules  1  may be mixed and matched with different colors and such information. 
     In use, barrier modules  1  as needed are taken from storage and connected together in a desired arrangement. During use, the modules  1  may be easily separated and reconnected in another desired arrangement. When the need for the barricade arrangement is complete, the modules  1  are separated, stacked together, and stored compactly. 
     Stacking is accomplished by placing the “front” foot  4   b  of a second module  1   b  under the corresponding “front” foot  4   a  of a first module  1   a  while at the same time, placing the “back” foot  5   b  of that second module  1   b  over the corresponding “back” foot  5   a  of that first module  1   a  and pushing the two modules  1   a ,  1   b  together (see  FIG. 17 ). Stacking continues by placing the “front” foot  4   c  of a third module  1   c  under the corresponding “front” foot  4   b  of that second module  1   b  while at the same time, placing the “back” foot  5   c  of that third module  1   c  over the corresponding “back” foot  5   b  of that second module  1   b  and pushing that third module  1   c  next to the first and second modules  1   a ,  1   b . This process is repeated until all desired modules  1  are stacked and closely positioned together. Thus, combination of stagger and shape of the feet allows multiple modules  1  to be stacked closely together during transport and storage. 
     Thus, this invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art barricades with a functionally designed modular barricade  1  which is durable, lightweight, strong, versatile, easy to store, easy to handle, does not rust, pleasing in appearance, customizable, and ecologically/environmentally sensitive. The modules  1  preferably have one-piece construction allowing for stronger units  1  with no weak points. Further, the modules  1  are quick interlocking units. Finally, the modules  1  are stackable for compact storage. 
     Therefore, although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.