WO2008017836A1 - Improvements in or relating to ballast boxes - Google Patents

Improvements in or relating to ballast boxes Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008017836A1
WO2008017836A1 PCT/GB2007/003008 GB2007003008W WO2008017836A1 WO 2008017836 A1 WO2008017836 A1 WO 2008017836A1 GB 2007003008 W GB2007003008 W GB 2007003008W WO 2008017836 A1 WO2008017836 A1 WO 2008017836A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ballast box
frame
flexible container
ballast
box
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB2007/003008
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Saeed Dudhia
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB1003778A priority Critical patent/GB2464445B/en
Publication of WO2008017836A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008017836A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F13/00—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions
    • E01F13/02—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions free-standing; portable, e.g. for guarding open manholes ; Portable signs or signals specially adapted for fitting to portable barriers
    • E01F13/022—Pedestrian barriers; Barriers for channelling or controlling crowds
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
    • E01F9/60—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs
    • E01F9/688—Free-standing bodies
    • E01F9/692—Portable base members therefor
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H12/00—Towers; Masts or poles; Chimney stacks; Water-towers; Methods of erecting such structures
    • E04H12/22—Sockets or holders for poles or posts
    • E04H12/2238—Sockets or holders for poles or posts to be placed on the ground
    • E04H12/2246—Sockets or holders for poles or posts to be placed on the ground filled with water, sand or the like

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to ballast boxes.
  • Temporary hoardings and fences are often erected around building sites, or other enclosures, to prevent intruders gaining access, and to protect passers by from building work.
  • a typical hoarding or fence construction comprises a series of ballast elements attached to fence supports, said fence supports in turn attached to the fence panels.
  • the ballast elements are used to maintain the hoarding or fence in position and inhibit . toppling of the hoarding in strong winds.
  • the ballast elements may either be solid blocks of concrete or a moulded plastics material, with a typical mass, for example, of
  • GB2406105 discloses a hoarding construction comprising a number of troughs (or boxes) that may be filled with aggregate. Such an arrangement might be described as a ballast box.
  • Ballast boxes are supplied empty and when in use are normally filled with a ballast material, normally an aggregate such as sand or gravel.
  • ballast boxes of GB2406105 have several drawbacks. Firstly, on uneven ground the ballast boxes may themselves be unstable, leading to an unstable hoarding structure. Furthermore, ballast boxes can be both bulky and heavy, making their use cumbersome and transport expensive.
  • the present invention seeks to address these issues.
  • a ballast box comprising a frame and flexible container.
  • Said flexible container may be made of a foldable textile sheet material, such as sacking, so that the container is collapsible
  • said frame is collapsible.
  • said frame comprises a top part that comprises at least two substantially parallel sides. More preferably said top frame part is quadrilateral in shape. More preferably said top part is substantially rectangular in shape.
  • said frame comprises two side parts.
  • a respective side part is attached to each of two substantially parallel sides of a top part.
  • said side parts each comprise means of attachment to at least one fence support.
  • said side parts each comprise means of attachment to two or more fence supports.
  • said side parts are flaps, pivotally attached to said parallel sides.
  • said flexible container is comprises means of attachment to the top part and/or side parts of said frame.
  • said flexible container comprises four sides and a bottom.
  • the flexible container surrounds said frame in a substantially box shaped arrangement.
  • said flexible container comprises openings through which the means of attachment to wall supports provided on the frame may protrude.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a frame of a ballast box according to the present invention, with the flaps partially folded;
  • FIG 2 is a perspective view of the frame of Figure 1 with the flaps fully unfolded;
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of the flexible container of a ballast box according to the present invention;
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view of an assembled ballast box according to the present invention, comprising a frame and flexible container.
  • FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of another ballast box according to the present invention in use;
  • Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the ballast box of Figure 5 in use;
  • FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of two of the ballast boxes according to the present invention supporting a fence panel;
  • Figure 8 is a rear perspective view of two ballast boxes according to the present invention supporting a rolled profile sheet; and Figure 9 is a rear perspective view of two ballast boxes according to the present invention supporting a sign.
  • the frame 1 of a ballast box comprises a substantially rectangular top part 2, and two side parts in the form of opposed pivotable flaps 3 attached to opposite short sides of said top part.
  • the top part of the frame need not be rectangular in shape, but it may be preferable to have at least two parallel sides in order that pivotable flaps may be used.
  • the frame may be made of a metal, plastics material, or any other suitable material.
  • the flaps may be attached to the top frame by hinges or straps, or any other suitable means that allows the flaps to pivot.
  • Flaps 3 may be folded into the plane of top part 2 for storage and transportation. When in use, the flaps may be folded out such that they are substantially orthogonal to the plane of the top part of the frame.
  • Flaps 3 comprise fence attachment parts 4, which provide means for attaching the ballast box to fence supports 5.
  • said fence attachment parts are substantially rectangular plates extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the flap. Said plates comprise substantially circular holes through which fence supports may pass and may be clamped to. Said fence attachment parts may comprise a screw clamp, a hole or any other suitable means.
  • each flap comprises two fence attachment parts. It will of course be recognised that the side parts of the frame need not be in the form of flaps; for example, an open framework may be used. The side parts may also be on three or four sides, not just two.
  • the ballast box may of course be a different shape.
  • Flexible container generally corresponds to the shape of the frame part.
  • flexible container 6 is box-shaped and comprises openings 7 corresponding to attachment parts 4.
  • two opposing ends of the flexible container each comprise two openings to correspond with the two fence attachment parts on each flap.
  • a single opening is provided to correspond with a single fence attachment part.
  • the flexible container may be made of a flexible plastic sheet material, a textile, a fabric, a building sack material, or any other suitable material.
  • the flexible container may optionally comprise attachment means (not shown) so as to attach the container to the top part 2 of frame 1.
  • attachment means maintains 20 the flexible container in position in relation to the frame.
  • the container and/or the frame may also optionally comprise handles such that the ballast box may be moved easily.
  • handles 8 are illustrated. Said handles are attached to the flexible container and pass through slots (not shown) in the top frame. 5 In use, when the ballast box is assembled, the frame 1 sits inside the flexible container 6, with the fence attachment parts protruding through openings 7.
  • ballast box is placed in the position where it is desired to be used and filled or part-filled with an aggregate such as sand or gravel to weigh the box down.
  • aggregate such as sand or gravel to weigh the box down.
  • the 0 aggregate is held within the ballast box by flaps 3 and the sides of the container. The weight of the aggregate pushes flaps 3 outwards against the corresponding sides of the container.
  • fence supports 5 may then be attached to the fence attachment parts of the box and fence erected as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7.
  • ballast box As can be seen in Figure 9, the use of the ballast box according to the present invention is not limited o fences; the ballast boxes may equally be used to support a sign 9, and a variety of other objects and structures.
  • the ballast box has several advantages over the prior art.
  • the box is lightweight owing to being constructed of a framework and a flexible container.
  • the surface upon which the box is placed need not be flat for the ballast box to be stable owing to the flexible nature of the base of the box.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)
  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)

Abstract

A ballast box comprising a frame and a flexible container; the container is made of a sheet material and the frame is collapsible.

Description

Improvements in or relating to ballast boxes
The present invention relates to ballast boxes.
Temporary hoardings and fences are often erected around building sites, or other enclosures, to prevent intruders gaining access, and to protect passers by from building work.
A typical hoarding or fence construction comprises a series of ballast elements attached to fence supports, said fence supports in turn attached to the fence panels.
The ballast elements are used to maintain the hoarding or fence in position and inhibit . toppling of the hoarding in strong winds. The ballast elements may either be solid blocks of concrete or a moulded plastics material, with a typical mass, for example, of
32kg.
GB2406105 discloses a hoarding construction comprising a number of troughs (or boxes) that may be filled with aggregate. Such an arrangement might be described as a ballast box.
Ballast boxes are supplied empty and when in use are normally filled with a ballast material, normally an aggregate such as sand or gravel.
However, the ballast boxes of GB2406105, have several drawbacks. Firstly, on uneven ground the ballast boxes may themselves be unstable, leading to an unstable hoarding structure. Furthermore, ballast boxes can be both bulky and heavy, making their use cumbersome and transport expensive.
The present invention seeks to address these issues.
According to the present invention there is provided a ballast box comprising a frame and flexible container.
Said flexible container may be made of a foldable textile sheet material, such as sacking, so that the container is collapsible Preferably said frame supports said flexible container.
Preferably said frame is collapsible.
Preferably said frame comprises a top part that comprises at least two substantially parallel sides. More preferably said top frame part is quadrilateral in shape. More preferably said top part is substantially rectangular in shape.
Preferably said frame comprises two side parts. Preferably a respective side part is attached to each of two substantially parallel sides of a top part. Preferably said side parts each comprise means of attachment to at least one fence support. Preferably said side parts each comprise means of attachment to two or more fence supports.
Preferably said side parts are flaps, pivotally attached to said parallel sides.
Preferably said flexible container is comprises means of attachment to the top part and/or side parts of said frame.
Preferably said flexible container comprises four sides and a bottom. Preferably when the ballast box is in use the flexible container surrounds said frame in a substantially box shaped arrangement.
Preferably said flexible container comprises openings through which the means of attachment to wall supports provided on the frame may protrude.
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a frame of a ballast box according to the present invention, with the flaps partially folded;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the frame of Figure 1 with the flaps fully unfolded; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the flexible container of a ballast box according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an assembled ballast box according to the present invention, comprising a frame and flexible container.
Figure 5 is a front perspective view of another ballast box according to the present invention in use; Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of the ballast box of Figure 5 in use;
Figure 7 is a rear perspective view of two of the ballast boxes according to the present invention supporting a fence panel;
Figure 8 is a rear perspective view of two ballast boxes according to the present invention supporting a rolled profile sheet; and Figure 9 is a rear perspective view of two ballast boxes according to the present invention supporting a sign.
Referring to the drawings, the frame 1 of a ballast box according to the present invention comprises a substantially rectangular top part 2, and two side parts in the form of opposed pivotable flaps 3 attached to opposite short sides of said top part. The top part of the frame need not be rectangular in shape, but it may be preferable to have at least two parallel sides in order that pivotable flaps may be used. The frame may be made of a metal, plastics material, or any other suitable material. The flaps may be attached to the top frame by hinges or straps, or any other suitable means that allows the flaps to pivot.
Flaps 3 may be folded into the plane of top part 2 for storage and transportation. When in use, the flaps may be folded out such that they are substantially orthogonal to the plane of the top part of the frame.
Flaps 3 comprise fence attachment parts 4, which provide means for attaching the ballast box to fence supports 5. In the present embodiment said fence attachment parts are substantially rectangular plates extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the flap. Said plates comprise substantially circular holes through which fence supports may pass and may be clamped to. Said fence attachment parts may comprise a screw clamp, a hole or any other suitable means. In the present embodiment each flap comprises two fence attachment parts. It will of course be recognised that the side parts of the frame need not be in the form of flaps; for example, an open framework may be used. The side parts may also be on three or four sides, not just two. The ballast box may of course be a different shape.
5 Flexible container generally corresponds to the shape of the frame part. In the present embodiment flexible container 6 is box-shaped and comprises openings 7 corresponding to attachment parts 4. In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 two opposing ends of the flexible container each comprise two openings to correspond with the two fence attachment parts on each flap. In the embodiment of Figures 5 to 7 10. a single opening is provided to correspond with a single fence attachment part.
It will of course be recognised that any number of fence attachment parts and corresponding openings may be used.
15 The flexible container may be made of a flexible plastic sheet material, a textile, a fabric, a building sack material, or any other suitable material.
The flexible container may optionally comprise attachment means (not shown) so as to attach the container to the top part 2 of frame 1. Such attachment means maintains 20 the flexible container in position in relation to the frame. The container and/or the frame may also optionally comprise handles such that the ballast box may be moved easily. In Figures 5-7 handles 8 are illustrated. Said handles are attached to the flexible container and pass through slots (not shown) in the top frame. 5 In use, when the ballast box is assembled, the frame 1 sits inside the flexible container 6, with the fence attachment parts protruding through openings 7.
The ballast box is placed in the position where it is desired to be used and filled or part-filled with an aggregate such as sand or gravel to weigh the box down. The 0 aggregate is held within the ballast box by flaps 3 and the sides of the container. The weight of the aggregate pushes flaps 3 outwards against the corresponding sides of the container. When in place, fence supports 5 may then be attached to the fence attachment parts of the box and fence erected as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7.
As can be seen in Figure 9, the use of the ballast box according to the present invention is not limited o fences; the ballast boxes may equally be used to support a sign 9, and a variety of other objects and structures.
The ballast box has several advantages over the prior art. The box is lightweight owing to being constructed of a framework and a flexible container. The surface upon which the box is placed need not be flat for the ballast box to be stable owing to the flexible nature of the base of the box. As the box is collapsible it may be stored and transported much more easily and cheaply than a rigid box.
The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are . possible without departing from the invention.

Claims

Claims:
1. A ballast box comprising a frame and flexible container.
2. The ballast box of claim 1 wherein the flexible container is made of a foldable sheet material.
3. The ballast box of claim 2 wherein said foldable sheet material is scking. .
4. The ballast box of any preceding claim wherein said frame supports said flexible container.
5. The ballast box of any preceding claim wherein said frame is collapsible.
6. The ballast box of any preceding claim wherein said frame comprises a top part that comprises at least two substantially parallel sides.
7. The ballast box of claim 6 wherein said top frame part is quadrilateral in shape.
8. The ballast box of claim 6 or 7 wherein said frame comprises two side parts.
9. The ballast box of claim 8 wherein a respective side part is attached to each of two substantially parallel sides of a top part.
10. The ballast box of claim 8 or 9 wherein said side parts each comprise means of attachment to at least one fence support.
11. The ballast box of claim 8 or 9 wherein said side parts each comprise means of attachment to two or more fence supports.
12. The ballast box of any of claims 8 to 10 wherein said side parts are flaps, pivotally attached to said parallel sides..
13. The ballast box of any of claims 8 to 12 wherein said flexible container comprises means of attachment to the top part and/or side parts of said frame.
14. The ballast box of any preceding claim wherein said flexible container comprises four sides and a bottom.
15. The ballast box of any preceding claim wherein when the ballast box is in use the flexible container surrounds said frame in a substantially box shaped arrangement.
16. The ballast box of any preceding claim wherein said flexible container comprises openings through which the means of attachment to wall supports provided on the frame may protrude.
PCT/GB2007/003008 2006-08-10 2007-08-08 Improvements in or relating to ballast boxes Ceased WO2008017836A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1003778A GB2464445B (en) 2006-08-10 2007-08-08 A Ballast box

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0615885.1A GB0615885D0 (en) 2006-08-10 2006-08-10 Improvements in or relating to ballast boxes
GB0615885.1 2006-08-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008017836A1 true WO2008017836A1 (en) 2008-02-14

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ID=37056129

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2007/003008 Ceased WO2008017836A1 (en) 2006-08-10 2007-08-08 Improvements in or relating to ballast boxes

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (2) GB0615885D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2008017836A1 (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2462354A (en) * 2008-08-05 2010-02-10 Oxford Plastic Sys Ltd Temporary barrier unit
EP2642046B1 (en) * 2012-03-21 2015-09-23 Rein, Stephane Fencing system
US9747811B2 (en) 2013-09-16 2017-08-29 Lion Group, Inc. Flame simulator with weighted base
WO2017220987A1 (en) * 2016-06-21 2017-12-28 Nexus Eco Holdings Ltd Anchors
GB2549288B (en) * 2016-04-11 2021-05-12 Link2 Ltd A foundation for equipment
US12503869B2 (en) * 2023-02-17 2025-12-23 TRACTEL Inc. U.S.A. Railing base for a safety railing structure, guardrails

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2493199A (en) * 2011-07-28 2013-01-30 C S Scaffold Contracts Ltd Anchor for bracing of fencing
GB2555756B (en) * 2016-05-05 2019-05-15 Cld Fencing Systems Llp Base for a fence assembly
GB2547287B (en) * 2016-05-05 2018-02-14 Cld Fencing Systems Llp Base for a fence assembly
GB2571909B (en) * 2018-01-26 2021-12-01 Rsbp Ltd Cubicle having emergency access

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4296693A (en) * 1979-02-08 1981-10-27 Archer Richard W Beach umbrella support
WO1998031899A1 (en) * 1997-01-17 1998-07-23 David Thomas Grant Portable fencing
EP1418276A2 (en) * 2002-11-07 2004-05-12 Quick Damm GmbH Dike element
GB2406105A (en) * 2003-09-16 2005-03-23 Richard Hall Hoarding construction

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4296693A (en) * 1979-02-08 1981-10-27 Archer Richard W Beach umbrella support
WO1998031899A1 (en) * 1997-01-17 1998-07-23 David Thomas Grant Portable fencing
EP1418276A2 (en) * 2002-11-07 2004-05-12 Quick Damm GmbH Dike element
GB2406105A (en) * 2003-09-16 2005-03-23 Richard Hall Hoarding construction

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2462354A (en) * 2008-08-05 2010-02-10 Oxford Plastic Sys Ltd Temporary barrier unit
GB2462354B (en) * 2008-08-05 2012-10-03 Oxford Plastic Sys Ltd Barrier
EP2642046B1 (en) * 2012-03-21 2015-09-23 Rein, Stephane Fencing system
US9747811B2 (en) 2013-09-16 2017-08-29 Lion Group, Inc. Flame simulator with weighted base
GB2549288B (en) * 2016-04-11 2021-05-12 Link2 Ltd A foundation for equipment
WO2017220987A1 (en) * 2016-06-21 2017-12-28 Nexus Eco Holdings Ltd Anchors
US12503869B2 (en) * 2023-02-17 2025-12-23 TRACTEL Inc. U.S.A. Railing base for a safety railing structure, guardrails

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2464445A (en) 2010-04-21
GB0615885D0 (en) 2006-09-20
GB2464445B (en) 2011-07-27
GB201003778D0 (en) 2010-04-21

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