Barrier and barrier post therefor

Abstract

A barrier including a series of barrier posts arranged relative to one another to control the movement of people, animals and motor vehicles. The barrier herein disclosed has particular application for use at a golf course. A first end of a containment belt is attached to a spring that is located within a spring housing carried by a first barrier post. The opposite end of the containment belt has a tab to be releasably attached to a hook which projects from an adjacent barrier post so that the containment belt extends between the first and adjacent barrier posts. In one embodiment, the spring housing is located inside the first barrier post. In another embodiment, the spring housing is detachably connected to the barrier post.

1 . A barrier to restrict the movement therepast of people, animals and motorized vehicles, said barrier comprising a containment belt having first and opposite ends and at least first and second barrier posts, each of said first and second barrier posts having a body, the first end of said containment belt extending inwardly of the body of said first barrier post and the opposite end of said containment belt extending outwardly of the body of said first barrier post and having a first attachment element, the body of each of said first and second barrier posts including a second attachment clement, such that the first attachment element at the opposite end of said containment belt is releasably attached to the second attachment element at the body of said second barrier post, whereby the containment belt runs between the bodies of said first and second barrier posts to establish said barrier therebetween. 
     
     
         2 . The barrier recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second barrier posts also has a mounting stake projecting downwardly from the body thereof to penetrate the ground and hold said body upright above the ground. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second barrier posts also has a spring located inside the body thereof, the first end of said containment belt connected to said spring inside the body of said first barrier post, such that said spring exerts a retracting force against said containment belt to urge said containment belt to move inwardly of the body of said first barrier post. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier recited in  claim 3 , wherein the spring of each one of said first and second barrier posts is surrounded by a spring housing located inside a respective one of the bodies of said barrier posts. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier recited in  claim 4 , wherein the body of each one of said first and second barrier posts has a cavity for receipt therewithin of said spring housing, whereby each spring housing and each spring surrounded by said spring housing is located inside a respective one of the bodies of said barrier posts. 
     
     
         6 . The barrier recited in  claim 4 , wherein the bodies of said first and second barrier posts and each of the spring housings located inside said bodies has a slot formed therein, the first end of said containment belt extending outwardly from the body of said first barrier post by way of the slot formed in the spring housing and the slot formed in the body of said first barrier post. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier recited in  claim 4 , wherein each of said first and second barrier posts also has an end cap attached to the body thereof so as to lie over top and cover the spring housing located inside said body. 
     
     
         8 . The barrier recited in  claim 7 , wherein the end caps attached to the respective bodies of said first and second barrier posts are detachable from said bodies to permit access to the spring housings located inside said bodies. 
     
     
         9 . The barrier recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment element at the opposite end of said containment belt is a locking tab having an opening therethrough, and the second attachment element at the body of said Second barrier post is a locking hook to be captured by and releasably attached to said locking tab at the opening therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . A barrier to restrict the movement therepast of people, animals and motorized vehicles, said barrier comprising at least first and second barrier posts and a containment belt having first and opposite ends, each of said first and second barrier posts having a body, the first end of said containment belt being coupled to said first barrier post at a location outside the body of said first barrier post, and the opposite end of said containment belt having a first attachment element, the body of each of said first and second barrier posts including a second attachment element, such that the first attachment element at the opposite end of said containment belt is releasably attached to the second attachment element at the body of said second barrier post, whereby said containment belt extends between the bodies of said first and second barrier posts to establish said barrier therebetween. 
     
     
         11 . The barrier recited in  claim 10 , wherein each of said first and second barrier posts also has a mounting stake projecting downwardly from the body thereof to penetrate the ground and hold said body upright above the ground. 
     
     
         12 . The barrier recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a spring housing and a spring located within and surrounded by said spring housing, the first end of said containment belt attached to said spring within said spring housing, and said spring housing connected to said first barrier post at the location outside the body of said first barrier post. 
     
     
         13 . The barrier recited in  claim 12 , wherein said spring housing is detachably connected to the body of said first barrier post at the location outside said body. 
     
     
         14 . The barrier recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a slide attached to said spring housing and a catch attached to the body of said first barrier post at the location outside said body, said slide moving into slidable and removable engagement with said catch, whereby said spring housing is detachably connected to the body of said first barrier post. 
     
     
         15 . The barrier recited in  claim 10 , wherein the first attachment element at the opposite end of said containment belt is a locking tab having an opening therethrough, and the second attachment element at the body of said second barrier post is a locking hook to be captured by and releasably attached to said locking tab at the opening therethrough.