Barrier connection system and connector for use therein

Abstract

A barrier connection system comprising at least one pair of connectors, each connector including: a mounting section for attachment to a barrier, the mounting section having inner and outer faces; first and second connector elements at respective ends of the mounting section; the first connector element including an inwardly extending flange that is spaced from the inner face of the mounting section to at least partially define a recess therebetween; the second connector element including an outwardly extending flange; the inwardly and outwardly extending flanges being dimensioned and orientated such that in use, the outwardly extending flange of each connector is receivable within the recess of the other connector.

1 . A barrier connection system comprising at least one pair of connectors, each connector including:
 a mounting section for attachment to a barrier, the mounting section having inner and outer faces;   first and second connector elements at respective ends of the mounting section;   the first connector element including an inwardly extending flange that is spaced from the inner face of the mounting section to at least partially define a recess therebetween;   the second connector element including an outwardly extending flange;   the inwardly and outwardly extending flanges being dimensioned and orientated such that in use, the outwardly extending flange of each connector is receivable within the recess of the other connector.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier connection system of  claim 1 , wherein each connector in the pair of connectors has the same configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The connector for use in the connection system of  claim 1 , the connector including:
 a mounting section for attachment to a barrier, the mounting section having inner and outer faces;   first and second connector elements at respective ends of the mounting section;   the first connector element including an inwardly extending flange that is spaced from the inner face of the mounting section to at least partially define a recess therebetween;   the second connector element including an outwardly extending flange;   the inwardly and outwardly extending flanges being dimensioned and orientated such that in use, the outwardly extending flange of the connector is receivable within the recess of another connector.   
     
     
         4 . The connector of  claim 3 , wherein the barrier is a roadway barrier. 
     
     
         5 . The connector of  claim 3 , wherein the outwardly extending flange of the second connector element is generally parallel to the inwardly extending flange of the first connector element. 
     
     
         6 . The connector of  claim 3 , wherein the outwardly extending flange comprises a male coupling member and the recess defined by the inwardly extending flange and the inner face of the mounting section comprises a female coupling member. 
     
     
         7 . The connector of  claim 6 , wherein the inwardly and outwardly extending flanges of respective connectors engage each other in use at two spaced apart areas of contact. 
     
     
         8 . The connector of  claim 3 , wherein the outwardly extending flange is spaced from the plane of the mounting section by a greater amount than the inwardly extending flange. 
     
     
         9 . The connector of  claim 8 , wherein respective webs extend between each of the outwardly and inwardly extending flanges and the mounting section and the web joining the outwardly extending flange and the mounting section is longer than the web between the inwardly extending flange and the mounting section. 
     
     
         10 . The connector of  claim 3 , having a unitary construction. 
     
     
         11 . A method of assembling a barrier, by connecting together a series of barrier units, including the steps of:
 (a) providing a plurality of barrier units, each barrier unit having a connector of  claim 3  attached to at least one end thereof, the connectors of adjacent barrier units being in a similar orientation with respect to their respective barrier units, and   (b) engaging the or each connector of each barrier unit with the connector of an adjacent barrier unit, by inserting the outwardly extending flange of said each connector into the recess of the connector of said adjacent barrier unit.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the connectors of adjacent barrier units are orientated at substantially 180° with respect to each other in the assembled barrier. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein step (b) includes vertically aligning the respective connectors of an adjacent pair of barrier units, then lowering one barrier unit into engagement with the other barrier unit. 
     
     
         14 . The barrier comprising two or more barrier units connected together using the connector system of  claim 1 .