Access barrier, related devices and related methods

1. An access control device, comprising:

a primary access barrier configured to move between a closed position and an open position, wherein the primary access barrier is configured to extend into an access passage of the access control device to prevent access through the access passage when in the closed position and is configured to move away from the access passage to permit access through the access passage when in an open position, wherein the access passage is defined between parallel first and second trunk portions, the first trunk portion having a first width and the second trunk portion having a second width, each of the first and second widths being uniform along an entire length and height of the respective first and second trunk portions, wherein at least one of the first and second trunk portions is configured to house the primary access barrier within at least one of the respective first and second widths, when the primary access barrier is in the open position;

an entry barrier positionable in the access passage of the access control device on a first side of the primary access barrier; and

an exit barrier positionable in the access passage of the access control device on a second side of the primary access barrier opposite the first side;

wherein the entry barrier and the exit barrier each have a height less than a height of the primary access barrier.

2. The access control device of claim 1 , wherein the primary access barrier is configured to prevent a user from straddling the primary access barrier.

3. The access control device of claim 1 , wherein the primary access barrier substantially fills a width of the access passage when in the closed position and substantially moves out of the width of the access passage in the open position.

4. The access control device of claim 1 , wherein the access control device further comprises a validation device accessible to a user.

5. The access control device of claim 4 , wherein one or both of the first and second trunk portions define, at least in part, a width of the access passage, and wherein the validation device is in one of the first and second trunk portions of the access control device.

6. The access control device of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the entry barrier and the exit barrier is configured to retract into one of the first and second trunk portions.

7. The access control device of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first and second trunk portions comprises a second height approximately equal to one or both of the entry barrier height and the exit barrier height.

8. The access control device of claim 1 , wherein the entry and exit barriers have a same height.

9. The access control device of claim 1 , wherein the primary access barrier has a first configuration and at least one of the entry barrier and the exit barrier has a second configuration different from the first configuration.

10. The access control device of claim 1 , wherein the primary access barrier comprises one or more pivoting doors.

11. The access control device of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the entry barrier and the exit barrier comprises one or more telescoping fan-shaped barriers.

12. The access control device of claim 10 , wherein the primary access barrier comprises a first pivoting door configured to pivot into a first housing within the first width of the first trunk portion and a second pivoting door configured to pivot into a second housing within the second width of the second housing.

13. The access control device of claim 12 , wherein the first housing is configured to fully receive a thickness of the first pivoting door and the second housing is configured to fully receive a thickness of the second pivoting door.

14. A method of granting access to a restricted area through an access control device with an access passage defined between parallel first and second trunk portions, the first trunk portion having a first width and the second trunk portion having a second width, the method comprising:

permitting a user passage beyond an entry barrier positioned at an entry to the access control device to provide the user access to an access passage in which a closed primary access barrier is positioned, each of the first and second widths being uniform along an entire length and height of the respective first and second trunk portions, and the primary access barrier having a height greater than a height of the entry barrier;

subsequent to a user entering the access passage in which the closed primary access barrier is positioned, retracting the primary access barrier into a housing within at least one of the first and second trunk portions to allow the user to proceed beyond the primary access barrier in the access passage;

closing an exit barrier positioned at an exit of the access passage beyond the primary access barrier, the exit barrier having a height less than the primary access barrier height;

closing the entry barrier to enclose the user within the access passage; and

opening the exit barrier to permit the user to exit the access passage into the restricted wherein closing the exit barrier occurs prior to the retracting the primary access barrier.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein closing the entry barrier occurs subsequent to retracting the primary access barrier.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein permitting a user passage through the entry barrier comprises maintaining the entry barrier in an open position while a user is not within the access passage.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising maintaining the exit barrier in an open position when a user is not within the access passage.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising activating an entry request device.

19. An access control system, comprising:

at least one first access lane, the at least one first access lane having a width defined by first and second trunk portions, wherein the first and second trunk portions extend along a length of the at least one first access lane; and

at least one second access lane, the at least one second access lane being adjacent to the at least one first access lane and having a width defined by the second trunk portion and a third trunk portion, wherein the second trunk portion has a first width and the third trunk portion has a second width, each of the first and second widths being uniform along an entire length and height of the respective second and third trunk portions

wherein the at least one second access lane comprises:

a primary access barrier configured to block access through the at least one second access lane in a closed position and allow passage through the at least one second access lane in an open position, the primary access barrier having a first height and being configured to move into a housing within at least one of the second and third trunk portions when in the open position; and

two secondary access barriers positioned in the at least one second access lane, each on a different side of the primary access barrier, the secondary access barriers each having a second height less than the first height and being configured to at least partially retract into the second trunk portion.

20. The access control system of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the two secondary access barriers comprises a fan-shaped barrier.

21. The access control system of claim 19 , wherein one of the secondary access barriers comprises an entry barrier positioned on a first side of the primary access barrier and the other of the two secondary access barriers comprises an exit barrier positioned on a second side of the primary access barrier opposite the first side.

22. The access control system of claim 19 , further comprising a first validation device associated with the at least one first access lane, wherein the first validation device is located in the second trunk portion.

23. The access control system of claim 22 , further comprising a second validation device, wherein the second validation device is located in the third trunk portion.

24. The access control system of claim 19 , wherein the first, second, and third trunk portions have substantially a same width.

25. The access control system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one first access lane includes three first access lanes.