Blocking element, access control device and system
The present disclosure relates to the field of access control. In particular, the present disclosure relates to reversibly blocking and releasing passage through a passageway for people, the vehicle or the like. Further in particular, the present disclosure relates to a blocking element, access control device access control system. Accordingly, there is provided a blocking element ( 110 ) for selectively blocking a passageway ( 712 ), comprising at least four substantially inflexible sections ( 112 ), and at least three substantially flexible sections ( 114 ), wherein each substantially flexible section is arranged between and/or connecting two substantially inflexible sections, wherein the substantially flexible sections are arranged such that two particular substantially inflexible sections arranged adjacent to a particular flexible section, are adapted to be rotatable relative to one another, wherein the two outermost substantially inflexible sections are arranged as end sections ( 116 ) including a first end section and a second end section, and wherein the end sections are adapted for attaching the blocking element to an actuation mechanism ( 610 ).
1 . A blocking element for selectively blocking a passageway, comprising:
at least four substantially inflexible sections; and
at least three substantially flexible sections;
wherein the blocking element is formed as a one-piece element,
wherein each substantially flexible section is arranged between and/or connecting two substantially inflexible sections,
wherein the at least three substantially flexible sections are arranged such that two particular substantially inflexible sections arranged adjacent to a particular flexible section, are adapted to be rotatable relative to one another,
wherein two outermost substantially inflexible sections are arranged as end sections including a first end section and a second end section, and
wherein the end sections are adapted for attaching the blocking element to an actuation mechanism.
2 . The blocking element of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the at least four substantially inflexible sections and the at least three substantially flexible sections are made of at least one material including at least one of plastic, polymer, textile, polyurethane, metal, aluminium, steel, composite material, fiber composite material, or carbon fiber composite material.
3 . The blocking element of claim 1 , wherein at least the first end section and the second end section are arranged as a lever element.
4 . The blocking element of claim 1 , wherein the at least three substantially flexible sections are arranged as hinge elements and/or rotatable joints.
5 . The blocking element of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the at least four substantially inflexible sections comprise a substantially non-flat or triangular, shape;
the at least three substantially flexible sections comprise a substantially flat shape; or
the at least three substantially flexible sections comprise a reduced solidity of its material compared to the at least four substantially inflexible sections that renders the at least three substantially flexible sections more flexible than the at least four substantially inflexible sections.
6 . The blocking element of claim 1 , wherein the blocking element is part of an access control device, the access control device comprising:
the actuation mechanism operatively connected with the blocking element,
wherein the actuation mechanism is arranged to actuate the blocking element,
wherein the blocking element, when actuated by the actuation mechanism is adapted to transition between a blocking state and a non-blocking state,
wherein in the blocking state, the blocking element is arranged at least partly introduced in a passageway, and
wherein in the non-blocking state, the blocking element is arranged at least partly removed from the passageway.
7 . The blocking element of claim 6 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises:
a first rotatable element; and
a second rotatable element,
wherein rotational axes of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element are substantially parallel,
wherein each of the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element is operatively connected with one end section of the blocking element,
wherein the actuation mechanism is arranged, when actuating the blocking element, to rotate the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element in opposite directions, and
wherein by rotating the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element, the blocking element is adapted to transition between the blocking state and the non-blocking state.
8 . The blocking element of claim 7 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a single actuator element arranged to actuate both the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element, comprising a gearing arrangement to provide a counter rotation of the first rotatable element relative to the second rotatable element.
9 . The blocking element of claim 8 , wherein the single actuator element is one of an electric actuator element, an electromagnetic actuator element, a hydraulic actuator element and a pneumatic actuator element.
10 . The blocking element of claim 7 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises two actuator elements arranged to independently actuate the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element.
11 . The blocking element of claim 6 , wherein the blocking element, in the non-blocking state, is arranged substantially flat.
12 . The blocking element of claim 11 , wherein the at least four substantially inflexible sections are arranged so that respective longitudinal extensions of the at least four substantially inflexible sections are substantially parallel.
13 . The blocking element of claim 6 , wherein in the non-blocking state subsequent substantially inflexible sections are arranged so to form angle between longitudinal extensions of the subsequent substantially inflexible sections of one of 0° to 5°, 0° to 10°, 0° to 15°, 0° to 20°, 0° to 30°, 175° to 185°, 170° to 190°, 160° to 200°, 355° to 360°, 350° to 360°, 345° to 360°, 340° to 360°, and 330° to 360°.
14 . The blocking element of claim 6 , further comprising:
a housing for accommodating at least one element of the blocking element, the actuation mechanism, an actuator element and a rotatable element; and
a substantially static barrier element,
wherein the housing and the substantially static barrier element define the passageway.
15 . The blocking element of claim 6 , wherein the blocking element, in the blocking state, is arranged non-flat.
16 . The blocking element of claim 15 , wherein the at least four substantially inflexible sections are arranged so that at least some respective longitudinal extensions of the at least four substantially inflexible sections are non-parallel.
17 . The blocking element of claim 15 , wherein the blocking element, in the blocking state, assumes a shape including a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a kite, a parallelogram, or a trapezoid.
18 . The blocking element of claim 6 , wherein in the blocking state subsequent substantially inflexible sections are arranged so to form angle between longitudinal extensions of the subsequent substantially inflexible sections of one of 85° to 95°, 80° to 90°, 90° to 100°, 80° to 100°, 70° to 90°, 75° to 105°, 70° to 110°, 65° to 115°, and 60° to 120°.