AU752762B2

AU752762B2 - Post assembly

Info

Publication number: AU752762B2
Application number: AU80848/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Donald George Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-08-20
Filing date: 1998-08-20
Publication date: 2002-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2018-08-20
Also published as: AU8084898A

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Donald George Taylor and Peter Scott Robinson Donald George Taylor Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor Address for service is: WRAY ASSOCIATES 239 Adelaide Terrace Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: Post Assembly Details of Associated Provisional Application No(s): P08689 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:ii -2- The present invention relates to a post assembly.

The invention has been devised particularly, although not solely, for use as a bollard.

Bollards are typically used as barriers or to control traffic flow, such as pedestrian traffic or vehicular traffic. Typically, a bollard comprises a rigid post embedded in, or otherwise anchored to, the ground.

The rigid nature of conventional bollards presents difficulties. One such problem relates to the damage that such bollards can inflict on objects which collide with the bollards. Another problem is the damage that can be done to the bollard, or the ground structure to which the bollard is anchored, in a collision.

It would be advantageous to provide a bollard which has some resilient flexibility so as to cushion impacts on it.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a post assembly comprising a resiliently flexible base structure adapted to be anchored or otherwise fastened to 15 a support surface such as the ground, a post member adapted to be fitted onto the base structure with a portion of the base structure accommodated within a recess in the post member, and means for causing the base structure to laterally expand to frictionally grip the post member so as to retain the post member in position on the base structure.

The base structure may comprise a base member formed of resiliently flexible material such as polyurethane.

Means may be provided for compressing the resiliently flexible base member in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal extent of the post member thereby to cause radial expansion of the base member for gripping the post member.

-3- The means for compressing the base member may comprise a shaft extending through the base member longitudinally with respect to the post member, one end of the shaft being fixed in relation to the ground, and a compression member being selectively moveable axially along the shaft for longitudinally compressing the base member.

The compression member may comprise a plate slidably positioned on the shaft and urged into contact with the base member by means of a nut threadably engaged on the shaft, whereby turning of the nut on the shaft causes axial movement of the compression member along the shaft.

The post member may be of tubular construction, the interior of the tubular member providing the recess.

A closure may be provided for selectively closing the upper end of the post member. The closure may comprise a plug formed of resiliently flexible material such as polyurethane having a portion adapted to be releasably received in the tubular post member.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of two specific embodiments thereof the first of which is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of two post assemblies, each providing a bollard according to the first embodiment; Figure 2 is an exploded view of one of the bollards; and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of one of the bollards.

Referring to the drawings, there are shown two post assemblies 11 each acting as a bollard which is anchored to the ground 13.

-4- Each bollard 11 comprises a base structure 15, a post member 17 and a closure 19.

The base structure 15 comprises a base member 21 formed of a body of resiliently flexible material such as polyurethane. The base member 21 is of generally cylindrical construction, having a cylindrical side wall 23 extending between a top face 25 and a bottom face 27. A shoulder 29 is provided in the cylindrical side wall 23 adjacent the bottom face 27.

The base member 21 is anchored to the ground 13 with the bottom face 27 in contact with the ground by way of anchoring means 31 comprising a shaft 33 10 embedded in and projecting upwardly from the ground 13. The shaft 33 has a threaded section 35 at the lower end thereof which is threadedly engaged in an anchoring sleeve 37 which is embedded into the ground. Typically, the anchoring sleeve 37 is fixed in concrete in the ground.

The shaft 33 extends centrally through a cavity 39 extending axially through the body 21.

The upper end section of the shaft 33 extends beyond the upper face 25 of the body 21 and receives a compression member 41 in the form of a plate which °..rests on the upper face 25. A nut 43 is threadably engaged with the upper end of the shaft 33. With this arrangement, the plate 41 can be caused to move axially along the shaft 33 by turning the nut 43, the direction of movement being determined by the direction of rotation of the nut 43 on the shaft. This allows the base member 21 to be longitudinally compressed between the end faces 25, 27 thereby causing radial expansion of the cylindrical side wall 23, the purpose of which will become apparent later.

The cylindrical side wall 23 has two sections being an upper section 45 and a lower section 47 separated by the shoulder 29.

The post member 17 comprises a cylindrical tube formed of rigid material which is typically metal but could be of any suitable construction such as plastics material.

The post member 17 has an open lower end 51 which is adapted to be fitted onto the upper section 45 of the cylindrical side wall 23 of the body 21, with the lower end of the post member resting on the shoulder 29, as best seen in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The internal diameter of the post member 17 and the external diameter of the upper section 45 of the cylindrical side wall 23 (when the base member 21 is in an uncompressed state) are relatively dimensioned so that the post member is a sliding fit onto the side wall upper section 45. Once the post member 17 is in this position, the nut 43 can be rotated so as to move axially along the shaft 33 in the 10 downward direction thereby causing the end faces 25 and 27 of the base member 21 to be compressed between the plate 41 and the ground surface. This compression causes radial expansion of the side wall upper section 45 thereby to S. clampingly retain the post member 17 on the base member 21.

.The nut 43 is turned once the post member 17 is in position on the base member 15 21 as shown in Figure 3 by way of an appropriate tool inserted downwardly through the interior of the post member through the open upper end 53 thereof. A :"suitable tool would be a box spanner or socket head on an appropriate extension piece.

The closure 19 is provided for releasably closing the upper end 53 of the post member 17 so as to exclude unwanted matter such as moisture and debris. The closure 19 can be selectively removed as required to provide access to the nut 43.

In a second embodiment (not shown in the drawings) the internal diameter of the post member 17 and the external diameter of the upper section 45 of the cylindrical side wall 23 (when the base member 21 is in an uncompressed state) are relatively dimensioned so that the post member is a sliding fit onto the side wall upper section 45. The post member 17 when placed in this position sufficiently grips the upper side wall 45 of the cylindrical side wall 23 so that when post member 17 is rotated about a longitudinal axis, the post member 17 -6and the base member 21 rotate simultaneously. This rotation in turn causes the nut 43 to rotate so as to move axially along the shaft 33 in the downward direction thereby causing the end faces 25 and 27 of the base member 21 to be compressed between the plate 41 and the ground surface. This compression causes radial expansion of the side wall upper section 45 thereby to clampingly retain the post member 17 on the base member 21.

Post member 17 may be rotated manually or by way of an appropriate tool which grips the external wall of post member 17.

Post member 17 may be removed from the base member 21 by rotating post 10 member 17 in a direction opposite to that which it was rotated for clampingly retaining it on the base member 21.

The bollard according to the two embodiments described above has advantages over conventional rigid bollards. The resiliently flexible base member 21 provides a flexible connection between the ground and the post member 17 and therefore provides for some cushioning of impacts on the bollard. Accordingly, the bollard is less likely to be damaged. In the event that damage is done to the bollard, it is likely to be on the post member 17 which is exposed to traffic conditions. In such a case, the damaged post member 17 can be easily removed and replaced as necessary.

Because of the cushioning provided by the resiliently flexible base member 21, the surrounding ground structure to which the bollard is anchored is also less likely to be damaged in the event of an impact on the bollard.

The bollard according to each embodiment is simple to install. All that is necessary is to anchor the shaft 33 to the ground in any appropriate manner and then fit the remaining components in position.

While the bollard according to each embodiment has been described using the shaft 33 anchored to the ground by way of a sleeve 37 embedded in concrete, it should be appreciated that any other means may be provided for anchoring the -7shaft to the ground. For example, the shaft may be mounted on a base plate which is bolted onto the ground.

From the foregoing, it is evident that each of the present embodiments provide a simple yet highly effective bollard which has some resistance to damage on impact owing to its cushioning characteristics and which can be readily repaired in the event of damage.

The closure 19 in the second embodiment is formed integrally with the upper end 53 of the post member 17. Unlike the first embodiment the closure 19 is not .;orequired to be removed to provide access to the nut 43.

S 10 While the invention has been described in relation to a bollard, it should be understood that a post assembly according to the embodiment may have .0 applications other than bollards. For example, a post member according to the embodiment may be used to support a sign or display.

Throughout this specification (including the claims if present), unless the context 15 requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

1. A post assembly comprising a resiliently flexible base structure adapted to be anchored or otherwise fastened to a support surface such as the ground, a post member adapted to be fitted onto the base structure with a portion of the base structure accommodated within a recess in the post member, and means for causing the base structure to laterally expand to frictionally grip the post member so as to retain the post member in position on the base structure.

2. A post assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base structure comprises a base member formed of resiliently flexible material. 10

3. A post assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 comprising means for compressing the resiliently flexible base member in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal extent of the post member thereby to cause radial expansion of the base member for gripping the post member.

4. A post assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means for compressing the base member comprises a shaft extending through the base member longitudinally with respect to the post member, one end of the shaft being fixed in relation to the ground, and a compression member being selectively moveable axially along the shaft for longitudinally compressing the base member.

5. A post assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the compression member comprises a plate slidably positioned on the shaft and urged into contact with the base by means of a nut threadably engaged on the shaft, whereby turning of the nut on the shaft causes axial movement of the compression member along the shaft.

6. A post assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the post member is of tubular construction, the interior of the tubular member providing the recess. -9-

7. A post assembly as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a closure for selectively closing the upper end of the post member, the closure comprising a plug formed of resiliently flexible material having a portion adapted to be releasably received in the tubular post member.

8. A post assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this TWENTIETH day of AUGUST 1998. Donald George Taylor and Peter Scott Robinson Applicants Wray Associates Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant 0