AU2003235052A1 - Modification to Device for controlling access to accessways & limited areas & For Loading Dock Safety Barrier - Google Patents

Description

OKa E NT E RPR I SE S Direction Way "Portside" North Fremantle, West Perth 6159 Phone: (08) 9335 6226 Fax: (08) 9336 1669 Email: okal@ozzienet.net 18 August 03

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PATENT OF ADDITION TO OKal TM PAT. NO. 644 864/ 92 RETRACTABLE LOCK "UP" LOCK "DOWN" BOLLARD Mk 2 FOR VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND ACCESS CONTROL and too FOR LOADING DOCK SAFETY CONTROL BARRIER.

This Application Replacing Patent Application Id 28039 99 as now applied for withdrawal) The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me Applicant Eugene Patrick O'Callaghan Direction Way North Fremantle WA 6159 OKal Sentry Bollards-the only fully patented range of security vehicle movement control bollards in Australia -1- "Device for Controlling Access to Accessways and Limited Areas" Field of the Invention This invention relates to a retractable bollard device for controlling access to accessways including roadways or limited areas such as parking areas or loading docks. Retractable bollards are also used as security devices against vandalism such as in front of glass doors or windows of shop fronts.

This is an application for a patent of addition to our patent 644864 filed on 19 April 1991.

Background Art Bollard devices are known that are secured in a vertical orientation when in the operative position. Such bollards may be released and lowered to lie on the ground in a horizontal orientation when access to and from the accessway or limited area is required. An example of such a bollard device is covered by our patent 581950 filed on 24 December 1985.

However, in many situations it is preferable that the bollard is moved clear of the accessway or limited area rather than being left lying on the ground where it may cause a danger to pedestrians or vehicles.

Thus, in our Australian patent 644864 there is provided a bollard which is retractable into a casing in the ground. In this way, the bollard projects above the surface of the ground only when in the operative position, for example to prevent passage of a vehicle into the accessway or limited area. When not in use, the bollard may be stored below, and flush with, the surface of the accessway or limited area. This prevents hazards to pedestrians or vehicles, as well as preventing damage to the bollard. The streetscape aesthetics are maintained when the bollard is not is use since it is positioned below the ground and is not visible.

-2- This kind of retractable bollard is raised into its operative position by a key tool, a clutch key, which is inserted into a slot in the bollard member. In this way, the clutch key engages with a latching means to unlatch the bollard from its storage position to enable the bollard to be brought into the operative position where it is latched by operation of the key tool.

This kind of bollard device has many applications including for preventing vehicles from being driven into controlled parking areas as well as for security outside warehouse and retail outlets.

The present invention provides an alternative means of latching such a retractable bollard as well as providing an optional means for retaining the bollard securely in the operative position.

Disclosure of the Invention The present invention provides a retractable bollard device comprising: an outer casing; a retractable elongate barrier member slidably mounted for movement within the outer casing, the barrier member including a latching means for latching the barrier member in a storage position or an operative position, the latching means including a pair of opposed outwardly extending lug members adapted to be positioned on rotation of the barrier member in the casing in opposing first apertures in the casing when in the storage position, and in opposing second apertures in the casing when in the operative position, and wherein the outer casing and the barrier member are both tubular, the outer casing being of substantially square cross-section and the barrier member being of substantially circular cross-section.

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-3- Preferably, an upper end of the barrier member is provided with a top plate, the top plate including a slot into which a tool is inserted for rotating the barrier member within the outer casing.

In a preferred form, the latching means is a circular cam ring positioned adjacent a lower end of the barrier member. The cam ring may be held in position on the barrier member for example by welding of the ring to the outer surface of the barrier member.

The lug members of the cam ring are preferably diametrically opposed and adapted to be positioned in diametrically opposing void spaces between the casing and the barrier member when the barrier member is rotated and moved from the storage to the operative position, and from the operative to the storage position.

In a further form of the invention, the bollard device comprises a locking means movable between an unlocked first condition in the storage position and a locked second condition in the operative position, wherein the locking means includes a lock portion, an elongate member and a locking member, the lock portion positioned adjacent the upper end of the barrier member and the locking member being positioned adjacent the lower end of the barrier member, the longitudinal movement of the elongate member causing the lock portion to pivot between the first condition and the second condition, at least a portion of the locking member adapted to extend through a first opening in the casing when the locking means is in the second condition.

As will be noted, the operation of the elongate member is in accordance with the same linkage principle as embodied in our earlier patent 581950 of 1985.

Thus the bollard device may be provided with extra security by means of the locking means. When the device is in the operative position, the barrier member is secured by means of the latching means and may also be locked using the -4locking means. In this way, the device cannot be rotated in the casing by vandals, or accidentally rotated and lowered to the storage position.

The locking member is preferably in the form of a lug extending from a lower end of the elongate member.

The casing may further comprise a second opening opposed to the first opening so that the locking member may extend into either the first or the second opening as convenient depending on the particular orientation of the barrier member within the outer casing.

The first apertures (and similarly the second apertures) may be positioned on opposing sides of the casing and the first and second openings may be positioned on the other two opposing sides of the casing. This allows for ease of optional assembly of the barrier member within the casing.

Preferably the lock portion is a cam lock. The cam lock may be key operated. The cam lock may be positioned in a recess in the barrier member so that the barrier member may be freely moved to the storage position.

The barrier member may be provided with one or more spacer rings positioned on the outer surface to assist in smooth movement of the barrier member within the outer casing and to assist in transfer of force resistance in the event that the barrier member is hit.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of a specific embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure la is a longitudinal section of the bollard device from a first side with the barrier member retracted in the storage position; Figure lb is a longitudinal section of the bollard device from an adjacent second side with the barrier member retracted in the storage position; Figure 2a is a longitudinal section of the bollard device from a first side with the barrier member in the operative position; Figure 2b is a longitudinal section of the bollard device from an adjacent second side with the barrier member in an operative position; Figure 3 is a plan view of the top plate of the bollard device; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the cam ring in a latched position in the storage position; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the cam ring in an unlatched position; Figure 6 is an elevation view of a tool used to operate the bollard device; and Figure 7 is a plan view of a tool to operate the bollard device.

Best Mode(s) for Carrying out the Invention Referring now to the drawings, the device of the invention comprises a retractable bollard device generally represented by the numeral 10 comprising an outer casing 12 and a retractable barrier member 14 slidably mounted for movement within the outer casing 12.

The outer casing 12 and the barrier member 14 are both tubular, the outer casing 12 being of substantially square cross-section and the barrier member 14 being of substantially circular cross-section.

The upper end 16 of the bollard member is provided with a top plate 18, the top plate 18 including a slot 20 into which a tool 22 is inserted for rotating the barrier member 14 within the outer casing 12. The top plate 18 is attached to the barrier member by heavy duty rivets 24. The top plate 18 is positioned flush with ground surface.

-6- The bollard device includes a latching means in the form of a circular cam ring 26 at the lower end 29 of the barrier member 14 for latching the barrier member in a storage position or an operative position.

The cam ring 26 includes a pair of opposed outwardly extending lug members 28 that are positioned on rotation of the barrier member 14 in the casing 12 in opposing first apertures 30 in the casing 12 when in the storage position as seen in Figures 1 and 4. The lug members 28 are positioned in opposing second apertures 32 in the casing 12 when the bollard device is in the operative position as seen in Figure 2a. The lug members 28 are located in either set of diametrically opposed spaces 31 between the barrier member 14 and the casing 12 when the barrier member 14 is moved from the storage to the operative position, or from the operative to the storage position (as shown in Figure The casing 12 is provided with covers 34 positioned over the first and second apertures to prevent ingress of dirt into the casing 12 (as shown in Figure 4 in relation to first apertures 30 but not shown in Figures 1 and 2).

The cam ring 26 is welded onto the outer surface of the barrier member 14.

The bollard device 10 is provided with a rubber buffer portion 36 at the lower end of the casing 12.

A spacer ring 38 is provided on the barrier member 14 to assist in the smooth movement of the barrier member 14 in the casing 12, and to provide force transfer when in the operative position. One spacer ring is shown in the Figures but the barrier member could of course be provided with more than one such spacer ring, for example in the case of a large bollard device.

The bollard device also includes a locking means 40 recessed in the barrier member 14. The locking means 40 is movable between an unlocked first condition in the storage position and a locked second condition in the operative position.

The locking means 40 includes a lock portion in the form of a cam lock 42, an elongate member 44 and a pivoting locking member in the form of a lug 46 extending from the lower end of the elongate member 44. The cam lock 42 is positioned adjacent the upper end 16 of the bollard member 14 and is operated by means of a key 43. The lug 46 is positioned adjacent the lower end 29 of the barrier member 14. When a key is placed in the cam lock 42, the longitudinal movement of the elongate member 44 causes the lug 46 to pivot between the first condition and the second condition, a portion of the locking member extending through a first opening 48 in the casing 12 when the locking means is in the second condition.

The casing 12 further comprises a second opening 50 opposed to the first opening 48 so that the lug 46 may extend into either the first or the second opening when the locking means is in the locked condition. Whilst not shown in the drawings, the first and second openings 48 and 50 are positioned on one set of opposing sides of the casing 12 and the first and second apertures 30 and 32 for housing the lugs of the cam ring are positioned on the other two opposing sides of the casing.

The first opening 48 and the second opening 50 may be provided with cover means (not shown in the Figures) to prevent the ingress of dirt into the casing.

The tool 22 is used to move the bollard device between an operative and a stored position.

The tool 22 has a handle portion 52 designed with a grip and connected to a plate portion 54 angled at its lower end. The angled portion 54 is positioned in key slot of top plate 18 to engage with and support the top plate 18 and barrier member 14 during movement between operative and storage positions.

To lift the barrier member 14 from a storage to an operative position, the tool 22 is held in the hand and the barrier member 14 is rotated so that the lug members 28 move out of the first apertures 30 into the spaces 31. The barrier member 14 may -8then be raised using the tool 22 until the barrier member 14 is at a height so that the lug members 28 may be aligned with the second apertures 32.

The barrier member 14 is then rotated using the tool 22 so that the lug members 28 are positioned in the second apertures 32 to retain the bollard device 10 in the operative position. A similar operation may be used to lower the bollard device from the operative to the storage position.

When the bollard device is in the operative position, for extra security the key 43 may be placed in the cam lock 42 and rotated so that at least part of the lug 46 moves into the opening 48 (or into the opening 50 as suitable). In this way, the barrier member 14 is prevented from rotation in the casing 12 unless a user has the correct key.

Modifications and variations of the retractable bollard of the present invention may be made.

The barrier member may be constructed of a flexible, resilient or elastic polymeric or rubber material depending on the nature of use of the bollard device.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments described.

Throughout the specification, unless the context 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 (13)

1. A retractable bollard device comprising: an outer casing; a retractable barrier member slidably mounted for movement within the outer casing, the barrier member including a latching means for latching the barrier member in a storage position or an operative position, the latching means including a pair of opposed outwardly extending lug members adapted to be positioned on rotation of the barrier member in the casing in opposing first apertures in the casing when in the storage position, and in opposing second apertures in the casing when in the operative position, and wherein the outer casing and the barrier member are both tubular, the outer casing being of substantially square cross-section and the barrier member being of substantially circular cross-section.

2. A retractable bollard device according to claim 1 wherein an upper end of the barrier member is provided with a top plate, the top plate including a slot into which a tool is inserted for rotating the barrier member within the outer casing.

3. A retractable bollard device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the latching means is a circular cam ring positioned adjacent a lower end of the barrier member.

4. A retractable bollard device according to claim 3 wherein the lug members of the cam ring are diametrically opposed and adapted to be positioned in diametrically opposing spaces between the casing and the barrier member when the barrier member is rotated and moved from the storage to the operative position, and from the operative to the storage position.

A retractable bollard device according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a locking means movable between an unlocked first condition in the storage position and a locked second condition in the operative position, wherein the locking means includes a lock portion, an elongate member and a locking member, the lock portion positioned adjacent the upper end of the barrier member and the locking member being positioned adjacent the lower end of the barrier member, the longitudinal movement of the elongate member causing the lock portion to pivot between the first condition and the second condition, at least a portion of the locking member adapted to extend through a first opening in the casing when the locking means is in the second condition.

6. A retractable bollard device according to claim 5 wherein the locking member is in the form of a lug extending from a lower end of the elongate member.

7. A retractable bollard device according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the casing further comprises a second opening opposed to the first opening so that the locking member may extend into either the first or the second opening.

8. A retractable bollard device according to claim 7, wherein the first and second apertures are positioned on opposing sides of the casing and the first and second openings are positioned on the other two opposing sides of the casing.

9. A retractable bollard device according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the lock portion is a cam lock.

10. A retractable bollard device according to claim 9 wherein the cam lock is key operated. -11

11. A retractable bollard device according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the cam lock is positioned in a recess in the barrier member.

12. A retractable bollard device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the barrier member further comprises one or more spacer rings positioned on the outer surface of the barrier member to assist in movement of the barrier member within the outer casing.

13. A retractable bollard device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.