AU2004100149A4 - Access control device - Google Patents

Description

27/82/2004 18:31 +613-9669-9886 PAGE 04/19

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT ACCESS CONTROL DEVICE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: COMS ID No: SMBI-00640135 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:39 Date 2004-02-27 27/82/2004 18:31 +613-9999-9886 PAGE 85/19

I

ACCESS CONTROL DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an access control device, for use in access control in carparks and the like. The invention consists of a bollard and an associated in-ground sleeve, the bollard being lockable In the sleeve and removable when required.

BACKGROUND

There is a great need today for means to control access of vehicles and people to designated areas on a temporary basis.

For example in car parking facilities, it is often required to prevent a particular designated parking spot from being used by other than a designated vehicle.

In areas where differing types of public events are carried on, it may on some occasions be important to prevent vehicles accessing a particular areas and on other occasions be desired to allow such access.

To meet such needs, various devices have been developed. Of these, some signs, barriers and the like operate merely by visually indicating to people that an area is not to be used, but can be easily removed by unauthorized persons. Other devices are intended to be secured in position and to be removable only by authorized persons. This class of access control device includes the present invention, which is a bollard able to be placed and locked in a suitable hole in a ground or floor surface, and to be unlocked and removed when required.

Existing bollards of this type have various problems. One bollard known to the applicant has spring-loaded lugs that are urged laterally outward from the bollard to locate in recesses in a matching in-ground socket, but the lugs can be released by inserting one or more flat objects into the gap between bollard and socket so that the bollard can be removed without unlocking its key mechanism. Others have bayonet arrangements for securing the bollard in an in-ground socket and so have to be moved downward and then rotated In a particular direction before being locked in position, and then, at removal have to be rotated again before being lifted out of the socket.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00640135 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:39 Date 2004-02-27 27/82/2004 1: 31 +613-9GG9-9886 PAGE 06/19 2 The bollard and associated sleeve of the present invention are simple and provides a useful alternative to earlier devices. No rotation is required to remove the bollard, and it does not have outwardly moving lugs that can be tampered with.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided an access control device Including an elongate bollard and a sleeve the sleeve being adapted to be secured at least partially below a ground or floor surface and to receive an end portion of said bollard in an internal space within said sleeve, wherein: said sleeve includes a member extending transversely across said internal space; said bollard Includes a retaining means which is pivotable between locking and unlocking positions and in said locking position lodges partly below said member to prevent withdrawal of said bollard from said sleeve and in said unlocking position is positioned to permit such withdrawal; and said bollard end portion is shaped to register with said member when positioned in said sleeve to align said retaining means for engagement with said member in said locking position.

The invention enables a bollard and accompanying in-ground sleeve to be made that are simple, robust and resistant to unauthorized removal.

Preferably, said bollard includes: a key-type locking mechanism operable by a user to pivot a lever within said bollard between first and second positions, and link means connecting said lever and said retaining means so that pivoting of said lever from said first position to said second position in turn pivots said retaining means from said locking position to said unlocking position For speed and convenience, It is desirable that boilards be able to be placed in position without having to use the key mechanism. Accordingly, in a jarticularly preferred embodiment, the invention provides an access control device, as above, further including biasing means for urging said retaining means toward said locking position and wherein said retaining means has a ramp surface that traverses said member during lowering of said bollard into COMS ID No: SMBI-00640135 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:39 Date 2004-02-27 27/02/2084 18:31 +613-9669-9886 PAGE 87/19 3 said sleeve so that said retaining means is first pivoted away from said locking position and then when said bollard is fully home in saidsleeve is pivoted back into said locking position by said biasing means. That is to say, the bollard has a latching action as it is placed in its sleeve.

Preferably in this case, said link means includes at least two connected parts that are movable relative to each other whereby said link means is of variable length and assumes a maximum length between its points of connection to said retaining means and said lever when said lever is in said second position but permits said lever to remain in said first position as said retaining means pivots during placement of said bollard In said sleeve. In one way of achieving this, said link means includes a length of chain.

in order that the invention may be better understood, it will now be described non-limitingly by reference to preferred embodiments as shown in the attached Figures, of which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first bollard according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the bollard shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bollard shown in Figure 2, the cross-section being taken at station "3 3" in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view (taken at the same plane as in Figure 3) of the bollard as shown in Figure 3 now secured within a cooperating inground socket; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the bollard and socket as shown In Figure 4.the cross-section being taken at station '5 5" in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a further bollard and co-operating socket according to the invention; Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a bollard 1 according to the invention. Figures 4 and 5 show the bollard I secured within a cooperating inground socket 2 that is itself secured below a ground or floor surface 3, for example by concreting.

Bollard 1 is shown in a longitudinal cross-sectional view in Figure 2, so that its internal details are visible. Bollard 1 has an elongate tubular body 4 formed of suitably strong and rigid pipe or tube, and is closed by a cap 5 at COMS ID No: SMBI-00640135 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:39 Date 2004-02-27 27/82/2804 18:31 +613-9669-9888 PAGE 08/19 4 one end that in use of bollard I is its top end. Cap 5 is preferably welded to to body 4 to prevent access to the letters interior. A lifting fixture 6 is secured to cap 5 for use as a handle or in case it is required to lift bollard 1 by securing to it a hook or sling of a lifting device (not shown).

Body 4 is of circular cross-section, but the invention is not limited to bollards of circular cross-section.

Body 4 is open at its lower end 7, and extending longitudinally upwards from bottom end 7 of body 4 are two diametrically opposed slots 8.

Figures 4 and 5 show in-ground socket 2. socket 2 Is set permanently into the ground or floor area where the bollard is to be used, for example by concreting in known manner, and includes a tubular socket body 9 in which body 4 of bollard I is slidingly receivable. Secured within body 9 (for example by welding) is a locking bar 10. Locking bar 10 extends diametrically across the interior of body 9. Socket 2 also has a lid 12 secured to the upper end of body 9 by a hinge 13. Hinge 13 in use is preferably located at the level of ground surface 3.

When bollard 1 is removed from socket 2, lid 12 falls by action of gravity over upper opening 14 of socket 2 so that no tripping hazard is presented by socket 2 when not in use. Lid 12 can be swung aside when bollard 1 is to be placed into socket 2.

When bollard 1 is to be secured within socket 2, its lower end 7 is positioned by a user in upper opening 14 of socket 2 and body 4 is then lowered into socket 2 so that locking bar 10 enters slots 8. When locking bar abuts the upper end of at least one of slots 8, bollard 1 can be lowered no further and cannot be rotated in socket 2.

SIn order to prevent unauthorized withdrawal of bollard 1 from socket 2, bollard 1 is provided with a pivoting catch 15 that in use engages locking bar Catch 15 is pivotably mounted on a pivot pin 18 that extends diametrically across the Interior of bollard body 4, and is generally hook-shaped so that when catch 15 is rotated as far as possible in one direction (anticlockwise as seen in Figure 4) with bollard I received in socket 2, one part 17 of catch lodges under locking bar 10. In this locked condition, bollard 10 cannot be lifted out of socket 2. However, when catch 15 is rotated In an unlocking direction (clockwise as seen in Figure part 17 ceases to be below locking COMS ID No: SMBI-00640135 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:39 Date 2004-02-27 27/082/28004 18:31 +613-9669-9886 PAGE 09/19 bar 10 and bollard I can be lifted from socket 2. Catch 15 is shown rotated to its unlocking position In Figure 3.

A cam lock 18 of known type is secured to body 4 near its upper end.

Cam lock 18 includes a body 19 and a key lock mechanism (not shown) and permits a lever 20, pivotably mounted to body 19, to be pivoted when a key (not shown) is inserted by a user into the key lock mechanism and turned.

Lever 20 pivots about a horizontal axis 22 substantially parallel to the length of the pivot pin 16 that supports catch A rod 23 is pivotably connected to lever 20 and to catch 15, and so enables catch 15 to be rotated in the locking or unlocking directions by rotation of lever 20. Thus, a person in possession of the correct key can lock bollard 1 in place within socket 2 by using the key to rotate lever 20 until part 17 of catch 15 is located below locking bar 10, and by turning key 21 the opposite way, can subsequently release catch 15 from locking bar 10 to unlock bollard 1.

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of bollard 1 and its cooperating socket 2, and Is Included to illustrate (without in any way limiting the scope of the Invention) the preferred mechanical arrangement. Locking bar 10 extends diametrically across body 9 of socket 2, and is typically welded in place (welds not shown). Catch 15 is located approximately centrally along pin 16, which extends transversely (although not along a diameter in the illustrated embodiment) across the interior of body 4 of bollard 1. Spacers 21 are provided on pin 16 to locate catch 15. Rod 23 passes through catch 15 and is shown as being secured with a cotter pin 11.

A further embodiment of the invention will now be described. This has the advantage over bollard 1 that it is not necessary to take use a key to lock it in position in socket 2. For convenience of description and illustration, a bollard 31 of this embodiment Is described that is interchangeable with bollard 1, and the description below concerns its use with socket 2. The view in Figure 6 of bollard 31 is directly comparable with that of bollard I in Figure 4, Bollard 31 is similar to bollard 1 in respect of its body 34, cap 35 and lifting fixture 36, cam lock 48 with body 49 and cam lock lever 50 which correspond to items 4, 5, 6, 18, 19 and 20 respectively, although body 34 is a little longer than body 4. Body 34 also has slots 38 the same as, and located COMS ID No: SMBI-00640135 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:39 Date 2004-02-27 27/82/20084 18:31 +613-9669-9886 PAGE 10/19 6 the same as, slots 8 of bollard 1. Bollard 31 also has a pivot pin 46 the same as pin 16, and mounted to body 34 in the same way as pivot pin 16 is mounted to body 4 of bollard 1. Pivotally mounted on pivot pin 46 Is a generally hook-shaped catch 45 that can be pivoted' about pin 46 into a locking position In which a part 47 of catch 45 locates below locking bar 10 to prevent bollard 31 from being withdrawn from socket 2.

Catch 45 differs from catch 15 of bollard 1, however, in having a surface 60 that, when catch 45 is pivoted to its locking position (shown in Figures 6 and is angled to the vertical direction and contacts locking bar as bollard 31 is lowered into socket 2 with locking bar 10 in slots 38. Catch is biased into the locking position (by means described below), and the effect of the angle of surface 60 is that catch 45 rides over locking bar 10 as bollard 31 is lowered. Thus catch 45 swings around pin 46 as bollard 31 is lowered over locking bar 10, and as locking bar 10 reaches the upper end of slots 8 swings back into the locking position, securing bollard 31 in socket 2.

In short, catch 45 has a latching action.

It has been found desirable to provide a member 70 that extends across the interior of the body 34 as shown in Figures 6 and 7 to prevent the catch 45 from rotating too far in the direction that appears in Figures 6 and 7 as anti-clockwise, adversely affecting the latching action of catch 45. Member extends parallel to pin 46.

Connecting catch 45 and lever 50 is a rod 53 (corresponding to rod 23 of bollard 1) and, between rod 53 and lever 50, a short length of chain 54.

Secured to rod 53 is a weight 55. With lever 50 in the locking position shown in Figure 6, the effect of the weight of rod 53 and weight 55 is to bias the catch 45 to the locking position (when bollard 31 is upright). If bollard 31 is lowered onto locking bar 10 with catch 45 in the locking position shown, pivoting of catch 45 to clear bar 10 causes some slackening of chain 54 until the bollard is lowered as far as it will go.

To release bollard 31 from socket 2, the camlock 48 is operated by its key to rotate lever 50. Chain 54 transmits this movement to rod 53, so that catch 45 rotates to an unlocking position clear of locking bar The slightly greater length of body 34 than the body 4 of bollard 1 is to ensure that catch 45 is wholly within body 34 to avoid damage to it.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00640135 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:39 Date 2004-02-27 27/02/200884 18:31 +613-9669-9886 PAGE 11/19 7 Many other variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, by using a rod 53 of suitable weight, the extra weight 55 may not be required.

Other possible variations could include the link numbered 53. Although a chain 54 is used to make the link 53 of variable length so that the latching action is not transmitted to the lever 50, and is very simple, It would also be possible to provide a link (not shown)n having two parts, one able to telescope on the other but having overall a maximum overall length that would be assumed when the lever 50 is turned to release latch 53. Still other possibilities will readily suggest themselves to the skilled reader.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00640135 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:39 Date 2004-02-27

Claims (4)

1. An access control device including an elongate bollard and a sleeve the sleeve being adapted to be secured at least partially below a ground or floor surface and to receive an end portion of said bollard in an internal space within said sleeve, wherein: said sleeve includes a member extending transversely across said internal space; said bollard includes a retaining means which is pivotable between locking and unlocking positions and in said locking position lodges partly below said member to prevent withdrawal of said bollard from said sleeve and in said unlocking position is positioned to permit such withdrawal; and said bollard end portion is shaped to register with said member when positioned in said sleeve to align said retaining means for engagement with said member In said locking position.

2. An access control device according to claim 1 wherein said bollard includes: a key-type locking mechanism operable by a user to pivot a lever within said bollard between first and second positions, and link means connecting said lever and said retaining means so that pivoting of said lever from said first position to said second position In turn pivots said retaining means from said locking position to said unlocking position

3. An access control device according to claim 2 including biasing means for urging said retaining means toward said locking position and wherein said retaining means has a ramp surface that traverses said member during lowering of said bollard into said sleeve so that said retaining means is first pivoted away from said locking position and then when said bollard is fully home in said sleeve is pivoted back into said locking position by said biasing means. COMS ID No: SMBI-00640135 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:39 Date 2004-02-27 27/02/2084 18:31 +613-9669-9886 PAGE 13/19 9

4. An access control device according to claim 3 wherein said link means includes at least two connected parts that are movable relative to each other whereby said link means is of variable length and assumes a maximum length between its points of connection to said retaining means and said lever when said lever is in said second position but permits said lever to remain in said first position as said retaining means pivots during placement of said bollard in said sleeve. An access control device according to claim 4 wherein said link means includes a length of chain. COMS ID No: SMBI-00640135 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:39 Date 2004-02-27