AU2011200746A1

AU2011200746A1 - Railing structure and fastening base thereof

Info

Publication number: AU2011200746A1
Application number: AU2011200746A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yi-Tsun Chien; Yao-Yi Lan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-01-13
Filing date: 2011-02-22
Publication date: 2012-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2031-02-22
Also published as: AU2011200746B2; TWM406052U; CN201972120U

Abstract

A fastening base (21) for use with a railing structure (2) connects with a baffle slab (22) and an upright post (9). A tubing body (211) is axially formed in the casing (210) thereof, 5 and a strengthened structure is connected between the casing (2100 and the tubing body (211), thereby increasing the capability for buffering the force of impact imposed thereupon to protect the upright posts (9) against shocks. tQi

Description

P/00/01 1 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: YI-TSUN CHIEN Actual Inventors: YI-TSUJN CHTEN YAO-YI LAN Address for Service: Houlihan 2 , Level 1, 70 Doncaster Road, Balwyn North, Victoria 3104, Australia Invention Title: RAILING STRUCTURE AND FASTENING BASE THEREOF The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to the Applicant:- 2 RAILING STRUCTURE AND FASTENING BASE THEREOF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a railing structure, and, more particularly, to a railing 5 structure with improved security and damage protection against shocks. 2. Description of Related Art Traffic barriers should be designed on a project-specific basis, and an appropriate railing structure varies with loading and site conditions. A traditional road railing, as disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. 1224643, is typically employed and installed on 10 common roads for security guarding and also allowing traffic signs to be mounted thereon. For example, a conventional railing structure I shown in FIG. 1A comprises a plurality of upright posts 8 and a plurality of baffle slabs 10 that are horizontally disposed across the upright posts 8, and a plurality of fastening bases 11 are also disposed on the upright posts 8 for allowing the baffle slabs 10 to be assembled and mounted thereon by fastening 15 means, such as screws 6 and riveting nails, etc., thereby constituting a railing structure whereon traffic signs of light-reflective slabs 7 are disposed. The side surface of the fastening bases 11 is formed with a mouth opening 110 to allow a hand tool to insert therein for bolting operation. However, such baffle slabs 10 are often prone to breaking and damage due to its limited buffering capability to withstand and 20 disperse the force of impact, resulting in detachment of upright posts 8 from the fastening bases 11 and thus causing damage thereto. Another conventional road railing disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 201000718 is shown in FIG. 1B, comprising a plurality of upright posts 8 and a plurality of baffle slabs 10 that are horizontally disposed across upright posts 8, and a fastening base 25 11' comprised of sustaining slabs 110' therein is disposed on the upright posts 8 for allowing the baffle slabs 10 to be assembled and mounted thereon by fastening means, 3 such as screws 6 and riveting nails, etc., thereby constituting a railing structure whereon traffic signs of light-reflective slabs 7 are disposed. In this instance, when an impact is encountered the baffle slabs 10 would distribute the force of impact onto the sustaining slabs 110', and while the fastening base 11 may still 5 remain intact on the outside the sustaining slabs 110' become vulnerable and may fail to withhold or buffer against more shocks imposed thereon, inevitably leading to detachment of upright posts 8 from the fastening base 11 and thus causing damage thereto. Therefore, it is desirable and highly beneficial to develop a novel railing structure with improved characteristics to efficiently ameliorate the drawbacks of prior techniques. 10 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a railing structure applicable for being disposed on a plurality of upright posts spaced apart at an interval, comprising: a plurality of fastening bases each disassembly disposed on the upright posts, and having a casing, a tubing body axially disposed in the casing, and a strengthened structure connected between 15 the casing and the tubing body; and a plurality of baffle slabs each disassembly disposed between two of the upright posts in a straddle manner and having opposing first and second ends, wherein the first end connects with the fastening base whereas the second end of one of the baffle plates connects to a first end of another baffle plate adjacent thereto, and wherein the first and second ends of the baffle plate have a step-like structure for 20 allowing the second end of one of the baffle plates to abut against a first end of another baffle plate. In another embodiment, the present invention is to provide a fastening base for use with a railing structure to connect to baffle plates and upright posts, comprising: a casing having two opposing outer sides, one of which disassembly connected to the baffle plate 25 while the other disassembly connected to the upright post; a tubing body axially disposed in the casing; and a strengthened structure connected between the casing and the tubing 4 body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to the 5 accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 A is a three-dimensional view of a conventional railing structure; FIG. 1B is a three-dimensional view of the conventional railing structure; FIG. 2 is a 3-D exploded view of the railing structure in accordance with the present invention; 10 FIG. 3 is a 3-D view of the railing structure in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 4 is a partial 3-D view of the baffle slabs of the railing structure in accordance with the present invention; FIG 5 is a partial top cross-sectional view of the fastening base of the railing structure in accordance with the present invention; 15 FIG 6A is a 3-D side view of the fastening base of the railing structure in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 6B is a side view of the fastening base of the railing structure in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 7 is a 3-D front view of the fastening base of the railing structure of the present 20 invention; and FIG 8 is a partial 3-D view of the railing structure in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following illustrative embodiments are provided to illustrate the disclosure of 25 the present invention, these and other advantages and effects can be understood by persons skilled in the art after reading the disclosure of this specification. Note that the structures, 5 proportions, sizes depicted in the accompanying figures merely illustrate the disclosure of the specification to allow for comprehensive reading without a limitation to the implementation or applications of the present invention, and does not constitute any substantial technical meaning. Any variations or alterations to the structures, proportional 5 relations or sizes should be encompassed within the scope of the disclosure. Also note that the expressions described in the specification, such as upper, lower, front, rear, left and right, etc., are used for the purpose of clear illustration only. According to the present invention, FIGs. 2 and 3 illustrate the railing structure 2 applicable for being disposed on a plurality of upright posts 9 spaced apart at an interval. 10 The railing structure 2 comprises a plurality of fastening bases 21 to be disposed on the upright posts 9, and a plurality of baffle slabs 22, 22' each having opposing first ends 22a, 22a' (may be defined as left ends) and second end 22b (may be defined as the right end). The fastening bases 21 and the baffle slabs 22, 22' are made of plastic injection molding and the material is not limited to any specific type. 15 The first ends 22a, 2 2 a' of the baffle slabs 22, 22 are connected by screws onto the fastening bases 21 corresponding to the upright posts 9, and the second end 22b of one of the baffle slabs 22 is disposed on the first end 22a' of another baffle plate 22 that is adjacently connected thereto, thereby allowing each of the baffle slabs 22, 22' to be disposed between two upright posts 9 in a straddle manner. 20 Referring together to FIG. 4, one or more interconnected arcs may be formed along the longitudinal cross sections of the baffle slabs 22, 22', and there are three arcs employed in this embodiment. Each of the baffle slabs 22, 22' is constituted by the upper and lower sides of the first arc plate 221 in the middle that are connected to the second and third are slabs, wherein the arc height of the second and third arc slabs 222, 223 is larger than that of 25 the first arc plate 221, thereby increasing the capability for buffering the force of impact imposed thereupon to effectively protect baffle slabs 22 against shocks.

6 Specifically, by means of plastic injection molding, the baffle slabs 22, 22' are formed to have an arc shape on their middle parts to enable the first arc plate thereof 221 to sufficiently buffer against the force of shock impacted upon the second and third arc slabs 222, 223 from the upper and lower sides of the baffle slabs 22, 22', respectively, thereby 5 reducing the degree of impact to prevent damage caused thereto. On the other hand, if the baffle slabs 22, 22' are provided with flat slabs instead that have relatively weak capacity for buffering and withstanding the impact imposed thereupon than the arc slabs, it would fail to strengthen and protect the baffle slabs 22, 22' against shocks. Further, the first ends 22a, 22a' of the baffle slabs 22, 22' are engaged with the 10 second end 22b of one of the baffle slabs 22, 22' to constitute a coupling structure, such as the tier-shaped coupling point 220 shown in FIG. 4, which is assembled by abutting the coupling point 220 of either baffle slabs 22 against the second end 22b of another baffle plate 22 to allow the assembled baffle slabs to maintain a consistent surface for an embellishing view. 15 Still further, the first ends 22a, 22a' of the baffle slabs 22, 22 and the second end 22b of one of the baffle slabs 22 are provided with indented and protruding structures, wherein an indented hole 220b in the first ends 22a, 2 2 a' of the baffle slabs 22, 22 is disposed for coupling with a protrusion (not shown) on the second end 22b of another baffle plate 22, wherein the coupling structure has a horizontal restraining orientation S for enhancing the 20 restraining force on its left and right sides. Further, the coupling structure and the indented and protruding structure are formed to have different restraining orientations. In this embodiment, the coupling structure has a horizontal restraining orientation S whereas the indented and protruding structure has a vertical restraining orientation K to increase the restraining force on all sides horizontal 25 and vertical, thereby preventing displacement from occurring between the baffle slabs 22, 22' to enhance secure positioning therebetween.

7 Referring together to FIGs. 5, 6A, 6B and FIG. 7, the fastening bases 21 depicted in FIGs. 5 and 6A are each connected by screws to the corresponding baffle plate 22 and upright post 9 and are comprised of a casing 210, a tubing body 211 disposed in the casing 210, and a strengthened structure disposed between the casing 210 and the tubing body 5 211. The casing 210 is constituted by a plastic material on four sides, i.e. top, bottom, front and rear sides, to have a hollow-shaped body with its left and right sides penetrating through one another. Further, the front side of the casing 210 includes a screw post 21 Ob, and an aperture 212 is formed on both left and right sides of the screw post 21 Ob, for 10 allowing a screw 3 to pass through a hole in the baffle slabs 22, the screw post 2 1Ob, and a hole in the upright posts 9 so as to connect with the upright post 9, the fastening base 21 and the baffle plate 22, while allowing another screw 4 to pass through a hole in the baffle plate 22 and the aperture 212 to connect with the fastening base 21 and the baffle plate 22. Further, the rear side of the casing 210 has a perpendicular concave-shaped receiving 15 portion 210a, such as an oval or a rectangle, to be coupled with the outmost side surface of the upright post 9 and surround the side surface of the upright post 9, thereby allowing the fasting base 21 to buffer and disperse the shock force of the front surface and the most side surface of the upright post 9 to protect the casing 210 against shocks. In this embodiment, the screw post 210b is a hollow post penetrating through the 20 casing 210, and the screw aperture 212 is formed on the surface of the casing 210 to encompass the body of screw 3, as shown in FIGs. 5 and 6A, to strengthen its locking force while protecting screw 3 from loosening by the impact imposed thereupon. The tubing body 211 is axially disposed and penetrates within the casing 210 with its two ends being exposed from both sides of the casing 210, respectively. 25 The strengthened structure is made of a plurality of slabs 215 each spreading from the outer side of the tubing body through the inner side of the casing 210, thereby allowing 8 the fastening base 21 to form a plurality of radial-shaped rib bodies along the longitudinal cross section thereof. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6B, the strengthened structure includes a plurality of tubing bodies 211' adjacent to and stacked on one another. When the baffle plate 22 encounters an impact imposed thereon, the fastening bases 5 21 thereof are enabled to buffer and disperse the force of impact by the tubing bodies 211 and the strengthened structure, thereby preventing damage caused thereto and detachment from the upright post 9. In encountering further shocks, the tubing bodies 211 and the strengthened structure are less prone to breakage and better able to buffer and disperse the force of impact as compared to the conventional slab structures. 10 Further, the fastening base 21 has a guide track 214 disposed therein for allowing a screw nut 50 to be positioned in the strengthened aperture 213. In assembly, it requires only moving the screw nut 50 along the guide track 214 for positioning and connecting the screw 5 with the screw nut 50 with relative ease and without the concern of positioning the screw nut 50. The guide track 214 may include two spaced apart straps and the width of 15 the spacing therebetween may inwardly become slightly smaller from the outside toward the inside until the end interval of the guide track 214 engages with the screw nut 50, but it is not limited to the foregoing. As shown in FIG. 7, the fastening base 21 further comprises a strengthened aperture 213 disposed on both the top and bottom sides of the screw aperture 212, through which 20 the fastening base 21 and the baffle plate 22 can be connected by the screw 5, thereby increasing the bonding force therebetween to prevent loosening when baffle slabs 22, 22' encounter and confront shocks imposed thereupon. Further, the shape of the front side casing 210 corresponds to that of the baffle plate 22, and the first end 22a of the baffle plate 22 and the fastening base 21 may have indented and protruding structures disposed 25 thereon, for example, a depression 216 as shown in FIG. 7, for allowing the protruding portion (not shown) on the first end 22a, 22a' of the baffle slabs 22, 22' to be positioned in 9 the depression 216 of the casing 210. Referring together to FIG. 8, the railing structure 2 further includes a marked sign 23 having a base 230 connected onto the baffle plate 22 (such as the first arc plate 221), a direction indicator 231 disposed on the base 230 for identifying recto and reverse 5 directions. For disassembling purposes, the sign 23 may be disposed with respect to the fastening base 21 for allowing screws 3, 4 to be commonly used by the fastening base 21 and the baffle plate 22. Further, screws 3, 4 may include a sheath 232 disposed thereon for fastening and embellishing purposes. 10 Further, the baffle slabs 22, 22' are formed in an arc shape for the design of reverse protruding embedded screw holes and allowing the screw 3 to be embedded into the first are plate 221, making the top of screws 3, 4 flush with or lower than the first are plate to avoid direct impact imposed thereupon that may cause detachment of screws 3, 4, and also the sheath 232 can protect the ends of screws 3, 4 from coming off and being damaged. 15 As shown in FIGs. 2, and 3, the railing structure 2 further includes a connecting base disposed between the first ends 22a, 22a' of baffle slabs 22, 22' and the second end 22b. When a greater length of baffle slabs 22, 22' is required, the connecting base 24 may be disposed on the upright post 9 between the first ends 22a, 22a' and the second end 22b, allowing baffle slabs 22, 22' to be fastened onto the upright post 9 via the connecting base 20 24 to strengthen middle sections of baffle slabs 22, 22'. In this embodiment, the connecting base 24 is a structure similar to the fastening base 21 and the detailed description thereof is omitted for brevity. Further, the railing structure 2 includes an end plate 25 disposed at the outmost side of the first end 22a and/or the second end 22b of the baffle plate 22 and covers the sides of 25 the upright post 9 and the fasting base 21, thereby protecting the front and rear ends of the railing structure 2.

10 Summarizing the above, the invention is characterized in that tubing structures are disposed within the fastening bases for buffering and dispersing the force of impact imposed thereupon to protect the fastening bases and the upright posts against shocks when an impact is imposed upon the baffle slabs. 5 It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Where the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in 10 this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature, integer, step, component or group thereof Further, any prior art reference or statement provided in the specification is not to be taken as an admission that such art constitutes, or is to be understood as constituting, part 15 of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims

2. The railing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing has a guide track 15 disposed therein for positioning screws to connect with the corresponding fastening base and baffle plate.
3. The railing structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the strengthened structure includes a plurality of adjacent second tubing bodies stacked on one another and axially disposed within the casing. 20 4. The railing structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the strengthened structure includes a plurality of slabs disposed spreading radially from the outer side of the tubing body through the inner side of the casing along the longitudinal cross sections of the fastening base.
5. The railing structure as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the baffle plate is 25 constituted by connecting respectively the upper and lower sides of the first are plate in the middle thereof, to the second and third are plates, wherein the arc height of the second and 12 third arc plates is greater than that of the first arc plate.
6. The railing structure as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein the first and second ends of the baffle plate are provided with indented and protruding structures respectively for allowing the second end of one of the baffle plates to be positioned on the 5 first end of another baffle plate, wherein the restraining orientation of the step-like structure is different from the restraining orientation of the indented and protruding structures.
7. A fastening base for use with a railing structure to connect to baffle plates and upright posts, comprising: 10 a casing having two opposing outer sides, one of which disassembly connected to the baffle plate while the other disassembly connected to the upright post; a tubing body axially disposed in the casing; and a strengthened structure connected between the casing and the tubing body.
8. The fastening base as claimed in claim 7, wherein the strengthened structure 15 includes a plurality of slabs disposed spreading radially from the outer side of the tubing body through the inner side of the casing along the longitudinal cross sections of the fastening base.
9. The fastening base as claimed in claim 7, wherein the strengthened structure includes a plurality of adjacent second tubing bodies stacked on one another and axially 20 disposed within the casing.
10. The fastening base as claimed in any one of claims 7-9, wherein the casing has a guide track disposed therein for positioning screws to connect with the baffle plate.
11. The railing structure as claimed in any one of claims 1-6, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the Figures. 25 12. The fastening base as claimed in any one of claims 7-10, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the Figures.