AU2016269560B2 - Locking Device - Google Patents

Abstract

The umbrella safety locking system 10 is a lightweight means of quickly and easily 5 erecting cafe style umbrellas 5 securely to solid surfaces 70 without the need for any tooling. While in place, the system 10 engages into a pre-installed base plate 40 and is designed to be stable and secure while erected. The mechanism 10 is easily removed from the base plate 40 without the need for tooling, by releasing an intermediate locking sleeve 50 that acts as a fail-safe lock, lifting and rotating the umbrella pole 5 with the stand to .0 release the clamp and engaged teeth 22 of the upper tube 20 from the base plate 40 while leaving the surface 72 they are mounted on flat, smooth and clean, without any trip or entrapment hazards. Fig. 1 -UMBRELLA SHAFT - LOCKING CLAM? ENCASED TO HOLD UMBRELLA SHAFT 4, FAIL-SAFE LOCK FULLY ENGAGED I-UMBRELLA SAFETY LOK 7 ENAGED IN BASE ASSEMBLY 740 ___ ___ __ -__ _- 74 46 FI 1 ASSEMBLED UNIT IN BASE

Description

-UMBRELLA SHAFT - LOCKING CLAM? ENCASED TO HOLD UMBRELLA SHAFT

4,

FAIL-SAFE LOCK FULLY ENGAGED

I-UMBRELLA SAFETY LOK 7 ENAGED IN BASE ASSEMBLY 740

___ ___ __ -__ _- 74

46 FI 1 ASSEMBLED UNIT IN BASE

Locking Device

PRIORITY

This application is an Australian standard application claiming priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2015905101 filed 9 December 2015, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a locking device. More particularly, this invention relates to a pole locking device. More particularly, this invention relates to a subterranean locking device. Still more particularly, this invention relates to an umbrella locking device for securing an .o umbrella pole.

BACKGROUND

The following references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the following prior art discussion does not relate to what is commonly .s or well known by the person skilled in the art, but assists in the understanding of the inventive step of the present invention of which the identification of pertinent prior art proposals is but one part.

Several styles of umbrella stands have been described that may be employed for mounting caf6 style umbrellas for temporary use. These include:

Stands that are of the free-standing type may employ a large flat or heavily weighted base with a vertical tube secured centrally on the base, into which the umbrella is inserted and secured. The free-standing style of umbrella support rely on the size and mass of the base to maintain stability and prevent the umbrella from overturning. These are only an effective support for smaller sized umbrellas in very mild wind conditions. The size, shape and mass of the base means they are difficult to mount and dismount, usually adding more than 16 kg to the overall mass of the umbrella. By their design they become a potential trip hazard with the base being above finished floor level. The free-standing style umbrella support is not able to withstand any significant side impact load. There is therefore the potential for the umbrella to overbalance if a person or object leaned or fell against the upright post of the umbrella.

They are also vulnerable to wind gusts that may lift the umbrella, unfurled or not, creating an injury or damage risk. The dangers of unsecured caf6 style umbrellas being blown around or overbalanced by the wind have been described. Many people have been injured from umbrellas blown off balance by gusts of wind. There have been a number of recorded incidents of people being struck and killed by wind blown umbrellas.

A second less common style used includes a tube cast into a footing below ground level, usually with a hinged cover plate over the top of the mounting tube, into which the umbrella pole is secured.

The methods of securing umbrellas to solid surfaces such as a concrete slab, often involve .o masonry anchors and an above ground tube stand, which is semi permanently affixed to a concrete footing. The semi permanently affixed tube stand requires tooling in order to remove the umbrella.

The embedded tube method allows for easy removal of the umbrella without tooling, but leaves a potential entrapment hazard for young children, as the only covering offered on the .s tube is a hinged lid which a child could open and then reach into the exposed hole. It is also worth noting that the hinged lid covering the embedded tube, usually has a hole in the lid for the purposes of inserting a finger in order to lift the lid. This hole creates a digital entrapment hazard to children and adults alike. It is also a potential hazard for those wearing high heels while walking in the area, as the heel is smaller than the hole size and could get caught in the hole causing the wearer to trip.

An object of the present invention is to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative thereto.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention according to one or more aspects is as defined in the independent claims. Some optional and/or preferred features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

In one aspect, the invention provides:

a locking device including:

a mounting base adapted to be permanently installed in or on a substrate; and a pole securing clamp mountable to the base, the clamp adapted to support the pole above the substrate; a cylindrical tube to receive the pole; and complementary engagement features comprised of feet and female engagement features to releasably join the clamp to the base, wherein: the mounting base is to be permanently installed in a ground or floor cavity, the uppermost portion of the base lying at or below ground or floor surface level and fixed to the substrate therebelow;

.0 the clamp is securable to the base by aligning the clamp with the base and rotating the clamp relative to the base to mate the engagement features; and

the feet are profiles formed in a lower skirt wall of the cylindrical tube.

POLE LOCKING DEVICE

The pole locking device may be a device adapted to secure a variety of different pole types .s to a subterranean or surface level base. Examples include street signs, tent poles, flag poles, bollards, carport stirrups, semi-permanent domestic, market or camping structures such as pergolas and covers, and umbrella poles. In its preferred form, the invention relates to an umbrella pole. Still more preferably, the locking device is for securely locating caf6 style umbrellas, often used at alfresco dining areas and other similar venues, including on footpaths and sidewalks.

SUBSTRATE

The substrate may be a ground level structure. Due to building and landscaping infrastructure, the ground or floor of the substrate may correspond to the surface level of any suitable ground or floor surface. The surface may be formed from rock, concrete, tiles, floor boards, boardwalk panels, decking, beams or other substrate forming structural materials.

MOUNTING BASE

The mounting base may comprise a body. The body may be in the form of a plate, tube or block. The complementary features of the engagement features may be formed on or in the body. The mounting base may include at least one fastener adapted for permanent fixment to the substrate. The fastener may extend from the body. In a preferred form, the body is a plate. The plate may be disc or rectangular in shape in plan. The plate is preferably round to facilitate coaxial alignment of the clamp with the base. The plate preferably has a thick body to accommodate one or more female engagement features. These may be in the form of slots, recesses and/or cavities that constitute the base's complementary features. Preferably, the complementary features are in the form of a triangulated or quadrilateral set of arc-shaped slots. The slots are preferably equispaced and radially spaced from the centre of the body.

The base fastener may be in the form of a bolt or screw. The fastener may be adapted to .o engage a bore in the substrate. The fastener may be a coach-bolt or another threaded bolt that is fixable in a sleeve and/or bore. The fastener may be aligned centrally and extend substantially normal to an underside surface of the body.

POLE SECURING CLAMP

The clamp is adapted to engage the pole. The clamp may include one or more opposed clamp .s jaws that are adapted to clamp diametrically opposite outer surfaces of the pole. Preferably, the clamp includes one or more cylinders. Preferably, the cylinder is in the form of a tube. The tube may form a sleeve over at least a portion of the pole. The tube may be adapted to receive the pole substantially coaxially. The clamp may include a radial screw threadably engaged in a wall of the clamp. The screw may be a grub screw.

The clamp may include one or more tubes. The tubes may be configured to cooperate in coaxial engagement with each other. The tubes may align telescopically or in axial series with each other. The clamp may comprise a lower and an upper tube. The lower and upper tubes may be interposed by a locking sleeve. The locking sleeve may include engagement ramps. The ramps may include circumferential or peripheral surfaces inclined relative to a radial line extending normally from the tube axis. The inclination may be at an obtuse angle relative to the radial line. The ramp of the locking sleeve may include a pair of radially opposed teeth defining a recess between a tooth and a main body of the sleeve.

The lower tube and the sleeve may have similar opposing ramps that mutually engage with one another on the sleeve being rotated about its axis relative to the lower tube. The upper end of the sleeve may comprise a retaining ring made of flexible or sealing material to receive the outer surface of the upper tube.

In another aspect of the invention, there may be provided a pole locking device that is spring loaded and has secondary locking teeth. The pole securing clamp in this embodiment is similar to that described above in that the clamp is adapted to engage the pole and may include one or more opposed clamp jaws that are adapted to clamp diametrically opposite outer surfaces of the pole. Similarly, preferably the clamp includes one or more cylinders, (the or) and preferably each cylinder is in the form of a tube, the tube may form a sleeve over at least a portion of the pole and the tube may be adapted to receive the pole substantially .o coaxially. The clamp may include a radial screw threadably engaged in a wall of the clamp, which screw may be a grub screw.

The clamp may include two tubes. The tubes are preferably configured to cooperate in coaxial engagement with each other. The tubes preferably align substantially telescopically with each other. The clamp may comprise an inner and an outer tube. The outer tube .s preferably serves as a spring-loaded secondary locking sleeve. The inner and outer tubes preferably work together to engage the pole-securing clamp in the base unit. The locking sleeve may include engagement ramps. The ramps may include circumferential or peripheral surfaces inclined relative to a radial line extending normally from the tube axis. The inclined surfaces may be inclined at an obtuse angle relative to the radial line. The ramp of the locking o sleeve may include a pair of radially opposed teeth defining a recess between a tooth and a main body of the inner tube.

Inserting and engaging the above ground unit into the fixed, ground level base unit may be achieved by aligning the primary locking feet of the above ground unit with the respective slots in the base unit and fully inserting the feet into the base unit. Once the primary locking feet are fully inserted the above ground unit may be rotated, for example, clockwise to engage the feet below the shoulder of the base plate. As the feet are engaged, the secondary locking teeth are pushed down under spring loading, down the angled ramp behind the primary locking feet. This is with the aim of ensuring that the primary locking feet remain fully engaged.

The inner tube may include primary locking feet that engage the base unit. This is to hold the clamp tube in a position normal to the base unit. The spring-loaded outer tube pushes the secondary locking teeth down along the inclined ramps to engage behind the primary locking feet of the inner tube, preventing them from unintentionally disengaging from the base unit.

The disengagement of the clamp tube from the base assembly may be accomplished by raising the outer sleeve against the force of the spring until the secondary locking teeth are raised above the base assembly. The clamp tube may then be able to be extracted from the base assembly. When the clamp tube is disengaged from the base assembly, the spring loaded sleeve with the secondary locking teeth can be released to allow the spring to push .o the teeth against the stop.

Accordingly, the second embodiment provides an excellent interaction between the primary locking feet and the base unit with the security action of the secondary locking teeth being pushed down behind the primary locking feet. The invention advantageously covers both the twist-lock action of the first embodiment pushing the secondary locking teeth into position .s behind the primary locking feet, as well as the spring-loaded version of the second embodiment in which the secondary locking teeth are pushed into position.

Another aspect of the invention is the provision of the base unit whereby it has an excellent structural support using the interaction of the mounting plate with the supporting tube welded below. For installations in concrete, a drop-in anchor may be used to improve the structural integrity. For timber or composite decks, a bracket may be used to secure the base unit in place and to improve structural integrity.

ENGAGEMENT FEATURES

The lower end of the upper tube may include tube complementary engagement features. The tube engagement features may include one or more protuberances. The protuberance may be in the form of a male spike or tine adapted to engage with the base complementary features. The protuberance may be in the form of locking teeth, engageable in the female engagement features.

The clamp may provide a cylindrical tube that receives the pole so that its bottom end rests intermediate the length of the clamp. More preferably, the bottom pole end rests on, near or adjacent the upper surface of the mounting base, i.e., close to the ground or floor surface level. The pole is preferably clamped intermediate its length. The pole may be adapted to extend through part of or the full length of the clamp. Preferably, the clamp is adapted to secure the pole at a point or region longitudinally spaced from the bottom end.

The complementary engagement features are comprised of the primary locking teeth of the inner tube, the respective slots in the base unit and/or the secondary locking feet.

The complementary engagement features further include at least one "leg" edge set at an angle of between 1 to 11 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of .o preferred embodiments, in which:

Figure 1 is side elevation of the clamp and pole and a side sectional view of the base and substrate according to a preferred embodiment;

Figures 2a - d are, respectively, plan, side, upper perspective and lower perspective views of a mounting plate according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

.s Figures 3a-c are, respectively, side and upper perspective and lower perspective views of a lower clamp portion according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Figures 4a-b are, respectively, lower perspective and upper perspective views of an upper clamp portion according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Figures 5a-c are, respectively, side and upper perspective and lower perspective views of an intermediate connecting sleeve of the clamp according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 6a is a side sectional view of the assembled unit utilizing the spring loaded locking device;

Figure 6 b is a side sectional view of the base unit into which the pole clamping device engages in one of its preferred embodiments;

Figure 7a is similar to Figure 6a, but utilises a smaller diameter spring;

Figure 7b is similar to Figure 6b but shows a variant according to one of the preferred embodiments;

Figure 8 is a side view of the outer cylinder of the spring-loaded secondary locking feature with the teeth attached;

Figure 9a & b are, respectively, a plan view of an un-pressed cradle plate and a side view of the pressed cradle plate;

Figure 10a & b are, respectively, a plan view of an un-pressed locking teeth plate and a side view of the pressed locking teeth plate;

Figure 11 a -d are, respectively, front & side elevations of the inner tube with various components installed;

Figure 12 shows plan and elevation views of the spring retaining plate;

.0 Figure 13 shows plan & elevation views of base locking plate;

Figure 14 shows plan & elevation views of base support tube; and

Figure 15 shows plan & elevation views of assembled base unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to .s the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a locking system or device 1 having a mounting bracket in the form of a clamp 10 having an overall cylindrical shape and a tubular profile. The clamp 10 is comprised of a series of axially aligned tubes, including an upper tube 20 that is a cut and fabricated section, approximately or nominally 500mm long. The locking device 1 also has an outer section in the form of a lower tube 30 and an inner section, namely the upper tube 20. The inner and outer sections 20,30 work together to create the locking device 1 that provides a pole of an umbrella 5 mounting bracket 10. The umbrella's shaft or pole 5 is inserted into the inner tube 20 of the mounting bracket 10 and employs a built in clamp arrangement, or grub screw or bolt 21, to secure the umbrella shaft 5 to the mounting bracket 10. The assembled locking device 1, with the attached umbrella pole 5, is able to readily lock onto and be released from a base plate 40 that is permanently installed and secured at finished surface level 72 to a solid surface such as concrete 70 or other substrate as previously noted.

When the assembled unit 10 is locked in a vertical position on the base plate assembly 40, it supports and secures the umbrella pole 5 in its normal operating position so that it can safely withstand significant wind and impact loads while remaining firmly in position. Advantageously, the locking device significantly reduces the risk of injury from unsecured and windborne umbrellas. When the mounted umbrella shaft 5 is unlocked and removed from the base assembly, that is in the form of a plate 40, no significant visual impact remains at the site of the mounting plate 40. The upper presenting surface 48 of the unused base .o assembly 40 is presented as flat, smooth and clean, without any trip or entrapment hazards.

The umbrella safety locking system 10 is a lightweight means of quickly and easily erecting caf6 style umbrellas 5 securely to solid surfaces 70 without the need for any tooling. While in place, the system 10 engages into a pre-installed base plate 40 and is designed to be stable and secure while erected. The mechanism 10 is easily removed from the base plate 40 .s without the need for tooling, by releasing an intermediate locking sleeve 50 that acts as a fail-safe lock, lifting and rotating the umbrella pole 5 with the stand to release the clamp and engaged teeth 22 of the upper tube 20 from the base plate 40 while leaving the surface 72 they are mounted on flat, smooth and clean, without any trip or entrapment hazards.

The umbrella locking safety system 10 is a means of securing caf6 style removable umbrellas via their shafts 5 on concrete footpaths 70, or in timber decking or other solid surfaces. It provides a stable mounting for the umbrella pole 5 which remains fixed in an upright position in extreme weather conditions or even if subject to side impact loads.

The umbrella safety locking device 10 has multiple parts. The upper section 20 has a tubular form which can be attached and secured to the umbrella pole 5 and the base section 40 is semi-permanently attached to the concrete slab 70, timber decking or other substrate. The base section 40 is fixed to the pavement 70. It includes a disc or plate 42 with three or four narrow slots 44. The base plate 42 is attached so there are no visible bolts securing it to the footpath 70 or other surface. The base plate 42 is secured by a central axially downwardly depending bolt or anchor 46 to the substrate 70 and the lower tube 30 engages with the plate 42 by the triune of downwardly depending spigots or teeth 22. The top 48 of the base 40 is preferably countersunk into, and lies flush with, the finished surface level 72. This results in there being no trip hazard and no openings large enough to allow snagging risks, such as high heels, to penetrate or otherwise catch on the plate 40 when the umbrella 5 (and with reference to prior art alternatives, with its holder) is removed from the base 40. The base 40 presents no hazard to foot traffic and the slots 44 are too narrow for a child to suffer digital entrapment (get their finger trapped).

The lower section 30 of the umbrella safety locking clamp 10 includes an upper inner tube 20 and a lower outer tube 30 arrangement. The inner tube 20 and outer tube 30 interlock to create one unitary or complete device 10 which is attached to the umbrella shaft 5 using the .o clamping device 21 near the top of the inner tube 20. The outer tube 30 has a profile cut from the lower outer tube 30 to allow the blades, spigots or feet 32 of the lower section tube 30 to be inserted through the slots 44 in the base plate assembly 40. The lower tube 30 is then rotated to enable the engagement of the profiled feet 32 formed in the lower skirt wall of the lower section tube 30 whereby to clamp onto the base plate 40 by an operator's manoeuvre .s to twist and lock the lower section 30 into position in engagement with the base plate 42. Complementary engagement features 22,32,44 are comprised of the teeth 22, feet 32 and slots 44.

As the device 30 is rotated to allow the profiled feet 32 to engage, the inner tube 20, which has locking teeth 22 which in the combined unitary device 10 rest adjacent a broad back 'o "leg" edge 33 of the feet 32,

is able to drop into the slot 44 behind the feet 32 to ensure the profiled outer clamp 20 remains engaged in its clamped position. When the feet 32 are engaged and the locking teeth 22 are in place behind the feet 32, the fail-safe lock 50 is engaged to prevent any unintended removal of the mounting unit 10 from the base plate 40.

The erected and engaged umbrella safety locking system 1 ensures that the umbrella pole 5 remains firmly and securely upright, ideally being able to withstand wind gusts in excess of 80 kph, and up to 125kph. This device 1 can also ideally withstand a side impact load of greater than 1.1 kN force. Therefore, a person falling against the stand 1 will be prevented from the hazard of the umbrella 5 becoming unstable and overturning with them.

The device 10 is dismounted by releasing a fail-safe lock 50, raising the umbrella pole 5, then rotating the assembled unit 10 to disengage the profiled clamping feet 32 and to extract the device 10 from the base plate 40.

As the umbrella mounting safety device 10 is around 2 kg, it adds minimal or manageable weight to the overall mass of the umbrella 5 and can remain affixed to the umbrella 5 for removal and storage of the umbrella 5 when not in use.

Referring to Figs. 2a-d and 3a-c, the base 40 includes the plate or disk 42 made of stainless steel plate that is 10mm thick and nominally 75mm diameter. The disk 42 has the 3 or 4 narrow arc shaped slots 44 positioned equidistant around the disc 42 near the disc's perimeter .o 45. The slots 44 are profile cut to allow the feet 32 at the lower end of the outer lower tube 30 to be freely received in the slots 44. The slots 44 therefore extend fully in the axial direction through the body of the plate 42. The slots 44 are preferably of a constant width and depth through the arc-shaped path they follow. The number of slots 44 is preferably 3 but may vary whilst still achieving an effective engagement for the cooperating teeth 22 and .s feet 32 features 22,32 of the engagement features. There may be 2 - 5 slots 44 and still achieve an effective engagement to the clamp 10.

The base plate 40 also has a means of being secured to the concrete 70 using the one or more masonry anchors 46 (or other solid surfaces using bolts 46) in such a way to ensure that there are no protrusions above the top of the plate 48 and the finished surface level 72.

The masonry anchor 46 is adapted to provide a permanent fixture in a pre-formed bore 74 in the concrete substrate 70. The pre-formed bore 74 is counterbored to accommodate the anchor 46 and a wider diameter and shorter depth of cavity to receive the base plate 42. Corresponding ground or floor anchors may be used for other substrate types, such as tiled flooring or timber decking. The anchor 46 preferably comprises a single axially centred bolt extending normal to the plate 42 from its underside 49. Preferably, the anchor 46 includes a threaded nut 47 on the welded bolts 46 immediately below the underside 49. A nut 47 is provided on the bolt 46 shaft and central on the underside of the base plate 40 so that the base 40 can be screwed onto, for example, a ChemsetTM anchor, to form the combined base 40 and bolt 46 combination. Alternatively and advantageously, the nut 47 and bolt 46 is in the form of a drop-in anchor, which has a bolt 46 welded on the underside of the plate 40.

The anchor 46 preferably comprises a single axially centred male or female threaded shaft 46 that engages with a masonry anchor in the substrate 70 to locate and anchor the base plate assembly 40 in position.

The outer tube 30 provides the main support for the umbrella stand 10 and is a part integrated into the entire mounting device 10. The 3 profiled feet 32 of the lowermost portion of the skirt wall of the outer tube 30 may be inserted into and through the slots 44 in the base plate 40. The outer tube 30 is then rotated to engage the feet 32 under a shoulder of each slot 44 simultaneously. This prevents the device 10 from being lifted vertically out of the engaged base plate 40.

.o The feet 32 are formed by a profile cut, printing or moulding to correspond in number to the slots 44. The feet 32 are shaped to define a "boot" shape with a broad back "leg" edge 33 having a shallow elbow intermediate its length.

[Support: Fig. 3a clearly shows that the back leg edge 33 includes a shallow elbow intermediate its length]

.s substantially set at an obtuse angle relative to a longitudinal axis 31 of the outer tube 30 and transitioning to a straight edge 35 substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 31 and forming the "heel" of a foot portion 37 of the feet 32. Above the foot portion 37 there is a cut out channel section 39 which enables the feet 32 to lock under the underside 49 of the plate 42.

The complementary engagement features 22,32,44 include at least one "leg" edge 33 set at an angle of between 1 - 12 degrees relative to longitudinal axis 31 of the pole 5.

[Support: the angle of the leg edge 33 relative to the longitudinal axis 31 shown in Fig. 3a is measurably between 1 - 120 through its transition from the straight edge 35 near the heel of the "foot" 32 through to the upper extent of the back leg edge 33]

The outer lower tube 30 also has a profile 34 cut in its upper end top section 36 which engages with the intermediate sleeve or fail-safe lock 50. The profile 34 comprises a pair of diametrically opposed spiral-shaped fingers 37 that extend at an inclined angle to a radial line 38 normal to the longitudinal axis 31. The profile 34 may comprise 3 or more fingers, but preferably two.

Referring to Figs. 4a-b, the inner upper section tube 20 is an integrated part of the whole upper mounting device 10. The inner tube 20 is nominally or approximately 500mm long with an open top end defining a mouth to allow the umbrella pole 5 to be inserted therein and clamped in place using the grub screw 21. From the bottom edge of the inner tube depend three tapered teeth 22. The teeth 22 are attached to and protrude below the bottom of the inner tube 20. The teeth 22 are designed to prevent the umbrella safety locking assembly 10 from disengaging from the base plate 40. As the feet 32 on the outer tube 30 are inserted and rotated to engage in the slots 44, the teeth 22 on the inner tube 20 drop into place behind the feet 32 of the outer tube 30 to prevent the outer tube 30 from rotating to the disengaged .o position. There may be a number of teeth 22 corresponding to the number of slots 44. The teeth 22 may comprise of one straight side edge substantially aligned to the longitudinal axis 23 of the inner tube 20, and a tapered side edge 27 to facilitate entry of the teeth 22 into the slots 44. The teeth 22 may be welded to or formed with a bottom cap plate that may include a central aperture 29 for drainage. The bottom cap 28 supports the base of the pole 5 in situ, .s preventing the pole 5 from extending or protruding beyond the bottom of the inner tube.

Referring also to Figs. 5a-c, two stops 26 are welded in place intermediate the length of the inner tube 20 on its outer surface and include a pair of straps or a round bar. The pair of stops 26 work with the fail-safe lock 50 and its retaining ring 52 located in its upper opening 51 using a friction fit to prevent inadvertent rotation and possible disengagement. The main fail o safe system to prevent inadvertent disengagement is the profiled section of the tube in the form of the lock 50 that substantially comprises an intermediate sleeve that comprises a hollow cylindrical body or cover tube 54 terminating in a counter-bored lower portion 56 insertable in the lower outer tube 30. The lower portion 56 comprises corresponding ramps or fingers 57 to enable the intermediate sleeve 50 to interlock with the outer tube 30 to prevent inadvertent release of the locking teeth 22. The fingers 57 are complementary and identical in shape and configuration to the fingers 34. The profiled fail-safe tube 50 is assembled with the body 54 in the form of a cover tube and the retaining ring 52.

There is also the option for the assembly to be locked using a standard padlock (not shown) to prevent theft and to act as a failsafe device to prevent accidental or malicious dislodgement of the safety device 10 from engagement in the base plate 40.

The padlock option involves holes in the inner tube near the base 40, just above two of the locking teeth 22. In a preferred embodiment, this provides an alternative safety device or is in addition to the basic fail-safe device.

The assembled umbrella safety system 1 is show in Fig. 1. The umbrella shaft 5, which remains clamped into the inner tube 20, is securely fixed in place and is identified as an integrated part of the safety mounting device 1. If the umbrella 5 is to be replaced or removed from the mounting assembly 1, it is a simple matter of undoing the grub screw 21 to release the pole 5 from the clamp 10. With the clamp 10 released, one can remove the umbrella 5 from the inner tube 20 and may insert the desired umbrella shaft 5 into the assembly 1 and .o re-tighten the clamp 10 using the grub screw 21.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 6a - 15 in the form of a spring-loaded engagement mechanism 100. The mechanism 100 is similar to the device 1, and like features will be referred to using like reference numerals, but the mechanism 100 has the added functionality of a spring-loaded engagement mechanism 160. The spring-loaded mechanism .s 160 is mounted to an interior surface 124 of the outer tube 120 and comprises an interior support plate 125 welded to the wall surface 124. Connecting the support plate 125 to a floating end cap 128 is a telescopic bolt shaft 161 around which is coaxially positioned a compression spring 162 that allows the lower tube's 120 teeth 122 to be mounted to the end cap 128 and adapted to engage slots 144 in a base plate 140 under tension. The twist and o lock intermediate sleeve 50, its fingers 57 and the complementary fingers 34 of the lower outer tube 30 embodiment 1 shown in Figs. 1 - 5c are replaced by the spring mechanism 160 in this embodiment 100.

In Figs. 1la - d, part of the spring-loaded mechanism 160 is shown without the spring 162 and more clearly shows how the bolt shaft 161 is welded and suspends from the support plate 125. Fig. 1lb shows that the support plate rests on the shoulder of cut-away square notches or recesses 126 and is welded in position on the notches 126 in order to support the bolt 161 centrally aligned with the inner tube 120 and protruding below the plate 125. With spring 162,262 and the outer tube 130,230 in place, the retaining nut 164,264 is adjusted to act as a stop to ensure that the outer tube 130,230 remains correctly positioned to fully engage the locking teeth 132,232 behind the feet 122,222 of the inner tube 120,220 when they are inserted into and engage with the base unit 140,240.

The telescopic bolt shaft 161 is secured at the downward side of the end cap 148 by a nylon locknut 164. The teeth 132,232 may be welded in place on the end cap 148,248 using spot welds such the welds 166 shown in the case of the base plate 240 in Fig. 7b. Otherwise the end cap is laser cut from a unitary piece as best shown in Figs 8 - 10b, where variants of longer teeth 122 are shown in Figs. 8 and 10a,b, and shorter teeth 222 are shown in Figs. 9a,b.. The teeth 122,132 are shaped to fit neatly in line with one another for rotation about the long axis 123,223, and comprise four teeth in number, spaced equilaterally from the central axis 123,223.

Long shaft 140 and short shaft 240 alternative base plates are shown in Figs. 6b and 7b and .o the long version baseplate and depending skirt or sleeve 147 is shown in Figs. 14 and 15. The long shaft version 100 of the spring mechanism 160 is shown in Figs. 6a,b and is adapted for a stronger anchorage to a concrete substrate 70 with a higher load spring 162 to withstand greater forces, such as high wind gusts, whereas the shorter shaft option 200 includes a shorter shaft 246 ad lower load rated spring 262. The base plate includes a downwardly .s depending skirt 147,247 which may be varied in length.

The underside 149 of the base plate 140 includes a coaxially aligned bolt 167 welded to the underside 149 by weld spots 166. The base plate 140 includes side notches 168 that act as locators for the base plate and are adapted to cooperate with complementary ridges on the internal surface 124.

The umbrella pole 5 may be inserted, in both cases, into an axial tube 105,205 and secured using a lateral grub bolt or screw 121,221.

The orifice size for accepting the shaft 5 of an umbrella may vary and the first embodiment 1 may accept an umbrella shaft up to 45mm dia. The second embodiment 100 allows for an umbrella shaft up to 51mm dia.

The first embodiment 1 allows for the inner tube 20 and outer tube 30 to be rotated in opposite directions to one another enable the lowering or raising of the teeth 22 in and out of the base plate slots 37. The spring loading embodiments 100,200 provide for the pushing of the teeth 122,222 into position. Other aspects of the second locking teeth embodiment 100,200 are similar to that of the first embodiment 1. However, the spring-loaded assembly 100,200 is shorter than the first twist lock device 1.

Throughout the specification and claims the word "comprise" and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is, the word "comprise" and its derivatives will be taken to indicate the inclusion of not only the listed components, steps or features that it directly references, but also other components, steps or features not specifically listed, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

In the present specification, terms such as "apparatus", "means", "device" and "member" may refer to singular or plural items and are terms intended to refer to a set of properties, functions or characteristics performed by one or more items or components having one or .o more parts. It is envisaged that where an "apparatus", "means", "device" or "member" or similar term is described as being a unitary object, then a functionally equivalent object having multiple components is considered to fall within the scope of the term, and similarly, where an "apparatus", "assembly", "means", "device" or "member" is described as having multiple components, a functionally equivalent but unitary object is also considered to fall .s within the scope of the term, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

Orientational terms used in the specification and claims such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper and lower are to be interpreted as relational and are based on the premise that the component, item, article, apparatus, device or instrument will usually be considered in a o particular orientation, typically with the inner tube 20 uppermost.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the methods of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A locking device including:

a mounting base adapted to be permanently installed in or on a substrate; and

a pole securing clamp mountable to the base, the clamp adapted to support the pole above the substrate and including a cylindrical tube to receive the pole; and

complementary engagement features comprised of feet and female engagement features to releasably join the clamp to the base,

wherein:

the mounting base comprises a body in the form of a plate and is to be permanently .0 installed in a ground or floor cavity, the uppermost portion of the base lying at or below ground or floor surface level and fixed to the substrate therebelow;

the engagement features of the mounting base are in the form of slots, recesses and/or cavities that are adapted to receive a corresponding plurality of downwardly depending teeth extending from an upper tube of the clamp; and

.s the clamp is securable to the base by aligning the clamp with the base and rotating the clamp relative to the base to mate the engagement features.

2. The locking device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cylindrical tube is in the form of a lower tube and, together with the upper tube, forms at least part of a series of axially aligned tubes.

3. The locking device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the device is adapted to secure a variety of different pole types to a subterranean or surface level base, the pole is an umbrella pole and the locking device is for securely locating a caf6 style umbrella.

4. The locking device as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the complementary engagement features are in the form of slots and the feet depend downwardly from the lower tube.

5. The locking device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the complementary features of the engagement features include the feet, being a plurality of feet corresponding in number to the slots.

6. The locking device as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the complementary engagement features include the plurality of slots that are circumferentially spaced and arc-shaped.

7. The locking device as claimed in Claim 6, wherein each of the slots is adapted to receive both one of the feet of the plurality of feet and a corresponding tooth of the plurality of downwardly depending teeth.

8. The locking device as claimed Claim 7, wherein, in the combined complete device, each of the teeth rests adjacent a corresponding broad back leg edge of each of the feet.

9. The locking device as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the complementary features of the engagement features include at least one of the back leg edges that is set at an angle of .0 between 1 to 11 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.

10. The locking device as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, wherein the teeth or the feet are held in engagement with the body under a spring-loaded bias effected by a spring mechanism extending from the clamp to a floating plate.

11. The locking device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mounting base body includes a .s round plate that is round to facilitate coaxial alignment of the clamp with the mounting base and the plate has a thick body to accommodate one or more female engagement features that are in the form of the plurality of circumferentially spaced and arc-shaped slots.

12. The locking device as claimed in any one of Claims 5 - 11, wherein the slots are in the form of a triangulated set or a multiple set of equi-spaced arc-shaped slots.

13 The locking device as claimed in any one of Claims 2 - 12, wherein the series of axially aligned tubes includes the upper tube, the cylindrical tube and a tube sleeve, configured to cooperate in coaxial engagement with each other.

14. The locking device as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the cylindrical tube is adapted to receive the upper tube, and the tube sleeve is adapted to interlock with the lower tube to prevent inadvertent release of the teeth from the mounting base.

15. The locking device as claimed in Claim 13 or 14, wherein the lower tube and the tube sleeve have similar opposing ramps that mutually engage with one another on the tube sleeve being rotated about its axis relative to the lower tube.

16. The locking device as claimed in any one of Claims 3 -15, wherein the cylindrical tube is adapted to receive the pole so that a bottom end of the pole rests intermediate the length of the clamp.

17. The locking device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the bottom end of the pole rests on, near or adjacent the upper surface of the mounting base.

18. The locking device as claimed in any one of Claims 3 - 17, wherein the clamp is adapted to secure the pole at a point or region longitudinally spaced from the bottom end of the pole.

19. A method for installing a locking device including steps of:

.0 installing a mounting a base in a substrate including a ground or floor cavity;

mounting a pole-securing clamp to the base, the clamp including a cylindrical tube to receive and support a pole above the substrate, the cylindrical tube including feet that are profiles formed in a lower skirt wall of the cylindrical tube; and

releasably joining the clamp to the base with complementary engagement features,

.s the method further including the steps of:

permanently installing the mounting base in the substrate, the uppermost portion of the base lying at or below the ground or floor surface level and fixing the mounting base to the substrate therebelow;

aligning the clamp to secure it to the base by aligning the clamp with the base and rotating the clamp relative to the base to mate the engagement features;

engaging the feet, being a plurality of feet, with a corresponding plurality of circumferentially spaced slots formed in the mounting base; and

receiving a corresponding plurality of downwardly depending teeth extending from an upper tube of the clamp in the plurality of circumferentially spaced slots.

20. The method for installing a locking device as claimed in Claim 19, further including the step of resting each of the teeth adjacent a corresponding broad back leg edge of each of the feet.