CA2172027A1 - Protective warning post - Google Patents

Protective warning post

Info

Publication number
CA2172027A1
CA2172027A1 CA002172027A CA2172027A CA2172027A1 CA 2172027 A1 CA2172027 A1 CA 2172027A1 CA 002172027 A CA002172027 A CA 002172027A CA 2172027 A CA2172027 A CA 2172027A CA 2172027 A1 CA2172027 A1 CA 2172027A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
post
lamp
motor vehicle
protective
alarm
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002172027A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Larry Battle
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA002172027A priority Critical patent/CA2172027A1/en
Publication of CA2172027A1 publication Critical patent/CA2172027A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01FADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F9/00Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
    • E01F9/60Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs
    • E01F9/623Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs characterised by form or by structural features, e.g. for enabling displacement or deflection
    • E01F9/627Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs characterised by form or by structural features, e.g. for enabling displacement or deflection self-righting after deflection or displacement
    • E01F9/629Traffic guidance, warning or control posts, bollards, pillars or like upstanding bodies or structures

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Emergency Alarm Devices (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Abstract

A protective post for guarding gasoline filling station pumps, drive up teller machines, and the like. The post has structural strength for resisting collision by a motor vehicle.
It is hinged to its base by a stout spring. The post includes a rubber outer cover and an internal resilient layer, both surrounding a metal core member. Thus, the structure of the post both compresses resiliently and leans in response to contact by a motor vehicle. Both the guarded structure and the vehicle are spared damage by this construction. The warning post has contact actuated visible and audible alarms. Warning or commercial messages in the form of incidia may be located on the exterior surface.

Description

PROTECTIVE WARNING POST

BACRGROUND OF THE lNv~ IoN
1. FIELD OF TEE lNv~:N~loN
The present invention relates to a guard protecting a delicate structure from impact by motor vehicles. The guard is in the form of a post secured to a driveway or curb located proximate the protected structure.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Protective barriers for protecting a delicate structure, such as a filling station pump, are known. These devices generally comprise a stout pipe, embedded in a concrete base, and reinforced, as by filling with concrete. These devices provide an unyielding barrier. This barrier protects its subject object, but at potential cost of severe damage to a motor vehicle.
French Patent No. 1,026,771, dated May 1953, discloses a traffic island for protecting pedestrians crossing busy roads.
The traffic island, which has a protective post, yieldingly stops a vehicle colliding with the post. The post is illuminated so that it will be conspicuous. There is no accommodation for protecting the vehicle, and no warning alarm in either the French reference, nor in the pipe type barriers discussed above.
Yielding reaction to impact is illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 4,747,725, issued to Sven R.V. Gebelius on May 31, 1988, and U.K. Patent No. 1,391,061, dated April 1975. These patents show traffic indicating lights of the breakaway type. The device which is the subject of the U.K. reference includes a warning light which is activated upon separation of the light from its mooring. These inventions yield, but break away in so doing, and consequently will not protect an object from 2 1 72~127 impact. They also lack warnings which operate upon light contact.
A vertically oriented warning device which illuminates a lamp upon contact is seen in U.S. Patent No. 5,227,785, issued to William S. Gann on July 13, 1993. This device lacks the strength to resist impact, being intended for use in executing slow, deliberate parking maneuvers. It also lacks features for protecting a motor vehicle.
U.S. Patent Nos. 2,454,896, issued to Ellis Traub on November 30, 1948, 2,658,967, issued to Arthur L. Matschke, Jr.
on November 10, 1953, and 2,879,350, issued to Clarence A.
Howell on March 24, 1959, show feelers for detecting a vehicle and energizing an alarm responsive thereto. Matschke's device is rubber coated to protect the finish of the motor vehicle.
There is no structural integrity for resisting impact. In these three devices, the lamp is remote from the feeler.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a user friendly barrier for protecting structures which have traditionally been protected by solid barriers. The barrier accommodates incidental or light contact by a motor vehicle, and includes features designed to minimize damage to a vehicle.
The overall configuration is that of the familiar vertical pole. However, a stout spring located at the ground enables the pole to tilt without damage if contacted. This protects both the pole and the vehicle. A further feature protecting primarily the motor vehicle is the provision of flexible, resilient outer materials.
The device is reinforced by sufficiently strong inner ~ i 72~21 components to provide resistance to being demolished or pushed aside. For one, the above-mentioned spring is strong enough to resist breaking from its points of attachment. Also, the body of the pole has an inner metal member, such as a pipe, which resists deformation.
The device also includes warnings for apprising a driver of contact therewith. Two active alarms are provided. In response to contact, a lamp on top of the pole illuminates, and an audible alarm is also activated. Preferably, the audible alarm includes a synthesized voice advising the driver to stop or back up. An additional warning is provided by indicia disposed upon the pole. This indicia may take the form of a cautionary word, or may include readily recognizable symbols, such as striping in appropriate colors.
Where desired, the latter protection is omitted, there being commercial or other identifying indicia instead.
The novel arrangement encourages hesitant drivers to approach and maneuver with greater confidence, knowing that damage will not ensue if a slight miscalculation is made.- This will encourage some people who otherwise might be intimated to use the protected facilities. It may also hasten the necessary maneuvers of others, thus saving time for those users and those who must wait for the latter users to complete their activities or transactions.
The nature of the alarms is reassuring to drivers. An audible alarm which is not extreme in its characteristics will not induce a panic reaction in an unsure driver. The visible alarm precisely locates the object being contacted by the motor vehicle. This combination in particular, especially considering the yielding nature of the post, will mitigate excessive caution and still assist most motorists in maneuvering into place at the facility.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to 21 72û27 provide a vertical post for protecting a delicate facility from contact with or impact from a motor vehicle.
It is another object of the invention to cause the post to yield to incidental contact with a motor vehicle.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a visual alarm warning of incidental contact with a motor vehicle.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an audible alarm warning of incidental contact with a motor vehicle.
An additional ob~ect of the invention is to avoid damage to a motor vehicle in the event of incidental contact with the post.
It is again an object of the invention to provide a self-contained electrical power source.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic, side cross-sectional view of the novel protective post, illustrating contact with a motor vehicle; and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic, side elevational view of the post, showing an alternative embodiment of the invention, including a battery power source and indicia disposed upon the post.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

21 ~ 2~27 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 shows the novel protective warning post 10 being incidentally contacted by a motor vehicle. In this context, incidental contact will be understood to signify contact wherein a motor vehicle touches and moves the upper portion of post 10, continuously and at low speeds, as frequently encountered during maneuvering.
Post 10 has a body 12 including a rigid internal structural member 14, such as a suitably sized section of pipe, for maintaining the elongated and generally cylindrical outer configuration of body 12. Surrounding member 14 to the exterior is a protective resilient member 16, which may be made from foam rubber or the like. Member 14 will maintain a constant outer configuration when undisturbed, but will yield resiliently to incidental contact, as shown in the depiction of Fig. 1. Member 14 thus prevents damage to the finish of a motor vehicle. A rubber boot 18 is preferably disposed about member 16, to exclude dust, water, and similar environmental elements, while retaining the resilient characteristics of member 16.
Body 12 thus generally maintains a characteristic, predetermined configuration, despite localized and temporary deformation. This configuration is maintained in part due to the following hinging arrangement. A stout coil spring 19, of strength and elastic memory capable of withstanding incidental contact by temporarily bending but not deforming, is attached to body 12 and also to a rigid base 20. Spring 19 enables body 12 to return to its original configuration after a vehicle contacting post 10 moves out of contact therewith. Base 20 is anchored to an environmental surface, which will in most cases be concrete or asphalt 22.
Post 10 includes a visible alarm 24 and an audible alarm 26. Alarms 24 and 26 are actuated by a tilt switch 28, such - 2~ 7~

as a switch making electrical contact when moved from the original orientation. Switch 28 closes electrical circuitry 30 extending from a power source (not shown) to alarms 24,26.
Electrical circuitry 30 will be understood to encompass all individual electrical conductors operably connecting the various electrical alarm components and extending to a connection (not shownj to the external power source. Visible and audible alarm elements are located atop post 10, as shown.
Visible alarm 24 comprises a lamp 32 covered by a lens 34.
A flasher 36 is disposed in circuit 30 to cause lamp 32 to light intermittently.
Audible alarm 26 comprises a voice synthesizer 38 and a speaker 40. A preferred form of audible signal includes a synthetic voice message advising the driver of proximity to post 10 or to the facility protected thereby, and further advising the driver to back away therefrom. A voice message is preferred to a buzzer or siren, since it will more likely provoke an intentional response, rather than a panic response.
Turning now to Fig. 2, an alternative émbodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment, indicia 42 is located on the exterior of boot 18. This indicia 42 may be cautionary or warning in nature, as shown, or may be related to the identity of the owner of the protected facility.
In contrast to the embodiment of Fig. 1, wherein electrical circuitry 30 is connected to AC power from an electrical utility, post 10 may have a battery power source 44 contained integrally therewith. Battery power source 44 is located at any convenient protected location, in this case within structural member 14.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (16)

1. A protective warning post comprising:
a base mountable to an environmental surface;
a body having an elongated configuration and an internal structural member having sufficient strength and rigidity to retain its configuration without being appreciably damaged due to incidental contact by a motor vehicle;
hinge means yieldingly attaching said body to said base, said hinge means having sufficient strength and elastic memory to return said post to its original configuration after contact by a motor vehicle; and an alarm attached to said body, including electrical circuity for connection to a power source and means for actuating said alarm responsive to incidental contact by a motor vehicle with said post.
2. The protective warning post according to claim 1, said body further comprising a protective resilient member disposed outside said internal structural member, for preventing damage to the finish of a motor vehicle making incidental contact with said post.
3. The protective warning post according to claim 1, wherein said alarm is a visible alarm.
4. The protective warning post according to claim 3, wherein said alarm comprises a lamp disposed atop said post, a lens covering said lamp, and a flasher controlling electrical power to said lamp and causing said lamp to light intermittently.
5. The protective warning post according to claim 1, wherein said alarm is an audible alarm.
6. The protective warning post according to claim 5, wherein said alarm comprises a voice synthesizer and a speaker operably connected to said voice synthesizer.
7. The protective warning post according to claim 6, further comprising a lamp disposed atop said post including a lens covering said lamp, and a flasher controlling electrical power to said lamp and causing said lamp to light intermittently.
8. The protective warning post according to claim 1, further comprising warning indicia exteriorly and visibly disposed thereon.
9. The protective warning post according to claim 1, further comprising a battery connected to said electrical circuitry.
10. The protective warning post according to claim 1, said hinge means comprising a coil spring.
11. A protective warning post comprising:
a base mountable to an environmental surface;
a body having an elongated configuration, an internal structural member having sufficient strength and rigidity to retain its configuration without being appreciably damaged due to incidental contact by a motor vehicle, and a protective resilient member disposed outside said internal structural member, for preventing damage to the finish of a motor vehicle making incidental contact with said post;
hinge means yieldingly attaching said body to said base, said hinge means having sufficient strength and elastic memory to return said post to its original configuration after contact by a motor vehicle: and a visible alarm comprising electrical circuitry for connection to a power source and a lamp disposed atop said post, a lens covering said lamp, and a flasher controlling electrical power to said lamp and causing said lamp to light intermittently and means for actuating said alarm responsive to incidental contact by a motor vehicle with said post.
12. The protective warning post according to claim 11, further comprising an audible alarm connected to said electrical circuitry, and including a speaker and a voice synthesizer operably connected to said speaker.
13. The protective warning post according to claim 11, further comprising warning indicia exteriorly and visibly disposed thereon.
14. The protective warning post according to claim 11, further comprising a battery connected to said electrical circuitry .
15. The protective warning post according to claim 11, said hinge means comprising a coil spring.
16. A protective warning post comprising:
a base mountable to an environmental surface;
a body having an elongated configuration, an internal structural member having sufficient strength and rigidity to retain its configuration without being appreciably damaged due to incidental contact by a motor vehicle, and a protective resilient member disposed outside said internal structural member, for preventing damage to the finish of a motor vehicle making incidental contact with said post;
hinge means yieldingly attaching said body to said base, said hinge means comprising a coil spring and having sufficient strength and elastic memory to return said post to its original configuration after contact by a motor vehicle;
a visible alarm comprising electrical circuitry for connection to a power source and a lamp disposed atop said post, a lens covering said lamp, and a flasher controlling electrical power to said lamp and causing said lamp to light intermittently and means for actuating said alarm responsive to incidental contact by a motor vehicle with said post;
an audible alarm connected to said electrical circuitry, said audible alarm including a speaker and a voice synthesizer operably connected to said speaker; and warning incidia exteriorly and visibly disposed upon said post.
CA002172027A 1996-03-18 1996-03-18 Protective warning post Abandoned CA2172027A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002172027A CA2172027A1 (en) 1996-03-18 1996-03-18 Protective warning post

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002172027A CA2172027A1 (en) 1996-03-18 1996-03-18 Protective warning post

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2172027A1 true CA2172027A1 (en) 1997-09-19

Family

ID=4157772

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002172027A Abandoned CA2172027A1 (en) 1996-03-18 1996-03-18 Protective warning post

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2172027A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2527284A (en) * 2014-06-11 2015-12-23 Robert Moores Rotating rubberised bollard (RRB)
SE545101C2 (en) * 2018-10-18 2023-04-04 Anders Grandin Apparatus in the form of a pole unit

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2527284A (en) * 2014-06-11 2015-12-23 Robert Moores Rotating rubberised bollard (RRB)
SE545101C2 (en) * 2018-10-18 2023-04-04 Anders Grandin Apparatus in the form of a pole unit

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5500642A (en) Protective warning post
US5597262A (en) Resilient traffic bollard with rotatable collar
US6288651B1 (en) Portable roadway perimeter alarm
US20090260562A1 (en) Retractable Parking and Safety Cone and Method of Use
US5397197A (en) Resilient bollard with rotatable collar for alerting vehicles of their location
US5231392A (en) Portable vehicle parking assistance device
US5273371A (en) Signalling post
EP1379749A1 (en) Railroad grade crossing assembly
CN209779489U (en) Device for limiting motor vehicle to drive into non-motor vehicle lane
KR200401533Y1 (en) A prevent plate for enter of car
US20100301294A1 (en) Construction site fence panel foot boot
CA2172027A1 (en) Protective warning post
KR200414622Y1 (en) Indication bar for road boundary
US5012222A (en) Proximity warning device for protection of a parked vehicle
EP0784124B1 (en) Additional flag-type marker
CN206512629U (en) Traffic warning post and traffic warning barrier
KR200265853Y1 (en) Parking location information block
KR200229711Y1 (en) Automobile Black Box
JP2003301425A (en) Delineator post and reflector
US2030623A (en) Highway guard post
JP2008156961A (en) Unauthorized-parking preventing device
CN212505953U (en) Multifunctional guideboard stand
JP2005207158A (en) Buffer marking body like invasion regulation fence
CN213115726U (en) Novel parking stall lock with anticollision protect function
CN212641255U (en) Road traffic sign

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FZDE Discontinued
FZDE Discontinued

Effective date: 20030318