EP0727525A2 - Assemblage à connections verrouillables - Google Patents

Assemblage à connections verrouillables Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0727525A2
EP0727525A2 EP96301030A EP96301030A EP0727525A2 EP 0727525 A2 EP0727525 A2 EP 0727525A2 EP 96301030 A EP96301030 A EP 96301030A EP 96301030 A EP96301030 A EP 96301030A EP 0727525 A2 EP0727525 A2 EP 0727525A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
post
aperture
engagement member
linkage
locking
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP96301030A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0727525A3 (fr
Inventor
John Michael Norman
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.)
BRAMMER SYSTEMS Ltd
Original Assignee
BRAMMER SYSTEMS Ltd
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 BRAMMER SYSTEMS Ltd filed Critical BRAMMER SYSTEMS Ltd
Publication of EP0727525A2 publication Critical patent/EP0727525A2/fr
Publication of EP0727525A3 publication Critical patent/EP0727525A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F13/00—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions
    • E01F13/02—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions free-standing; portable, e.g. for guarding open manholes ; Portable signs or signals specially adapted for fitting to portable barriers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a lockable linkage assembly of a general type particularly suited for use with temporary traffic signs and traffic barriers, although the lockable linkage assembly in accordance to the present invention has many uses as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
  • Temporary traffic barriers and traffic signs are well known features of road maintenance and have become progressively more sophisticated as traffic speeds increase and road and motorway maintenance becomes more complex. Temporary traffic barriers are utilised to denote the edge of works on the motorway, but are also used by public utilities to prevent the public from inadvertently falling into holes, and during exhibitions, festivals etc to denote the edges of public access.
  • Such temporary barriers should be readily erected and dismantled, and provide a suitable barrier which it is relatively difficult to cross and prevents at least inadvertent access to an area.
  • a problem in connection with temporary signage and barrier arrangements is that it is the conventional practice to provide such barriers and signs in metal for durability.
  • the difficulty with such arrangements it that the parts are heavy to carry and if hit by a car or moving machinery can fly about and cause serious injury.
  • More particularly such metal signs and barriers are customarily formed of aluminium, because of its advantageous anti-corrosion and low weight properties. Aluminium is however a relatively expensive metal, it being a known problem that such signs are stolen from their location and melted down for resale of the metal. This unlawful removal of signs and barriers is dangerous in that, for example, their function to alert and possibly divert pedestrians and road users is no longer provided. Replacing the signs and barriers is moreover costly.
  • a sign and/or barrier system which is light, stable, and which is difficult to tamper with so as to prevent undesired disassembly, but which is also sufficiently resilient such that blows, from for example wayward vehicles, can be absorbed without disassembly or destruction of the parts.
  • buttons are located in a spaced relation at the end of a hollow extruded rail member, said buttons engaging in elongate slots in the post.
  • the rail is retained in the slot by its own weight. It will be immediately apparent that especially after a little wear the rail may be inadvertently removed from the post, may be readily disassembled on being hit by machinery, and is open to ready vandalisation.
  • the present invention seeks to provide a cheap and readily utilisable solution to at least some of these problems to provide an improved post assembly particularly for supporting traffic signs and barriers.
  • a lockable linkage assembly comprising;
  • the assembly arrangement is moreover compact and aesthetically pleasing.
  • the locking means preferably comprises a locking member which is movable relative to the post to a position where it impedes movement of an inserted engagement member that would allow its removal.
  • Such an arrangement provides a reliable mechanism for locking an inserted engagement member in place in the post.
  • the locking member comprises an inner sleeve provided within the post.
  • a sleeve is preferred in that it offers the advantage of strength and if used with a circular cross-sectioned post is naturally axially aligned within the post.
  • the inner sleeve has a sleeve aperture, the sleeve being movable from an unlocked position, where the sleeve aperture is aligned with the first aperture to allow insertion of the engagement member, to a locked position, where the sleeve aperture and the first aperture are not aligned to thereby inhibit removal of an inserted engagement member.
  • the locking member is slidably movable relative to the post.
  • the assembly can be kept simple and compact, the sliding relative surfaces of the post and inner sleeve having a self aligning function.
  • the locking member is rotatably mounted within the post.
  • the locking means can be made more compact in the axial direction of the post. Consequently the first aperture of the post can be placed higher in the post, whilst still retaining the antitampering advantages of the assembly. Also, since the area of contact surfaces between the post and inner sleeve is reduced, the locking means is less likely to jam should dirt enter the post.
  • the engagement member is provided with an enlarged end.
  • the end section of the engagement member may comprise a ball fastened to a rope section, a planar tongue member having a recess, or a button member formed at the end of an arm portion.
  • the end section of the engagement member may comprises a tongue having an aperture which can receive a locking element provided on the locking member.
  • the second linkage member may comprise a traffic barrier, or an information display means, such as a sign.
  • the upper section of a post 1 is of a generally cylindrical configuration and formed of high density polyethylene. Whilst a circular configuration is preferred for strength, alternative sections of post may be employed.
  • the post is located in a base member 25, as shown in Figure 18, the base member being generally circular in cross-section and weighted to provide a measure of stability to the post located thereby.
  • the post is adapted to support, for example, a traffic barrier rail or perhaps a sign.
  • the post is provided about its circumferential surface with one or more apertures in the form, for example, of a slot or slots 2.
  • each such slot is arranged to receive an engagement member 3 formed at the end of a sign or barrier rail.
  • the engagement member takes the form of a vertically disposed tongue 3 of planar configuration.
  • the end of the tongue has a height which approximates to the height of the slot 2 in the post so that the tongue can be readily inserted into the post.
  • an identical or a similar lower tongue may be used in connection with a lower vertical slot, as shown in Figure 18.
  • the barrier is intended to extend in a generally normal direction to a tangent at the point of connection to the post.
  • the tongue 3 comprises at its lower portion a recess 4 and below the recess a cutaway portion 5.
  • the tongue can pivot about the contacting surfaces of the slot and recess so as to swing in the vertical plane whilst the lower tongue still cooperates in the lower vertical slot to retain the vertical orientation.
  • the tongue can move downwardly at the end remote from the linkage assembly by virtue of the cutaway portion.
  • the tongue portion can be introduced into the slot, following which it is then moved relatively downwardly with respect to the post thereby positioning the recess 4 in the bottom portion of the vertical slot.
  • the slot 2 has a width just larger than the tongue so as to prevent undue lateral movement of the tongue when inserted. In this way the rigidity of the assembly is increased.
  • a locking means for releasably locking the engagement member in the post is provided on the post.
  • the locking means takes the form of an inner sleeve 6 arranged within the post 1 for slidable movement substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the post, namely in a vertical direction with the post upright.
  • the inner sleeve 6 shown in hatching is provided with an aperture or cut-out portion 7 which in an unlocked position "U" of the assembly is aligned with the aperture 2 in the post to allow the engagement member of the tongue to be inserted in and retracted from the post. This is shown particularly in Figure 2.
  • the post preferably includes a second aperture 10 in the form of a vertically arranged slot in which slidably receives a locking bolt 11 threadedly attached to the inner sleeve.
  • the bolt 11 can be tightened to clamp and lock the inner sleeve 6 in position relative to the post 1.
  • the cut-out portion 7 in the inner sleeve can be secured in locked “L” and unlocked “U” positions to prevent or allow movement of the engagement member into and out from the post.
  • the inner sleeve may, for example, include a locking ring which projects therefrom in the slot and which can be aligned with a similar ring on the post such that the two rings can receive, for example a padlock, thereby locking the two together in the locked position.
  • the slot 10 and bolt arrangement also serves to guide the movement of the inner sleeve within the post.
  • the head 12 of the bolt 11 is relatively large and/or the bolt may include a washer, thereby preventing damage to the post on tightening of the bolt.
  • Locked positions of the locking means are shown in Figures 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9 whereas unlocked positions are shown in Figures 2, 5 and 8.
  • the engagement member can take on different forms, for example a planar tongue as described above in relation to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, a ball 8 and rope 9 arrangement as in the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6 or a T-bar type of arrangement as in the embodiment of Figures 7 to 9.
  • a planar tongue as described above in relation to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3
  • a ball 8 and rope 9 arrangement as in the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6
  • a T-bar type of arrangement as in the embodiment of Figures 7 to 9.
  • it is however a feature that the end of the engagement member has an enlarged portion which is trapped within the post and locked in a trapped position once the effective post aperture has been reduced.
  • the orientation or shape thereof may be varied to inhibit removal of the engagement member once inserted in the first linkage member aperture.
  • the inner sleeve 6 itself is shown as a complete inner tube section.
  • This tubular nature is advantageous as it offers high strength and rigidity and also assists in ensuring a correct sliding movement of the locking means with respect to the post.
  • the tubular shape may be used, for example the locking member may be provided as a planar or curved strip, which is movable to affect the reduction in size of the aperture in the post.
  • the post itself need not be of a circular cross-section, although this is preferred, particularly for its strength and self alignment advantages in relation to an arcuate locking means.
  • a square, hexagonal or elliptical section may for example be used as an alternative.
  • the locking means again takes the form of an inner sleeve 6 provided within the post 1, but in these embodiments the sleeve is arranged to rotate within the post about the axis thereof.
  • the inner sleeve 6 in each of these embodiments includes a "L-shaped" cut-out portion 13, the sleeve being movable between an unlocked position "U", where the cut-out portion 13 is aligned with the aperture 2 in the post, so as to allow movement of the sign or barrier engagement member into or out of the post, and a locked position "L” where the sleeve 6 is moved to cover up part of the aperture thereby reducing the effective size thereof and thus consequently preventing insertion or retraction of the engagement member 3.
  • the rotatable inner sleeve 6 is completely housed within the post 1 whereby unauthorised access thereto is severely restricted.
  • a cap (not shown) may secured on to the top of the post 1 to further inhibit access to the locking means.
  • the rotational action of the locking sleeve allows the post aperture 2 to be placed at a relatively high position on the post, without the locking means being accessible at the top of the post, again inhibiting possible tampering.
  • the rotatable inner sleeve is also less likely to jam due to an ingress of dirt between the relative moving surfaces of the inner sleeve and post since the area of contact of such surfaces in reduced.
  • An edge 14 of the cut-out portion 13 in the inner sleeve 6 may be inclined or radiussed to ease the engagement member into the locked position on rotating the inner sleeve.
  • the inner sleeve 6 may include a threaded or camming section on its exterior for engagement with a corresponding threaded or camming section provided on an inner surface of the post 1. With such an arrangement, a movement applied to the inner sleeve can be translated into an accurate relative locking or unlocking movement between the inner sleeve and post.
  • a large key inserted, for example, longitudinally into the top of the post, may be utilised in such an arrangement to apply a suitable rotational movement to the inner sleeve.
  • a catch for example a spring clip arrangement or a rib and groove arrangement, may be provided between the inner sleeve and post to enhance the locking action therebetween.
  • FIG. 11 A further type of engagement member is shown in Figure 11 comprising a button ended rod 15, which is receivable in a suitably shaped aperture 2 in the post.
  • a further aperture is provided in the form of a slot 10 in which is received a bolt 11 having an enlarged head 12.
  • the bolt is threadedly fixed to the inner sleeve 6.
  • Figures 12 and 13 show cross-sectional views of the embodiment of Figure 10. As shown bolt 11 is threadedly received in inner sleeve 6 and is slidably received in slot 10 in the wall of post 1.
  • the bolt head 12 has a shouldered portion 16.
  • the bolt In an unlocked position of the assembly as marked “U” (shown in Figure 10) on the post adjacent the slot 10, the bolt is in a leftward position of the slot 10 so that the cut out portion 13 in the inner sleeve is aligned with the post aperture 2 to allow engagement member 3 access into the post or retraction therefrom.
  • the effective area of the post aperture is reduced thus preventing removal of the engagement member.
  • the slot 10 includes a recess at the right extent thereof to take the shoulder provided on the bolt. In this way correct positioning of the bolt in the locking position can be easily established.
  • the bolt itself includes a suitable recess 17 in its head as shown in Figure 10 so that it can only readily be fastened and more importantly unfastened with an appropriate tool, e.g. an allen key.
  • an appropriate tool e.g. an allen key.
  • Figures 14 and 15 show further embodiments in locked positions.
  • the contours of the engagement member 3 and the openings 2 and 7 afford the engagement member increased pivotal movement relative to the axis of the post whilst remaining locked thereto.
  • the enlarged end of the engagement member is provided by forming a recess 18 in the upper edge thereof.
  • the phantom lines shown indicate the large range of pivotal movement of the engagement member permitted by the locking means whilst preventing removal of the engagement member.
  • the engagement member 3 is itself formed with an aperture 19 which receives a locking element 20 formed in the cut-out portion of the inner sleeve 6.
  • the locking element is shown integrally formed although any suitable locking element may be used.
  • Figure 18 shows a post 1 which can be used with all embodiments of the present invention, where a single inner sleeve 6 is used to releasably lock in position four engagement members 3 either by rotational or vertical movement of the sleeve.
  • locking assembly may be used at different areas of the post.
  • vertical movement arrangements as shown in Figure 1 may be used in combination with rotational movement arrangements, as shown in Figure 10, on the same post but at different areas thereof.
  • post rails and base are all formed of a resilient plastics material such as HDPE, and since the locking assembly makes it difficult for the engagement members and post to separate, barrier and sign systems in accordance to the present invention are particular resistant to sideways thrusts since they are strong, resilient and do not disassemble on impact.
  • the plastics portions are light enough such that if hit by a car at speed, for example, they may separate but will do little damage.
  • the arrangements in accordance to the present invention are particular suited to temporary traffic barriers, barriers for exhibitions and shows, and barriers for incidental small works, but the linkage itself is of wider applicability for use for other purposes than temporary motorway barriers.
  • the post assembly it is also possible to use the post assembly to support motorway signage such as speed limits, hazard warnings etc.
  • the assemblies described herein may also be applied to permanent road signage arrangements where the secure locking nature of the various assemblies can be advantageous in preventing tampering and theft of, for example, large signs formed of expensive materials such as aluminium.
  • the locking sleeve may be provided on the exterior of the post.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Refuge Islands, Traffic Blockers, Or Guard Fence (AREA)
EP96301030A 1995-02-14 1996-02-14 Assemblage à connections verrouillables Withdrawn EP0727525A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9502886.6A GB9502886D0 (en) 1995-02-14 1995-02-14 Lockable linkage assembly
GB9502886 1995-02-14

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0727525A2 true EP0727525A2 (fr) 1996-08-21
EP0727525A3 EP0727525A3 (fr) 1996-12-04

Family

ID=10769587

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96301030A Withdrawn EP0727525A3 (fr) 1995-02-14 1996-02-14 Assemblage à connections verrouillables

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0727525A3 (fr)
GB (1) GB9502886D0 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2974398A1 (fr) * 2011-04-20 2012-10-26 Christian Desire Amour Goze Crochets pour mobilier urbain

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0100010A2 (fr) * 1982-07-24 1984-02-08 HARDWARE & SYSTEM PATENTS LIMITED Fermeture pour porte ou fenêtre coulissante
FR2543416A1 (fr) * 1983-03-29 1984-10-05 Samia Ste Fse Perfectionnements apportes aux pietements pivotants, et mobilier, notamment elements de barriere deplacable, equipe de tels pietements
FR2547845A1 (fr) * 1983-06-23 1984-12-28 Ragot Expl Anc Ets Barriere de circulation multidirectionnelle
DE3331811A1 (de) * 1983-08-20 1985-02-28 Günter 8035 Gauting Reinhold Geruestfeld, insbesondere fuer baustellen
FR2553813A1 (fr) * 1983-10-21 1985-04-26 Reunis Sa Ateliers Barriere pour arreter ou guider le public
DE3345324A1 (de) * 1983-12-15 1985-06-27 Maibach, Gerd Dieter, 7326 Heiningen Absperrzaun
US4787602A (en) * 1987-05-01 1988-11-29 Glasdon Limited Tethers/anchorage assemblies

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0100010A2 (fr) * 1982-07-24 1984-02-08 HARDWARE & SYSTEM PATENTS LIMITED Fermeture pour porte ou fenêtre coulissante
FR2543416A1 (fr) * 1983-03-29 1984-10-05 Samia Ste Fse Perfectionnements apportes aux pietements pivotants, et mobilier, notamment elements de barriere deplacable, equipe de tels pietements
FR2547845A1 (fr) * 1983-06-23 1984-12-28 Ragot Expl Anc Ets Barriere de circulation multidirectionnelle
DE3331811A1 (de) * 1983-08-20 1985-02-28 Günter 8035 Gauting Reinhold Geruestfeld, insbesondere fuer baustellen
FR2553813A1 (fr) * 1983-10-21 1985-04-26 Reunis Sa Ateliers Barriere pour arreter ou guider le public
DE3345324A1 (de) * 1983-12-15 1985-06-27 Maibach, Gerd Dieter, 7326 Heiningen Absperrzaun
US4787602A (en) * 1987-05-01 1988-11-29 Glasdon Limited Tethers/anchorage assemblies

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2974398A1 (fr) * 2011-04-20 2012-10-26 Christian Desire Amour Goze Crochets pour mobilier urbain

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0727525A3 (fr) 1996-12-04
GB9502886D0 (en) 1995-04-05

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