EP1760200A1

EP1760200A1 - Auxiliary tool for traffic guide posts

Info

Publication number: EP1760200A1
Application number: EP05425613A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Elio Schiavone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-31
Filing date: 2005-08-31
Publication date: 2007-03-07

Abstract

The tool comprises a tube (18) which is open at its opposite ends, is sized for receiving the post (10) inserted therein with a substantially close fit, and is adapted to be vertically planted in the ground with one of its ends open to the atmosphere to define a mouth (24) for receiving the post (10) and supporting it vertically.

Description

The present invention relates to an auxiliary tool for traffic guide posts, particularly traffig guide posts provided with light reflectors.
For delineating the edge of the road at night, traffic guide posts are positioned along streets and highways, which posts support light reflectors capable of reflecting the light in the dark. Each post consists of a molded shell made of a synthetic material. The posts are driven into the ground along the edge of the road, and are spaced from each other of about 20-30 meters.
The plants and the shrubs growing in the ground near the posts are periodically trimmed by means of mowers, to prevent them from hiding the light reflectors.
However, during the pruning operations, it often happens that the post is accidentally bent or damaged by collision with the blades of the mower. As a result, the visibility of the post will be considerably reduced and the road will be consequently exposed to a risk of accidents. Moreover, the replacement of the post is an awkward operation, which requires the intervention of at least two dedicated operators, because the extraction of the damaged post, and the subsequent insertion of the new post into the ground, require a considerable effort, as well as suitable equipment.
Therefore, it is a main object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary tool for traffic guide posts, which makes it easier both to trim the vegetation around the post without damaging the latter, and to substitute the post, even by a single operator.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an easy-to-manufacture, unexpensive tool.
The above and other objects and advantages, which will better appear below, are achieved by an auxiliary tool having the features recited in claim 1, while the other claims state other advantageous, though secondary features of the invention.
The invention will be now described in more detail, with reference to a few preferred, non-exclusive embodiments, shown by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an auxiliary tool according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a view in axial, cross-section of the tool of Fig. 1, with associated a traffic guide post positioned in an operative configuration on the edge of a road;
Fig. 3 is a perpective view of the auxiliary tool according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

With initial reference to Figs. 1, 2, a general traffic guide post 10 consists of a tubular member 12 of a synthetic material having a triangular profile and provided with light reflectors 14 capable of reflecting the light in the dark, which are mounted at the top of the post. Post 10 is intended to be positioned at the edge of a road 16, toghether with other posts of the same type spaced from each other of about 20-30 meters.
Post 10 is vertically supported by an auxiliary tool comprising a tube 18 of a synthetic material, such as reclaimed polypropylene or polyethylene. Tube 18 is insertable into a hole 20 which has been previously digged in the ground 22. Tube 18 is open at its upper end to define a mouth 24 for receiving the post inserted therein in a vertical direction, as well as at its lower end 26.
Tube 18 has a triangular profile with beveled edges, and is provided with three side walls 18a, 18b, 18c which are sized for matching internally with the outer profile of post 10 in order that the post is received in the tube with a substantially close fit.
Mouth 24 is provided with a overhanging lip 28 for sustaining the tube at ground level when inserted in the ground. The lower end 26 of tube 18 is curved inwardly in 26a to define an abutment for the insertion end of the post.
Saw-toothed transverse ribs such as 30 are externally formed on the side walls 18a, 18b, 18c for restraining the tube in the ground when the post is pulled out.
Longitudinal ribs such as 31 are formed on the inner surface of each of side walls 18a, 18b, 18c, for the scopes that will be clarified below.
Preferably, the height of tube 18 is 1/3 of the height of post 10. For instance, with traffic guide posts 1350 mm high, tubular support 18 will be 450 mm high.
It has been found that the opposite needs of reducing the weight and increasing the sturdiness of the tubular support are both satisfied with walls 2 to 6 mm thick, preferably 4 mm thick.
The auxiliary tool also comprises a molded plug 32 of a sinthetyc material, preferably rubber, which is insertable into the upper end of tube 18 in order to close mouth 24 when post 18 is not inserted. Plug 32 has a triangular bottom 34 with rounded corners, as well as a peripheral wall 36 defining a triangular profile which matches externally with the inner profile of tube 18, so that the plug may be slightly forced into mouth 24. A pin 38 rising from bottom 34 may be grasped for removing plug 32 from the tube.
In the use, hole 20 is digged in the ground, the depth of the hole being substantially equal to the height of the tube. Thereafter, tube 18 is inserted into the hole, and then the ground surrounding the tube is compacted in order to firmly fix the tube in place. Now, post 10 may be inserted into tube 18 through mouth 24. When trimming operations or mainteinance operations are required, post 10 is pulled out and plug 32 is inserted to close mouth 24, in order to prevent stones, sand, and the like, from falling into the tube. Longitudinal ribs 31 have the scope of reducing the contact surface between the post and the tube, so that the post may be inserted without effort even when the ground, e.g. when wet after rain, pushes laterally on the side walls of the tube which, consequently, becomes narrower.
As it will be immediately understood by the person skilled in the art, both tube 18 and plug 32 can be easily manufactured enbloc by molding.
An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 3, where tube 118 is profiled to receive traffic guide posts 110 having a flat rectangular profile. To this purpose, the tube has a corresponding flat rectangular profile with two opposite, main side walls 118a, 118b which are sized for matching internally with the outer profile of the post, which is provided with light reflectors 114.
The above embodiment is similar to the first one in that the mouth has a overhanging lip 128, the lower end of the tube is curved inwardly in 126a, saw-toothed transverse ribs 130 are externally formed on main walls 118a, 118b, and longitudinal ribs 131 are formed on the inner surface of each of side walls 118a, 118b. Moreover, the tool of this alternative embodiment also comprises a plug 132 which has a rectangular bottom 134 with an extraction pin 138 rising therefrom, and a peripheral wall 136 which matches with the inner profile of the tube.
A few preferred embodiments have been described herein, but of course many changes may be made by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the inventive concept. For instance, though a saw-toothed profile is preferred for the transverse ribs, because it allows the tube to be easily inserted into the ground without causing landslips, however other different profiles are possible, e.g., a rectangular profile.

Claims

An auxiliary tool for traffic guide posts, characterized in that it comprises a tube (18) which is open at its opposite ends, is sized for receiving the post (10) inserted therein with a substantially close fit, and is adapted to be vertically planted in the ground with one of said ends open to the atmosphere to define a mouth (24) for receiving the post (10) and supporting it vertically.
The tool of claim 1, characterized in that said tube (18) has an inner profile which substantially matches with the outer profile of the post (10).
The tool of claim 2, where said post (10) consists of a tubular member (12) having a triangular profile, characterized in that said tube (18) has a corresponding triangular profile with three side walls (18a, 18b, 18c) which are sized for matching internally with the outer profile of post (10).
The tool of claim 2, where said post (10) consists of a tubular member (12) having a substantially rectangular profile, characterized in that said tube (118) has a corresponding, substantially rectangular profile with two opposite, main walls (118a, 118b) which are sized for matching internally with the outer profile of post (110).
The tool of any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the end (26) of the tube opposite to the mouth (24) is curved inwardly (26a) to define an abutment for the insertion end of the post
The tool of any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said mouth (24) is surrounded by a overhanging lip (28).
The tool of any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that transverse ribs (30) are externally formed on the tube (18) and are shaped to restrain the tube in the ground when the post is pulled out.
The tool of any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a plug (32) adapted to be forced into mouth (24) when the post (10) is not inserted, which plug comprises a bottom (34) and a peripheral wall (36) shaped to externally match with the inner profile of the tube (18).
The tool of any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the material of the tube (18, 118) is reclaimed popypropylene.
The tool of any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that longitudinal ribs (31) are formed on the inner surface of each of the side walls (18a, 18b, 18c) to contact the outer surface of the post.