EP3242984B1

EP3242984B1 - Support for a post

Info

Publication number: EP3242984B1
Application number: EP16701984.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alan TYRRELL; Stuart Gordon YOUNG
Original assignee: Ej Uk Fabrication & Access Solutions Ltd
Current assignee: Ej Uk Fabrication & Access Solutions Ltd
Priority date: 2015-01-08
Filing date: 2016-01-07
Publication date: 2019-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 2036-01-07
Also published as: EP3242984A1; GB201600301D0; WO2016110703A1; GB2535312A; GB201500244D0; GB2534354A

Description

The invention relates to a support and in particular to a support for supporting a pole or post in the ground.
Supports for supporting poles in the ground that include single screws which are tightened against the pole or single clamping levers which are pressed against the pole are known. Such supports suffer the disadvantage that they may not support poles securely enough to prevent the pole being pulled out, for example by a colliding vehicle. Furthermore, if poles supported by these supports are knocked over, it may not be possible to remove the pole from the support in order to remove and replace it.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP 2009 068235 relates to a post holder. German Patent Application Publication No. 21 33 278 relates to floor hooks for pillars.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a support according to appended claim 1.
The support may be arranged to support a post or pole of any desired cross section, such as round, square, rectangular or other polygonal or curved shapes. The post may be a pole.
In one embodiment, the first and second surfaces are part cylindrical. The part-cylindrical surfaces of the clamp section parts engage a greater surface area of the pole or post, where of round cross section, and so, advantageously, enable poles to be supported more securely in the ground.
The part-cylindrical surfaces may subtend an angle of at least 90 degrees preferably at least 120 degrees, more preferably at least 150 degrees, more preferably at least 170 degrees, in order to provide a large surface area to clamp the outer surface of the pole.
In an alternative embodiment, the first and second surfaces are arranged to clamp a post with a rectangular profile. In that case, each of the first and second surfaces may include two substantially perpendicular faces. Preferably, at least one of the first and second surfaces includes a major face and two faces substantially perpendicular thereto, and preferably further each of the first and second surfaces includes a major face and two faces substantially perpendicular thereto.
The first and second clamp parts may be retained together on one side of the clamp section and connected by the clamping means on the other side. This is advantageous as the clamping takes place on only one side, which is easier for a user.
Preferably, one clamp part includes a first formation which engages with a second formation on the other clamp part to retain the first and second clamp parts together.
The first formation may comprise a bracket and the second formation may comprise a protrusion that engages with the bracket to retain the first and second clamp parts together. The bracket and protrusion may be shaped so that the position of the first and second clamp parts can be adjusted relative to each other, which may facilitate the installation and/or removal of poles from the support. The bracket may be C-shaped. Additionally or alternatively, the protrusion may be L-shaped.
Preferably, the clamping means comprises a first flange on the first clamp part and a second flange on the second clamp part, the first and second flanges having cooperating apertures through which an adjustable connector of the clamping means may extend to clamp the flanges together. The adjustable connector may conveniently be a bolt, which may screw into a screw threaded aperture in one flange, or into a complementary nut.
The support comprises a housing for securing the clamp section into the ground. The housing may comprise a first recess to receive the clamp section and a second recess to receive the clamping means. In this way, the clamp section and clamping means may be independently accessed for maintenance and/or adjustment or locking/unlocking of the clamping means.
The second recess may be upward facing to facilitate access to the clamping means when the support is located under the ground. The second recess may have a removable cover to prevent dirt and water entering the second recess.
The removable cover may have a lock in order that the second recess and clamping means can only be accessed by authorised persons.
The housing preferably includes a clamp section stop which is arranged over the clamp section to prevent the clamp section from being removed from the housing. In this way the clamp section and housing may be secured fastened together. The clamp section stop may be a rim extending inwardly of the recess over the top of the said first and second clamp parts of the clamp section.
The housing may additionally or alternatively include a clamping means stop which is arranged over the clamping means to prevent the clamp section from being removed from the housing. The clamping means stop may comprise a formation which extends over the flanges to prevent the flanges and thereby the clamp section from being removed from the housing.
The support preferably includes a cap to prevent dirt ingress into the support before a pole or post is mounted therein. The cap may thus plug the first recess. The cap may include a formation which is arranged to frictionally engage the means defining the first recess.
The cap may include a second formation which is smaller in width than the first formation and is intended to depend into the top opening of a hollow pole supported by the support. This is advantageous as it removes the need for the cap to be disposed of when the support has been installed in the ground.
The support may include a levelling insert to enable the correct positioning of the support in the ground. The levelling insert may be removable, for example, the levelling insert may be included within the cap.
The support may support any suitable pole or post, but is preferably for supporting a pole such as a traffic light pole in the ground. Alternatively, the support may be for supporting a leg of a bench or other street furniture.
According to another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a support for supporting a pole in the ground, the support comprising a clamp section to receive the pole, the clamp section comprising two parts, a first clamp part defining a first part-cylindrical surface that is shaped for engagement with part of the outer surface of a pole and a second clamp part defining a second part-cylindrical surface that is shaped for engagement with part of the outer surface of a pole, the support further including clamping means for connecting the first and second clamp parts; wherein, the clamping means is arranged to increase or decrease the engagement between the first and second part-cylindrical surfaces and the outer surface of the pole to thereby grip and clamp the pole.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a support in a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a partially exploded view of the housing and clamp section of the support of Figure 1, with the clamp section installed in one part of the housing;
Figure 3 is a perspective view from above of the support of Figure 1 in the ground;
Figure 4 is an alternative perspective view from above of the support of Figure 1 in the ground, with the lid of the second recess removed;
Figure 5 is a perspective view from below of the support of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a perspective view from above of the housing of the support of Figure 1, with the cap removed;
Figure 7 is a perspective view from below of the housing of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a side view of the support of Figure 1;
Figure 9 is a detail perspective view from above of the support of Figure 1 in the ground;
Figure 10 is a side elevation in cross section of the support of Figure 1, with the lid and cap removed;
Figure 11 is a side elevation of the support of Figure 1, with a pole installed in the support;
Figure 12 is a perspective view from above of a traffic light pole supported in the ground by the support of the first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 13 is a side view of a support in a second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 14 is a side view of a support in a third embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of a support in a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and,
Figure 16 is a perspective view from above of the assembled clamp parts of the support of the fourth embodiment.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 12, there is shown a support 1 in a first embodiment of the present invention. The support 1 has a clamp section 5 having a first clamp part 7, a second clamp part 9, a threaded bolt 8 and a nut 10.
The first clamp part 7 is part-cylindrical, being substantially in the general form of half a cylinder sliced longitudinally, and has an inner part-cylindrical surface 11, an outer part-cylindrical surface 13, an upper face 15, a bottom face 17 and a pair of side walls 18, 19. Side wall 18 has a flange 21 that is positioned approximately half way up the length of the side wall 18. The flange 21 is generally square shaped and has an upper surface 22 and an aperture 23. The other side wall 19 has three C-shaped brackets 25a, 25b, 25c that are arranged along the length of the side wall 19. Bracket 25a has an inner recess 27a and a hook portion 29a. Brackets 25b, 25c are the same as bracket 25a and will not be described further.
The second clamp part 9 is part-cylindrical, being substantially in the general form of half a cylinder sliced longitudinally, and has an inner part-cylindrical surface 31, an outer part-cylindrical surface 33, an upper face 35, a bottom face 37 and a pair of side walls 38, 39. Side wall 38 has a flange 41 that is positioned approximately half way up the length of the side wall 38. The flange 41 is generally square shaped and has an upper surface 42 and an aperture 43. The other side wall 39 has three L-shaped protrusions 45a, 45b, 45c that are arranged along the length of the side wall 39. Protrusion 45a has an inner wall 47a and an outer face 49a. Protrusions 45b, 45c are the same as protrusion 45a and will not be described further.
The support 1 also has a housing 50 having a first housing part 51 and a second housing part 53.
The first housing part 51 has an outer generally L-shaped wall 55, a first inner recess 57 and a second inner recess 59.
The first inner recess 57 is part-cylindrical and has an upper face 61 that has a rim 69, a first side wall 63, a bottom face 65 that has a rim 71 and a second side wall 67. The first side wall 63 includes three flanges 73a, 73b, 73c that are arranged along the length of the side wall 63 and have apertures 75a, 75b, 75c. The second side wall 67 has a generally rectangular cut out 77 having an upper surface 79 and a flange 80 having an aperture 78.
The second inner recess 59 is generally cuboidal and extends from the second side wall 67 of the first inner recess 57. The second inner recess 59 has an upper face 81 with an inner rim 82, a side wall 83 and a base 85. The side wall 83 has a pair of flanges 87a, 87b that are arranged along the length of the side wall 83 and have apertures 89a, 89b. The base 85 includes a drainage tube 91.
The second housing part 53 has an outer generally L-shaped wall 93, a first inner recess 95 and a second inner recess 97.
The first inner recess 95 is part-cylindrical and has an upper face 99 that has a rim 101, a first side wall 103, a bottom face 105 that has a rim 107 and a second side wall 109. The first side wall 103 includes three flanges 111a, 111b, 111c that are arranged along the length of the side wall 103 and have apertures 113a, 113b, 113c. The second side wall 109 has a generally rectangular cut out 115 having an upper surface 117 and a flange 118 having an aperture 120.
The second inner recess 97 is generally cuboidal and extends from the second side wall 109 of the first inner recess 95. The second inner recess 97 has an upper face 121 with an inner rim 122, a side wall 123 and a base 125. The side wall 123 has a pair of flanges 127a, 127b that are arranged along the length of the side wall 109 and have apertures 129a, 129b. The second inner recess 97 includes a lid 131. The lid 131 is lockable by means of a lock 130.
The support 1 also has a cap 133 that has an upper face 135 and a hollow cylindrical body 137 that extends downwards from the upper face 135. The diameter of the upper face 135 is greater than the diameter of the body 137. The upper face 135 includes a recess 139 in which a levelling insert, for example a bull's eye spirit level 141 is retained.
The support 1 includes a first pair of annular clamp ring members 143a, 143b that each have a pair of flanges 145a, 145b, 147a, 147b having apertures 149a, 149b, 151a, 151b.
The support 1 further includes a height adjusting tube 153, a second pair of annular clamp ring members 155a, 155b that each have a pair of flanges 157a, 157b, 159a, 159b having apertures 161a, 161b, 163a, 163b, and a generally L-shaped tubular base 165.
The generally L-shaped tubular base 165 has a base plate 167, a first generally L-shaped base part 169 and a second generally L-shaped base part 171.
The first base part 169 has a first flange 173 having an aperture 174 on the horizontal portion of the L-shape and a second flange 175 having an aperture 176 on the vertical portion of the L-shape.
The second base part 171 has a first flange 177 having an aperture 178 on the horizontal portion of the L-shape and a second flange 179 having an aperture 180 on the vertical portion of the L-shape.
The support 1 is assembled as follows.
The clamp section 5 is assembled from the first and second clamp parts 7, 9 so that the aperture 23 of flange 21 is aligned with aperture 43 of flange 41 and each of the brackets 25a, 25b, 25c is engaged with its respective protrusion 45a, 45b, 45c. The inner wall 47a, 47b, 47c of each of the protrusions 45a, 45b, 45c abuts the inner recess 27a, 27b, 27c of the corresponding bracket 25a, 25b, 25c and the outer face 49a, 49b, 49c of each of the protrusions 45a, 45b, 45c abuts the hook portion 29a, 29b, 29c of the corresponding bracket 25a, 25b, 25c. In this way the first and second clamp parts 7, 9 are held together, but are movable such that the side walls 18, 19 of the first clamp part 7 can be brought into abutting contact with (or moved away from) the side walls 38, 39 of the second clamp part 9. The threaded bolt 8 is passed through the apertures 23, 43 in the flanges 21, 41 and adjusted so the first clamp part 7 is in the desired position relative to the second clamp part 9 and the nut 10 is used to secure the first and second clamp parts 7, 9. The flanges 21, 41, bolt 8 and nut 10 constitute the aforesaid "clamping means".
The clamp section 5 is positioned in the first housing part 51 such that the outer surface 13 of the first clamp part 7 is in abutting contact with the first recess recess 57, the bottom face 17 of the first clamp part 7 is in abutting contact with the rim 71 of the first recces 57 of the first housing part 51 and the flanges 21, 41 extend into the second recess 59 through the cut out 71 in the side wall 67.
The second housing part 53 is aligned with the first housing part 51 such that the apertures 75a, 75b, 75c, 78, 89a, 89b of the first housing part 51 are in alignment with the apertures 113a, 113b, 113c, 120, 129a, 129b of the second housing part 53. The bottom face 37 of the second clamp part 9 is in abutting contact with the rim 107 of the first recess 95 of the second housing part 53. Threaded nuts 100 are used to secure the position of the first housing part 51 relative to the second housing part 53.
The cap 135 fits into the opening in the top of the housing 50 that is formed by the first recess 57 of the first housing part 51 and the first recess 95 of the second housing part 53 and a lower surface (not shown) of the upper face 135 of the cap abuts the rims 69, 101 of the first and second housing parts 51, 53.
The lid 131 fits into the opening in the housing 50 that is formed by the second recess 59 of the first housing part 51 and the second recess 97 of the second housing part 53 and a lower surface (not shown) of the lid 131 abuts the rims 82, 122 of the first and second housing parts 51, 53.
The height adjusting tube 153 fits into the opening in the bottom of the housing that is formed by the first recess 57 of the first housing part 51 and the first recess 95 of the second housing part 53 at one of its ends and into the opening at the top of the base 165 at the other of its ends.
Referring now to Figure 13 there is shown a support 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the height adjusting tube 153 is shorter than the height adjusting tube 153 of the embodiment depicted in Figures 1 to 8.
Referring now to Figure 14, there is shown a support 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment no height adjusting tube is used in conjunction with the support 1.
Use of the support 1 to support a pole in the ground will now be described with particular reference to Figures 9 to 12.
Firstly a hole is dug and the support 1 is installed in the ground 132 so that the top of the support 1 is flush with the surface 134 of the ground 132, as shown in Figs 3, 4, 9 and 12.
To install a pole 250 in the support 1, the cap 135 is removed from the support 1. To access the threaded bolt 8, the lid 131 is removed from the support 1 and a tool 230 is inserted into the opening that is formed by the second recess 59 of the first housing part 51 and the second recess 97 of the second housing part 53. The tool 230 is moved in the direction of arrow A (Figure 10) in order to release the engagement between the first and second clamping parts 7, 9.
The pole 250 is then inserted through the opening that is formed by the second recess 59 of the first housing part 51 and the second recess 97 of the second housing part 53 at the top of the support 1, so that it extends through the first and second clamping parts 7, 9 and the first and second housing parts 51, 53 and into the height adjusting tube 153 as shown in Figure 11.
The clamping members 143a, 143b are fastened around the pole 250 and the height adjusting tube 153 by aligning aperture 149a in flange 145a with aperture 151a in flange 147a and aligning aperture 149b in flange 145b with aperture 151b in flange 147b and tightening bolts 200 in the apertures 149a, 151a, 149b, 151b.
The base of the pole 250 is inserted into the base 165 and the clamping members 155a, 155b are fastened around the pole 250 by aligning aperture 161a in flange 157a with aperture 163a in flange 159a and aligning aperture 161b in flange 157b with aperture 163b in flange 159b and tightening bolts 200 in the apertures 161a, 163a 161b, 163b.
The engagement between the outer surface of the pole 250 and the inner surfaces 11, 31 of the first and second clamping parts 7, 9 can be increased by tightening the bolt 10 and nut 8 between flanges 21 and 41. In this way the pole 250 can be more tightly gripped within the support 1 and the pole is more securely held in position.
Similarly, the engagement between the outer surface of the pole 250 and the inner surfaces 11, 31 of the first and second clamping parts 7, 9 can be decreased by loosening the bolt 10 and nut 8 between flanges 21 and 41. In this way the pole 250 can be removed from the support.
Undesirable vertical movement of the clamp section 5 within the housing 50 is prevented since upward movement of the first and second clamp parts 7, 9 beyond the first recess 57, 95 is restricted by the upper faces 15, 35 of the first and second clamp parts 7, 9 abutting the rims 69, 101 of the first and second housing parts 51, 53 and the downward movement of the first and second clamp parts 7, 9 beyond the first recess 57, 95 is restricted by the bottom faces 17, 37 of the first and second clamp parts 7, 9 abutting the rims 82, 122 of the first and second housing parts 51,53
Undesirable vertical movement of the clamp section 5 within the housing 50 is further prevented since upward movement of the flanges 21, 41 within the housing 50 is restricted by the upper surfaces 22, 42 of the flanges 21, 41 abutting the upper surface 79 of the cut out 77.
The collection of water within the second recess 57, 97 is prevented by the provision of the drainage tube 91 in the base 85 of the second recess 57.
As shown in Figure 12, the support 1 may be used to support a set of traffic lights 200 on a pole 250. In this case, the cap 133 may be placed in the top of the traffic light pole 250. The inclusion of a spirit level 141 within the cap 133 enables quick assessment of whether the pole 250 has been installed evenly.
A typical traffic light pole in the United Kingdom is 115mm in diameter, and so the part cylindrical clamp parts 7, 9 may have part cylindrical surfaces which lie on a notional cylinder of diameter 115mm or slightly greater. The surface area of contact between the clamp parts 7, 9 and the pole may be 780 centimetres squared.
Other known posts are 225mm diameter and 275mm diameter, and so the clamp parts 7, 9 may be correspondingly larger, and the other parts of the support 1 would be correspondingly larger, too. A 65mm post is also known and may be clamped using the support 1 of the embodiment with an adapter collar fitted around the post to increase its diameter to 115mm.
The parts of the support are made of metal, such as iron, and may be made of cast iron.
The support 1 could be used to support any other type of pole 250 that is buried in the ground, for example a telegraph pole or a pole carrying a sign post. Indeed, the support 1 could be used to support street furniture, such as seats, bollards and bus shelters.
Figures 15 and 16 show the fourth embodiment, which is similar to the first, second and third embodiments. Only the differences from the first, second and third embodiments will be described. The same reference numerals will be used for equivalent features.
The support 1 of the fourth embodiment is for supporting the leg of an item of street furniture, in particular, a bench. The standard shape for the legs of such benches is as a square cross section post. Hence, the clamp parts 7, 9 are shaped to fit a post which is square in plan. In particular, each clamp part 7, 9 defines a flat major face 200, and two side faces 202, 204 extending substantially perpendicularly from the major face 200. The side faces 204 on one side carry the flanges 21, 41, while the side faces 202 on the opposite side carry the bracket 25 and protrusion 45. In this embodiment there is a single bracket 25 and a single protrusion 45 extending over the full height of the clamp parts 7, 9. Two parallel circumferential ribs 206 extend around the outside of the clamp parts 7, 9 at the level of the upper and lower sides of the flanges 21, 41 for reinforcement.
The housing 50 to receive the clamp parts 7, 9 is also square in plan.
As the support 1 in this embodiment is intended to support the leg of a bench, it will not need an electrical connection, and hence the base 165 is omitted together with the height adjusting tube 153. Indeed, the housing 50 includes a floor 208 to close off the bottom of the chamber defined by the housing 50. The housing 50 includes a downwards extension 210 defined between profile parts 212, 214 integral with the housing parts 51, 53 to receive the end of the leg.
The flanges 87a and 87b are replaced by a single flange 87, and the flanges 127a and 127b are also replaced by a single flange 127. The flanges 73a, b and c are replaced by a single flange 73, and the flanges 111a, b and c are replaced by a single flange 111.
In each side of the side walls 83, 123 is an aperture 220 closed by a flat panel 222, which is attached in place by screws 224.In order to ensure that the clamp parts 7, 9 of the fourth embodiment can receive the square post, the clamp parts 7, 9 are sized so that the side faces 202, 204 of each clamp part 7, 9 are slightly further apart than the width of the post, so that there is sufficient clearance for the post to enter the channel formed between the side faces 202, 204, and the major face 200.

Claims

A support (1) for supporting a post in the ground, the support comprising a clamp comprising a clamp section (5) to receive the post, the clamp section comprising two parts, a first clamp part (7) defining a first surface (11) that is shaped for engagement with part of the outer surface of a post and a second clamp part (9) defining a second surface (31) that is shaped for engagement with part of the outer surface of a post, the clamp of the support further including clamping means (21, 41, 8, 10) for connecting the first and second clamp parts; wherein, the clamping means is arranged to increase or decrease the engagement between the first and second surfaces and the outer surface of the post to thereby grip and clamp the post, the support further including a housing (50) for the clamp, the housing including a stop (69, 101, 77, 79) to prevent the clamp from being removed from the housing, characterised in that each of the first and second surfaces (11, 31) is longer in the direction in which the post is arranged to be received, than it is wide.
A support according to any preceding claim, wherein the clamping means comprises a first flange (21) on the first clamp part and a second flange (41) on the second clamp part, the first and second flanges having cooperating apertures (23, 43) through which an adjustable connector (8) of the clamping means extends to clamp the flanges together.
A support according to any preceding claim, wherein the stop of the housing includes a clamping means stop which is arranged over the clamping means to prevent the clamp section from being removed from the housing.
A support according to claim 3 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the clamping means stop comprises a formation (77, 79) which extends over the flanges to prevent the flanges and thereby the clamp section from being removed from the housing.
A support according to any preceding claim, wherein the stop of the housing includes a clamp section stop which is arranged over the clamp section to prevent the clamp section from being removed from the housing.
A support according to claim 5, wherein the clamp section stop is a rim (69, 101) extending inwardly of the recess over the top of the said first and second clamp parts of the clamp section.
A support according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing comprises a first recess (57, 95) to receive the clamp section and a second recess (59, 97) to receive the clamping means.
A support according to claim 7, wherein the second recess is upward facing.
A support according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the second recess has a removable cover (131).
A support according to claim 9, wherein the removable cover has a lock (130).
A support according to any preceding claim, wherein the support includes a cap (133) to prevent dirt ingress into the support before a post is mounted therein.
A support as claimed in claim 11 when dependent on any of claims 7 to 10 wherein the cap plugs the first recess (57, 95).
A support according to claim 12, wherein the cap includes a formation which is arranged to frictionally engage the means defining the first recess.
A support according to claim 13, wherein the cap includes a second formation which is smaller in width than the first formation and is intended to depend into the top opening of a hollow pole supported by the support.
A support according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second surfaces are part-cylindrical, or are arranged to clamp a post with a rectangular profile.