GB1601525A

GB1601525A - Retractabel bollard

Info

Publication number: GB1601525A
Application number: GB22027/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MALKMUS DOERNEMANN CAROLA
Current assignee: MALKMUS DOERNEMANN CAROLA
Priority date: 1977-05-25
Filing date: 1978-05-24
Publication date: 1981-10-28
Also published as: FR2392172A1; DE2723514A1; BE866995A; FR2392172B3; DE2723514C2

Description

(54) A RETRACTABLE BOLLARD (71) I, CAROLA MALKMUS DoRNEMANN of Am Lappenspring 3, 3320 Salzgitter 51, Federal Republic of Germany, a German Citizen, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention relates to a retractable bollard.

Such bollards may be of the form of a post designed to block off motor vehicles for use in thoroughfares, entrances, parking spaces car parks etc. and having a sleeve which can be lowered into the ground until it projects only slightly therefrom, into which sleeve the post can be inserted longitudinally and has an upper cover as well as a device for the purpose of stopping and locking it in its extended position.

Different embodiments of bollards are known and these are formed in practice according to two different principles.

In one case a post is fixed by means of a hinge on a part which is to be anchored in the ground, so that it can be tilted onto the ground and in the upright position is retained in this upright position by means of a locking element cooperating with the anchoring part, whereby a locking device, for example in the form of a lock etc., ensures that locking is secured.

In the other group the post has a sleeve surrounding it which can be lowered into the ground so that the post can be inserted telescopically into the sleeve and can be extended from the sleeve in order to fulfil the blocking function and can be secured in the extended position against sliding back into the sleeve.

The invention is based on bollards of the type last mentioned in which until now relatively expensive constructional measures have been necessary for guiding the post in the sleeve and for locking it in the blocking position.

The invention seeks to remedy this and to provide a lowerable bollard of the type described in the introduction so that it can be manufactured in large quantities in a very simple manner and with easy handling at the lowest possible cost and so that when used over long periods it is able to cope with the relatively rough operating conditions without faults in its operation.

According to the invention, there is provided a retractable bollard comprising a sleeve.having a multisided cross-section for mounting vertically in the ground, an elongate post slidably and rotatably located in the sleeve and having a lateral projection towards its intended lower end sized to permit engagement with retaining means on a side of the sleeve at its intended upper end to effect retention of the post in an extended position and to permit clearance at a corner of the sleeve upon rotation of the post to enable retraction of the post.

Preferably the sleeve is equipped at its upper end with a stop lid for the post which is guided through a central opening in the lid with a clearance to enable rotation about the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. The sleeve may be of square cross-section. The lateral projection may comprise a stop pin and the retaining means may comprise a catch slot cooperating with a locking stop operable to prevent removal of the stop pin from the catch slot.

As a result the lowerable bollard may be achieved with simple means. A housing of the post in the sleeve secured against rotation both in the sleeve and in the extended position, is created and at the same time owing to the arrangement of the stop pin, the post may be guided securely in the sleeve during removal and insertion so that no special guide devices such as guide slits etc are necessary. At the same time the stop pin in conjunction with the locking stop serves to stop and lock the post in its extended position so that the post can only be transferred into its retracted position after the lock has been opened.

It is particularly advisable if the post has a larger cross-section in the region of its lower portion which remains in the sleeve in the extended position than in the portion which can be guided through the lid opening. With this embodiment the stop pin is not needed to limit the extension of the post by its cooperation with the cover surface as the stepped cross-sectional surface of the post can form this stop which cooperates with the cover.

As a result of this refinement a relatively solid guiding part for the post can be used in con junction with the sleeve having a large cross section without the post at the same time hav ing to have a correspondingly large cross section. A large cross-section of the lower portion of the post is recommended particularly if this portion and possibly the cover comprise wood or plastics while the other portion pro jecting out of the sleeve in the extended condition of the post is preferably manufactured from metal, preferably a metal which is protected against corrosion.

At least two stop pins may be provided and the upper end of the sleeve may be provided with the catch slot provided at the upper end of the sleeve for each stop pin and the locking stop is so arranged in the stop lid that a lock bolt projects into inlet cross-section of one of the catch slots in its locked position. In this way, solely by corresponding shaping of the upper edge of the sleeve, a guide for the stop pins is ensured when rotating the extended post into the position locked against displace ment in which position the stop pins engage into the catch slots whereby this extended and locked position of the post in the sleeve is secured.

The sleeve may have a flange which is L shaped in cross-section encircling its upper edge and forms a channel, to which flange is the stop lid fixed. As a result in conjunction with the perpheral recesses and the catch slots and the stop pins cooperating therewith, safe housing of the associating elements is achieved without the possibility of external intervention.

The sleeve may be equipped at its lower edge with an anchoring plate which seals off the cross-section of the sleeve at the bottom while leaving openings free. Owing to this, it can be ensured that any moisture penetrating the sleeve can trickle away into the ground.

The invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part cross-sectional view of a lowerable bollard constructed in accordance with the present invention showing in the righthand halt a longitudinal section through the lowerable bollard, Figure 2 shows a section along the section line 11-11 of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a detail of the post of Figure 1.

The lowerable bollard shown in the drawings has a tubular sleeve 1 which is closed within the ground by means of an anchoring plate 2 so that openings to the inside of the sleeve 1 remain. These can be provided in the form of slots for example or by dimensioning the anchoring plate 2 narrower in its breadth than the cross-section of the sleeve so that portions remain free at the longitudinal sides of the anchoring plate 2 through which moisture penetrating the sleeve 1 can trickle away into the ground. The level of the ground can be seen at 3 in Figure 1.

The sleeve 1 has a rectangular cross-section as is apparent particularly from Figure 2. The actual post 4 is, in the embodiment, constructed as a tube which is circular in cross-section and is provided with a cap 5 which in the retracted condition of the post 4 makes it possible to drive over the post and its related sleeve 1 unhindered. The post 4 extends through a lid 6, which seals off the sleeve 1 at the top and has a central opening in which the post 4 is guided with a clearance. The lid 6 is fixed to a flange 7 which is L-shaped in cross-section by means of screws 8 indicated by broken lines so that the screws are only accessible from the underside of the flange 7 which is let into the ground.

At its lower end the post 4 receives an extension 9 of a member 10 which comprises wood in the embodiment. The main part of the member 10 is of increased cross-section and is relatively dimensioned as shown in Figure 2. It is of circular cross-section such that its outer periphery forms a circle within the sleeve 1 and can be displaced longitudinally in the sleeve without difficulty. The tubular part of the post 4 is connected to the extension 9 of the member 10 by means of screws 11 shown in turn by broken lines. Thus the screws are so arranged in the extended post 4 that they are not accessible from outside.

In the member 10 of the post 4 two stop pins 12 projecting beyond the periphery of the member 10 are provided which, in the inserted position of the post 4, project into the corner areas 13 of the sleeve which are not filled up by the member 10 of the post 4 in accordance with the broken line view 12a in Figure 2 and, when the post 4 is inserted, secure the post against rotary movement inside the sleeve. When the post 4 is extended the stop pins 12 arrive in peripheral recesses 14 in the upper end of the sleeve one of which recesses is being shown in detail in Figure 3.

Thus the post 4, when in its extended position with respect to the sleeve, can be rotated about its longitudinal axis until the stop pins 12 enter a catch slot 15 adjoining the peripheral recess 14. There they can be locked with the aid of a locking device 16 in the form of a cylindrical profile lock fixed in the lid 6.

Thus a lock 16 is only necessary of course for one of the catch slots 15.

Instead of the embodiment of the member 10 of the post 4 being made of wood or plastics which is shown in the Figure, this portion can be constructed in the form of a stepped tube or the entire post 4 can comprise a tube corresponding to the diameter of the lower member 10.

In the refinement shown in the Figures, the portion located between the member 10 and the extension 9 which engages into the tube of the post 4 forms a stop surface which cooperates with the lid 6 and prevents the post from being removed completely from the sleeve 1. With a post 4 which is constant in cross-section made from a tube having the same diameter as that of the member 10, this retention of the post against being pulled out would be achieved by the stop pins 12 so that, even with this refinement, the post 4 cannot be removed from the sleeve 1.

The refinement that the member 10 of the post 4 is made of a plastics or a wood treated against rotting is therefore recommended, because in practice the penetration of moisture into the sleeve 1 cannot be avoided. In the case of metallic members 10, the moisture in conjunction with air located in the sleeve would cause restriction of its function to a greater extent than is the case with wood or plastics.

On the other hand it is recommended to manufacture the part projecting out of the casing 1 in the extended condition of the post from metal for reasons of strength whereby a reduction in the cross-section of this project ing part with respect to the portion 10 leads to a more graceful and more easily handled shape for the ost.

In order to make it easier to draw out the post 4 from the sleeve 1 a handle which can be shifted into a recess or a recess in the cap serving as a grip can be provided in the upper cap 5.

It will be appreciated that the tubular sleeve can be of any suitable multi-sided shape with three or more sides e.g. polygonal.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A retractable bollard comprising a sleeve having a multisided cross-section for mounting vertically in the ground, an elongate post slidably and rotatably located in the sleeve and having a lateral projection towards its intended lower end sized to permit engagement with retaining means on a side of the sleeve at its intended upper end to effect retention of the post in an extended position and to permit clearance at a comer of the sleeve upon rotation of the post to enable retraction of the post.

2. A bollard according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is equipped at its upper end with a stop lid for the post which is guided through a central opening in the lid with a clearance to enable rotation about the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

3. A bollard according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the cross section of the post corresponds in its lower portion to the inner circle of the sleeve.

4. A bollard according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the sleeve is of square cross section.

5. A bollard according to claim 2 wherein the lateral projection comprises a stop pin and the retaining means comprises a catch slot co-operating with a locking stop operable to prevent removal of the stop pin from the catch slot.

6. A bollard according to claim 2 or 5 wherein the post has a larger cross-section in the region of its lower portion which remains in the sleeve in the extended position than in the portion which can be guided through the lid opening.

7. A bollard according to claim 6, wherein the lower portion having a larger cross-section and/or the stop lid is made of wood or plastics and the other portion of the post comprises metal.

8. A bollard according to claim 7, wherein the metal used is resistant to corrosion.

9. A bollard according to claim 5 or any claim appendent directly or indirectly thereto, wherein at least two stop pins are provided and the upper end of the sleeve is provided with a peripheral recess opening into the catch slot provided at the upper end of the sleeve for each stop pin and the locking stop is so arranged in the stop lid that a lock bolt projects into the inlet cross-section of one of the catch slots in its locked position.

10. A bollard according to claim 2 or one claim appendent directly or indirectly thereto, wherein the sleeve has a flange which is b shaped in cross-section, encircles its upper edge and forms a channel, to which flange is the stop lid fixed.

11. A bollard according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve is equipped at its lower edge with an anchoring plate which seals off the cross-section of the sleeve at the bottom while leaving openings free.

12. A bollard substantially as described here- in with reference to, or as illustrated in, the drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. portion located between the member 10 and the extension 9 which engages into the tube of the post 4 forms a stop surface which cooperates with the lid 6 and prevents the post from being removed completely from the sleeve 1. With a post 4 which is constant in cross-section made from a tube having the same diameter as that of the member 10, this retention of the post against being pulled out would be achieved by the stop pins 12 so that, even with this refinement, the post 4 cannot be removed from the sleeve 1. The refinement that the member 10 of the post 4 is made of a plastics or a wood treated against rotting is therefore recommended, because in practice the penetration of moisture into the sleeve 1 cannot be avoided. In the case of metallic members 10, the moisture in conjunction with air located in the sleeve would cause restriction of its function to a greater extent than is the case with wood or plastics. On the other hand it is recommended to manufacture the part projecting out of the casing 1 in the extended condition of the post from metal for reasons of strength whereby a reduction in the cross-section of this project ing part with respect to the portion 10 leads to a more graceful and more easily handled shape for the ost. In order to make it easier to draw out the post 4 from the sleeve 1 a handle which can be shifted into a recess or a recess in the cap serving as a grip can be provided in the upper cap 5. It will be appreciated that the tubular sleeve can be of any suitable multi-sided shape with three or more sides e.g. polygonal. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A retractable bollard comprising a sleeve having a multisided cross-section for mounting vertically in the ground, an elongate post slidably and rotatably located in the sleeve and having a lateral projection towards its intended lower end sized to permit engagement with retaining means on a side of the sleeve at its intended upper end to effect retention of the post in an extended position and to permit clearance at a comer of the sleeve upon rotation of the post to enable retraction of the post.