GB2120703A

GB2120703A - Baseplate for a tube

Info

Publication number: GB2120703A
Application number: GB08307962A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruce Charles Ricard Wildridge
Original assignee: HALDO DEV Ltd
Current assignee: HALDO DEV Ltd
Priority date: 1982-05-14
Filing date: 1983-03-23
Publication date: 1983-12-07
Also published as: GB8307962D0

Abstract

A base member (1,20) has one or more (preferably four) upstanding gripper elements (2,19) with teeth (21) so that the tube (4,22) can be attached to the baseplate by pushing it into position. The gripper elements are preferably pressed out of the base member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A baseplate for attachment to a tube This invention relates to a baseplate for attachment to a tube particularly a signpost on a roadway or other thoroughfare.

In this description and in the claims and abstract, the word "tube" is intended to include not only the standard circular cross-section tube but also tubes of square, rectangular or other cross-section.

Prior art Signs in other roadways or thoroughfares are normally mounted on signposts which are sunk into the ground. To erect such a signpost it is necessary first of all to dig a hole into which the lower end of the post is positioned. In order accurately to locate the lower end of the post and also to prevent its subsequent displacement, a baseplate will be located in the hole either with or without a concrete foundation.

Such baseplates have been known and used for some time and generally comprise a mild steel base with an upstanding mechanism which grips the lower end of the post. This mechanism may take the form of a screw which may be tightened through one of two arcuate and upstanding flanges, or may take the form of a split collar, the two parts of the coliar being welded to the base and being drawn together to grip the post by bolts.

These and other forms of baseplates which have been proposed are complicated in construction and therefore expensive to make, and frequently fail in their purpose because they do not adequately secure the lower end of the post and leave it free to turn or come out of alignment.

Object of the invention It is the main object of this invention to provide a baseplate for attachment to a tube particularly a signpost which is simple in construction and which effectively grips the tube.

Statement of invention According to the present invention there is provided a baseplate for attachment to a tube, including a base member having at least one upstanding gripper element disposed so as to present opposed gripping surfaces to a tube located between or surrounding said surfaces.

The invention also includes a baseplate as above, in which the base member has at least three upstanding gripper elements disposed so as to present gripping surfaces to a tube located between said elements.

The invention also includes a baseplate as above in which the base member may be flat or slightly dished and the gripper elements pressed out of the base member. Further the invention includes the gripping surfaces presenting teeth towards the centre of the base member to grip the tube. Alternatively, the gripping surfaces may face outwardly to grip the inside of the tube.

The invention also includes a baseplate for attachment to a round section signpost including a substantially flat base member having four upstanding gripper elements pressed out of the base member so as to present gripping teeth towards the centre of the base member, said teeth being equally spaced around the centre of the base member to grip a signpost located between them.

The base member as above may be of mild steel and be in the order of 2 mm. thick.

Drawings In order to illustrate the invention, several embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of exampie only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a baseplate constructed according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the baseplate of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the baseplate of Figures 1 to 4 showing a tube attached thereto; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of baseplate according to the invention with attached tube:: Figure 7 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of baseplate according to the invention with an attached tube of square crosssection; Figure 8 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of baseplate according to the invention with an attached tube of rectangular cross-section; Figure 9 is a perspective view of another form of baseplate according to the invention and tube; and Figure 10 is a perspective view of a further form of baseplate according to the invention and tube.

Specific description One form of baseplate in accordance with the invention is substantially square in plan view as seen in Figure 1 and comprises a base member 1 which may be flat or slightly dished as seen in particular in Figure 4. The base member may be made from any convenient material and it has been found satisfactory to use mild steel having a thickness in the order of 2 mm. Making the base member of mild steel and of this thickness gives to the member a certain springyness which enables a firm grip to be obtained on the signpost or other tube to which it is attached.

Pressed out of the base member are four upstanding gripper elements 2. These are substantially triangular in shape and are provided with gripping surfaces 3 in the form of teeth. It should be remembered that signposts are normally either an aluminium extrusion, a plastics coated steel tube, a galvanised steel tube or a metal sprayed and painted steel tube, in each case presenting a comparatively soft exterior surface into which the teeth will bite. It will be seen that the teeth are equally spaced around the centre of the base member 1 and as will be seen in Figure 5, this enables the teeth to grip a signpost 4 symmetrically.

The baseplate of the invention may be modified in many different ways and some examples are shown in Figures 6 to 10.

In Figure 6, a baseplate 5 has three, symmetrically spaced upstanding gripper elements 6 with inwardly facing teeth 7 to grip a circular cross-section tube 8.

In Figure 7,-four gripper elements 9 are pressed out of a base member 10 of square cross-section, the elements 9 having teeth 11.

In Figure 8, only two gripper elements 12 are provided which have teeth 13 to grip a rectangular tube 14.

In Figure 9 (as distinct from the preceding embodiments) gripper elements 1 5 are pressed out of base member 16 with teeth 17 for gripping the internal wall of tube 18.

In Figure 10, a single gripper element 19 is pressed out of base member 20 and has teeth 21 for gripping the internal wall of the tube 22.

It will be appreciated that in all the embodiments above described, the teeth or otherwise formed gripping surfaces are opposed for gripping either the internal or external wall of the tube. The opposition may not be direct but may be at an angle as in the case of three symmetrically disposed gripping surfaces. Also, if internal gripping of a square or rectangular tube, is to be performed, this will be in the corners of the tube.

A baseplate constructed in accordance with the invention may be modified from that above described in that the gripper elements may be formed separately and welded or otherwise attached to a base member.

Advantages of a baseplate in accordance with the present invention are that it gives a positive grip on to a tube to which it is attached. Also, in some embodiments, the upstanding gripper elements resist twisting of the baseplate in the soil. Further, it is easy to attach a signpost to the baseplate simply by dropping the signpost on to the baseplate laid on the ground.

Claims

1. A baseplate for attachment to a tube, including a base member having at least one upstanding gripper element disposed so as to present opposed gripping surfaces to a tube located between or surrounding said surfaces.

2. A baseplate as claimed in Claim 1, in which the base member has at least three upstanding gripper elements disposed so as to present gripping surfaces to a tube located between said elements.

3. A baseplate as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the base member is flat or slightly dished and the gripper element or elements is or are pressed out of the base member.

4. A baseplate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the gripping surfaces present teeth towards the centre of the base member to grip the tube.

5. A baseplate as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the gripping surfaces face outwardly to grip the inside of the tube.

6. A baseplate for attachment to a round section signpost including a substantially flat base member having four upstanding gripper elements pressed out of the base member so as to present gripping teeth towards the centre of the base member, said teeth being equally spaced around the centre of the base member to grip a signpost located between them.

7. A baseplate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims of mild steel of the order of 2 mm thick.

8. A baseplate substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or Figure 6 or Figure 7 or Figure 8 or Figure 9 or Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A signpost for a roadway or other thoroughfare having a tube and a baseplate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims affixed thereto.