GB2133822A - Improvements in or relating to post and rail systems - Google Patents

Abstract

The rail 2 of a post and rail system carries a pair of rings 9 which carry projections 10 which can be held against a post 1 by elasticated rings 8 at any desired height. A tubular rail 20 can have a single ring 9 connected to the post 1 in a similar way. The base 22 of the post 1 supports the assembly and may be filled with ballast. Alternative elastic connections are shown in Figs. 3-11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to post and rail systems This invention is concerned with post and rail systems which can be used to construct temporary barriers, such as at roadworks or, for example, to act as a "No Entry" sign for restricted areas.

It is a requirement for such post and rail systems that they should be capable of being set up and dismantled very readily and so that the parts of the system can be stored in the disassembled condition to occupy a small area.

When the system is set up it is desirable that the rail should be set at a required height and remain there.

According to the present invention there is provided a post and rail system comprising a pair of posts linked to the ends of a rail by attachment means which elastically or adjustably holds the rail to a post to an extent such that there will be positive or frictional resistance to movement of the rail down the post, and such that the rail, or a part carried thereby, is held close to the post.

The attachment means can take many forms but is desirably effective to enable the rail to be set at a desired height with respect to the posts.

Then on uneven ground the rail can be set at different positions along the lengths of the two posts so that the rail is horizontal even if the posts are not at the same height.

In one preferred arrangement the attachment means incorporates or is formed from elasticated rope. The rope could be attached to the rail and be formed to have two free ends extending from the rail. In one arrangement these ends could carry end formations which would be linked to one another after embracing the post. Alternatively the free ends could define eyes to be hooked onto a projection on the post, after embracing the post.

Another possibility is to provide that the elasticated rope is a ring fitted round the post and the rail carries a projecting arm for engagement in the ring and against the post. Thus, the rail may carry, at its ends, projecting arms which each have a downwardly turned portion which can be slid down the side of the post and into engagement with an elasticated ring fitted on the post, the downwardly extending portion incorporating a kink to hold it in position against accidental release from the ring. Ideally there will be a ring, tab or other pulling member attached to the elastic ring enabling the elastic ring to be extended, during assembly of the system, to receive the arm on the rail.

In another embodiment the attachment means comprises a jubilee clip of metal, plastics or other robust material. Another possibility is to provide, as the attachment means, a pair of curved sprung arms which can be snap fitted about the post.

In another arrangement each end of the rail carries a rigid ring of metal, plastics or other convenient material which can be slid down a post and held in position by a stop member. The stop member could be an elasticated collar slidably fitted tightly about the post. Alternatively the stop member could comprise a sequence of steps or ribs formed down the length of the post or a series of ring receiving grooves cut into the post wall down the length thereof. In these arrangements ideally the stop member will include a jamming device for wedging the ring tightly against the post wall. The jamming device could be a wedge, preferably of a resilient material, to be driven between the ring and the post. Alternatively the jamming device could be defined by a portion of the rail between an end face thereof and an angled slot in the end of the rail, which receives the ring.

The addition of a cross member to the base of each post to act as a foot for the post will add stability to the whole system. This cross member could incorporate ballast to improve the resistance of the system to being pushed over.

The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an illustration of one form of post and rail system of this invention; Figure 2 is an illustration of a complete post and rail system of the form as illustrated in Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 comprise illustrations of parts of two further embodiments of a post and rail system of this invention; Figure 5 is a further embodiment of the post and rail system of the invention; Figure 6 illustrates a modified arrangement of that shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is an illustration of another post and rail system of the invention; Figure 8 shows a modification of the system shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 shows an alternative form of rail to be used with the systems of Figures 7 and 8;; Figure 10 illustrates a further example of a rail forming part of the system of this invention; and Figure 11 is a still further example of a rail of the invention.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 1 a post 1 carries one or more elasticated rings 8 which grip tightly around the post surface. A rail 2 has a metal ring 9 passing through the hole 4 and a hook 10 projects from the ring 9. This hook 10 can be pushed between the elasticated ring 8 and the post 1 so that the rail 2 is then held securely against the post 1 and at a required height due to the frictional resistance between the elasticated ring 8 and the post 1.

Figure 1 also illustrates a support plate 24 extending from a cap 25 at the top of the post 1.

This plate 24 is formed with a slot 26 which can, for example, receive a bolt secured to a warning lamp which can thus be mounted on the post and rail system.

Figure 2 illustrates part of a complete post and rail system utilising attachment means of the form as shown in Figure 1. The rail 2 has a pair of metal rings 9 carrying projections 10 which are received in respective elasticated rings 8 which grip the post 1. There is also a hollow bar 20 which is provided with a metal ring 9 carrying a projection 10 received in a further elasticated ring 8 at a lower level down the post 1. At the base of the post a T-member 21 provides support for two tubular members 22 having end caps 23. These tubular members 22 are filled with ballast so that the whole assembly is very resistant to tipping.

Figure 3 shows a plank 2 to the end of which is secured a metal plate (extending around both sides of the plank) by pop rivets 25. Forming part of or secured to the plate 24 are a pair of arms 26 which have downwardly extending portions 27 which will lie against the side of a post 1 and kinked portions 28 which will serve to hold elasticated rings 8 disposed about the post 1 from accidental release from the respective arms 26. It will be seen that the lower arm 26 has a shorter portion 27 which receives its ring 8. This facilitates the mounting of the plank onto the post, as one arm 26 can be fitted first and then the other positioned afterwards. Also a metal ring 29 is provided on each elasticated ring 8 allowing the elastic ring 8 to be pulled outwardly to provide a space for receipt of the downward portion of the arm 26, during assembly.

Figure 4 illustrates how an arm 26 can be fitted at the end of a rail 30 (in the form of a hollow tube) by means of pop rivets 31.

The arm 26, instead of being plate-iike, could be in the form of a rod bent to have the same shape as the arms 26 shown in Figures 3 and 4 have in profile.

In Figure 5 there is shown a post 1 associated with a rail 2. The rail 2 has an elasticated cord 3 which is passed through the hole 4 in the rail and is formed at its ends with eye portions 5. The two lengths of the cord 3 can be stretched around the post 1 and then the eye portions 5 will be hooked over a projection 6 to hold the rail securely onto the post at a desired height. Further hooks 6 could be positioned down the length of the post 1 at desired heights.

The rail 2 shown in Figure 6 again has an elasticated cord 3 but in this case although one end of the cord is formed with an eye 5, the other carries a toggle 7. Again the lengths of the cord 3 can be stretched around the post and the ends will then be interconnected by inserting the toggle 7 through the eye 5 so that the rail 2 is gripped tightly against the post 1. The frictional contact between the cord 3 with the post 1 and also of the rail 2 against the post 1 will tend to hold the rail at a required height.

In the arrangements shown in Figures 7 and 8 the rail 2 carries a metal ring 12 held by an angled slot 13 formed in the rail. The post 1 of Figure 7 incorporates a sequence of steps 14 on which a portion of the ring 12 can be rested. The rail 2 is then driven downwardly so that the part of the rail between its end face and the slot 13 performs a wedging action to cause the ring 12 to be gripped against the side of the post 1 so that it will then be unable to drop below the step on which it is resting. By this means the rail 2 can be set at a required height as defined by one of the steps 14.

For release the rail 2 is tapped sharply from below so that the ring 12 slides into the lower part of the slot 13.

The post 1 of Figure 8 incorporates a series of notches 1 5 instead of the steps 14 but otherwise the system operates in a similar manner to that described in connection with Figure 5.

An alternative form of wedging mechanism for the arrangements of Figures 7 and 8 is shown in Figure 9. In this case the metal ring 12 is mounted in a hole 4 in the rail 2, rather than a slot 13. The rail also has a wedge member 1 5 attached thereto by a cord 16. When the ring 12 has been positioned on the post 1 at a required height the wedge member is inserted between the ring 1 2 and the post 1 and pushed home so that it jams the ring 12 at a desired height. If the wedge 1 5 was formed from rubber or other resilient material it could be used to wedge the metal ring 12 against a post 1 of constant cross section which is not provided with notches 15, steps 14 or other projections.

Another method of supporting a rail carrying a metal ring such as is illustrated in Figure 9 would be to fit an elastic ring (such as the ring 8 shown in Figure 1) or a somewhat larger elasticated collar over the post 1 at a desired height. The metal ring 12 will then rest on the elastic ring or collar.

The rail 2 shown in Figure 10 has a metal member defining a pair of curved sprung arms 11 fitted through the hole 4 in the rail. These arms 11 can be snap fitted about the post 1 and will then grip the post and hold the rail 2 at a required height.

Figure 11 illustrates a rail 2 which has a jubilee clip 1 7 fitted through the hole 4. In the usual way one end of the jubilee clip carries a rotatable ribbed member 1 8 and the other end of the jubilee clip is formed with ridges 1 9 which will engage with the ribs on the member 18. The rail can be presented to the post 1 and the arms of the jubilee clip 1 7 will then embrace the post whereupon the two ends of the clip will be secured together by rotating the member 1 8 until the clip is secured tightly onto the post 1.

It will be appreciated that other methods of interconnecting two ends of a metal strip (as alternatives to the method shown in Figure 11) may be employed so as to pull the ends of the metal strip tightly together about the post.

Claims (20)

1. A post and rail system comprising a pair of posts linked to the ends of a rail by attachment means which elastically or adjustably holds the rail to a post to an extent such that there will be positive or frictional resistance to movement, of the rail down the post, and such that the rail, or a part carried thereby, is held close to the post.

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment means incorporates or is formed from elasticated rope.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the elasticated rope is a ring fitted round the post and the rail carries a projecting arm for engagement in the ring and against the post.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the rail carries at its ends, projecting arms which each have a downwardly turned portion which can be slid down the side of the post and into engagement with an elasticated ring fitted on the post, the downwardly extending portion incorporating a kink to hold it in position against accidental release from the ring.

5. A system according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein a ring, tab or other pulling member is attached to the elastic ring.

6. A system according to claim 2, wherein the elasticated rope is attached to the rail and has two free ends extending from the rail.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the free ends have end formations to be linked to one another after embracing the post.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein the free ends define eyes to be hooked onto a projection on the post, after embracing the post.

9. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment means comprises a jubilee clip of metal, plastics or other robust material.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises a pair of curved sprung arms which can be snap fitted about the post.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein each end of the rail carries a rigid ring of metal, plastics or other convenient material which can be slid down a post and held in position by a stop member.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein the stop member is an elasticated collar slidably fitted tightly about the post.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein the stop member comprises a sequence of steps or ribs formed down the length of the post.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein the stop member comprises a series of ring receiving grooves cut into the post wall down the length thereof.

1 5. A system according to claim 13 of claim 14, wherein the stop member includes a jamming device for wedging the ring tightly against the post wall.

1 6. A system according to claim 15, wherein the jamming device is a wedge, preferably of a resilient material, to be driven between the ring and the post.

1 7. A system according to claim 15, wherein the jamming device is defined by a portion of the rail between an end face thereof and an angled slot in the end of the rail, which receives the ring.

18. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the base of each post carried a cross member to act as a foot for the post.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the cross member incorporates ballast.

20. A post and rail system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.