GB2183699A

GB2183699A - Free standing road marker post

Info

Publication number: GB2183699A
Application number: GB08530377A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Sydney Holgate
Original assignee: Glasdon Ltd
Current assignee: Glasdon Ltd
Priority date: 1985-12-10
Filing date: 1985-12-10
Publication date: 1987-06-10
Also published as: GB2183699B; GB8530377D0

Abstract

A free standing road marker post comprises an upright extruded arcuate cross-section plastics post (10) mounted in a hollow moulded plastics base (11). The base has a vertical aperture (14) to receive the lower end of the post with the edges of the post engaging in the corners in the recess on one side of the centre of the post bearing on the opposite side wall of the recess. In order to hold the post in the recess a raised lug (17) is formed on at least one side of the recess to snap into an aperture in the lower part of the post which bears against that side of the recess. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to free standing roadway markers This invention relates to free standing roadway markersandis particularly although notexclusively applicabletotemporary roadway markersfor use on highways, pavements or other pathways or like and may be used asavisable guidetothe edges ofthe route or may be used to define the limits of a hazard to be avoided.

This invention provides a free standing roadway marker comprising a post formed from a resilient flexible material and of arcuate cross section and the base having a central, rectangular upwardly open aperture to receive the post with the outer edges of the post engaged in opposed corners on one elongate side of the aperture and a central region of the post engaging the opposite side ofthe aperture midway along the side, and detent means on the aperture to engage the post and hold the post in the aperture.

The arcuate cross-section of the post in combination with the resilient flexible material from which the post is formed permits the upright post to be bentflatwhen subjected to an impact such as from a vehicle colliding with or even running over the post and to return the post upright when the vehicle has passed.

The detent means may comprise a projection mid-way along one side ofthe aperture to engage in a recess at the centre ofthe part ofthe post located in the aperture.

Preferably a projection is provided midway along both elongate sides ofthe recess whereby the arcuate section post may be located either waxy round in the aperture with one or other ofthe projections engaging in the recess in the post.

In any of the above arrangementsthe post may have integral beads extending along the edges ofthe arcuate section and the corners ofthe rectangular aperture are formed with recesses shaped to receive the beads.

Also in anyoftheabovearrangementsthe aperture in the base may extend fully through the base.

Preferably the base is formed with a closed cavity extending around the base to receive a ballast material for weighting the base in place.

More specifically the base may be a hollow plastics moulding having an aperture closed by a plug through which ballast may be inserted into or emptied from the base.

Thefollowing is a description of some specific embodiments to the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 illustrates a free standing roadway marker incorporating an upright post; Figures lAto 1show variants of Figure 1.

Figures2and 3are detailed views ofthe post; Figure 4 is a plan view ofthe base ofthe roadway marker; Figure 5is a section on the line 5-5 on Figure 4; Figure6isan under plan view of the base; and Figure 7is a section on the line 7-7 on Figure 6; Refering firstly to Figure 1 ofthe drawings, there is shown an upright extruded plastics post 10 mounted in a hollow moulded plastic base 11. The post 10 is of arcuate transverse cross section (as can be seen in Figure 4) and is formed with integral beads 12 down the vertical edges of the post at the ends ofthe arcuate section to assist in stiffening the post. The post is extruded in a signal red plastics material and a retro-reflective white panel 13 is adhered to the post part-way down the post.

Base 11 is formed with a vertical aperture 14to receive and supportthe lowerpartofthe post. In the case where the post is initially formed with a tapered top 15 at its lower end,this is cropped off beforethe post is used.

Reference is now made to Figures 4to 7 ofthe drawings in which the construction of the base 11 for the post is illustrated in detail. The base 11 isa hollow plastics moulding which may be formed by rotational moulding generally square in plan view with the aperture 14which is of generally rectangular elongate form disposed centrally ofthe base and extending clearthrough the base. The corners ofthe aperture 14 are fromed with recesses 16 in which the beads 12 along the vertically edges of the post engage as can be seen in Figure 4. The beaded edges ofthe post engage in the recessed corners along one elongate side of the aperture 14 and the centre ofthe post bears on the opposite side ofthe aperture 14. It will of course be appreciated that the post can be inserted either way round in the aperture as required.Each elongate side ofthe aperture 14is formed atthecentre ofthe side with a raised lug 17 to engage in a central opening 18 in the lower part of the post to lock the post in the aperture. To facilitate insertion ofthe post in the aperturethe upperside of each lug has a ramp 17a to "lead" the end ofthe post overthe lug until opening 18 reaches and snaps over the lug to lockthe post in place in the aperture. Ahole 21 is formed in an upperwall ofthe baseto open into the cavity with a removable plug 22. Water, sand, gravel or earth may conveniently be used as ballast.

Self-adhesive mastic pads 23 (having peel-off protective strips) may be secured to the under side of the base on eitherside ofthe aperture 14. The protective strips are removed prior to use of the base whichisthenadheredtotheground bythe application of light pressure. The under side ofthe base around the lower opening of the aperture 14 is formed with a recta ng u I ar recess 24 to facilitate gripping of the base when it is standing on afloat surface by providing clearance between the ground and the bottom of the recess forthe fingers to be engaged beneath the base when the hand is passed through the central aperture.

The arrangement described above provides convenient portable free standing markerfor a roadway, path, pavement or other rou.ç. The can readily be transported to site unassembled and the base then filled on site with ballast as required and the post inserted in the base. The post moulding is such that hand pressure is sufficientto force the post into the aperture overthe lug 17 on one orc'er side ofthe aperture until the opening 18 in the post registers with the lug and then snaps round the lug to lockthe post in position. As indicated above,the post can be located in the aperture either waxy around with its convexside engaging one or other side of the aperture as appropriate for the particular site and installation. The arcuate cross-section of the post in combination with the resilient plastics material from which the post is formed provides a post which can be bent flat by a vehicle hitting or running overthe post. Once the vehicle has passed and released the post the resilience ofthe post restores itto its original upright condition.

Claims

1. Afreestanding roadway marker comprising a post of arcuate cross section and a base having a central, rectangular upwardly open apertureto receivethe postwith the outer edges of the post engaged in opposed corners on one elongate side of the aperture and a central region ofthe post engaging the opposite side of the aperture midway along the side, and detent means in the apertureto engage the post and hold the post in the aperture.

2. A roadway markeras claimed in Claim 1 wherein the detent means comprise a projection midway along one side ofthe aperture to engage in a recess at the centre ofthe part of the post located in the aperture.

3. A roadway marker as claimed in Claim 2 wherein a projection is provided midway along both elongate sides of the recess whereby the arcuate section post may be located either waxy round in the aperture with one or other of the projections engaging in the recess in the post.

4. A roadway marker as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims wherein the post has integral beads extending along the edges ofthe post at the ends ofthe arcuate cross section and the corners of the rectangular aperture are formed with recesses shaped to receive the beads.

5. A roadway marker as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims wherein the aperture in the base extends fully through the base and the lower end of the post lies generallyflush with the bottom face of the base.

6. Aroadwaymarkerasclaimed in any ofthe preceding claims wherein the base is hollow having a closed cavity extending around the base to receive a ballast material for weighting the base in place.

7. Aroadwaymarkerascaimed in Claim 6 wherein the base is a hollow plastics moulding having an aperture closed by a plug through which ballast may be inserted into our emptied from the base.

8. Afreestanding roadway marker substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.