GB2255403A - "lamp holders" - Google Patents

Abstract

A lamp 2 can be fitted into the top of a hollow post 1 with the lamp head exposed. A fixing arrangement comprising a pair of articulated arms 5 linked between a collar 10 and a pair of arms 6A (which are linked by a connection piece 11) enables the lamp to be held in place in the top of the post 1. The fixing arrangement is held down in position by a bolt passing through a ring 12 and through a hole 13 in the post 1, the bolt then being screwed into the lamp body. Kinked portions 15 in the arms 6 provide support for toggle members to which a barrier plank may be connected. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements relating to Lamp Holders" There is a need at work sites to provide warning lighting (usually a flashing light) to indicate the presence of a hazard to passing people and vehicles. A number of lightweight lamps of this type are available but, because they are easy to move there is always the risk that they may be stolen or moved away from the main danger point. It is an object of this invention therefore, to provide means whereby such lamps can be held in a fixed position such that they cannot be removed without difficulty.

Accordingly, this invention provides a post having an open-topped hollow upper portion for receipt of a lamp body, and incorporating a fixing mechanism in the form of a pair of articulated arms pivotally mounted on the post and connected to a collar member which can be lowered into a securing position onto the head of a lamp mounted in the post, with securing means being provided to fix the arms when the collar member is in the securing position.

With such an arrangement the lamp can be held securely in the top of the post by suitable securing means which will be difficult for anyone to remove without a suitable tool.

This eliminates the possibility of casual or accidental moving of the lamp from the desired position. The post, of course, can be fixed in place where needed.

In a preferred arrangement the arms are each in two parts with an intermediate hinge linkage, and a connection piece links the two arms together. In this form of construction the connection piece ideally incorporates the securing means which could be in the form of a ring receiving a fixing bolt to be secured in the body of the post. Such an arrangement has a large degree of flexibility so that the collar of the post can be readily lifted off the lamp when the lamp has to be removed. Ideally, also the collar itself will be hingedly mounted to the two arms.

Advantageously, the post can incorporate locking formations to prevent rotation of all or part of the lamp when mounted in the post. Some lamps are specially designed so that the parts can be mutually rotated in order to operate the light switch. By fixing the lamp against rotation the state of the lamp cannot be altered without releasing the lamp from the post. Ideally, also the post will incorporate a support arrangement for limiting the extent of insertion of the lamp into the post.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a post incorporating fixing means of this invention; Figure 2 illustrates a toggle member for use with the arrangement shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows the attachment of a toggle member to a plank.

In the drawing there is shown a hollow post 1 in the open top of which is received a lamp 2. This lamp has an enlarged flange 3 which will sit on top of the rim of the post 1, and leading up from this is a conical transparent hood 4 which houses a light bulb. In this arrangement the combination of the flange 3 and the hood 4 can be rotated with respect to the body of the lamp 2 as a means of switching the lamp between the "on" and "off" conditions.

After the lamp has been inserted into the post 1 it can be held in position by a fixing mechanism 5. This comprises a pair of articulated arms 6 which are in two parts each interconnected by a hinge 7. One part 6A of each arm has a hook 8 at one end which locates within socket 9 in the post 1. The free end of the arm part 6B is linked to a collar 10 which sits over the flange 3 of the lamp. The connection piece 11 joins the two arms 6 and incorporates a ring 12.

When the connection piece 11 is pulled downwardly to align the ring 12 with a hole 13 in the wall of the post 1 this allows a bolt to be screwed in to the lamp to lock the assembly in such a way that the lamp cannot be removed from the post (the bolt will also screw into a part of the body of the lamp 2. Rotation of the flange 3 is prevented by means of a boss 14 projecting upwardly of the post 1 which fits into a corresponding notch in the flange 3.

In order to release the lamp 2, the bolt is removed and then the collar 10 can be lifted upwardly as the articulated arms 6 extend. The collar can then be manipulated over the top of the hood 4 so that the lamp will be free.

The arms 6 each incorporate a kinked portion 15. When the arms 6 are in a raised position the head 16 of a toggle member 17 (Figure 2) can be passed underneath one of the arms 6 so that the neck 18 of the toggle member can be located in the kinked portion 15. When the arms are secured in the fixing position the neck 18 of the toggle member 17 will be trapped in the kinked portion 15 of the fixed arm.

The toggle member 17 is connected to a ring 19 which can be threaded into a hole 20 in a plank or rail 21 (Figure 3).

By this means a post and rail combination may readily be interconnected in addition, or as an alternative, to the location of a lamp 4 on the post 1.

The design as illustrated in the Figure 1 can be modified as required. For example, the collar 10 can be in the form of a flat metal ring rather than a wire ring as shown. Another possibility is for the collar to be of Lshaped cross-section so that it extends over the top and down the side of the flange 3 of the lamp.

Claims (10)

1. A post having an open-topped hollow upper portion for receipt of a lamp body, and incorporating a fixing mechanism in the form of a pair of articulated arms pivotally mounted on the post and connected to a collar member which can be lowered into a securing position onto the head of a lamp mounted in the post, with securing means being provided to fix the arms when the collar member is in the securing position.

2. A post according to Claim 1, wherein the arms are each in two parts with an intermediate hinge linkage, and a connection piece links the two arms together.

3. A post according to Claim 2, wherein the connection piece incorporates the securing means.

4. A post according to Claim 3, wherein the securing means is in the form of a ring receiving a fixing bolt to be secured into the lamp after passing through a hole in the body of the post.

5. A post according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the collar itself is hingedly mounted to the two arms.

6. A post according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the post incorporates locking formations to prevent rotation of all or part of the lamp when mounted in the post.

7. A post according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the post incorporates a support arrangement for limiting the extent of insertion of the lamp into the post.

8. A post according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the articulated arms incorporate kinked portions which can receive the neck of a toggle member so that when the arms are locked into the fixing position the head of the toggle member will be trapped and cannot be withdrawn.

9. A post according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the toggle member is attached to a plank so that the plank can be supported on the post.

10. A post according to Claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying draw inns.