GB2267303A

GB2267303A - Improvements relating to traffic bollards

Info

Publication number: GB2267303A
Application number: GB9211312A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Myers
Original assignee: APH Road Safety Ltd
Current assignee: APH Road Safety Ltd
Priority date: 1992-05-28
Filing date: 1992-05-28
Publication date: 1993-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2012-05-28
Also published as: GB9211312D0; GB2267303B

Abstract

A traffic bollard comprises a base (6) adapted to be positioned on the ground, and is provided with a downwardly entrained slot (8), the slot being generally parallel sided in vertical section, but being curved in horizontal section. A display body (10) is afforded by an elongate strip of extruded plastics material provided with a reflective coating. On the assembly of the display body, an end portion thereof is deformed into a curved shape, and is inserted downwardly into the slot (8). In this manner a combination is achieved of a high degree of stiffness adjacent to the base, without impairing the flexibility of the display body, particularly at the upper region thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Improvements relating to traffic bollards" Description of Invention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to traffic bollards, particularly of the kind which are used (e.g. adjacent road workings) to de-lineate traffic lanes, and more particularly of the kind which are free standing.

A desirable traffic bollard comprises a base and a display body extending upwardly from the base, the body providing a highly visible surface and preferably being releasably secured to the base.

Advantageously the body is flexible to an extent sufficient to allow it to be overrun by a vehicle, thereafter springing back to its original position.

However, in certain circumstances the desirability of having the body flexible conflicts with a desirability to have a degree of rigidity, to ensure that the body does not move unduly under pressures of wind or air turbulence caused by passing vehicles.

According to this invention there is provided a traffic bollard comprising a base and a display body, the base being provided with an aperture for reception of the display body, wherein the aperture is curved and the display body comprises a surface which at rest is flat and which is deformed in part at least on the insertion of the display body into the aperture.

Thus, at the lower end of the display body, where it is fitted in the base, the curved form provides a higher level of rigidity, whilst the upper portion of the display body may adopt a flat configuration, allowing it to be desirably flexible.

Additionally, such construction provides for a higher degree of frictional fit between the display body and the base, without making removal of the display body from the base unduly difficult.

Thus the display body may be afforded by an elongate member of substantially uniform cross-section, such as may be formed by an extruding operation, in which a desired length of display body is cropped off as is required.

Alternatively, longitudinal ribbing may be utilised as may be desired to increase the overall stiffness of the display body, particularly over a region thereof spaced from its engagement with the base.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a traffic bollard which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 is a schematic view illustrating the traffic bollard which is the preferred embodiment of the invention, a display body thereof being spaced from the base of the bollard; FIGURE 2 is a view illustrating the display body engaged with the base; and FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, which are to an enlarged scale, show examples of alternative cross-sections of the display body which may be utilised in the performance of this invention.

The traffic bollard which is the preferred embodiment of this invention comprises a base 6 adapted to be positioned on the ground, and being provided with a downwardly entrained slot 8, the slot being in the preferred embodiment generally parallel sided in vertical section, but being curved, as is shown, in horizontal section.

The base 6 may be made of any convenient material, such as rubber or plastic.

The traffic bollard also comprises a display body 10, afforded by an elongate strip of extruded plastics material, typically being 750 - 1000 mm high, and perhaps 100 - 150 mm wide. The display body is provided with markings 12, such as may be afforded by horizontal or diagonal stripes of highly reflective material, to improve visibility.

On the assembly of the display body, an end portion thereof is deformed into a curved shape, and is inserted downwardly into the slot 8, as is shown in Figure 2.

The material from which the body 10 is formed is sufficiently resilient to ensure that the display body 10 adopts a flat profile at a distance less than half of the way up from the base, and in this example less than one third of the way up from the base, so that a majority of the surface of the display body is flat, to present to oncoming traffic the highly desirable flat reflective surface.

In this manner a combination is achieved of a high degree of stiffness adjacent to the base, without impairing the flexibility of the display body, particularly at the upper region thereof.

Additionally, the curved shape adopted by the display body adjacent to the base may afford better performance of the traffic bollard in conditions of high wind, or high air turbulence caused by passing vehicles.

It is to be understood, however, that if desired the display body may be such that it adopts a curved form along its entire length as a result of said deformation, while remaining within the scope of the invention.

Whilst in the preferred embodiment the display body is shown in the form of a flat extrusion, if desired other cross-sections may be utilised, to provide the required balance between stiffness and flexibility, in accordance with the thickness of the extruded profile, examples of possible cross-sections being illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

The reflective coating may be applied in a conventional manner, or may be applied by adhesive bonding on a continuous basis, or may be sprayed onto the profile subsequent to extrusion.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A traffic bollard comprising a base and a display body, the base being provided with an aperture for reception of the display body, wherein the aperture is curved and the display body comprises a surface which at rest is flat and which is deformed in part at least on the insertion of the display body into the aperture.

2. A traffic bollard according to Claim 1 wherein the display body is afforded by an elongate member of substantially uniform cross-section.

3. A traffic bollard according to one of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the display body is formed by an extruding operation, in which a desired length of display body is cropped off as required.

4. A traffic bollard according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the display body comprises longitudinal ribbing.

5. A traffic bollard according to Claim 4 wherein the display body is Ishaped in cross-section when at rest.

6. A traffic bollard according to any one of the preceding claims, the construction and arrangement being such that the display body adopts a flat profile at a distance of less than half way up from the base.

7. A traffic bollard according to Claim 6 wherein the display body adopts a flat profile at a distance less than one third the way up from the base.

8. A traffic bollard according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the display body adopts a curved form along its entire length.

9. A traffic bollard according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the display body is provided with highly reflective material.

10. A display body according to Claim 9 wherein the reflective material is applied in a continuous manner, or is applied by adhesive bonding on a continuous basis, or is sprayed onto the profile subsequent to extrusion.

11. A traffic bollard constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.