GB2269616A

GB2269616A - Barrier post and socket

Info

Publication number: GB2269616A
Application number: GB9316642A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernest Bernard Turner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-08-11
Filing date: 1993-08-11
Publication date: 1994-02-16
Also published as: GB9316642D0; GB9216990D0

Abstract

A barrier post comprises an outer sleeve 1 and an inner rod 2 mounted onto a socket member 17 set into the ground. A locking device (not shown) can be removed from the flange 13 of the rod 2 thus enabling the rod 2 to be raised with respect to the sleeve 1. This enables pivoted flanges 16 to rotate free of socket members 17 and the whole post may then be removed. In an alternative embodiment (fig. 1) the sleeve is mounted via elongate slots to a pivot pin. The sleeve may be raised with respect to the rod 2 and a socket member so that the lower end of the sleeve is free of the socket. The sleeve 1 and rod 2 may then be pivoted so as to lie horizontally. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements relatina to Movable Posts" It is common practice to install movable posts which can be either removed totally or released so that they can be laid down on the ground for the purpose of providing a temporary barrier to a driveway, parking space or the like.

Usually, some means of locking the post in the upright position is provided so as to deter unauthorised access.

It is an object of this invention to provide a movable post of this nature which is relatively easy to operate and where locking can be achieved without necessarily having to bend down to ground level to operate the locking device.

Accordingly, this invention provides a movable post comprising an outer sleeve around an inner rod, the lower end of the sleeve being located within a mounting socket member, the sleeve and rod being relatively movable axially with respect to one another to enable the sleeve to be removed from the socket member so that the sleeve and rod parts of the post can be moved from an upright condition wherein the post acts as a barrier, to an alternative condition wherein the post no longer acts as a barrier, and locking means for securing the post in the upright condition.

In accordance with one aspect this invention there is provided a movable post wherein the outer sleeve and the inner rod are both carried on a hinge pin at their lower ends, with the sleeve having a slotted mounting onto the hinge pin such that the sleeve can be raised out of the mounting socket member, thus enabling the sleeve to be rotated with the rod to a lowered position about the hinge pin whilst, when the sleeve is let down into the socket member, the sleeve is unable to rotate about the hinge pin and the top end of the rod is caused to project through an opening in the top end of the sleeve to enable a locking member to be secured to the top end of the rod.

With such an arrangement the outer sleeve is held securely in the upright position within the socket member until such time as it is raised, whereupon it can be lowered to the ground. Ideally a lifting handle will be provided at the top of the sleeve to provide an easy means of raising the sleeve within the socket member. A passageway may be provided through the top end of the rod . for receipt therethrough of a padlock or other locking member.

In accordance with a further aspect there is provided a movable post wherein the rod projects through the top end of the sleeve to provide a flange whereby the rod and sleeve may be locked together in a lowered condition of the rod within the sleeve, the lower end of the rod carrying articulated locating flanges which project into openings in the lower end of the sleeve and into recesses.in the socket member receiving the lower end of the sleeve, when the rod is in a lowered condition, whereby the sleeve member is prevented from leaving the socket member, whilst raising of the rod within the sleeve causes the locating flanges to be retracted out of the recesses and into the sleeve to enable the rod and sleeve to be removed from the socket member.

This construction again uses the feature of relatively movable rod and sleeve members, the rod having the locating flanges which enable the sleeve to be locked into place within the socket member. With the rod in the lowered condition the rod and sleeve can be locked together so that the rod cannot then be raised to release the locating flanges from the locking position.

In the preferred construction a limit stop will be provided on the rod to act against part of the sleeve to determine the maximum extent to which the rod can be raised.

This ensures that the rod and the sleeve parts cannot be detached from one another.

It is preferred that the locating flanges should comprise pivoted flaps which rest on a stop-plate, so that their ends project into the openings in the socket member, when the rod is in the lowered condition.

Advantageously, a pivoted cover flap will be provided for covering the socket member upon removal of the sleeve and rod combination.

The invention may be performed in various ways and two preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of a movable post of this invention in an upright position; Figure 2 shows the post in side view in a lowered condition; Figure 3 is a side view of an alternative form of movable post of the invention with the post mounted in the socket; and Figures 4 and 5 are side and front views respectively of the post shown removed from the socket.

In the example shown in Figure 1 a post is provided comprising an outer sleeve 1 and an inner rod 2. The rod 2 is fixed to a pivot pin 3 which is pivotally mounted in a socket member 4 which can be set into the ground 5 with a portion of the socket member projecting above ground level.

As can be seen particularly from Figure 2, the sleeve 1 incorporates slots 6 which are slidably mounted about the pivot pin 3.

With the post shown in the raised condition of Figure 1 the sleeve 1 is supported within the socket member 4 and a head portion 7 of the rod 2 projects through a support arrangement 8 on the head of the sleeve 1,. A passageway 9 passing through the head 7 enables a padlock to be secured to the assembly in order to prevent the sleeve 1 from being raised with respect to the rod 2. However, with the padlock removed the post 1 can be raised (for example by the lifting handle 10) so that the slots 6 ride up the pivot pin 3 until a condition is reached where the sleeve 1 and the rod 2 can be rotated by means of the pivot pin 3 to enable the sleeve 1 to be lowered onto the ground through a cut-away section 11 of the socket member 4.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 3 to 5, again a sleeve 1 and a rod 2 are provided with the rod projecting through the head of the sleeve where it is attached to a handle 12 which carries a flange 13. A hole 14 in the flange 13 corresponds with a similar hole in a second flange 15 secured to the sleeve 1 so that a padlock can be passed through the aligned holes to secure the rod 2 against movement in the sleeve 1. In this condition a pair of pivotably mounted flanges 16 carried at the lower end of the rod 2 are caused to pass through aligned openings near the base of the sleeve 1 and the walls of a socket member 17, the flanges 16 being prevented from rotating by their reaction onto a stop-plate 18. Cover plates 19 are provided to protect the openings in the socket member 17 and it will be seen that these cover plates 19 are provided in two pairs at 90O to one another so that the sleeve 1, of square crosssection, can be inserted into the socket member 1 in any attitude.

If the padlock is removed, then the rod 2 could be raised with respect to the sleeve 1 by lifting the handle 12. This causes the pivoted flanges 16 to rotate so that they are free from the socket member 17. The whole post assembly can then be removed from the socket member, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. A nut 20 limits the extent to which the rod 2 can be raised with respect to the sleeve 1.

A cover flap 21 mounted on a pivot pin 22 is provided to enable the opening in the socket member 17 to be covered when the post has been removed.

Claims

1. A movable post comprising an outer sleeve around an inner rod, the lower end of the sleeve being located within a mounting socket member, the sleeve and rod being relatively movable axially with respect to one another to enable the sleeve to be removed from the socket member so that the sleeve and rod parts of the post can be moved from an upright condition wherein the post acts as a barrier, to an alternative condition wherein the post no longer acts as a barrier, and locking means for securing the. post in the upright condition.

2. A movable post according to Claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve and the inner rod are both carried on a hinge pin at their lower ends, with the sleeve. having a slotted mounting onto the hinge pin such that the sleeve can be raised out of the mounting socket member, thus enabling the sleeve to be rotated with the rod to a lowered position about the hinge pin whilst, when the sleeve is let down into the socket member, the sleeve is unable to rotate about the hinge pin and the top end of the rod is caused to project through an opening in the top end of the sleeve to enable a locking member to be secured to the top end of the rod.

3. A movable post according to Claim 2, wherein a lifting handle is provided at the top -of the sleeve to enable the sleeve to be raised within the socket member.

4. A movable post according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein a passageway is provided through the top end of the rod for receipt therethrough of a padlock or other locking member

5. A movable post according to Claim 1, wherein the rod projects through the top end of the sleeve to provide a flange whereby the rod and sleeve may be locked together in a lowered condition of the rod within the sleeve, the lower end of the rod carrying articulated locating flanges which project into openings in the lower end of the sleeve and into recesses in the socket member receiving the lower end of the sleeve, when the rod is in a lowered condition, whereby the sleeve member is prevented from leaving the socket member, whilst raising of the rod within the sleeve causes the locating flanges to be retracted out of the recesses and into the sleeve to enable the rod and sleeve to be removed from the socket member.

6. A movable post according to Claim 5, wherein a limit stop is provided on the rod to act against part of the sleeve to determine the maximum extent to which the rod can be raised.

7. A movable post according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the locating flanges comprise pivoted flaps which rest on a stop-plate, so that their ends project into the recesses in the socket member, when the rod is in the lowered condition.

8. A movable post according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, wherein a pivoted cover flap is provided for covering the socket member upon removal of the sleeve and rod combination.

9. A movable post substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.