GB2272007A

GB2272007A - Post with extension arm, e.g. lamp-post

Info

Publication number: GB2272007A
Application number: GB9222347A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter John Leigh
Original assignee: PEARCE GOWSHALL Ltd
Current assignee: PEARCE GOWSHALL Ltd
Priority date: 1992-10-23
Filing date: 1992-10-23
Publication date: 1994-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 2012-10-23
Also published as: GB2272007B; GB9222347D0

Abstract

A top section (3) of a post having an extension arm (5) to hold, say, a light fitting (7) at the end, is held in place by a locking device (10) which has a saddle (15) and gripping surfaces with ribbing (14). The device (10) is in two parts which are urged apart to grip the inside of the lower portion (2) of the post. <IMAGE>

Description

POfT WITH EXTENSION ARM The invention relates to a post having an extension arm to which is attached an object such as a lamp or light fitting.

It is known to locate a light fitting at the end of an extension arm projecting from the top section of a post, the top section being fitted over the section immediately below and being held thereto by radially spaced apart grub screws. Unfortunately it is possible for the top section to move rotationally relative to the section below under an applied force, such as a gust of high wind. The rotation causes the lamp or light fitting to become ineffective for its purpose. It is one object of the invention to provide a post in which this risk is reduced or eliminated.

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a post having an extension arm, the post including first and second hollow length portions arranged in line, the arm extending radially from the first portion, an inner end portion of the arm being located within the first length portion and an outer end portion extending beyond the first length portion, characterised bY locking means connected to the second length portion, the locking means comprising a saddle portion to engage the inner end portion of the arm of the first length portion and means to resist relative rotational movement of the length portions.

Preferably the locking means includes rotational resistance means adapted to engage the inner face of the side wall of the second length.

Preferably the locking means comprises two blocks each having the resistance means, the blocks being urged apart to cause the resistance means to grip opposed inner surfaces of the second length. Preferably a threaded bolt extends between the two blocks, the ends of the bolt being received in the blocks, and nuts are present on the bolt to be moved to urge the blocks apart.

Preferably the resistance means comprises ribs, most preferably of castellated form.

In a much preferred aspect of the invention there is provided a post including a hollow post length and a top section to fit over the free end of the post length, an extension arm extending from the top section, the arm having an inner end portion located within the top section and an outer portion projecting radially beyond the top section, a lamp fitting being present at or adjacent the free end of the outer portion of the arm; a locking device present at the upper end of the post length, the device comprising two blocks each having a saddle portion shaped to receive the inner end portion of the arm, a locating portion which engages the wall of the post length and a gripping portion having gripping means which is abutted against the inner side wall thereof, and means for urging the two blocks apart; whereby when the top section is fitted over the free end of the post length, the inner end portion of the arm is received in the saddle of the locking device and any force tending to cause rotational movement of the top section relative to the post length is resisted by engagement of the gripping means and the inner face of the wall of the section.

In another aspect the invention provides a locking device which comprises two blocks joined together by a bolt, the ends of the bolt being secured to the blocks, each block having a rotational resistance means on the outer surfaces thereof, nuts being present on the bolt to urge the blocks apart. Preferably the resistance means comprises vertically disposed ribs. Most preferably the means comprises ribs of castellated form.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the top of a lighting post; Figure 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of the post in assembled condition; Figure 3 is a partial horizontal sectional view of the post in assembled condition taken on lines III-III on Figure 2, and Figure 4 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 1.

The post 1 comprises a main upright portion built up of one or more hollow sections 2, e.g. of concrete or metal, e.g. steel.

The top section 3 of the post is of relatively wider diameter so that it can fit over the adjacent section in overlapping relation, as shown in Figure 2. A hole 4 is present in one side of the top section 3 and an extension arm 5 extends through the hole 4, the inner end portion 6 of the arm 5 being present within the top section 3 and the remainder projecting outside the section and terminating in a housing 7 for a lamp fitting, not shown. Grub screws 8 are present in the lower portion of the top section 3 to hold that section to the section 2 below. A cap 9 is present to fit on the top section 3.

A locking device 10 is present at the upper portion of the section 2. The device comprises two blocks 11, joined by a bolt 12. Each block is generally semicircular as seen in plan having an outer generally arcuate wall 13. The wall has an upper projecting portion 13a and lower portion 13b which has vertical ribbing 14. The ribs are of any suitable shape and as shown are preferably castellations. The upper portion 13a projects forward of the lower portion 13b by a distance substantially equal to the wall thickness of the section 2. The top wall of the blocks 11 is of generally U-shaped channel form to define a saddle 15 to receive the inner end portion 6 of the arm 5. The blocks 11 each have a horizontal bore 16 in the lower portion 13b, with a smaller crossbore 17 at each end thereof and accessible from the outside of the lower portion 13b.The bolt 12 extends between the blocks 11 with its ends in the bores 16. An anchor pin 18 is present in the crossbore 17 at each end of the bolt to anchor the bolt to the block. Rotation of nuts 19 on the threaded bolt 12 in opposite directions will urge the blocks 11 apart, so that when received in the section 2, the ribs 14 will grip opposite portions of the inside face 2a of the section 2. Washers 20 are present between the nuts 19 and the adjacent face of the block 11.

In use, the device 10 is located in the section 2, by locating the underside of the wall portions 13a of the blocks 11 on diametrically opposite inner sides 2a of the section 2. The nuts 19 are then threaded along the bolt 12 to urge the blocks apart until the wall portions 13b are abutted against the inside surface of the section 2, so causing the ribs 14 to grip the sides 2a.

The top section 3 is then lowered until the inner end 6 of the arm 5 rests in a saddle 15 (or both if it is long enough). The grub screws 8 are then tightened. The electrical cables, not shown, pass around or through the device without being obstructed. The cap 9 is fitted if necessary.

Any force tending to rotate the top section 3 relative to the rest of the post whether caused by high winds acting on the lamp fitting or by vandals will be resisted by the engagement of the ribs 14 of the device 10 with the inside wall 2a of the section 2. This engagement is not accessible from the outside so a vandal will not readily see how to dismantle the assembly. There is thus little or no risk that the electrical cables will be sheared or that the light will move out of alignment. The device 10 is cheap to make, reliable in use, elegant in appearance and will maintain lamp fittings in predetermined position.

The post may be made of any known material and in any suitable size such as 76 mm, 89 mm, 114 mm, 140 mm and 168 mm outside diameter. The arm may be say 25 mm or 32 mm outside diameter.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. For example, the inner portion of the arm may be arranged to be received in both saddle portions; extra coupling means may be present to hold the blocks of the locking device in axial alignment; springs may be present to urge them apart. Adhesive may be present to hold the device in the second section the wall of which may be roughened for added key locking. The top section and the section immediately below may be engaged in abutting relation instead of overlapping.

In the embodiment shown the locking device is disposed so that the saddle faces upwards but the device may also be used in the inverted position. In the embodiment shown a light fitting is present at the free end of the extension arm but a traffic sign may be present additionally or instead. The arm may have a section with a locking device at each end and be used to bridge two posts or post lengths. Such a modification will enable a longer extension arm to be used to support the lamp and the post can then serve as a lamp post mounted to one side of say the footpath or roadway. The extension arm having a locking device at each end can be used to prevent rotation of say a cantilevered bracket.

Claims

1. A post having an extension arm, the post including first (3) and second hollow length portions (2) arranged in line, the arm (5) extending radially from the first length portion (3), an inner end portion (6) of the arm (5) being located within the first length portion (3) and an outer end portion extending beyond the first length portion (3), characterised bs locking means (10) connected to the second length portion (2), the locking means (10) comprising a saddle portion (15) to engage the inner end portion (6) of the arm (5) of the first length portion (3) and means (14) to resist relative rotational movement of the length portions (2,3).

2. A post according to Claim 1, wherein the locking means (10) includes resistance means (14) adapted to engage the inner face (2a) of the side wall of the second length (2).

3. A post according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking means (10) comprises two blocks (11) each having the rotational resistance means (14), the blocks (11) being urged apart to cause the resistance means (14) to grip opposed inner surfaces (2a) of the second length (2).

4. A post according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a threaded bolt (12) extends between the two blocks (11), and nuts (19) are present on the bolt (12), rotation of the nuts (19) apart being arranged to urge the blocks (11) apart.

5. A post according to Claim 3 or 4, in which the ends of the bolt (12) are lockingly received (17,18) in the blocks (11).

6. A post according to Claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the rotational resistance means (14) comprises castellated ribs.

7. A post according to any preceding Claim, including shoulder portions (13a) which engage on the free edge of the second length (2).

8. A post including a hollow post length (2) and a top section (3) to fit over the free end of the post length, an extension arm (5) extending from the top section (3), the arm having an inner end portion (6) located within the top section (3) and an outer portion (5) projecting radially beyond the top section (3), a lamp fitting (7) being present at or adjacent the free end of the outer portion of the arm; a locking device (10) present at the upper end of the post length (2), the device comprising two blocks (11) each having a saddle portion (15) to receive the inner end portion (6) of the arm (5), a locating portion (13a) which engages the wall of the post length and a gripping portion (13b) having gripping means (14) which is abutted against the inner side wall thereof, and means (12) urging the two blocks (11) apart; whereby when the top section (3) is fitted over the post free end (2), the inner end portion (6) of the arm (5) is received in the saddle (15) of the locking device (10) and any force tending to cause rotational movement of the top section (3) relative to the post length (2) is resisted by engagement of the gripping means (14) and the inner face (2a) of the wall of the section (2).

9. A post according to Claim 8, wherein the gripping means comprises vertically disposed ribs (14).

10. A post according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the ribs (14) are of generally castellated form.

11. A locking device (10) comprises two blocks (11) joined together by a bolt (12), the ends of the bolt (12) being secured to the blocks (11), each block having a rotational resistance means (14) on the outer surfaces thereof.

12. A device (10) according to Claim 11, wherein the resistance means (14) comprises vertically disposed ribs.

13. A device (10) according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein the means (14) comprises ribs (14) of castellated form.