GB2334986A

GB2334986A - Bollard base light assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2334986A
Application number: GB9804783A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Nicholas; Robin Land
Original assignee: Signature Ltd
Current assignee: Signature Ltd
Priority date: 1998-03-07
Filing date: 1998-03-07
Publication date: 1999-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-07
Also published as: GB2334986B; GB9804783D0

Abstract

A bollard base light assembly (10) comprises a base (12) housing a light source (14) and a lid (16) with a window (18) through which light may pass to illuminate a bollard from below. The walls (20) of the base are provided with a flange (22) at their uppermost edge. The lid carries an elongate locking bar (32) along one side only (30) which engages with the flange to lock the lid to the base. The opposing side of the lid (42) is provided with an inwardly directed flange (46, figure 3) which engages underneath the base flange (22) to secure that side of the lid to the base. The locking bar is pivotable about an axis (36) and is biassed by a spring (38) towards the flange (22) such that when the lid is lowered into place the bar rotates away from the locking position until an edge (52) passes the flange. At this point the bar snaps into the position shown in figure 2 under influence of the spring to lock the lid in position. In order to remove the lid the locking bar is provided with an extension (54, figure 5) which is exposed on the outside of the lid. This may be turned to release the bar from the flange (22) to enable the lid to be lifted clear of the base.

Description

1 Bollard Base Light Assembl 2334986 The present invention relates to

bollard base light assemblies.

A common style of bollard base light assembly has a base housing in which a light source is located (typically a series of fluorescent tubes). A lid covers the base housing and has a window through which light can leave the housing to enter a traffic bollard placed over the assembly, thereby illuminating the bollard from within.

The lid may be held in position by bolts to ensure a good seal against weather is maintained. Replacement of the light bulbs or tubes is then a time consuming task, requiring the removal of all of the bolts before the hd can be removed. In an attempt to speed up the process, it has been proposed to reduce the number of bolts and provide hinges between the lid and body housing, but this arrangement has proved vulnerable to damage, particularly to the hinges, which then requires the complete assembly to be replaced.

The present invention provides a bollard base light assembly, comprising a base housing for a light source and a lid member to close the base housing, the assembly further comprising a locking member carried by the assembly and having a locking position from which the locking member is movable to allow the lid member to close, and to which the locking member may thereafter return to provide engagement between the base housing and the lid member to retain the lid member closed.

Preferably the locking member is carried by the lid member. The locking member is preferably resiliently mounted and biased to the locking position. The locking member is preferably shaped to deflect away from the locking position as the lid member closes. The locking member may engage another member as the lid portion closes, the engagement causing the locking member to deflect. The locking member may have a leading edge shaped to provide a camming action in engagement with the other member. The locking member 2 may have a trailing edge shaped to jam against the other member as the locking member moves to the locking position.

Preferably the locking member comprises an elongate bar providing locking along substantially the whole length thereof. The locking member may turn about an axis to move to or from the locking position. The assembly may further comprise a flange with which the locking member cooperates to lock the lid member closed. The locking member preferably engages the flange as the lid member closes, and deflects from the locking position to allow the locking member and flange to pass one another, the locking member thereafter returning to the locking position to engage the flange to lock the lid member closed.

Preferably the flange is carried by the base housing. The locking member may comprise an extension engageable by a tool to allow the locking member to be moved away from the locking position to release the lid member.

Preferably the assembly comprises fixed means operable to help retain the lid member closed when the locking member has locked. The fixed means may comprise interengaging flange and channel means, the flange means being formed on one of the lid member and base housing, and the channel means being provided by the other of the lid member and the base housing. The fixed means may extend generally parallel with the locking member. The base housing is preferably generally rectangular in plan, the locking member and fixed means extending along opposite, parallel sides thereof.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a highly schematic perspective view of a bollard base light assembly according to the present invention; 3 Figs. 2 and 3 are partial sections through the assembly of Fig. 1, along the lines 2-2 and 3-3, respectively; Figs. 4A, B, C are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of the locking arrangement; and Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of one corner, showing a release arrangement.

Fig. 1 shows a bollard base light assembly 10 comprising a base housing 12 for a light source (illustrated schematically as 14). A lid member 16 serves to close the base 12 and has a window 18 through which the interior of a bollard may be illuminated from below.

The base 12 is in the general form of a square or rectangular opentopped box over which the lid 16 can be placed to protect the lights 14 from external factors, particularly the ingress of water.

The arrangement for securing the lid 16 to the base 12, and for locking the lid closed, is illustrated in more detail in Figs. 2 and 3. The base 12 has vertical walls 20 carrying an outwardly extending flange 22 along the top edge. A glass or other clear sheet 24 is supported on the walls 20 through a seal strip 26 and a second seal member 28 provides a seal between the upper surface of the glass 24 and the lid 16.

One side 30 of the lid 16 carries an elongate locking bar 32 having a profile to be described in more detail below. Briefly, the bar 32 provides locking by engaging the flange 22. The bar 32 is protected from weather by a downward skirt 34. The bar 32 is of constant cross-section along substantially the whole of its length, to provide engagement with the flange 22 along substantially the whole of the side 30. The bar 32 is mounted to rotate about its length, about an axis 36 by suitable pivot mounts at each end, and is sprung to bias the bar 32 to the locked position (Fig. 2). In the example shown, a 4 torsion spring 38 is mounted around the wds 36 to bear on a peg 40 carried by the bar 32, and against the inner wall of the skirt 34, thereby urging the bar 32 to the position shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows the arrangement along the side 42, which is opposite to the side 30. Along this edge, glass 24, seal strip 26 and seal member 28 are similarly arranged but the edge of the lid 16 is of simpler form, having a downward skirt 44 which carries an inwardly directed flange 46 dimensioned to engage under the flange 22. This engagement stops the lid 16 rising relative to the base 12. However, the engagement can be sufficiently loose to allow a degree of hinging action along the side 42.

Figs. 4A and 4B can now be used to describe the locking action as the lid 16 is placed onto the base 12. First, the side 42 is engaged as shown in Fig. 3, but with the side 30 of the lid 16 raised above the wall 20. The side 30 can then be lowered (hinging about the side 42) until eventually, the straight leading edge 48 of the bar 32 engages the flange 22 (Fig. 4A). The leading edge 48 is flat and provides a camming action with the flange 22 as the lid continues to be lowered, so that as the axis 36 passes the flange 22, the bar 32 turns by this camming action away from the locking position. Fig. 4B shows an intermediate position at which the bar 32 has moved (anti-clockwise as seen in Figs. 4A and 4B) to allow the bar 32 to move past the flange 22.

The leading edge 48 meets a curved trailing edge 50 at an edge 52. As the edge 52 passes the flange 22, the spring 38 urges the bar 32 to snap back to the locking position, with the trailing edge 50 under the flange 22, to the position shown in Fig. 2. This is the locked position of the bar 32. Any attempt to lift the lid 16 will cause the flange 22 to bear on the trailing edge 50 which, by virtue of its shape, will jam the lid shut, being unable to provide an appropriate camming action to cause anticlockwise rotation of the bar 32. The opposite side 42 of the lid 16 remains retained by the flanges 22,46, thus retaining the lid 16 closed over the base 12. It is thus apparent that the lid 16 can be closed without tools or other parts which could be lost (such as nuts and bolts), simply by pressing down on the side 30 until the bar 32 deflects to move past the flange 22 and then snap back to lock the lid closed. - Provision for removing the lid 16 when required, for instance to replace the light bulbs 14, is by means of a short extension 54 of the bar 32. The extension 54 is exposed outside the lid 16 (see Fig. 5) and is centred on the a-3ds 36. The extension 54 may have a profile of a standard bolt head, or be shaped to receive a specially designed tool, such as being triangular in transverse section. Engaging the extension 54 by a suitable tool, key or spanner allows the extension 54 to be turned, thus turning the bar 32 away from the locking position and against the bias of the spring 38, until a position shown in Fig. 4C is reached. In this position, the trailing edge 50 has moved clear of the flange 22 so that the edge 52 can now move up past the flange 22, allowing the lid to be removed.

Thus, in the arrangement described, the lid can be securely closed without tools and without any components which are not permanently attached to the assembly, and the lid can be readily removed by the use of a single tool to release the bar 32. This makes the operation quick and convenient and thus more economic and safer for the operator (who is exposed to traffic for a shorter period). In the example described, all of the moving components are carried by the lid 16 so that if any damage should arise, a complete replacement lid can be used, without the base 12 needing to be replaced. However, in other arrangements it may be considered more desirable for the locking arrangements to be carried by the base, in which case they would move past and snap behind a member carried by the lid.

Many variations and modifications can be made to the apparatus described above, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, the shapes and dimensions of the flange 22 and of the bar 32 can be widely varied. It is preferred to provide the bar 32 along substantially the whole length of the side 30, to improve the hold between the lid and base, but shorter axial lengths could be used. Several independently mounted cam 6 arrangements could be provided at various positic, around the lid but this would make the operation of o. pening the lid rather more complex, requiring all of the locks to be released together. In the example shown, the base and lid are envisaged as one piece aluminium castings to which the bar 32 is subsequently fitted, but other materials and techniques could be used.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

7

Claims

1. A bollard base light assembly, comprising a base housing for a light source and a lid member to dose the base housing, the assembly further comprising a locking member carried by the assembly and having a locking position from which the locking member is movable to allow the lid member to dose, and to which the locking member may thereafter return to provide engagement between the base housing and the lid member to retain the lid member closed.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is carried by the lid member.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking member is resiliently mounted and biased to the locking position.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the locking member is shaped to deflect away from the locking position as the lid member closes.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the locking member engages another member as the lid portion closes, the engagement causing the'locking member to deflect.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the locking member has a leading edge shaped to provide a camming action in engagement with the other member.

7. An assembly according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the locking member has a trailing edge shaped to jam against the other member as the locking member moves to the locking position.

8. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking member comprises an elongate bar providing locking along substantially the c _1 whole length thereof.

8

9. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking member is able to turn about an axis to move to or from the locking position.

10. An assembly according to any preceding claim, the assembly further comprising a flange with which the locking member cooperates to lock the lid member closed.

11. An assembly according to claim 10, wherein the locking member engages the flange as the lid member closes, and deflects from the locking position to allow the locking member and flange to pass one another, the locking member thereafter returning to the locking position to engage the flange to lock the lid member closed.

12. An assembly according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the flange is carried by the base housing.

13. An assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking member comprises an extension engageable by a tool to allow the locking member to be moved away from the locking position to release the lid member.

14. An assembly according to any preceding claim, further comprising fixed means operable to help retain the lid member closed when the locking member haslocked.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein the fixed means comprise interengaging flange and channel means, the flange means being formed on one of the lid member and base housing, and the channel means being provided by the other of the lid member and the base housing.

16. An assembly according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the fixed means extend generally parallel with the locking member.

9

17. An assembly according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the base housing is generally rectangular in plan, the locking member and fixed means extending along opposite, parallel sides thereof.

18. A bollard base light assembly substantially as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.