GB2411684A

GB2411684A - Collar member for road furniture

Info

Publication number: GB2411684A
Application number: GB0404792A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robin Wayne Land
Original assignee: Signature Ltd
Current assignee: Signature Ltd
Priority date: 2004-03-03
Filing date: 2004-03-03
Publication date: 2005-09-07
Also published as: GB0404792D0

Abstract

An item of road furniture, such as a 'Belisha beacon' on a pedestrian crossing, comprises an upright mounting pole 6, a beacon 3 mounted on an upper end of the pole, and a collar member 12 that retains the beacon in place. The collar member clamps around a part of the beacon and a part of the mounting pole in a slideable fashion. It may comprises an annular channel like strip of durable material, such as aluminium, and have free ends 16, 17 which can be secured together using a locking bolt 18 and nut 19. Separate screws 7 may be provided to secure the pole directly to the beacon. Also claimed is an item of road furniture having light emitting devices disposed along the length of the tubular members (Figs 5 and 6) and one having an LED disposed in the beacon (Figs 7,8).

Description

1 241 1 684 Item of Road Furniture The present invention relates to an

item of road furniture of the sort used for indicating locations of significance to road users, such as pedestrian crossings, on or adjacent a highway or road. In particular, though not exclusively, the present invention relates to a post and/or beacon such as that used to indicate a crossing for pedestrians and cyclists, e.g. a zebra crossing.

Road furniture is often used to identify locations on public highways and roads which are of significance to road users.

An example of this is the furnishing of pedestrian crossings (such as "zebra" crossings) with marker posts erected at or near the crossing and illuminated with a beacon or the like in order to draw their presence to the attention of road users. Additionally, this illumination may also provide the function of illuminating pedestrians using or about to use the pedestrian crossing adjacent the post.

Marker posts of this variety typically comprise a mounting post securely mounted in a pavement near the crossing and projecting upwardly therefrom, and a beacon mounted atop the mounting post comprising a hollow body of light-transmitting material enclosing a light-emitting device. A common example of this is the Belisha beacon in which the mounting post is typically a tubular body, and the beacon is typically a hollow translucent globe containing a tungsten- filament light bulb.

Improved visibility of such marker posts may, in some case, be provided by forming apertures within the hollow tubular body of the mounting post behind which is placed a fluorescent light tube which, in use, emits light out from the mounting post via the apertures formed within it thereby to render the marker post more visible and to illuminate pedestrians adjacent the marker post.

However, a number of problems arise in the use of such marker posts. A first problem is that of beacon vandalism.

Typically the beacon of a marker post is rigidly attached to a beacon "gallery" formed at the end of the mounting post uppermost in use. This gallery provides a platform upon which the body of the beacon may rest and to which the beacon is firmly fixed using screws or bolts or the like passing through both the "gallery" and the base of the body of the beacon. Unfortunately, such means of fixture are vulnerable to tampering and vandalism whereby the screws, bolts or other fixing means may be easily removed thereby enabling removal of the beacon and light emitting device within it.

Additionally, where the marker post employs a mounting post possessing apertures behind which is located a fluorescent light tube, as described above, vandals may relatively c easily gain access to the enclosed fluorescent light tube via the apertures within the mounting post. Damage and breakage of the fluorescent light tube is, sadly, increasingly common.

Both of the two aforementioned types of vandalism are highly undesirable and expensive to repair.

A further deficiency of existing marker post designs is the current use of either fluorescent-based and/or tungsten based light emitting means within the beacon and/or the tubular mounting post of the marker post. These two forms of light-emitting device typically have a working lifetime which is less than that of the marker post within which they are employed. For example, a tungsten-based light bulb, as is typically employed in the beacon of a marker post, has a working lifetime of about 60,000 hours. A marker post will typically outlive this, thereby requiring the replacement of failed light-emitting devices within the lifetime of the marker post. This maintenance requirement is inconvenient and costly. Furthermore, such light-emitting devices consume large amounts of power in use.

The present invention seeks to provide an item of road furniture, such as a crossing marker post, which is more resistant to tampering/vandalism and/or is easier and cheaper to maintain.

In a first of its aspects, the present invention may provide an item of road furniture including a mounting pole adapted for upright mounting to project from a surface such as a road or pavement, a beacon mounted on an end of the mounting pole uppermost in use, and a collar member arranged to slideably clamp simultaneously around both a part of the beacon and the uppermost end of the mounting pole thereby to retain the beacon upon the mounting pole.

In this way, the collar member may gird, clamp, brace or clasp e.g. the base of a beacon and the uppermost end of the mounting pole thereby to hold the beacon to the pole. By being arranged to slideably clamp around the beacon and pole end, the collar member is not as readily damaged by violent attack as would be the case were the collar rigidly in place. To be fixed rigidly to the mounting pole would cause the collar member to absorb substantially all of a striking force as a shock or stress-type force when subjected to violent attack. Conversely, by being arranged to slideably clamp, a significant portion of any such striking force will tend to be converted into kinetic energy and/or angular momentum of the collar member as it simply spins/slips around the mounting pole in response to the striking force.

Hence, stresses/shocks upon the collar member are reduced thereby reducing the likelihood of fracture or breakage of the collar member when subjected to violent attack.

The collar member is preferably dimensioned relative to the simultaneously clamped parts so as to be freely slideable around those parts when subject to an oblique striking force.

Preferably, the collar member presents to the simultaneously clamped parts a recessed and inwardly facing substantially annular surface which defines a collar diameter exceeding any dimensions of the simultaneously clamped parts. This ensures that free sliding of the collar member around the simultaneously clamped parts is not prevented or obstructed by any of those parts. The annulus ring or band of the collar in presenting a recessed and inwardly facing surface to the clamped parts enables those clamped parts to extend into the recess such that parts of the collar extend generally horizontally across the clamped parts positioned within the recess both above and below those clamped recess dwelling parts. This effectively ensures that the recess- dwelling simultaneously clamped parts are not only l horizontally but also vertically constrained within the collar member. For example, the recess-dwelling parts of the beacon may be parts of the neck of commonly used beacons, and the recess-dwelling parts of the mounting pole may be projecting parts of a "gallery" commonly used for the purpose of mounting a beacon.

The inwardly facing substantially annular surface preferably presents to the simultaneously clamped parts a substantially annular recess defined by opposing recess peripheries and into which the simultaneously clamped parts extend, the opposing recess peripheries each defining a respective collar diameter exceeded by dimensions of the simultaneously clamped parts within the recess which are thereby retained within the substantially annular recess by the opposing recess peripheries. Thus, the collar member, in possessing a recessed inwardly facing annular surface, possesses several annular portions each defining its own annular collar diameter. The choice of these different annular diameters may, of course, be made with a view to closely matching or approximating the dimensions of the simultaneously clamped parts.

The recesses and inwardly facing substantially annular surface may be defined by an annular strip or band radially inwardly from which extend two annular projections axially separated along the annulus axis of the strip or band.

Preferably, the collar member is formed from an extruded elongate strip of durable material the opposing elongate edges of which are folded to project from a common surface of the strip and the elongate length of which is subsequently rolled to form a generally annular collar in which said folded elongate edges extend inwardly of the collar to define peripheral edges of an inwardly facing substantially annular recess.

The collar member preferably possesses a split extending across the circumference thereof thereby separating the collar member into two splayably connected collar limbs the ends of which oppose each other across the split when the collar member is un-splayed, the collar limbs being adapted to be splayed and un-splayed thereby to permit the collar member to be opened and closed, respectively, around the simultaneously clamped parts. The collar member may posses a hinge portion by which the two splayably connected collar limbs are pivotably connected and about which splaying of the collar limbs may occur. In alternative embodiments the collar member may comprise two separable collar limbs (e.g. two semicircular collar bands) each end of which possesses connection means enabling it to be connected to the corresponding connecting means at an end of the other of the two collar limbs. These connecting means may be lockable in order to secure the two separate collar limbs securely together in a clamping position.

The collar preferably includes locking means for preventing the limbs of the collar member from being splayed sufficiently to permit removal of the collar member from the simultaneously clamped parts.

The locking means may be arranged to releasably lock together the opposing collar limb ends thereby to prevent the limbs of the collar member from being splayed to substantially any extent. Plus, bolts, screws, or the like, or any other suitable locking means may be used.

The collar member is preferably formed form Aluminium but other durable materials may be used.

It is preferable that the material from which the collar member is formed is resiliently deformable such that splayed collar limbs will naturally spring back to an un-splayed condition when splaying forces are removed from it. This enables the collar member to be easily fitted to existing marker posts (e.g. Belisha Beacons) simply by splaying the limbs of the collar sufficiently to allow the collar to be placed around the end of the mounting pole uppermost in use and the neck of a beacon mounted thereon, and then allowed simply to snap closed into a clamping position.

In a second aspect, the present invention may provide a collar member formed from an extruded elongate strip of durable material the opposing elongate edges of which are folded to project from a common surface of the strip and the elongate length of which is subsequently rolled to form a generally annular collar in which said folded elongate edges extend inwardly of the collar to define peripheral edges of an inwardly facing substantially annular recess, the collar member being adapted for use with an item of road furniture including a mounting pole adapted for upright mounting to project from a surface such as a road or pavement, and a beacon mounted on an end of the mounting pole uppermost in use, whereby the collar member is slideably clampable simultaneously around both a part of the beacon and the uppermost end of the mounting pole thereby to retain the beacon upon the mounting pole.

The collar member preferably further possesses a split extending across the circumference thereof thereby separating the collar member into two splayably connected collar limbs the ends of which oppose each other across the split when the collar member is un-splayed, the collar limbs being adapted to be splayed and un-splayed thereby to permit the collar member to be opened and closed, respectively, around the simultaneously clamped parts.

The collar may further include locking means for preventing the limbs of the collar member from being splayed sufficiently to permit removal of the collar member from the simultaneously clamped parts. The locking means may be arranged to releasably lock together the opposing collar limb ends thereby to prevent the limbs of the collar member from being splayed to substantially any extent.

The collar member is preferably formed form Aluminium.

As discussed above in some forms of marker post, the mounting posts thereof comprises a tubular body containing a fluorescent light tube and one or more apertures through which light from the fluorescent light tube may emanate outwardly of the marker post. In such configurations the fluorescent light tube is extremely vulnerable to tampering and vandalism since access to it can be gained through the apertures in the mounting posts. The third aspect of the present invention aims to address this problem.

In a third of its aspects the present invention may provide an item of road furniture including a tubular member in which is formed one or more apertures and a, or a respective, light emitting device for the aperture(s) positioned within the tubular member adjacent the aperture with which it is associated so as to be shielded and hidden by the periphery of that aperture at least when the aperture is viewed substantially non-obliquely.

Thus, by appropriately positioning the light-emitting device within the body of the tubular member one is able to employ the geometry of the aperture(s) formed therein to shield the light-emitting device from direct vandal attack and hide the light-emitting device from direct (i.e. substantially non- oblique) view. This not only makes the position of the light-emitting device within the tubular member difficult for potential vandals to locate, but also renders access to the light-emitting device via the aperture with which it is associated much more difficult.

Herein the term "non-obliquely" refers to an essentially "face-on" view and includes the view at which the entire periphery of the aperture being viewed subtends the maximum solid angle (Steradian angle) to the viewer. For example, a "non-oblique" view of an aperture would be one in which none of the apparent dimensions of the aperture are foreshortened.

In the item of road furniture according to the third aspect of the invention the, or the respective, light-emitting device may be positioned within the tubular member adjacent the aperture with which it is associated so as to become shielded and hidden by the periphery of that aperture as the aperture becomes viewed decreasingly obliquely.

Thus, while the light-emitting device of the item of road furniture may be positioned within the tubular member so as to be shielded and hidden by the periphery of an aperture at any view of the aperture, it may also be positioned such that it is shielded and hidden at some oblique views, but is not shielded and hidden at more oblique views.

In the item of road furniture according to the third aspect of the invention, the tubular member may include a plurality of said apertures arranged within the tubular member to form opposing pairs which oppose each other across the interior thereof.

This paired-aperture arrangement is particularly useful in permitting greater light output from the tubular member and therefore greater illumination of pedestrians and greater visibility to road users.

Preferably, the, or the respective, light emitting device of the item of road furniture in this third aspect is for each of the aperture(s) of an opposing pair of said apertures and is positioned within the tubular member adjacent each aperture of the pair with which it is associated so as to be (or to become) shielded and hidden by the periphery of one of the said pair of apertures at least when that aperture is (or becomes) viewed substantially non-obliquely (or decreasingly obliquely), and by the periphery of the other of said pair of apertures when that other aperture is (or becomes) viewed substantially non- obliquely (or decreasingly obliquely).

In this way the light-emitting device may be hidden and shielded by the periphery of either of the pair of apertures when either is viewed nonobliquely. Of course, the "view" referred to herein is a view from a position external to the tubular member.

The light-emitting device is preferably positioned within the tubular member so as not to be directly between any opposing parts of the pair of opposing apertures. Thus, the body of the light-emitting device will not be silhouetted by light passing into one aperture of an aperture pair, across the interior of the tubular member and out of the other aperture of the aperture pair. This measure makes visual location of the lightemitting device more difficult to potential vandals.

It is preferable that the light-emitting device is sufficiently small, yet still sufficiently radiant, to enable it to be easily shielded and hidden from the view of potential vandals within what may be a limited internal volume of the tubular member adjacent the aperture(s) with which the light-emitting device is associated. While the light-emitting device may be a tungsten-based light bulb or a fluorescent light tube, it is preferably much smaller than either of these devices. The light-emitting device preferably includes one or more light-emitting diodes (LED).

Light-emitting diodes are small, durable, energy efficient and highly radiant and therefore eminently suitable for this purpose.

The, or the respective, light-emitting device may comprise a plurality of LEDs arranged in an array adjacent an aperture with which the, or the respective, light-emitting device is associated.

In the item of road furniture according to this third aspect, the tubular member preferably includes a plurality of said apertures, and the LED array of a respective light emitting device is preferably separated from the LED array of any other respective light-emitting device.

Thus, the very small dimensions of an LED enables great versatility in the shape and form of the array or arrays positioned adjacent respective apertures in the tubular member. Where the light-emitting device is a fluorescent tube, it is often the case that the longitudinal extent of a given aperture is less than that of the associated fluorescent tube such that some of the light emitted by the latter never escapes the interior of the tubular member.

This is highly inefficient and the presently proposed technique of employing separate arrays of LEDs enables one to ensure that each LED of the array is substantially IS equally adjacent a respective aperture and that none are located at a position within the tubular member which is significantly more distant from an aperture than other LEDs within the tubular member.

Preferably, the spatial extent of the LED array of a respective lightemitting device does not exceed that of an aperture with which it is associated.

Preferably, an aperture of the tubular member is elongated and the LED array of the light-emitting device associated therewith is preferably elongated with the elongation of the LED array arranged to correspond with the elongation of the aperture.

The, or the respective, light-emitting devices are preferably mounted upon a common elongated supporting body positioned within the tubular member to extend along the tubular member adjacent the aperture(s) formed therein. The elongated supporting body may be an extrusion formed of a rigid material (e.g. aluminium) which is preferably significantly thermally conductive thereby to serve as a heat sink for the LEDS mounted upon it. In practice, the elongated supporting body may be extruded to some standardised length and one or more LEDs or aforementioned arrays thereof may be mounted upon the extruded supporting body at pre-selected locations. Where the apertures in the tubular member are regularly sized and evenly spaced along its length then so too may be the elongate dimensions of the arrays of LEDS mounted upon the supporting body and the separation of such arrays. In such a regularised case, a standardised length of elongated supporting body (with LEDs mounted upon it) may simply be cut to length to suit the height/length of a particular tubular member in which the supporting body is to be fitted.

Preferably, the, or each, aperture is closed by a body, or a respective body, of light-transmitting material. This measure helps assist in protecting the light-emitting devices from vandal attack.

The body of light-transmitting material is preferably formed from a durable translucent material. Preferably the translucent material is selected so as to assist in distributing/dispersing/guiding light emitted from the shielded and hidden light-emitting device to and out of the aperture/apertures with which the light-emitting device is associated.

In the item of road furniture, the tubular member may be adapted for upright mounting to project from a surface such as a road or pavement, and may further include a beacon mounted on an end of the tubular member uppermost in use.

For example, the item of road furniture may be a Belisha beacon.

As discussed above, a significant deficiency in prior art illuminated marker posts is their use of tungsten-based light bulbs or fluorescent light tubes. These are large, short lived relative to the lifespan of the marker post with which they are associated, and expensive to acquire and to operate over the extended periods of time they are required to be used. In one of its aspects the present invention aims to address this problem.

In a fourth of its aspects, the present invention may provide an item of road furniture including a mounting pole adapted for upright mounting to project from a surface such as a road or pavement, and a beacon mounted on an end of the mounting pole uppermost in use containing a light- emitting device comprising at least one light-emitting diode (LED).

The low size, cost and levels of power consumption of LEDs renders them particularly suitable for use in the beacon of an item of road furniture serving the purpose of a marker post.

However, LEDs devices tend not to provide an omnidirectionally uniform distribution of light intensity in use. Rather, these devices tend to radiate more intensely in one particular direction without, however, excluding other directions of course. The LED, or LEDs, of the present invention in its fourth aspect are preferably arranged within the beacon such that the direction of preferential radiation of the LED(s) is radially outwardly of the beacon in a substantially horizontal direction thereby to be visible to road users and pedestrians.

In the item of road furniture according to the fourth aspect of the invention the light-emitting device preferably comprises a plurality of LEDs arranged in a substantially vertically elongated LED array. Once more, it is most preferable that each of the LEDs of the vertically elongated array is arranged within the array such that the preferential direction of radiation thereof is substantially horizontal and radially outward of the beacon. Vertically arraying the LEDs has been found to be more effective in ensuring an apparently uniform distribution of radiation azimuthally around the tubular member and beacon when viewed from positions typically assumed by pedestrians and road users. This substantially uniform azimuthal intensity distribution is further enhanced by appropriate groupings of LEDs or LED arrays. Generally speaking a uniformly spaced grouping of LEDs or LED arrays in which each LED is positioned to radiate preferentially radially (and substantially horizontally) outwardly of the beacon in one of a number of regularly angularly displaced (i.e. azimuthally separated) directions has been found to be particularly effective.

The item of road furniture may include a group of separate and separated said light-emitting devices grouped together in a generally circular configuration at positions therein of substantially equiangular separation whereby the angular separation of neighbouring light-emitting devices of the configuration is substantially the same for all light- emitting devices of the configuration.

The item of road furniture may include a group of separate and separated said light-emitting devices grouped together, and a (e.g. extruded) mounting body of regular polygonal cross-section defining outwardly presented faces upon each one of which is mounted a respective lightemitting device of the group of light emitting devices.

The axis of extrusion of the mounting body is preferably substantially vertical.

The light-emitting device of the item of road furniture in this fourth aspect preferably comprises one or more LEDs only.

In a further aspect, the present invention may provide an item of road furniture including a tubular member in which is formed one or more apertures and a, or a respective, light-emitting device for the aperture(s) positioned within the tubular member adjacent the aperture with which it is associated, the light-emitting device comprising one or more light-emitting diodes (LED). This item of road furniture preferably includes features of the invention according to its third aspect.

It is to be understood that any one of the above aspects of this invention may also incorporate the features of any of the other above aspects. Furthermore, while the first to the fourth aspects of this invention define articles of, or for use with, road furniture, it is to be understood that further aspects of the invention include methods of furnishing a road including providing the components defined in any one of the first to the fourth (or further) aspects of this invention, and assembling those components so as to provide the item of furniture defined by the respective one of the first to fourth (or further) aspects.

Further aspects of this invention may provide a kit of parts for an item of road furniture comprising the components defined in any one of the first to the fourth (or further) aspect of the invention, in unassembled or partially assembled form for use in assembling an item of road furniture. For example, the kit of parts may include an assembled tubular member and beacon together with an unassembled collar member, or an unassembled light-emitting device.

In an item of road furniture according to any preceding aspect of the invention, the beacon may comprise a hollow globe of light-transmitting material containing a light- emitting device e.g. the furniture item may be a Belisha beacon.

Non-limiting examples of the invention, in various of its aspects, are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l illustrates a prior art Belisha beacon;

Figure 2 illustrates the rigid attachment of a Belisha beacon globe to a globe gallery according to the prior art; Figure 3 illustrates a collar member according to an aspect of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the collar member of Figure 3 viewed along the line A-A; Figure 5 illustrates a Belisha beacon (in exploded view) according to aspects of the present invention; 20Figure 6 illustrates the Belisha beacon of Fig. 5 in assembled form; Figure 7 illustrates (in exploded view) a Belisha beacon globe, light- image device and mounting gallery; Figure 8 illustrates the elements of Figure 7 in assembled form; Figure 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a tubular mounting post of a Belisha beacon containing an LED; and Figure 10 illustrates, in cross-section, a clamping member in clamping position.

Fig. 1 illustrates a prior art Belisha beacon 1 including a hollow mounting pole 2 mounted in upright position and projecting from a pavement 5, and a beacon comprising a beacon globe 3 and light bulb 4 mounted on the uppermost end of the mounting pole 2. The uppermost end of the mounting pole 2 provides a mounting gallery 6 upon which a neck of the beacon globe 3 sits and is fastened securely to the gallery via securing screws 7. A power cable 8 extends from IS the light bulb 4 through the gallery 6 and internally through the mounting tube 2 to circuitry 9 arranged to control operation of the light bulb 4. Circuitry 9 receives power via subterranean power cables underneath the pavement 5.

Figure 2 illustrates in more detail the manner in which the beacon globe 3is securely fixed to the globe gallery 6 in use. The beacon globe 3 possesses a neck portion 11 defining an aperture within the globe through which the light bulb 4 extends into the inner hollow volume of the beacon globe 3 in use. The outermost periphery of the neck 11 is defined by an outwardly projecting annular rim, flange or bead 10 which forms the foot of the globe via which the globe stands upon the globe gallery 6.

The globe gallery 6 provides a flat platform for receiving the foot 10 of the globe neck 11, and also defines an upwardly extending annular rim which circumscribes the foot of the globe neck 11 thereby to horizontally constrain the globe to the gallery. Securing screws 7 are screwed simultaneously through the body of the annular rim of the globe gallery and the neck 11 of the globe immediately opposing the annular rim of the gallery. In this way the securing screws 7 securely fix the globe 3 to the gallery 6 at the uppermost end of the tubular mounting pole 2.

Figure 3 illustrates a collar member 12 adapted for use with a Belisha beacon such as is illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2. The collar member 12 may be employed in this manner either with securing screws 7 present, or absent.

Collar member 12 is formed from an extruded elongate strip of aluminium, the opposing elongate edges of which have been folded to project from a common surface 13 of the strip thereby to form opposing parallel flanges, 14 and 15, which together with the common surface 13 define a recessed surface as is illustrated in cross-section at Fiqure 4 viewed along the axis A-A. The recessed surface so formed is substantially "C" or "U" shaped in cross-section with right-angular inner corners defined by the common surface 13 and the respective parallel projecting flanges 14 and 15. s

The collar member 12 has been subsequently rolled to form a generally annular collar in which the folded elongate edges/flanges (14 and 15) extend inwardly of the collar from the inwardly facing common surface 13 thereby to define peripheral edges of an inwardly facing substantially annular recess.

The collar member possesses a split S extending across the circumference thereof which separates the collar member 12 into two connected collar limbs. The ends of these two collar limbs, 16 and 17, oppose each other across the split S. The opposing limb ends 16 and 17 may be separated by splaying the collar limbs with which they are associated so as to increase the gap formed by the split S to an extent sufficient to allow the collar to be slid over the globe gallery 6 of the Belisha beacon of Figure 1 or Figure 2 with the Belisha globe 3 mounted thereon. The collar member 12 may be closed by simply releasing the slaying forces thereby allowing the limbs of the collar to snap close under the resilient action of the aluminium body of the collar.

When so positioned the inwardly facing annular surface 13 of the collar member simultaneously clamps both the upwardly extending rim of the globe gallery 6 of the Belisha beacon 1, and the foot 10 and neck 11 of the beacon globe 3.

Securing screws 7 may be absent. One of the inwardly directed flanges 14 of the collar extends horizontally over both the outermost edges of the globe gallery 6 and the foot of the neck 11 of the beacon globe 3. Simultaneously, the other flange 15 of the collar extends horizontally under the outermost edges of the globe gallery 6. Consequently, the outermost edges of the globe gallery and the foot of the beacon globe upon the globe gallery are simultaneously clamped by the collar 12 and each simultaneously extend into the annular recess formed by the inwardly facing annular surface 13 and the inwardly projecting flanges 14 and 15 of the collar member 12. The beacon globe 3 is thereby both horizontally and vertically retained upon the globe gallery 6 without requiring the use of rigid fixing means (e.g. screw 7 may be omitted).

It is to be noted that the inner surface 13 of the collar member defines a collar diameter exceeding the dimensions of any part of the globe gallery 6 or globe foot 10 clamped within it. This ensures that the collar member 12 is freely rotatable slidable around those parts when subject to an oblique striking force. The clamping arrangement described above is shown in cross-section in Figure 10.

Locking means are provided on the terminal ends of the collar limbs at the split S in the collar member in the form of a pair of separate parallel plates (16 and 17) each one of which extends radially outwardly of the collar annulus as a continuation of the surface defined by the terminal end of a respective collar limb at the split S in the collar. The two radially extending plates 16 and 17 extend in substantially parallel overlapping opposition when the collar limbs are in an un- splayed position, and each such plate of the opposed pair possesses a centrally disposed aperture which aligns with that of the other plate of the pair when the collar limbs are un-splayed. In this position the aligned apertures are dimensioned to receive a locking bolt 18 designed to extend through each aligned aperture and be locked in place by a locking nut 19 thereby to lock the opposed plates 16 and 17 of the locking member together and to lock the limbs of the collar in an un- splayed position.

The plates 16 and 17 of the locking member may be aluminium plates welded onto respective terminal ends of the collar limbs at the split S therebetween. Alternatively, the plates 16 and 17 may be integrally formed with the body of the collar 12 being folded in the manufacture of the collar so as to extend radially outwardly as illustrated in Figure 3.

A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated S with reference to Figure 5 and Figure 6. This embodiment relates to a Belisha beacon shown in Figure 6 in fully assembled form, and shown in Figure 5 in exploded view for the purposes of illustration. Like items in Figure 5 and Figure 6 share like reference symbols.

Figures 5 and 6 show a Belisha beacon including a tubular member 2 in which are formed a plurality of apertures 51 regularly spaced along the tubular axis of the tubular member 2, and each being elongated along that axis. The end of the tubular member uppermost in use comprises a globe gallery 6 of the type described above upon which is mounted the translucent beacon globe 3 and light-emitting device 50.

In this particular embodiment the collar member 12 (discussed above) is clamped around parts of the beacon and globe gallery in a manner as described above with reference to Figure 10. However, the collar member 12 may be omitted from this particular embodiment. Light- emitting diodes 55 are mounted on a common elongated supporting body 54 formed from an extruded length of aluminium and dimensioned to fit within and be received by the hollow interior of the tubular member 2. Light- emitting diodes 55 are arranged upon the elongated supporting body 54 in a series of separate elongate LED arrays (linear arrays in this example) whose axis of elongation matches that of the elongate supporting body upon which each array is mounted. The elongation of each LED array is also arranged to correspond with the elongation of a respective aperture 51 within the tubular member 2 with which a given array 55 is to be associated, and the separate LED arrays are mounted upon the elongated supporting body 54 at intervals chosen to match the intervals between successive apertures 51 within the tubular member such that the composite light-emitting device 53 (comprising LEDs arrays 55 and common supporting body 54) may be positioned within the tubular member to extend along the tubular member adjacent the apertures 51 thereof such that each separate LED array 55 is positioned within the tubular member adjacent one of those apertures.

Each aperture 51 is closed by a tubular body 52 of lighttransmitting-translucent material (e.g. a durable plastic material) inserted into the interior of, and extending along the elongate tubular axis of, the tubular member 2 with the composite light-emitting device 53 placed within it and sheathed by it. The light-transmitting body 52 serves to protect the LEDs of the Belisha beacon from vandalism and also serves to guide and distribute across a given aperture 51 the light emitted by LEDS associated with that aperture in use.

The composite light-emitting device 53 is arranged within S the tubular member 2 such that the LEDS adjacent a given aperture are shielded and hidden by the periphery of that aperture at least when the aperture is viewed substantially non-obliquely. This positioning is illustrated in Figure 9 which shows the tubular member 2 and the composite light emitting device 53 positioned therein in a cross-sectional view in the horizontal plane in use. An LED 55 is positioned within the tubular member 2 adjacent the aperture 51 with which it is associated within the concave recess formed by the inner tubular surface of the tubular member 2 at one side of the aperture 51. In this position, the LED is shielded and hidden by the periphery 90 of the aperture 51 when that aperture is viewed according to "view 1" being a direct and substantially non-oblique external view of aperture 51. In this way the periphery 91 of aperture 51 serves to protect the LED 55 from scrutiny and from direct attack by potential vandals. While the LED 55 may be viewed, according to "view 3" at certain oblique aperture viewing angles, these oblique angles present to the viewer an aperture of much smaller apparent dimensions.

That is to say, when viewed obliquely as in "view 3" the aperture 51 becomes foreshortened thereby limiting access to the LED 55 through the foreshortened aperture 51. As "view 3" is changed to approach "view 1", such that the changing view of the aperture becomes decreasingly oblique, the LED becomes shielded and hidden by the periphery 90 of aperture 51 at some viewing point between "view 3" and "view 1". The example as illustrated in Figure 9 omits the light- transmitting tubular member 52 for the purposes of clarity of illustration. A locking bolt or screw N extends through the body of tubular member 2 from a point diametrically opposed to the position of the elongated supporting body 54 and extends diametrically across the interior of the tubular member 2 abutting against the inward-facing surface of the elongate supporting body and forcing that supporting body against the interior surface of the tubular member 2 thereby holding the supporting body 54 and the arrays of LEDs 55 upon it in place.

The Belisha beacon illustrated in Figure 5 and Figure 6 comprises a linear series of equally spaced apertures 51 along one side of the tubular member, however, the tubular member may include a plurality of apertures arranged to form opposing pairs of apertures which oppose across the interior of the tubular member as is illustrated in the example of Figure 9. Here a pair of diametrically opposing apertures 51 and 51a are illustrated in cross-section. Each of the apertures 51 illustrated in Figure 5 and Figure 6 may be just one aperture of such a pair of opposed apertures. It is to be noted that in such a case the LEDs 55 are positioned within the tubular member 2 so as to be (or to become) shielded and hidden by the periphery 90a of the diametrically opposed aperture 51a of the aperture pair when that aperture is viewed substantially non-obliquely as is illustrated by "view 2" of Figure 9.

Figure 7 and Figure 8 illustrate further embodiments of the present invention. Figure 8 illustrates the embodiment in assembled form while Figure 7 illustrates the embodiment in an exploded view for illustrative purposes. Like items in Figures 7 and 8 are assigned like reference symbols.

Figure 7 and Figure 8 illustrate a beacon for an item of road furniture (e.g. a Belisha beacon) for mounting upon a mounting pole projecting from a surface such as a road or pavement. The beacon comprises a translucent beacon globe 3 mounted in a globe gallery 6 at the end of a mounting post uppermost in use. The globe of the beacon contains a light- emitting device 50 in the form of a group of LED arrays 70.

In Figure 8 there is also shown a collar member 12 of the variety discussed above with reference to Figure 3, Figure 4 and Figure 10. This collar member may be omitted in the present embodiment. It is also noted that the LED light emitting device 50 of the present embodiment may also be applied in the embodiment of the present invention illustrated with reference to Figure 5 and Figure 6.

The light-emitting device 50 of the present embodiment comprises a mounting body 71 formed of an aluminium extrusion defining a triangular prism-shaped body of substantially equilaterally triangular cross-section. The mounting body 71 is mounted upon the globe gallery 6 such that the axis of extrusion thereof is substantially vertical and such that each of the three planar prismatic surfaces are presented substantially horizontally outwardly. Upon each such outwardly presented prismatic surface is mounted a respective vertically elongated array of three LEDs 70.

Consequently, three such arrays are outwardly presented by the mounting body 71 and grouped upon it in a generally circular configuration at positions of substantially equiangular separation whereby the angle of separation of neighbouring arrays of the configuration is substantially the same for all such arrays.

The vertical elongation of each one of the three groups of LEDs 70 ensures adequate vertical illumination, while the equiangular separation of the group of three such LED arrays ensures an adequately even azimuthal distribution of illumination from the beacon.

In this embodiment, and in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 and Figure 6 LEDs are employed as light-emitting devices in an item of road furniture. In such a case, the item of road furniture most preferably includes a transformer circuit 57 (see Figure 5 and Figure 6) mounted upon a circuit-carrying mount 56 to be fitted within the base portion of the tubular member 2, access thereto being gained via a service aperture 58 openable by removal of a service cover 59 in use/maintenance. The lower end of the tubular member 2 is adapted for underground location, typically below road or pavement. Cables (not shown) are provided for connection to an underground electricity supply, whereby electric power can be drawn into the tubular member 2 and transmitted to the circuitry 56 and to the light-emitting devices of the item of road furniture. The transformer 57 provided with the circuitry 56 transforms the voltage supplied by the subterranean power supply into a form suitable for use with LEDs. For example, where the subterranean power supply is a mains power supply, it is supplied as an AC (alternating current) voltage supply at approximately 240 volts. The LEDs employed in the present invention are typically those requiring a DC (direct current) voltage supply of approximately 12 volts. The transformer circuit 57 serves to transform the AC voltage of the subterranean power supply into a DC power supply of 12 volts in magnitude. In alternative embodiments, the 12 volts DC power supply to the LEDs is an independent power supply generated by photovoltaic cells (e.g. solar power) or by wind-turbine power generators located upon, adjacent or S near to the item of road furniture in question.

The invention, in its various embodiments, has been described above by way of example only, and many variations from that specifically described and illustrated are possible within the scope of the present invention, as will be clear to those skilled in the art. For example, the apertures 51 illustrated in the Figures may be other than the lozenge-shaped apertures illustrated therein, and may be any other suitable shapes. The number, size and position of apertures may also vary. Also, the tubular member 2 may have any desired cross-section, such as square, circular or triangular or the like.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1.An item of road furniture including a mounting pole adapted for

upright mounting to project from a surface such as a road or pavement, a beacon mounted on an end of the mounting pole uppermost in use, and a collar member arranged to slideably clamp simultaneously around both a part of the beacon and the uppermost end of the mounting pole thereby to retain the beacon upon the mounting pole.
2.An item of road furniture according to any preceding claim wherein the collar member is dimensioned relative to said simultaneously clamped parts so as to be freely slideable around those parts when subject to an oblique striking force.
3.An item of road furniture according to any preceding claim wherein the collar member presents to said simultaneously clamped parts a recessed and inwardly facing substantially annular surface which defines a collar diameter exceeding any dimensions of said simultaneously clamped parts.
4.An item of road furniture according to claim 3 wherein the inwardly facing substantially annular surface presents to the simultaneously clamped parts a substantially annular recess defined by opposing recess peripheries and into which the simultaneously clamped parts extend, the opposing recess peripheries each defining a respective collar diameter exceeded by dimensions of the simultaneously clamped parts within the recess which are thereby retained within the substantially annular recess by the opposing recess peripheries.

lO
5. An item of road furniture according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the recesses and inwardly facing substantially annular surface is defined by an annular strip or band radially inwardly from which extend two annular projections axially separated along the axis of the strip or band.
6. An item of road furniture according to any preceding claim wherein the collar member is formed from an extruded elongate strip of durable material the opposing elongate edges of which are folded to project from a common surface of the strip and the elongate length of which is subsequently rolled to form a generally annular collar in which said folded elongate edges extend inwardly of the collar to define peripheral edges of an inwardly facing substantially annular recess.
7.An item of road furniture according to any preceding claim wherein the collar member possesses a split extending across the circumference thereof thereby S separating the collar member into two splayably connected collar limbs the ends of which oppose each other across the split when the collar member is un splayed, the collar limbs being adapted to be splayed and un-splayed thereby to permit the collar member to be opened and closed, respectively, around the simultaneously clamped parts.
8. An item of road furniture according to claim 7 wherein the collar includes locking means for preventing the limbs of the collar member from being splayed sufficiently to permit removal of the collar member from the simultaneously clamped parts.
9. An item of road furniture according to claim 8 wherein the locking means is arranged to releasably lock together the opposing collar limb ends thereby to prevent the limbs of the collar member from being splayed to substantially any extent.
10. An item of road furniture according to any preceding claim wherein the collar member is formed form Aluminium.
11. A collar member formed from an extruded elongate strip of durable material the opposing elongate edges of which are folded to project from a common surface of the strip and the elongate length of which is subsequently rolled to form a generally annular collar lO in which said folded elongate edges extend inwardly of the collar to define peripheral edges of an inwardly facing substantially annular recess, the collar member being adapted for use with an item of road furniture including a mounting pole adapted for upright mounting to project from a surface such as a road or pavement, and a beacon mounted on an end of the mounting pole uppermost in use, whereby the collar member is slideably clampable simultaneously around both a part of the beacon and the uppermost end of the mounting pole thereby to retain the beacon upon the mounting pole.
12. A collar member according to claim 11 further possessing a split extending across the circumference thereof thereby separating the collar member into two splayably connected collar limbs the ends of which oppose each other across the split when the collar member is un-splayed, the collar limbs being adapted to be splayed and un-splayed thereby to permit the collar member to be opened and closed, respectively, around the simultaneously clamped parts.
13. A collar according to claim 11 or claim 12 further including locking means for preventing the limbs of the collar member from being splayed sufficiently to permit lO removal of the collar member from the simultaneously clamped parts.
14. A collar member according to claim 13 wherein the locking means is arranged to releasably lock together the opposing collar limb ends thereby to prevent the limbs of the collar member from being splayed to substantially any extent.
15. A collar member according to any of claims 11 to 14 formed form Aluminium.
16. An item of road furniture including a tubular member in which is formed one or more apertures and a, or a respective, light-emitting device for the aperture(s) positioned within the tubular member adjacent the aperture with which it is associated so as to be shielded and hidden by the periphery of that aperture at least when the aperture is viewed substantially non-obliquely.
17. An item of road furniture according to claim 16 wherein the, or the respective, light emitting device is positioned within the tubular member adjacent the aperture with which it is associated so as to become shielded and hidden by the periphery of that aperture as the aperture becomes viewed decreasingly obliquely.
18. An item of road furniture according to any of preceding claims 16 and 17 wherein the tubular member includes a plurality of said apertures arranged within the tubular member to form opposing pairs which oppose each other across the interior thereof.
19. An item of road furniture according to claim 18 wherein the, or the respective, light emitting device is for each of the aperture(s) of an opposing pair of said apertures and is positioned within the tubular member adjacent each aperture of the pair with which it is associated so as to be (or to become) shielded and hidden by the periphery of one of the said pair of apertures at least when that aperture is (or becomes) viewed substantially non-obliquely (or decreasingly obliquely), and by the periphery of the other of said pair of apertures when that other aperture is (or becomes) viewed substantially non-obliquely (or decreasingly obliquely).
20. An item of road furniture according to claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the light-emitting device is positioned within the tubular member so as not to be directly between any opposing parts of the pair of lO opposing apertures.
21. An item of road furniture according to any of preceding claims 16 to 20 wherein the light-emitting device includes one or more light-emitting diodes (LED).
22. An item of road furniture according to claim 21 wherein the, or the respective, light-emitting device comprises a plurality of LEDs arranged in an array adjacent an aperture with which the, or the respective, lightemitting device is associated.
23. An item of road furniture according to claim 22 in which the tubular member includes a plurality of said apertures, and the LED array of a respective light emitting device is separated from the LED array of any other respective light-emitting device.
24. An item of road furniture according to claim 22 or claim 23 wherein the spatial extent of the LED array of a respective light-emitting device does not exceed that of an aperture with which it is associated.
25. An item of road furniture according to any of claims 22 to 24 in which an aperture of the tubular member is elongated and the LED array of the light emitting device associated therewith is elongated wherein the elongation of the LED array is arranged to correspond with the elongation of the aperture.
26. An item of road furniture according to any of claims 22 to 25 in which the, or the respective, light emitting devices are mounted upon a common elongated supporting body positioned within the tubular member to extend along the tubular member adjacent the aperture(s) formed therein.
27. An item of road furniture according to any of preceding claims 16 to 26 wherein the, or each, aperture is closed by a body, or a respective body, of light-transmitting material.
28. An item of road furniture according to claim 27 wherein the body of light-transmitting material is formed from a durable translucent material.
29. An item of road furniture according to any of preceding claims 16 to 28 wherein the tubular member is adapted for upright mounting to project from a surface such as a road or pavement.
30. An item of road furniture according to claim 29 further including a beacon mounted on an end of the tubular member uppermost in use.
31. An item of road furniture including a mounting pole adapted for upright mounting to project from a surface such as a road or pavement, and a beacon mounted on an end of the mounting pole uppermost in use containing a light-emitting device comprising at least one light-emitting diode (LED).
32. An item of road furniture according to claim 31 wherein the lightemitting device comprises a plurality of LEDs arranged in a substantially vertically elongated LED array.
33. An item of road furniture according to claim 31 or claim 32 including a group of separate and separated said light-emitting devices grouped together in a generally circular configuration at positions therein S of substantially equiangular separation whereby the angular separation of neighbouring light-emitting devices of the configuration is substantially the same for all light-emitting devices of the configuration.
34. An item of road furniture according to claim 32 or claim 33 including a group of separate and separated said light-emitting devices grouped together, and an extruded mounting body of regular polygonal cross section defining outwardly presented faces upon each one of which is mounted a respective light-emitting device of the group of light emitting devices.
35. An item of road furniture according to claim 34 in which the axis of extrusion of the mounting body is substantially vertical.
36. An item of road furniture according to any one of claims 31 to 35 wherein the light-emitting device comprises one or more LEDs only. Us
37. An item of road furniture according to any of preceding claims 31 to 36 and including the features defined in any one of claims 1 to 10, and/or of claims 11 to 15, and/or of claims 16 to 30.
38. An item of road furniture according to any of preceding claims 1 to 10 and including the features defined in any one of claims 11 to 15, and/or of claims 16 to 30.
39. An item of road furniture according to any of preceding claims 16 to 30 and including the features defined in any one of claims 1 to 10, and/or of claims 11 to 15, and/or of claims 31 to 36.
40. A kit of parts for an item of road furniture according to claim 1 comprising the mounting pole adapted for upright mounting to project from a surface such as a road or pavement, the beacon for mounting on an end of the mounting pole uppermost in use, and the collar member arranged to be slideably clamped simultaneously around both a part of the beacon and the uppermost end of the mounting pole thereby to retain the beacon upon the mounting pole.
41. A kit of parts according to claim 40 wherein the mounting pole is uprightly mounted and projects from a surface such as a road or pavement, and the beacon is mounted upon the mounting pole. s
42. A kit of parts for an item of road furniture according to claim 16 comprising the tubular member adapted for upright mounting to project from a surface such as a road or pavement, and the light emitting device for mounting on an end of the tubular member uppermost in use.
43. A kit of parts according to claim 42 wherein the mounting pole is uprightly mounted and projects from a surface such as a road or pavement.
44. A kit of parts for an item of road furniture according to claim 31 comprising the mounting pole adapted for upright mounting to project from a surface such as a road or pavement, the beacon for mounting on an end of the mounting pole uppermost in use, and the light-emitting device.
45. A kit of parts according to claim 44 wherein the mounting pole is uprightly mounted and projects from a A. surface such as a road or pavement, and the beacon is mounted upon the mounting pole.
46. An item of road furniture including a tubular member in which is formed one or more apertures and a, or a respective, light-emitting device for the aperture(s) positioned within the tubular member adjacent the aperture with which it is associated, the light-emitting device comprising one or more light emitting diodes (LED).
47. An item of road furniture according to claim 46 and any of claims 16 to 30.
48. An item of road furniture according to any preceding claim wherein the beacon comprises a hollow globe of light-transmitting material containing a light-emitting device.
49. A collar member substantially as described in any embodiment hereinbefore with reference to Figure 3 or 4 or 10 and/or Figure 5 and/or Figure 6 and/or Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.
50. An item of road furniture substantially as described in any embodiment hereinbefore with reference to any of Figures 5 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.