GB2412422A

GB2412422A - Staddle stone

Info

Publication number: GB2412422A
Application number: GB0405119A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Peter Edgson-Wright
Original assignee: EDGSON WRIGHT ANDREW PETER
Current assignee: EDGSON WRIGHT ANDREW PETER
Priority date: 2004-03-08
Filing date: 2004-03-08
Publication date: 2005-09-28
Also published as: GB0405119D0

Abstract

A staddle stone, including a columnar base part; a cap supported by the base part; and a light source.

Description

24 1 2422 Title: Staddle Stone

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a staddle stone.

Staddle stones are mushroom-shaped devices, usually of stone, which traditionally were used to raise the floor of barns, granaries etc. above ground level, to prevent vermin gaining access to stored grain and fodder. They kept the grain away from damp ground, while allowing, for example, cats to attack rats and mice in the space beneath the stored material. They are now rarely used for this purpose, but instead are used as decorative outdoor features or ornaments, for example in gardens.

According to the present invention there is provided a staddle stone, including: a columnar base part; a cap supported by the base part; and a light source.

The light source may be positioned so as to illuminate a ground surface on which the base part is supported.

The light source may be provided on the cap, and preferably on a surface of the cap, which surface faces the base part when the cap is supported thereon.

The light source may be provided in a recess in the cap.

The base part may have a passage therethrough for receiving electrical cable(s) for providing power to the light source from a power supply.

The passage may extend from an opening in a lower region of the base part to an upper region of the base part, which upper region supports the cap.

The cap may have a further recess communicating with the passage in the base part and the recess for the light source. Such a further recess hides the electrical cable(s) from view.

The light source may be a light unit engageable with the recess in the cap. The light unit may include a resilient material deformable to retain the light unit in the recess. Alternatively, the light unit may be fastened or adhered to the cap.

The staddle stone may have two or more light units. They may be spaced from, and equiangularly around, an axis of the cap. For example, if the staddle stone were provided with three light units, each would be spaced at 120 around the axis of the cap.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a side view of a staddle stone in accordance with the present invention supported on a ground surface; and Figure 2 is a bottom view of the cap of the staddle stone.

Referring to the drawings a staddle stone in accordance with the present invention, is shown generally at 10, supported on a ground surface 12. The staddle stone 10 has a columnar base part 14 and a cap 16 supported on an upper part of the base part 14. The staddle stone 10 may be freestanding and not connected to the ground surface 12 or the bottom of the base part 14 may be set into the ground, for stability.

The base part 14 has a substantially rectangular cross-section and tapers as it extends away from the ground surface 12 towards the cap 16. The base part 14 and the cap 16 are both manufactured of a reconstituted stone, such as crushed limestone, which is treated and compacted to the desired shape using methods known in the art. This gives the staddle stone 10 the appearance of natural stone.

The base part 14 has a cylindrical passage 18 extending therethrough from an opening in a lower region of the base part 14, which lower region abuts the ground surface 12, to an upper region of the base part 14, which upper region supports the cap 16. The end of the passage 18 which abuts the cap 16 opens into a rectangular recess 19 to receive and support, for example, electrical connectors (not shown). The passage 18 communicates with a tunnel in the ground to receive electrical cable(s) (not shown) from a power supply.

An underside of the cap 16, which is best shown in figure 2, has two recesses 22, each of which is spaced from, and 180 around, an axis of the cap 16. Each recess 22 has a first cylindrical part extending into a conical end. The recesses 22 are connected by a substantially straight channel 24, which channel 24 intersects the axis ofthe cap 16.

Supported within each recess 22 is a respective light unit 26, which in this example is an LED lamp unit, although it will be appreciated that other light sources could be used. Each light unit 26 has a cylindrical part which cooperates with its respective recess 22 and a flange part connected thereto which engages a surface of the cap 16 surrounding the entrance to the recess 22. Means is provided for retaining each light unit 26 in its respective recess 22. In the present example each light unit 26 is provided with a rubber sleeve, which frictionally engages the interior of its respective recess 22. However, other means could be provided, such as, for examples, fasteners or an adhesive fixing a part of the light unit 26 tip the cap 16.

The light units 26 could, alternatively, be fixed to the underside of the cap 16 and in this case there would be no need for the recesses 22.

When the cap 16 is supported on the base part 14 the channel 24 communicates with the passage 18 so as to provide a route for the electrical cable(s) from the power supply to each light unit 26. The channel 24 is not essential to the invention, but further ensures that most of the electrical cable(s) is hidden from view, except when viewed from an underside of the cap 16. The route for the electrical cable(s) also protects the electrical cable(s) from, for example, weather, such as rain, and insects.

To turn on the light units 26 a user switches on the power supply to the electrical cable(s), and each light unit 26 illuminates an area of the ground surface 12 therebelow.

The invention is particularly suited for use adjacent a road surface, such as a driveway, so as to illuminate an edge of the road surface and also for use near entranceways, such as gates etc.. The invention could also be utilised for other outdoor illumination. Light units as 26 could be provided in the base part 14 as an alternative to or together with the light units 26 in the cap 16.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

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

Claims

1. A staddle stone, including: a columnar base part; a cap supported by the base part, and a light source.

2. A staddle stone according to claim 1 wherein the light source is positioned so as to illuminate a ground surface on which the base part is lO supported.

3. A staddle stone according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the light source is provided on the cap.

4. A staddle stone according to any preceding claim wherein the light source is provided on a surface of the cap, which surface faces the base part when the cap is supported thereon.

5. A staddle stone according to any preceding claim wherein the light source is provided in a recess in the cap.

6. A staddle stone according to any preceding claim wherein the base part has a passage therethrough for receiving electrical cable(s) for providing power to the light source from a power supply.

7. A staddle stone according to claim 6 wherein the passage extends from an opening in a lower region of the base part to an upper region of the base part, which upper region supports the cap.

8. A staddle stone according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the cap has a further recess communicating with the passage in the base part and the recess for the light source. s

9. A staddle stone according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the light source is a light unit engageable with the recess in the cap.

10. A staddle stone according to claim 9 wherein the light unit includes a resilient material deformable to retain the light unit in the recess.

11. A staddle according to claim 9 wherein the light unit is fastened or adhered to the cap.

12. A staddle stone according to any preceding claim having two or more i light units spaced from, and equiangularly around, an axis of the cap.

13. A staddle stone substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

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