WO2000071818A1

WO2000071818A1 - Structural device

Info

Publication number: WO2000071818A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/001057
Authority: WO
Inventors: Börje Eklund; Hans-Erik Persson
Original assignee: Eklund Boerje; Persson Hans Erik
Priority date: 1999-05-25
Filing date: 2000-05-25
Publication date: 2000-11-30
Also published as: AU5120000A; SE9901897D0; SE9901897L

Abstract

A structural device comprising a base part (1), a top part (3), at least one tubular supporting part (2) and an elongated means (5) extending from the base part to the top part for holding the base part, said at least one tubular supporting part and the top part together. The holding means is arranged to extend inside said at least one tubular supporting part to avoid exposing of the holding means to the surrounding outside the device.

Description

Structural device

FIELD OF THE I NVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a structural device comprising a base part, a top part, at least one tubular supporting part and an elongated means extending from the base part to the top part for holding the base part, said at least one tubular supporting part and the top part together.

The invention is applicable in building constructions in general but in the following the invention will be exemplified through description of a device according to the invention preferably used as a traffic sign.

In the traffic there are devices such as traffic signs and traffic signal arrangements of different kinds to give the individuals in traffic information. The traffic signs and the traffic signal arrangements may such which inform, assign, warn and/or forbid individuals in traffic about different phenomena in the traffic. Furthermore, generally there are different kinds of road illuminations. According to prior art these information devices often consist of signs in the shape of a steel post anchored in the ground at a concrete bed and of a plate provided with a traffic information sign arranged on the post. Alternatively, or in combination with the plate, a traffic signal arrangement may be arranged on the post for emitting light- and/or sound signals. In the same way the road illumination devices consist of an anchored steel post with a lamp arranged in the top of the post. The above information- and illumination devices have in common that they are located at roads, crossings, parking-places etc, where there is a risk that cars or other vehicles will run into the devices.

The known devices have several disadvantages. One large drawback is that a collision of such a sign or post by for example a car means a high risk for the driver of the car to be injured or even killed as a consequence of the collision. The small flexibility of the post and the design of the post mean that the impact absorbing zones of the car, if any, are not enough for damping the collision in a satisfactory way.

In addition to the risk for the car driver, another drawback is that the vehicle colliding with the post gets large damages with expensive repairs as a consequence. In this connection every year important costs for individuals as well as for the society due to vehicles colliding with traffic signs arise. Further costs for the society result from the need of exchanging or restoring the traffic signs which have been hit. When a post, which is deformed or broken by a collision, is exchanged it requires a lot of work since also the concrete bed of the post have to be removed and then the new post has to be provided with a new concrete bed, by for example pouring so as to anchor the post in the ground in a safe way.

There is, however, one type of post for illuminating of roads for instance, which post has a weakening in its construction built in on purpose so as to make the post fold about a point when being in a collision with for example a car. In spite of that this post construction acts more flexible when being in a collision, certain important drawbacks remain. Since the post has a small ability to yield, apart from the very area in which the post is intended to fold, and such a hardness and design for the rest that hardly any impact absorbing zones exist, important damages will yet arise on an object colliding with the post. Also in a relatively moderate collision by for example a car, the collision and the contact between the car and the rigid parts of the post leads to extensive damage to the coachwork of the car and to deformation of the post in such an extent that it has to be replaced or go through a lot of repair work.

A further disadvantage with the signs of today is that the plate with the traffic information sign is proportionately easy to remove from the post by means of simple tools, which have lead to that traffic signs are rather often dismounted and brought by an unauthorized person.

THE OBJ ECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a structural device of the type referred to in the introduction, and particularly such a device for use in the traffic, which device reduces the above discussed problems of devices already known to a large extent, i.e. to provide a structural device designed with impact absorbing zones and an ability to yield so as to minimize the personal injuries and the material damages to the greatest pos- sible extent when said device and an object collide, for example when a vehicle, such as a car, run into the device. Furthermore, the object of the invention is to provide a device which simplifies exchange and repair of the device and which is more difficult to dismount for unauthorized persons than what is the case for de- vices already known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above object is obtained by providing a device, in which the holding means is arranged to extend inside said at least one tubular supporting part. This tubular device with the holding means arranged in the interior gives a stable supporting construction with a proportionately high capability of withstanding forces in the longitudinal direction of the device while the device simultaneously may have a proportionately high ability to yield in a direction substantially transversal to the longitudinal direction of the device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which said at least one tubular supporting part has such a proportionately high ability to yield so that when the device and an object, for example a vehicle, collide the damages on the object originating from the collision are minimized, a device which is very suitable to use as supporting device in con- structions which run the risk of being hit by a vehicle is obtained, such as constructions for traffic signs and for road- and street lightnings. In this connection the design of the device contributes to minimize the injuries of the driver of a vehicle, and of the vehicle itself, originating from a collision between the device and the vehicle.

Another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which said at least one tubular supporting part has a pleated or corrugated structure through the fact that at least any cross section dimension of said at least one tubular supporting part varies in the longitudinal direction of said part, means that the device has notches which further increase the ability of the device to yield. The notches do not impair the supporting ability of the device to any appreciable extent, but in- crease the ability of the device to yield when being subjected to impacts inciding substantially in the transversal direction of the device.

Another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which the holding means has a coupling member in one end arranged to the top part through which member the holding means is detachably connected to the device, enabling a quick and simple assembly/dismounting of the holding means, and therethrough of the device, which is favourable when erect- ing, repairing and building-up, and exchanging of the device. According to another preferred embodiment of the device according of the invention, in which the device is provided with means for receiving and holding at least one additional member the device may be provided with one or more supplementary pe- ripheral components. In the case the device is used as for example a traffic sign, it is in this connection possible to apply additional members in the shape of supplementary sign boards which do not necessarily need to be tubular.

According to another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which one or more of said at least one tubular supporting part, the top part and the additional member if present, are exchangeable modules, which may be combined in different ways for obtaining different embodiments of the device when the device is assembled a very flexible device is obtained which may be adapted to the existing circumstances. For example, when the device is used as a traffic sign, it is possible to exchange a traffic information sign for another by replacing one module with another while maintaining the de- vice for the rest.

Further advantages and advantageous characteristics of the invention are disclosed in the following description and remaining independent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of examples of preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig 1 is a device according to the invention made as a traffic sign of the type which indicates a distance, Fig 2 is a cross section view of the device according to Fig 1 ,

Fig 3 is a device according to invention made as a traffic sign which indicates "assigned road way", said device including an additional member,

Fig 4 is a partly cut view of the device according to Fig 3, and

Fig 5 is a perspective view of a base part according to the em- bodiment in Fig 3.

DETAI LED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF TH E I NVENTION

A device according to the invention designed as a traffic sign is illustrated in Figs 1 and 2. The device includes a base part 1 , a tubular supporting part 2, a top part 3, a top closing 4 and an elongated holding means 5. The holding means 5 is arranged to hold the top part 3, the tubular supporting part 2 and the base part 1 together. Further, the holding means 5 is arranged enclosed to avoid exposing of the holding means for the surroundings outside the device, i.e. the holding means 5 extending from the top part 3, inside the tubular supporting part 2, and preferably in the centre of this part, to the base part 1 , which is illustrated more in detail in Fig 2.

The base part 1 in the example is a tubular foundation, for example of concrete, located mainly below the ground level 6. The tubular supporting part 2 located at the base part 1 is con- structed by several short tubular sections 7 joined together and having circular cross sections forming a pleated or corrugated structure. This tubular supporting part 2 should have such a proportionately high ability to yield so that when the device and object, for example a vehicle, collide the damages on the object originating from the collision are minimized. The ability of the tubular supporting part to yield and the design thereof means that it provides impact absorbing zones for minimizing the damages on an object, for example a vehicle, and possibly of the device, when the device and the object collide, said damages originating from the collision. In this case the impact absorbing zones of the tubular supporting part have suitably an extension corresponding to a substantial portion of the length of the device and a location in the vertical direction of the device, when the device is assembled, adapted to ensure that the impact absorbing zones may be used for minimizing the damages on the ob- ject originating from the collision. The device is designed for example so that the impact absorbing zones are located where a car may be expected to hit the device in a collision and so that they have such an extent in the longitudinal direction that the contact zone between a colliding vehicle and the device arises substantially at these impact absorbing zones. Suitably, the impact absorbing zones constitute equal or more than 10% of the total length of the device, i.e. the extension in the vertical direction of the device located above the ground level in the assembled state of the device, preferably more than 20%, and sometimes more than 40% of the length.

The tubular construction itself, and particularly the corrugated structure, means that the device has a high ability to yield, especially in the transversal direction of the device, and thus the device may be designed to yield for an impact or by a collision of a certain magnitude. In the corrugated construction notches are naturally built in , which notches also have the purpose of increasing the ability of the device to yield. The corrugated structure may be achieved by that at least any cross section di- mension of said at least one tubular supporting part 2 varies in the longitudinal direction of said part. In the example of the embodiment the sections 7 are designed with a varying diameter for achieving the corrugated surface including the notches mentioned above. The sections 7 may be joined by means of any suitable method, such as welding, clenching, gluing etc, or may be detachably stacked onto each other. Detachably stacked sections 7 have the advantage that many of these would be reusable after a collision between the device and an object. However, in this connection it is stressed that the tubular supporting part 2 does not necessarily have to be constructed by such sec- tions, but may be designed by other types of impact absorbing zones.

Besides that the tubular supporting part 2 is able to yield through its design described above, the tubular supporting part 2 should be made by a flexible material, i.e. a material with a proportionately high elasticity for functioning impact absorbing in a collision. Suitably the tubular part 2 is made of a material with such a proportionately high elasticity that at least in a relatively moderate collision between the device and an object, for example a vehicle, the damages on the object originating from the collision are minimized to a large extent by the fact that the elastic material, which may be deformed, works impact or chock absorbing. For example rubber and rubber/plastic mixtures are suitable materials for impact absorbing zones. The tendency of the device to yield as a consequence of folding and possibly breaking is adapted to its elastic ability for impact absorbing so that a relatively moderate collision is reduced firstly by the elastic characteristics of the material, and/or through the ability of the device to yield, and in a more powerful collision, in which the impact absorbing zones are not enough, the device breaks away and/or is broken into pieces.

The top part 3 is a tube with one curved surface 8 and one plane surface 9 on which the traffic information sign 10 is arranged. Thus, the top part 3 is in this embodiment designed to mediate information to individuals in traffic and more precisely the device acts as a traffic sign to inform or warn individuals in traffic about a present railway crossing. The top closing 4 is arranged in the upper end of the top part 3. It is stressed that although the top part 3 is designed as a tube in the example, the top part 3 may have almost any appearance. For example, it could be designed as a plate resting on the uppermost section 7 in the tubular supporting part 2, said holding means 5 could extend from said plate to the base part 1 . The plate in its turn could be provided with any equipment, such as for example traffic signs or illumi- nations, located substantially at the upper side of the plate. Consequently, the term top part should not interpreted in the way that the top part 3 necessarily constitutes the highest located part of the device, but relates to the highest located part for applying the holding means 5, and therefore the top part 3 may very well be located proportionately low when the device is considered in its entirety. Within the scope of the invention the top part 3 could also be an integral part of the tubular supporting part 2 and thus do not constitute a separate part. The top part could for example be constituted by the upper edges of the tubular supporting part 2.

The holding means 5 is arranged to hold the top part 3, the supporting part 2 and the base part 1 together, and at least two of the parts are detachably stacked onto each other. Although the holding means 5 in the example of the embodiment is a strap of the type with adjustable length, other holding means may also be used, such as for example a tension rod, a wire or a chain, the holding means could be stretched and/or adjusted in length by means of an adjusting arrangement provided with a thread. Basic for the invention is that the holding means 5 may be arranged substantially inside the device and is able to hold the abovementioned parts together.

Through tightening of the strapping 5 the top part 3, the sup- porting part 2 and the base part 1 are pushed against each other and fixed in relation to each other. Thus, the holding means 5, in this case the strap, is arranged to hold the top part 3, said at least one tubular supporting part 2 and the base part 1 together while being exerted to a tensile force. In this way the base part 1 , an arbitrary number of tubular supporting parts 2 and the top part 3 may create a light and non-rigid but still stable device, and by providing the device with tubular supporting parts in the shape of exchangeable modules, which may be combined in different ways for obtaining different embodiments of the device when the device is assembled, a very flexible device is pro- vided. Thus, in a simple way the device may be varied in respect of for example height, shape and appearance for the rest, by removing, adding or exchanging of modules.

The characteristic that the device is stable enough for carrying traffic information signs and/or traffic signal arrangements and/or illuminating arrangements, but still light and with ability to yield, makes the device particularly suited for use as for example a traffic sign. The tubular construction of the device, which may preferably be made of for example a rubber- and/or plastic material, even if metallic materials as well as wood materials are also possible, will be non-rigid and impact absorbing to a large extent and thus cause minimal damage on a vehicle which collides with such a device. In this connection it is to be mentioned that the holding means 5 should be dimensioned so that this does not either cause large damage on a vehicle colliding with the device, but the holding means 5 instead yields or comes loose from at least some of its attaching points or is prolonged and/or possibly broken when the device is hit.

The holding means 5 is provided with a coupling member 1 1 , 12 in each end by which the holding means 5 is detachably connected to the device. In one end the coupling member 1 1 is arranged to engage with the upper edge of the top part 3. The coupling member 1 1 illustrated is a clamp 13 with flanges 14 which are hooked on the top part 3. This means that the coupling member 1 1 is of the type called quick coupling, i.e. only one or a few manipulations for lengthening or shortening of the length of the strap 5 are required to loose or attach, respectively, the coupling member 1 1 from/to the top part 3. In a similar way the holding means 5 has in its second end said coupling member 12, in the shape of a clamp 16 provided with flanges 15, and intended to engage with the base part 1 . The base part 1 is designed with recesses 17 to enable assembling and dismounting of the coupling member 12 at the edge of these recesses 17. In the same way as described above this coupling member 12 and by that the holding means 5 may be detached or attached, respectively, at the base part 1 by adjustment of the length of the holding means 5.

For access to the inside of the device, for example for assembling/dismounting or adjusting of the holding means 5, the device suitably includes one part 4, 18 which may be opened and/or detached. For this purpose a number of different con- structions may be used. For example a door 18 may be arranged in the tubular supporting part or in the top part 3 or in the top closing part 4 or the top closing part 4 itself may be detachable from the device. Although the embodiment illustrated requires that the top closing part 4 is removed before loosening/attaching of the coupling member 1 1 at the top part 3, of course other constructions are possible in which this is not the case. For example, the clamp 13 could instead be connected to the inside of the top part 3 by for example providing the inner side with loops designed for the flanges 14. Irrespective of construction solution regarding the part which may be opened and/or detached, this part should comprise a locking arrangement 19 for preventing unauthorized access to the holding means 5 or to other internally details inside the device. It would in this connection also be possible to arrange equipment for controlling light- and sound signals or illuminating devices or other equipment of different kinds inside the device, for example inside the top closing part 4 or inside the base part 1 , which further raises the requirements that the device should be able to be locked and opened again only by a special tool such as a key. When the base part 1 is used for accommodating equipment of any kind, the device may be provided with any kind of lock-equipped divider between the base part and the tubular supporting part, or the base part itself may be divided into two rooms, so as to get access to the inside of the base part 1 , or a certain space therein, may take place only by unlocking and removing of said divider. Hereby the equipment may be kept in a very safe way inside the base part and substantially below ground level.

In Figs 3 and 4 an alternative embodiment of the device is illustrated. Hereafter, firstly characteristics of this embodiment will be described and in other respects it is referred to the previously described embodiments illustrated in Figs 1 and 2. Similar reference signs denote similar or corresponding components. The device according to Fig 3 comprises an additional member 20 arranged in the upper end of the device. In the example the additional member 20 is a sign to inform individuals in the traffic about "assigned road-way". For enabling the arrangement of the additional member 20 the device is provided with means 21 for receiving and holding such a means. For the purpose of providing this means 21 the device is for example so constructed that the holding means 5 has a coupling member 25 in one end which member is designed to receive and hold the additional member 20 and/or that the top closing part 22 is designed to receive and hold the additional member 20. The top closing part 22 has an opening 23 through which a rod 24 of the additional member 20 extends to the coupling member 25 of the holding means 5. The coupling member 25 has a receiving member 26 located in line with the opening 23 and designed as a little cup by which the rod 24 receives guiding. In this embodiment the additional member 20 is arranged to bear on and be supported by the top closing part 22, although of course other constructions are possible. The additional member could for example be supported by the coupling member 25 or by the top part 3 in accordance with what is previously described in the description, namely that the top part may be provided with an arbitrary equipment. Any suitable attaching means may be used to connect the additional member 20 to the device. One way is to lock the rod 24 to the cup 26 by means of a pin and the necessary holes. By this, an automatical locking of the top closing part 22 to the device is simultaneously obtained. Through for example a door 18 provided with a lock 19 in the top part 3 access to the attaching means is enabled.

In Fig 4 also an alternative embodiment of the anchoring at the ground of the device is illustrated. The base part 27 is arranged above the ground level being enclosed in for example asphalt or concrete 28. In the same way as previously described the holding means 5 is detachably connected to the base part 27 through the coupling member 29 and in this case the base part 27 is provided with four spaces 30 for receiving the corresponding flange parts 31 of the coupling member 29.

In Fig 5 the base part 27 including a tube and a bottom plate is perspectively illustrated, which base part 27 is suitably made of a metallic material and provided with holes 32 in the bottom plate for enabling temporary anchoring in the ground by pins or the like before pouring and/or applying of for example concrete reinforcing bars or for letting cast compound through when pouring is performed. The spaces 30 for internally receiving the flange parts 31 of the coupling member 29 are located with an angle interval of approximately 90° in relation to each other.

It is stressed that the embodiments illustrated in this description are only intended to exemplify the invention, and it is particu- larly stressed that the number of tubular supporting parts as well as their design with respect to for example length, cross section and the outfit for the rest, may be varied in many different ways within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, it is stressed that the tubular supporting parts as well as the top part and the ad- ditional member if present, may be equipped also with other arrangements such as for example different illuminating arrange- ments. Accordingly, the device may serve as supporting construction for example in a road- or street lightening or in a construction for a traffic signal arrangement for producing light- or sound signals, or in other constructions where a high ability to yield is desired.

Consequently, the invention is only restricted to the scope of protection which is defined of the following claims, said equivalent embodiments being included within the protection of the patent.

Claims

1 . A structural device comprising a base part (1 ), a top part (3), at least one tubular supporting part (2) arranged between the base part and the top part, and an elongated means (5) extending from the base part to the top part for holding the base part, said at least one tubular supporting part and the top part together, characterized in that the holding means (5) is arranged to extend inside said at least one tubular supporting part (2) so as to avoid exposing of the holding means to the surrounding outside the device.

2. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the base part (1 ) is tubular.

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the holding means (5) extends inside the base part (1 ).

4. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one tubular supporting part (2) has such a proportionately high ability to yield that when the device and an object, for example a vehicle, collide the damages on the object originating from the collision are minimized.

5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that said at least one tubular supporting part (2) is made of a material having such a proportionately high elasticity that when the device and an object, for example a vehicle, collide the damages on the object originating from the collision are minimized.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one tubular supporting part (2) is constructed by several sections (7).

7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that the sections (7) are detachably stacked onto each other.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one tubular supporting part (2) has a pleated or corrugated structure through the fact that at least any cross section dimension of said at least one tubular supporting part (2) varies in the longitudinal direction of said part.

9. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one tubular supporting part (2) provides impact absorbing zones for minimizing the damages on an object, for example a vehicle, when the device and the object collide, said damages originating from the collision.

10. A device according to claim 9, characterized in that the im- pact absorbing zones of said at least one tubular supporting part

(2) have an extension corresponding to a substantial portion of the length of the device and a location in the vertically direction of the device, when the device is assembled, adapted to ensure that the impact absorbing zones may be used for minimizing the damages on the object originating from the collision.

1 1 . A device according to claim 10, characterized in that the impact absorbing zones constitute more than 10% of the total length of the device located above the ground level in the as- sembled condition of the device.

12. A device according to claim 1 1 , characterized in that the impact absorbing zones constitute more than 20% of the total length of the device located above the ground level in the as- sembled condition of the device.

13. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that the impact absorbing zones constitute more than 40% of the total length of the device located above the ground level in the as- sembled condition of the device.

14. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the holding means (5) is arranged to hold the top part (3), said at least one tubular supporting part (2) and the base part (1 ) together while being exerted to a tensile force.

15. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the holding means (5) has a coupling member (1 1 ) in one end arranged at the top part (3) and through which the holding means is detachably connected to the device.

16. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the holding means (5) has a coupling member (12) in one end arranged at the base part (1 ) and through which the holding means is detachably connected to the device.

17. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the device is provided with means (21 ) for receiving and holding at least one additional member (20).

18. A device according to claim 17, characterized in that the top part (3) is designed to receive and hold said at least one additional member (20).

19. A device according to claims 15 and 17 and possibly any further preceding claim, characterized in that the coupling member (25) is designed to receive and hold said at least one additional member (20).

20. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it includes a top closing part (4, 22) arranged at the top part

(3).

21 . A device according to claims 17 and 20 and possibly any further preceding claim, characterized in that the top closing part (22) is designed to receive and hold said at least one additional member (20).

22. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the device comprises at least one part (4, 18, 22) which may be opened and/or detached for access to the inside of the device, and therethrough to for example the holding means (5).

23. A device according to claims 20 and 22 and possibly any further preceding claim, characterized in that the top closing part (4, 22) may be opened and/or detached.

24. A device according to claims 22 or 23, characterized in that the part (4, 18, 22), which may be opened and/or detached, has a locking arrangement (19) for preventing access to the inside of the device if so desired.

25. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it is designed to mediate information (10).

26. A device according to claims 17 and 25 and possibly any further preceding claim, characterized in that the device includes said at least one additional member (20), which is designed to mediate information.

27. A device according to claims 25 or 26, characterized in that the device is a traffic sign.

28. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the device includes a traffic signal arrangement for producing light- and/or sound signals.

29. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it includes an illuminating arrangement.

30. A device according to claims 17 and 29 and possibly any further preceding claim, characterized in that the device in- eludes said at least one additional member provided with an illuminating arrangement.

31. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that one or more of said at least one tubular supporting part (2), the top part (3) and the additional member (20) if present, are exchangeable modules, which may be combined in different ways for obtaining different embodiments of the device when the device is assembled.