WO2018078398A1

WO2018078398A1 - Bollard base assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2018078398A1
Application number: PCT/GB2017/053269
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Robinson
Original assignee: Traffic Management Products Limited
Priority date: 2016-10-31
Filing date: 2017-10-31
Publication date: 2018-05-03
Also published as: GB2571660B; GB2555477A; GB201618388D0; GB2571660A; GB201907770D0

Abstract

A bollard base assembly (4) comprising a body having a longitudinal axis, wherein the body includes a main body portion (10) and a pair of opposed locating arms (12a, 12b) extending radially outwards from the main body portion, and wherein one of the locating arms includes a lock arrangement (14) including a lock element (26) having a lock configuration in which the lock element projects from the locating arm and a release configuration in which the lock element is located within the locating arm.

Description

Bollard Base Assembly

The present invention relates to a bollard base assembly, and in particular to a bollard base assembly which is configured for use with a ground socket. The invention also relates to a combination of a base assembly and ground socket.

It is known to provide bollard base assemblies which can be releasably coupled to a

corresponding ground socket in a "plug and socket" type arrangement.

An Example of such an arrangement is shown in GB2485194. The example shown in this document discloses a base assembly which slides longitudinally into a corresponding socket and is then twisted through 90° to couple the base assembly to the socket. The base assembly may be prevented from rotating relative to the socket when in a pre-determined orientation by a lock mechanism formed in the bollard which is operated by a key. The lock mechanism, when activated, prevents rotation of the bollard in either direction and therefore prevents or resists the unintentional or undesired removal of the base assembly from the socket.

Such an arrangement is difficult to manufacture and assemble, as the lock mechanism has to be installed in the bollard and then connected to a lock element carried by the base assembly. Owing to the complexity of the lock mechanism, there is also a greater risk of product failure.

It is desired to produce a bollard base assembly for use with a corresponding ground socket which is easier to manufacture and assemble and which has a lower risk of failure.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a bollard base assembly comprising a body having a longitudinal axis, wherein the body includes a main body portion and a pair of opposed locating arms extending radially outwards from the main body portion, and wherein one of the locating arms includes a lock arrangement including a lock element having a lock configuration in which the lock element projects from the locating arm and a release

configuration in which the lock element is located within the locating arm.

The bollard base assembly of the subject invention has the lock arrangement wholly located within the base assembly itself. Accordingly, any desired bollard or other item of street furniture may be fixed to the top of the base assembly without any modification. It will be appreciated that the term "radially" refers to a radius direction from the longitudinal axis of the base assembly. It will further be appreciated that the term "bollard" used herein is intended to mean any item of street furniture that is upstanding in use. Thus, the term "bollard base assembly" should be construed as a base assembly for use with a bollard or other item of street furniture.

The lock element may project upwardly from the respective locating arm in the lock

configuration, or it may project downwardly or laterally (i.e. horizontally in use) from the respective locating arm in the lock configuration.

Suitably, the locating arms are integral with main body portion such that body is formed as a one- piece component. This arrangement means that the base assembly can be formed in a single operation and from a single material. For example, the body may be formed from one or more polymeric materials and it may be formed via a moulding process, such as rotary moulding, injection moulding or blow moulding. It will be appreciated that the body may be formed from the same or different polymeric materials when the locating arms are not integral with the main body portion.

The coupling arrangement described in GB2485194 is well known and efficient. Thus, each locating arm may have an upwardly facing surface which defines an engagement surface. The engagement surfaces may engage with a downwardly facing retaining wall formed in a corresponding socket such that axial movement of the base assembly out of the socket is prevented or resisted when the locating arms are vertically aligned with the respective retaining wall(s).

The locating arms suitably extend out from a lower portion of the main body portion. The engagement surface may be located below a halfway point of the base assembly body along its longitudinal axis. In an embodiment of the invention, each locating arm may have a bottom portion located adjacent to the bottom of the main body portion and the engagement surface may be located less than one third of the way up the main body portion, suitably less than one quarter of the way up the main body portion. In an embodiment of the invention, the lock element projects outwardly from the respective engagement surface in its lock configuration. Thus, the lock element may project upwardly from the respective locating arm in the lock configuration. The lock element is suitably a pin or a rod. The lock arrangement suitably includes a cavity which is dimensioned to receive therein the lock element in its release configuration and includes an aperture through which the lock element may pass in its lock configuration.

For ease of installation of the base assembly into the corresponding ground socket, the lock element may be biased to the lock configuration. Thus, the lock arrangement may include a bias element arranged to bias the lock element into the lock configuration. This means that the lock element is capable of snap-fitting into a corresponding receiver defined by the socket. A separate tool may be required to counteract the biasing force of a bias element when it is desired to remove the base assembly from the socket.

In order for a separate tool to engage the bias element and counteract the biasing force exerted by it, the lock arrangement may include a second aperture which defines an access port. The access port suitably permits a tool to contact and press against the bias element in order to retract the lock element from the lock configuration to the release configuration.

In an embodiment of the invention, the main body portion of the base assembly defines a longitudinal channel which is in communication with the access port. The longitudinal channel suitably extends the entire length of the base assembly and is open at its upper end. As the locating arm and therefore the lock mechanism is typically located underground and tightly coupled to the socket, the channel in the main body portion which suitably opens into the access port permits an elongate retraction tool to be located within the channel and urged downwards into the access port to counteract the biasing force of the bias element.

The main body portion of the base assembly is suitably frustoconical or frustopyramidal in shape. Base assemblies are often tapered to permit an easier insertion into, and alignment with, a corresponding socket. A frustoconical or frustopyramidal main body portion, in which the body portion tapers inwards towards the bottom of the body, tends to align correctly the base assembly with the socket as the base assembly is inserted into the socket. Thus, such an arrangement may be thought of as "self-aligning". As noted above, the present invention allows for a "universal" base assembly to which can be coupled or fixed a variety of different items of street furniture, such as bollards. Accordingly, the base assembly may include an upwardly facing surface which defines a mounting surface configured to receive thereon an item of street furniture. The mounting surface may be defined by the main body portion of the base assembly body. Alternatively a mounting plate may be affixed to the top of the base assembly.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a combination of a ground socket and a base assembly according to the first aspect of the invention defined herein, wherein the socket includes an internal wall that defines an internal cavity which is open at its upper end; the wall further defining a pair of opposed longitudinal channels, wherein each channel is configured to receive therein a respective one of the locating arms; and located at the bottom of each channel and offset therefrom is a retaining wall which extends circumferentially around a portion of the internal wall, the retaining walls extending inwardly from the respective portions of the internal wall; and wherein the socket defines a recess or receiver within which is received the lock element in its lock configuration.

In use, the locating arms of the base assembly are aligned with the respective channels defined by the internal wall and the base assembly is located within the cavity defined by the inner wall of the socket. When the locating arms are located within the channels, relative rotation of the base assembly relative to the socket is prevented or restricted. The bottom ends of the channels are spaced from the bottom of the socket and the channels open into a lower chamber having a diameter which is greater than the spacing between the ends of the locating arms such that the base assembly may be rotated relative to the socket when the locating arms are positioned in the lower chamber. Thus, when the locating arms are located within the respective channels or aligned therewith, vertical translational movement of the base assembly relative to the socket is permitted, but rotation of the base assembly relative to the socket is prevented. When the locating arms are located within the lower chamber of the socket, the base assembly is able to rotate relative to the socket, although the freedom of rotation may be constrained by one or more stops. When the locating arms are vertically aligned with a corresponding retaining wall, translational movement of the base assembly in a vertical direction is prevented. As noted above, the retaining walls may each include a respective stop which prevents rotation of the base assembly relative to the socket beyond the stop. The stop may be defined by the recess or receiver defined within the socket. In such an embodiment, engagement of the lock element within the recess or receiver prevents further rotation in either direction of the base assembly relative to the socket.

The retaining walls may each extend between the opposed channels. Thus, the retaining walls may have a gap between adjacent ends which is defined by the channels. In other words a first retaining wall may extend substantially around one half of the cavity defined by the internal wall of the socket between a first side of the first channel and a first side of the second channel; and a second retaining wall may extend substantially around the other half of the cavity between a second side of the first channel and a second side of the second channel. In such an embodiment, each retaining wall defines almost a semi-circular wall. Each retaining wall suitably defines a downwardly facing engagement surface. In embodiments in which the locating arms define respective upwardly facing engagement surfaces, the upwardly facing engagement surface of the locating arms engage with the downwardly facing engagement surfaces of the respective retaining walls. Furthermore, in embodiments in which the lock element projects upwardly from the respective locating arm in its lock configuration, a downwardly facing surface of at least one of the retaining walls may define the recess or receiver.

Additionally or alternatively, the lock element may project downwards from the respective locating arm and the socket may define a lock wall below the locating arm in use. In other words, the lock wall may be downwardly spaced from the retaining wall(s) such that the gap defined between the retaining wall and the lock wall is (slightly) greater than the height of the locating arm. Furthermore, the lock element may project radially outwards from the locating arm and the internal wall of the socket may define the recess or receiver.

In each case described above, the location of the lock element within the recess/receiver prevents rotation of the base assembly relative to the socket. Therefore, provided that the lock element is located within the recess/receiver when the locating arms are out of alignment with the channels defined by the internal wall, the base assembly cannot be removed from the socket until the lock arrangement is moved into its release configuration. Each retaining wall may include a sloped leading portion. The skilled person will appreciate that the leading portion of the retaining wall is the portion of the wall that is first contacted by the respective locating arm in use, i.e. as the base assembly is rotated relative to the socket. The sloped portion in use pulls the locating arms of the base assembly into a tight engagement with the retaining wall as the base assembly is rotated relative to the socket, as the base assembly is urged downwards as the locating arms traverse the sloped portion of each retaining wall.

In embodiments of the invention in which the lock element projects upwardly from the engagement surface of the respective locating arm and the engagement surface of the retaining wall(s) define the recess/receiver, the sloped wall may also force the lock element into its release configuration, for example against a biasing force, until the lock element is aligned with the recess/receiver.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ground socket includes an upper portion, a lower portion and a middle portion, wherein diameter of middle portion is less than the upper portion and the lower portion. In such an embodiment, the socket has a narrowed middle section which defines a waist portion. The relatively flared out lower portion resists removal of the ground socket from the ground in use. In addition, the waist portion may define the bottom of the channels and the lower portion may define the lower chamber as discussed above in which the locating arms of the base assembly are free to rotate relative to the socket.

As noted above, in embodiments in which the main body portion of the base assembly defines a channel which is in communication with the access port of the lock arrangement, the combination may further include an elongate operating rod configured to be locatable within the channel defined by the main body portion of the base assembly and to be capable of passing through the access port of the of the lock arrangement. In other words, the diameter of the access port is suitably greater than the diameter of the elongate operating rod.

The skilled person will appreciate that the features described and defined in connection with the aspect of the invention and the embodiments thereof may be combined in any combination, regardless of whether the specific combination is expressly mentioned herein. Thus, all such combinations are considered to be made available to the skilled person.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a representation of a bollard base assembly according to the invention located within a ground socket, wherein the bollard base assembly carries thereon a bollard;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bollard base assembly by itself;

Figure 3a is a vertical cross-sectional view through the bollard base assembly shown in

Figure 2;

Figure 3b shows in more detail the circled elements of Figure 3a;

Figure 4 is a cross-section through the locking mechanism shown in Figures 3a and 3b; Figure 5a is a cross-sectional view through the bollard base assembly when installed within a ground socket;

Figure 5b shows in more detail the circled elements of Figure 5a;

Figure 6a is a plan view from above of the ground socket; and

Figure 6b is a sectional view through the ground socket shown in Figure 6a. For the avoidance of doubt, the skilled person will appreciate that in this specification, the terms "up", "down", "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "width", etc. refer to the orientation of the components as found in the example when installed for normal use as shown in the Figures.

Figure 1 shows a bollard 2 carried by a combination of a bollard base assembly 4 (shown in more detail in Figures 2-4) and a ground socket 6, wherein the ground socket is anchored within the ground 8 and only the bollard 2 is visible above ground.

Figures 2, 3a and 3b show the bollard base assembly 4 in more detail. The base assembly 4 has a main body portion 10 which has a frustoconical shape that tapers inwards from the top to the bottom. Formed at a bottom portion of the main body 10 are a pair of opposed locating arms 12a, 12b. The main body portion 10 and the opposed locating arms 12a, 12b are moulded as a one- piece construction from a polymeric material, such as nylon or polyurethane. The locating arm 12b carries a locking mechanism 14 which is shown in more detail in Figures 3b and 4.

The main body portion 10 defines therein a longitudinal channel 16 which is open at its top end and opens at its bottom end to an access port 18 of the locking mechanism 14. The channel 16 is sized to receive therein an elongate operating rod (not shown) which is able to enter the locking mechanism 14 via the access port 18 and release the locking mechanism 14. This operation is described in more detail below. As shown in Figure 3b, the locking mechanism 14 is covered by a cover element 20, which is in the form of a right-angled metallic plate. The cover element 20 defines in its upwardly facing surface a bore 22 which aligns in use with the channel 16 and the access port 18 of the locking mechanism. As can be seen in Figure 2, the body of the locating arm 12b sits slightly proud of the cover element 20. In this way, the upwardly facing portion of the body of the locating arms 12a, 12b defines respective engagement surfaces that prevent the axial removal of the base assembly 4 from the ground socket 6 when in a rotationally locked configuration. Thus, the cover element 20 is recessed slightly from the outer peripheral portions of the locating arm 12b.

Figure 4 shows in more detail the locking mechanism 14. The main components of the locking mechanism 14 are a locking arm 24 which has pivotally mounted at one end thereof a locking pin 26 and which is hingedly mounted at its other end to a fixed mount 28. In use, the locking pin 26 projects through an aperture 30 defined by an upper element 32 of a housing for the lock mechanism 14. The locking pin 26 is able to move vertically up and down as the locking arm 24 hinges about the fixed mount 28. The extent of the vertical motion of the locking pin 26 is constrained by lock mechanism housing.

The locking pin 26 defines a lock configuration when it is at its maximum vertical height (i.e. its maximum extension through the aperture 30) and it defines a release configuration when it is retracted back into the lock mechanism housing to the maximum extent possible. Figure 4 shows the locking pin in its lock configuration as a solid outline and it shows the release configuration of the locking pin 26 as a dashed outline. The locking pin 26 is biased to its lock configuration by a torsion spring 34. The torsion spring 34 has a central portion which is wound around the fixed mount 28, a first end portion which contacts a lower element of the housing and a second end portion which is secured to the locking arm 24. Figure 5a shows a cross-section through the base assembly 4 when it is located within a ground socket 6. The ground socket 6 defines an internal cavity 35 (shown in more detail in Figure 6b) which has an upper portion 35a, a middle portion 35b and a lower portion 35c. The middle portion 35b has a smaller diameter than the upper and lower portions 35a, 35c and forms a waist portion of the cavity 35. The middle portion 35b defines a retaining wall 36 which extends inwards from the peripheral edge of the cavity 35. The retaining wall 36 defines a downwardly extending engagement surface 38, which in use is engaged by the upwardly facing engagement surface of each of the two locating arms 12a, 12b. The retaining wall 36 defines a pair of opposed channels 40a, 40b (shown in Figure 6a), each of which being sized to receive therethrough a respective one of the locating arms 12a, 12b. The lower portion 35c of the cavity 35 defines a chamber which has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the opposed locating arms 12a, 12b such that the locating arms 12a, 12b are free to rotate within the chamber defined by the lower portion 35c of the cavity 35.

In use, the locating arms 12a, 12b of the base assembly 4 are aligned with a corresponding one of the channels 40a, 40b of the ground socket 6 and the main body portion 10 of the base assembly 4 is inserted axially downwards into the cavity 35 defined by the ground socket 6. While the locating arms 12a, 12b are located within the channels 40a, 40b, the base assembly 4 is unable to rotate relative to the ground socket 6. As soon as the locating arms 12a, 12b exit the bottom of the channels 40a, 40b, and enter the chamber, the base assembly 4 may be rotated relative to the ground socket 6, as the lower portion 35c of the cavity 35 has a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the locating arms 12a, 12b. The rotation of the base assembly 4 relative to the ground socket 6 moves the locating arms 12a, 12b out of alignment with the channels 40a, 40b. As the diameter of the locating arms 12a, 12b is greater than the diameter of the aperture defined by the retaining wall 36, the locating arms 12a, 12b are not able to move axially upwards when out of alignment with the channels 40a, 40b. In this situation, the upwardly facing engagement surfaces of the locating arms 12a, 12b engage or contact the downwardly facing engagement surface 38 of the retaining wall 36. This is often referred to as a "push and twist" coupling arrangement.

The retaining wall 36 further defines a pair of opposed recesses 42a, 42b (shown in Figure 6b). Each recess is located approximately halfway between the channels 40a, 40b around the periphery of the retaining wall 36, such that the recesses 42a, 42b are opposite each other and 90° out of phase with the channels 40a, 40b. The recesses 42a, 42b are positioned such that they align with the locking pin 26 as the locking mechanism 14 rotates around the periphery of the retaining wall 36. The retaining wall 36 includes sloped portions adjacent to each of the channels 40a, 40b, the purpose of which will be described below.

To assemble a bollard arrangement as shown in Figure 1, the ground socket 6 is anchored within a hole formed in the ground 8. Once the socket 6 has been suitably anchored, the base assembly 4 is inserted into the socket 6 as described above. When the locating arms 12a, 12b are clear of the channels 40a, 40b and located within the chamber defined by the lower portion 35c of the socket cavity 35, the base assembly 4 is rotated relative to the socket 6. As the base assembly 4 is rotated, the respective sloped portion of the retaining wall 36 causes the locking pin 26 to move from its lock configuration to its release configuration against the biasing force of the torsion spring 34. The downwardly facing engagement surface 38 of the retaining wall 36 maintains the locking pin 26 in its release configuration until the locking pin 26 becomes aligned with a respective one of the recesses 42a, 42b, at which point, the biasing force of the torsion spring 34 urges the locking pin 26 to move upwards into the recess 42a, 42b and into its lock configuration. With the locking pin 26 located within the respective recess 42a, 42b and in its lock configuration, further rotation of the base assembly 4 relative to the ground socket 6 is prevented. As the base assembly 4 is unable to rotate relative to the socket 6 and the retaining wall 36 prevents upward movement of the base assembly 4 relative to the socket 6 by engaging the locating arms 12a, 12b, the base assembly 4 is fixed relative to the socket 6. The bollard 2 can now be fixed to the top of the base assembly 4.

In order to remove the base assembly 4 from the socket 6, an elongate release rod (not shown) is located within the channel 16 defined by the main body portion 10 of the base assembly 4 and urged downwards. The bottom of the release rod passes through the bore 22 of the cover element 20 and through the access port 18 of the lock mechanism 14, whereupon it contacts a portion of the locking arm 24. The release rod may then be pushed downwards to urge the locking arm 24 downwards against the biasing force of the torsion spring 34. The downward rotation of the locking arm about the fixed mount 28 moves the locking pin 26 from its lock configuration to its release configuration and thus out of the recess 42a, 42b. With the locking pin in the release configuration and no longer retained with the recess 42a, 42b, the base assembly 4 can be rotated relative to the ground socket 6. When the locking pin is out of alignment with the recess 42, the release rod may be removed, as the retaining wall 36 will then maintain the locking pin 26 in its release configuration.

The base assembly is then rotated until the locating arms 12a, 12b align with the respective channels 40a, 40b, whereupon the base assembly can be removed vertically from the ground socket 6.

Claims

1. A bollard base assembly comprising a body having a longitudinal axis, wherein the body includes a main body portion and a pair of opposed locating arms extending radially outwards from the main body portion, and wherein one of the locating arms includes a lock arrangement including a lock element having a lock configuration in which the lock element projects from the locating arm and a release configuration in which the lock element is retracted at least partially into the locating arm.

2. A bollard base assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the locating arms are integral with main body portion such that body is formed as a one-piece component.

3. A bollard base assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the body is formed from a polymeric material.

4. A bollard base assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each locating arm has an upwardly facing surface which defines an engagement surface.

5. A bollard base assembly according to Claim 4, wherein the lock element projects

outwardly from a respective engagement surface in its lock configuration.

6. A bollard base assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the lock element is biased to the lock configuration.

7. A bollard base assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the locating arm that includes the lock arrangement defines therein a chamber which is sized and configured to receive therein the lock element in its release configuration.

8. A bollard base assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the lock arrangement includes an aperture which defines an access port for the lock element.

A bollard base assembly according to Claim 8, wherein the main body portion defines a longitudinal channel in communication with access port.

A bollard base assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the main body portion is frustoconical or frustopyramidal in shape.

A bollard base assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein an upwardly facing surface of the body defines a mounting surface configured to receive thereon an item of street furniture.

A combination of a ground socket and a base assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the socket includes an internal wall that defines an internal cavity which is open at its upper end, the internal wall further defining a pair of opposed longitudinal channels wherein each channel is configured to receive therein a respective one of the locating arms; and located at the bottom of each channel is a retaining wall, the retaining walls extending inwardly from portions of the internal wall; and wherein the socket further defines a receiver within which is received the lock element in its lock configuration.

A combination according to Claim 12, wherein the bottom ends of the channels are spaced from the bottom of the socket and the channels open into a lower chamber defined between the bottom of the channels and the bottom of the socket, the lower chamber having a diameter which is greater than the spacing between the ooposed ends of the locating arms such that the base assembly may be rotated relative to the socket when the locating arms are positioned within the lower chamber.

A combination according to Claim 13, wherein the retaining walls are located at the top of the lower chamber adjacent to the bottom of the respective channel.

A combination according to any of Claims 12 to 14, wherein the retaining walls each include or define a respective stop which prevents rotation of the base assembly relative to the socket beyond the stop.

16. A combination according to any of Claims 12 to 15, wherein the retaining walls each extend between the opposed channels such that the retaining walls have a gap between adjacent ends which is defined by the respective channel.

17. A combination according to any of Claims 12 to 16, where each locating arm has an

upwardly facing engagement surface which contacts a downwardly facing engagement surface of the respective retaining wall.

A combination according to Claim 17, wherein the lock element projects upward from a locating arm in the lock configuration and a downwardly facing surface of one or both of the retaining walls defines the receiver which is configured to receive therein the lock element.

19. A combination according to Claim 17 or Claim 18, wherein each retaining wall includes a sloped leading portion.

20. A combination according to any of Claims 12 to 19, wherein the ground socket includes an upper portion, a lower portion and a middle portion, wherein diameter of middle portion is less than the upper portion and the lower portion.

21. A combination according to any of Claims 12 to 20, wherein the combination further includes an elongate operating rod.