GB2148358A

GB2148358A - Car park buffer

Info

Publication number: GB2148358A
Application number: GB08322629A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Douglas Harry Salvin
Original assignee: BROCKHOUSE BERRY Ltd
Current assignee: BROCKHOUSE BERRY Ltd
Priority date: 1983-08-23
Filing date: 1983-08-23
Publication date: 1985-05-30
Also published as: GB8322629D0; GB2148358B

Abstract

A buffer primarily but not exclusively intended for installations in parking areas for motor vehicles comprises a forward limb (11), a rearward limb (13) and a further limb (22), the forward limb may be provided with a spacer member (17). When subjected to impact, the forward limb (11) tends to move rearwardly and downwardly, the rearward limb (13) is contacted by a spacer member (17) to assist in providing a restoring force to the rearward limb and the further limb (22) provides a restoring force tending to restrict downwards movement of the forward limb (11). The forward limb (11), rearward limb (13) and further limb (22) are preferably made from spring steel and the arrangement enables a buffer to be made which is small in size but which is capable of resiliently resisting severe impact. A plurality of such buffers may be interconnected by an elongate member 30 to form a barrier. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Buffers and barriers The present invention relates to buffers and barriers adapted for mounting on a surface, for example the ground or the floor of a building, the buffer or barrier serving either as a protection to a building or other structure from vehicles for example, or as a deterrent to prevent persons or vehicles entering a potentially hazardous zone.

The invention relates to buffers and barriers primarily intended for installation in parking areas for motor vehicles and the like in order to prevent or minimise damage due to vehicles colliding with boundary walls or other structural members.

One type of buffer which has been proposed comprises a length of spring steel or like material which is formed into two spaced limbs, the limb which, in use, is disposed rearwardly being shaped so as to afford a free end portion closely adjacent to the other, forward limb, so that if the forward limb is deflected rearwardly by a force which exceeds a predetermined value, it contacts the free end portion of the rearward limb and hence encounters additional resistance to forward movement.

Such a buffer may have a generally flat intermediate connecting portion whereby the buffer is bolted to the ground or floor (both hereinafter collectively referred to as ground) or alternatively the buffer may be bolted to a wall or pillar by means of a lower portion of the rearward limb with an additional connecting portion supporting a forward limb.

On impact of the forward limb there is a tendency for pivotal movement of the limb to occur moving the limb both backwards and downwards.

Contact with the free end portion of the rearward limb assists in preventing further backwards movement but does not greatly assist preventing downwards movement which may lead to permanent deformation or damage to the buffer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved buffer that overcomes or minimises the above mentioned problem.

According to the present invention we provide a buffer comprising two spaced limbs, a forward limb which in use of the buffer comprises an impact member, and a rearward limb capable of providing a restoring force to the forward limb to return it to its normal position following at least substantial impact, and a further limb capable of providing a restoring force in a direction to reduce downwards movement of the forward limb following impact thereof.

Preferably said forward limb and said rearward limb are interconnected by a curved or loop part.

Conveniently said curved or loop part presents a substantially flat base part presenting a ground-engaging surface.

Preferably said further limb closes said curved or loop part and conveniently may interconnect the curved or loop part adjacent the base part and said curved or loop part at a position proximate to said forward limb.

Said further limb may comprise a U-shaped member extending along substantially the length of said base part and being secured to said curved or loop part so as to form, in combination with said curved or loop part, a substantially ovalshaped assembly.

Spacer means may be provided between the forward limb and said rearward limb to enable both said forward limb and said rearward limb to provide an immediate restoring force following impact on said forward limb.

Alternatively either of said limbs may be deformed such that they are in contact with each other, preferably at a position distant from said curved or loop part.

According to another aspect of the invention we provide a barrier comprising a plurality of buffers as aforedescribed and an elongate member and means for securing said elongate member to said buffers in a position such that in use of the barrier said elongate member is supported above the ground to which said buffers are affixed.

Preferably said first and second limbs comprise a spring steel and conveniently said third limb also comprises a spring steel.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a buffer according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the buffer shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a barrier of the present invention comprises buffers as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a buffer in accordance with the invention comprises a length 10 of spring steel strip or other suitable resilient material which may be covered with a protective facing layer or sleeve of plastics material or the like.

The spring steel strip 10 is bent so as to afford a substantially upright forward limb 11 which is preferably straight as shown but may be shaped if required. The forward limb 11 is connected by a curved or loop part generally indicated at 12 to a rearward limb 13. The curved or loop part 12 comprises an upper, substantially straight, portion 14, a forward curved portion 15 and a substantially planar base portion 16.

Between the forward limb 11 and the rearward limb 13 is provided a spacer element 17 which may be secured to the forward limb 11 by welding or by bolts passing through throughbores 18 and 19 provided in the forward limb 11 and throughbores 20 and 21 respectively provided in the spacer member 17. The spacer member 17 is not secured to the rearward member 13 but may bear against the rearward member 13 or may be spaced slightly therefrom.

A further limb 22 comprises a substantially Ushaped member having a short upper limb 23, a curved section 24 and a long lower limb 25.

The long lower limb 25 is provided with throughbores 26 and 27 which are aligned with respective throughbores 28 and 29 in the base part 16 so that bolts or other fixing members may be passed through the aligned throughbores so that the buffer may be secured to the ground.

The short upper limb 23 of further limb 22 may be secured to the upper straight section 14 of the curved or loop part 12, or alternatively respective surfaces on the curved or loop part 12 and one on the further limb 22 may bear against each other so that, on impact of the forward limb 11, some relative sliding movement occurs between the curved or loop part 12 and the further limb 22.

The further limb 22 is preferably made from spring steel strip and impact of forward limb 11, which would normally tend to cause the upper section 14 of the curved or loop part 15 to move in a downward direction, will be resisted by the resilience of the steel strip forming further limb 22.

The provision of the further limb 22 in combination with rearward limb 13 and spacer element 17 enables a buffer to be made which is small in size and which is capable of resiliently resisting a severe impact making it of considerable benefit in car parks and the like where it is essential that buffers which may well be necessary, either to protect the car park, the vehicles or to prevent vehicles entering hazardous areas, do not themselves take up undue space.

Referring now to Figure 3, a barrier is shown comprising a plurality of buffers as shown in Figures 1 and 2 interconnected by an elongate barrier member 30. The barrier member 30 is provided with throughbores, for example those shown at 31, 32 and 33, the former of which is aligned with throughbores 18 and 20 in the forward limb 11 and spacer element 17 respectively, and the latter is aligned with throughbores 19 in the forward limb and 21 in the spacer so that bolts such as those shown at 34 and 35 may be passed through the aligned throughbores to secure the elongate member 30 to the buffers generally indicated at 36.

If desired a further throughbore 37 may be provided in the elongate barrier member 30 aligned with throughbore 38 in forward member 11 to further secure the elongate member 30 to the buffers 36.

It is envisaged that, whereas the spacer member 17 has been as secured to the forward member, it may alternatively be connected to the rearward member 13, there may be more than one spacer member and the configuration of same may be different from that as shown in the drawings. Furthermore, the curved or loop part of the spring steel strip 10 which connects the forward limb 11 to the rearward limb 13 may be of any desired shape depending on the use and conditions of service of the buffer. Similarly, the further limb 22 may be of any suitable form so as to provide a force resisting the downwards component of movement of the forward limb 11 following impact.

Claims

1. A buffer comprising two spaced limbs, a forward limb which in use of the buffer comprises an impact member, and a rearward limb capable of providing a restoring force to the forward limb to return it to its normal position following at least substantial impact, and a further limb capable of providing a restoring force in a direction to reduce downwards movement of the forward limb following impact thereof.

2. A buffer according to Claim 1 wherein said forward limb and said rearward limb are interconnected by a curved or loop part.

3. A buffer according to Claim 2 wherein said curved or loop part presents a substantially flat base part presenting a ground-engaging surface.

4. A buffer according to Claim 3 wherein said flat base part is provided with apertures whereby fixing means may be passed through said apertures to secure the buffer to the ground.

5. A buffer according to any one of Claims 2 to 4 wherein said curved or loop part is open and said further limb closes or completes said curved or loop part.

6. A buffer according to Claim 5 wherein said further limb interconnects the curved or loop part at spaced positions, one adjacent the base part and the other approximate to said forward limb.

7. A buffer according to any one of Claims 2 to 6 wherein said further limb comprises a U-shaped member extending along substantially the whole length of said base part and is secured to said curved or loop part so as to form, in combination with said curved or loop part, a substantially ovalshaped assembly.

8. A buffer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein spacer means are provided between the forward limb and said rearward limb to enable both said forward limb and said rearward limb to provide an immediate restoring force following impact on said forward limb.

9. A buffer according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein said forward limb or said rearward limb are shaped such that they are, in normal in use position, permanently in contact with each other.

10. A buffer according to Claim 9 wherein said position of contact is distant from said curved or loop part.

11. A buffer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said forward limb and said rearward limb comprise a spring steel.

12. A buffer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said further limb comprises a spring steel.

13. A barrier comprising a plurality of buffers according to any one of Claims 1 to 12 and an elongate member, means for securing said elongate member to said buffers in a position such that in use of the barrier said elongate member is supported above the ground to which said buffers are affixed.

14. A buffer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

15. A barrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

16. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.