GB2427889A

GB2427889A - Security post arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2427889A
Application number: GB0513380A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roderick Burton-Chambers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-30
Filing date: 2005-06-30
Publication date: 2007-01-10
Also published as: GB0513380D0

Abstract

The security post arrangement, for use on residential driveways etc., comprises at least one pivotally connected post that cane be moved between a down position to permit access and a raised position to deny access, with the post being connected to an anchor and arranged so that it extends away from the anchor when in the down position. When in the down position, the post preferably extends over the majority, if not all, of the anchor and may rest on the adjacent ground and/or the upper surface of the anchor. The anchor may be quadrilateral in plan view and the pivot axis of the post preferably extends across the shorter side of the quadrilateral. The pivot is preferably located below the upper portion of the anchor and, in use, below ground level. The arrangement preferably includes a releasable locking mechanism and outwardly extending stabilisers may extend from the anchor to secure the anchor in the ground. The post may be curved in cross-section. Also claimed is a method of operating a post and a method of installing a post.

Description

POST

The present invention relates to a security post and in particular, although not exclusively, to a security post for restricting vehicle access to a throughway.

Professional criminals are increasingly stealing vehicles parked on residential driveways. The security of the vehicle can, by an accomplished criminal, be quickly compromised and the vehicle driven from the driveway.

Although vehicle security is improving in order to inhibit the vehicles security from being compromised, there is little that can be done to stop the thief starting the vehicle if they gain access to the keys. It is therefore also increasingly common for vehicles to be stolen from driveways after criminals first gain access to the keys, for example by first burgling the residential property or even by fishing' the keys out of the property through the letterbox.

Additionally criminals have also been known to drive vehicles down residential driveways in order to assist in criminal activities on the residential property, for example during a burglary.

Accordingly it is known to mount a post on the driveway to prevent unauthorised vehicle access to the driveway, whilst allowing authorised access. It is known for such posts to comprise a post that pivots about an anchor. The anchor is secured in a recess created in the ground and affords a housing for the post within which the post lies, when in the lowered position, such that the post does not protrude above the ground.

Similar posts have also been used to prevent unauthorised parking of vehicles, for example in driveways or private parking spaces.

The disadvantage of such posts however, is that the installation requires a large recess to be dug in the ground. This restricts the retrofitting of the posts to surfaces such as block paving and tarmac since large recess are not easily formed. Furthermore, the anchor and the housing of the anchor require considerable material to be used thereby increasing the cost of the arrangement.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome at least one of the above or other disadvantages.

The present invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

The present invention includes any combination of the herein referred to features or limitations.

The present invention can be carried in to practice in various ways but several embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a security post in an access permitted, open position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the security post in an access denied, closed position; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the security post in the open position along A-A of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the security post in the closed position and along B-B of Figure 2.

Figure 1 shows the security post arrangement 2 in an access permitted or down position. The security post 2 comprises a post 4 and an anchor 6. The post is pivotally connected to the anchor such that it may rotate between the down position and a second access denied or up position, as shown in Figure 2. The post 4 is elongate.

In the down position the post 4 rests on the ground such that vehicles may pass over the post. Alternatively or additionally the post may rest on the anchor when in the down position. In the up position a vehicle attempting to gain access to a throughway abuts the post.

The cross section of the post includes a substantially flat first face 10 and a second face 12. In the down position the flat face 10 rests on the ground with the opposing second face 12 facing upwardly. In the up position the first face is arranged to project rearwardly and the second face 12 forwardly. The second face 12 is preferably arcuate, for example the arc of a segmental circle or oval, or, alternatively the second face could include two or more facets arranged at tangents to an arc such that when the post is down the elongate member does not form a tripping hazard.

One end of the post includes an oblique face 15.

The post is arranged to withstand impact forces in the event that a vehicle attempts to drive past the post when in the up position. Accordingly the post is metal, for example brushed or stainless steel.

Figures 3 and 4 are cross-sections through A-A and B-B of Figure 1 and 2 respectively and show the anchor and the interconnection between the post and anchor in more detail. The anchor comprises a constant cross section and 0 upwardly extending side facets. The external edges of the cross section are suitably sited and shaped in order to correspond with sizes and shapes of block paving. The block paving is shown, substantially, in perspective in Figure 4. For example, the cross-section may comprise a rectangle, square, or circle, or alternatively may comprise any other geometrical shape used in block paving.

The anchor includes a front region 16 and a trailing region 18. The front region could comprise the distal end of a rectangle along the long axis, as shown in the preferred embodiment. Alternatively the front region could comprise the distal end of a rectangle along the short axis in which case the post could have the same length but be of greater width with the pivot axis extending along the longer side. If the cross-section comprises a circle or octagon, for example, the front region comprises a segment of the cross section.

In the down position the long axis of the post is co- extensive with a distal end face of the front region 18 and projects from that region. In the preferred embodiment as shown, wherein the front region of the anchor comprises a distal end region of a rectangle along its long axis, the post is arranged substantially across the width of the anchor. Alternatively, the post member could be arranged to extend partially across the anchor.

The anchor is substantially a hollow box. The front region of the anchor includes a recess 17 and, in the up position, the bottom region of the post extends down into the box through the recess. The post is pivotally mounted on the anchor such that a bottom region of the post moves up to be above the anchor when the post is pivoted to the down position.

The pivot comprises a first 20 and second 22 set of co- operating parts arranged spaced apart along the width of the anchor. In an alternative embodiment the connection comprises additional sets of co- operating parts or alternatively a single set of co-operating parts arranged in the centre of the obstacle.

Each set of co-operating parts are identical. In the preferred embodiment as shown, and with reference to Figures 3 and 4, the co-operating parts comprise a plate 24 fast with the bottom region of the post having a hole 26. The plate extends perpendicularly to the long axis of the post and from the first flat face 10. A rod 27 mounted fast within the recess of the front end of the anchor is located within the hole 26 such that the plate fits snugly about the rod and in rotating engagement in order to enable the post to rotate between the up and down positions. In one embodiment the rod 27 extends through the holes 26 of each protrusion. In another embodiment short rods or bolts are provided separately for each plate.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the or each set of co-operating parts comprise a plate extending upwardly from a top face of the anchor and having a free distal end region. The free distal region of the plate has a through hole arranged with an axis parallel with the distal end region of the anchor. The plate is arranged adjacent to the side of the post. The co-operating parts further comprise the post having outwardly extending rods that engage with the holes. The axis of the rods is coincident with the axis of the holes such that the plate fits snugly about the rods in order that the post rotates about the anchor between the open and closed position.

During rotation of the post between the down and up positions, and since the protrusion of the co-operating parts is spaced from the distal end of the post, the end region of the post enters the recess in the front end of the anchor. The oblique end face 15 of the elongate member ensures that the elongate member does not abut the anchor during rotation.

The anchor further comprises locking means. The locking means comprises any conventional arrangement for locking an engaging member 28. For example, the locking means could comprise a removable member such as a key, not shown, which is inserted into a barrel lock 30. Arranged fast with a bottom end region of the barrel is the engaging member 28. The engaging member comprises a long axis and a short axis. In the unlocked position the engaging member is arranged with the long axis parallel with the distal end of the front region, as shown in Figure 3, and in the locked position the member 28 is rotated to move the long axis transverse to the distal end of the first region, as shown in Figure 4.

When the post is in the down position, and the engaging member of the locking means is in the locked position, the engaging means engages with a feature on the first end region of the post. The feature comprises a first 32 and second 33 protrusion, which extend transversely to the long axis of the elongate member and from the first flat face 10. The first and second protrusions are spaced along the long axis of the post, such that they are arranged either side of the engaging member when in the locked position and wherein abutment between the engaging member and protrusions prevent the post from rotating.

Alternatively the engagement member 28 could be of greater length and extend through the post or an alternative locking member could be moved to engage with the post at a height greater than the pivot axis.

When the post is up the lock resists clockwise movement.

Anticlockwise movement from the up position is resisted by abutment of the lower part of the post with a cross member 36 fast with the sides of the anchor 6.

In use the anchor is arranged fast with the ground in a recess in the ground 34 such that the anchor does not substantially protrude above the level of the ground and is preferably level with the ground. The recess is suitably placed in a vehicle throughway in order that, in the up position, it restricts vehicle access to the throughway. The recess is a similar shape and size to the anchor so that the anchor fits snugly within the recess and such that the front region of the anchor faces a forward direction and towards the most likely direction of traffic. The pivoting axis is arranged across the throughway. The recess may be created by removing a unit of block paving and replacing the paving with the anchor, as in a retro fit, or by laying new block paving with the anchor in place.

The anchor could further comprise at least one flange, not shown, which extends outwardly from a base of the anchor.

The or each flange being covered over, for example, by adjacent block paving and aiding in retaining the anchor in position.

In use, the anchor is movable between the down position in which the post member is arranged adjacent to the ground and the up position in which the post is arranged in the upwardly extending position. When in the up position, the engaging member of the locking means is rotated into the locked position such that the obstacle cannot pivot from the up position. As such, vehicles attempting to gain access to the throughway abut the post. The locking means and structural strength of the security post are substantial so that, in order to destroy the security of the post in the locked position, extreme force would be required. The post can be returned to the down position by using the locking means to remove the engaging member from abutment with the features in the post and rotating the post towards the open position wherein vehicles may pass over the post.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract arid drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s) . The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features

disclosed in this specification (including any

accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A security post arrangement comprising at least one pivotally connected post that is movable between an access permitted, down position, in which the post is lowered such that vehicles may pass over the post, and an up position, in which the post extends upwardly such that vehicle access is denied, the post being connected to an anchor and being arranged to extend away from the anchor when in the down position.

2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 in which the post is arranged, in the down position, to extend over at least part of the anchor.

3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 2 in which, in the down position, the post extends over the majority of the anchor.

4. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 4 in which the post extends over the complete extent of the anchor when in the down position.

5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which, in the down position, when the post arrangement is mounted at a location, part of the post that extends away from the anchor is arranged to extend over adjacent ground at that location.

6. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 5 in which that part is arranged to rest on adjacent ground at that location.

7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the post is arranged to rest at least partially on top of the anchor when in the down position.

8. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the post, when in the down position, is arranged to have an elongate extent in the direction that it extends away from the anchor, which is more than 1.2 or 1.3 or 1.4 or 1.5 or 1.6 or less than 5 or less than 4 or less than 3 or in the region of 2.5 times the length of the anchor in that direction.

9. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the post is pivotally mounted on the anchor between the closed and open positions.

10. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 9 in which the anchor is quadrilateral in plan view and the pivotal axis extends across the shorter sides of the quadrilateral.

11. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 9 in which the anchor is quadrilateral in plan view and the pivotal axis of the post extends across the shorter sides of the quadrilateral.

12. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 11 in which the pivotal axis is located adjacent one side of the quadrilateral.

13. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 12 in which the pivotal mounting on the anchor is below the upper portion of the anchor.

14. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 13 in which, in use, the pivotal mounting is located beneath the ground level.

15. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which a base region of the post is arranged to abut with the anchor when further movement of the post from the up position in a direction away from the direction that the post moves when moving to the down position, is restricted by abutment of the post with the anchor.

16. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim including releasable locking means arranged to be able to lock the post in the up position.

17. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the anchor is arranged, in use, to have its upper surface flush with or below the surrounding ground surface.

18. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the anchor includes at least one outwardly projecting stabiliser located beneath the upper region of the anchor which stabiliser is arranged to be located beneath an adjacent part of the ground when the anchor is mounted in the ground.

19. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the anchor is the same shape as paving.

20. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the post, when in the open position, includes a surface that inclines upwardly and outwardly at the location where the post, in use, meets the anchor or ground or both.

21. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 21 in which the post is inclined downwardly and outwardly along opposed sides of the post.

22. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 21 in which the post includes a curved cross section.

23. An arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

24. A method of operating a post arrangement comprising moving a post connected to an anchor from an upwardly extending position in which vehicle access is denied to an access permitted position, in which, the post is in a down position and the post extends away from the anchor.

25. A method as claimed in Claim 24 when operating a post arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 23.

26. A method of operating a post arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in any of the accompanying drawings.

27. A method of installing a post arrangement in block paving comprising locating an anchor of the post arrangement at a location where at least one block of paving would fit when the post arrangement is as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 23.

28. A method as claimed in Claim 27 comprising removing at least one block of paving and locating the anchor in its place.

29. A method as claimed in Claim 28 comprising laying the anchor when laying the block paving.

30. A method as claimed in any of Claims 27 to 29 comprising at least one block adjacent to the anchor being located over an outwards lower projection from the anchor.

31. A method as claimed in any of Claims 28 to 30 in which the anchor, in plan view, has the same dimensions as the plan view of a block or a multiple of blocks.

32. A method of installing a post arrangement in block paving substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in any of the accompanying drawings.

33. Block paving incorporating a post arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 23.