GB2446858A

GB2446858A - Bollard assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2446858A
Application number: GB0703199A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robin Land; Kishan Ram
Original assignee: Signature Ltd
Current assignee: Signature Ltd
Priority date: 2007-02-20
Filing date: 2007-02-20
Publication date: 2008-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2027-02-20
Also published as: GB0703199D0; GB2446858B

Abstract

The bollard assembly, for use on roads, car parks and the like, comprises a bollard 12, a base 18 and a resilient element 44 which urges the bollard towards the base, with an engagement arrangement between the bollard and the base that permits rotational and pivotal movement of the bollard relative to the base and which, in conjunction with the resilient element, urges the bollard towards a correct alignment relative to the base. The engagement arrangement preferably includes a recess 26 and a projection 56, one in each of the bollard and base, which are shaped so that an edge of the projection may pivot over the edge of the recess. The recess preferably has one or more straight edges over which the projection may pivot, with the projection including a groove 34 that engages the edge when pivoting and a flange 64 located, in use, above the groove. The bollard preferably engages a mounting element 50 which in turn is received in a recess in the element that defines the projection with the two engaging surfaces including cams that act, under the force of the resilient element, to bias the bollard towards the correct rotational orientation. A flexible cover 36 preferably extends over the engagement arrangement and the resilient element preferably comprises a spring that may be located in the bollard and connected to the base via a line 38.

Description

Bollard Assembly This invention concerns bollard assemblies.

Boilarci assemblies as used on roads, car parks and elsewhere are often impacted by vehicles. It is preferable for such assemblies to withstand these impacts without damage, and to remain in their original format and orientation following an impact.

According to the present invention there is provided a bollard assembly, the assembly including a bollard member, a base member, resilient urging means for urging the bollard member towards the base member, and an engagement arrangement between the bollard member and the base member which permits rotational and pivotal movement of the bollard member relative to the base member against the urging means, and which in conjunction with the urging means urges the bollard member towards a correct alignment relative to the base member.

The engagement arrangement preferably includes a recess on either a one of the bollard member or base member, and a projection member on the other of the bollard member and base member, the projection member being locatable in the recess and urged thereinto by the resilient urging means, the recess and projection member being shaped such that an edge of the projection member is pivotally movable about an edge of the recess.

The projection member may be pivotal about a substantially straight edge of the recess, and may be selectively pivotal about one of a plurality of substantially straight edges of the recess, and desirably about one of four edges arranged perpendicularly to each other.

The recess is preferably provided in the base member.

The projection member may include a groove around a proximal part of the projection member, which groove is pivotally movable over an edge of the recess.

A flange may be provided on the projection member proximal of the groove, which flange is larger than the recess and is around the outer edge thereof.

The engagement arrangement preferably includes first and second engagable members configured such that relative rotation therebetween away from a rest position causes the bollard member to move away from the base member.

The first and second engagable members may each include a cam surface engagable with the corresponding cam surface on the other engagable member.

The first engagable member may be part of the projection member, and a cam surface may be provided in a recess in the projection member. A mounting member may be provided which connects to the bollard member. A projection on the mounting member with a cam surface thereon may be the second engagable member, and may locate in the projection member recess, and be slidingly movable relative thereto.

A flexible cover is preferably provided over the engagement arrangement.

The resilient urging means may include a spring, and may include line means extendable between the base member and the. bollard member and mounted to a one thereof by a spring. The line means is preferably mounted within the bollard member by the spring.

An embodiment of the present invention wilt now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig 1. is an isometric view of a bollard assembly according to the invention; Fig 2. is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a lower part of the assembly of Fig 1; Fig 3. is a diagrammatic sectional view of the bollard assembly of Fig 1 immediately following an impact; and Fig 4. is a diagrammatic side view of components of the assembly of Fig 1.

The drawings show a bollard assembly 10 with a bollard member 12 mounted on a base member 14 with an engagement arrangement 16 therebetween. The bollard member 12 is hollow and formed of UV stabilised plastics material by rotational moulding.

The base member 14 comprises a base plate 18 with recesses 20 each locating a mounting hole 22, for mounting on a steel foundation support assembly (not shown). The base plate 18 also includes upstanding walls 24 defining an upwardly open profiled recess 26. The recess 26 is substantially square in plan view with rounded corners and has a first upper part 28 of constant cross section leading into a lower converging part 30. The upper edges 32 of the recess 26 are rounded. A groove 34 is provided around a tower part of the outside of the upstanding walls 24 to receive a lower part of a bellows-type flexible cover 36.

A steel wire 38 is mounted at one end beneath the recess 26 and extends therethrough into the bollard member 12 and is mounted at its upper end to a thrustbearing 40 by a nut 42. A compression spring 44 extends downwardly from the thrustbearing 40 and engages at its lower end in an upwardly open cylindrical recess 46 in an upper part of a mounting member 48 mounted on and extending downwardly from the bollard member 12.

The mounting member 48 also includes a downwardly extending cylindrical projection 50 with a recess in its lower end which defines a concave cam surface 54.

The projection 50 slidingly locates in a cylindrical recess in a projection member 56. The projection member 56 has a concave cam surface 58 at the lower end of the recess, which is engagable with the concave cam surface 54.

The projection member 56 also includes a shaped projection part 60 at its lower end which locates in the recess 26. The projection part 60 has a substantially square cross section in plan view with rounded corners, and converges downwardly. A groove 62 is provided around the projection member 56 immediately above the projection part 60, and a flange 64 is provided above the groove 62. The flange 64 is of a size to rest on top of the upstanding walls 24. An inner step 66 around an upper part of the projection member 56 mounts the upper part of the flexible cover 36.

In use in a rest position as shown in Figs 1 & 2, the projection 50 locates fully in the recess in the projection member 56, and the projection member 56 locates in an upright orientation in the recess 26. The projection 50 and the projection member 56 are urged into these positions by the urging spring 44. If the bollard member 12 is hit directly from the front, rear or either side the protection member 56 will pivot against the urging force of the spring 44 with the groove 62 engaging against the edge of the recess 26 Fig 3 illustrates this condition with a side impact to the bollard member 12. When the bollard member 12 is no longer urged to this position, it will be returned to the position shown in Figs 1 & 2 by the force of the spring 44acting on the wire 38 pulling the projection member 56 back into the recess 26.

If the bollard member 12 is hit with a glancing blow as would often be the case, this will cause the projection 50 to rotate relative to the projection member 56 which causes the mounting member 48 and hence bollard member 12 to rise relative to the base member 14 by virtue of the cam surfaces 54, 58. Following the glancing impact, the urging downwardly of the spring 42 will cause the mounting member 48 to rotate back relative to the projection member 56 and hence move downwardly back to its lowest position, and hence required orientation.

There is thus described a bollard assembly which can receive impact from any direction with the bollard member rotating and/or pivoting relative to the base member to absorb the impact. The assembly is arranged that such that following any impact the bollard member will be urged back to a vertical position, and also a required alignment.

The construction of the assembly is such that it can be inexpensively and robustly manufactured for long term substantially maintenance free operation. The assembly is configured such that it shall substantially immediately move back to a required position and orientation, and not spring beyond the required position and back again.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance the bollard may take a different form. The respective engaging components could have different shapes.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims 1 A bollard assembly, the assembly including a bollard member, a

base member, resilient urging means for urging the bollard member towards the base member, and an engagement arrangement between the bollard member and the base member which permits rotational and pivotal movement of the bollard member relative to the base member against the urging means, and which in conjunction with the urging means urges the bollard member towards a correct alignment relative to the base member.
2 An assembly according to claim 1, in which the engagement arrangement includes a recess on either a one of the bollard member or base member, and a projection member on the other of the bollard member and base member, the projection member being locatable in the recess and urged thereinto by the resilient urging means, the recess and projection member being shaped such that an edge of the projection member is pivotally movable about an edge of the recess.
3 An assembly according to claim 2, in which the projection member is pivotal about a substantially straight edge of the recess.
4 An assembly according to claim 3, in which the projection member is selectively pivotal about one of a plurality of substantially straight edges of the recess.
An assembly according to claim 4, in which the projection member is selectively pivotal about one of four edges arranged perpendicularly to each other.
6 An assembly according to any of claims 2 to 5, in which the recess is provided in the base member.
7 An assembly according to claim 6, in which the projection member includes a groove around a proximal part of the projection member, which groove is pivotally movable over an edge of the recess.
8 An assembly according to claim 7, in which a flange is provided on the projection member proximal of the groove, which flange is larger than the recess and is around the outer edge thereof.
9 An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the engagement arrangement includes first and second engagable members configured such that relative rotation therebetween away from a rest position causes the bollard member to move away from the base member.
An assembly according to claim 9, in which the first and second engagable members each include a cam surface engagable with the corresponding cam surface on the other engagable member.
11 An assembly according to claim 10 when dependent on any of claims 2 to 8, in which the first engagable member is part of the projection member, and a cam surface is provided in a recess in the projection member.
12 An assembly according to any of claims 9 to 11, in which a mounting member is provided which connects to the bollard member and a projection on the mounting member with a cam surface thereon is the second engagable member.
13 An assembly according to claim 12 when dependent on any of claims 2 to 8, in which the projection on the mounting member locates the projection member recess.
14 An assembly according to claim 13, in which the projection on the mounting member is slidingly movable relative to the projection member recess.
15 An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a flexible cover is provided over the engagement arrangement.
16 An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the resilient urging means includes a spring.
17 An assembly according to claim 16, in which the resilient urgent means includes line means extendable between the base member and the bollard member and mounted to a one thereof by a spring.
18 An assembly according to claim 17, in which the line means is mounted within the bollard member of the spring.
19 A bollard assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.