NZ201689A

NZ201689A - Resilient post mount : rotation between base and post prevented one way

Info

Publication number: NZ201689A
Application number: NZ201689A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: M J Davidson; J E Chetland
Original assignee: Repco Eng Nz
Priority date: 1982-08-24
Filing date: 1982-08-24
Publication date: 1987-04-30
Also published as: AU1804583A; ZA836110B; EP0102803A3; AU560461B2; EP0102803A2

Description

201689 "1 \\ JAN 1987 m}f ' \sy NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 No.: 201689 Date: 24 August 1982 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "Improvements in or relating to post mounts and/or methods of mounting posts" We, REPCO ENGINEERING (NZ^ LIMITED, a company incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of Jellicoe Road, Panmure, Auckland, New Zealand, hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 201689 This invention relates to post mounts and/or methods of mounting posts.

It is an object of the present invention to proivde a connecting member for a post mount, a post mount assembly and/or a method of mounting a post which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly the invention consists in a post mounting assembly comprising a post mounting base; a post end fitting; and unitary connecting means formed from an elastically deformable, resilient material, said connecting means being mounted between said base and said post end fitting and being operable to hold a post extending from said post end fitting in substantially fixed association with said base, said connecting means having first engagement means extending substantially perpendicular to the post axis, said first engagement means being engageable with second engagement means provided on said post end fitting or on said base, said connecting means being elastically deformable to cause disengagement of said first and second engagement means and allow the release of said post end fitting from said base, said connecting means thereafter recovering to allow re-as3oci ati on of said post end fitting with said base, said assembly further including rotation prevention means to prevent relative rotation in one direction between said post end fitting and said base when said post end fitting is engaged with said base.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments ... ^ and applications of the invention will suggest themselves ^thout departing from the scope of the invention as defined in 19 MAR 1987 J ' ,iENr 201689 the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross sectional elevational view of one embodiment of post mounting assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a view along the line II-II in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the base included in the assembly shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows a section along line IV-IV in Figure 3; Referring to the drawings, a post mount assembly 5 is depicted conmprising a post mount base 6, and post mount connecting means 7 for maintaining a post 8 in fixed association with the base 6. In the embodiment depicted the 201689 post 8 is provided with end fitting 9 to receive connecting means 7.

According to the invention the post mount connecting means 7 is elastically deformable so that when so deformed the association between the post end fitting 9 and the base 6 is released but after recovery of the connecting means 7 the post end fitting 9 may be re-associated with the base 6.

As can be seen the post mount connecting means 7 is preferably in the form of a spigot having a base section 10 and an annular engagement section 11, The base section 10 is received in an annular socket 12 formed in the base 6 and, in the embodiment depicted, is affixed thereto by means of a bolt or like fastener 13.

The outer periphery of the annular engagement section 11 is preferably provided with radially outwardly extending projections 14 which engage in corresponding recesses 15 provided on the inner surface of a further socket 16 formed in the post end fitting 9. In the embodiment depicted in figure 1 the radial projections 14 are provided as the male part of a screw thread extending about the periphery of the section 11 of the connecting means 7 and the recesses 15 provided in the post end fitting are provided as the corresponding female section of the thread. Thus post 8 with attached end fitting 9 is simply screwed onto the connecting means 7.

The post mount connecting means 7 is preferably formed from a resilient plastics, rubber or composite plastic/rubber material and the profile of the thread forming the screw fitting 201689 between the connecting means 7 and the post end fitting 9 is so configured as to avoid tearing or other fracture of the connecting means 7 when the same is elastically deformed to allow disassociation of the post 8 from the base 6. We have found that a plastics material sold under the trade mark LURETHANE is a particularly suitable material for the post mount connecting means 7.

The base member 6 is provided with an annular flange 20 which defines the upper surface thereof and surrounds socket section 12. The upper face of flange 20 is provided with a ramped teeth 21 (figures 3 and 4).

A flange 22 of similar dimensions defines the lower edge of post end member 9, flange 22 being provided with downward projection 23.

Thus when post 8 is engaged with connecting means 9, the downward projection 23 engages with teeth 21 to prevent reverse rotation between post end member 9 and base 6.

It will also be noted from figures 1 and 2 that base 6 has a substantially hollow lower section 25 which assists effective embedding of the base 6 in the ground. The lower section 25 is defined by a circular plate 26 formed integrally with or fixed to the lower end of spaced side plates 27. Flange 28 having a central aperture 29 therein links the plates 26, 27 and the lower end surface of that part of base 6 defining the socket 12 to strengthen the structure.

The post end fitting 9 is as shown preferably press fitted to post 8 but may be fitted in any suitable manner. 201689 In use, the base 6 is permanently fixed in the desired location of the post, for example by embedding the base 6 in concrete. The base is preferably fixed in position so that the upper surface of flange 20 lies at or adjacent ground surface.

With the post mount connecting means 7 fixed to the base 6 by means of fastener 13, the post 8 with attached end fitting 9 is associated with the base 6 by screwing the fitting 9 to the engagement section 11 of the post mount connecting means 8.

Once in position screw disengagement is prevented by downward projection 23 interlocking with teeth 21.

When a displacing force is applied to the post 8 which would, in normal circumstances, bend or otherwise damage the post, the post mount connecting means 7 is constrained to elastically deform and thereby allow the fitting 9 to fall clear of the base 6. Thereafter the connecting means 7 elastically recovers to its original configuration allowing the post with attached end fitting 9 to be reconnected thereto.

It will thus be appreciated that the present invention provides a simple yet effective means of mounting a post which, at least in the preferred embodiment described, has the following advantages. 1. When the posts are subjected to a displacing force which, under normal circumstances would damage the post, the post merely disassociates itself from its base and can thereafter be simply fixed back into position. 2. The act of displacing the post from its mount does not damage any of the mounting components. 3. Because the linking member is resilient some minor displacement of the post can occur without damage or disassociation occuring. $01689

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A post mounting assembly comprising a post mounting base; a post end fitting; and unitary connecting means formed from an elastically deformable, resilient material, said connecting means being mounted between said base and said post end fitting and being operable to hold a post extending from said post end fitting in substantially fixed association with said base, said connecting means having first engagement means extending substantially perpendicular to the post axis, said first engagement means being engageable with second engagement means provided on said post end fitting or on said base, said connecting means being elastically deformable to cause disengagement of said first and second engagement means and allow the release of said post end fitting from said base, said connecting means thereafter recovering to allow re-association of said post end fitting with said base, said assembly further including rotation prevention means to prevent relative rotation in one direction between said post end fitting and said base when said post end fitting is engaged with said base.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said post end fitting includes a socket to receive part of said connecting means.

3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said connecting means includes a base section fixed to said base and first engagement means porojecting from said base section and being receivable within said socket.

4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein said jfirst and second engagement means comprise complementary male female section respectively of a screw thread. 1 9 MAR 1987 201689

5. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said post end fitting and said base include surfaces which mate when said post end fitting is fully engaged with said connecting means, the mating surfaces including said reverse rotation prevention means.

6. A post mounting assembly when constructed arranged and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. -8-