GB2133442A

GB2133442A - Securing traffic signs to bases

Info

Publication number: GB2133442A
Application number: GB08325266A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Poyser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-01-07
Filing date: 1983-09-21
Publication date: 1984-07-25
Also published as: GB8325266D0

Abstract

For mounting street furniture such as a traffic bollard, a concrete or other base part (10), shown tapered to key into the ground, has a GRP cover (12) bolted at (14) thereto, which cover (12) can mount selected ones of a plurality of different designs of brackets (20) which accommodate different configurations of traffic signs. In any accident, the sign can break away from the cover (12), with or without the brackets (20), leaving the cover (12) attached to the base part (10). The brackets (20) can be easily replaced with a new sign. An electrical supply socket (24) has a cover (26) biassed into a closed position so as to isolate wiring in the event of an accident. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Street furniture mounting assemblies This invention relates to a mounting assembly for street furniture, especially but not exclusively, traffic signs which are positioned at locations where there is a danger of collision by traffic.

It is known to mount a traffic sign such as a bollard to the ground by bolting or otherwise fixing a pair of metal angle section plates at the location of the sign and bolting the traffic sign to the plates. It is a considerable advantage if damage to the mounting and therefore to any electrical supply for the traffic sign can be minimised so that mere replacement of the sign itself is sufficient.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for supporting street furniture of the type having a base part adapted to be secured in the ground and a mounting arrangement on the base part, the apparatus comprising a cover, means for mounting the cover on the base part mounting arrangement, and means for releasably mounting selected connecting means on the cover for attachment of the furniture thereto.

Preferably the cover is formed of a glass reinforced plastics material and the selected connecting means may comprise brackets which are secured to the cover by fixings.

The present invention also provides an assembly for supporting street furniture comprising apparatus as described in either of the two preceding paragraphs, and a base part with increased weight and strength relative to the furniture.

Preferably the base part is formed of concrete and the base part may be tapered towards one surface to provide a keying effect when the base part is buried wholly or partly in the ground with said one surface uppermost.

The invention further provides an assembly for supporting street furniture, the assembly comprising a base part and a cover each formed of a non-metallic material, the cover having means for releasably mounting selected connecting means for attachment of the furniture thereto, and the base part being of increased weight and strength relative to the furniture.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic isometric view of a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, of the base part of the embodiment shown in Fig.

1;and Fig. 3 is a schematic isometric view of a second embodiment.

The mounting assembly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings comprises a concrete base part 10 upon which is secured a GRP cover 1 2 by means of bolts 14. The base part 10 is tapered towards the cover 1 2 so that, if the base part is wholly or partly buried in the ground in concrete or the like, the base part will key into the ground. The bolts 14 for securing the cover 1 2 are located at corners of the latter where cutaway areas 1 6 are provided so that the bolt heads are below an upper surface 1 8 of the cover 1 2. The latter is provided with a peripheral lip which locates on a peripheral seat 1 Oa formed on the upper surface of the base part 10.

A pair of brackets 20, preferably of metal, and of inverted T-section are bolted to the cover 1 2 by bolts 21 and are provided with apertures 22 by means of which complementary brackets on a traffic sign (not shown) may be secured. A plurality of different designs of brackets may be selectively fitted to the cover 1 2 to accommodate different configurations of traffic signs.

The cover 12 also mounts an electrical supply socket 24 bolted thereto which has a cover 25 biassed into a closed position (as shown in Fig. 1).

An electrical supply cable (not shown) feeds to this socket through an aperture 28 in the base part 10. The socket 24 may be mounted at any convenient poisition on the cover 1 2 and not merely in the position shown.

There is therefore provided a mounting assembly for a traffic sign which, when the sign is struck, will enable the sign to break away from the cover 1 2 with or without the metal brackets, leaving the cover 1 2 attached to the concrete base part 10. The latter is considerably heavier and stronger than the sign itseif and than prior types of mountings, and therefore is much less susceptible to damage. It is unlikely that the concrete base part 10 will be affected, especially if all or a large proportion thereof is buried in the ground. The base part 10 is also formed, as shown, with rounded edges to obviate or mitigate damage to a vehicle or person, and the appearance of the sign is enhanced by the contoured base part matching the material of the roadway or traffic island on which it is mounted.

Also the use of concrete and GRP creates a substantially weatherproof structure.

In a second embodiment (Fig. 3), a conventional base 30 of substantially rectangular configuration is secured in the ground by any suitable means using lowermost flanges 32 projecting outwardly from opposed sides of a main box section 34. Towards the upper end of the box section 34, an angle section plate 36 is mounted on each of the other pair of opposed sides to define a horizontal extending seat. Above the seat of each of the plates 36 a pair of fixing holes 38 are formed in the box section 34.

Normally a traffic sign (not shown) is fitted to the box section 34 by engaging the lower edge on the seats defined by the plates 36, and bolting through the apertures 38. In the event of any damage which necessitates replacement of the traffic sign, it therefore becomes necessary to provide a replacement sign which will properly fit the box section 34 and this is not always convenient or indeed possible.

There is therefore provided a GRP cover 40 dimensioned to locate on the box section 34 so as to engage the seats defined by the plates 36 and receive bolts 42 through apertures 44 aligned with the apertures 38 of the box section 34.

A pair of brackets 46, preferably of metal, and of inverted T-section, are bolted to the cover 40 by bolts 48 and are provided with apertures 50 by means of which complementary brackets on a traffic sign (not shown) may be secured. A plurality of different designs of brackets 46 may be selectively fitted to the cover 40 to accommodate different configurations of traffic signs. Although not shown in Fig. 3, the cover 40 also mounts an electrical supply socket having a cover biassed into a closed position as in the first embodiment.

If the cover of either embodiment is damaged, for example by metal brackets having been ripped therefrom, it can be easily replaced before fitting a new sign. If the cover is undamaged, a new sign can be fitted quickly and easily, if necessary replacing the metal brackets to suit any new configuration. After the sign has been displaced, the electric plug will have been wrenched from the socket and the socket cover will snap into place to keep out rain and prevent lethal tampering.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the shape of the base part 10 and the cover 12 may vary from that described and shown, and connection to the traffic sign in either embodiment may be made by other than the bracket configuration described and shown. The type of socket and socket cover may vary.

Claims

1. Apparatus for supporting street furniture of the type having a base part adapted to be secured in the ground and a mounting arrangement on the base part, the apparatus comprising a cover, means for mounting the cover on the base part mounting arrangement, and means for releasably mounting selected connecting means on the cover for attachment of the furniture thereto.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cover is formed of a glass reinforced plastics material.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the selected connecting means comprises brackets which are secured to the cover by fixings.

4. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means for mounting the cover on the base part mounting arrangement comprises fixings engageable through apertures in the cover.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover has a peripheral lip adapted to locate on a seat provided on the base part.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an electrical supply socket is mounted on the cover and has a socket cover movable between an open and a closed position, the socket cover being biassed to the closed position.

7. An assembly for supporting street furniture, the assembly comprising apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, and a base part with increased weight and strength relative to the furniture.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, wherein the base part is formed of concrete.

9. An assembly according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the base part is tapered towards one surface to provide a keying effect when the base part is buried wholly or partly in the ground with said one surface uppermost.

10. An assembly for supporting street furniture, the assembly comprising a base part and a cover each formed of a non-metallic material, the cover having means for releasably mounting selected connecting means for attachment of the furniture thereto, and the base part being of increased weight and strength relative to the furniture.

11. Apparatus for supporting street furniture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. An assembly for supporting street furniture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

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