GB2210091A

GB2210091A - Traffic bollard

Info

Publication number: GB2210091A
Application number: GB8821978A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Claud Bailey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-09-21
Filing date: 1988-09-19
Publication date: 1989-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2008-09-19
Also published as: GB2210091B; GB8722132D0; GB8821978D0

Abstract

A traffic bollard consists of a base (4, 5), which is mounted in a hole in the ground and supports telescopically a retractable and extendable body member 6. The body member can be retracted wholly in the ground or raised and located in a raised position relatively to the base by a pin (15) and at least one cooperating bayonet slot (17) in the base. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION BOLLARD In many places, such as stadia, market places, and race courses, it is frequently necessary to erect temporary bollards to control the movement or parking of vehicles. Typically, such temporary bollards are free standing, such as plastics cones. This is inconvenient as, each time they are required, they have to be taken out of store, carted to the site, and then laid in position by hand. After the event, the temporary bollards have to be recollected and carted away to store again. This all involves an appreciable time and cost for the authorities concerned. It is also unsatisfactory as the temporary bollards are usually fairly light and are susceptable to being knocked over, moved, or even stolen.

More permanent bollards, which are hinged to a base at ground level, and may be raised and padlocked in an upright position, are known. However, these are clumsy, and involve an obstruction when, for the majority of the time, they are not in their raised positions.

In accordance with the present invention, a bollard comprises a base, which is arranged to be fixed wholly in the ground, and a vertically elongate body which is arranged to be movable relatively to the base between a retracted position in which it is accommodated wholly within a hole in the ground, and a raised position in which it extends above the ground; and means for securing the body in its raised position relatively to the base.

With this arrangement, the whole of the bollard may be accommodated beneath ground level when the bollard is not required, but the body of the bollard can be lifted and secured in its raised position when required. Similarly, the bollard body may be released and lowered to its retracted position just as easily.

The base may comprise a vertically elongate member which has a telescopic relationship with the body. It is unimportant whether the body is slidable around, or inside, the elongate base member.

However, it is convenient if the base comprises an inner elongate member around which the body is telescopically slidable An outer sleeve may then surround the body and elongate member, to protect the body from collapse of the surrounding soil. The elongate member, and possibly the sleeve as well, may be fixed to a concrete foot which is cast into the ground. The whole bollard can then easily be fitted into a hole bored into the ground.

The body may be secured in its raised position by means of a diametrical pin, or of pins, fixed to the body or elongate base member and a cooperating bayonet slot or slots in the elongate base member or body, respectively. The body can then be raised and located in its erect position merely by pulling it upwardly out of the ground and rotating it so that the pin(s) rides into the transverse parts of the bayonet slot(s). Means, such as a bracket or opening, at the top of the body may be required to receive at the end of a tool to assist in pulling the body upwards out of the ground.

In order to avoid unauthorised erection of the bollard, a cover may be provided at ground level, such as a hinged cover like those conventionally used to conceal gas and water cocks in the street. A special tool, which may be the same tool as that required for lifting the body, may then be required to raise the cover to expose the concealed body of the bollard.

The part of the bollard body which is exposed above ground level when it is secured in its raised position may be bright, for example fluorescent, as with conventional bollards, and conventional reflectors may be incorporated.

An example of a bollard constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view showing the bollard in central vertical section with its body retracted and, in elevation, raised, together with an associated tool; and, Figure 2 is a section taken on the line II-II in Figure 1.

The bollard is mounted in a cylindrical hole 3, which is cut downwards into the ground, by means, for example, of an auger. The ' bottom of the hole is undercut and wet concrete, which will set to form a foot 4, is placed at the bottom of the hole. While the concrete is still wet, a tubular base member 5, closely telescopically surrounded by a cylindrical tubular body member 6, is inserted into the hole and the bottom of the base member is inserted into the concrete so that, after setting of the concrete, it is rigidly fixed to the foot by diametrical rods 23 extending through the base member and embedded in the concrete. Before or after insertion of the base and body members 5 and 6, the hole 3 may be lined with a cylindrical tubular sleeve 7, the bottom end of which may also be set in the concrete foot.At ground level a cover 8 pivoted to a frame 9, which is set in concrete or other roadway materal 10 at ground level 11.

When the bollard is to be used, the tip 12 of a hand tool 13 is used to lever up the cover 8 to the position shown in Figure 1, and subsequently inserted in a notch 14 in the top of the retracted body member 6 to assist initially in raising the body member upwardly out of the hole. After sufficient length of the body member has been raised above ground level, it can be manipulated thereafter by hand. The body member 6 is captive on the base member 5 by means of a radial pin 15, which is fixed to the body member and works in a vertical slot 16 in the base member, the upper end of the slot 16 branching into two 90 bayonet slots 17.The body member of the bollard can therefore be raised up to the extended position shown in Figure 1 in elevation, and then rotated through 900 and released so that it becomes locked in either one of two positions in which, say, red and white reflectors 18 and 19 are selectively positioned facing in opposite directions. In each of these positions the pin 15 comes to rest in the notch at the end of one of the bayonet slots 17. The body member 6 is retracted by lifting it slightly to bring the pin 15 out of the notch of the respective bayonet slot 17, rotating it through 90 so that the pin 15 is in alignment with the vertical slot 16, and then releasing the body so that it drops back down the hole. The cover is then closed.

As illustrated the body member 6 may be divided into three sections 20, 21 and 22 of different colours, such as blue, red and white respectively.

Claims

1. A bollard comprising a base, which is arranged to be fixed wholly in the ground, and a vertically elongate body which is arranged to be movable relatively to the base between a retracted position in which it is accommodated wholly within a hole in the ground, and a raised position in which it extends above the ground; and means for securing the body in its raised position relatively to the base.

2. A bollard according to claim 1, in which the base comprises a vertically elongate member which has a telescopic relationship with the body.

3. A bollard according to claim 2, in which the base comprises an inner elongate member around which the body is telescopically slidable, and an outer sleeve surrounds the body and elongate member, to protect the body from collapse of the surrounding soil.

4. A bollard according to any one of the preceding claims, in which one or each of the elongate member and the sleeve is fixed to a concrete foot which is cast into the ground.

5. A bollard according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the body is secured in its raised position by means of a diametrical pin, or of pins, fixed to the body or elongate base member and a cooperating bayonet slot or slots in the elongate base member or body, respectively.

6. A bollard according to any one of the preceding claims, in which means are provided at the top of the body to receive the end of a tool to assist in pulling the body upwards out of the ground.

7. A bollard according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a hinged cover is provided above the body at ground level.

8. A bollard, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.