GB2485194A - Releasably coupled post and socket assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

An upright post, eg a generally cylindrical self-righting traffic bollard 10, is received releasably in an aperture in a socket 12 for location in the ground. At least a lower end of the post 10 is flexible to allow it to flex relative to the socket 12. A relatively rotatable coupling arrangement releasably couples the foot of the post to the socket and comprises at least one rigid anchor member on one of the foot and the socket that projects into releasable engagement with at least one retention wall defined on the other of the foot and the socket. For example, the foot of the post may have diametrically-opposed lugs 18 and rigid crossbar 19 and the socket may have a bore 14 with corresponding diametrically-opposed channels 26 in the manner of a bayonet coupling. After insertion, the post 10 is rotated so that the ends of the crossbar 19 move across stepped ramped surfaces 30 in the socket. A locking member may be provided to prevent unauthorised relative rotation of the post and socket.

Description

A POST AND SOCKET ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a post and socket assembly and more particularly, but not exclusively, to such an assembly in which the post is in the form of a bollard used in traffic control.

Bollards are used to control or direct road traffic in many different circumstances. For example, they may be used to block or restrict access to a road, path or other area, to mark the edge of a road, a central reservation, or an island in the road, or to separate streams of traffic. Bollards of this kind can sustain significant damage as a result of impacts from vehicles and it is desirable that such damage is reduced so as to save the costs associated with replacement or repair.

It is known to provide a self-righting bollard which moves on impact with a vehicle relative to a base so that it does not present significant resistance to the movement of the vehicle. In some designs the bollard is designed to move to a degree that it can pass under the vehicle without damage occurring to either the bollard or the vehicle.

After the vehicle has moved over or past the bollard it is urged back into an upright position.

Existing self-righting bollards can still be prone to damage if they are subjected to repeated collisions. Moreover, there is a risk that a collision at high speed can cause the bollard to separate from its base. In some designs the base is in the form of a socket located below ground level and into which the bollard is releasably secured. In the event of a collision such bollards can distort sufficiently for them to be pulled out of their sockets. It is therefore desirable to improve the securement of the bollard and socket without impairing the ability of the bollard to self-right.

Bollards of the kind described above can be subject to vandalism including unauthorised removal from the socket and it is desirable to incorporate measures to prevent this.

It is one object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages. It is also an object of the present invention to provide for an improved or alternative post and socket assembly.

According to the present invention there is provided a post and socket assembly comprising a socket designed to locate in the ground and an upright post, the socket having an aperture for receipt of a lower end the post in releasable engagement, at least the lower end of the post being flexible to allow it to flex relative to the socket, a coupling arrangement for releasably coupling the lower end of the post to the socket and comprising at least one rigid anchor member that projects from one of the lower end and the socket into releasable engagement with at least one retention wall defined on the other of the lower end and the socket, wherein the post is rotatable relative to the socket between a first position in which the at least one rigid anchor member is aligned with at least one opening in the retention wall so as to permit release of the post from the socket and a second position where the at least one rigid anchor member engages with the at least one retention wall so as to prevent release.

The post and socket assembly may define a longitudinal axis which is upright in use.

The, or each, rigid anchor member may project in a direction that is transverse to the axis and preferably perpendicular thereto.

The, or each, rigid anchor member may be integrally formed with the post or socket or may be a separate element. In one embodiment the rigid anchor member is supported in or on the lower end of the post. It may be supported in an aperture in the post which may extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis.

The rigid anchor member may be an elongate member such as, for example, bar or rod that is received in the lower end of the post and one or both of its ends may project outwardly of the post for releasable engagement with the retention wall defined by the socket. The rigid anchor member may, for example, be a hollow bar of circular cross-section. The rigid anchor member may be supported on projections defined on the lower end of the post.

The retention wall may define an engagement surface for engagement with the at least one rigid anchor member. The engagement surface is preferably a ramped surface such that the frictional engagement between the at least one rigid anchor member and the wall increases during rotation of the post relative to the socket in one direction. The ramped surface may be defined by discrete steps or a smooth surface. The surface may be arcuate and may describe substantially part of a circle which is centred substantially on the longitudinal axis of the socket. The surface may be ramped downwardly in the direction from the upper end to the lower end of the socket.

The retention wall may be located between upper and lower ends of the socket, preferably between upper and lower openings. It may be located closer to the lower end that the upper end.

The retention wall preferably occupies a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the axis of the post and socket and it may be defined by an internal wall of the socket that defines the aperture. The wall may be defined at a transition between an upper and a base part of the socket. The engagement surface preferably faces in a direction away from an upper portion post.

The socket may have an external wall as well as the internal wall, the internal and external walls being in abutment with one another or joined to one another at the retention wall. There may be at least one recess in the external wall immediately above the retention wall, the at least one recess assisting anchoring of the socket in the ground.

There may be a locking member disposed between the post and the socket for selectively locking the post against rotation relative to the socket. The locking member may comprise a first portion for fixing to one of the socket or the post and a second portion for engaging against the other and a resilient hinge disposed between the first and second portions. The second portion may be movable about the hinge between a retracted position and an extended position in which it engages the other of the socket and the post. The hinge may bias the second portion towards the locking position For example, the first portion may be fixed to the post, perhaps in a recess in the post, and the second portion may be movable into the retracted position by virtue of engagement with the internal wall of the socket during insertion of the post into the socket and biased outwardly by the hinge when fully inserted into the socket. The locking member may occupy the at least one channel when in the locking position so as to prevent rotation of the post relative to the socket.

There may be at least one channel defined in the internal wall of the socket in which the locking member is received in a locked position. The at least one channel may be aligned with the at least one opening in the retention wall.

The post may be manufactured from an elastomeric material that allows it to move from the upright to a non-upright position and to return to the upright position.

The post may be hollow to reduce weight and to increase its flexibility, although it could be filled in some embodiments.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bollard and socket assembly in accordance with the present invention, the bollard being separated from the socket; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectioned view corresponding to that of figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bollard and socket assembly of figure 1 illustrating insertion of the bollard into the socket; Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectioned view corresponding to that of figure 3; Figure 5 is a sectioned view of the lower part of the bollard fully engaged in the socket, the section line being at a right angle to that of figures 2 and 4; Figures 6 to 8 are diagrammatic representations of a lower part of the bollard being rotated in the socket (which is shown in cross-section along a radial line that passes through the locking member) and illustrating the position of a locking member as the bollard is rotated relative to the socket; Figures 6a to Ba are diagrammatic representations of the socket in plan from above which correspond to figure 6 to 8 and illustrate the relative position of the locking member; Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectioned view of the socket, with part of the bollard shown, the plane of the section being offset from the central longitudinal axis; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the bollard and socket of preceding figures shown from underneath; Figure 11 is an underneath plan view of the bollard and socket of the preceding figures; Figures 12 and 12a are sectioned views of the socket and the lower part of the bollard, illustrating operation of the locking member; Figure 13 is a perspective view of the lower part of the bollard together with the locking member and lock actuator mechanism; Figure 14 is an exploded view of the lock actuator mechanism of figure 13; Figures 15 and 16 are perspective views of part of the lock actuator mechanism of figure 14 shown including a cable for release; Figures 17a, b and c are side views of the lock actuator mechanism, illustrating its assembly; Figure 18 is a perspective view showing insertion of the lock actuator mechanism of figures 13 to 17 into the bollard of figures 1 to 13; Figure 19 and 20 are side sectioned views along the length of the lock actuator mechanism illustrating the method of fixing it to the bollard; Figure 21 is a front view of the lock actuator mechanism of figures 19 and 20 fitted in the bollard; Figure 22 is a perspective view of the lock actuator mechanism together with a key actuator; and Figures 23a,b,c are sectioned side views illustrating actuation of the lock actuator mechanism by the key actuator.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a bollard 10 of generally cylindrical cross-section. The upper part may take any suitable form but in the embodiment depicted is a hollow post of decorative design. The lower part 11 of the bollard 10 is tapered inwardly for receipt in a socket 12 and terminates in a foot portion 13. The bollard and socket may be made by, for example, rotational moulding as described in our patent GB 2277292 and this provides a double-walled structure for the socket.

The socket 12 has an internal wall that defines a bore 14 which extends between upper and lower openings 15, 16, the upper opening 15 intended for receipt of the lower part 11 of the bollard 10. In use, the socket 12 is disposed in the ground (as illustrated in figure 6) such that the bollard 10 is supported in an upright position. In the embodiment shown the central longitudinal axes of the bollard and the socket are substantially coaxial and substantially vertical.

The bollard 10 is made of a suitable resilient material such as, for example, a thermoformed elastomeric polyethylene, which is designed to be capable of withstanding the impact of a vehicle colliding with and running over it at a speed of 100 km/h (62mph) in accordance with British Standard EN 12767:2007. The socket 12 is manufactured from a rigid thermoplastic such as a medium density polyethylene. The choice of materials allows the bollard 10 to deform elastically such that it flexes relative to the socket 12 when hit by a vehicle.

The foot portion 13 of the bollard 10 has a pair of outwardly extending lugs 18 which are diametrically opposed. Immediately above the lugs 18 a rigid, hollow cross-bar 19 passes through a small bore 20 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bollard 10, such that the ends of the cross-bar 19 are supported on the lugs 18. The cross-bar 19 provides a rigid anchor by which the bollard 10 is secured to the socket 12 whilst allowing the bollard to flex relative to the socket.

The socket 12 has a base portion 21 the outer wall of which has generally square profile in plan but with rounded corners, an upper portion 22 with a generally circular outer wall profile and a thin top panel 23 of square profile in plan defined around the upper opening 15. Both the base 21 and the upper portion 22 taper upwardly towards the bollard 10, the base 21 having a greater taper angle than that of the upper portion 22. As depicted in figure 6, the socket 12 is intended to be permanently set into the ground, with concrete C or the like, such that the upper surface of the top member 23, which is planar, is roughly flush with the ground surface. In order to ensure the socket 12 is located securely in the ground the external surfaces of the outer wall of the base and upper portions 21, 22 have a plurality of grooves 24. At the junction between the base and the upper member 21, 22 there is a pair of diametrically opposed corner indentations 25 into which concrete or other suitable material is poured during installation so as fix the socket 12 into the ground.

Inside the bore 14 of the socket 12 the interior wall is generally circular in cross-section in the region of the upper portion 22, except for a pair of diametrically opposed channels 26 (best viewed in figures 6a, 7a, 8 and 8a) that extend down the length of the upper portion 22 as can be seen in figures 6a, 7a and 8a. These are designed to receive the lugs 18 and cross-bar 19 when the bollard 10 is inserted into the socket bore 14. The interior wall is generally of constant diameter except for axially spaced upper and lower portions 27, 28 which are inwardly tapered and intended for frictional engagement with the outer surface of the lower portion 11 of the bollard 10. There is otherwise a radial clearance 29 between the exterior surface of the lower portion 11 of the bollard and the interior wall of the socket 12 thus reducing the amount of frictional engagement between the bollard and socket 10, 12. The indentations 25 on the outside wall of the socket 10 are generally aligned with the lower tapered inside wall 26 and indeed the gap between the interior and outer walls closes at that point. At the transition between the lower tapered wall 28 and the base 14 the interior wall defines a pair of engagement surfaces 30 which face towards the lower opening 16 of the socket 12 and extend around the socket 12 in an arcuate form describing a partial circle that is roughly centred on the longitudinal axis of the socket. The surfaces 30, which are defined at a location immediately under the indentations 25, are separated by the two channels 26 and serve to engage each end of the cross-bar 19 to assist in securing the bollard 10 to the socket 12. The surfaces 30 each define multiple shallow steps such that the surface is ramped downwardly as it extends around the socket 12 from the channel 26.

In order to secure the bollard 10 in the ground a hole is dug, the socket inserted and concrete C or other suitable material is poured into the hole around the socket in order to secure it fast in place as illustrated in figure 6. The concrete C fills the indentation 25 and grooves 24 to provide additional resistance to removal from the ground. The bollard 10 is presented to the socket 12 such that the lugs 18 and ends of the cross bar 19 are aligned with the channels 26 in the walls of the bore 14, as illustrated in figures 1 and 2. The bollard 10 drops vertically into the socket 12 as shown in figures 3 and 4 with the cross-bar 19 passing down the length of the channels 26 until it emerges out the other end immediately adjacent to the engagement surfaces 30. At this point the lower portion 11 of the bollard 10 is fully received in the socket 12 with the outer wall of the bollard 10 coming into friction engagement with the upper and lower tapered walls 27, 28. In order to complete the insertion process, the bollard 10 is then rotated in the socket 12 so that the ends of the cross-bar 19 move out of alignment with the channels 26 and travel along the respective engagement surfaces 30 in the direction of the arrows shown in figure 10. As described above the surfaces 30 are stepped downwardly as they progress around the socket and this provides some resistance to rotation. Applying sufficient rotational force to the bollard 10 ensures the ends of the cross-bar 19 pass over the steps on the surfaces 30 in the direction of arrows A in figure 9 such that the cross-bar 19 moves downwardly and the bollard 10 is pulled downwardly into firmer engagement with the socket 12. This fully engaged position is depicted in figures 5 and 9 to 11.

The bollard 10 is thus anchored to the socket 12 by virtue of the cross-bar 19 engagement with the surfaces 30 deep within the socket 12. The resilient material of the bollard 10 permits walls of the lower part of the bollard 10 to deflect elastically in the event that sufficient force is applied to the upper part and ensures that it returns to the upright position when the force is removed. At the same time, the rigid connection between the cross-bar 19 and the socket 12 ensures that the bollard 10 is not pulled out of the socket during this process. In particular, the meeting of the inner and outer walls of the socket at 31 and the concrete filled indentation 25 immediately above the engagement surfaces 30 provides additional rigidity that resists the forces imparted by the cross-bar 19 to the socket 12. Thus in the event of an impact with a road vehicle the bollard 10 is self-righting, even in the event that the bollard is driven over by a vehicle.

The bollard 10 is locked against unauthorised separation from the socket 12 by a locking assembly 35 which is illustrated in figures 6 to 8, 6a to Ba and 12 to 23d. The assembly comprises a locking tongue 36 disposed in a recess 41 in the lower part 11 of the bollard 10 for engagement with the inner wall of the socket 12 and a lock actuator mechanism 37 (figures 12 to 23d) that is actuated by a key 38 (figures 23a to 23d). The actuator mechanism 37 is mainly disposed above ground in the bollard 10 just above the lower part 11 but includes a cable 40 that extends inside the bollard and is connected to the locking tongue 36.

Referring to figures 6 to 8, 12, 12a and 13, the locking tongue 36 comprises an integrally moulded body of synthetic plastics material having a lower portion 36a fixedly secured to a wall of the recess 41 in the lower portion 11 of the bollard 10 by fasteners (not shown). The tongue 36 also has an upper portion 36b connected to the lower portion 36a by a thin, flexible web 36c providing a hinge enabling resilient retraction of the upper portion 36b in the anti-clockwise direction as seen in Figures 6 to 8. The upper portion 36b of the tongue 36 has an outwardly facing contact surface 36d for contact with the interior surface of the socket 12 and a tip 36e at its free end. Adjacent ends of the upper and lower portions 36b, 36a of the projection are configured as tapered jaws 36f which are engageable as shown in Fig 8 to prevent deflection of the upper 36b portion in the anticlockwise direction indicated by the arrow.

The locking action of the locking tongue 36 will now be described with reference to figures 6 to 8 and 6a to 8a. The tongue 36 is biased to an extended position in which the jaws 36f abut one another such the upper portion 3Gb is rotated in the anti-clockwise direction. Once the bollard 10 is inserted into the socket 12 but before it is rotated as described above, the contact surface 36d of the tongue 36 initially comes into engagement with lower tapered surface 28 of the socket 12 in the region between the two channels 26 and the upper portion 3Gb is deflected inwardly as illustrated in figures 6 and 6a where the inward deflection of the upper portion has just commenced.

When the bollard 10 is subsequently rotated relative to the socket 12 to bring the cross bar 19 into contact with the engagement surfaces 30, the bollard 10 is forced lower into socket as described above. Figures 7 and 7a show the position where the bollard 10 has been partially rotated and as can be seen the upper part 3Gb of the tongue 36 has moved has moved fully into the recess 41. Once the bollard 10 has been fully rotated the tongue 36 moves into alignment with one of the channels 26 and under the action of the hinge 36c the upper portion 36b springs outwardly into the channel 26 so as to prevent further rotation. The bollard 10 is thus locked to the socket 12 by virtue of the abutment of the cross-bar 19 and engagement surfaces 30 which prevent the bollard from being lifted out of the socket 12 and also by virtue of the engagement of the locking tongue 36 in the channel which prevents the bollard 10 being rotated to a position where the cross-bar 19 is clear of the engagement surfaces 30.

Referring now to figures 12 to 23d, the cable 40 is a Bowden type cable that is fixed at one end to an inwardly facing surface of the upper portion 3Gb of the locking tongue 36 and at the other end to the lock actuator mechanism 37 which is housed in a key hole 45 defined by a recess in the wall of the bollard 10 just above the lower part 11. The lock actuator mechanism 37, shown in figures 12 to 23d, comprises a barrel 46 for fixing to the wall of the key hole 45 and an actuating member 47 which is concentrically mounted in the barrel for sliding movement. The key-hole 45 and barrel 46 are not quite circular in cross-section but are rather oval so as to prevent the barrel 46 rotating relative to the key-hole 45. It will be appreciated that other non-circular shapes may be adopted to prevent rotation. The barrel 46 is an injection moulded component of a rigid plastics material and is inserted into the key hole 45 immediately after the bollard 10 is moulded and while it is still hot. This is shown in figure 19 with the actuating member 47 present in the barrel 46. The exterior surface of the barrel 45 has a plurality of barbs 48 and an elongate rib 49 designed to locate in a complementary channel 50 extending along the length of the key hole 45. When the bollard moulding shrinks during cooling the key hole 45 contracts over the barrel 46 such that the barbs 46 dig in to the surface of the wall that defines the key hole 45. The barbs 48 serve to fix the barrel 46, and therefore the lock actuation mechanism, in the key hole 45.

The cable 40 may be connected to the upper portion 36b of the locking tongue 36 by means of an arm that is connected to the tongue. The arm may project laterally of the tongue so as to abut a side wall of the channel 26. The arm serves to prevent the tongue 36 being forced to deflect inwards by rotating the bollard 10 repeatedly or forcefully such that the tongue rides over or "walks" along the walls of the channel.

The actuating member 47, shown in detail 14 to 16, is elongated with a front portion 51 that has an integrally moulded pair of locking arms 52, an intermediate body 53 that defines an annular spring seat 54 adjacent the front portion 51, and a rear portion 55 for connection to the cable 40. The locking arms 52 extend rearwards from the front end towards the spring seat 54 and taper outwardly in that direction where they terminate in outwardly directed tabs 56. When the actuating member 47 is received in the barrel 46 the front portion Slit is biased by a coil spring 57 such that it extends from the front edge of the barrel 46 and the rear extremity of the rear portion 55 just projects beyond the rear of the barrel 46. The coil spring 57 is disposed concentrically over the intermediate body and acts between the spring seat 54 on the actuating member and an annular shoulder 58 (shown only in figures 23a to 23d) defined inside the barrel 56. Retraction of the actuating member 47 into the barrel is resisted by the spring 57 and is initially prevented by the tabs 56 of the locking arms 52 which extend slightly beyond the outer periphery of the barrel.

Referring to figures 15 and 16, the cable 40 terminates at the locking mechanism end in a nipple 60 by which it is attached to the rear portion 55 of the actuating member 47.

Two apertures 61, 62 penetrate the rear portion 53, one, 61, being larger than the nipple 60 and the other, 62, being smaller, and are joined by a narrow passage 63 that is slightly wider than the thickness of the cable 40. Thus in order to connect the cable to the rest of the lock actuator mechanism 37 the nipple 60 is threaded through the larger aperture 61 (from below in the orientation shown in figure 15) and is then moved across to the other smaller aperture 62 such movement being permitted by the cable 40 passing along the passage 63 as indicated by the arrow in figure 16. The nipple 40 is pressed into the aperture 62 but is too large to pass through. ln order to prevent the nipple 60 from lifting and passing back into the larger aperture a retention clip 64 is secured over the nipple 60, as illustrated in figures 17a, b and c. The clip 64 comprises a pair of legs integrally connected to the rear portion by a flexible web of material that forms a hinge 65 that is folded inwardly over the apertures 61, 62 (figure 17b) and clipped into holes 66 in the rear portion 53 (figure 17c). This serves to secure the nipple in place and to prevent it from being disconnected from the actuating member 47.

The clip 64 also prevents the actuating member 47 from passing out of the barrel 46 under the influence of the spring 57.

The lock actuator mechanism 37 is operated by a key 38, as illustrated in figures 22 and 23a-d, so as to release the locking arms 52 such that the actuating member 47 can be retracted into the barrel 46. The movement of the actuating member 47 in this manner and the effect it has on the locking tongue 36 is illustrated in figure 12 and 12a.

In figure 12 the locking tongue 36 is shown in the extended locking position and the actuating member 47 in its rest position where the front portion 51 extends out of the barrel 46 and the rear portion 55 just protrudes from the rear of the barrel 46. The cable is under tension in this position such that it has no significant slack. When the key 38 is used to release the locking arms 52 of the actuating member 47 it is then pushed further into the key hole 45, against the action of the spring 57, such that it slides in the barrel 46 to the retracted position shown in figure 12a in which the rear portion 55 extends further from the rear of the barrel 46, carrying with it the cable 40. The movement of the cable 40 in this manner serves to pull on the upper portion 36b of the locking tongue 36 such that is deflected inwardly into the recess 41 and out of locking engagement with the socket 12, In this position the locking tongue 36 moves out of engagement with the channel 26 and permits release of the bollard 10 from the socket 12 first by rotation to move the cross-bar 19 into alignment with the channels 26 and then by lifting.

The key 38 is in the form of an elongate rod comprising a first portion which forms a handle or grip 71 for the user and a second portion for operation of the actuating member. The two portions are separated by a radially outward extending flange 72.

The end of the second portion is hollow and defines a socket 73 for receipt of the front portion 51 of the actuating member 47. The key 38 is held by the handle 71 and inserted into the key hole 45 with the socket 72 leading as shown in figure 23a. After the key 38 has travelled a short distance the front portion 51 is received in the socket 72 and further movement is initially resisted by virtue of the of the tabs 56 of the locking arms 52 bearing against the front edge of the barrel 46, as shown in figure 23b. The application of an increased insertion force serves to deflect the locking arms 52 inwardly as shown by figure 23c such that the tabs 56 move clear of the front edge of the barrel 46 thereby allowing the actuating member 47 to slide axially within the barrel 46 against the force applied by the spring which is compressed between the spring seat 54 on the actuating member 47 and the annular shoulder 50 inside the barrel 46.

This is the position that corresponds to that of figure 1 2a.

The elongate and rigid nature of the key 38 means that it may be used to assist in rotating the bollard 10 relative to the socket 12 to achieve release. The key 38 effectively increases the length of the lever arm and thus the magnitude of the torque for a given applied force.

The cable 40 provides a flexible interconnection between the actuating member 49 and the locking tongue 36 so as to accommodate elastic deformation of the bollard 10 in the event of a collision and then return to its upright position without impairing the function of the locking tongue 36. The flexibility is sufficient for the bollard to move through approximately 90° from the vertical to a position where its longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the ground such as when a vehicle to drives over the bollard. In a modified embodiment a coil spring may be inserted between two parts of the cable in order to provide resilience. The spring force is relatively high such that the spring is not extended during actuation of the lock mechanism despite tension being applied to the cable. In the event of a collision between a vehicle and the bollard which serves to deflect the bollard to such an extent that the cable is put under significant tension the spring extends to absorb the force.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications to the above described design may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the upper part of the bollard 10 may be constructed of any suitable material or combination of materials provided it is capable of self-righting.

Moreover the precise form of the locking member may vary as long as it is used to achieve the same effect and may be released by the lock actuator mechanism.

Furthermore the ramped engagement surfaces may be substantially smooth instead of stepped.

Although the embodiments above describe a bollard it will be appreciated that the invention has application any post-like structures used in street furniture such as support posts for barriers, road signs, lampposts, litter bins etc. The described and illustrated embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the inventions as defined in the claims are desired to be protected. It should be understood that while the use of words such as "preferable", "preferably", "preferred" or "more preferred" in the description suggest that a feature so described may be desirable, it may nevertheless not be necessary and embodiments lacking such a feature may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. In relation to the claims, it is intended that when words such as "a," "an," "at least one," or "at least one portion" are used to preface a feature there is no intention to limit the claim to only one such feature unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language "at least a portion" and/or "a portion" is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.

Claims (2)

1. CLAIMS1 A post and socket assembly comprising a socket for location in the ground and an upright post, the socket having an aperture for receipt of a lower end the post in releasable engagement, at least the lower end of the post being flexible to allow it to flex relative to the socket, a coupling arrangement for releasably coupling the lower end of the post to the socket and comprising at least one rigid anchor member that projects from one of the lower end and the socket into releasable engagement with the at least one retention wall defined on the other of the lower end and the socket, wherein the post is rotatable relative to the socket between a first position in which the at least one rigid anchor member is aligned with at least one opening in the retention wall so as to permit release of the post from the socket and a second position where the at least one rigid anchor member engages with the at least one retention wall so as to prevent release.
2. 2 A post and socket assembly wherein the socket has an internal wall that defines the aperture and the internal wall defines at least one channel extending along the socket and for communication with the at least one opening, the at least one rigid anchor member being configured to be received in the at least one channel during insertion of the post into the socket 3 A post and socket assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one rigid anchor member is at the lower end of the post.4 A post and socket assembly according to claim 3, wherein the at least one rigid anchor member is supported in an aperture in the post.A post and socket assembly according any preceding claim, wherein the rigid anchor member is elongate and is received in the lower end of the post with one or both of ends of the rigid anchor member projecting outwardly of the post for releasable engagement with the socket.6 A post and socket assembly according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the rigid anchor member is supported on projections defined on the lower end of the post.7 A post and socket assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one retention wall defines at least one engagement surface for engagement with the at least one rigid anchor member.8 A post and socket assembly according to claim 7, wherein the at least one engagement surface is ramped such that frictional engagement between the at least one rigid anchor member and the wall increases during rotation of the post relative to the socket in one direction.9 A post and socket assembly according to claim 8, wherein the ramped surface is defined by a plurality of discrete steps or a smooth surface.A post and socket assembly according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the at least one engagement surface faces in a direction away from an upper portion post.11 A post and socket assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the at least one engagement surface has an arcuate form extending around at least part of the socket.12 A post and socket assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one retention wall is defined by an internal wall of the socket that defines the aperture.13 A post and socket assembly according to claim 12, wherein the retention wall is defined at a transition between an upper and a base part of the socket.14 A post and socket assembly according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the socket further comprises an external wall, the internal and external walls being in abutment with one another or joined to one another at the retention wall.A post and socket assembly according to claim 14, wherein there is provided at least one recess in the external wall immediately above the retention wall.16 A post and socket assembly according to any preceding claim when dependent from claim 2, further comprising a locking member disposed between the post and the socket for selectively locking the post against rotation relative to the socket.17 A post and socket assembly according to claim 16, wherein in the second position the locking member is received in the at least one channel so as to prevent relative rotation of the post and socket.18 A post and socket assembly according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the locking member comprises a first portion for fixing to one of the socket and the post and a second portion for engaging against the other of the socket and the post and a resilient hinge disposed between the first and second portions, the second portion being movable about the hinge between a retracted position and an extended position in which it engages the other of the socket and the post.