US20110170949A1

US20110170949A1 - Removable pneumatic marker with underground anchoring

Info

Publication number: US20110170949A1
Application number: US11/997,511
Authority: US
Inventors: María José Sanchez Gallardo
Original assignee: HINOTEC TECHNOLOGIA ESPAA A OLA S L
Current assignee: HINOTEC TECHNOLOGIA ESPAA A OLA S L
Priority date: 2005-07-20
Filing date: 2006-05-26
Publication date: 2011-07-14
Also published as: BRPI0614671A2; WO2007010059A3; EP1932970A2; CA2647618A1; MA29743B1; WO2007010059A2; ES2265290B1; ES2265290A1; CN101248236A

Abstract

A description is given of a bollard designed specifically for signalling in places through which, road traffic passes, both in cities, towns and villages and on roads and motorways. The bollard comprises two separate elements, of which one provides lower anchorage to the ground, and is stiff, and the other is the section of the bollard itself, and is elastic, flexible and capable of being fitted to the lower element by means of a bayonet configuration. In the rapid recovery version, the upper flexible element incorporates an inflatable pneumatic ball inside. The whole bollard has a lid that can be fitted to the lower anchoring element when the upper one has been removed, this lid being shaped to remain flush, coupled, to the surface of the ground.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to a removable pneumatic bollard for signalling with hidden, anchorage, which offers new essential characteristics and notable advantages over known and used methods with the same aims in the current state of the art.
Specifically, the invention proposes the development of a dual section bollard for signalling, composed of a lower anchoring section on the ground and an upper section for the signalling itself, the former being stiff and the latter elastic, flexible, capable of recovering due to the action of a pneumatic ball enclosed in its interior, a liberal union existing between both sections, assured by way of a secure closure, with the lower or anchorage section having external elements or fixing claws in the place of installation.
The field of application of the invention includes the industrial sector dedicated to the production and/or installation of elements and mechanisms for warning and/or signalling in public waterways or similar places.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The existence and wide use of signalling mechanisms, both in public thoroughfares and other places in which it is necessary to signal or limit access, is well-known. These mechanisms, used for many years, are generally known as bollards.
In practice, the most usual use has always been related to the control of traffic, in cities, towns and villages and on roads, whether to stop people entering prohibited areas or to mark lanes reserved for certain specific uses, or for other signalling functions. Evidently, these mechanisms have always been methods with great practical usefulness for the desired aims. However, they have been associated with certain disadvantages that have reduced their performance and versatility. Thus, from the first bollards which consisted of stiff bodies, anchored firmly in the ground, which on more than one occasion, were even involved in accidents, they have developed, where circumstances permit, into plastic bollards supported simply on the ground or anchored in another way in the places chosen, which has resolved some of the problems associated with the previous stiff bollards, but it is also true that the scrapes and knocks that they sometimes receive from passing vehicles push them or displace them, leaving them in positions that can constitute a real risk for road traffic, especially for the users of two-wheel vehicles.
There exists, then, a need for a signalling bollard that by remaining in the chosen place does not constitute any risk for vehicles of any type that pass it.
Taking into account the needs of the current state of the art, this invention proposes as a principal objective the development of a bollard that offers effective solutions to the aforementioned problems. Therefore, the invention proposes the construction of a signalling bollard that allows for anchoring in the chosen place, but in such a way that the bollard section that projects from ground level has a natural elasticity, is flexible, in such a way that in the event of being hit by a vehicle, it does not present any risk to the vehicle, especially when the vehicle is a two-wheel vehicle, with the special characteristic that the bollard can recover itself after being pushed or crushed due to being hit.
Another special characteristic of the bollard proposed by the invention is the fact that the body that forms the flexible section of the bollard can be removed from the anchoring section.
In order to provide a bollard with the desired characteristics and effects that have been mentioned, this invention proposes the construction of a bollard composed of two independent and separate elements, which can be fitted together, of which one element is the element that is anchored to the ground, and the other element is that which constitutes the body of the bollard itself.
The first element, or anchorage, consists of a tubular, cylindrical body, made from metal, fitted with external fixing supports in diametrically opposed positions, opened at the upper base to receive and house the upper section of the bollard, and both provided with slots, in diametrically opposed positions, which run from the upper edge of the tubular element, to provide a slot with a predetermined path, forming a bayonet type harnessing system. This harnessing system, although preferred, is used for purposes of illustration only, and can be replaced in time by any other system that gives a holding effect similar to that described.
The second element, which is, as has been mentioned, the upper section of the bollard itself, is generally also cylindrical, and is made from flexible, elastic material. It is hallow, and has a diameter that allows it to be introduced, by its lower end, into the anchorage section, as this body of the bollard, contains, in its lower part, a tubular and cylindrical bayonet fitting, made from metal, which stiffens a lower segment of the body of the bollard as an extension of the anchoring element close to the segment that has to be introduced into the anchoring element, and from which both nubs project radially in diametrically opposed positions, shaped and adapted to be housed and moved inside the slots of the anchoring element, and thus complete the bayonet type harnessing system. The body of the bollard contains an inflatable ball which, together with the elastic nature of the material, allows the body of the bollard to recover rapidly in order to remain upright at all times, after having been hit by any vehicle. The piece can include, furthermore, a secure closure system that firmly links both elements together.
As will be shown, with a pneumatic bollard system such as that proposed by the invention, the disadvantages associated with current bollards are rectified, risks derived from the fact that bollard can be hit by a vehicle, above all the risk of fall associated with two-wheel vehicles, are eliminated, and furthermore an additional characteristic is offered in that the body of the bollard can easily be removed where necessary, and even replaced in time with another of similar characteristics, all easily, simply and within a short period of time.
A general description has been given above of the preferred embodiment of this invention, in which the body that forms the upper section of the bollard contains a pneumatic, inflated ball that gives effective assistance in the recovery process when this body is required to flex due to having been hit by any vehicle of road traffic circulating in the place in which it is installed. However, other circumstances exist in which it is not necessary for the aforementioned elastic, flexible body of the bollard to recover so quickly, for example in the case of bollards installed on roads and motorways. In this case, the invention envisages, as an alternative to the embodiment described above, the use of an upper element of the bollard that does not contain a pneumatic ball, so that the recovery of the body is achieved solely by the natural elasticity of the material.
As an additional element, the whole of the bollard also includes a lid, intended to be used in the event that the upper section of the bollard has to be extracted and removed from the lower element for any reason. The lid consists of a cylindrical fitting, closed from above by means of a base made in the form of a cap, and fitted with anchoring nubs that allow it to be fixed to the lower element of the bollard also with a bayonet system. The fitting of a lid with, these characteristics to the lower element of the bollard allows the upper open base of the element to be closed effectively, and leaves this element advantageously flush to the surface of the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics and advantages of the invention are shown more clearly in the detailed description that follows of the preferred embodiment, given only for illustrative and not limiting purposes, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 shows a schematic elevated view of the bollard made in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is also a schematic representation, of the same version of the bollard, but without the internal pneumatic ball, and

FIG. 3, finally, shows a schematic representation, in perspective, of a lid piece included in the bollard of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As indicated above, the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the subject of the invention will be given below with the aid of the appended drawings, in which FIG. 1 indicates the different parts that form it by way of numbered references. Therefore, from this representation, as has been stated, an elevated view of the full representation of the bollard proposed by the invention can be seen, in which an anchoring element can be seen, consisting of a tubular cylindrical body (6), made from stiff metal, and an upper element or body of the bollard (1), made from flexible elastic, such as rubber, gum or any other suitable elastomer.
The lower body (6) is equipped with fixing supports (9), which extend upwards from diametrically opposed positions, passing very close to the external surface of the tubular body (6). The aforementioned supports have been designed specifically to maintain the anchored body in the position chosen for it, such as on the ground, to which effect it has been equipped with undulations that allow the anchorage to be achieved under pressure. As has been stated, the tubular body (6) also has a pair of slots (3) in diametrically opposed positions on the wall of the body, which follow an uneven course, and which are intended to serve as a base for the production of a bayonet type harnessing system.
For its part, the body of the bollard (1) has a hollow interior, is open in all cases at the lower base, and has an outside diameter approximately the same as the interior diameter of the anchoring element (1), into which it must be inserted. For insertion, the bollard element has a metallic tubular cylindrical fitting (8), housed in its interior, extended upwards to a section approximately equivalent to that which remains in the inside of the anchorage body (6) when both elements are fitted together. This tubular fitting (8) has a stiffening effect on the lower portion of the body (1), and from this project a pair of nubs (5), extending radially from diametrically opposed positions, shaped to allow them to be housed in the slots (3), and this creates, together with these, the desired bayonet system. The bollard also incorporates secure closure (4) which keeps both elements fitted together, its removal being necessary in the event that the body of the bollard (1) needs to be separated from the anchorage body (6).
As mentioned previously, the body of the bollard (1) contains a pneumatic ball capable of being inflated with air to serve as a pneumatic pump for the rapid recovery of the body (1) in the event that it is hit by a vehicle. The pneumatic ball is shown by reference number 2, and is divided into two sections by spring washers (7) situated at an intermediary position inside the stiffening fitting (8). In this way, the lower section (10) of the pneumatic ball is held by its own fitting, which makes the upper part (2) of the ball recover faster due to the “lever” effect generated when the upper flexible elastic part of the bollard (1) undergoes a reflex action after being hit by a vehicle.
As can be seen, a flexible elastic bollard (1), designed and produced in the way that has just been described, with a very fast recovery action due to the action of a pneumatic pump provided by the interior ball (2), is especially recommended for use in signalling projects inside cities, towns and villages, in which road traffic is heavy and where they may often be hit by passing vehicles.
However, for those cases in which the bollard is at less risk of being hit by road traffic, it is not necessary, as stated above, that that recovery action of the bollard is so rapid. In this case, the construction can be simplified, so that the internal pneumatic ball can be eliminated. This situation is shown in FIG. 2, which shows an elevated side view of a bollard equivalent in all aspects to that which appears in FIG. 1, except for the fact that it does not have a pneumatic ball inside. In the alternative embodiment that is shown in FIG. 2, the upper body (1) of the bollard ends at its lower end in a taper section (11), and in its most distal part it has an axial opening (12) which forms the entrance or exit for air. This opening is shaped in such a way that it allows for the upper flexible elastic potion of the bollard (1) to bend when it is hit by a vehicle, with the resulting expulsion of air through the opening (12), while, when the bending action that this upper section of the bollard has undergone has stopped, this opening (12) allows the re-entry of air into the body (1), due to which the latter recovers at a speed determined by its elasticity and by the quantity of air that can enter through the opening, until it returns to its initial configuration.
Finally, FIG. 3 shows a schematised view, in perspective, of the whole lid included in the bollard of the invention. As can be seen, this lid is made up of a tubular cylindrical body (13), with the same diameter as the body of the upper section of the bollard (1), so that it can be fitted to the lower element of the bollard (6) when the upper part is removed, in order to lock it by its upper base. To this effect, the lid has nubs (14) projecting radially towards the inside from diametrically opposed, positions, shaped and configured to be housed in the bayonet slot (3) of the lower anchorage element, and to remain in this position. For the upper part, the body of the lid (13) is completed by a cap (15), with dimensions slightly greater than the diameter of the body, thus assuring complete closure in a position flush to the surface of the ground, and assuring that the lower anchoring element (6) remains protected against the entry of foreign objects, such as water, leaves, paper, or dirt in general.
It is not considered necessary to extend the content of this description for an expert in the subject to be able to understand its reach and the advantages derived from the invention, as well as the development and production of the subject of the invention.
However, it must be understood that the invention has been described according to the preferred embodiment of the design, which means that it could be liable to modifications without altering any of the fundamental elements of the invention, these modifications possibly affecting, in particular, the shape, size and/or production materials of the whole bollard of its parts.

Claims

1. Removable pneumatic bollard for signalling with hidden anchorage, specifically a bollard conceived and designed for signalling in places with flows of road traffic, whether inside cities, towns and villages or an roads or motorways, unique because it has two separate, independent elements (1,6), which can be fitted to and removed from each other, and which is anchored to the ground by a lower positioning element (6), and consists of a generally cylindrical body, with hollow interior, open at the upper base, equipped with claws or supports (9) which fix it to the ground and which project from the body (6) in diametrically opposed positions, running upwards in parallel with the latter, the body (6) having a pair of openings that begin at the edge of the perimeter of the upper base, in diametrically opposed positions, and follow a predetermined course to create a bayonet type harness, while the other element (1), with an upper position, is the bollard element itself, and consists of a generally prism-shaped, flexible body, made from elastic material, which incorporates an interior fitting (8) of a height approximately equivalent to that of the lower anchoring element (6), and from which two diametrically opposed nubs project radially, shaped and configured to be housed inside the slots (3) of the lower element and to complement the bayonet harnessing system, the upper body also having a pneumatic inflatable ball (2), for the rapid recovery of the upper section (1) in the event that it is bent due to an accident, to which effect the pneumatic ball has a lower section (12) housed in the internal metallic fitting (8) of the upper element (1) of the bollard.

2. Bollard according to claim 1, unique because in a version with less rapid recovery, the upper elastic and flexible body (1) of the bollard is not equipped with any internal ball, and has at its lower end an end section (11) that is configured to be flush, with a terminal axial opening (12) which allows air to pass in both directions, entry and exit.

3. Bollard according to claims 1 and 2, unique because it also has a lid element for locking the upper base of the lower anchoring element (6) in the place of the upper section (1) this lid being composed of a body (13) of a generally cylindrical shape, equipped with radial nubs (14), diametrically opposed, capable of being fitted together by way of the bayonet system in the openings (3) of the lower anchoring element (6), the lid element being completed at its upper base by a cap (15) with a diameter slightly greater than the body, which sits flush with the surface of the ground as a lid fitted to the lower anchoring element.

4. Ballard according to claims 1 to 4, unique because it also includes secure closure (4) which keeps both elements (1, 6) fitted together as an operational bollard.