GB2234766A

GB2234766A - Removable post fixing device

Info

Publication number: GB2234766A
Application number: GB9016964A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Boston Govan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-08-12
Filing date: 1990-08-02
Publication date: 1991-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2010-08-02
Also published as: GB2234766B; GB9016964D0; GB8918452D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a fixing device for temporarily or removable fixing posts, poles or other elongate members into a substrate, which may for instance be a concrete substrate such as a roadway, pavement, forecourt and the like, to support fencing, partitioning, hoardings, sign posts and the like. The device comprises a sleeve member (2) with a closure cap (10) spring biassed normally to lie flush with the top edge of the sleeve member but to be displaced downwardly into the sleeve member (2) when a post (13) is inserted in the mouth of the member (2) and retained in a bayonet-type fixing arrangement (6, 14). <IMAGE>

Description

REMOVABLE POST FIXING DEVICES The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to fixing devices for temporarily or removably fixing posts, poles or other elongate members to the ground or a similar substrate.

The invention provides a fixing device for temporarily or removably fixing posts, poles or the like, comprising means including a sleeve member adapted to be embedded in or a force-fit in a substrate, said sleeve member having a closure cap, biassing means adapted to urge said cap into a position in which it lies flush with an otherwise open upper end portion of the sleeve member, said sleeve member being capable of partaking of a sliding action so as to be retracted within the sleeve member against the action of the biassing means, said sliding action occurring on the entry of a post, pole or other elongate member with respect to the sleeve member, and wherein there is provided a bayonet-type fixing arrangement between the sleeve member and the pole or post.

Advantageously, the sleeve member may be secured in concrete, the closure cap preventing debris from entering the cavity with the sleeve when the device is not in use.

Conveniently, the biassing means may be a compression spring acting between the closure cap and an end plate positioned adjacent to the sleeve.

In order to permit access to the sleeve member for repair or maintenance, the member may be a removable force-fit within a bored hole in a concrete substrate or may be received in an outer sleeve permanently embedded in the concrete. Advantageously, the member may be provided with a gripping means adapted to prevent rotary movement with respect to the substrate.

It will be understood that the bayonet-type fixing arrangement may comprise J-slots formed in the upper portion of the sleeve which are engaged by pins on the post or pole, or, where possible, the slots may be formed in a hollow end portion of the pole or post with pins projecting from the inside walls of the sleeve member. In the latter case, the closure cap will be provided with cut-out portions and restrained from rotary movement in order to avoid contact with the pins as the post or pole is inserted.

In one of the examples to be described below, an adapter sleeve may be provided to enable a narrow diameter post or pole to be received in a larger diameter socket means.

The invention will find particular use in the temporary erection of fencing, outdoor partitioning or barriers, hoardings, sign posts and the like which require to resist displacement in windy conditions. The fixing device according to the invention may even be used to secure wind breaks in position, and obviates the need for posts etc. having weighted bases, or being provided with guy ropes or the like. This renders the fixing device convenient for use by either public services or the private sector.

There will now be described with reference to the drawings three examples of fixing devices according to the invention. It will be understood that the description is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a sectional view through a first fixing device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view to that of Fig. 1, taken in a vertical plane turning through 90'; Fig. 3 shows the fixing device of Figs. 1 and 2 in operative position; and Fig. 4 shows a second fixing device comprising an adapter device.

Fig. 5 shows a third fixing device according to the invention; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 5; and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view on line VII-VII of Fig. 5.

The device of Fig. 1 comprises a sleeve member 2 and an open, upper portion provided with J-slots 6 and received in a force-fit in a hole bored in a concrete substrate 8 such as a garage forecourt. Alternatively, the sleeve member 2 may be embedded in the concrete as it is laid. In this case adhesive tape or a flexible plastics bag will be provided around the outside of sleeve member to prevent the ingress of unset concrete especially into the slots 6.

The upper portion of the member 2 is closed at the mouth thereof (Fig. 1) by means of a closure cap 10 supported at a level flush with the concrete and the lip edges of the sleeve member 2 by a compression spring 12, tack-welded to the cap 10 at one end and at the other to an end plate 4, adjacent to the lower end of the sleeve.

When the fixing device is to be used, a post 13 is received within the sleeve member 2. Pressure of the post upon the cap 10 forces it downwardly within the member 2 against the force of the spring 12 and pins 14 provided on the post at a position spaced from the lower edges thereof are received in the slots 6. The post is then rotated slightly and the pins 14 are then received in end portions 16 of the slots 6 in the conventional manner of a bayonet fixing and retained in place by the spring 12 pressing upwardly on the sleeve through the cap 10. It will be observed that sufficient length of post is to be received in the sleeve member 2 to ensure stability.

Fig. 4 shows an arrangement including a sleeve member 2 and a post 13'. It will be observed that the diameter a of the post 13' is too small to be retained in the sleeve member 2' (diameter b). An adapter is therefore provided comprising an intermediate sleeve member 18 having pins 20 receivable in the J-slots 6' of the member 2'. The adapter sleeve member 18 is also itself provided with J-slots 22 into which, the pins 14' of the post 13' are received. In this, second, example, the closure cap 10' is provided in the adapter 18, the spring being omitted from Fig. 4 for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 5 illustrates a third arrangement which is similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2, having component parts which correspond therewith referenced with like reference numerals. The principal modification is made to the attachment of the spring 12" at one end to the cap 10" and at the other, lower end to the end plate 4". In Fig. 5 the end plate 4" is shown provided with a boss 24 having a transverse bore 26 in which is received an end portion of the spring 12".

A second bore 28 is provided diametrically of the body of the end plate 4 to receive a pin 30 passing therethrough, end portions of the pin being received in apertures 32 of the sleeve 2" and being welded or otherwise secured in place.

At the upper end of the spring 12", an end portion is received in a bore (not shown) formed in a boss 34 provided on the underside of the closure cap 10". The sleeve member 2" is further provided on its exterior surface with an elongate rib 36 which serves to prevent rotation of the sleeve in the concrete of the substrate into which it is inserted. The rib 36 may be formed integrally with the sleeve or may, as in Figure 7 comprise a strip 38 of suitable material inserted in a groove formed longitudinally of the sleeve.

Claims

1. A fixing device for temporarily or removably fixing posts, poles or the like comprising socket means including a sleeve member adapted to be embedded in or a force-fit in a substrate, said sleeve member having a closure cap, biassing means adapted to urge said cap into a position in which it lies flush with an otherwise open upper end portion of the sleeve member, said sleeve member being capable of partaking of a sliding action so as to be retracted within the sleeve member against the action of the biassing means, said sliding action occurring on the entry of a post, pole or other elongate member with respect to the sleeve member, and wherein there is provided a bayonet-type fixing arrangement between the sleeve member and the pole or post.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biassing means is a compression spring acting between an end plate at the base of the sleeve and the closure cap.

3. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cap and the end plate are each provided with a boss, respective end portions of the spring being captive in a bore in a boss provided on each of said cap and said end plate.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in use, the sleeve is received within an outer sleeve permanently embedded in the substrate.

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein there is provided an adapter in the form of an intermediate sleeve member adapted to be concentrically received within the first sleeve means of the bayonet-type fixing arrangement, said intermediate sleeve member being further adapted to secure the pole or post in a bayonet-type fixing arrangement.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein means are provided to prevent rotation of the sleeve member with respect to the substrate, said means comprising elongate rib means provided on an exterior surface of said sleeve.

7. A fixing device for temporarily or removable fixing posts, poles or the like in a substrate, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.