Bollard assembly

A bollard assembly is disclosed that includes an elongate hollow bollard having opposed first and second ends, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and through hole formed in the side wall. The assembly also includes a sleeve configured to receive and support a lower portion of the bollard, and a hollow cylindrical insert disposed within the lower end of the bollard. A pin protrudes outward from the insert sidewall, extends through the bollard through hole and engages the sleeve, whereby the assembly is retained in an assembled configuration. The bollard includes a prescribed breakaway line along which an upper portion of the bollard can be separated from the lower portion upon sufficient impact. Once the upper portion is broken away, the insert permits the lower portion of the bollard to be removed from the sleeve and replaced with a replacement bollard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A bollard is a protective barrier that is used to protect structures from collisions, to control access to certain areas and/or to direct a flow of traffic. Depending on the particular application, a bollard may be plate-mounted or mounted via core-drilling. Plate-mounted bollards are typically used in less demanding applications such as an in-store environment in which a bollard is used to protect product display cabinets. Plate-mounted bollards include a steel plate and a bollard. extending perpendicularly from one face of the plate. The plate sits on the surface of the floor and bolts are used to fasten the plate, and therefore the bollard, to the floor. For this type of bollard, there is no significant disruption to the ground or floor, other than the bolt holes, which are in some instances pre-drilled. On the other hand, core-drilled bollards are typically used in higher impact applications such as protecting a loading dock from heavy vehicles, and are generally permanently mounted to the ground by embedding a portion of the bollard in a concrete-filled hole. Installation of a core-drilled bollard is significantly more expensive than for a plate-mounted bollard, and takes significantly more time. Once installed, core-drilled bollards can be difficult to replace when damaged. However, despite these disadvantages, there are applications which required a core-drilled bollard due to its ability to absorb large impact loads.

SUMMARY

In some aspects, a bollard assembly includes a hollow bollard having a first end, second end opposed to the first end, a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end, and a through hole formed in the side wall, a sleeve including an interior surface, the sleeve configured to enclose a portion of the bollard sidewall, and an insert having an insert sidewall, and a pin protruding outward from the insert sidewall, the insert disposed within the first end of the hollow bollard with the pin extending through the bollard through hole. The sleeve is disposed on the first end of the bollard with the pin engaged with the sleeve interior surface.

The bollard assembly may include one or more of the following features: The bollard sidewall further comprises a prescribed breakaway line along which a portion of the bollard is configured to separate from the remainder of the bollard upon application of a sufficient load to the portion. The breakaway line is an annular portion of the bollard sidewall formed to be relatively weak when compared to the remainder of the bollard sidewall. The breakaway line comprises an annular groove formed in the bollard sidewall. The breakaway line is located between the first end of the bollard and a point disposed mid way between the first and second ends of the bollard. The sleeve includes a sleeve first end, and a sleeve second end opposed to the sleeve first end, and the first end of the sleeve is aligned with the breakaway line. The sleeve has a sleeve first end, a sleeve second end, and an axial length determined by the distance between the sleeve first end and sleeve second end, and the distance of the breakaway line from the bollard second end is greater than or equal to the sleeve axial length.

The bollard assembly may include one or more of the following additional features: The sleeve includes a sleeve sidewall having a concavity configured to receive the insert pin, and when the pin protrudes through the bollard through hole and is received within the concavity, the pin engages the sleeve, and the bollard, sleeve, and insert are substantially prevented from relative movement. The pin is configured to move relative to the insert in a direction generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the insert, whereby the pin can be selectively retracted from engagement with the sleeve interior surface. The insert includes a key hole configured to receive a pin retracting tool. The insert further includes a resilient member configured to bias the insert pin in a radially outward direction. The bollard is tapered in the vicinity of the first end. The bollard is tapered between the prescribed breakaway line and the first end such that the outer diameter of the bollard at the breakaway line is greater than the outer diameter of the bollard at the first end. The insert further includes a stop member configured to limit the extent to which the insert is inserted within the bollard. The insert further includes a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, the second end including an outwardly protruding peripheral flange, the flange having an outer diameter that corresponds to the outer diameter of the bollard first end. The insert includes a handle configured to permit the insert to be grasped and withdrawn from the sleeve. The sleeve is a hollow, generally cylindrical body having an open first end, a closed second end, and a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, the sidewall including an outwardly protruding circumferential bead.

In some aspects, the bollard assembly includes a hollow bollard having a bollard sidewall and a through hole formed in the sidewall, and an insert having an insert sidewall, and a pin protruding outward from the insert sidewall. The insert is disposed within the bollard with the pin extending through the bollard through hole.

The bollard assembly may include one or more of the following features: The bollard further includes a sleeve. The sleeve includes an interior surface and is configured to enclose a portion of the bollard sidewall, and the sleeve is disposed on an end of the bollard with the pin engaged with the sleeve interior surface. The pin is retractable relative to the insert sidewall. The insert includes a key hole configured to receive a pin-retracting tool. The sleeve includes a sleeve sidewall, and a concavity formed in an inner surface of the sleeve sidewall, the concavity configured to receive the pin such that when the pin is received within the concavity, the pin engages the sleeve and the bollard, insert and sleeve are substantially prevented from relative movement.

The bollard assembly may include one or more of the following additional features: The bollard sidewall further comprises a prescribed breakaway line along which a portion of the bollard is configured to separate from the remainder of the bollard upon application of a sufficient load to the portion. The breakaway line is an annular portion of the bollard sidewall formed to be relatively weak when compared to the remainder of the bollard sidewall. The breakaway line comprises an annular groove formed in the bollard sidewall. The breakaway line is located between a point disposed mid way between opposed ends of the bollard and one of the opposed ends of the bollard. The sleeve includes a sleeve first end, and a sleeve second end opposed to the sleeve first end, and the first end of the sleeve is aligned with the breakaway line. The sleeve has a sleeve first end, a sleeve second end, and an axial length determined by the distance between the sleeve first end and sleeve second end, and the distance of the breakaway line from one of the opposed ends of the, bollard is greater than or equal to the sleeve axial length.

Among other advantages, the bollard assembly is a core-drilled type bollard for use in relatively high impact applications. The assembly includes a hollow bollard having a sidewall and through hole formed in the side wall, a sleeve including an interior surface configured to enclose a portion of the bollard sidewall, and an insert having a pin protruding outward from the insert sidewall. When assembled, the insert is disposed within the bollard with the pin extending through the bollard through hole, and the sleeve is disposed on the bollard sidewall with the pin engaged with the sleeve interior surface. By this feature the bollard can be quickly and easily installed in the sleeve.

The bollard has a breakaway feature that permits an upper portion of the bollard to break away from the installed lower portion, insert and sleeve upon sufficient impact. Since a portion of the bollard breaks away upon impact, damage to vehicles is minimized.

The bollard is designed so that breakaway occurs at a location that is even with the ground so that the lower portion does not provide a tripping hazard after breakaway of the upper portion. In addition, after breakaway, the top of the insert is exposed, whereby the lower portion and insert combine to provide a flat surface that is generally flush with the ground. This is much safer and more aesthetically pleasing than would occur if a conventional hollow bollard were broken, potentially creating a tripping hazard and/or a hole in the ground.

The insert maintains the lower portion of the bollard within the sleeve after breakaway of the upper portion of the bollard, and permits the lower end of the bollard to be easily and quickly withdrawn from the sleeve after breakaway of the upper portion, so that a replacement bollard can be quickly easily installed in the original sleeve.

Modes for carrying out the present invention are explained below by reference to an embodiment of the present invention shown in the attached drawings. The above-mentioned object, other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the embodiment of the invention presented below in conjunction with the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIGS. 1-5, a bollard assembly10includes an elongate hollow bollard20having a first end22, a second end24opposed to the first end, a sidewall26extending between the opposed ends22,24, and through hole32formed in the side wall26. The bollard assembly10includes a sleeve120configured to receive and support a first portion36of the bollard20, where the first portion36includes the first end22of the bollard20. In addition, the bollard assembly10includes a hollow cylindrical insert60disposed within the bollard first portion36. In use, the sleeve120is permanently embedded in the ground2, and the first portion36of the bollard20, with the insert60positioned therein, is placed in the sleeve120(FIG. 1). A pin200protrudes outward from the insert60, extends through the bollard through hole32and engages the sleeve120, whereby the bollard assembly10is retained in an assembled configuration. The bollard20includes a prescribed breakaway line34(FIGS. 2 and 3) along which the remaining second portion38of the bollard20can be separated from the first portion36upon sufficient impact to the second portion38. Once the second portion38has been broken away from the first portion36(FIG. 2), the insert60permits the bollard first portion36to be removed from the sleeve120and replaced with a replacement bollard. These and other features will be discussed in detail below.

Referring in particular toFIG. 3, the bollard20is an elongate hollow, generally cylindrical structure in which the first end22is open, and the second end24is closed. In the illustrated embodiment, the second end24is convex to promote shedding of rain and snow and to prevent the accumulation of debris. The sidewall26that extends between the first end22and the second end24is thin relative to a diameter of the bollard. For example, in some embodiments, the bollard sidewall thickness may be 0.5 inches, the diameter of the bollard20may be 5 inches, and a length from first to second ends22,24may be 51 inches.

The bollard20may be formed of a tough, rigid plastic such as, but not limited to, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene or polypropylene. The outer surface30may include surface features that enhance aesthetics and bollard visibility. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, in the vicinity of the bollard second end24, the outer surface30includes decorative grooves44, as well as a light-reflective region46.

Referring also toFIGS. 6-8, the prescribed breakaway line34is an annular region of the bollard sidewall26that is formed to be relatively weak when compared to the remainder of the bollard sidewall26. In particular, the breakaway line34is a circumferentially-extending V-shaped groove formed in the bollard sidewall26. The breakaway line34is located between the first end22of the bollard20and a point P disposed mid way between the first and second ends22,24of the bollard20. In the illustrated embodiment, the first portion36, defined as the region between the breakaway line34and the first end22, has a length of approximately 25 percent of overall bollard length. In some embodiments, the bollard20is designed so that the breakaway line34is located at the ground surface so that the bollard20will break level with the ground. By doing so, creation of a tripping hazard is avoided.

The first portion36of the bollard20is formed having a flat region40that extends axially between the breakaway line34and the first end22. The bollard through hole32is formed in the flat region40at a location adjacent to the breakaway line34. During assembly of the insert60within the bollard20, the bollard flat region40provides registration with a corresponding insert flat region80(described below) so that the insert pin200is easily aligned with the bollard through hole32. In addition, the first portion36of the bollard20tapers slightly from the breakaway line34to the first end22such that the cross-sectional dimension of the bollard20at the breakaway line34is larger than the corresponding cross-sectional dimension of the bollard at the first end22. The slight inward tapering of the first portion36facilitates insertion of the first portion36into the sleeve120during assembly, and also facilitates withdrawal of the first portion36from the sleeve during replacement.

Referring to FIGS.3and9-11, the insert60is hollow, generally cylindrical structure including an open first end62and a closed second end64. The closed second end face66of the insert is flat, and includes a centrally located cavity88. The cavity88is generally v-shaped in section, and serves to support a handle82at a location that is recessed relative to the second end face66. The handle88is a rod that extends between opposed sides of the cavity88. The second end face66also includes a key hole84positioned between the cavity88and the peripheral edge of the second end face66. Moreover, the key hole84is located on the second end face66at a location that corresponds to the insert flat portion80, for reasons discussed below. A removable plug86is press-fit into the key hole84to prevent debris from passing through the key hole84and into the insert interior.

The first end62of the insert60includes a radially outward-extending flange78that surrounds the periphery of the first end62. The outer diameter of the insert60is selected to be slightly less than the inner diameter of the bollard first end22so that the insert60can be inserted into the hollow interior space of the bollard first portion36. The flange78has an outer diameter that corresponds to the outer diameter of the bollard first end22, and serves as a stop so that when the second end64of the insert60is inserted into the bollard first end22, the flange78abuts the bollard first end22and prevents the insert60from passing inward beyond the bollard first portion36.

The insert60includes a sidewall68that extends between the insert first and second ends62,64. The sidewall68includes a generally cylindrical portion70and a channel portion90. The channel portion90is U-shaped in cross section, and as such includes a flat base that corresponds to the insert flat portion80, and flat legs92,94that extend transverse to the flat portion80and join the channel portion90to the cylindrical portion70of the sidewall68. In particular, the legs92,94protrude inward relative to an arc defined by the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion70. As a result, the legs92,94and flat portion80define an axially-extending channel91on the inner surface96of the insert60.

The insert60also includes a quick-release locking mechanism240which retains the bollard20, insert60and sleeve120in the assembled configuration shown inFIGS. 1 and 5. The quick-release locking mechanism240is disposed in the channel91and includes a resilient plate250and a pin200that protrudes from the plate250. The plate250is a thin, elongated rectangle in shape, and has a first end252, and a second end254that is opposed to the first end252. The pin200extends from a surface258of the plate250that faces the insert inner surface96, and is located between the second end254of the plate250and a midpoint between the first and second ends252,254. The first end252is fixed to the insert inner surface96at the insert flat portion80, for example by using rivets76, so that the pin200protrudes through the pin through hole72.

The second end of the plate250includes art angled portion256. The angled portion256is angled away from the insert inner surface96so that a space98exists between the second end254of the plate250and the insert inner surface96. The locking mechanism240is arranged within the channel portion90so that the angled portion256is located below and underlies the keyhole84.

The plate250serves as a resilient spring that biases the pin so as to protrude through the pin through hole72, and may be formed of, for example, spring steel. The pin200can be retracted from the insert through hole72by application of a radially inward force along an axis defined by the pin200, or by application of a downward force on the angled portion256of the plate250. In the latter, pin retraction is achieved by passing a key (not shown) through the key hole84and downward along the angled portion256, whereby the plate250is caused to bend so that the angled portion256is moved away from the insert inner surface96as illustrated inFIG. 12by the arrow A3. As a result, the pin200can be retracted from the through hole72and into the interior space of the insert60, thereby releasing the insert60from the bollard20and/or releasing the bollard60from the sleeve120. Upon withdrawal of the key, the plate250is released and resiliently returns to its original configuration along the direction of arrow A4.

Referring to FIGS.4and12-13, the sleeve120is a hollow, generally cylindrical structure that includes an open first end124, a closed second end122opposed to the first end124and a sidewall126that extends between the first and second ends122,124. The interior surface128of the sleeve120includes a cylindrical portion130and a flat portion140, each arranged to mirror the corresponding features of the bollard20. In addition, the sleeve interior surface120includes a concavity132located on the flat portion140. As a result, during assembly, the bollard flat portion40must register with the sleeve flat portion140. Since the insert flat portion80is also registered with the bollard flat portion40, the pin200protrudes through the pin through hole72of the bollard20and into the concavity132of the sleeve120.

In addition, the external surface142of the sleeve120is provided with surface features that are used to securely anchor the sleeve within the ground2. In particular, the surface features include outwardly protruding annular beads134,136,138that extend about a circumference of the sleeve120. In the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve includes a first bead134disposed adjacent to the first end124, a second bead138disposed at the second end138, and a third bead136disposed approximately mid-way between the first and second beads134,138. In addition, the concavity132protrudes outward from the sleeve sidewall126, thus serving as a key to both anchor the sleeve within the ground2and prevent rotation of the sleeve within the ground2.

In use, the sleeve120is embedded in the ground2using concrete such that the first end124of the sleeve120is generally flush with the ground surface4. In addition, the insert60is inserted into the first end22of the bollard20. During this insertion step, the pin200is manually pressed inward so that the insert60can be inserted into the bollard second end22. The insert60is inserted Tinto the bollard20until the flange78abuts the bollard second end22and the pin200is permitted to protrude through the bollard through hole32. In this configuration, the insert60is retained within the bollard first portion36through the engagement of the pin200in the bollard through hole32(FIG. 4). Next, the bollard first portion36is inserted into the sleeve120. Again, the pin200is manually pressed inward relative to the bollard sidewall26so that the bollard20can be inserted into the sleeve120. The bollard20is inserted into the sleeve120until the bollard first end22abuts the sleeve second end122and the pin200is permitted to protrude through the bollard through hole32and into the sleeve concavity132. In this configuration, the bollard20and insert60are retained within the sleeve120through the engagement of the pin200in the sleeve concavity132. In the assembled configuration, the breakaway line34is generally aligned with the closed face66of the insert60, and the first end124of the sleeve120is generally aligned with the breakaway line34. In general, the distance of the breakaway line34from the bollard first end22is greater than or equal to the sleeve axial length, where the sleeve axial length corresponds to the distance between the sleeve first end124and sleeve second end122. The resulting bollard assembly10is securely installed in the ground2as shown inFIG. 1.

In the event that the bollard20is damaged, the second portion38of the bollard can be removed by separating the bollard first and second portions36,38along the breakaway line34. Once the second portion38is removed from the installed bollard assembly10, the closed end face66of the insert60is accessible (FIG. 2). The bollard first portion36and insert60can be removed from the sleeve120by removing the plug86from the insert key hole84(FIG. 10), and inserting a key (not shown) through the keyhole84to engage the angled portion256of the resilient plate250, whereby the pin200is retracted from the sleeve concavity132. While the pin200is retracted, the insert handle82is grasped permitting the insert60and bollard first portion36to be withdrawn from the sleeve120. The embedded sleeve120remains in place in the ground2, and can be used to receive a replacement bollard and insert subassembly.

A selected illustrative embodiment of the invention is described above in some detail. It should be understood that only structures considered necessary for clarifying the present invention have been described herein. Other conventional structures, and those of ancillary and auxiliary components of the system, are assumed to be known and understood by those skilled in the art. Moreover, while a working example of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the working example described above, but various design alterations may be carried out without departing from the present invention as set forth in the claims.

For example, although the breakaway line34is formed as a V-shaped groove in the illustrated embodiment, the bollard20is not limited to this configuration. For example, the prescribed line can be formed by replacing the circumferential V-shaped groove with a circumferential perforation line or by using a material in the vicinity of the breakaway line that is weak relative to the remainder of the bollard.