Pole cap, pole, and verge arrangement for preventing plant growth at the foot of a pole

Abstract: A pole cap for substantially sealingly covering an area adjacent the foot of a pole (2; 42) to prevent plant growth in that area. As the pole cap is provided with anchoring means (16; 26; 44; 54, 55; 74; 94) for mounting at least a portion of the pole cap on the ground, a reliable positioning of the pole cap is obtained without this pole cap having to be of heavy construction. This prevents the cap from being lifted by growth, such as tree roots and the like, during mowing by the mowing machine or by other causes. In that case, if the pole cap is possibly mown over with a substantial overlap, no damage is caused thereby. Further, due to the anchoring, the shape of the pole cap is stabilized and the pole cap provides, through its anchoring, support to the pole. There are further described a pole (2; 12; 22; 42) and a verge arrangement in which such pole cap is used.

Description: The invention relates to a pole cap according to the introductory portion of claim 1. Such a pole cap is known from DE-U-77 21 037. Roadside verges and many other grass overgrowths are mown periodically. However, the mowing of, for instance, verges is hindered by the verge poles present in the verge, such as reflector and hectometer poles, poles of traffic signs, signposts and the like. Hence, mowing usually takes place in three steps. As first step, a self-moving mowing machine mows along a first side of the row of obstacles in the verge. As second step, it mows on a second, opposite side along the row of obstacles. As third step, the remaining non-mown patches between the obstacles and around the obstacles are removed by means of a so-called free-cutting mower (a motor mower carried on a person's body, having a fast rotating, projecting piece of wire which cuts the grass). This method is labor-intensive and expensive. In addition, during working in the verge, mower operators run the risk of being hit by passing traffic. Also, the mowing around other types of poles generally requires that areas at the foot of the poles be more or less manually after-mown. Through the use of a pole cap of the type initially described, these drawbacks are overcome to a significant extent. This pole cap is designed as a round, or rectangular plate which is provided around the standard of a lamp post or the like and which further rests on the ground. As the ground in the direct environment of the pole is covered, the growth of grass in the covered area is prevented. Thus, it is not necessary to mow near the pole, so that additional mowing operations, such as manually after-mowing with a free-cutting mower, can be dispensed with. At its lower edge, the cap is provided with spikes that project into the bottom and thereby keep the cap in position. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pole cap of a light construction which is nevertheless reliably prevented from curling up. To this end, according to the invention, a pole cap according to claim 1 is provided. By designing the anchoring means as flaps to be projected into the ground, they can readily be obtained, and they can also be arranged in a simple and reliable manner. A further elaboration hereof provides that the anchoring means are arranged in the area of the ends in longitudinal direction of the pole cap. In that area, the protection against curling up is of particular importance, because the ends in longitudinal of an elongated pole cap are easiest to bend over. This applies all the more according as the pole cap is of a more elongated design. If the pole cap is of hill-shaped design, the structural rigidity of the,pole cap is improved, which is in particular advantageous for preventing the bending up of edge portions of the pole cap. Further, this offers the possibility of providing clearly visible signs on the pole cap which can for instance point to a nearest emergency telephone. If the pole cap is of elongated design in longitudinal direction of the verge, it is on the one hand possible to swerve around a pole with relatively slight bends without leaving behind unmown and uncovered portions, while on the other hand, a relatively small covered surface area may yet suffice for preventing any plant growth in an area at the foot of the pole that is difficult or impossible to mow. In particular, an elongated contour fits in better with the mowing pattern that can be obtained with a mobile motor mower when swerving around poles without undue loss of time. In a favorable embodiment, the contour has a width that, over at least a portion in longitudinal direction at a distance from the hole, gradually decreases from the hole. Accordingly, the contour follows the mowing paths swerving around the pole in a particularly accurate manner. Although any length/width ratio can be applied, a ratio within a range of 1.5-3 is preferably selected, while a length/width ratio of 1.8-2.2 is particularly favorable for on the one hand limiting the covered surface area and on the other hand completely covering the area at the foot of the pole which area is difficult or impossible to mow. A further embodiment of the invention provides a pole cap having a contour which has a centrally convex portion in longitudinal direction and a concave portion which in longitudinal direction is located at a distance from the hole, which portions connect to each other to form an S-bend. Thus, the mowing paths resulting from normal swerving maneuvers of the mowing machine connect to the contour of the pole cap in a particularly accurate manner, preferably with a substantially constant overlap. Moreover, such shapes can be cut with very little loss from plate, textile or sheet material by having concave portions of a row of pole caps connect to convex portions of a next row of pole caps to be cut, and the other way round. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the contour of the verge pole cap is substantially lens-shaped. In practice, such shape, too, proves to be suitably adapted to the course of the mowing paths swerving at the location of the verge pole, in particular if mowing is effected with a relatively great overlap, for instance for mowing as yet grass that was flattened during a preceding passage of the mowing machine and that has sprung up again. A comparable effect, although to a slightly lesser extent, is obtained with an embodiment where the contour is of substantially diamond-shaped design. However, a diamond-shaped contour offers the additional advantage that it can be cut out particularly easily, so that it can be manufactured at low costs. The invention may also be embodied in a pole according to claim 15 having a pole cap according to the invention. Low manufacturing costs and a limitation of the installation costs can be obtained by designing the pole and the pole cap in one piece. Hence, they can be installed in one operation. The invention may further be embodied in a verge arrangement according to claim 17, comprising a longitudinally extending verge and at least one verge pole having a verge pole cap according to the invention. To clarify the invention, a number of exemplary embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In these drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a road section having driving lanes and verges, Figs. 2-7 are contours of top plan views of pole caps according to different exemplary embodiments, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a pole having a pole cap according to the invention, Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another pole according to the invention, Fig. 10 is a side elevation in section of a verge arrangement according to the invention in installed condition, Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the verge arrangement of Fig. 10 in uninstalled condition, Fig. 12 is a perspective view of yet another pole cap according to the invention, and Fig. 13 shows an end face in midcross section of the pole cap according to Fig. 12, Fig. 1 shows a half of a road having two driving lanes 4 and a verge 1. In the verge 1, verge poles, in this case reflector poles 2, are placed at regular distances relative to each other. These poles are positioned on an imaginary line 5 extending parallel to the axis of the road. In the verge 1, the verge poles 2 are provided with elongated verge pole caps 3 (one of which is shown). The patterns of the mowing paths 20, 21, created during the mowing of the verge by means of a conventional mobile mowing machine are shown as well'. This machine moves substantially parallel to the axis of the road and mows to just across the line along which the poles have been placed. When the mowing machine approaches a verge pole 2, the machine swerves in a flowing line to avoid a collision. After the verge pole 2 has been passed, the mowing machine is steered back in a flowing line to the original mowing line. Consequently, in each case a path 20 is first mown on one side of the imaginary line 5, and then a path on the other side of this imaginary line 5, of course with an overlap to prevent unmown strips. After the mowing of these paths, the unmown zones 6 are left over in the verge 1. Owing to the elongated form of the contour of the verge pole caps 3 in operative condition, the mowing machine can properly mow along the cap 3 without unmown zones that adjoin the areas covered by the verge pole caps 3 being left over. In addition, the overlap between the verge pole caps 3 and the mowing paths 20, 21 is limited and fairly constant, which is advantageous in respect of the outward appearance of the verge and for avoiding the incorporation of unnecessary material into the verge pole cap 3. Further, a limitation of the covered surface area is advantageous in respect of the drainage through the verge. Within the framework of the invention, various contours are possible; a selection of particularly advantageous contours is depicted in Figs. 2-7. These are all elongated forms having a length/width ratio to the.order of 1.5-3, while the ratio 2 is particularly favorable. However, other length/width ratios are also possible and may be desired as circumstances require. The contours shown in Figs. 2-7 are, respectively, a rhombus, a lens shape, a contour having concave and convex portions which merge into each other via an S-bend, a rectangle have rounded corners, a truncated lens shape, and a rectangle having rounded short sides. In Figs. 2-7, the patterns of the edges of the mowing paths are indicated by dotted lines 30, 31. Also indicated in Figs. 2-7, by reference numeral 17, are the respective holes for receiving the pole. Figs. 2-7 demonstrate how the respective contours of the pole caps connect to the patterns of the mowing paths. In this connection, it is observed that the overlap of the mowing pattern and the pole cap is slight and is preferably approximately constant to reduce the chance of the cap being lifted by the usually sucking action of the mowing machine. Fig. 2 shows a pole cap 63 of a diamond-shaped contour having straight sides 66, 67, 68 and 69. Fig. 3 shows a pole cap 83 having a contour in a convex lens shape, while the convexity of the sides 86, 87 need not necessarily be equal. The pole cap 103 of Fig. 4 is in longitudinal direction provided, in the area at its ends, with a concave contour 105 ending in a convex contour 107 via an S-bend-shaped transition 106. Towards the other end, the convex contour 107 merges again, via an S-bend-shaped transition 108, into a concave contour 109. Fig. 5 shows a pole cap 123 having a substantially rectangular contour, whose corners 126, 127, 128 and 129 are rounded. The pole cap 143 shown. in Fig.. 6 has a contour comprising convex sides 149 and 148, the ends in longitudinal direction having straight sides 146, 147. The contour of the pole cap 143 can be described as a convex lens shape having truncated ends. Fig. 7 shows a pole cap 163 whose contour consists of straight sides 167, 168 having semicircular ends 165, 166 in longitudinal direction. The form that can best be followed by most mowers with a constant, smallest possible overlap is the lens shape having truncated ends. Fig. 8 shows a verge pole having a verge pole cap 13 of a lens-shaped contour. The verge pole cap is provided with a hole 17 for receiving the verge pole 12. The verge pole cap is of hill-shaped design to provide additional reinforcement and in particular to prevent it from bending upwards. The incline of the pole cap is selected so that the mowing machine can pass over the pole cap with sufficient overlap. Although the advantages of the elongated shape can also be realized without anchoring of the pole cap to the ground, an elongated pole cap is liable to bend up in particular in the area of its ends, whether or not influenced by a sucking action of a mowing machine. Inter alia for that reason, the pole cap 13 is provided with anchoring flaps 16 for anchoring the pole cap 13 to the ground along its edges. Thus, curling up of the pole cap is prevented without this requiring a heavy construction of the pole cap. The anchorings 16 are designed as flaps whose side edges 18 in installed condition constitute upwardly facing retention surfaces. Further, the flaps 16 are provided with inverted U-shaped cut-outs and bent-over retention lips 19 defined by those cut-outs, the top edges of which lips, in installed condition, likewise constitute upwardly facing retention surfaces 24. Because of the curved shape of the pole cap, the edge of the hole 17 in installed condition is located in vertical direction at a distance above the anchorings 16, for supporting the pole 12 at a distance above the ground against tilting. The verge pole cap 23 of the verge pole 22 shown in Fig. 9 has anchorings 26 which are arranged adjacent the short sides of the verge pole cap. With these anchorings, the verge pole cap 23 can be firmly anchored in the verge ground. In principle, the anchoring means may have many shapes, but it is particularly efficient to design them as flaps 26 formed integrally with the cap 23. A dovetail shape or another shape widening towards the end offers a particularly firm anchoring, in that the downwardly diverging side edges constitute upwardly facing retention surfaces 27. Anchorings can also be used for caps that are placed around trees. The cap is curved on the outside, as a result of which the strength of the cap is increased and the drainage of rain water is improved, as well as the resistance to a mowing machine passing over that cap. If required, the cap may further be provided with internal reinforcement ribs. The verge pole cap 23 is fixedly attached to the verge pole 22, so that it can be installed together with the verge pole in one operation. In the verge pole 42 according to Figs. 10 and 11, the verge pole cap 43 and the verge pole 42 are of a one-piece construction and the verge pole cap 43 comprises anchoring elements 44, 45. The anchorings 44, 45 of the verge pole cap 43 also constitute reinforcement ribs 44. The outside surfaces of the anchoring elements 44, 45 form upwardly facing retention surfaces 46 which, in installed condition, provide that the pole cap 43 firmly engages the ground. This pole cap is in particular suitable for being manufactured from plastic, in particular waste plastic, and can readily be installed. The verge pole cap can be manufactured from many materials, but particularly favorable results are achieved when it is manufactured from a corrosion-proof and resilient material such as plastic (for instance polypropene or polyethene) or rubber. By assembling the verge pole cap from several parts, according to another embodiment, it can readily be installed. Here, too, anchoring means may be provided. The mounting of the parts of the cap can be effected in any well-known manner. The pole cap 53 shown in Figs. 12 and 13 has a curved shape and comprises anchorings 54, 55 at the ends in longitudinal direction and at the location of the widest point of the pole cap 53. With these anchorings 54, 55, edges 56 facing the pole cap constitute retention edges which, in installed condition, face upwards and prevent the anchorings from being easily pulled out of the ground. This pole cap 53 has a blind hole 57 into which the verge pole can be stuck. According to the shape of the cross section of the verge poles for which the pole cap is intended, the hole 57 can of course have different shapes. The use of a blind hole 57 offers the advantage that the verge poles are stuck into the hole over a fixed, limited distance and are thus always readily removable. This permits the verge poles to be changed in a quick and simple manner, which offers for instance the possibility of replacing these verge poles by clean poles, rather than washing them on the site. The collected dirty poles can then be washed at a central point. When the verge poles are removed, the pole caps 53, anchored to the ground, remain behind and thus also serve as holders for changeably receiving verge poles. In principle, poles can also be removably received if the pole cap has a continuous hole, but in that case, the changing of the poles can sooner be rendered more difficult, in that they are clamped in the ground or in the opening. A further advantage of the use of a blind hole 57 is that this does not require an excellently closing seal between the hole and the pole to prevent plant growth between the hole and the pole. As the hole 57 has a certain vertical extension, it in itself already provides the verge poles with sufficient support against tilting. To prevent theft of the poles, lockings may be provided that can exclusively be unlocked with special tools. The space under the curvature of the pole cap 53 is used for accommodating reinforcement ribs 61, 62 extending radially from the area of the hole to the anchorings 54, 55. These reinforcement ribs 61, 62 provide a particularly effective reinforcement in the area of the hole 57. As the reinforcements extend to the anchorings 54, 55, the forces introduced by the anchorings 54, 55 are effectively passed on. The bounding line 63 approximately indicates the boundary between the part of the pole cap 53 which, in installed condition, is situated above the ground and the part of the pole cap 53 which, in installed condition, is situated under the ground.

Claims: A pole cap for substantially sealingly covering an area at the foot of a pole to prevent plant growth in said area, including anchoring means (16; 26; 44; 54, 55; 74; 94) for mounting at least a portion of the pole cap on the ground, characterized in that the anchoring means (16; 26; 44; 54, 55) are designed in the form of flaps for anchoring the pole cap to the ground along its edges, the flaps being formed integrally with the cap to be stuck into the ground and having, in operative position, upwardly facing retention surfaces (18; 24; 27; 46; 56). A pole cap according to claim 1, further comprising a hole (17; 57) for receiving a pole, said hole (17; 57) having an upper edge which, in an operative position, is located in vertical direction at a distance above said anchoring means (16; 26; 44; 54, 55), for supporting a pole at a distance above the ground against tilting. A pole cap according to claim 2, wherein said hole (17; 57), in operative position, has a vertical extension for supporting a pole against tilting. A pole cap according to claim 3, wherein said hole (57) is a blind hole. A pole cap according to any one of claims 2-4, of which at least a cap portion is curved on the outside. A pole cap according to claim 5, wherein under said cap portion, reinforcements (61, 62), such as ribs or additional walls, are provided for reinforcing the pole cap in the area of said hole (57). A pole cap according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising reinforcements (45; 61, 62 105) having ends located on the outside, wherein the anchoring means (44; 54, 55) are located adjacent the ends, located on the outside, of the reinforcements. A pole cap according to any one of the preceding claims, which has a contour which, in operative condition, is elongated in top plan view. A pole cap according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the anchoring means (16; 26; 44; 54, 55) is provided in the area of one of the ends in longitudinal direction. A pole cap according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said contour has a width which gradually decreases towards the end and has ends in longitudinal direction which are point-shaped or truncated point-shaped. A pole cap according to any one of claims 8-10, wherein said contour has a length/width ratio of at least 1.5. A pole cap according to any one of claims 8-11, wherein said contour has a central convex portion (107, 117) in longitudinal direction and a concave portion (106, 108, 116, 118) located at a distance from the hole (17) in longitudinal direction, wherein said portions connect to each other so as to be S-bend-shaped. A pole cap according to any one of claims 8-11, wherein said contour is substantially lens-shaped. A pole cap according to any one of claims 8-11, wherein said contour is substantially diamond-shaped. A pole having a pole cap (3; 13; 23; 53; 63; 83; 103; 123; 143; 163) according to any one of the preceding claims. A pole according to claim 15, wherein the pole (22; 42) and the pole cap (23; 43) are of one-piece construction. A verge arrangement comprising a verge (1) and at least one verge pole (2; 42) having a verge pole cap (3; 43) according to any one of the preceding claims, covering a ground area at the foot of the at least one verge pole (2; 42). A verge arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the pole cap (3; 13; 23; 53; 63; 83; 103; 123; 143; 163) has an elongated contour in longitudinal direction of the verge (1).

Inventors: BEUKER HENDRIK AUKE, BEUKER, HENDRIK AUKE
Applicants: BEUKER HENDRIK AUKE, BEUKER JAN GERRIT JR, BEUKER JAN GERRIT SR, BEUKER, HENDRIK AUKE, BEUKER, JAN GERRIT, JR., BEUKER, JAN GERRIT, SR.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: E01F9
IPC codes: E01F15