SUPPORT POST

Abstract: A support post (10, 21) for a crowd control barrier comprises a ground-penetration (12, 23) portion and a support portion (10, 21) and includes a laterally-extending thrust member (14, 25) to which force may be applied to drive the post into the ground. The ground-penetration portion may include radial fins or flutes (15, 16, 27, 28, 34) and be detachably connected to the thrust member which itself may be detachably connected to the support portion.

Description: SUPPORT POST This invention relates to a support post, that is, a post insertable in use into a medium such as the ground and which is able to carry an object such as a crowd guidance barrier or a sign. More particularly, the support post is of the type suitable for forming part of a crowd control barrier and which is therefore able, in use, to withstand a degree of lateral force. Support posts are well known and have been in general use for many years. However, their design has altered little with the exception that the end of the post which is uppermost in use may be adapted to receive different items. In general, little attention has been paid to easing the insertion of the lower end of the post into the medium, with the exception of shaping the end of the post to a point or, in the case of fence posts, inserting the still-blunt end of the post into an adapter which is itself pointed to facilitate insertion into a medium. Conventionally, support posts are driven into the ground using force applied to the top of the post, for example by hitting the top of the post with a mallet. A protective material may be interposed between the top of the post and the mallet to prevent damage to the post. However, damage to the top of the post may still occur, which may render the post unusable if, for example, the post is intended to carry an object such as a sign at its upper end. Additionally, insertion in this manner is tiring for the person driving the post or posts into the ground and, if the posts are subsequently to be removed, the force used to achieve insertion may have resulted in the post being so embedded in the ground that removal is difficult. The present invention provides a support post comprising a medium-penetration portion and a support portion, the post including a thrust member defining a substantially horizontal surface to which force may be applied to insert the medium-penetration portion in the medium. Preferably, the force applied to the thrust member is foot- or hand-pressure. However, where necessary, the thrust member may provide a suitable area to be struck with a hammer or mallet. Preferably, the thrust member comprises a flange extending from the post. Advantageously, bracing or buttress means may be provided between the thrust member and the post, to help to prevent accidental deformation or detachment of the thrust member from the post when driving force is applied, especially if the force is excessive if, for example, the medium is hard or stoney ground. Optionally, two or more thrust members may be provided. Where two or more members are provided they are preferably equally spaced about the post. Alternatively, the thrust member may comprise a collar surrounding the post. Preferably, the thrust member is disposed towards the lower end of the post allowing the post to be inserted into the medium by the use of force applied by a user's foot. Conversely, if the thrust member is towards the upper end of the post, the post may be inserted into the supporting medium by the use of force applied by a user's hand. Preferably, the post is inserted in use into the ground. However, the post of the present invention finds equal utility when inserted into a base unit such as a bucket filled with sand. The medium-penetration portion is preferably tapered or conical and, where the post is to be inserted into the ground, the medium-penetration portion may comprise a spike element below the tapered part to form an initial hole in the ground. The spike element may be integral with the ground-penetration portion or may be detachable therefrom. In the case of a detachable spike element, it is preferred that the element is formed from a metal, for example steel, although it may be formed from a plastics material such as polypropylene. The tapered portion may comprise formations which provide greater contact with the medium, for example radial wings or flutes for enhanced engagement with and stability in the ground. The thrust member may be an integral part of the post or may be detachable therefrom. For example, the post and the thrust member may be connectable to one another by means of male and female mating parts or by complementary threaded portions. Optionally, the thrust member and the ground-penetration portion are detachable from each other and from the post. In one embodiment, the ground-penetration portion includes a cylindrical, optionally tapered, body element with radially-directed fins extending therefrom and is detachably connected to a thrust member also comprising a cylindrical body element with a radially-directed thrust arm extending therefrom. The thrust member may comprise a radial arm extending from an annular flange, the arm and flange being preferably reinforced by webs or fillets which may be angularly spaced apart in correspondence with the fins of the ground-penetration member. The respective body elements preferably have complementary mating formations to connect them together and one of the body elements may include an axial mandrel or reinforcing rod which is receivable in a corresponding cavity in the other of the body elements. The upper end of the thrust member body element may comprise a stub which is detachably receivable in the lower end of the support portion of the post. The invention further provides a ground-penetration foot device for supporting a post, the device comprising means for receiving a post, a medium-penetration member attached to the post-receiving means, and a thrust member attached to the post receiving means, such that force may be applied to the medium-penetration member via the thrust member to insert the device in a medium. Preferably, at least the upper end of the post is profiled to receive a barrier tape or a sign. Such profiling may be in the form of a peripheral groove around the post. Similar profiling may be formed at various points along the length of the post. Alternatively, the post may be profiled to enable engagement with the opposite member of a male and female mating pair. The post may be solid or hollow according to the intended conditions of use. For example, the post may be hollow and comprise an end cap, thereby allowing the post to be filled with a ballast material such as sand in the event that a heavier post is required. Alternatively, the post may be hollow and comprise internal means to improve strength and rigidity. A hollow post may act as a chamber for containing the barrier tape or other material, such as chain, for attachment between adjacent posts in use. Alternatively, the upper end of the post, or the end cap, may comprise a slot or other formation for receiving an indicator or warning board or sign, or to support a rope, chain or strip barrier element. The post may comprise several telescopic sections such that the length of the post is adaptable to suit the application. Preferably, the telescopic sections are able to be locked in the extended configuration, for example by a bayonet-type arrangement. The respective component parts of the support post may be made of different materials. Preferably, the medium-penetration and support portions and the thrust member are made from a non-corrodeable material, for example a plastics material, especially polypropylene, for example by injection moulding. Where the post is provided with a spike, which is preferably formed from a metallic material, it is preferred that the spike is encased in a removable bulb or end cap for safety reasons. Preferably, the thrust member also provides a surface to which force can be applied to remove the post from the supporting medium. In use, a user wishing to insert the post into the ground would offer the lower end of the medium-penetration portion to the ground, place their foot or hand on the thrust member and apply downward force to the thrust member to drive the medium-penetration portion into the ground. To remove the post from the ground, the user would either simply pull the post upwards or, if this was impeded, use a lever to apply leverage to the underside of the thrust member. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a support post according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the lower part of another embodiment. The post of the present invention will be described in the following as a post for use as part of a crowd guiding barrier but the invention has equal utility in other applications where a post is required to be driven into the ground, for example in supporting the fabric of a windbreak, to erect a garden- or table-parasol, for supporting a washing line, in erecting animal pens, in fencing, with tent or caravan awnings or even for supporting baskets of flowers. Referring to Figure 1, a support post generally indicated 10 comprises a shaft 11 carrying a laterally-extending thrust member 12. The thrust member includes a cylindrical part 13 having an axial cavity opening at the lower end and a radially-extending arm 14 supported by a fillet 15 and braced by webs 16. A metal rod 17 is inserted in the cavity, as shown by the dashed line. The shaft 11 is hollow and carries an end cap 18 formed with a diametral slot 19 to receive a sign (not shown); if the post is used to support a rope or tape defining a walkway or to act as a barrier, the rope or tape may be carried in the slot or wrapped around the shaft below the end cap. The outer surface of the shaft may be grooved or otherwise profiled for this purpose. In use, a user offers the rod 17 to the ground and applies foot-pressure to the thrust arm 1 ' 4. A sign may then be attached to the post by engagement in the slot 19 or a tape, for example, for defining a path to be followed by a crowd, may be wound around post. The rod and at least part of the thrust member penetrate the ground, the webs providing additional stability. With reference to Figure 2, the lower part of a hollow polypropylene post 21 is a sliding fit over an upstanding spigot or stub 22 of a polypropylene bracket member 23. A through-rivet 24 secures the post to the bracket member, which includes a laterally-extending thrust arm 25 including raised grippers 26, the arm 25 being supported by web 27 reinforced by flutes 28 which extend radially from a central cylindrical portion 29. The lower part of the cylinder 29 is formed as a nose or spigot 30 which extends below the flutes 28. A ground penetration element 31 consists of a cylinder 32 having an upper socket 33 and four radially-disposed wings or flutes 34 which in use are aligned with the three radially-disposed flutes 28 and the web 27 of bracket member 23. Between the upper ends of the flutes 34 are four upwardly-directed tabs or lugs 35 which define the mouth of the socket 33. The nose or spigot 30 is tight fit in the socket 33 and may be secured therein with adhesive or, where the parts are made of thermoplastic material, with the aid of a heat gun to fuse the parts together. When in use in the ground, the arm 25 is preferably at ground level whereby not only the flutes 24 of the ground-penetration element but also the aligned flutes 28 and web 27 of the bracket member engage the ground and increase the resistance to lateral forces. Such a post is intended for sports and leisure applications but for, for example, industrial use, the fluted ground-penetrating element may be replaced by a plain spike with a pointed or rounded nose, as shown in Figure 1. The ground-penetrating element 31 is intrinsically safer in that the end thereof, which can be rounded or flat, is less likely to cause injury in an accident or if being inappropriately used.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A support post comprising a medium-penetration portion and a support portion, the post including a thrust member defining a substantially horizontal surface to which force may be applied to insert the medium-penetration portion in the medium. 2. A post according to claim 1, in which the thrust member comprises a flange extending from the post. 3. A post according to claim 2, in which bracing or buttress means are provided between the thrust member and the post. 4. A post according to any preceding claim, in which the medium-penetration portion comprises a spike element. 5. A post according to any preceding claim, in which the medium-penetration portion comprises formations which provide greater contact with the medium. 6. A post according to any preceding claim, in which the thrust member is detachable from the support portion. 7. A post according to any preceding claim, in which the ground-penetration portion includes a cylindrical body element with radially-directed fins extending therefrom and is detachably connected to a thrust member also comprising a cylindrical body element with a radially-directed thrust arm extending therefrom. 8. A post according to claim 7, in which the respective body elements have complementary mating formations to connect them together and one of the body elements optionally includes an axial mandrel or reinforcing rod which is receivable in a corresponding cavity in the other of the body elements. 9. A post according to any preceding claim, in which the support portion is hollow and comprises an end cap. 10. A post according to claim 9, in which the upper end of the support portion, or the end cap, comprises a slot or other formation for receiving an indicator or warning board or sign, or to support a rope, chain or strip barrier element. 11. A ground-penetration foot device for supporting a post, the device comprising means for receiving a post, a medium-penetration member attached to the post-receiving means, and a thrust member attached to the post receiving means, such that force may be applied to the medium-penetration member via the thrust member to insert the device in a medium.

Inventors: TAYLOR LARRY, TAYLOR, LARRY
Applicants: TAYLOR LARRY, TAYLOR, LARRY
Application year: 1999
Main classification: E01F9
IPC codes: E01F9, E01F13