Abstract:
A security post for automobiles vertically disposed in the ground to allow or prevent access to a particular area. The post is manually withdrawn form the ground and secured in place with a securing bolt and lock. Guides on the post provide and easily slidable member within a sleeve that is disposed in the ground. A cover is provided for preventing the accumulation of dirt or other foreign particles on the top of the post and sleeve.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to security devices for automobiles. More particularly, it relates to a retractable security post for preventing access to a particular parking position with or without an automobile parked therein. 
     2. The Prior Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,910 to Quante, discloses a barrier post for parking lots and passageways. The invention consists of a collapsible post for securing parking places. In one particular embodiment of the invention, a retractable post is shown whereby the entire post is embedded in the ground vertically in an open position, and above the ground when in its closed position. In addition, the use of remote control operation of the post is disclosed. Thus, the user need not get out of the vehicle in order to open and close the position of the barrier post. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,439 to Doxsee, discloses a barrier for parking places. The invention shows a base plate permanently affixed to the ground, and a barrier post pivotally secured to the base plate. The post has an upright vertical position when used to secure a parking place, and a horizontal lowered position when not in use. An internal locking mechanism locks the post in its upright secure position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,935 to Boots, discloses a vehicle parking space locking device. The locking device consists of a cylindrical post that is disposed vertically in the ground and is capable of being locked in both an upright and lowered position. A square housing, affixed to the ground, provides a locking mechanism for the post in addition to supporting the post. The housing is disposed above the ground. A key lock controls a latching bar for locking the post in either an upright or lowered position. 
     The barrier post shown by Quante presents potential problems with the remote control operation. When used in a cold climate, the snow, ice and cold will effect the operation of the post. Thus, the post will not be able to extend into its upright position when an accumulation of ice and snow has occurred above the post when in its lowered position. The post of Doxsee does not retract into the ground, and therefore presents a hazard to those in the vicinity if the post. The post of Boots also presents a hazard to anyone in the vicinity of the post due to the housing being disposed above the ground. Furthermore, the locking mechanism is susceptible to being effected by cold weather. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the shortfalls of the prior art by providing a security post that is completely disposed in the ground when in a lowered position, and can be easily extended and locked into an upright position. When in its lowered position, the top portion of the post, including the lifting handle, is completely flush with the ground surface, thereby providing a safe environment in the vicinity of the post. The post is disposed within a sleeve that is completely recessed into the ground. Both the sleeve and the post have an end plate. A form fitted cover is provided to prevent the accumulation of ice, snow, dirt or other foreign particles on the top of the post and sleeve. Thus, when the post is in its lowered position, the cover will easily allow the user to erect the post without having to clean, shovel or chip away the dirt, snow and ice. When the post is in its upright position, the cover will prevent snow or ice from accumulating on the top of the post and thereby protect the lifting handle. When the post is brought into its upright position, a securing bolt passes through the bottom of the post to lock and maintain the post in said upright position. After the securing bolt has been placed through the post, a lock is secured through the bolt to prevent the removal thereof. A pair of ball plungers are disposed within the end plate of the sleeve such that when the post is raised to the upright position, the ball plungers will hold the post in the upright position while the securing bolt is placed in its locking position. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a security post for automobiles that overcomes the shortfalls of the prior art. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a security post for automobiles that is completely flush with the ground when in its lowered position. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a security post for automobiles that operates efficiently under all weather circumstances. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a security post for automobiles that is inexpensive to install and easily manufactured. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a security post for automobiles that is reliable and cannot be entirely removed from the ground. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a security post for automobiles that is easy to use and does not require extensive effort to operate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which discloses one embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
     FIG. 1a is a perspective view of the security post of the invention; 
     FIG. 1b is perspective view of the security post of the invention with the post partially raised; 
     FIG. 2a is a top view of the security post of the invention; 
     FIG. 2b is a side view of the security post of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the securing bolt of the invention; 
     FIG. 4a is a top view of the sleeve end plate of the invention; 
     FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve end plate of FIG. 4a taken along the line I--I of FIG. 4a; 
     FIG. 4c is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve end plate of FIG. 4a taken along line II--II of FIG. 4a; 
     FIG. 5a is a top view of the cover for the security post of the invention; 
     FIG. 5b is a side view of the cover for the security post of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the security post of the invention in an upright locked position. 
     FIG. 7a is an elevational view of the strike plate according to the invention; and 
     FIG. 7b is a cross-sectional view of the strike plate of FIG. 7a taken along line VII--VII of FIG. 7a. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of the security post 10 having a sleeve 12 and a post 14. The post 14 has an end plate 18 disposed on the top thereof, and a handle 20 within the end plate 18. The sleeve 12 has an end plate 16. The post 14 has guides 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d disposed near the bottom of said post for providing a smooth sliding action into and out of the sleeve 12. The post 14 has guides disposed on each of the four sides thereof near the bottom as illustrated by guides 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d. The guides on the other two sides of post 14 (not shown) are disposed symmetrically opposite guides 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d shown. A hole 24 centrally disposed through post 14 receives a securing bolt 30 (FIG. 3). The handle 20 fits within a recess 35 (FIG. 1b) such that when said handle is not in use, it is flush with the top of end plate 18. 
     FIG. 1b shows the security post 10 of the invention with the post 14 partially raised from sleeve 12. The end plate 16 of sleeve 12 has ball plungers 13a and 13b which are secured in place by hex screws 21c and 21d, and 21a and 21b, respectively. End plate 18 of post 14 has a notch 17 disposed therein such that end plate 18 does not interfere with ball plungers 13a and 13b when said post is in its lowered position. Strike plates 25 is disposed on opposite side of post 14 and near the bottom of said post below the securing hole 24 and above the guides 22a and 22b. When the post is raised, the ball plungers 13a and 13b are engaged by strike plates 25 such that said ball plungers extend into the path of the post. When post 14 is raised such that strike plates 25 are lifted beyond ball plungers 13a and 13b, the post 14 can be released and said ball plungers will hold said post in an upright position by causing said strike plates to rest on the extended ball plungers 13a and 13b. Strike plate 25 has an angled portion 27 that is angled downward to facilitate contact with ball plungers 13a and 13b during the lifting motion of post 14. 
     FIG. 2a shows a top view of the end plates 16 and 18 of the sleeve and post, respectively. A pair of drain holes 19a and 19b are provided with end plate 18 to prevent the accumulation of water in said end plate. FIG. 2b shows a side view of the post and sleeve of the invention. End plate 16 is secured to sleeve 12 with L brackets 21a and 21b. The screws 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d that hold L-brackets 21a and 21b in place serve as stoppers for post 14 such that when post 14 is raised into its upright position, the uppermost guides will come into contact with said screws of said post if raised too much. 
     FIG. 3 shows the securing bolt 30 of the invention. Securing bolt 30 has and L-shape with the long portion 34 extending from a shorter and wider portion 32. A hole 36 is disposed at the end of the long portion 34 for receiving a lock 38 (FIG. 6). 
     FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c show the end plate 16 of the sleeve of the invention. End plate 16 has an opening 42 for receiving the post. Opening 42 has a lip 15 disposed therearound, such that when the post is inserted into the sleeve, the end plate 18 of the post 14 rests on lip 15 such that the top of end plate 18 is flush with the top of end plate 16 of the sleeve. Lip 15 also serves as a secondary stopper for preventing the post from coming out of the sleeve. Ball plungers 13a and 13b are disposed opposite each other across the opening 42 in end plate 16. 
     FIGS. 5a and 5b show a form fitted cover 50 having indentations 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d for fitting into the top of end plate 18 of the post 14. 
     FIG. 6 shows the post 14 in the upright position and secured in place by securing bolt 30 and lock 38. The sleeve 12 has an open bottom such that proper drainage is obtained. A bed of rocks 40 is disposed within the ground below the open bottom of the sleeve to further improve the drainage from the sleeve. 
     FIGS. 7a and 7b show the strike plate 25 according to the invention. Strike plate 25 has an angled portion 27 that is angled downward and enables said strike plate to slidably engage ball plungers 13a and 13b within end plate 16 when post 14 is raised from its lowered position. 
     While only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.