The present invention relates to a bollard assembly, particularly but not exclusively a bollard assembly for installation in a ground surface.

In petrol stations, it is a requirement that when a fuel tanker is discharging fuel into underground storage tanks, the operation is cordoned off from the public by a temporary barrier. In a simple form, the temporary barrier is formed by the placement of cones. However, this requires the cones to be stored, either on the tanker or in the petrol station. There are a number of disadvantages with this. Quite often, cones cannot be found and a delay occurs. The cones can be wrongly placed, and/or insufficient cones can be used. The cones can be knocked, moved or blown out of correct position. The cones do not restrict or prevent passage of pedestrians or vehicles therebetween.

In this specification, the terms inner, outer, inwardly and outwardly, when used in relation to the assembly, are used with respect to the interior, which is inward, and the terms upward and downward are used in relation to the in-use orientation of a bollard assembly, in which downward means down into the ground.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided , the assembly including a bollard, the bollard including a plurality of bollard members, the members being arranged telescopically so that the bollard is movable between a collapsed condition and an extended condition.

Possibly, the assembly includes a housing. The housing may define an interior, and may include a base wall, one or more side walls and a cover. Possibly, in use, the housing is installed in the ground surface.

Possibly, the bollard assembly is movable between a storage condition, in which the bollard is in the collapsed condition and is wholly contained within the interior, and a barrier condition, in which the bollard is in the extended condition and extends upwardly from the housing.

Possibly, the bollard assembly is moved between the storage and the extended conditions by hand, and requires no power supply.

Possibly, the or the one side wall(s) define an in use upwardly facing opening which provides access to the interior. Possibly, in the storage condition, the cover locates in the opening to prevent access to the interior. Possibly, in the barrier condition, the cover is removed from the opening to permit access to the interior.

Possibly, the housing includes a mounting for mounting the cover to the side wall(s).

Possibly, in the storage condition, the housing is substantially watertight. Possibly, the housing includes a seal for sealing between the cover and the side wall(s). Possibly, the housing includes a lock device for locking the cover to the side walls in the storage condition. Possibly, the lock device requires a tool for operation.

Possibly, one of the bollard members is a base member. Possibly, the assembly includes a mounting for mounting the base member to the housing.

Possibly, one of the bollard members is a top member, which is the uppermost of the bollard members of the bollard in the extended condition. Possibly, the bollard includes a cap, which may be removably located on the top member. Possibly, the cap includes an engaging formation and the top member includes a corresponding engaging formation, which, may, in an engaged condition, engage together to connect the cap to the top member. Possibly, the cap is movable between the engaged condition and a free condition by respectively engaging and disengaging the engaging formations.

Possibly, the bollard includes a gripping member. Possibly, the assembly includes a mounting for mounting the gripping member to the top member or the cap. Possibly, the mounting is a pivot mounting.

Possibly, the bollard includes retaining formations for retaining the bollard in the extended condition. Possibly, each of the members apart from the base member includes a lower member engaging formation, which may comprise one of the retaining formations. Possibly, each lower member engaging formation comprises one or more projections, which may extend outwardly and may extend laterally. Possibly, each of the members apart from the top member includes an upper member engaging formation, which may comprise one of the retaining formations. Possibly, each upper member engaging formation defines one or more recesses in which, in the extended condition, the projections of the inwardly adjacent bollard member are received.

Possibly, each of the lower member engaging formations extends continuously around a lower part of the respective bollard member.

Possibly, each of the upper member engaging formations extends continuously around an upper part of the respective bollard member.

Possibly, the assembly includes an accessory.

Possibly, the accessory comprises a barrier device, which may comprise a housing in which may be located a reel of a flexible barrier member, such as a barrier tape. Possibly, the reel is spring loaded to aid retraction of the barrier member. Possibly, the housing is located within the top member, and the top member defines an aperture through which the barrier member passes.

Possibly, the accessory includes a bollard mounting formation, to permit mounting of the accessory to the bollard.

Possibly, the top member includes an accessory mounting formation. Possibly, in a mounted condition, the bollard mounting formation engages the accessory mounting formation.

Possibly, the accessory comprises the barrier device and/or a light.

Possibly, each bollard member includes one or more side walls, which may taper inwardly and upwardly. Possibly, each bollard member is hollow. Possibly, in the collapsed condition, adjacent bollard members nest one inside the other, and the bollard members may all nest within the base member.

Possibly, the assembly and/or the bollard members are formed of a plastics material, and may be formed by moulding. Possibly, the bollard assembly and/or the bollard members comprise no metal parts.

Possibly, the bollard assembly is for use in a petrol station area and may be for providing a temporary barrier.

Possibly, the bollard assembly includes an earthing member which the installed condition is connected to earth.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing a temporary barrier, the method including providing a bollard assembly and installing the bollard assembly in a ground surface, the assembly including a bollard, the bollard including a plurality of bollard members, the members being arranged telescopically so that the bollard is movable between a collapsed condition and an extended condition.

Possibly, the assembly includes any of the features described in any of the preceding statements or following description. Possibly, the method includes any of the steps described in any of the preceding statements or following description.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figs. 1A and 1 B are side cross sectional schematic views of a bollard assembly in a storage condition and a barrier condition respectively;

Fig. 2 is a relatively enlarged side cross sectional view of part of the assembly, as indicated in Fig. 1 A by the reference label II;

Fig. 3 is a relatively enlarged side cross sectional view of another part of the assembly, as indicated in Fig. 1 B by the reference label III;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a second bollard assembly in the storage condition;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the second bollard assembly in the storage condition with the cover removed;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the second bollard assembly in a barrier condition with the cover removed;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the second bollard assembly in the storage condition with the cover removed;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a lower part of a base bollard member of the second assembly;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a top bollard member of the second assembly;

Figs. 10A and 10B are perspective views of a cap and a top bollard member respectively of a third bollard assembly;

Fig. 1 1 is a side view of an accessory for fitting to the top member of the third assembly of Fig. 10B; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of part of a fourth bollard assembly; and Fig. 13 is another perspective view of the part of the fourth bollard assembly. Figs. 1 to 3 show a bollard assembly 10 installed in a ground surface

94. The assembly 10 includes a bollard 12, the bollard 12 including a plurality of bollard members 14. The members 14 are arranged telescopically so that the bollard 12 is movable between a collapsed condition and an extended condition.

The assembly 10 includes a housing 16. The housing 16 defines an interior 18, and includes a base wall 20, side walls 22 and a cover 24.

The bollard assembly 10 is movable between a storage condition, in which the bollard 12 is in the collapsed condition and is wholly contained within the interior 18, and a barrier condition, in which the bollard 12 is in the extended condition and extends upwardly from the housing 16.

The side walls 22 define an in-use upwardly facing opening 26 which provides access to the interior 18. In the storage condition, the cover 24 locates in the opening 26 to prevent access to the interior 18. In the barrier condition, the cover 24 is removed from the opening 26 to permit access to the interior 18. The housing 16 includes a mounting 28 for mounting the cover 24 to the side walls 22. In the example shown, the upper parts of the side walls 22 comprise a mounting formation 70 which defines a rabbet 72 for receiving the cover 24 in the storage condition. The mounting formation 70 comprises the mounting 28.

The housing 16 could include a seal 30 for sealing between the cover 24 and the side walls 22, so that in the storage condition, the housing 16 is substantially watertight. The housing 16 includes a plurality of lock devices 32 for locking the cover 24 to the side walls 22 in the storage condition. In the example shown in Fig. 1 , the housing could include three lock devices 32 equispaced around the perimeter of the cover 24. Each lock device 32 includes a shaft 74 with a laterally extending foot 76 at a lower end and an operating head 78 at an upper end. The operating head 78 locates in a counter bored through hole 80. The operating head 78 includes an operating formation (not shown), for example, defining a recess which is specifically shaped for engagement with a correspondingly shaped tool (not shown). Thus, the lock devices 32 require a specific tool for operation.

Each lock device 32 is movable between a locked condition in which the respective foot 76 is located in a recess 82 defined in an inward facing surface of the side walls 22 and an unlocked condition in which the foot 76 is rotated clear of the recess 82 by turning the operating head 78 through approximately 90° by means of the tool.

Each bollard member 14 includes side walls 68, which taper inwardly and upwardly. Each bollard member 14 is generally frusto-conical in shape and is hollow, defining an interior 100. In the collapsed condition, adjacent bollard members 14 nest one inside the other.

A lowermost one of the bollard members 14 is a base member 14B.

In the collapsed condition, adjacent bollard members 14 all nest within the base member 14B.

The assembly 10 includes a mounting 36 for mounting the base member 14B to the housing 16. The features of the base member mounting 36 are most clearly seen in Figs. 7 and 8. Although these figures relate to a second embodiment, it will be understood by the skilled person that the same features are incorporated in the assembly 10 of the first embodiment. In one example, the base wall 20 includes a base body 84 and a plurality of tabs 86, each tab 86 extending generally in a plane parallel with that of the base body 84, the tabs 86 and the base body 84 defining a plurality of slots 88 therebetween. The tabs 86 comprise the base member mounting 36.

The base member 14B includes a plurality of equispaced lugs 90 extending laterally from a lower edge of the base member 14B. The lugs 90 comprise the base member mounting 36. In an assembled condition, the lugs 90 locate through the slots 88 underneath the tabs 86 to secure the base member 14B to the housing 16.

In the extended condition, an uppermost one of the bollard members 14 is a top member 14T. The bollard members 14 located between the top member 14T and the base member 14B are intermediate bollard members 14M.

The bollard 12 includes a gripping member 46. In the example shown, the assembly 10 includes a pivot mounting 48 for mounting the gripping member 46 to the top member 14T, which permits the gripping member 46 to be moved between the storage condition in which the gripping member 46 is in a substantially horizontal position and a gripping condition in which the gripping member 46 is in a substantially vertical position.

The bollard 12 includes retaining formations 50 for retaining the bollard 12 in the extended condition.

Each of the members 14 apart from the base member 14B (i.e. the intermediate members 14M and the top member 14T) includes a lower member engaging formation 52, which comprises one of the retaining formations 50. Each lower member engaging formation 52 comprises a projection 54 in the form of a lip which extends outwardly and laterally from a lowermost part of the respective bollard member 14, and extends continuously around the lowermost part of the respective bollard member 14. Each lower member engaging formation 52 thus provides a perimeter rim around the lowermost part of the respective bollard member 14, defining a lower opening of the interior 100 of the respective bollard member 14

Each of the members 14 apart from the top member 14T (i.e. the intermediate members 14M and the base member 14B) includes an upper member engaging formation 56, which comprises one of the retaining formations 50. Each upper member engaging formation 56 extends continuously around an upper part of the respective bollard member 14 and comprises lower and upper relatively thickened wall parts 92A, 92B which define a recess 58. In the extended condition, the projection 54 of an inwardly adjacent bollard member 14 is received in the recess 58.

Each upper thickened wall part 92B provides a perimeter rim defining an upper opening of the interior 100 of the respective bollard member 14.

In one example, the housing 16 and the bollard members 14 could be formed of a plastics material, and could be formed by moulding. The plastics material provides a resiliently deformable property.

In use, the bollard assembly 10 could be installed, for example, in a petrol station area. A suitable hole 96 is excavated in a ground surface 94 of the forecourt. In one example, the housing 16 is then located within the hole 96 in the ground surface 94 and the bollard members 14 located into the housing 16. In another example, the bollard members 14 are located into the housing 16 and the bollard assembly 10 is then located into the hole 96. Suitable settable material (examples of which could include mortar, concrete, polymer modified cementitious grout and epoxy grout) can be used to provide bedding material on which the bollard assembly 10 is located and to provide haunching and fill materials. In assembling the bollard assembly 10, the bollard members 14 are firstly assembled together in a collapsed condition, with each successive bollard member 14 of the intermediate bollard members 14M and the top member 14T locating inside the previous respective bollard member 14, so that in the collapsed condition, all of the intermediate bollard members 14M and the top member 14T are located within the base member 14B.

The bollard members 14 are then located within the interior 18, so that the lugs 90 of the base member 14B locate between the tabs 86 of the base wall 20 of the housing 16 and at least the base member 14B is rotated axially so that the lugs 90 locate through the slots 88 and beneath the tabs 86.

Fig. 1A shows the bollard assembly 10 in the storage condition in which the bollard 12 is in the collapsed condition, the cover 24 is closed and the lock devices 32 are in the locked condition. The bollard assembly 10 is moved to the barrier condition in the following way.

Each of the lock devices 32 is moved from the locked condition to the unlocked condition, and the cover 24 removed from the opening 26. A user grasps the gripping member 46, moves the gripping member 46 from the storage condition to the gripping position and lifts, pulling the top member 14T and the intermediate members 14M upwards. As each of the top member 14T and the intermediate members 14M move upwardly, each of the projections 54 of the lower member engaging formations 52 is forced over the lower thickened wall part 92A to locate in the respective recess 58 of the upper member engaging formation 56 of the downwardly adjacent bollard member 14. The resiliently deformable property of the plastics material permits sufficient deformation of the projections 54 for them to pass over the thickened wall parts 92A and then to resume their original shape in the recesses 58. The tapering, frusto-conical shape of the bollard side walls 68 means that greater force is required to move the projections 54 over the upper thickened wall part 92B than over the lower thickened wall part 92A, because the diameter of the upper thickened wall part 92B is smaller than the diameter of the lower thickened wall part 92A. This prevents the bollard members 14 from pulling apart. Thus, as the user moves the top member 14T upwards, each of the bollard members 14 successively moves upwardly and locks into the extended condition with the downwardly adjacent respective bollard member 14, until all of the bollard members 14 of the bollard 12 are in the extended condition.

Advantageously, the arrangement of the retaining formations 50 permits the bollard 12 to be moved from the collapsed condition to the extended condition with a single easy one handed movement, with no tools required.

The bollard assembly 10 now provides a barrier. A plurality of assemblies 10 could be used to provide a safety cordon around an area such as a refilling or tanker discharge area of a petrol station.

After use, the bollard assembly 10 is moved from the barrier condition to the storage condition by reversal of the above steps. To move the bollard 12 from the extended condition to the collapsed condition, the user simply has to push down upon the top bollard member 14T, pushing the projections 54 past the lower thickened wall parts 92A, so that each successive bollard member 14 collapses inwardly into the base member 14B. The cover 24 can then be located in the opening 26 and the lock devices 32 moved from the locked condition to the unlocked condition.

The bollard 12 can easily be removed from the housing 16 for replacement, maintenance cleaning by axially rotating at least the base member 14B so that the lugs 90 move out of the slots 88 from underneath the tabs 86 to permit release of the base member 14B from the housing 16.

The bollard assembly 10 of the invention provides a number of advantages. The bollard assembly 10 is located in a predetermined correct location which is not subject to the whim of the user. The bollard assembly 10 is stored in the predetermined location, so cannot be lost and is always readily available when required. In the barrier condition, the bollard 12 is fixed in position, and cannot readily be blown, knocked or moved out of position. The assembly 10 is easily moved between the storage and barrier conditions. The bollard 12 can easily be removed from the housing 16 for replacement, maintenance or cleaning.

Importantly, the bollard assembly is moved between the storage and the extended conditions by hand, and requires no power supply. This is of particular significance in fuel station areas, where there is a congestion of underground services and a significant fire hazard.

The barrier assembly 10 is formed only of parts formed of plastics materials, and is therefore corrosion, rot and weather resistant, while being economical to manufacture, transport, install and maintain. In particular, there are no metal parts which might cause sparks which would be hazardous in a fuel station area. The barrier assembly 10 provides a noticeable visual barrier, but in the event of a collision will not damage a vehicle.

Figs 4 to 13 show other embodiments of the invention, many features of which are similar to those already described in relation to the embodiment of Figs 1 to 3. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, the following embodiments will only be described in so far as they differ from the embodiment already described. Where features are the same or similar, the same reference numerals have been used and the features will not be described again. Figs. 4 to 9 show a second bollard assembly 210 in accordance with the invention. As shown in Figs. 4 to 7, in this embodiment, the housing 16 and the cover 24 are circular in plan. The cover mounting 28 includes thread formations 102A, 102B formed on the cover 24 and the housing 16 respectively. In the storage condition, the thread formations 102A of the cover 24 engage the thread formations 102B of the housing 16 and aid water tightness. The assembly 210 could also include a seal similar to that previously described.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 9, the assembly 210 could include a gripping member 46 which is fixed to the top member 14T.

Figs. 10 and 1 1 show a third bollard assembly 310 in accordance with the invention. Referring to Figs. 10A and 10B, the assembly 310 includes a cap 40, which is hollow and removably locates on the top member 14T. In this example, the cap 40 includes a gripping member 46, and a pivot mounting 48 for mounting the gripping member 46 to the top member 14T. The cap 40 includes a plurality of spaced engaging formations 42, each engaging formation 42 being in the form of a C-shaped hook 106 which depends downwardly from a lower edge of the top member 14T.

The top member 14T includes corresponding engaging formations 44, each of which defines a slot 104, the slots 104 being defined in a surface of the top member 14T. In an engaged condition, the engaging formations 42 of the cap 40 engage the engaging formations 44 of the top member 14T to connect the cap to the top member. The cap 40 is movable between the engaged condition and a free condition by respectively engaging and disengaging the engaging formations 42, 44. To move to the engaged condition, the hooks 106 are located through the slots 104 and the cap 40 axially rotated relative to the top member 14T so that the hooks 106 locate under a surface 108 of the top member 14T. These actions are then reversed to move the cap 40 from the engaged condition to the free condition.

Referring to Fig. 10A, the top member 14T includes an accessory mounting formation 66, which in this example is in the form of an upstanding spigot projection 1 12.

Referring to Fig. 1 1 , the assembly 310 could include an accessory 1 10, the accessory 1 10 including a bollard mounting formation 1 14 to permit mounting of the accessory 1 10 to the bollard 12.

In this example, the bollard mounting formation 1 14 is in the form of a socket 1 16 which is hollow and in a mounted condition receives the spigot projection 1 12.

As shown in Fig. 1 1 , the accessory 1 10 could comprise a barrier device 120. The barrier device 120 includes a housing 60 in which is located a reel (not shown) of a flexible barrier member 62, such as a barrier tape. The reel could be spring loaded to aid retraction of the barrier member 62.

As shown in Fig. 1 1 , the accessory 1 10 could also include a light 64, which could be in the form of a battery powered warning beacon, which is detachably or permanently fitted on top of the housing 60. In use, in the storage condition, the bollard 14 of the third assembly

310 is in the collapsed condition with the cap 40 in the engaged condition, but with the accessory 1 10 stored elsewhere. When the bollard 14 has been moved to the extended condition (by the user pulling upwardly on the gripping member 46 as previously described) the cap 40 is moved to the free condition. The socket 1 16 of the accessory 1 10 can then be located over the spigot projection 1 12 of the top member 14T to mount the accessory 1 10 to the bollard 12. Figs. 12 and 13 show a fourth bollard assembly 410 in accordance with the invention. In this embodiment, the housing 60 of the barrier device 120 is located within the top member 14T, and the top member 14T defines an aperture 1 18 through which the barrier member 62 passes.

The barrier device 120 includes a bracket engaging formation 122 at a free end of the barrier member 62. The top member 14T includes a bracket 124. In the example shown, the bracket 124 is a projection 126 which is T- shaped in section and the bracket engaging formation 122 defines a slot 128 which is downwardly open, so that the bracket engaging formation 122 can simply be slid over the bracket 124 from above. In use, a plurality of bollard assemblies 410 could be located around an area. The barrier members 62 could be extended and the bracket engaging formation 122 of each barrier member 62 could located in engagement with the bracket 124 of an adjacent bollard assembly 410 to form a barrier to cordon off the area.

Advantageously, in this embodiment, no additional parts are required to form the barrier and all of the parts are stored in the bollard assembly in the stored condition. The barrier is simple and quick to construct and extends continuously around the area ensuring that personnel or vehicles do not (unknowingly at least) pass between bollard assemblies.

Various other modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The bollard assemblies of the invention and the component parts thereof could be of any suitable size and shape, and could be formed of any suitable material (within the scope of the specific definitions herein). The bollard could be conical in shape, or cylindrical. The housing could be circular in plan, or of any other suitable plan shape eg rectangular or square. The cover could be mounted to the housing by any suitable means. In one example, the cover mounting 28 could include a pivot mounting.

The bollard assembly could include an earthing member which in the installed condition is connected to earth.

The bollard assembly could include one or more LED lights which could be located on the top member and/or other members, and could each be powered by a small battery or a common power source.

Any of the features or steps of any of the embodiments shown or described could be combined in any suitable way, within the scope of the overall disclosure of this document.

The invention thus provides bollard assemblies for installation in a ground surface with a number of advantages over conventional arrangements.