Technical field

[0001 ] The present invention relates to poles suitable for street lighting or similar and particularly but not only to electric poles and telegraph poles which are hollow produced from aluminium.

Background

[0002] In the field of elongated support structures and in particular street poles or lighting, there have been significant changes made in the manufacture and instalment of such street and outdoor lighting poles.

[0003] Previously, support structures for street lighting etc. were constructed from timber or as a unitary steel tubular body. Architectural design and aesthetic demand has led to the development of a wide range of options for such street lighting.

[0004] With urban designers requiring the need for pole mounted lighting, traffic control, CCTV, banners, signage, public warning, communication, environmental monitoring, pedestrian management and many other applications in public areas it was inevitable that a streetscape would become cluttered with a myriad of different poles delivering these services. Not only has this become visually unsatisfactory in many places but also it has created a maze of obstructions in pedestrian areas using up valuable civic space.

[0005] This has a new generation of light poles that delivers to the community an effective solution to the growing number of single purpose poles that are sprouting in the urban environment.

[0006] In particular the applicant has developed its Multipole™ and Multipole Solar™ products that deliver an aesthetically pleasing all aluminium multi-function pole that can provide a flexible secure home for many of the services required in the streetscape. In addition the poles can be the basis for the provision of public amenities such as bike racks, bus shelters, water bubblers and seats. [0007] Early generations of these poles relied on a steel core clad in aluminium decorative cladding however recent developments have removed any reliance on steel by designing a pole based on the Applicant’s own extrusion technology.

[0008] This provides a number of significant advantages including improves sustainability since aluminium poles have a smaller carbon footprint, reduce installation costs as the weight of aluminium poles is substantially less than steel poles and the composite arrangement of producing the pole in separate connectable tubes reduce transport costs, low maintenance costs and resistance to graffiti, a safer pole due to its inherent energy absorbing nature of aluminium as compared with steel, excellent strength and ability to withstand severe environmental conditions, aesthetic advantages since there are no welded joints in the extruded aluminium pole section (such welded joints also provide a weakness in conventional steel poles) as well as the ability to produce tracks or channels in the aluminium extrusion to allow installation of accessories at various heights over the pole.

[0009] Currently, for costs and aesthetic reasons, aluminium poles are becoming more popular. Some such poles are provided with an extruded aluminium base section with a first cross-section shape and size, and a mast of second cross-section shape and size (preferably smaller than said first cross-section) connected to and supported by the mast. The lower supporting mast section it sometimes provided with flutes, reabsorbed channels. These ribs have multiple functionality including aesthetics, the ability to add accessories, etc but they also serve the purpose of strengthening. As it will be understood by persons skilled in the art, previously constructed steel poles did not require such strengthening ribs since steel is stronger in a conventional tube. Aluminium on the other hand, can be extruded in quite complex cross-section which are both strong and light weight.

[0010] It is generally required to provide access to the interior of street lighting, telecommunications pole, etc for various reasons including installation, or maintenance of power and electronics for the lighting and other accessories mounted on the pole. Access to the interior of the pole is generally provided through an aperture covered by a hatch. Conventionally, the hatch cover is larger than the aperture to ensure security of the pole interior. Normally a series of screws, bolts or the like would be provided around the aperture of the hatch adapted to engage fasteners of some sort around the perimeter of the aperture.

[001 1 ] In some cases, a hatch maybe the same size and mounted flush with the aperture. This requires additional fixture means being mounted within the interior of the pole to which the hatch can be fastened. It would be clear to a person skilled in the art that the installation of additional fastening means in the interior of the pole is both time consuming and expensive.

[0012] These arrangements are complex, expensive to produce and in some cases a hatch can be lost after release or removed by an unauthorised person. It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

Disclosure of the invention

[0013] In a broad aspect, the present invention provides a method for providing a hatch cover for a hatch aperture formed in a pole, said pole being substantially hollow member formed preferably by extrusion with a plurality of ribs or channels thereon, said hatch cover extending between and slidably received and retained within said channels.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the hatch cover is adapted to move between a cover position wherein it at least partially covers the aperture, and a maintenance position where it is spaced from the aperture, the cover being retained within said channels during said movement.

[0015] By providing a hatch cover which is slidably engaged with the pole, the hatch may simply be slid open by movement of the hatch cover. The hatch cover is adapted to reciprocate between the cover position wherein it would normally be screwed or locked into position on the pole to cover the aperture, and a maintenance or open position spaced from the cover position, wherein the aperture is uncovered. In this open position, maintenance or other activities can occur through the aperture into the hollow interior of the pole.

[0016] Since the aperture is slidably received and retained between the ribs on the pole, it cannot be removed from the pole. It remains“engaged” with the pole the entire time both in the closed cover position and the open or maintenance position and during movement between these positions. This has an additional benefit of safe and easy movement of the hatch with virtually no prospect that the hatch will be lost or damaged during maintenance. Still further, the slideable engagement of the hatch cover with the pole gives a significant security benefit in that the hatch itself cannot be disengaged from the pole by an unauthorised person. The hatch can only be slidably moved relative to the pole. [0017] In a further preferred embodiment the ribs/channels are closed at their ends for further security to prevent disengagement of the hatch cover from the pole.

[0018] For instance, the ribs or channels can be closed at the lower end by the foundation or ground, and at the upper end by the normal cover placed over the aluminium pole.Alternatively, the recesses can extend in the longitudinal direction substantially higher than a normal person can reach so even if the hatch cover is disengaged from the hatch aperture by an unauthorised person, it cannot be slid out through the top of the apertures since they will be too distant from the ground making it virtually impossible for“opportunistic” theft.

[0019] Additionally, the present invention prevents prying of the hatch away from the pole. In the cover position, the hatch can be fastened to the pole in the usual way eg. mechanical fastening. At all times, however, even if these mechanical fasteners are disengaged, the hatch itself cannot be pried away from the pole itself.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the ribs or channels extend in the longitudinal axial direction of the pole. Most preferably the longitudinal ribs are integrally formed with the aluminium poles by means of extrusion. In an alternative embodiment, the ribs or channels may be formed separately and attached to the pole.

[0021 ] In this regard, it is preferable that the aperture is bound ie. surrounded by ribs on at least two sides. These ribs can provide additional structural support since, in some cases, the size and positioning of the aperture may reduce the strength of the pole.

[0022] Most preferably, the hatch is shaped to follow the contour of the exterior surface of the pole. Again, this provides additional security. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the pole is substantially circular in cross section and the hatch is curved or arcuate to closely follow the shape of the pole.

[0023] In one embodiment, the hatch may be shaped such that it is frictionally held in any position on the pole. To explain, if the pole is circular in cross section, the hatch may be of a larger radius or“flatter” such that the centre portion closely abuts the exterior surface of the pole and the sides engaged in the ribs/channels stand slightly“proud” from the wall to more firmly engage the ribs/channels ie. the hatch acts in a spring-loaded fashion against the pole and its recesses/channels. [0024] In another broad aspect, the present invention provides an internal access system for a substantially hollow pole, said system comprising a hatch aperture in a side wall of the pole, a hatch cover adapted to the cover said hatch aperture and a plurality of ribs or channels extending on said pole, said hatch cover extending between and slidably received and retained within at least two said rib/channels, such that said hatch cover is movable between a cover position at least partially covering the aperture and a maintenance position spaced from the aperture, the hatch cover being retained within said channels during said movement.

Brief description of the drawings

[0025] The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

[0026] Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a pole, mast or other elongated member with an aperture in its side wall and a closure hatch, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a pole, mast or the like having a hatch/aperture closure system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figures 3 and 4 shown the hatch covers figure 2 in a partially open and fully opened configuration in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pole, mast or other elongated member with an aperture in its side and a closure hatch in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Best mode(s) for carrying out the invention

[0030] Figure 1 is a cross sectional elevation of a hollow elongated member suitable in the production of a pole, such as a street lighting pole, telecommunications pole, mast or the like. The portion of the pole 100 shown is hollow having a substantially circular wall 120 in this case. Plurality of ribs 150 are provided on the pole. In this instance, these ribs extend in the axial direction or longitudinally but as will be discussed below, the present invention is not limited to longitudinally extending ribs. These ribs 150 provide channels or recesses 180 similarly extending in the longitudinal direction. An aperture 200 is cut into or formed in the wall of the pole 100. A hatch or cover 300 is provided for covering or closing the aperture 200. As shown in figure 1 , the aperture 200 is sized to extend between mutually opposing recesses or channels 150. The hatch 200 is slidably received and retained within these recesses or channels 150 and cannot be disengaged from the pole other than by slidably disengaging the hatch from the ends of these recesses or channels, as will be discussed below.

[0031 ] As can be seen in figure 1 , the pole 100 is substantially circular in cross section and accordingly the hatch 300 preferably follows a similar arcuate shape of the wall of the pole. In one embodiment, the hatch can be a larger radius or“flatter” profile than the pole thereby increasing the grip between the recesses in the pole to thereby hold the hatch. In other words, the hatch acts like a leaf spring with its outer edges springing outwardly in the recesses 180 and the centre portion contacting the wall of the pole when it is in the open position.

[0032] Installation and operation of the hatch 300 on the pole 100 will now explained by references 2-4.

[0033] Turning to figure 2, it can be seen that the pole 100 comprises a plurality of longitudinally extended ribs 150. The hatch 300 extends between and is slidably received and retained in mutually opposing recesses or channels 180 formed by these ribs 150.

[0034] Fastening means 400 may be applied at the upper or lower portion of the hatch 300 to secure the hatch in its cover position as shown in figure 2. In this position, access to the aperture 200, and thereby the interior of the pole 100, is prevented. Additionally, the hatch 300 in this position cannot be pried open since it is held by both the fastening means 400 and along the entirety of both its longitudinal edges by recesses 180.

[0035] Once the fastening means 400 are released, the hatch may be slidably moved to a maintenance position where it at least partially opens the aperture. Figure 3 shows a partial opening of the aperture 200 with a hatch 300 slidably moved downward.

[0036] Figure 4 shows the hatch 300 in its fully opened position where it is spaced from the aperture 200. The aperture 200 is completely opened for maintenance or other purposes. In this position it can be seen that the hatch 200 is still reliably retained by the pole since again, both longitudinal edges of the hatch 300 are retained in mutually opposing recesses 180. It is virtually impossible for the hatch 300 to be mislaid or disengaged from the pole due to the reliable retention of the hatch 200 by the mutually opposing recesses 180. [0037] Further, it is also possible that the recesses or ribs could be provided in an annular arrangement such that the hatch or cover slidably rotates laterally around the pole rather than moving in a longitudinal direction. This may have some aesthetic or functional advantages over the longitudinal reciprocation of the hatch as shown in figures 1 -4.

[0038] The ribs 150 and recesses or channels 180 shown in the embodiment of figures 1 - 4 are preferably integrally formed with the pole for example by extrusion. The embodiment shown in Figure 1 for instance provides a single extruded element forming both the pole 100 with ribs 150 and channels/recesses 100. It is also possible to provide ribs 150 separately for attachment to the pole to form the channels/recesses 180 for slidably engaging and retaining the hatch cover.

[0039] In this regard, we refer to another embodiment shown in Figure 5, in which the pole/elongate member 100 is formed with at least a pair of recesses 500. Elongated elements 550 can engage these recesses 500 by, in the case, partial insertion, to thereby form channels or recesses 580. These channels or recesses 580 perform the same function as the recesses 180 shown in Figures 1 to 4. The ribs 550 can be held in place by various means including friction, chemical or mechanical fastening. The hatch 300 is again placed between the mutually opposing recesses 580 to cover aperture 200 formed in the side wall of the pole or elongate member 100.

[0040] As mentioned above, it is preferable that the ribs and channels/recesses 180 extend substantially the entire length of at least the base portion of the pole and preferably are closed at their ends between, for example, the foundation or ground at the lower end, and a conventional cover or closure at the upper end. Again, this prevents disengagement and removal of the cover 300 from the pole.

[0041 ] It would be seen that the present inventive hatch cover/apertures system has significant advantages over conventional systems. There is a reduction in the number and need of mechanical fastening means for the hatch. It is a much smoother and easier opening and closing of the hatch with aforementioned slidable hatch cover. Further, the hatch is always retained in a reliable close-fitting fashion with the pole preventing or at least reducing the opportunity for prying open the hatch by an authorised person.

[0042] It would be understood by persons skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope as defined in the attached claims.