A Post

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a post which may be used as a position marker or to support items generally, for example road or other signs.

BACKGROUND

Posts are used for many and varied purposes. When employed in large numbers, for example for road-side markers, traffic signs or advertising signs, it is desirable to be able to install them in an efficient manner. It is known to form posts for ready installation, comprising a series of smaller poles that are circular in cross-section installed into the ground alongside one another, and held together as a group by a sleeve. An example of this is shown in patent specification WO 2020204730 by the current applicant. An object of a preferred embodiment of the current invention is to provide an alternative to such posts, one which has better resistance to being undesirably removed from the ground after installation. While this applies to a preferred embodiment, the object of the invention per se is simply to provide a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the invention is a post comprising: a) a pole; b) a rigid sleeve that has at least two inwardly extending locking nodes; and c) a fastener; the post being such that: d) a base portion of the pole is lodged within the ground; e) the pole cantilevers upright out of the ground; f) the sleeve extends around and covers at least most of the portion of the post that is cantilevered out of the ground; and g) the fastener exerts pressure on the pole and the trailing end of opposing substantially planar contact surfaces of the pole are too wide to pass the nodes, but leading ends of the contact surfaces can, to cause said contact surfaces to wedge between the nodes to prevent the post from rotating with respect to the sleeve.

Optionally at least one of the two nodes has a substantially planar contact surface that butts against one of the planar contact surfaces of the pole such that there is a rotational impasse between the butting surfaces.

Optionally each of the two nodes has a substantially planar contact surface that butts against a respective one of the substantially planar contact surfaces of the pole such that there is a rotational impasse between the butting surfaces.

Optionally the locking nodes are diagonally opposite the fastener and are at opposing sides of the sleeve.

Optionally the locking nodes are angled towards one another such that the space between them constricts with increasing distance from the fastener.

Optionally the pole is substantially triangular or hexagonal in transverse cross-section at least where the pole’s contact surfaces wedge between the nodes.

Optionally a) the nodes are diagonally opposite the fastener and are at opposing sides of the sleeve; b) the nodes are angled towards one another such that the space between their planar contact surfaces constricts with increasing distance from the fastener; and c) the pole is substantially hexagonal in transverse cross-section at least where the pole’s contact surfaces wedge between the nodes.

Optionally at least one of the two nodes has a rounded or otherwise curved contact surface that butts against a respective one of the substantially planar contact surfaces of the pole such that there is a rotational impasse between these butting surfaces.

Optionally each of the two nodes has a rounded or otherwise curved contact surface that butts against a respective one of the substantially planar contact surfaces of the pole such that there is a rotational impasse between these butting surfaces. Optionally the pole is substantially hexagonal in transverse cross-section at least where the pole’s contact surfaces wedge between the nodes.

Optionally the pole has bend memory such that if the post is knocked into a less upright position the post is biased to return to, or towards, its original position.

Optionally the pole is substantially rigid.

DRAWINGS

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will not be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of part of a post when assembled;

Figure 2 illustrates the post when installed in the ground;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of the post of the post;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the post

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the post when fitted with a sign board;

Figure 6 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the invention where the pole is different but the sleeve the same;

Figure 7 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the invention where the pole is the same but the sleeve is different;

Figure 8 is an isometric view of a post according to an alternative embodiment of the invention when part assembled; and

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional plan view of the post of Figure 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figures 1 & 2, the post has a central pole 1 embedded in the ground and which cantilevers upwardly. The pole 1 is hexagonal in transverse cross section and is snugly engaged within a complimentary sleeve 2. As shown, one or more screw or other fasteners 3 are installed through holes in the wall of the sleeve 2. The inner end of each fastener 3 impinges on the pole 1 to force it against nodes 4a, 4b that form part of the sleeve, and which are diagonally opposite the fasteners. There is a third node 4c through which the fasteners pass, but it does not itself contact the central pole 1 . Referring to Figure 1 , the force of the screw causes faces (eg sides) 5a, 5b of the central pole 1 to butt against the nodes 4a and 4b respectively. As shown, the inner face 4a, 4b of each node is planar and angled, as is each face 5a, 5b of central pole. Because the butting faces 4a-5a and 4b-5b are each planar, there is a rotational impasse between them. In other words, the pole 1 is unable to rotate with respect to the sleeve 2. This provides significant resistant to the post being removed by some seeking to rotate-turn the pole 1 out of the ground.

The arrangement is such that complimentary faces 4a-5a and 4b-5b engage one another in a wedge lock. Referring to Figure 3, this is characterised by the distance between the nodes 4a, 5a becoming progressively narrower with increasing distance from the fasteners 3. This constriction means that the widest part 6 of the central pole between its side faces 5a-5b is too wide to move along the nodes 4a, 4b, but narrower parts of the pole forward of the widest part 6 can, that is until the wider part 6 get close to the nodes 4a, 4b. As will be appreciated, the greater the force from the fastener 3 as it moves further into the sleeve 2, the tighter the wedge lock. If desired, the sleeve 2 can be removed from the pole 1 after unscrewing or otherwise removing the fasteners 3.

Figure 4 shows the post in exploded view. As indicated, the pole 1 and sleeve 2 are each of uniform in transverse cross-section through their entire length. However, in other embodiments one or both of the pole 1 and sleeve 2 may vary in transverse cross-section. For example, the sleeve may have sets of the nodes 4a, 4b and 4c spaced along its length for engaging the pole faces 5a and 5b. As a further option, there may be sets of the pole faces 5a, 5b spaced along the pole, in line with the sets of nodes 4a, 4b respectively.

Figure 5 illustrates the post of Figure 1 when fitted with a traffic road sign 7 or an advertising sign. For this the pole is first hammered or otherwise driven into the ground 8 and the sleeve then placed around it from above. As indicated, the sleeve 2 covers almost all of the portion of the pole 1 that is above ground level. In some embodiments of the invention the sleeve may cover about 50%, >50%, >60%, >70%, >80%, >90%, >95% or substantially all of the portion of the pole 1 that is above ground. Preferably the pole 1 is formed from a rigid or semi rigid material, and it may have bend memory when installed in the ground. In other words, the material may be such that if the part of the pole 1 that is above ground is bumped sideways, it tends back towards its original upright position when the force that moved it ceases. To enable this the pole 1 may be formed from a suitable plastics material. The sleeve 2 may be rigid or semi-rigid, and may for example be formed from the same material as the pole, but need not be. In some embodiments the pole 1 and/or the sleeve 2 may be formed from a suitable metallic material.

Referring to Figure 6, in some embodiments of the post, the pole 1 may have a generally triangular transverse cross section (with truncated ends), but the sleeve 2 and other features, including the ability for wedge locking, are as described above.

Figure 7 illustrates a further embodiment where the sleeve 2 is modified, but the pole 1 is the same as for Figure 1 . In particular, the forward nodes have rounded of otherwise curved ends 9 for contacting the planar sides of the pole to give a wedge lock. The node 4c through which the fastener 3 passes is the same as the node 4c described above, with its most inward surface 10 being planar, so as to substantially block rotation of the pole 1 . However, in some embodiments the screw 3 may be sufficiently wide to achieve the same effect.

Referring to Figures 8 & 9, in some embodiments of the invention the post may be as described for any of the options above, except that the sleeve engages two of the poles in the same way, where each pole engages its own set of the nodes each set being in a different compartment of the sleeve.

While some forms of the invention have been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

In terms of disclosure, this document envisages and hereby posits any feature mentioned herein in combination with itself or any other feature or features mentioned herein, even if the combination is not claimed.