The object of the invention is a collapsible post intended to prevent walking and/or driving comprising a first post member mounted on a fundament or corresponding structure and a second post member arranged in connection with it, whereby the first post member is pivoted to the fundament or corresponding structure and the second post member is arranged to prevent the first post member from turning around the joint and to support the post in an upright position.

A post of this type is disclosed in Fl-patent application 902,784 intended to inhibit driving mainly on routes intended for light traffic. Collapsible posts of this type are needed also in factory halls and terminals in order to mark the space for various activities and, for example, prevent unauthorized access to the vicinity of devices easily causing dangerous situations. The collapsible post disclosed in the above mentioned patent application is of a very strong structure and too large and expensive to be used indoors, where there is not really any danger of breaking the posts.

Stationary rails or various relatively heavy, transportable barriers have usually been used to prevent passage. Barriers of this type, however, impede, for example, goods transports and cleaning by machine of the space, whereby the barriers have to be cleared away or circled.

The aim of the present invention is to disclose a collapsible post suited to prevent passage or driving inside a building, for example, an air terminal in order to mark the limits of passageways and other corresponding spaces. With the collapsible post according to the

invention it is possible to achieve functional passage and driving barriers, which when necessary can be easily opened for goods transports and the cleaning of the space. The collapsible post according to the invention is characterized in that the second post member comprises- at least one support member, for example a support leg extending from the first post member and turnably arranged with ^' respect to the first post member in order to support the post against a fundament or corresponding structure acting as a base and prevent the first post member from turning around the joint.

The posts according to the invention may be turned towards the floor and it is possible to drive between them or over them. The components of the post are simple, light and easily mendable and they are cheap to produce.

The invention will be described in the following with reference to the encolosed drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a collapsible post according to one embodiment shown in an upright position,

Figure 2 is a cross-section of the above post in the upright position of the post, Figure 3 is a cross-section of the post when being collapsed,

Figure 4 is a collapsible post according to another embodiment.

According to figures 1 and 4 the collapsible post according to the invention comprises a first post member 1 mounted resting on a floor structure or a fundament 10 or some other separate strong structure on the ground and a second post member 2 arranged in connection with it.

The first post member 1 is attached to the fundament 10 or the floor structure with a joint 5, whereby said joint 5

is located essentially in the plane of the fundament 10 or corresponding structure. In the example according, to figures 1 to 3, where the post members are made of a sheet material, the turning axis of the joint 5 is parallell with the plane forming the base. Hereby it is possible to turn the first post member 1 180 degrees in a plane perpendicular to the base and the turning axis of the joint 5.

In the embodiment of figures 1 to 3 the post members 1, 2 are essentially rectangular bodies. The post members are attached to each other along.the center line of the plates using vertical hinge 9. The first post member 1, which is pivoted from its lower edge to the base 10, is stationary and the second post member 2 turns on the hinge 9.

The collapsible post is in a vertical position when the plane surface formed by the second post member 2 forms an angle against the plane surface of the first post member 1 and the post is in a position enabling collapsing downwards when the plane surface formed by the second post member 2 is parallell with the plane surface formed by the first post member 1, as disclosed in figures 2 and 3. That is to say that the second .post member 2 supports the post in the vertical position when the first and the second post member 1, 2 form an angle with each other. Hereby the lower edge of the second post member 2 being supported against the base prevents the first post member 1 from turning around the joint 5.

Figure 4 shows aother embodiment of the invention which to its principle corresponds with the above disclosed solution shown in figures 1 to 3. In this case the post members 1, 2 vertically pivoted to each other are made of a rod material with a round or angular cross-section. The second post member 2 consists in this case of two interconnected portions, which are positioned on each side

with respect to the first post member 1. Both lower edges of the second post member 2 are bent outwards from the first post member 1 essentially parallell with the floor surface or corresponding plane in order to form a support member or a support leg 16. Thus the post member 2 in the example- is essentially L-formed. The form of the support leg 16 is, however, not in any way restricted.

In addition, in the upper end of the post members members 19 are formed by which the post is locked in the vertical position. The lock members comprise a pinlike portion 19 formed, for example, in the second post member 2. The pinlike portion functions simultaneously as a handle from which the post can easily be moved. In the upper end of first post member 1 in its edge that is bent outwards, an opening or slit 20 is correspondingly formed for the pinlike lock member 19.

The invention is not restricted to the above disclosed embodiment, instead it can be varied within the enclosed claims. Depending on the structure of the joint used, the collapsible post according to the invention should comprise at least one supporting member 16, for example a support leg, extending from the first post member 1 and turnably arranged with respect to the first post member 1. If the joint 5 is a ball joint, at least three support members 16 are needed.

The second post member 2 may be arranged adjustable also in the longitudinal direction of the first post member 1 in order to facilitate handling of the post. When the second post member 2 is moved upwards with respect to the first post member 1, the support members loose their grip of the base and the post may be turned down.