TILTABLE COLUMN

The present invention relates to collapsible posts. In particular but not exclusively the invention relates to collapsible lamp posts arranged to allow the luminaire to be lowered so as to enable maintenance of the luminaire and associated components.

Folding lamp posts are known that incorporate a hinge at a lower or middle region of the post in order to allow an upper portion of the post to be lower towards ground.

GB91 1784 discloses a street lighting column having an upper portion connected to a lower portion by means of a hinge provided on an outer surface of the column. The hinge is provided approximately midway along the column. The upper portion is arranged to pivot about the hinge to allow access to a lantern at the top of the column by an operative standing on the ground. Means are provided in the base of the column for lowering the upper portion of the column towards the ground. A tension spring is provided that assists in returning the column to a normal upright configuration.

GB9681 13 discloses a street lighting column again having a hinge provided on an outer surface of the column, the hinge being located in a base portion of the column. The hinge is arranged to allow the column to pivot towards the ground for maintenance of a lantern at the top of the column. A removable key is provided that may be moved between different columns, the key having a spring that assists in returning the column to its normal upright condition after the column has been lowered.

JP2000228105 discloses a collapsible street lamp pole also having a hinge provided on an outer surface of the column, the hinge being located approximately midway along a length of the column. An upper portion of the pole can thereby be lowered towards the ground to allow maintenance of a lamp at an upper end of the pole.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tiltable column comprising: a first post member; a second post member; and a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly being arranged to hingedly connect the first post member and the second post member,

wherein the hinge assembly is so sized and configured that no part thereof extends outside an envelope defined by outer surface portions of the first and second post members local to the hinge assembly.

The invention has the advantage that the hinge assembly is less exposed to the external environment of the column. Thus, the hinge assembly is less prone to degradation, for example due to rain, ice, dust, and other environmental hazards. Furthermore, the hinge assembly is also less vulnerable to unauthorised tampering and vandalism.

The hinge assembly is also less likely to cause injury to persons or property moving past the column, since it does not protrude beyond an envelope defined by outer surface portions of the first and second post members local to the hinge assembly.

Preferably the column comprises biasing means arranged to urge the second post member to the normal upright configuration.

This feature has the advantage that movement of the second post member by an operative between a tilted orientation and a normal upright orientation is made more easy when biasing means is provided.

Preferably the biasing means comprises a resilient member.

Preferably the resilient member is arranged to be under tension when the second post member is in a tilted orientation wherein in the tilted orientation the second post member is tilted away from the normal upright orientation.

This feature has the advantage that failure of the resilient member when the second post member is tilted relative to a normal upright orientation tends to result in the resilient member collapsing on itself. In contrast, in collapsible posts having a resilient member under compression, failure of the resilient member tends to result in the resilient member becoming displaced with not inconsiderable force in a downward direction, away from the hinge assembly. This can result in damage to the column, and in particular to components of the column located below the hinge assembly.

In the case of a collapsible column having a luminaire, this can result in damage to electrical service apparatus associated with the luminaire that is located below the hinge assembly.

Preferably the resilient member is arranged to be not subject to substantially any compression or tension forces when the second post member is in the normal upright orientation. Thus, the resilient member is substantially 'at rest' when the second post member is in the normal upright orientation.

This feature has the advantage that deterioration of a structural integrity of the resilient member is less likely compared with the case where the resilient member is maintained under tension or compression. Stresses are only generated when the second post member is tilted from the normal upright orientation of the second post member.

The biasing means may comprise a counterweight arrangement.

Preferably the column comprises a releasable locking member, the locking member being movable between a locked configuration and a released configuration, in the locked configuration the locking member being arranged to maintain the second post member in the normal upright orientation, in the unlocked configuration the locking member being arranged to allow the second post member to tilt with respect to the first post member by means of the hinge assembly.

The feature of a locking member has the advantage that inadvertent tilt of the second post member with respect to the first post member may be prevented when the second post member is the normal upright orientation.

Preferably the locking member comprises a collar or sleeve member arranged to be movable with respect to the first and second post members.

This feature has the advantage that manipulation of the locking member may be performed in a relatively simple manner. Furthermore, a collar or sleeve arrangement allows a strong, stable locking member to be provided. That is, a locking arrangement may be provided by means of a collar or sleeve arrangement that is capable of resisting substantial tilting forces on the second post member.

Preferably the collar or sleeve member is arranged to be slidable with respect to the first and second post members.

This has the advantage that the locking member may be conveniently moved between the locked and the unlocked configurations by an operator.

Preferably the collar or sleeve member is arranged to be substantially coaxial with at least one of the first and second post elements.

Preferably the hinge assembly comprises a first hinge element and a second hinge element, the said elements being hingedly attached, and the first hinge element being joined to the first post member and the second hinge element being joined to the second post member.

Preferably the resilient member is connected between the first hinge element and the second post member.

This feature has the advantage that the resilient member may be arranged not to protrude into a region of the collapsible column below the hinge assembly. This has the advantage that an internal volume of the collapsible column below the hinge assembly that is available for storage of ancillary equipment such as electrical service apparatus is not reduced by the presence of the resilient member.

In embodiments where the collapsible column has a luminaire at the top of the second post member, space within the column below the hinge assembly is typically used to site electrical apparatus that is arranged to supply electric power to the luminaire. This space is not reduced by the presence of a resilient member arranged according to some embodiments of the invention.

Preferably at least one of the lower hinge assembly and the second hinge assembly is arranged to be joined to a respective post member by means of at least one selected from amongst an adhesive, a mechanical fixing element, a compression or interference fit, or any other suitable fixing means.

This feature has the advantage that assembly of the collapsible post may be conveniently performed at the site of installation of the post. This is because a

requirement to perform a complex machining operation on a post member and requiring workshop equipment is avoided, according to some embodiments of the invention.

Alternatively or in addition at least one of the first and second hinge elements is arranged to be formed integrally with the first or second post members, respectively.

This feature has the advantage that fixing means are not required.

An amount of tension in the spring member may be adjusted by means of an extender member.

Preferably the extender member comprises a screw member, the post being arranged whereby an amount by which the spring member is extended when the second post member is in the tilted orientation may be adjusted by rotation of the screw member.

This has the advantage that the ease with which the second post can be tilted from an upright condition may be adjusted to suit a requirement of a specific installation.

Access to the screw member may require that the locking member be moved to an unlocked condition before the screw member can be adjusted.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making a collapsible column comprising the steps of: providing a column having first and second post members; providing a hinge assembly comprising first and second hinge elements hingedly joined together; attaching the first hinge element to the first post member and attaching the second hinge element to the second post member, wherein the hinge assembly is so sized and configured that no part thereof extends outside an envelope defined by outer surface portions of the first and second post members local to the hinge assembly.

In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a modified column, the modification comprising the division of the column into first and second post members and a hinge assembly inserted between the first and second post members and joining the first and second post members together,

the hinge assembly being so sized and configured that no part thereof extends outside an envelope defined by outer surface portions of the first and second post members local to the hinge assembly.

In a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a tiltable column comprising: a first post member; a second post member; a hinge assembly, the hinge assembly being arranged to hingedly connect the first post member and the second post member; and a releasable locking member, the locking member being movable between a locked configuration and a released configuration, in the locked configuration the locking member being arranged to maintain the second post member in a normal upright configuration, in the unlocked configuration the locking member being arranged to allow the second post member to tilt with respect to the first post member by means of the hinge assembly, wherein the locking member comprises a collar or sleeve arranged to be movable with respect to the first and second post members.

This has the advantage that the second post member may be more securely locked in the normal upright configuration compared with prior art folding columns.

A column according to some embodiments of the invention is more resistant to inadvertent folding of the second post member with respect to the first post member due to tampering, vandalism or impact with an object such as a motor vehicle.

In a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making a collapsible column comprising the steps of: providing a column; dividing the column to form a first post member and a second post member; connecting the first post member to the second post member by means of a hinge assembly; and providing the column with a releasable locking member, the locking member being movable between a locked configuration and a released configuration, in the locked configuration the locking member being arranged to maintain the second post member in a normal upright configuration, in the unlocked configuration the locking member being arranged to allow the second post member to tilt with respect to the first

post member by means of the hinge assembly, the locking member comprising a collar or sleeve arranged to be movable with respect to the first and second post members.

In a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a converted column, the conversion being that the street column has been divided into a first post member and a second post member, the second post member being hingedly connected to the first post member by means of a hinge assembly, the column further comprising a releasable locking member, the locking member being movable between a locked configuration and a released configuration, in the locked configuration the locking member being arranged to maintain the second post member in a normal upright configuration, in the unlocked configuration the locking member being arranged to allow the second post member to tilt with respect to the first post member by means of the hinge assembly, and whereby the locking member comprises a collar or sleeve arranged to be movable with respect to the first and second post members.

In a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a column in combination with a jig, the jig being configured to support a second post member when the column has been divided into a first post member and a second post member, the jig being configured to raise the second post member thereby to allow a hinge assembly to be fitted, the hinge assembly being so sized and configured that no part thereof extends outside an envelope defined by outer surface portions of the first and second post members local to the hinge assembly.

In an eighth aspect of the invention there is provided a tiltable column comprising first and second post members, the hinge assembly comprising a first hinge element including a first joining region configured to be connected at a first end of the first column portion and a first hinge formation arranged distally with respect to the joining portion, and a second hinge element including a second joining region configured to be connected at an end of the second column portion and a second hinge formation arranged distally with respect to the joining region and to cooperate with the first hinge formation to form a hinge,

the hinge assembly being so sized and configured that no part thereof extends outside an envelope defined by outer surface portions of the first and second post members local to the hinge assembly.

Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that the hinge assembly may be positioned with respect to the column at a location independently of the location of an electrical access panel. According to some prior art columns, access to electrical equipment in a lower portion of the column is provided by tilting of the column to expose the electrical equipment.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the hinge assembly may be provided at substantially any location along a length of the column, independently of the location of an electrical access panel. Access to the electrical components behind an access panel is therefore independent of the orientation of the upper post member with respect to the lower post member, in some embodiments of the invention.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference shall now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a collapsible column according to a first embodiment of the invention in (a) a normal upright configuration and (b) a collapsed configuration;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic illustration of a collapsible post according to the first embodiment in a collapsed configuration showing (a) a side view and (b) a rear elevation in which the upper post member projects away from the viewer;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic illustration of a collapsible post showing internal detail with the post (a) viewed from the side and (b) viewed from the front with the post in the normal upright configuration;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a lower hinge element according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURES 5 to 7 are perspective views of an upper hinge element according to the second embodiment;

FIGURES 8 to 16 show a sequence of stages in the conversion of a conventional street lighting column to a collapsible street lighting column according to a second embodiment of the invention.

According to a first embodiment of the invention a collapsible column 100 (FIG. 1 ) has a lower post member 1 10 and an upper post member 120. The lower and upper post members 1 10, 120 are connected to one another by means of a hinge assembly 130. The hinge assembly 130 is bonded to the upper and lower post members 1 10, 120 by means of an adhesive. A removable access panel 1 1 1 is provided allowing access to electrical or other gear located within the column.

The upper post member is moveable between a substantially upright orientation (Figure 1 (a)) and a collapsed orientation (Figure 1 (b)). In the collapsed orientation the upper post member 120 has been swung about the hinge assembly 130 so that a luminaire unit 150 at an upper end of the upper post member 120 is lowered towards the ground. With the upper post member 120 in this orientation, the luminaire 150 is readily accessible to a person standing on the ground for the purpose of maintenance operations.

The hinge assembly 130 has a lower hinge element 132 and an upper hinge element 142 (FIGS. 2, 3). According to the first embodiment, the lower hinge element 132 has an upwardly directed forked portion 136, as viewed with the lower hinge element in an as-installed orientation.

The forked portion 136 is provided with an aperture 133 through each of a pair of fork elements 136A, 136B of the forked portion 136. A lower hinge element anchor member 172 (not shown in FIG. 2(b)) passes through each of the apertures 133 and between the forked elements 136A, 136B.

The lower hinge element 132 is also provided with a pivot portion 139 having an aperture 138 therethrough. The pivot portion 139 is shaped to fit between a pair of fork elements 146A, 146B of a downwardly directed forked portion 146 of the upper hinge element 142.

An aperture 143 is provided in each of the fork elements 146A, 146B of the forked portion. A pivot element 135 in the form of a rod passes through the aperture 143 in each of the fork elements 146A, 146B and through the aperture 138 in the pivot portion 139 of the lower hinge element 1 10.

The pivot element 135 thereby couples the upper and lower hinge elements 132, 142 thereby to provide a hinge action between the two elements.

An upper post member anchor element 174 is provided within the upper post member 120, about 0.3m from the end of the upper post member 120 to which the upper hinge element 142 is attached.

The apertures 143, 138 of the lower hinge element 132 are positioned such that when the upper hinge element 142 is tilted from a configuration in which a collapsible column according to the first embodiment is in the substantially upright configuration towards a position in which the collapsible column is in a folded configuration, the distance between the anchor members 172, 174 is increased.

A resilient member 170 is provided in the form of a spring. The resilient member 170 has anchor attachment formations 17OA at each of a pair of opposed ends.

According to the first embodiment, respective anchor attachment formations 170A of the resilient member 170 are connected to respective anchor members 172, 174.

Thus, when the distance between anchor members 172, 174 is increased, upon tilting the upper post member 120 away from the upright configuration, resilient member 170 is placed under tension. Resilient member 170 thereby tends to urge the upper post member 120 towards the upright configuration when the upper post member is tilted from the normal upright orientation.

In some embodiments an extender member is provided that is arranged to allow one or both of anchor members 172, 174 to be displaced with respect to one another with the upper post member 120 in the upright condition. This allows a distance between the anchor members to be adjusted which in turn allows an extent to which resilient member 170 is under tension to be changed. This feature allows the column 100 to be adjusted

such that tilting of the upper post member 120 with respect to the lower post member 1 10 may be performed by a user in a convenient and comfortable manner.

In some embodiments the extender member is in the form of a screw member that may be rotated by a user to displace one or both of the anchor members 172, 174. The screw member may be in the form of a substantially circular member having an axis of rotation substantially coaxial with an axis of the upper post member 120 or lower post member 1 10.

A sleeve member 180 is also provided. The sleeve member 180 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the upper post member 120. The sleeve member 180 is slidable along at least a portion of the upper post member 120. With the upper post member 180 in the normal upright orientation the sleeve member 180 may be slid in a downward direction to a locking position whereat the sleeve member 180 surrounds the hinge assembly 130 and a portion of the lower post member 1 10. In this position, the sleeve member 180 provides stability to the collapsible post. In other words, the sleeve member 180 prevents the upper post member 120 from moving away from the normal upright orientation when the sleeve member 180 is in the locking position.

It will be appreciated that in some embodiments the sleeve member 180 is slidable along at least a portion of the lower post member 1 10, in an unlocked position the sleeve member surrounding at least a portion of the lower post member 1 10 and not the upper post member 120. In some embodiments the sleeve member 180 is slidable in an upward direction to the locking position whereat the sleeve member 180 surrounds the hinge assembly 130 and a portion of the upper post member 120.

In some embodiments the sleeve member is urged towards the locking position by urging means. In some embodiments the urging means comprises a spring member arrangement.

In some embodiments the sleeve member is a removable member. In some embodiments the sleeve member 180 is removable in order to allow the upper post member 120 to tilt with respect to the lower post member 1 10. In some embodiments the sleeve member 180 is provided in the form of a plurality of components configured to clamp around the column thereby to lock the upper post member 120 in the normal

upright configuration. In some embodiments the sleeve member 180 is in the form of two components hinged together to form a clamping arrangement.

A locking element is also provided that is arranged to prevent the sleeve member 180 from being moved away from the locking position. The locking element thus prevents unauthorised persons from tampering with the collapsible column.

According to a second embodiment of the invention a collapsible column is provided substantially according to the first embodiment, except that a hinge assembly 230 according to the second embodiment is substantially as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7.

FIGs. 4, 5 and 6 show a lower hinge element 232 according to the second embodiment. Reference signs are shown in the figures corresponding to those used in respect of the first embodiment, but prefixed with the numeral 2.

As in the case of a lower hinge element according to the first embodiment, a lower hinge element according to the second embodiment has an upwardly directed forked portion 236 as viewed with the lower hinge element in an as-installed orientation.

The forked portion 236 has an anchor member aperture 233 provided through each of a pair of fork elements 236A, 236B. The anchor member apertures 233 are arranged to receive an anchor member therethrough. The anchor member is configured to anchor one end of a spring member, the spring member being provided in order to bias the upper post member 120 to the normal upright orientation.

A pivot pin aperture 238 is provided in a forward portion of the lower hinge element, at a location laterally offset from that of the anchor member apertures 233 and at a level below that of the anchor member apertures 233.

The pivot pin aperture 238 is configured to receive a pivot pin that is also arranged to pass through a pair of corresponding pivot pin apertures 243 in the upper hinge element 242 (FIG. 7).

The lateral offset of the pivot pin aperture with respect to the anchor member apertures 233 causes a distance between the anchor member apertures 233 and a spring member

anchor provided within the upper post member 120 to be increased when the upper post member 120 is swung away from the normal upright orientation.

In a collapsible post according to the first and second embodiments of the invention a luminaire 150 is provided at an upper end of the upper post member 120. An electrical cable is provided, running from a lower end of the collapsible column to the luminaire 150.

One hazard associated with collapsible posts is the problem that the electrical cable can become damaged.

The electrical cable can become damaged due to fatigue, as a consequence of repeated flexing of the cable as the upper post member 120 is swung relative to the lower post member 1 10.

The cable can also become damaged as a consequence of becoming trapped between portions of the lower hinge element 132, 232 and the upper hinge element 142, 242.

In order to reduce a risk of damage to the cable due to repeated flexing and trapping, the lower hinge element 232 is provided with a smooth-walled aperture 237 through a lower portion of the lower hinge element 232, and a smoothly curved portion 239 running from the smooth-walled aperture 237 to a forward region of the lower hinge element 232.

As the hinge assembly 230 is hinged from an orientation in which the upper post member 120 is in the normal upright orientation to one in which the upper post member is in a substantially horizontal orientation, the portion of the electrical cable passing through the hinge assembly 230 is gradually moved from a substantially upright orientation and towards the smoothly curved portion 239 of the lower hinge element 232.

The absence of abrupt changes in shape of the lower hinge element 232 according to the second embodiment (due at least in part to the presence of the arc-like portion 239) reduces a risk of snagging or trapping of the cable as the upper and lower hinge elements 232, 234 are moved with respect to one another.

The upper and lower hinge elements 232, 242 are provided, respectively, with adapter portions 251 , 252. The adapter portions are configured to be inserted into ends of the

lower and upper post members 1 10, 120. According to the first and second embodiments of the invention the adapter portions are configured to be fixed into the ends of the post members by means of an adhesive.

It will be appreciated that the adapter portions 251 , 252 may be made of any shape or size to suit the dimensions of a column to which the hinge assembly is to be fitted. In some embodiments of the invention the adapter portions are of circular cross-section. In other embodiments the adapter portions of square, hexagonal or any other suitable cross-section.

Embodiments of the invention allow conversion of a conventional non-collapsible street column to a collapsible street column.

FIGS. 8 to 17 are schematic illustrations of a sequence of stages in the conversion of a non-collapsible column to a collapsible column according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a normal street lighting column 10 as installed at a given location. The normal street lighting column 10 is converted to a collapsible street lighting column according to the present invention using a jig apparatus 190. The jig apparatus 190 has a lower jig member 191 and an upper jig member 192. An access panel aperture 1 1 allows access to electrical or other gear provided within the column 10. A panel (not shown) is provided to close the aperture 1 1 .

The jig apparatus 190 is positioned in juxtaposition with the street lighting column 10 and attached to the street lighting column 10 by means of grip elements 193. According to the present embodiment the grip elements 193 are in the form of hoops arranged to be wrapped around the street lighting column 193.

The grip elements 193 are attached to both the upper and lower jig members 191 , 192.

As shown in FIG. 8, once the jig apparatus 190 has been attached to the lighting column 10, a cut is made in the lighting column 10 to sever the lighting column. After the severing operation is complete, the column comprises a lower post member 1 10 and an upper post member 120.

The upper jig member 192 is movable relative to the lower jig member 191 in an axial direction. According to the present embodiment the upper jig member 192 is movable by means of a hydraulic ram 195.

FIG. 9 shows the arrangement of FIG. 8 following a process of raising the upper jig member 192 (and thereby the upper post member 120) by means of the hydraulic ram 195.

FIG. 10 shows the arrangement of FIG. 9 following a process of rotating the upper jig member 192 with respect to the lower jig member 191 .

FIG. 1 1 shows the arrangement of FIG. 10 following a process of fitting a sleeve member 180 to the upper post member 120. In some embodiments of the invention, sleeve member 180 is fitted by temporarily releasing the lowest grip member 193 attached to the upper column member 120.

FIG. 12 shows the structure of FIG. 1 1 following a process of attaching a hinge assembly 130 to a lower end of the upper post member 120. The hinge assembly 130 is substantially as described above with respect to the second embodiment of the invention.

According to the second embodiment, the hinge assembly 130 is attached to the upper post member 120 by means of an adhesive.

It will be appreciated that in some embodiments of the invention fixing of the hinge assembly 130 is performed by means of mechanical fixing elements such as screws, bolts, or any other suitable mechanical fixing element in addition to or instead of an adhesive. In some embodiments of the invention a friction or interference fit is employed.

FIG. 13 shows the structure of FIG. 12 following a process of rotating the upper jig member 192 so that the hinge assembly 130 is substantially coaxial with the lower post member 1 10.

FIG. 14 shows the structure of FIG. 13 following a process of lowering the hinge assembly 130 into the upper end of the lower post member 1 10, and securing the hinge assembly 130 therein by means of an adhesive.

FIG. 15 shows the street column of FIG. 14 following a process of removing the jig apparatus 190. In FIG. 15 the sleeve member 180 is shown in the raised configuration.

FIG. 16 shows the street column of FIG. 15 following a process of lowering the sleeve member 180 to prevent tilt of the upper column member 120 with respect to the lower column member 1 10.

According to the first and second embodiments of the invention the column is provided with a locking element operable to lock and unlock the sleeve member 180 in the lowered position shown in FIG. 16. In some embodiments of the invention the locking element is a threaded element having a bespoke end formation arranged to receive a key element of a corresponding shape. In some embodiments the locking element comprises a lock barrel configured to receive a key element of corresponding shape.

It will be appreciated that columns according to some embodiments of the invention are not restricted to street lighting columns. In some embodiments of the invention the columns are used for supporting display signs such as road signs and other signs, horticultural articles such as hanging baskets, theatre stage and public address systems, or other articles mounted on posts, poles or columns requiring access by an operative from ground level.

In some embodiments of the invention the column is not oriented in a vertical upright orientation. In some embodiments of the invention the column is in a generally horizontal orientation.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article

is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.