U.S. patent application number 12/424077 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-21 for flexible delineator post.
Invention is credited to Robert Griffith, Jean Lapointe.
Application Number | 20100266337 12/424077 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42981075 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100266337 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lapointe; Jean ; et
al. |
October 21, 2010 |
FLEXIBLE DELINEATOR POST
Abstract
A delineator post adapted to spring back to its original upright
position after an impact comprises an inground socket permanently
installed in a paved surface. A resilient plug having a lower end
portion is inserted in the inground socket. The resilient plug has
an upper end portion projecting upwardly from the inground socket.
An anchor is provided for releasably anchoring the resilient plug
to the inground socket. A post segment is fastened over the upper
end portion of the resilient plug. The tension in the resilient
plug when subject to a deformation as a result of an impact on the
post segment returns the post segment back to its original upright
position.
Inventors: |
Lapointe; Jean; (Laval,
CA) ; Griffith; Robert; (Repentigny, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OGILVY RENAULT LLP
1, Place Ville Marie, SUITE 2500
MONTREAL
QC
H3B 1R1
CA
|
Family ID: |
42981075 |
Appl. No.: |
12/424077 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
404/11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01F 9/629 20160201 |
Class at
Publication: |
404/11 |
International
Class: |
E01F 9/011 20060101
E01F009/011 |
Claims
1. A flexible delineator post assembly comprising an inground
socket permanently installed in a paved surface; a rubber joint
having a plug body including upper and lower end portions, the
lower end portion being releasably insertable in the inground
socket with the upper end portion projecting upwardly from the
inground socket; an anchor for releasably anchoring the rubber
joint to the inground socket; a post segment having a tubular lower
end portion fitted over the upper end portion of the rubber joint;
and a fastener for releasably attaching the post segment to the
upper end portion of rubber joint.
2. The flexible delineator post assembly defined in claim 1,
wherein the upper end portion of the rubber joint has a greater
cross-section than that of lower end portion thereof, thereby
forming a shoulder therebetween, and wherein the anchor comprises a
pulling rod mounted to the rubber joint and engageable with a
corresponding anchoring point provided on the inground socket for
drawing the shoulder in tight engagement against and an upper lip
portion of the inground socket.
3. The flexible delineator post assembly defined in claim 2,
wherein the pulling rod comprises a bolt mounted in a axially
extending hole defined through the plug body of the rubber joint,
the bolt having a threaded shank depending downwardly from the plug
body and having a hook threadably engaged thereon for longitudinal
movement therealong in response to a rotation of the bolt.
4. The flexible delineator post assembly defined in claim 3,
wherein the anchoring point includes a crossbar extending
transversally through the inground socket.
5. The flexible delineator post assembly defined in claim 1,
wherein at least one stopper extends from the plug body for
engagement in a corresponding notch defined in the inground socket,
the engagement of the stopper in the notch preventing rotation of
the rubber joint relative to the inground socket.
6. The flexible delineator post assembly defined in claim 1,
wherein said fastener comprises a pair of bolts extending
transversally through the post segment and the rubber joint, the
two bolts being link by a metal plate.
7. The flexible delineator post assembly defined in claim 1,
wherein the hardness of the rubber joint is comprised between about
30 to about 70 durometer.
8. The flexible delineator post assembly defined in claim 7,
wherein the hardness of the rubber joint is comprised between about
40 to about 50 durometer.
9. A self-restorable delineator post adapted to spring back to an
original upright position after an impact, comprising an inground
socket adapted to be permanently installed in a paved surface, a
resilient plug having a lower end portion insertable into the
inground socket, the resilient plug having an upper end portion
projecting upwardly from the inground socket when the lower end
portion of the resilient plug is inserted therein, an anchor
operable from the upper end portion of the resilient plug for
releasably anchoring the resilient plug to the inground socket, and
a post segment fastenable over the upper end portion of the
resilient plug, the tension in the resilient plug when subject to a
deformation as a result of an impact on the post segment returning
the post segment back to its original upright position.
10. The self-restorable delineator post defined in claim 9, wherein
the resilient plug comprises a solid block of rubber material.
11. The self-restorable delineator post defined in claim 10,
wherein the hardness of the rubber material ranges from about 30
durometer to about 70 durometer.
12. The self-restorable delineator post defined in claim 9, wherein
the anchor comprises a bolt received in a hole extending axially
through the resilient plug, the bolt having a threaded shank
portion projecting beyond the lower end portion of the resilient
plug and having a hook threadably engaged thereon.
13. The self-restorable delineator post defined in claim 12,
wherein the bolt has a socket head resting on a washer retained
captive inside the resilient plug, the socket head being accessible
though said hole from said upper lower end portion of the resilient
plug.
14. The self-restorable delineator post defined in claim 12,
wherein the hook is restrained against rotation inside the inground
socket, whereby rotation of the bolt is transferred into linear
movement of the hook along the threaded shank portion of the
bolt.
15. The self-restorable delineator post defined in claim 9, wherein
anti-rotation features are provided between the resilient plug and
the inground socket.
16. The self-restorable delineator post defined in claim 15,
wherein the anti-rotation features comprises a pair of projections
extending from the resilient plug for engagement in a corresponding
pair of notches defined in an upper lip portion of the inground
socket.
17. The self-restorable delineator post defined in claim 9, wherein
the post segment is fastened to the upper end portion of the
resilient plug by at least one threaded fastener extending
transversally through the post segment and the resilient joint.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The application relates generally to delineators and, more
particularly, to a flexible delineator adapted to bend upon impact
and then return to its original upright position.
BACKGROUND OF THE ART
[0002] Self-restorable delineator posts having the ability to
spring back to their original upright positions after an impact are
known. Compression spring members are typically used to return the
posts to their original upright positions.
[0003] One problem associated with these types of posts is that
after a certain number of deformations, the spring members tend to
loose some of their elasticity and, thus, some of their capability
to return the posts to their original positions, thereby resulting
in the posts being inclined at an angle from the vertical. Also the
installation/removal of such flexible delineator posts is somewhat
time consuming.
[0004] Accordingly, there is a need to provide a new flexible
delineator post assembly offering durability and ease of
installation.
SUMMARY
[0005] In one aspect, there is provided a flexible delineator post
assembly comprising an inground socket permanently installed in a
paved surface; a rubber joint having a plug body including upper
and lower end portions, the lower end portion being releasably
insertable in the inground socket with the upper end portion
projecting upwardly from the inground socket; an anchor for
releasably anchoring the rubber joint to the inground socket; a
post segment having a tubular lower end portion fitted over the
upper end portion of the rubber joint; and a fastener for
releasably attaching the post segment to the upper end portion of
rubber joint.
[0006] In a second aspect, there is provided a self-restorable
delineator post adapted to spring back to an original upright
position after an impact, comprising an inground socket adapted to
be permanently installed in a paved surface, a resilient plug
having a lower end portion insertable into the inground socket, the
resilient plug having an upper end portion projecting upwardly from
the inground socket when the lower end portion of the resilient
plug is inserted therein, an anchor operable from the upper end
portion of the resilient plug for releasably anchoring the
resilient plug to the inground socket, and a post segment
fastenable over the upper end portion of the resilient plug, the
tension in the resilient plug when subject to a deformation as a
result of an impact on the post segment returning the post segment
back to its original upright position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Reference is now made to the accompanying figures, in
which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a flexible
delineator post in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the flexible
joint portion of the delineator post shown in FIG. 1;
[0010] FIGS. 3a to 3e are sequential views illustrating the
installation procedure of the delineator post in a paved
surface;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating how the
permanently installed inground socket of the post can be plugged
after the delineator post has been removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a flexible self-restorable delineator
post 10 comprising an above-ground post segment 12 adapted to be
releasably fastened to a resilient joint 14 which is, in turn,
adapted to be releasably anchored to an inground socket 16. The
inground socket 16 can be provided in the form of an open ended
steel sleeve.
[0013] Reflective material 13 can be affixed to the post segment 12
to give warning or guidance. The post segment 12 can be tubular and
has a lower hollow end section 15 adapted to be tightly fitted over
the resilient joint 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower hollow end
section 15 can have a thickened wall section to provide for a more
sturdy connection between the resilient joint 14 and the post
segment 12. The post segment 12 can be made of metal or of other
suitable materials having sufficient structural integrity for the
intended application.
[0014] The resilient joint 14 can be provided in the form of a
one-piece solid rubber plug having an upper cylindrical end or head
portion 18 and a lower cylindrical end portion 20. The rubber
material can be reinforced with appropriate strengthening fibers.
The rubber material is selected to have a medium hardness.
According to one example, the hardness of the rubber material is
comprised between about 30 to about 70 durometer. Most preferably
the rubber material is selected to have hardness in a range from
about 40 to about 50 durometer.
[0015] The upper and lower end portions 18 and 20 of the joint 14
are coaxial. As can be appreciated from FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper
end portion 18 has a greater diameter than the lower end portion
20. The cross-section of the lower end portion 20 is selected so as
to tightly fit inside the inground socket 16. Likewise, the
cross-section of the upper end portion 16 is selected to tightly
fit inside the hollow lower end portion 15 of the post segment 12.
The difference in cross-section between the upper and lower end
portions 18 and 20 provides an annular shoulder which is configured
to rest against the upper lip of the inground socket 16 when the
rubber joint 14 is pulled inside of the socket 16, as will be
explained hereinafter.
[0016] According to the illustrated example, the joint 14 is
releasably anchored against axial removal to the inground socket 16
by means of a hook 22 engageable with a crossbar 24 extending
transversally through a lower end portion of the socket 16. The
hook 22 is threadably engaged on a bolt 26 mounted inside a central
hole 28 extending axially through the joint 14. The bolt 26 has a
socket head 30 resting on a metal washer 32 embedded within the
joint 14. A tool, such as an Allen key K (see FIG. 3d) can be
inserted in the central hole 28 for engagement with the socket head
30 in order to cause the hook 22 to be axially displaced along the
threaded shank of the bolt 26 in response to a rotation of the bolt
26 by the operation of the tool. A stopper (not shown) can be
provided at the tip of the bolt 26 opposite the head thereof to
prevent the hook 22 from becoming disengaged from the threaded
shank of the bolt 26. For instance, a weld can be formed at the tip
of the bolt 26 after the hook 22 has been threadably engaged
thereon in order to prevent subsequent separation thereof. The bolt
26 and the hook 22 cooperate to form a pull rod which can be
operated to pull the joint 14 in secure axial engagement inside the
socket 16 with the shoulder of the joint 14 drawn firmly against
the top lip or edge surface of the socket 16. It is understood that
the pull rod could take other form as well and is not limited to
the above specific example.
[0017] Other anchoring mechanism could be used as well to anchor
the joint 14 to the inground socket 16. For instance, anchors with
radially deployable anchoring fingers and the like could be used.
Threadably engageable anchors are contemplated as well.
[0018] An anti-rotation mechanism can be provided between the joint
14 and the inground socket 16. This is particularly useful whenever
the post segment 12 carries a sign or has indicia thereon which
must assume a predetermined orientation relative to a road or the
like. According to the illustrated example, the anti-rotation
mechanism comprises a pair of diametrically opposed stoppers, which
can take the form of protrusions 34 depending integrally downwardly
from the shoulder between the upper head portion 18 and the lower
end portion 20 of the joint 14 for engagement in corresponding
diametrically opposed rounded notches 36 defined in the upper lip
of the inground socket 16. The engagement of the protrusions 34 in
the upwardly opened notches 36 locks the joint 14 against rotation
relative to the inground socket. It understood that the
anti-rotation mechanism could also form an integral part of the
anchoring mechanism used to prevent axial withdrawal of the joint
14 from the inground socket 16. In this case, there is no need for
a dedicated or separate anti-rotation mechanism. Also, the inground
socket 16 can have a somewhat elliptical cross-section to further
restrict angular movement between the joint 14 and the socket
16.
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, fasteners such as nuts 38 and
bolts 40 are provided for releasably attaching the post segment 12
to the joint 14. In the illustrated example, pairs of registering
transversal holes 42 and 44 are respectively defined in the lower
tubular end portion 15 of the post segment 12 and the upper end
portion 18 of the joint 14 for receiving top and bottom bolts 40
therethrough. Metal plates 46 rigidly interconnects the top and
bottom bolts 40 on each side of the post segment in order to ensure
that the center-to-center distance between the holes 44 in the
rubber joint remains constant at all time even when the joint 14 is
subject to deformation. This contributes to prevent premature wear
of the rubber joint 14 due to repeated vehicle impacts or the like.
Washers 48 are provided on the threaded shank of the bolts 40 on
the outer side of the link plates 46.
[0020] The load supported by the bolts 40 is minimized by the
presence of the above described anti-rotation mechanism. Indeed, by
preventing angular movement between the joint 14 and the inground
socket 16 and, thus, between the post segment 12 and the inground
socket 16, the bolts 40 do not have to support bending moments in
the transversal plane of the post segment 12.
[0021] FIGS. 3a to 3e illustrate the installation procedure of the
flexible delineator post 10. First, as shown in FIG. 3a, a hole is
made in a paved surface P (e.g. a roadway) and a granular material,
such as sand, is poured and compacted in the bottom of the hole to
provide a leveled base for the inground socket 16. The inground
socket 16 is thereafter lowered into the hole to assume an
upstanding position and quick-setting cement or the like is poured
in the hole about the socket 16 to secure the socket 16 in position
in the hole. As can be appreciated from FIG. 3a, the upper end of
the socket 16 is substantially flush with the pavement level once
the installation is completed. This arrangement provides for a
permanent installation of the socket 16 in the ground.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 3b, the rubber plug 14 is then pushed into
the socket 16 with the hook 22 oriented parallel to the crossbar
24. The plug 14 is oriented so that the anti-rotation protrusion 34
is aligned with the receiving notches 36. In the fully inserted
position, only the upper head portion 18 of the rubber joint 14
projects upwardly from the socket 16 and the pavement surface, as
shown in FIG. 3c. The lower end portion 20 is fully received within
the socket 16. The hook 22 projects downwardly beyond the crossbar
24. A tool, such as an Allen Key K, is then used to drive the bolt
26 in rotation in a clockwise direction. The sidewall of the socket
16 and the crossbar 24 prevent the hook 22 from rotating together
with the bolt 26. The hook 22 is thus constrained to move axially
upwardly along the threaded shank of the bolt 26. This causes the
hook 22 to eventually firmly engage the crossbar 24, as shown in
FIG. 3d. After engagement of the hook 22 with the crossbar 24,
continued tightening of the screw 26 causes the shoulder of the
rubber joint 14 to be pulled firmly against the underlying upper
lip or edge of the socket 16.
[0023] Finally, as shown in FIG. 3e, the post segment 12 is lowered
over the portion of the rubber joint 14 projecting upwardly from
the pavement P, namely the upper head portion 18, and is fastened
thereto with the nuts 38 and bolts 40.
[0024] If there is a need to remove the post segment and the rubber
joint, as it might be the case during the winter season, a rubber
plug 50 can be inserted under pressure into the socket 16 to close
the same. The plug 50 can have a plug body 54 and a flexible flap
52 projecting from the plug body 54 to facilitate removal of the
plug 50 from the socket 16. The flap 52 can be collapsible in order
not to interfere with the passage of vehicle (e.g. a snowplough)
thereover. It can be appreciated that the above described assembly
provides ease of installation and replacement.
[0025] The flexible joint 14 allows the post 10 to withstand
repeated vehicle impacts and from different directions. The pole 10
is flexible on 360 degrees. Upon impact, the pole 10 bends and
quickly bounces back to its original upright position due to the
elasticity of the deformable rubber joint 14. The tension in the
rubber joint 14, when deformed, provides the required force to
return the post 10 to its upright position even after numerous
vehicle impacts. Conventional flexible post arrangements having
spring members working in compression will typically lose some of
their springiness over time resulting in non-perfectly upright
posts. Unlike conventional compression spring members who tend to
loose some of their capacity to spring back to their original shape
over repeated deformations, the rubber joint maintains a constant
elasticity over time to return the post to its exact original
upright position. The rubber joint operates in tension and not in
compression like the conventional spring members. The elastic
properties of the rubber joint are less susceptible to
deterioration over time. The rubber joint contributes to provide a
durable delineator product. It is also relatively cheap to produce
and can be easily installed, which contributes to further lower the
overall costs of the flexible or collapsible delineator post.
[0026] As can be appreciated the above described flexible
delineator post allows for a wide variety of applications,
including bicycle path delineation, parking, road side, edge
marking in general etc.
[0027] The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one
skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the
embodiments described without departing from the scope of the
invention disclosed. Any modifications which fall within the scope
of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the
art, in light of a review of this disclosure, and such
modifications are intended to fall within the appended claims.
* * * * *