Adjustable bollard
View Patent ↗An adjustable bollard protects structures from collisions with objects and limits access to particular areas. The bollard includes a rigid post body and a leg structure secured to the rigid body. The leg structure includes at least two leg portions adapted to support the rigid post body, where the two leg portions are separated by a predetermined distance. The bollard further includes an adjustment mechanism coupled to the rigid body, the two leg portions, or both. The adjustment mechanism is configured to apply a force to the rigid post body to flex the rigid body to adjust the predetermined distance for installation of the at least two leg portions. The bollard is constructed of material with sufficient strength and toughness to withstand collisions with heavier industrial type equipment.
1. A bollard, comprising:
a rigid post body having a base portion at a first end and a top portion at a second opposite end;
a leg structure secured to the rigid post body proximal to the base portion, the leg structure including at least two leg portions adapted to support the rigid body post body of the bollard, the at least two leg portions separated by a predetermined distance; and
an adjustment mechanism coupled to the rigid post body and/or the at least two leg portions;
wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to apply a force to the rigid post body to flex the rigid post body to reduce the predetermined distance; and
wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to apply a force to the rigid post body to flex the rigid post body to increase the predetermined distance;
whereby the bollard is placed into a desired configuration for installation.
2. The bollard of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises:
a cylindrical portion with a first end, a second end, and a cylindrical axis extending through the center and along the length of the cylindrical portion, wherein the cylindrical portion is threaded in a first orientation at a first end and wherein the cylindrical portion is reverse threaded at a second end;
a first coupling configured to couple the threaded first end of the cylindrical portion to the rigid post body; and
a second coupling configured to couple the threaded second end of the cylindrical portion to the rigid post body;
wherein rotation of the cylindrical portion about the cylindrical axis in a first direction applies the force to flex the rigid post body to reduce the predetermined distance, and wherein rotation of the cylindrical portion about the cylindrical axis in a second direction applies the force to flex the rigid post body to increase the predetermined distance.
3. The bollard of claim 1 , wherein the rigid post body is formed of a material with a yield strength of greater than about 150 MPa.
4. The bollard of claim 3 , wherein the rigid post body is formed of a composite material.
5. The bollard of claim 3 , wherein the rigid post body is formed of a metal.
6. The bollard of claim 1 , wherein the rigid post body is formed of a steel.
7. The bollard of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the rigid post body, viewed along a central axis of rigid post body, is substantially circular or elliptical.
8. The bollard of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the rigid post body, viewed along a central axis of the rigid post body, is substantially polygonal.
9. The bollard of claim 1 , wherein the leg structure is secured to an inner side of a wall of the rigid post body.
10. The bollard of claim 1 , wherein the rigid post body is secured to the leg structure by at least one weld.
11. The bollard of claim 10 , wherein the rigid post body further comprises, at least one slot parallel to a central axis of the rigid post body, wherein the at least one weld securing the rigid post body to the leg structure is disposed at the at least one slot.
12. The bollard of claim 1 , wherein the rigid post body further comprises at least one access hole, wherein the access hole allows access to the adjustment mechanism.
13. The bollard of claim 1 , wherein the at least two leg portions are joined by the adjustment mechanism.
14. The bollard of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is adapted to apply a force to the bollard to flex the rigid post body to adjust the predetermined distance by a distance of at least about 0.25 inches.
15. The bollard of claim 1 , further comprising a cover adapted to cover the rigid post body and block access to the at least one access hole.
16. The bollard of claim 1 , further comprising a containing wall disposed in the rigid post body, oriented substantially perpendicular to a wall of the rigid post body and in contact with the rigid post body, the containing wall forming a bottom of a container for containing ballast.