Vandal Resistant Bollard Light

The present invention relates to bollard lights.

When lighting public areas such as parks, conventional bollard lights are mounted within and atop of the bollard, which essentially is a hollow tube. This arrangement is quite adequate when the bollard is isolated from vandalism or simple everyday use. However, if a force is applied to the bollard, the conventional separate head assembly design has been quite easily broken away by vandals rendering the fixture dangerous to the public when live wires and terminals are exposed once the separate head assembly has been broken off. This problem also leaves areas in darkness until costly repairs are carried out.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome, or substantially ameliorate, the abovementioned disadvantages of conventional bollard lights.

Accordingly, one broad form of the present invention provides a bollard having mounted therein a light source, said bollard comprising:

a substantially vertical continuous outer tube having a plurality of portholes formed in an upper region thereof to allow light emission therethrough; and

a cap assembly removably connected atop of said outer tube.

It is also preferable that an earthing, i.e., electrical grounding device be attached to the outer assembly. Further, the mounting of the outer assembly to the ground is preferably achieved by fixing the assembly to a concrete plynth using threaded mechanical anchors or by burying an extended version partially in concrete.

The preferable material used for fabrication of the assembly is black mild steel, hot dipped galvanized after fabrication. However, aluminium or stainless steel construction is also feasible. Any such construction material can be painted or powder coated.

A further preferred feature of the bollard light of the present invention resides in the provision of a plurality of port holes near the top of the continuous outer assembly to allow light transmission therethrough. This feature, as well as the overall simplicity of construction of the bollard allows great overall strength and eliminates the use of conventional removable head assemblies that are the cause of mechanical failure when struck by vandals. An internal diffuser made to weatherproof standard and composed, for example, of acrylic tube may be placed within the top port holed assembly to protect the lighting assembly.

It is further preferred that the cap or hat assembly be connected to the outer tube by countersunk screws or other means which allow ready removal by use of proper tools but not otherwise.

A preferred embodiment will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a part section view of a preferred embodiment of bollard light of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the optional base of the outer assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an unrolled view of the port hole layout of the head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the upper portion of FIG. 1 showing an optional gear tray assembly;

FIG. 5 is a part section view of a further embodiment of the bollard light of the present invention showing an optional inner tube;

FIG. 6 is a plan of the base plate of the inner tube of FIG. 5 and

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the upper portion of FIG. 5 showing the inner and outer assemblies of FIG. 5.

In FIG. 1 there is depicted a part sectional view of a bollard 10, which comprises an outer assembly 11.

The gear tray and light source assembly 12 as shown in FIG. 4 are removable through the top of outer tube 11.

The removable gear tray assembly can have mounted thereon a control system to operate the light source.

The head arrangement 13 is best seen in FIGS. 4 or 7, where a cap 16 is mounted to the arrangement 13 preferably by way of three hexagonal countersunk set screws 17. These screws 17 allow the cap to be removed for maintenance purposes, with use of the proper tool, but not otherwise.

The arrangement of the head section comprises a plurality of portholes 18 cut through the outer assembly to allow the cap to be removed for a lamp assembly to be transmitted through the head assembly 13. A weather-proof transparent or translucent tube 19 sits on a plurality of studs 20 to protect the apparatus.

The design allows for several different lighting sources. Examples are high pressure sodium mercury vapour, incandescent and self-contained fluorescent, any of which an be housed within the fitting.

The chosen lamp assembly may be mounted on a removable gear tray assembly 12 that is supported by the metal earthing stud 21.

In FIG. 5 there is depicted a part sectional view of a further embodiment of this invention including a bollard 10, which comprises an outer tube 11, an optional inner tube 12 having a base plate 15, similarly mounted on a concrete plynth, however, this inner tube 12 is independent of the outer tube 11.

The chosen lamp assembly may be mounted on the inner tube 12 and is thus isolated from any vibration of the outer tube 11. This protects the delicate lamp assembly and allows for longer life of both the bollard and lamp assembly. An earthing device 21 is also present on the outer tube 11.

The outer tube 11 may also have attached thereto and extending radially, outwardly therefrom in the vicinity of the portholes 18, a series of reflectors 22 to reflect the light emitted through the portholes.

Modifications obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made to the features of this invention, e.g., altering the shape or number of reflectors, or the material used for manufacture could be altered, without departing from the scope of the present invention.