Abstract
A support post for releasable fixation between a first and a second floor, comprising: a first and a second elongate member telescopically connected to one another, first floor and second floor engaging members positioned at the ends of the first and second elongate members, a displacement unit for displacing the first floor engaging member, a spring biasing the first floor engaging member in a direction away from the first elongate member, the first floor engaging member being moveable in towards the upper end of the first elongate member against the force of the spring, a first inspection window in the first elongate member, a second inspection window adjacent to the first inspection window, an indicator having a first marking arranged at the second inspection window in a relaxed state of the spring, and having a second marking arranged at the second inspection window in a loaded state of the spring.
Claims
1. A support post for releasable fixation between a first floor and a second floor, the support post comprising: a first elongate member and a second elongate member, the first and second elongate members being telescopically connected to one another, a first floor engaging member positioned at an upper end of the first elongate member, a second floor engaging member positioned at a lower end of the second elongate member, a displacement unit for displacing the first floor engaging member in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the first elongate member, a spring biasing the first floor engaging member in a direction away from the upper end of the first elongate member, the first floor engaging member being moveable in a direction towards the upper end of the first elongate member against a spring force of the spring, a first inspection window in the first elongate member, a second inspection window slidably arranged adjacent to the first inspection window, and an indicator, the indicator having a first marking and a second marking, the first marking being arranged at the second inspection window in a relaxed state of the spring, the second marking being arranged at the second inspection window in a loaded state of the spring.
2. The support post according to claim 1, wherein the second inspection window is coupled to a first end of the spring and the indicator is coupled to a second end of the spring such that a linear displacement of the first end of the spring leads to a linear displacement of the second inspection window by the same distance and a linear displacement of the second end of the spring leads to a linear displacement of the indicator by the same distance.
3. The support post according to claim 2, wherein the displacement unit comprises an elongate force transfer member acting on a bearing for the first end of the spring.
4. The support post according to claim 2, wherein the second end of the spring acts on the first floor engaging member.
5. The support post according to claim 3, wherein the elongate force transfer member comprises the second inspection window.
6. The support post according to claim 3, wherein the elongate force transfer member is telescopically mounted inside the first elongate member.
7. The support post according to claim 1, wherein the indicator is connected to the first floor engaging member via an elongate connector.
8. The support post according to claim 1, further comprising a bracket member having the indicator, the bracket member being slidably arranged relative to the first elongate member and an elongate force transfer member.
9. The support post according to claim 8, wherein the bracket member is rigidly connected to an elongate connector, and wherein the indicator is connected to the first floor engaging member via the elongate connector.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) In the drawings:
(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a temporary barrier with a plurality of support posts and fence panels for installation at a perimeter of a building under construction.
(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of the temporary barrier of FIG. 1.
(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of the temporary barrier of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
(5) FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a connector clip between two neighboring fence panels.
(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the support post used in the temporary barrier of FIGS. 1 to 3, wherein the support post has a first elongate member telescoped from a second elongate member.
(7) FIG. 6 is a sectional view according to lines A-A in FIG. 5.
(8) FIG. 7 is a sectional view according to lines B-B in FIG. 5.
(9) FIG. 8 shows the connection of one of the fence panels to the support post of FIG. 5.
(10) FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a lower end of the support post of FIG. 5 with a foot member arranged at an upper position.
(11) FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the lower end of the support post with the foot member arranged at a lower position.
(12) FIG. 11 is another sectional view of a lower end of the support post with a foot member arranged at a lower position.
(13) FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the support post of FIG. 5 showing a blocking member in a blocking position for blocking the retraction of the first elongate member into the second elongate member).
(14) FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the support post with the blocking member in a release position.
(15) FIG. 14 is a view of the support post of FIG. 5 with a tool for vertically displacing a first floor engaging member against the force of a spring in a first position.
(16) FIG. 15 is a view of the support post with the tool in an intermediary position.
(17) FIG. 16 is a view of the support post with the tool in a second position, in which the first floor engaging member is urged against the first floor by means of loading the spring.
(18) FIG. 17 is a detailed view of the support post in the first position of the tool as shown in FIG. 14 (yet not showing the first floor).
(19) FIG. 18 is a detailed view of the support post in the intermediary position of the tool as shown in FIG. 15 (again not showing the first floor acting on the first floor engaging member).
(20) FIG. 19 is a detailed view of the support post in the second position of the tool as shown in FIG. 16 (again not showing the first floor).
(21) FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the support post in a relaxed state of the spring.
(22) FIG. 21 is a sectional view of the support post in a loaded state of the spring (again not showing the first floor.
(23) FIG. 22 is another sectional view of the support post in a relaxed state of the spring.
(24) FIG. 23 shows the releasable connection of the tool to an interface of a displacement unit for the vertical displacement of the first floor engaging member.
(25) FIG. 24 is a detailed view of the support post with the tool removed from the interface of the displacement unit.
(26) FIG. 25 is a detailed view of an elongate force transfer member of the displacement unit of the support post.
(27) FIG. 26A is a sectional view of another embodiment of the support post in a non-tensioned state of the spring with an indicator behind an inspection window for indicating a tensioning state of the spring.
(28) FIG. 26B is a sectional view of another embodiment of the support post in a tensioned state of the spring with an indicator behind an inspection window for indicating a tensioning state of the spring.
(29) FIG. 27 is another sectional view of the support post of FIG. 26A.
(30) FIG. 28 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the support post with a safety device preventing the first and second elongate member from being disconnected from one another, wherein the support post is shown in a fully extended state.
(31) FIG. 29 is a sectional view of the support post of FIG. 28 in a fully retracted state.
(32) FIG. 30 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the support post with a level member releasably mounted on the first elongate member.
(33) FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the level of the support post shown in FIG. 30.
(34) FIG. 32 is another perspective view of the level of the support post shown in FIG. 30.
(35) FIG. 33 is another sectional view of the support post of FIG. 28.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(36) FIGS. 1 to 3 show a temporary barrier 1 for installation at a perimeter of a building 2 having a first floor 3 and a second floor 4. Temporary barrier 1 has a plurality of support posts 5 that are releasably secured between first (upper) floor 3 and second (lower) floor 4. Temporary barrier 1 further has a plurality of fence panels (barriers) 6 that are releasably attached to support posts 5. Each fence panel 6 has a rectangular frame 7 with a horizontal top frame member 8, two vertical side frame members 9 (see in detail FIG. 3) and a horizontal lower frame member 10 (see FIG. 1). In this example, within the frame of the fence panel 6 a mesh is provided.
(37) As shown in FIG. 1, the temporary barrier 1 may have at least one lower fence panel 6a and at least one upper fence panel 6b. Upper fence panel 6b is placed on lower fence panel 6a. For this purpose, lower frame member 10 of upper fence panel 6b optionally has a U-shaped cross-section (not shown) for receiving top frame member 8 of lower fence panel 6a.
(38) As can best be seen in FIG. 4, adjacent fence panels 6, 6a may overlap in lateral direction (i.e. in direction of the horizontal upper or lower frame member). A releasable connector clip 11 secures two adjacent lower fence panels 6a to one another.
(39) As can be seen in FIG. 5, support post 5 has a first (upper) elongate member 12 and a second (lower) elongate member 13. First elongate member 12 and second elongate member 13 are telescopically connected to one another so that support post 5 can be transferred from a fully retracted state with a minimum total vertical extension to a fully extended state with a maximum total vertical extension. In the shown example, first elongate member 12 is slidably arranged inside second elongate member 13. Thus, second elongate member 13 is telescopically received about at least a portion of first elongate member 12. Support post 5 further has a first floor engaging member 14 extending upwards from an upper end of first elongate member 12 as well as a second floor engaging member 15 extending downwards from a lower end of second elongate member 13. In a secured state of support post 5 between first and second floor, first floor engaging member 14 engages first floor 3, whereas second floor engaging member 15 engages second floor 4 of building 2 to be erected.
(40) As can be seen in FIG. 5, support post 5 further has a first latch member 16 for releasably latching one of lower fence panels 6a to support post 5 such that lower fence panel 6a is immovably connected to support post 5 in horizontal direction. In the shown example, first latch member 16 is mounted to second elongate member 13. Support post 5 further has at least one vertical guide member 17 with an opening 18 for accommodating one of side frame members 9 of lower fence panel 6a therein. Side frame member 9 snugly fits into opening 18 such that vertical guide member 17 restricts horizontal movement but allows for vertical movement of lower fence panel 6a inside opening 18. For this purpose, opening 18 of vertical guide member 17 is unobstructed so that side frame member 9 of the lower fence panel 6a may be freely introduced into and removed from opening 18 of guide member 17. First latch member 16 and vertical guide member 17 are releasably secured to a vertically extending guide rail 19 of support post 5. In this way, a vertical position of first latch member 16 and vertical guide member 17 at second elongate member 13 may be adjusted. Support post 5 further has a second latch member 20 for releasably latching one of upper fence panels 6b to support post 5 such that upper fence panel 6b is immovably connected to support post 5 in horizontal direction. Second latch member 20 is received about first elongate member 12 such that first elongate member 12 may slide inside second latch member 20. Thus, the vertical position of second latch member 20 is independent of the state of extension of first elongate member 12 with respect to second elongate member 13. Second latch member 20 is supported from below to remain at the same vertical position when extending or retracting first elongate member 12. In the shown example, second latch member 20 is supported by a housing 21 fixed to second elongate member 13.
(41) As can be seen from the detailed views of FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, first latch member 16 has a latch 22 for latching a handle 23 projecting sideward from side frame member 9 of fence panel 6a. Latch 22 is pivotable between a locking position and a release position. A spring element 24 biases latch 22 in direction of the locking position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. For connecting lower fence panel 6a to support post 5, latch 22 is temporarily pivoted backwards by means of handle 23 to allow for the insertion of handle 23 into latch member 16 (see arrow 25 in FIG. 8). Spring element 24 then urges latch 22 back into the locking position. For releasing lower fence panel 6a, latch 22 is manually pivoted backwards so that handle 23 can be withdrawn from latch member 16.
(42) As can be seen from FIG. 5 (and in greater detail from FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11), a foot member 27 is arranged at the lower end of second elongate member 13. Foot member 27 has an upwardly projecting guide protrusion 28 that accommodates and guides lower frame member 10 of one of lower fence panels 6a overlapping in horizontal direction. In the shown example, guide protrusion 28 is rectangular in cross-section seen perpendicular to the lateral movement of the lower fence panel 6a with respect to guide protrusion 28. When guide protrusion 28 is arranged inside lower frame member 10 of lower fence panel 6a (see FIG. 3), the lower end of fence panel 6a is guided in longitudinal direction of the lower frame member 10, while resisting a movement of the lower end of fence panel 6a perpendicular to a main plain of fence panel 6. As is illustrated by arrow 29 in FIG. 8, foot member 27 is height-adjustable, i.e. adjustable in direction of longitudinal axis 13a of second elongate member 13.
(43) As can best be seen in FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, foot member 27 has a horizontal flange 30 supported on the second floor 4 and a vertical flange 31 slidably arranged at the lower end of second elongate member 13. Guide protrusion 28 projects upwardly from a top side of horizontal flange 30 of foot member 27. Foot member 27 has an elongate slot 32 at vertical flange 31. Elongate slot 32 extends vertically and accommodates a first pin 33 and a second pin 34 at the lower end of second elongate member 13. FIG. 9 shows an upper position of foot member 27, while FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 each show a lower position of foot member 27.
(44) As can be seen from FIG. 5, FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, each of the first floor engaging member 14 and the second floor engaging member 15 has a claw, which, in the shown example, comprises a plurality of clamping plates 35 arranged side by side. The following explanations of second floor engaging member 15 equally apply to first floor engaging member 14, which may be structurally identical to first floor engaging member 14 but turned upside down. At a lower end of second floor engaging member 15, clamping plates 35 have tapered surfaces 36 for engaging second floor 4. In the shown example, first floor engaging member 14 and second floor engaging member 15 each have at least three clamping plates 35 with tapered surfaces 36 for engaging first floor 3 and second floor 4, respectively. For example, each clamping plate 35 may have two spikes 37 each having one tapered surface 36 (see also FIG. 19). The two spikes 37 are formed by cut-outs in each of the clamping plates 35. Clamping plates 35 of first floor engaging member 14 and second floor engaging member 15 are each pivotally mounted on first elongate member 12 and second elongate member 13, respectively. Pivot axes 38 of clamping plates 35 extend perpendicularly to longitudinal axis 12a of first elongate member 12 (which is collinear with longitudinal axis 13a of second elongate member 13). In the shown example, pivot axis 38 is formed by a first pin 33 projecting through correspondingly shaped first through holes of clamping plates 35 (see also FIG. 21). On the other hand, second pin 34 projects through second through holes of clamping plates 35, yet with a clearance all around so that clamping plates 35 are moveable in both horizontal directions against second pin 34. In this way, clamping plates 35 may be pivoted about first pin 33 when first or second elongate member engages the first or second floor, respectively.
(45) As can best be seen in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, support post 5 has a blocking member 39 for selectively blocking or releasing the telescopic movement of first elongate member 12 with respect to second elongate member 13. Blocking member 39 has a blocking plate 40 with an aperture 41 for passing first elongate member 12 therethrough. In a blocking position shown in FIG. 12, an aperture wall 42 of blocking plate 40 engages an outer wall 43 of first elongate member 12 such that first elongate member 12 is jammed inside second elongate member 13 to resist retraction of first elongate member 12 into second elongate member 13. In a release position shown in FIG. 13, aperture wall 42 of blocking plate 40 disengages outer wall 43 of first elongate member 12 so that the first elongate member 12 may be retracted into second elongate member 13. In the shown example, blocking plate 40 of blocking member 39 is pivoted between the blocking position and the release position about a pivot axis 44 extending perpendicularly to longitudinal axis 12a of first elongate member 12. In the blocking position, blocking plate 40 is arranged at a non-zero angle with respect to a horizontal plain. In the shown example, blocking plate 40, in the blocking position, extends downwardly in direction away from pivot axis 44, whereas blocking plate 40, in the release position, is arranged horizontally. Normally, blocking plate 40 is in the blocking position. For this purpose, a spring member 45 biases blocking plate 40 in direction of the blocking position. Spring member 45 is a torsion spring arranged about pivot axis 44. In the shown example, blocking member 39 is housed in housing 21 which is fixed to second elongate member 13. Blocking member 39 is connected to a support member 46 supported on an upper end of the second elongate member 13. Support member 46 has a support plate 47, the lower end of which abutting on the upper end of second elongate member 13. Here, support plate 47 is connected to blocking plate 40 by means of a pin 48 defining pivot axis 44. For telescoping first elongate member 12 into second elongate member 13, blocking member 39 is pivoted upwards into the release position. For this purpose, an instrument (not shown) may be introduced into an access opening 21a provided in the housing 21 for manipulating blocking member 39 (see FIG. 14, FIG. 15 and FIG. 16).
(46) FIG. 14 to FIG. 25 illustrate the anchoring of support post 5 between first floor 3 and second floor 4. In a first step, the total vertical extension of support post 5 is adjusted by telescoping first elongate member 12 from second elongate member 13 until first floor engaging member 14 touches the first floor (i.e. the ceiling). As a next step, first floor engaging member 14 and second floor engaging member 15 are brought in engagement with first floor 3 and second floor 4, respectively. For this purpose, support post 5 has a displacement unit 49 for displacing first floor engaging member 14 in direction away from an upper end of first elongate member 12 (i.e. towards first floor 3). Thus, first floor engaging member 14 can be transferred from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position in an unloaded state of the first floor engaging member 14 (i.e. as long as there is no counter pressure from above on floor engaging member 14, in particular by means of first floor 3). In the shown example, displacement unit 49 has a spring 50 (see FIG. 20, FIG. 21), for example a coil spring, resisting movement of first floor engaging member 14 from the fully retracted to the fully extended position when first floor engaging member 14 comes in contact with first floor 3. For this purpose, spring 50 biases first floor engaging member 14 in a direction away from the upper and lower end of first elongate member 12 (see FIG. 14, FIG. 15, FIG. 16, FIG. 20). Thus, first floor engaging member 14 is pressed against first floor 3 by means of spring 50 when displacement unit 49 is activated.
(47) In the shown example, displacement unit 49 has a slide member 51, a guide member 52 with a curved surface 53 for guiding slide member 51 thereon and a hollow elongate force transfer member 54 connected to slide member 51 (see FIG. 17, FIG. 18, FIG. 19). The sliding motion of slide member 51 on curved surface 53 of guide member 52 is transferred into a linear displacement of elongate force transfer member 54. Elongate force transfer member 54 acts on a bearing 55 for a first end of spring 50 while the second end of spring 50 acts on first floor engaging member 14. When first floor engaging member 14 is pressed against first floor 3 by activating displacement unit 49, spring 50 is compressed between bearing 55 at the lower end of spring 50 and first floor engaging member 14 at the upper end of spring 50 (see FIG. 22). In the shown example, elongate force transfer member 54 extends up to the upper end of first elongate member 12. For allowing the vertical displacement of first pin 33 holding the first floor engaging member 14, elongate force transfer member 54 further has an elongate slot 54a accommodating first pin 33. On the other hand, elongate force transfer member 54 has an opening 54b for accommodating bearing 55 for spring 50 (see FIG. 25)
(48) In the shown example, guide member 52 is pivoted about a transverse pivot 56 extending perpendicular to longitudinal axis 12a of first elongate member 12 (see FIG. 22). By pivoting guide member 52, slide member 51 is moved along curved surface 53 of guide member 52 such that slide member 51 is vertically displaced for pushing first elongate member 12 upwards or downwards, depending on the direction of rotation of guide member 52 (see FIG. 17, FIG. 18, FIG. 19). To allow for the vertical displacement of slide member 51, first elongate member 12 has elongate guides 57 for slide member 51 at opposite sides of first elongate member 12. In this way, guide member 52 may be arranged outside of first elongate member 12.
(49) In the shown example, wherein reference is made to FIG. 17, FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, guide member 52 has a first indentation 58 at the curved surface 53 for stably accommodating slide member 51 in a first position corresponding to a fully retracted position of first floor engaging member 12 (again with respect to an unloaded state of first floor engaging member 12 without counter pressure from first floor 3). Guide member 52 further has a second indentation 59 at the curved surface 53 for stably accommodating slide member 51 in a second position corresponding to a fully extended position of first floor engaging member 14. In the shown example, displacement unit 49 has two identical guide members 52 for guiding the same slide member 51 between the first and second position.
(50) In the shown example, displacement unit 49 has an interface 60 for releasably connecting a tool 61 to guide member 52. Here, tool 61 has a fork member 62 for insertion into two insertion openings 63 of interface 60 (see arrows 64 in FIG. 23).
(51) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 26A, 26B and FIG. 27 (see also FIG. 24 and FIG. 33), support post 5 has a first inspection window 65a at first elongate member 12, a second inspection window 65b at elongate force transfer member 54, which extends at least below the position of the first inspection window 65a, and an indicator 66 connected to first floor engaging member 14 via a (optionally rigid and elongate) connector 67. Advantageously, the indicator 66 is provided on a bracket member 90 attached to the connector 67. The bracket member 90 is slidable relative to and optionally floating within the elongate force transfer member 54 and the first elongate member 12. The first inspection window 65a has a larger vertical extension than the second inspection window 65b. When the displacement unit 49 is not actuated corresponding to a fully retracted position of first floor engaging member 12, i.e. when the slide member 51 is accommodated in the first indentation 58, the second inspection window 65b is arranged at a lower end of the first inspection window 65a (see FIG. 26A). When the displacement unit 49 is actuated, thus linearly displacing elongate force transfer member 54 acting on a bearing 55 for a first end of spring 50, the second inspection window 65b is displaced in the direction of an upper end of the first inspection window 65a. When the slide member 51 is accommodated in the second indentation 59, i.e. when a bearing 55 for the first end of spring 50 has reached an upmost position, the second inspection window 65b is arranged at the upper end of the first inspection window 65b (see FIG. 26B).
(52) The linear displacement of the connector 67 can differ from the linear displacement of the force transfer member 54 and thus the linear displacement of the indicator 66 can differ from the linear displacement of the second inspection window 65b. In particular, their distance represents the length of the spring 50, depending on its tensioning. When the displacement unit 49 is actuated, the elongate force transfer member 54 and the bearing 55 for first end of the spring 50 will be linearly displaced by a certain distance corresponding to the linear displacement of first pin 33. If the first floor engaging member 14 was already in contact with the first floor 3, the first floor engaging member 14 will be linearly displaced only by a very short distance, in particular by a shorter distance than the bearing 55, e.g. by 1 to 2 mm, since it is pressed against (and advantageously slightly into) the first floor 3. In this case, also the connector 67 and the indicator 66 will only move by this short distance and the spring 50 will be properly tensioned. If, on the other hand, the first floor engaging member 14 was not in contact with the first floor 3 when the displacement unit 49 is actuated, the first floor engaging member 14 and with it the connector 67 and the indicator 66 will move by a longer distance than if it were in engaging contact and spring 50 will not be properly tensioned. In particular, if the first floor engaging member 14 does not come into contact with the first floor 3 at all, the indicator 66 will move by substantially the same distance as the bearing 55. If the first floor engaging member 14 was in close proximity to the first floor 3 but not in proper contact with the first floor 3 before the displacement unit 49 is actuated, the indicator 66 will be linearly displaced by a shorter distance than the bearing 55 is displaced on actuating the displacement unit 49, but by a longer distance than if the first floor engaging member 14 had been in proper contact with the first floor 3.
(53) Indicator 66 has a first marking and a second marking spaced in vertical direction from one another and arranged such that the first marking is visible through the first inspection window 65a and the second inspection window 65b when the bearing 55 for the first end of spring 50 is not at an upmost position (i.e. the slide member 51 is accommodated in the first indentation 58) or when the bearing 55 for the first end of spring 50 is at an upmost position (i.e. the slide member 51 is accommodated in the second indentation 59) and the spring 50 is in a relaxed or not properly tensioned state and the second marking is visible through the first inspection window 65a and the second inspection window 65b when the bearing 55 for the first end of spring 50 is at an upmost position (i.e. the slide member 51 is accommodated in the second indentation 59) and the spring 50 is in a properly tensioned state. This corresponds to the first and the second marking being arranged such that the first marking is at the second inspection window 65b in a relaxed state of the spring 50 and the second marking is at the second inspection window 65b in a loaded state of the spring 50. If actuation of guide member 52 results in a full extension of first floor engaging member 14 this is indicative of insufficient tensioning of support post 5 between first floor 3 and second floor 4. Thus, first marking, which may be of red color, will be visible through the second inspection window 65b. However, if support post 5 is properly installed, first floor engaging member 14 bites into first floor 3 when driving guide member 52 of displacement unit 49. In this case, first floor engaging member 14 and thus indicator 66 travels only by a shorter vertical distance (or remains at the same vertical position) while spring 50 is compressed. This places second marking, which may have a green color, at a vertical location in proximity of the upper end of the first inspection window 65a to indicate sufficient tensioning of support post 5, wherein the second marking will be visible when the second inspection window 65b was linearly displaced to the upper end of the first inspection window 65a and at the same time the indicator 66 has not travelled at all or only by a very small distance. In the shown example, connector 67 between indicator 66 and first floor engaging member 14 has a rod 68 with a lower end attached to indicator 66 or to a bracket member 90 comprising the indicator 66, respectively, and an upper end attached to first floor engaging member 14. Rod 68 projects through bearing 55 and spring 50 and attaches to the underside of first floor engaging member 14 (see FIG. 27).
(54) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, support post 5 has a shock absorber 69 arranged at an upper side of second floor engaging member 15 inside second elongate member 13. Shock absorber 69 is arranged for absorbing the impact caused by the lower end of the first elongate member 12 hitting shock absorber 69 when first elongate member 12 is fully retracted into second elongate member 13. In the shown example, shock absorber 69 has an absorbing plate 70, optionally made of a rubber material.
(55) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, support post 5 further has a safety device 71 preventing the first and second elongate member from being involuntarily disconnected from one another, for example during transport of support post 5. Safety device 71 has a locking member 72, for example a locking pin, connected to first elongate member 12 and a locking opening 73 at second elongate member 13. In a fully extended position of first elongate member 12 (see FIG. 28), locking member 72 is received in locking opening 73 to block further telescoping of first elongate member 12. Safety device 71 further has a spring member 74 biasing locking member 72 in direction perpendicular to longitudinal axis 12a of first elongate member 12. In this way, locking member 72 is urged against the inner wall of second elongate member 13 when first elongated member 12 is telescoped from second elongated member 13. As soon as locking member 72 reaches locking opening 73, spring member 74 pushes locking member 72 into locking opening 73 of second elongate member 13 to lock support post 5 in its fully extended state. In the shown example, safety device 71 further has a bracket 75 connected to locking member 72 and an impact plate 76 attached to an underside of a horizontal flange 77 of bracket 75. Impact plate 76 is arranged at an open lower end of first elongate member 12 such that impact plate 76 contacts shock absorber 69 when the first elongated member 14 is in its fully retracted state (see FIG. 29). Impact plate 76 may be an integral part of second elongated member 13.
(56) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 30, FIG. 31, FIGS. 32 and 33, support post 5 further has a level 78 for indicating an inclination of support post 5. Level 78 may have a bubble level 79. Furthermore, level 78 has a holder 80 for arrangement at the outer surface of first elongate member 12. Holder 80 has a magnet 81 for releasably connecting level 78 to first elongate member 12. Furthermore, in FIG. 33, the first inspection window 65a is positioned at the lower end of the second inspection window 65b, since the displacement unit 49 has not been actuated.
