ROTATING CANTILEVER POST

Abstract

A swivel mechanism for a rotating cantilever post including a cantilever boom and a post, the swivel mechanism comprising at least one first gear associated with the cantilever boom and at least one second gear rotatably mounted to the post, wherein the at least one second gear is operatively associated with the at least one first gear such that rotation of the at least one second gear causes rotation of the at least one first gear, rotating the cantilever boom relative to the post.

Claims

1. A cantilever post comprising: a cantilever boom, a fixed post, and a swivel mechanism, the swivel mechanism comprising; at least one first gear associated with one of the cantilever boom and the fixed post; and at least one second gear associated with the other of the cantilever boom and the fixed post; wherein the at least one second gear is operatively associated with the at least one first gear such that rotation of the at least one second gear causes rotation of the at least one first gear, causing rotation of the cantilever boom relative to the fixed post during use; and wherein the at least one first gear and the at least one second gear comprise a self locking gear set, the mechanism further comprising a braking surface associated with one of the fixed post or the cantilever boom, a clamping surface associated with the other of the fixed post or the cantilever boom during use, the clamping surface being adapted to clamp onto the braking surface, the braking surface being provided with two spaced stop members abutting the clamping surface whereby during use rotation of the cantilever boom relative to the post is limited by the two stop members abutting the clamping surface.

2. The cantilever post as claimed in claim 1, wherein during use the at least one second gear is rotatably mounted to the post.

3. The cantilever post as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one second gear is a worm gear.

4. The cantilever post as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cantilever boom rotates about a substantially vertical axis.

5. The cantilever post as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one sign is mounted relative to the cantilever boom.

6. An apparatus for supporting a sign, the apparatus comprising a fixed post and an arm having a portion extending away from a longitudinal axis of the post, and a drive means operable to cause the arm to rotate relative to the fixed post, wherein the drive means comprises: a drive gear operatively associated with one of the fixed post or the arm; and a driven gear operatively associated with the other of the fixed post or the arm; wherein the drive gear and the driven gear comprise a self locking gear set, the apparatus further comprising a braking surface associated with one of the fixed post or the arm, a clamping surface associated with the other of the fixed post or the arm, the clamping surface being adapted to clamp onto the braking surface, the braking surface being provided with two stop members abutting the clamping surface whereby rotation of the arm relative to the fixed post is limited by the two stop members abutting the clamping surface. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the drive gear is a worm gear.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rotation of the arm relative to the fixed post occurs only as a result of rotation of the drive gear.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the drive gear is driven by a motor.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the arm rotates about a substantially vertical axis.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the arm comprises a double ended boom.

12. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claim 6, further comprising at least one bushing at least partially located between the post and the arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] One or more preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0039] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a rotating cantilever post.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a front view of a rotating cantilever post.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a swivel mechanism for a rotating cantilever post.

[0042] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a bushing for a rotating cantilever post.

[0043] FIG. 5 is a top view of a rotating cantilever post.

[0044] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a rotating cantilever post.

[0045] FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the swivel mechanism of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] It will be appreciated that the drawings have been provided for the purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, it will be understood that the invention should not be considered to be limited solely to the features as shown in the attached drawings.

[0047] With reference to FIGS. 1-2, an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in the form of a rotating cantilever post 10. The rotating cantilever post 10 has an arm in the form of a cantilever boom 12. Brackets 42 enable signs 40 to be mounted to the cantilever boom 12. The cantilever boom 12 has an elbow section 16 and extends into a post 14. The post 14 has a footing 18 which is mounted to a foundation (not shown). A driven gear in the form of a gear 20 is attached to the cantilever boom 12. A swivel mechanism 28 that enables the cantilever boom 12 to be rotated relative to the post 14 comprises a drive gear in the form of a worm 22 operatively associated with the gear 20.

[0048] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the swivel mechanism 28 in detail. The worm 22 is rotatably mounted to the post 14 by brackets 26. Projections 24 on the worm 22 allow a tool (not shown), such as a spanner, ratchet, power tool or the like to turn the worm 22. The projections 24 form the drive portion. When the worm 22 is not being turned, the cantilever boom 12 is locked in position as the gear 20 cannot drive the worm 22. In this regard, the worm screw 20 comprises a self locking worm screw.

[0049] A bushing 30 is attached to the cantilever boom 12 and inserted into the post 14 such that bushing flange 31 sits on top of flange 32. The bushing 30 is attached to the cantilever boom 12 such that the cantilever boom 12 cannot rotate relative to the bushing (e.g. by a friction fit). Gear 20 is positioned above the flange 31 of the bushing 30. The post 14 has a slot 36 and tabs 34 located on either side of the slot 36. Pinch bolts 38 are mounted in the tabs 34 such that the pinch bolts 38 can squeeze or pinch the tabs 34 together such that the top part of the post 14 clamps onto the bushing 30, providing additional locking of the cantilever boom 12.

[0050] With reference to FIGS. 3-5, when the rotating cantilever post 10 is in use, the cantilever boom 12 is in a first position (see FIG. 5, solid lines), usually over a roadway (not shown). In this position, the bushing 30 is usually locked in position by pinch bolts 38 as described above and the gear 20 is locked in position by the worm 22. When the cantilever boom 12 has to be rotated to access the signs 40, it for maintenance for example, the pinch bolts 38 are loosened so that the bushing 30 is no longer locked in position by the top of the post, at least one of the projections 24 on the worm 22 is turned in a first direction using a tool (not shown), thus turning the gear 20 and rotating the cantilever boom 12 into a second position (see FIG. 5, dashed lines as an example), where the signs 40 can be safely accessed. Once the maintenance, for example, has been performed, the worm gear is turned in a second direction using a tool (not shown), thus turning the gear 20 and rotating the cantilever boom 12 back to the first position (see FIG. 5, solid lines). Alternatively, the worm 22 can be turned in the first direction until the cantilever boom 12 (see FIG. 5, solid lines) has rotated to the first position. Once the cantilever boom 12 is in the first position, the worm 22 automatically locks gear 20 in position as it is no longer being turned, the pinch bolts 38 are tightened, locking the bushing 30 and the cantilever boom 12 in position.

[0051] With reference to FIG. 6, an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in the form of a rotating cantilever post 10. The rotating cantilever post 10 has an arm in the form of a double ended boom 46. The post 14 is mounted to a foundation (not shown) by the footing 18. The swivel mechanism 28 enables the double ended boom 46 to be rotated relative to the post 14.

[0052] With reference to FIG. 7, the swivel mechanism 28 of FIG. 6 is shown in detail. The double ended boom 46 is rotatably mounted to the post 14. The worm (not shown) is partially encased by a worm housing 48 which is mounted relative to the post 14. The gear (not shown) is partially encased by a gear housing 50 which is mounted relative to the post 14. The projection 24 extends from the worm housing such that a tool (not shown), such as a spanner, ratchet, power tool or the like can turn the worm (not shown). A flange 54 is attached to the double ended boom 46. A brake disc 56 is attached to the flange 54. A clamping means in the form of a calliper 52 is mounted relative to the post 14. The calliper 52 is adapted to clamp onto the brake disc 56 to lock the double ended boom 46 relative to the post 14. The brake disc 56 is provided with two stops 58 such that the rotation of the double ended boom 46 relative to the post 14 is limited by the stops 58 abutting the calliper 52.

[0053] The foregoing embodiments are illustrative only of the principles of the invention, and various modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways and in other embodiments. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0054] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word comprising and its derivatives including comprises and comprise include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0055] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment, or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases in one embodiment or in an embodiment in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

[0056] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.