US 5,961,249 AGranted

Removable and lockable barrier assembly

AssigneeBoard of Trustees operating Michigan State University

InventorsDennis R. Hansen, Clarence M. Hansen

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Abstract

A lockable and removable barrier assembly (10) includes a post (32) which is removably mounted in a sleeve (12). The bottom end (32B) of the post is mounted in the top end (12A) of the sleeve such that a securing opening (14) of the sleeve is aligned with a securing opening (35) of the post. A securing mechanism (42) is located in the inner chamber (32C) of the post. The securing mechanism includes a securing lever (52) which is pivotably mounted at the bottom end (52B) to a mounting bracket (44). The lever includes a securing lug (58) which extends through a securing opening in the post and sleeve to secure the post in position in the sleeve. The top end (52A) of the lever is held in the secured position by a lock (60) which extends through a hole in the end of the lever and through a hole in the locking bracket (48) mounted on the sidewall of the post in the inner chamber. The sleeve is permanently mounted in a ground surface (100) and when not in use, the top end of the sleeve is closed by a sleeve cover (28).

Claims20

Dependent claims

A barrier assembly which comprises:

(a) a sleeve adapted for mounting in a ground surface, the sleeve having opposed first and second ends with a sidewall extending therebetween forming an inner chamber, the sleeve having a first opening in the first end extending into the inner chamber and a second opening in the sidewall of the sleeve with a hollow cap mounted on the sidewall over the second opening and extending outward from the sidewall of the sleeve away from the inner chamber, the hollow cap having a closed end opposite the second opening such as to form an enclosed cavity within the cap;
(b) a post adapted to be removably mounted in the first opening in the first end of the sleeve and having first and second ends with a sidewall therebetween forming an inner chamber, the sidewall having a first opening extending into the inner chamber of the post;
(c) a securing means having opposed ends and pivotably mounted at one end to the sidewall of the post in the inner chamber of the post inside the inner chamber and adjacent to the sleeve, the securing means having a securing lug mounted between the ends and adjacent the first opening in the sidewall of the post, wherein the securing lug extends outward from the securing means and wherein when the post is mounted in the sleeve, the second opening in the sidewall of the sleeve is adjacent the first opening in the sidewall of the post so that in a secured position, the securing lug of the securing means extends through the first opening of the post into the second opening of the sleeve to secure the post in position in the sleeve and wherein once moved into an unsecured position, the securing means remains in the unsecured position to allow for removal of the post and;
(d) a lock inside the inner chamber of the post between the post and the securing means in the post which secures the securing means to the post with the securing lug in the second opening in the sleeve.

1 more element

A method for installing a removable barrier assembly, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a barrier assembly having a sleeve adapted for mounting in a ground surface, the sleeve having opposed first and second ends with a sidewall extending therebetween forming an inner chamber, the sleeve having a first opening in the first end extending into the inner chamber and a second opening in the sidewall of the sleeve with a hollow cap mounted on the sidewall over the second opening and extending outward from the sidewall of the sleeve away from the inner chamber, the hollow cap having a closed end opposite the second opening such as to form an enclosed cavity within the cap;
a post adapted to be removably mounted in the first opening in the first end of the sleeve and having first and second ends with a sidewall therebetween forming an inner chamber, the sidewall having first and second openings extending into the inner chamber of the post;
and a securing means having opposed ends and pivotably mounted at one end to the sidewall of the post in the inner chamber of the post between the first opening in the sidewall of the post and the second end of the post, the securing means having a securing lug mounted between the ends and adjacent the first opening in the sidewall of the post wherein the securing lug extends outward from the securing means and wherein when the post is mounted in the sleeve, the second opening in the sidewall of the sleeve is adjacent the first opening in the sidewall of the post so that in a secured position, the securing lug of the securing means extends through the first opening of the post into the second opening of the sleeve to secure the post in position in the sleeve and wherein once moved into an unsecured position, the securing means remains in the unsecured position to allow for removal of the post;
(b) mounting the sleeve in the ground surface so that the first end of the sleeve is spaced below a top of the ground surface;
(c) inserting the second end of the post into the opening in the first end of the sleeve so that the first opening of the post is adjacent the second opening of the sleeve;
and
(d) moving the securing means in the inner chamber into the secured position so that the securing lug extends through the second opening of the post and into the second opening of the sleeve.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.