Service post and method for expanding functionality provided thereby

Abstract

The invention relates to a service post, comprising a base post part placeable on or in the ground; and at least one functional post part, which comprises a functional element, such as a connection for for instance water, electrics and / or lighting. According to the invention, the base post part and the at least one functional post part can be releasably connected to each other, and form at least a part of the service post when mutually connected. The invention also relates to a method for expanding functionality provided by a service post, wherein an additional functional element is added onto the base post part or the at least one functional post part.

Description

[0001] SERVICE POST AND METHOD FOR EXPANDING FUNCTIONALITY PROVIDED

[0002] THEREBY

[0003] The invention relates to a service post, particularly for providing water and / or electricity and / or lighting. The service post comprises a base post part placeable on or in the ground and at least one functional post part, which comprises a functional element, such as a connection for for instance water, electrics and / or lighting.

[0004] Such service posts are per se known. Service posts are for instance applied at campsites, where they are used to provide hook-up points for campers at multiple locations spread around the site. Examples of hook-up points are commonly envisaged to involve water, for instance in the form of a tap to which a user can connect a hose, or electricity, for instance in the form of a socket outlet.

[0005] Although the known service post functions adequately per se, they have the drawback that they are not particularly flexible, for instance during installation or in the case of modification after installation. When expanding the desired functionality provided by a service post, a new service post must therefore be (additionally) installed, this entailing relatively high costs.

[0006] The invention therefore has for its object to provide a service post whereby changing functionality requirements can be handled in more cost-efficient manner.

[0007] This object, and optionally other objects, can be achieved with a service post of the type stated in the preamble, wherein the base post part and the at least one functional post part can be releasably connected to each other, and wherein they form at least a part of the service post when mutually connected.

[0008] In this way the functional element can be separated from the base part. When modifications to the service post are necessary, the base part can therefore remain in use unchanged. It is thus possible to replace for instance a functional post part with a different functional post part, for instance with another or an additional functional element, so that a service post with a different configuration can be obtained. The base part thus need not be replaced here, this saving not only material costs but also installation costs. It is particularly when the base part has been buried that this can be significant.

[0009] There can already be an advantage, even when the service post requires no modification after initial installation. This is because the separate functional post parts enable a desired functionality to be selected by combining a limited number of sub-components. A manufacturer need thus not provide a different product for every combination.

[0010] The functional element can for instance be a provision for mounting a water tap or a socket outlet for electricity, i.e. a plug socket. It is of course also possible for the tap or the socket outlet to be arranged on the functional post part already. The functional element can for instance be one or more openings, in each of which a tap can be arranged. An opening can also be arranged for a socket outlet, or even a plurality of openings for a plurality of socket outlets.

[0011] Connection between the post parts (functional and / or base) and the cover (further described below) can for instance be brought about by inserting a flange between the parts. The flange can provide a number of advantages.

[0012] Firstly, a flange with a cable passage can be provided, which passage, in contrast to the cable passage, provides a sealing action between the post parts between which the flange is placed. In this way the effect of for instance moisture can be limited to post parts where the moisture occurs. By way of example it is possible to envisage a leaking tap or condensing conduits, wherein the moisture will preferably not reach electrical components in the post. The cable passage can be provided with for instance a cable gland.

[0013] Secondly, a flange can be provided under the cover, with fastening means therein for fastening for instance a lighting means such as a lamp. Such fastening means can be a fitting. Such a flange can also be provided with engaging means for fastening the cover thereon, while the flange itself can be placed and fastened onto the underlying post parts, and thus forms part here of the first connecting means and / or second connecting means which will be introduced below. Because the cover can thus be secured on a flange with engaging means, and the flange itself in turn forms part of first and / or second connecting means for securing the flange and any underlying post parts, a particularly strong construction is obtained.

[0014] In this way the position of the engaging means can also be chosen freely. It is for instance advantageous in a general sense for the engaging means to be positioned such that they can be reached from the highest point of the cover, for instance when being screwed down. This reduces the amount of water that is able to enter in the event of precipitation.

[0015] Other or identical flanges can also be placed between the post parts (functional or base), for instance in order to provide mutual sealing and / or to provide strength.

[0016] The at least one functional post part is preferably stackable.

[0017] Giving the functional post part a stackable form enables a plurality of functional post parts to be stacked one on top of the other and so to be placed collectively on a shared base post part. A service post that can be used in particularly flexible manner is obtained thereby.

[0018] The at least one functional post part can particularly take a somewhat tapering form so that it has a smaller cross-sectional area on an upper side thereof than on an underside lying opposite the upper side. In this way water is prevented from entering or less likely to enter the post at the contact surface between post parts. This is because, since each underside of the functional post part protrudes further outward than the upper side of the post part lying thereunder, water is discharged better and entry is counteracted. In line therewith, an underside of the cover (further described below), which can be fastened to a post part, can be embodied with a greater cross-sectional area than the upper side of the post parts, be they functional or base post parts. The same is true for the undersides of the functional post parts compared to the upper side of the base post part. Entry of water can also be counteracted in this way.

[0019] The base post part can be provided at a free end thereof with first connecting means for releasable connection to a functional post part, which is provided for this purpose with second connecting means co-acting with the first connecting means.

[0020] A sufficiently strong connection can be obtained by means of the connecting means. The connecting means are preferably releasable. Particularly envisaged are form-fitting connecting means which enable the one component to be slotted onto the other. Optionally, the connecting means simultaneously provide for a mutual locking, although additional fixing means can also be used for this purpose.

[0021] If such form-fitting connecting means are used, the service posts can be constructed and released multiple times during installation before being definitively fixed. This simplifies installation.

[0022] The connecting means can be rotation-symmetrical around a longitudinal axis of the base post part and / or the functional post part, preferably quadruply rotation-symmetrical.

[0023] This makes it possible to select the orientation in which any functional elements will be arranged.

[0024] The at least one functional post part can further be provided with first connecting means on a side thereof opposite the second connecting means.

[0025] In this way the outer end of the service post constructed in this manner is still provided with first connecting means after a functional post part has been placed. This enables yet another functional post part to be placed, if desired. This thus results in a service post with particularly flexible utility.

[0026] It is for instance possible to provided the service post with at least two such functional post parts, these optionally comprising mutually differing functional elements.

[0027] The functional post parts can thus differ from each other in respect of the function provided thereby, but can otherwise be identical. In this way it is possible to select the function that is added to the service post. Removal or replacement after installation can also be an option.

[0028] Each functional post part particularly has a unique function which is not provided by other functional post parts as well.

[0029] The service post can comprise at least one cover which can be releasably connected to the base post part and / or the at least one functional post part. The cover can be used to close the service post at the free end, this being the upper side. For this purpose the cover can be provided with for instance the second connecting means.

[0030] The cover can be provided with a lighting means. By way of example, the cover can be at least partially light-transmitting, wherein a lighting means can then be arranged in the cover. It is of course also possible for a lighting means to be arranged on top of the cover.

[0031] The lighting means can in any case ensure that the service post is easy to find in the dark, that users are able to utilize the service post in simple manner in the dark, and / or can even serve as ambient lighting.

[0032] The cover and the base post part can be fixable one on top of the other through the at least one functional part.

[0033] In this way the cover can be used to secure the functional parts onto the base post part. The cover need thus merely be fixed or released for assembly or disassembly. The remaining functional post parts can be pre-fastened by means of the for instance form-fitting connecting means, but are preferably not fixed until they are fixed with the cover.

[0034] The at least one functional post part can thus be placeable between the cover and the base post part, and in that case be provided with channels for receiving fixing means which extend between the cover and the base post part.

[0035] The fixing means are used to fix the cover onto the base post part, as elucidated above. By means of the channels a connection also results between fixing means and functional post parts, which are thereby unable to come loose accidentally. The channels can further provide for a protection of the fixing means so that, on one hand, they are not affected by external influences such as precipitation and moisture and, on the other hand, they cannot damage functional elements, cables or conduits and so on arranged in the functional post parts.

[0036] The base post part and optionally the at least one functional element can be substantially hollow. This creates space for placing functional elements, but also for passage of cables and / or conduits for the functional elements of this functional post part in particular, or another functional post part of the service post.

[0037] The conduits and / or cables can be fed into the base post part by an infeed opening which can be provided for this purpose in a side wall of the base post part. If the base post part is embodied as a base post part to be buried, this opening can be placed underground.

[0038] A first functional post part of the at least one functional post part can define an opening in a side wall. Through the opening access can be gained to an inner space of the post part, which can take a hollow form for this purpose. A conduit, such as a water conduit, can thus for instance be connected. A tap can then be arranged over and / or in the opening. This first functional post part defines a height direction and can be provided with one or more internal partitions extending parallel to the height direction and so defining separate portions in the first post part transversely of the height direction.

[0039] The internal partitions can provide for a stronger construction. Additionally or alternatively, the internal partitions can provide for a separation inside the post part so that for instance water and electrics can be kept separate from each other. This may limit damage in the event of any leakage.

[0040] A second functional post part of the at least one functional post part can define one or two openings in a side wall. The openings can be used for arranging socket outlets over and / or in. Through the openings the socket outlets can be connected to cables running inside the post part. For this purpose the post part can take a hollow form.

[0041] The second functional post part defines a height direction and is sealed on at least a longitudinal end lying in the height direction, and optionally comprises a cable gland.

[0042] The seal, optionally in combination with the cable gland, can ensure that the inner space of the post part functions as junction box.

[0043] The second functional post part can be watertight, optionally when a cover or another, second functional post part is mounted thereon, particularly in accordance with the IP65 standard.

[0044] This post part, which is thus used for electrics, can particularly be arranged above a post part which is used for water. This increases safety. In terms of the service post, further upward means closer toward the free end of the service post, away from the base post part. This relative position of electrics and water can otherwise be applied irrespective of the features of the post parts in order to increase safety.

[0045] The invention also relates to a base post part which is configured for use in a service post as described herein. The base post part can have the features, each individually or in any suitable combination, described herein.

[0046] The invention also relates to a functional post part which is configured for use in a service post as described herein. The functional post part can have the features, each individually or in any suitable combination, described herein.

[0047] The invention also relates to expansion of functionality provided by a service post as described herein, wherein an additional functional element is added onto the base post part or the at least one functional post part. The functionality can thus be expanded or exchanged.

[0048] The invention is further described below with reference to the figures, in which:

[0049] Figure 1 shows schematically a perspective view of a service post; Figure 2 shows schematically an exploded view of the upper side of the service post of figure 1 ; and

[0050] Figure 3 shows schematically a perspective view of this upper side.

[0051] Corresponding elements are designated in the figures with corresponding reference numerals. For the sake of clarity, not all elements are designated with their numeral in every figure.

[0052] The figures show a service post 1 which can for instance be used at a campsite. The service post 1 can be placed on a ground surface G or, as in the figures, be buried so as to extend below the ground surface G. Service post 1 comprises a base post part 2 which in this case is configured to be buried, but can also be configured to stand or to be mounted fixedly onto a ground surface. In addition to the base post part 2, a first functional post part 3 and a second functional post part 4 also form part of the service post, as does a cover 5. The cover 5 seals the service post 1 completely and is placed on top of the functional post parts 3, 4, which in turn are placed on top of the base post part 2.

[0053] In order to enable conduits and / or cables (not shown) to be lead to the functional post parts 3, 4 the base post part 2 is provided with an opening 8 in a side wall 7 at its lower end 6, this being buried in use. The conduits and / or cables can run upward through base post part 2. For this purpose the base post part 2 takes a hollow form in this case, although this is not essential. The hollow embodiment creates an inner space 13 for such cable s / conduits.

[0054] The functional parts 3, 4 are stacked one on top of the other. In order to enable the stacking, the base post part 2 is firstly provided with first connecting means 24 which can co-act with second connecting means 25 of the first functional post part 3. In this case the co-action is form -fitting. The form fit is obtained by providing the base post part 2 at its free end with a flange 9 which protrudes above the side wall 7 and is set back inwardly. The flange 9 thereby defines a stepped form over which a wall of the first functional post part 3 can fit. The wall of the functional post part 3 thus likewise forms the second connecting means 25. Such a stepped form can otherwise of course also be obtained in other manner, the flange 9 is therefore not essential.

[0055] The functional post parts 3, 4 are once again provided with first connecting means 24 on their upper side by providing there a set-back edge which protrudes beyond the side wall. This results in the same stepped form. This enables post parts 3, 4 to be stacked one on top of the other, and to be removed and replaced. Additional post parts can also be added. Because service post 1 has a square cross-section and connecting means 24, 25 are embodied identically on all sides, the functional post parts 3, 4 can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the service post relative to the base post part 2 and relative to each other before they are placed. It is thus possible to select the orientation in which the functional post parts 3, 4 are placed. This rotation symmetry can be applied in any suitable manner. The post parts 3, 4 are fixed by means of fixing means 11, in this case screw bolts, which extend through cover 5 and into flange 9, where they lock into holes 10 with a screw thread. Between cover 5 and the base post part 2 the fixing means 11 extend through the functional post parts 3, 4. In cover 5 the fixing elements 11 engage with a head (not shown) in recessed holes 12.

[0056] Cover 5 serves on one hand to seal the service post 1, but can also be provided with a lighting means, although this is not shown here. Cover 5 could be made at least partially of a translucent material and so allow a light source arranged in cover 5 to shine out. In the shown variant cover 5 connects to the second functional post part 4 in watertight manner, so that the second functional post part 4 is sealed in accordance with the IP65 standard.

[0057] This makes the second functional post part 4 readily usable as junction box in which electrics can be connected. The post part 4 is therefore provided with an opening 18 in which a socket outlet 19 is arranged. The socket outlet 19 can be connected to cables (not shown) inside the post part, which for this purpose can take a hollow form. The cables can extend through post part 4, for instance downward. They can thus run through base post part 2. In order to further seal the junction box the second functional post part 4 is in this example also sealed (although not visibly here) on its underside, i.e. the side facing away from cover 5 and toward the base post part 2. The seal forms the bottom of the junction box. The seal can optionally be provided with a cable passage, such as a cable gland. The second functional post part 4 further has channels 22 which are separated by channel walls 21. The fixing means 11 run through these channels 22 and are thus separated by the channel walls 21 from any cables in the junction box in the hollow space of the second functional post part 4.

[0058] The first functional post part 3 is also provided with an opening 17, although in this case a tap 16 has been mounted. The tap can be connected through the opening 17 to a water conduit (not shown) in the interior of the first functional post part 3 and the base post part 2. The first functional post part 3 further has inner walls 15 which are disposed vertically in order to thus strengthen the part and / or to provide a separation between an inner space 14 and spaces 20 separated therefrom. The first post part 3 can also have channel walls 23, although this is not essential.

[0059] When the service provided by an existing service post 1 must be modified, for instance expanded, cover 5 can be released from service post 1 by temporarily removing the fixing means. Functional post parts can then be added or replaced. Cover 5 can then be mounted again, with the same or different fixing means 11.

[0060] The present invention is not limited to the shown embodiments but also extends to other embodiments falling within the scope of protection of the appended claims.

[0061] It is thus for instance possible to insert flanges between the post parts 2, 3, 4 and / or the cover 5. A flange can particularly be provided between an upper post part 4 and the cover 5 in order to fasten the cover directly onto this flange. The flange is then for instance fastened onto the post part with fixing means 11 in the manner described above. This strengthens the construction and enables screw holes for cover 5 to for instance be moved to the highest point of the cover.

[0062] It is further possible to place a flange between a post part 3 for water and a post part 4 for electrics, with a sealing action. This post part can comprise a cable passage for an electrical cable, which can for instance be made sealing using a cable gland. Leakage or condensation at the position of the tap is then unable or less able to affect the electrics lying thereabove.

[0063] Flanges can also have a structural purpose, for instance between the base post part 2 and a first functional post part 3. It is then nevertheless preferred for such a flange to be open over a relatively large part of the cross-section of the post, on one hand to allow passage of cables and conduits and so on, but on the other hand so that condensation occurring higher up in the post is able to leak downward through the flange. Relatively large can be understood here to mean more than 20% of the overall area of the flange, preferably more than 30%, more preferably more than 40% or even more than 50%.

Claims

Claims1. Service post, particularly for providing water, and / or electricity and / or lighting, comprising:- a base post part placeable on or in the ground; and- at least one functional post part, which comprises a functional element, such as a connection for for instance water, electrics and / or lighting, characterized in that the base post part and the at least one functional post part can be releasably connected to each other, and wherein they form at least a part of the service post when mutually connected.

2. Service post according to the foregoing claim, wherein the at least one functional part is stackable.

3. Service post according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the base post part is provided at a free end thereof with first connecting means for releasable connection to a functional post part, which is provided for this purpose with second connecting means co-acting with the first connecting means.

4. Service post according to the foregoing claim, wherein the connecting means are rotation- symmetrical around a longitudinal axis of the base post part and / or the functional post part, preferably quadruply rotation-symmetrical.

5. Service post according to any one of the claims 3 - 4, wherein the at least one functional post part is further provided with first connecting means on a side thereof opposite the second connecting means.

6. Service post according to any one of the foregoing claims, comprising at least two such functional post parts, these optionally comprising mutually differing functional elements.

7. Service post according to any one of the foregoing claims, further comprising at least one cover which can be releasably connected to the base post part and / or the at least one functional post part.

8. Service post according to the foregoing claim, wherein the cover is provided with a lighting means.

9. Service post according to any one of the claims 6 - 8, wherein the cover and the base post part arc fixable one on top of the other through the at least one functional part.

10. Service post according to the foregoing claim, wherein the at least one functional post part is placeable between the cover and the base post part, and is provided with channels for receiving fixing means which extend between the cover and the base post part.

11. Service post according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the base post part and optionally the at least one functional element are substantially hollow.

12. Service post according to the foregoing claim, wherein the base post part comprises an infeed opening in a side wall.

13. Service post according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein a first functional post part of the at least one functional post part defines an opening in a side wall.

14. Service post according to the foregoing claim, wherein a tap is arranged over and / or in the opening.

15. Service post according to any one of the claims 13 - 14, wherein the first functional post part defines a height direction and wherein the first functional post part is provided with one or more internal partitions extending parallel to the height direction and so defining separate portions in the first post part transversely of the height direction.

16. Service post according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein a second functional post part of the at least one functional post part defines one or two openings in a side wall.

17. Service post according to the foregoing claim, wherein a socket outlet is arranged over and / or in the opening(s).

18. Service post according to any one of the claims 16 - 17, wherein the second functional post part defines a height direction and wherein the second functional post part is sealed on at least a longitudinal end lying in the height direction, and optionally comprises a cable gland.

19. Base post part, configured for use in a service post according to any one of the foregoing claims.

20. Functional post part, configured for use in a service post according to any one of the claims 1 - 18.

21. Method for expanding functionality provided by a service post according to any one of the claims 1 - 18, wherein an additional functional element is added onto the base post part or the at least one functional post part.

Images