Wheel stop

Abstract

A wheel stop comprising: a generally hollow elongate body having opposed lateral ends; and a pair of lateral mounts, at least one of which is removably engageable with one of the opposed lateral ends of the elongate body, each mount being fixable to the ground with the elongate body extending therebetween so as to form the wheel stop.

Description

[0001]

[0002] Wheel stop

[0003] Field of the invention

[0004] Disclosed herein is a wheel stop. Also disclosed herein is a cover for the wheel stop.

[0005] Backqround

[0006] Wheel stops are commonly used in parking lots and the like to physically obstruct a vehicle's wheels to prevent movement of the vehicle beyond a certain point. However, wheel stops are commonly made from materials such as rubber and plastic and may be vulnerable to deformation and relatively short life spans when repeatedly driven into. As such, damaged wheel stops need to be removed and replaced, and this can be a relatively time, cost and labour-intensive process.

[0007] Wheel stops are also relatively unsightly, or at least, not visually appealing, and drivers may be less likely to pay attention to them and more ready to drive into them rather than avoid making contact with them.

[0008] There is a need to address the above, and / or at least provide a useful alternative.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wheel stop comprising: a generally hollow elongate body having opposed lateral ends; and a pair of lateral mounts, at least one of which is removably engageable with one of the opposed lateral ends of the elongate body, each mount being fixable to the ground with the elongate body extending therebetween so as to form the wheel stop.

[0010] In certain embodiments, at least one of the opposed lateral ends of the elongate body is open, and wherein the at least one removably engageable mount is configured to plug into the open end of the body so as to be removably engaged therewith.

[0011] The wheel stop may further comprise an elongate cover that is removably securable over the elongate body so as to substantially cover it. In certain examples, the elongate cover may be at least partially transparent. In at least one embodiment, an interior surface of the cover which engages the elongate body may be printed or otherwise provided with a coating which is visible through the cover.

[0012] The cover may be formed from a resilient material that can be urged to fit over the elongate body and to be removed therefrom. The cover may also comprise retaining means configured to latch beneath an underside of the elongate body to retain the cover thereto.

[0013] It is envisaged that the or each mount comprises a base configured to be fixed to the ground, and wherein in-situ, a lower portion of at least one lateral end of the cover is configured to be sandwiched between the base of a mount and the bottom of the elongate body.

[0014] The cover may be substantially formed from a plastic. The cover may be interchangeable with one or more other like covers.

[0015] In certain embodiments, the elongate body is in the form of a square hollow section. It is envisaged that the cover generally has an inverted U-shaped cross-section, an open end of the U being configured to be applied over and receive the elongate body. In certain examples, each end of the U-shaped cross-section comprises an inwardly extending ledge configured to latch beneath an underside of the elongate body.

[0016] In at least one embodiment, both lateral mounts are removably engageable with respective lateral ends of the elongate body.

[0017] Brief description of the drawinas

[0018] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0019] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a wheel stop according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0020] Fig. 2A is a top perspective view of a wheel stop fitted with a cover;

[0021] Fig. 2B is a bottom perspective view of the wheel stop of Fig. 2A;

[0022] Fig. 3A is a partially transparent close-up view of a mount of the wheel stop of

[0023] Fig. 2A;

[0024] Fig. 3B is a close-up end view of the wheel stop of Fig. 2A with the mount removed; and

[0025] Fig. 4 is a close-up end perspective view of the wheel stop cover of Fig. 2A.

[0026] Detailed

[0027] Fig. 1 shows a disassembled wheel stop 2, the wheel stop 2 comprising a generally hollow and elongate body 4 having opposed ends 6, and a pair of lateral mounts 8. Each mount 8 is configured to be fixed to the ground with the elongate body 4 extending therebetween so as to form the wheel stop 2. In the depicted embodiment, both mounts 8 are removable from respective ends 6 of the elongate body 4, though it is envisaged that only one mount need be removable.

[0028] The elongate body 4 may be formed from a strong material such as a metal that can withstand relatively high loads. In the depicted embodiment, the elongate body 4 is in the form of a square hollow section having opposed open ends 6 into which respective mounts 8 can be plugged so as to be removably engaged with the elongate body 4.

[0029] Fig. 3A shows a close-up of one of the mounts 8. The mount 8 comprises a flat base 10 having spaced apart through holes 12 via which the mount can be fixed into the ground. Extending upwardly from a rear of the base 10 is a rear wall 14 of the mount 8. Protruding forwardly from the rear wall 14 is a plugging portion 16 having a cross-section that is generally in the form of an upside-down U. In use, the plugging portion 16 is inserted into an open end 6 of the elongate body 4 such that the end 6 of the elongate body 4 slides over the plugging portion 16 and abuts against the rear wall 14 of the mount 8. It will be seen that there is a space 18 between the end of each arm of the U- shaped plugging portion 16 and the base 10 of the mount 8; this spacing 18 enables a bottom wall of the elongate body 4 to be slid over the plugging portion 16 and up against the rear wall 14 of the mount 8 such that a bottom surface of the elongate body 4 is positioned between the plugging portion 16 and the base 10 of the mount 8.

[0030] Referring back to Fig. 1, the wheel stop 2 can be installed by simply fitting the two lateral mounts 8 to the elongate body 4, and then fixing each mount 8 to the ground. Alternatively, one mount 8 can first be fixed to the ground, and one end 6 of the elongate body 4 can then be inserted over the plugging portion 16 of the fixed mount 8. The second mount 8 can then be plugged into the opposite end 6 of the elongate body 4 and then fixed into the ground. Advantageously, and unlike prior art wheel stops, the elongate portion of the wheel stop, being the elongate body 4 in this case, need not be drilled into for fixing into the ground.

[0031] Typically, a length of prior art wheel stops must be drilled through and fixed to the ground, which drilling can compromise the strength of the wheel stop. Additionally, if a prior art wheel stop is damaged, the entire wheel stop must be removed from the ground, and this can include unfixing the elongate length of the wheel stop from the ground. In contrast, if the present wheel stop 2 is damaged, it is likely that only the elongate body 4 would require replacement, and thus only the elongate body 4 needs to be replaced. To this end, one can simply unfix one of the two mounts 8 and slide the elongate body 4 off the fixed mount 8, replacing it with a new elongate body 4 and then refixing the previously unfixed mount 8. Embodiments of the present wheel stop 2 can thus be installed and replaced in a relatively cost and time-efficient manner.

[0032] Figs. 2A and 2B show the wheel stop 2 of Fig. 1 with a cover 20 applied thereon. The cover 20 is elongate and configured to be removably securable over the elongate body 4 so as to substantially cover it. The cover 20 may be configured to make the wheel stop 2 more visually appealing and / or eye-catching. For example, the cover 20 may be coloured or decorated as desired. In certain examples, the cover 20 may be at least partially if not substantially transparent, wherein an interior surface of the cover 20 can be provided with imagery, text, decorative elements and the like which are visible through the cover 20. In particular examples, an interior surface of the transparent cover may be coated (e.g. printed) with advertising and the like. In an example use-case, the wheel stops 2 embodying the present disclosure may be installed in the parking lot of a shopping centre, and the covers thereof 20 may advertise certain products and services associated with businesses in the shopping centre. As will be discussed, the cover 20 is configured to be readily interchangeable with like covers 20 such that different advertising and the like can be applied to the wheel stops 2 in accordance with different promotional cycles and campaigns.

[0033] Fig. 4 shows a close-up of one end of a cover 20 that can be fitted to the wheel stop 2. The cover 20 has a top wall 22, opposed sides of which have downwardly extending lateral walls 24, such that the cross-section of the cover 20 is generally in the form of an inverted U shape. The open bottom end 26 of the U is configured to receive therethrough the elongate body 4 of the wheel stop 2, wherein the opposed lateral walls 24 of the cover 20 engage against opposed side walls of the elongate body 4 of the wheel stop 2 (see Fig. 3B).

[0034] A free end of each lateral wall 24 of the cover 20 comprises an inwardly extending ledge 28 which is configured to latch or clip beneath an underside or bottom wall 30 of the elongate body 4 of the wheel stop 2, as shown in Fig. 3B. The cover 20 can thus be made from a relatively resilient material, such as plastic, whereby the two lateral walls 24 can be pried apart from one another so that they can receive therebetween the elongate body 4, and wherein once received, the walls 24 are biased to return to their unstressed configurations so that the ledges 28 thereof latch or clip beneath and against the bottom wall 30 of the elongate body 4.

[0035] In the depicted embodiment, the length of the cover 20 is substantially the same as that of the elongate body 4 so that opposed ends of the cover 20 are also received against and engage respective rear walls 14 of the respective mounts 8. In this way, at each end of the wheel stop 2, the ledges 28 of the cover 20 are sandwiched beneath the bottom wall of the elongate body 4 and above the base 10 of each mount 8, thereby further retaining the cover 20 to the wheel stop 2.

[0036] The cover 20 can be removed from the wheel stop 2 by simply removing one mount 8 from the elongate body 4 and then sliding the cover 20 off the elongate body 4. Alternatively, it is envisaged that the lateral walls 24 of the cover 20 can simply be spread apart from one another and removed from the elongate body 4 without unfixing any of the mounts 8.

[0037] Many modifications of the above embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, while the Figures illustrate a wheel stop having particular dimensions, it is of course possible for the wheel stop dimensions, including the height and length thereof, to vary so as to meet wheel stop requirements relevant to the particular region or jurisdiction that they are to be installed.

[0038] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0039] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A wheel stop comprising: a generally hollow elongate body having opposed lateral ends; and a pair of lateral mounts, at least one of which is removably engageable with one of the opposed lateral ends of the elongate body, each mount being fixable to the ground with the elongate body extending therebetween so as to form the wheel stop.

2. The wheel stop of claim 1, wherein at least one of the opposed lateral ends of the elongate body is open, and wherein the at least one removably engageable mount is configured to plug into the open end of the body so as to be removably engaged therewith.

3. The wheel stop of claim 1 or 2, further comprising an elongate cover that is removably securable over the elongate body so as to substantially cover it.

4. The wheel stop of claim 3, wherein the elongate cover is at least partially transparent.

5. The wheel stop of claim 3 or 4, wherein an interior surface of the cover which engages the elongate body is printed or otherwise provided with a coating which is visible through the cover.

6. The wheel stop of any one of claims 3 to 5, the cover being formed from a resilient material that can be urged to fit over the elongate body and to be removed therefrom.

7. The wheel stop of any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the cover comprises retaining means configured to latch beneath an underside of the elongate body to retain the cover thereto.

8. The wheel stop of any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the or each mount comprises a base configured to be fixed to the ground, and wherein in-situ, a lower portion of at least one lateral end of the cover is configured to be sandwiched between the base of a mount and the bottom of the elongate body.

9. The wheel stop of any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the cover is substantially formed from a plastic.

10. The wheel stop of any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the cover is interchangeable with one or more other like covers.

11. The wheel stop of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate body is in the form of a square hollow section.

12. The wheel stop of claim 11 as appended to any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the cover generally has an inverted U-shaped cross-section, an open end of the U being configured to be applied over and receive the elongate body.

13. The wheel stop of claim 12, wherein each end of the U-shaped cross-section comprises an inwardly extending ledge configured to latch beneath an underside of the elongate body.

14. The wheel stop of any one of the preceding claims, wherein both lateral mounts are removably engageable with respective lateral ends of the elongate body.

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