PARKING LOT POWER PEDESTAL

BORNE D'ALIMENTATION ELECTRIQUE DE PARC DE STATIONNEMENT

English Abstract

A parking lot power pedestal is described which has a single spring attaching a tubular body to a base. The spring flexes in response to a blow to enable the tubular body to be angularly offset relative to the base and the spring resiliently returns to its original state to reposition the tubular body in a position extending vertically relative to the base. The spring has a first end providing a weather seal with a central bore of the tubular body. The spring has a second end providing a weather seal surrounding an opening in the base. The spring is tightly wound to provide a weather seal for a central passage defined by the spring through which wires pass.

French Abstract

Une borne d'alimentation électrique de parc de stationnement est décrite qui comporte une fixation à ressort simple servant à fixer un corps tubulaire à une base. Le ressort plie en réaction à un soufflet afin de permettre au corps tubulaire dêtre décalé de manière angulaire par rapport à la base et au ressort de revenir de manière résiliente à son état dorigine pour repositionner le corps tubulaire dans une position se prolongeant verticalement par rapport à la base. Le ressort comporte une première extrémité fournissant un joint étanche avec le trou central du corps tubulaire. Le ressort comporte une deuxième extrémité fournissant un joint étanche entourant une ouverture dans la base. Le ressort est entouré de manière serrée pour fournir un joint étanche à un passage central défini par le ressort par lequel les câbles passent.

Claims

5
What is Claimed is:
1. A parking lot power pedestal, comprising:
a base;
an elongated round tubular body extending vertically relative to the base, the
tubular body having a first end, a second end and a central bore that extends
from the
second end to the first end;
a power receptacle mounted to the first end of the tubular body;
a single spring defining a central passage, the spring being disposed between
the base and the second end of the tubular body, the spring flexing in
response to a
blow to enable the tubular body to be angularly offset relative to the base
and the
spring resiliently returning to its original state to reposition the tubular
body in a
position extending vertically relative to the base;
the base having an opening configured to permit wires to pass through the
central passage of the spring and through the central bore of the tubular body
to the
power receptacle;
the spring having a first end providing a weather seal with the central bore
at
the second end of the tubular body, the spring having a second end providing a
weather seal surrounding the opening of the base, the spring being tightly
wound to
provide a weather seal of the central passage of the spring through which the
wires
pass.

Description

CA 02794505 2012-10-26
TITLE
[0001] Parking Lot Power Pedestal
FIELD
[0002] There is described a power pedestal that is used to provide power to
facilitate
plugging in parked vehicles, such as electric vehicles or vehicles with block
heaters that are
parked outdoors in extremely cold winter conditions.
BACKGROUND
[0003] As with all electrical devices, a parking lot power pedestal must
meet rigorous
safety standards. The wires carrying electricity must be protected from
animals such as
rodents and birds that might otherwise gnaw or peck away at insulated covering
on the wires.
The wire carrying electricity must be protected from weather and ultra violet
radiation which
would otherwise degrade the insulated covering on the wires.
[0004] It is possible to position a parking lot power pedestal far enough
away from a
parking stall, as to make it impossible for an automobile to strike the
parking lot power
pedestal. However, in order to fit the maximum number of automobiles possible
into a
parking lot area, each parking lot power pedestal is being installed
relatively close to each
parking stall. As a result, parking lot power pedestals are being
inadvertently struck by
automobiles and damaged. In some cases, the insulated covering on the wires
remains intact,
but is left exposed to animals, weather and ultra violet radiation. In more
severe cases, the
wires supplying power are severed or the insulated covering on the wires is
partially torn
away leaving a bare spot. When this occurs there is a danger that, in wet
conditions, a pool of
water surrounding the parking lot power pedestal will become energized with
electricity,
thereby creating an electric shock hazard. What is required is a parking lot
power pedestal
that will address this safety concern.
SUMMARY
[0005] There is provided a parking lot power pedestal which includes a base
and an
elongated round tubular body which extends vertically relative to the base.
The tubular body
has a first end, a second end and a central bore that extends from the second
end to the first
end. A power receptacle is mounted to the first end of the tubular body. A
single spring is

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provided which defines a central passage. The spring is disposed between the
base and the
second end of the tubular body. The spring flexes in response to a blow to
enable the tubular
body to be angularly offset relative to the base and the spring resiliently
returns to its original
state to reposition the tubular body in a position extending vertically
relative to the base. The
base has an opening configured to permit wires to pass through the central
passage of the
spring and through the central bore of the tubular body to the power
receptacle. The spring
has a first end providing a weather seal with the central bore at the second
end of the tubular
body. The spring has a second end providing a weather seal surrounding the
opening of the
base. The spring is tightly wound to provide a weather seal of the central
passage of the
spring, through which the wires pass.
[0006] With the parking lot power pedestal, described above, initial
proto-types were
built with a heavy wall pipe that was able to withstand repeated striking from
automobiles.
However, problems were encountered in arriving at a mounting system that would
remain
flexible in both summer and winter without regard to temperature and that
would meet
electrical safety concerns of protecting the wiring. The unique solution was
to use a single
tightly wound spring that could function as an integral part of the sealing
system. The spring
not only functions to permit angular movement of the tubular body relative to
the base, it also
excludes animals, provides a weather seal and protects the wires running
through its central
passage from ultra violet radiation. Unlike the prior art, when the tubular
body moves, the
base does not. The presence of the spring avoids having the base slide and
shear the wires.
When the base was fixed to the tubular body and the tubular body moved
laterally in response
to a blow, the base had to move laterally also. The presence of the spring
avoids having the
base tilt and expose the wires. When the base was fixed to the tubular body
and the tubular
body tilted at an angle in response to a blow, the base had to tilt at an
angle also.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] These and other features will become more apparent from the
following
description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings
are for the
purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting,
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a parking lot power
pedestal.

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[0009] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the parking lot power
pedestal of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view, partially in section, of the
parking lot power
pedestal of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a right side elevation view of the parking lot power
pedestal of FIG. 1,
the left side elevation view being a mirror image.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the parking lot power pedestal
of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the parking lot power pedestal of
FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the parking lot power pedestal of
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] A parking lot power pedestal generally identified by reference
numeral 10, will
now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through 7.
Structure and Relationship of Parts:
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, parking lot power pedestal 10
includes a
base 12 and an elongated round tubular body 14 extending vertically relative
to base 12.
Referring to FIG. 3, tubular body 14 has a first end 16, a second end 18 and a
central bore 20
that extends from second end 18 to the first end 16. A power receptacle 21 is
mounted to first
end 16 of tubular body 14. A single spring 22 defines a central passage 24
which is disposed
between base 12 and second end 18 of tubular body 14. Spring 22 flexes in
response to a blow
to enable tubular body 14 to be angularly offset relative to base 12 and
spring 22 resiliently
returning to its original state to reposition tubular body 14 in a position
extending vertically
relative to base 12. Referring to FIG. 7, base 12 has a central opening 26
configured to permit
wires to pass through central passage 24 of spring 22 and through central bore
20 of tubular
body 14 to power receptacle 21. Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, spring 22
has a first end
28 and a second end 30. First end 28 of spring 22 provides a weather seal with
central bore 20
at second end 18 of tubular body 14. Second end 30 of spring 22 provides a
weather seal
surrounding central opening 26 of base 12. Spring 22 is tightly wound to
provide a weather
seal of central passage 24 of spring 22 through which the wires pass.
Operation:

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[0017] Referring to FIG. 3, parking lot power pedestal 10 must be wired
prior to be
installed into position with wires being passed through central opening 26 of
base 12, central
passage 24 of spring and central bore 20 of tubular body 14. Parking lot power
pedestal 10 is
then positioned in a location chosen by the installer such that base 12 is
fixed to the ground by
pegs, screws or any other suitable attachment and tubular body 14 is
relatively perpendicular
to base 12. In the event of a blow to power receptacle 21 or tubular body 14,
spring 22 flexes
to cause tubular body 14 to be angularly offset relative to base 12 and helps
to prevent
damage to power pedestal 10. Spring 22 resiliently returns tubular body 14 to
its original state
perpendicular to base 12. As parking lot power pedestal is an electrical
appliance, the
weather seal to protect the wires is of critical importance. This weather seal
protects against
weather, and also against deterioration due to ultra violet radiation and
damage from animals,
such as rodents. First end 28 of spring 22 provides a weather seal with
central bore 20 at
second end 18 of tubular body 14. Second end 30 of spring 22 provides a
weather seal
surrounding central opening 26 of base 12. Spring 22 is tightly wound to
provide a weather
seal of central passage 24 of spring 22 through which the wires pass.
[0018] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-
limiting sense to
mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically
mentioned are not
excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not
exclude the
possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context
clearly requires that
there be one and only one of the elements.
[0019] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred
embodiments set
forth in the examples, but should be given a broad purposive interpretation
consistent with the
description as a whole.

Representative Drawing