Flexible Base Assembly

Abstract

A flexible base assembly including a base element comprising a resiliently deformable body and an insert element, wherein a portion of the insert element is located within the body of the base element, the insert element includes one or more apertures therein and portions of the base element body are located within the apertures.

1 . A flexible base assembly including a base element comprising a resiliently deformable body and an insert element, wherein a portion of the insert element is located within the body of the base element, the insert element includes one or more apertures therein and portions of the base element body are located within the apertures. 
     
     
         2 . A flexible base assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each aperture is in the form of a through-hole and a respective portion of the base element body extends the entire length of the through-hole. 
     
     
         3 . A flexible base assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein a first portion of the base element body is located at one end of the or each through-hole, a second portion of the base element body is located at the other end of the or each through-hole and the portion of the base element body within the or each through-hole forms a bridge between the first and second portions of the base element body. 
     
     
         4 . A flexible base assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the insert element includes a flange located within the body of the base element and one or more of the apertures are formed in the flange. 
     
     
         5 . A flexible base assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of the base element is formed from an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A flexible base assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the base element body is formed from a polyurethane elastomer. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A flexible base assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the insert element is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a polymer and a co-polymer. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A flexible base assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the insert element is formed from a polyurethane polymer. 
     
     
         12 . A flexible base assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the insert element includes a projecting portion which extends beyond the base element. 
     
     
         13 . A flexible base assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the projecting portion of the insert element is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         14 . A flexible base assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the projecting portion includes one or more fixing elements adapted to secure a supported body to the flexible base assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A flexible base assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the base element includes a reinforcing element embedded within the base element body. 
     
     
         16 . A flexible base assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the reinforcing element is in the form of a metal sheet. 
     
     
         17 . A flexible base assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the metal sheet includes one or more voids. 
     
     
         18 . A flexible base assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the reinforcing element is wholly embedded within the base element body. 
     
     
         19 . A combination of a supported body and a flexible base assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the supported body is secured to the insert element of the flexible base assembly. 
     
     
         20 . A combination according to  claim 19 , wherein the supported body is selected from an item of street furniture and a barrier panel. 
     
     
         21 . A method of producing a flexible base assembly according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 providing an insert element comprising one or more apertures;   locating a portion of the insert element within a mould for a base element body; and   moulding the base element body around the insert element such that portions of the base element body are located within the insert element apertures.   
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of moulding the base element body around a portion of the insert element comprises pouring a base element body precursor material into the base element body mould and allowing or causing the precursor material to cure in-situ. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of moulding the insert element includes pouring an insert element precursor material into an insert element mould and allowing or causing the pre-curser material to cure in-situ. 
     
     
         24 - 27 . (canceled)