Removable bollard assembly

Abstract

A mounting assembly is disclosed for use with a removable bollard, wherein the mounting assembly includes a base plate and a pair of collapsible plates hingedly connected to opposing edges of the base plate, wherein each of the collapsible plates includes at least one aperture formed therein, the at least one aperture receiving a retaining element configured to secure the removable bollard to the mounting assembly. When the removable bollard is removed from the mounting assembly, the collapsible plates are pivoted to be positioned in substantially the same plane as the base plate, such that pedestrians or vehicles may pass freely over the mounting assembly without unnecessary disturbance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A removable mounting assembly for use with a removable bollard, the removable mounting assembly comprising:
 a base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface;   an anchor leg extending from the bottom surface of the base plate; and   a first collapsible plate coupled to the base plate, the first collapsible plate movable between a first position and a second position, the first collapsible plate including a first retaining means, the first retaining means configured for coupling the first collapsible plate to the removable bollard when the first collapsible plate is moved from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the base plate is substantially flat and provides a support surface for the removable bollard. 
     
     
         3 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate includes a feature configured to locate a base of the removable bollard on the base plate. 
     
     
         4 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor leg includes an elongate rod. 
     
     
         5 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the elongate rod includes a linear portion at a first end and a non-linear portion at a second end. 
     
     
         6 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first end is proximate the base plate and the second end is spaced from the base plate. 
     
     
         7 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor leg is comprised of a plurality of anchor legs. 
     
     
         8 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the base plate is substantially flush with a ground surface and the anchor leg extends below the ground surface. 
     
     
         9 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the anchor leg is secured by an anchoring material. 
     
     
         10 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first collapsible plate is in the second position and is coupled to the removable bollard by the first retaining means. 
     
     
         11 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second collapsible plate coupled to the base plate, the second collapsible plate movable between a first position and a second position, the second collapsible plate including a second retaining means, the second retaining means configured for coupling the second collapsible plate to the removable bollard when the second collapsible plate is moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         12 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first collapsible plate is in the second position and is coupled to the removable bollard by the first retaining means and the second collapsible plate is in the second position and is coupled to the removable bollard by the second retaining means. 
     
     
         13 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first collapsible plate and the second collapsible plate are hingedly coupled to opposing edges of the base plate. 
     
     
         14 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first retaining means of the first collapsible plate includes a first pair of apertures and the second retaining means of the second collapsible plate includes a second pair of apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first pair of apertures of the first collapsible plate in the second position is substantially aligned with the second pair of apertures of the second collapsible plate in the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first collapsible plate is in the second position, the second collapsible plate is in the second position, the removable bollard is coupled to the first pair of apertures of the first collapsible plate by a retaining element, and the removable bollard is coupled to the second pair of apertures of the second collapsible plate by the retaining element. 
     
     
         17 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the retaining element is substantially U-shaped and includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first portion substantially parallel to the third portion, the second portion interposed between and substantially perpendicular to the first portion and the third portion, the third portion disposed through one of the apertures of the first collapsible plate and one of the apertures of the second collapsible plate. 
     
     
         18 . The removable mounting assembly of  claim 17 , wherein a locking device is coupled to a distal end of the third portion of the retaining element, the locking device configured to prevent removal of the retaining element and the removable bollard. 
     
     
         19 . A method of using a removable mounting assembly for use with a removable bollard, the method comprising:
 providing a removable mounting assembly for use with a removable bollard, the mounting assembly including:
 a base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface; 
 an anchor leg extending from the bottom surface of the base plate; and 
 a first collapsible plate coupled to the base plate, the first collapsible plate movable between a first position and a second position, the first collapsible plate including a first retaining means, the first retaining means configured for coupling the first collapsible plate to the removable bollard when the first collapsible plate is moved from the first position to the second position; 
   moving the first collapsible plate from the first position to the second position; and   coupling the first retaining means of the first collapsible plate to the removable bollard.   
     
     
         20 . A method of using a removable mounting assembly for use with a removable bollard, the method comprising:
 providing a removable mounting assembly for use with a removable bollard, the mounting assembly including:
 a base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface; 
 an anchor leg extending from the bottom surface of the base plate; and 
 a first collapsible plate coupled to the base plate, the first collapsible plate movable between a first position and a second position, the first collapsible plate including a first retaining means, the first retaining means configured for coupling the first collapsible plate to the removable bollard when the first collapsible plate is moved from the first position to the second position; 
   uncoupling the first retaining means of the first collapsible plate from the removable bollard; and   moving the first collapsible plate from the second position to the first position.