Integrated bollard, anchor, and tower (ibat) apparatus and method

Abstract

An integrated bollard, anchor, and tower (IBAT) system constructed as a single monolith may be formed of a single material, such as concrete or steel, or assembled from components of distinct materials, such as reinforced concrete with metal brackets, fixtures, fasteners, and so forth. An anchor (e.g., base, pad), sized to engage the ground therebelow by weight and friction, includes a mass sufficient to provide frictional stability (no appreciable movement) of the IBAT unit at each end of a track line (cable, wire rope, line, etc.), which wraps around the bollard portion of each upright (tower, fin) portion at an operational height defining the path of a trolley carried on the free span of the resulting catenary.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A tower system as an integrated, monolithic, multi-functional apparatus comprising:
 a first base operating as an anchor having a mass and a surface area selected to render the first base effectively immovable, by reason of friction directly with respect to ground therebelow, the surface area being in contact with and on top of the ground;   a first tower, integral and substantially homogenously formed with the first base to be monolithic therewith, the first tower extending away from the base a distance vertically, defining thereby an operational height above the ground;   a first bollard, non-rotatable with respect to, and extending rigidly from the tower and shaped to reduce stress in a track line wrapped therearound and loaded in tension; and   the track line, wrapped around the bollard to extend away therefrom supporting a load in tension selected with the mass and surface area of the first base to support the load while maintaining the tower system substantially immovable.   
     
     
         2 . The tower system of  claim 1 , further comprising a trolley supported by the line to travel in at least one of the directions away from and toward the tower along the track line. 
     
     
         3 . The tower system of  claim 2 , further comprising a second tower substantially homogeneously formed with a second base and supporting a second bollard extending therefrom to support the track line wrapped therearound. 
     
     
         4 . The tower system of  claim 3 , wherein a material forming the first base and first tower is concrete. 
     
     
         5 . The tower system of  claim 4 , wherein the first base and first tower each further comprise steel in a reinforcing configuration within the concrete. 
     
     
         6 . The tower system of  claim 5 , wherein the first bollard is removably secured to the first tower. 
     
     
         7 . The tower system of  claim 6 , wherein the first bollard comprises at least one of concrete, steel, reinforced concrete, and a reinforced polymeric material. 
     
     
         8 . The tower system of  claim 7 , wherein the first bollard is formed of a material in common with the first tower. 
     
     
         9 . The tower system of  claim 1 , wherein the first base and first tower are each comprised principally of concrete and reinforced by steel extending contiguously therebetween. 
     
     
         10 . The tower system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the tower system further comprises a first deck positioned lower than the first bollard, sized and spaced from the bollard and track line to receive and launch a rider from the first deck.   
     
     
         11 . A tower system comprising:
 a first base having a mass and a surface area selected to render the first base effectively immovable with respect to a supporting surface therebelow due to friction acting directly therebetween;   a first tower, integral with the first base to be monolithic therewith and extending away therefrom a distance vertically to define an operational height above the supporting surface;   a first bollard, extending rigidly, non-rotatably, and orthogonally from the first tower;   a track line, having a first end wrapped around the first bollard to be supported thereby and extending away therefrom; and   a trolley, riding on the track line to support a load by tensioning the track line.   
     
     
         12 . The tower system of  claim 11 , wherein the base and tower are substantially homogeneously formed. 
     
     
         13 . The tower system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second tower substantially homogeneously formed with a second base and supporting a second bollard extending orthogonally therefrom to support the track line having a second end wrapped therearound.   
     
     
         14 . The tower system of  claim 12 , wherein a material forming the first base and first tower is concrete. 
     
     
         15 . The tower system of  claim 11 , wherein;
 the first base and first tower each further comprise reinforced concrete;   the tower system further comprises fasteners securing the first bollard to the first tower; and   the first bollard comprises at least one of concrete, steel, reinforced concrete, and a reinforced polymeric material.   
     
     
         16 . The tower system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first bollard is formed substantially homogeneously with the first tower;   the first base and first tower are each comprised principally of concrete and reinforced by steel extending contiguously therebetween.   
     
     
         17 . The tower system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the tower system further comprises a first deck positioned at a distance below the first bollard, the distance being selected to space the deck from the first bollard and track line to receive thereon and launch therefrom a rider;   the tower system further comprises a second tower substantially homogeneously formed with a second base and supporting a second bollard extending orthogonally therefrom to support the track line, having a second end wrapped therearound.   
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 providing a tower system comprising
 a first base having a mass and a surface area selected to render the first base effectively immovable with respect to a supporting surface therebelow due to friction acting directly therebetween, 
 a first tower, integral with the first base to be monolithic therewith and extending away therefrom a distance vertically to define an operational height above the supporting surface, and 
 a first bollard, extending rigidly, non-rotatably, and orthogonally from the first tower; 
   providing a track line, having a first end wrapped around the first bollard to be supported thereby and extending away therefrom;   providing a trolley, riding on the track line to support a load by tensioning the track line;   wherein the distance is selected, and the shape of the surface area is selected to prevent tipping of the tower and base in response to the tensioning; and   wherein the base and tower are substantially homogeneously formed.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 providing a second tower substantially homogeneously formed with a second base and supporting a second bollard extending orthogonally therefrom to support the track line having a second end wrapped therearound.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 a material forming the first base and first tower is concrete;   the first base and first tower each further comprise steel reinforcing the concrete, the steel extending contiguously therebetween;   the tower system further comprises fasteners securing the first bollard to the first tower;   the first bollard comprises at least one of concrete, steel, reinforced concrete, and a reinforced polymeric material;   providing a first deck positioned at a distance below the first bollard, the distance being selected to space the deck from the first bollard and track line to receive thereon and launch therefrom a rider; and   loading a rider on the trolley at the deck;   releasing the trolley to traverse the track line extending as a catenary extending freely between the first bollard and second bollard; and   unloading the rider from the trolley proximate the second tower.