The present invention relates to a flanged connector and base receptacle for receiving multiple cross sectional shapes and/or sizes of posts of the type used to support roadside signs. The base is readily attachable to a length of bare post using a simple mechanical attachment. The invention includes a system of providing a breakaway joint which is easily installed as a retrofit to existing solid posts with minimal modification of such a post the post. The invention also simplifies service of a post which has been damaged in use. It is particularly adaptable to use with breakaway sign post systems and allows solid sign posts to be readily retrofitted with a breakaway joint.
It has become common for highway accessories including signs, fences, illumination, and guardrails to utilize a two-part support post. Such posts typically include a stub post anchored in the ground with one end projecting several inches above the ground to form a base for attachment of the signpost or light pole. A mounting flange is formed on or attached to the projecting end of the stub post. The signpost or light pole has a corresponding flange that is then bolted to the stub post flange.
In the interests of safety and in response to related governmental regulation the mounting system of such support posts often includes a rigid mounting assembly that can resist wind loads and light impacts while at the same time failing at a predetermined load, such as from a vehicle impact, to minimize damage to the support post and the vehicle, and to reduce injuries.
The present invention represents an improvement in implementing both simple flanged connections or two part breakaway systems particularly when such a system is to be retrofitted to existing solid signposts or when a breakaway signposts must be replaced due to damages sustained in an impact with a vehicle. The applicant's prior invention of a breakaway connector, which is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,319, can be utilized to advantage in the present invention, as is described more fully herein below. This prior breakaway connector which comprises a breakaway bolt formed from a shaft having a shouldered breakaway shank section between two threaded ends will be referred to as a “Dent bolt” herein.
Simplifying the methods of assembly, repair and replacement of roadside posts is desirable for a number of reasons. First, due to the shear number of roadside accessories in place the labor cost of placing and maintaining these items is significant. By simplifying the structure the labor costs can be reduced. Safety is a factor which is reflected in several areas. The first of these arises from any downtime resulting from damage to a road safety feature, for example, a traffic sign or road illumination. Generally it will be desirable to return these items to service as quickly as possible. Additionally, simplifying the assembly or repair time minimizes the amount of time that road workers may be exposed to the hazards of working in high traffic areas. Since the safety benefit of breakaway sign posts is also well recognized, the present invention allows quicker and more efficient replacements of existing solid posts by simply adding a breakaway connector into the existing post structure thereby improving the safety of these roadside structures in an expedited manner and without requiring complete replacement.
The present invention relates to a flanged connector having a center receptacle designed to accommodate different types of post structures commonly used to support roadside accessories. Posts for such use have numerous cross-sectional configurations, such as round, square, U-channel, back-to-back U-channel, I-beam, rectangle, and other configuration. In any given region it is likely that more than one type of post structure will be used by road safety and maintenance authorities. The present invention provides a receptacle shaped so that two or more of these post types will fit in the same center section of the base system, thus simplifying the structures that must be kept on hand to assemble service and repair roadside accessories.
The utility of the present invention arises from providing an adaptable structure which simplifies and reduces the number of structures that must be kept on hand to assemble, service and repair roadside post-supported accessories. The invention provides a method of mechanically fastening a flange structure to a support post structure thereby reducing the need for on-site welding and speeding up the process of assembly, service, modification and repair of roadside accessories.
The flanged connector of the present invention is suitable for connecting a post segment to a fixed base such by being bolted directly to a concrete surface. The connector base of the present invention may also be used for attaching two post segments together either as a normal fixed flanged connection having flanges which directly abut one another, or by using the aforementioned Dent bolts between flanges to create a breakaway connection between post segments.
In its most common form, the device of the present invention provides a receptacle to accommodates both a square and a round post. It is recognized that a round posts will readily fit into a square female socket or receptacle if the diameter of the post is essentially equal to the length of one side of the square. Conversely a square or rectangular post will fit accurately into a round or cylindrical socket if the diagonal measurement of the post is essentially the same as the diameter of the cylindrical socket. However, the sizes of posts which are most commonly used for supporting roadway accessories are not generally found in such conveniently corresponding sizes. Accordingly the present invention provides for creating a base having a receptacle capable of receiving two different sized or shaped post cross-sections of commonly used sizes.
In the case of a receptacle to receive either a round or a square post, for a chosen diameter of round or cylindrical post, the receptacle can be sized to also receive any specific size of square post so long as the diagonal measurement of the cross-section of the square post is greater than the diameter of the round post and the length of a side of the square cross-section is less than the diameter of the cylindrical post.
Two different sized square posts can be accommodated in the same sockets by using a socket having an opening with an essentially eight pointed “star” as shown in
The receptacle of the present invention need not be comprised only of multiple combined polygonal shapes but can be formed in any appropriate configuration to accommodate multiple post cross sections of the type described above or any others which might be used or come into use. As used herein these various shapes of posts which can be received will be referred to as “geometric,” such term including but not being limited to cross sections of regular or irregular polygons, round, oval, elliptical, channel, or I-beam as examples.
The present invention provides a flanged connector having a receptacle for receiving a bare end of posts of more than one such cross sectional size or shape, wherein the post end is inserted into the opening of the receptacle and set screws passing through the walls of the receptacle are tightened against the wall of the post within the receptacle to securely retain the post. While there are other suitable methods of securement of the post within the receptacle, such as bolts or cotter pins passing through the receptacle walls and the post itself, the use of set screws as described avoids any need to drill or otherwise modify the post section. However, simply having a receptacle capable of receiving and securing a bare post end is a novel and useful aspect of the invention.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a base for a sign those which is readily installed to existing sign posts without the need for welding or other labor-intensive fabrication methods.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple method of installing a flanged connector on a supporting post without the need to weld the flange in place.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple method of providing retrofitting existing solid sign posts with a breakaway joint.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mounting base capable of accommodating multiple sizes and or shapes of post and therefore reduce the inventory of mounting bases which must be kept on hand for repair or retrofit purposes.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a single configuration of mounting base which can be used to provide a flanged connection between commonly used but differing post shapes or sizes, such as square to round.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a flanged connector capable of receiving and securing the bare end of a supporting post for roadside accessories.
The present invention in its preferred form is a strong cast structure of ductile iron having a broad flat flange 3 show most clearly in
Extending from the flange is a post receiving structure 1, which will generally have a cylindrical exterior with an axis perpendicular to the general plane of the flange 3. The post receiving structure includes an opening or receptacle 2 which is generally coaxial with the cylindrical exterior of post receiver 1. As seen most clearly in
The socket is sized and shaped so that any post end which is to be received into the socket will fit “tightly,” i.e. so that no significant lateral “play” or relative movement between the post and the socket is possible. Typically a socket with a cross section of two overlaid shapes will be able to accept either of two corresponding posts with a tight fit.
The wall of the post receiver 1 has multiple threaded openings 6 spaced appropriately around the circumference of the receiver to allow threaded set screws 7 to be inserted therein to tighten against a surface of a post to secure the post within the receptacle.
When used to create a joint between post sections as shown as shown in
The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/565,235, filed Apr. 23, 2004 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4923319 | Dent | May 1990 | A |
5354031 | Bilotti | Oct 1994 | A |
5568909 | Timko | Oct 1996 | A |
5685517 | Salibra | Nov 1997 | A |
6868641 | Conner et al. | Mar 2005 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20050284999 A1 | Dec 2005 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60565235 | Apr 2004 | US |