Patent Grant
7930859
The present invention relates generally to marker poles for subterranean cable installations, and more particularly, to a marker pole having a spring-loaded portion extending above the ground to facilitate movement thereof in response to impacts from motor-vehicles, lawn mowers and the like.
Marker poles are commonly employed for marking the locations of various underground objects. For example, utility lines are often buried in the ground in many locations for aesthetic reasons. Marker poles are placed in the ground and disposed along the buried cable in order to show the location thereof.
In recent years fiber-optic cable networks have been installed in many parts of the country. A common installation procedure involves trenching or boring underground and placing the fiber-optic cables within protective plastic conduit. The fiber-optic cables have many advantages for telecommunications, including the ability to efficiently transmit large amounts of data. However, because relatively high revenues are typically generated from their transfer of correspondingly large amounts of data for telecommunications customers, there exists the potential for large losses in earnings associated with an inoperative fiber-optic cable.
Excavating equipment and operations pose significant threats to buried utility lines, including fiber-optic cables. Natural gas pipelines, for example, pose an explosion risk. Electrical power lines have attendant risks of damage and injuries related to electrical power. Accidentally severing a buried fiber-optic cable can subject an excavation contractor to significant liability for interrupted service. Severing fiber-optic cables can interrupt service unless transmissions can be rerouted. Depending upon the normal traffic volume in a buried cable, significant revenues can be lost before a splice can be made and service restored.
In order to control such risks, utility companies and service providers have marked the locations of their underground lines and provided information regarding same, such as toll-free numbers, which excavators are encouraged to “call before digging”. A common pre-existing type of marker includes a length of plastic pipe with one end embedded in the ground and the other end mounting a cap. The cap can have printed thereon warning information, and can be color-coded for the type of buried utility, e.g.: blue—water; yellow—natural gas; red—electric; orange (white)—fiber-optic, etc. Such utility markers tend to be relatively effective and are widely recognized in the art. Although they are relatively easy to install, many of the prior art designs can be easily destroyed by impact with moveable objects.
In view of the foregoing, there exists a need for a marker pole system that exhibits resistance to inadvertent impacts from motor vehicles, lawn mowers, and the like.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a cable marker pole system is provided for marking the location of buried utility cabling. The marker pole system generally comprises a base adapted for being embedded in hardened earth or concrete, a two-part pole assembly and a spring. The pole assembly comprises a first elongated member defining a first end and a second end, and a second elongated member defining a first end and a second end. The spring connects the first end of the first member to the first end of the second member. The second member is constructed and arranged to fit within a receptacle defined in the base, such that when the pole assembly is connected to the base, the first member is permitted to move relative to the second member and the base. A sign containing indicia regarding buried cable is attached to the second end of the first member. Several embodiments are disclosed for attaching the pole assembly to the base, a first of which includes a threaded collar associated with the first member for mating with a complimentary threaded portion on the base, a second of which includes a threaded second member and complimentary threaded base receptacle that screw together, and a third of which includes a through-bolt arrangement.
These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
The marker pole system 100 includes a pole assembly 108 comprising a first elongated member 110 defining a first end 112 and a second end 114, and a second elongated member 116 defining a first end 118 and a second end 120. The first member 110 is connected to the second member 116 by a coil spring 122 that is attached to the first end 112 of first member 110 and the first end 118 of second member 116, respectively. The first member 110 preferably consists of an elongated section of plastic pipe (e.g., polyvinyl chloride (PVC)), approximately 6 to 8 feet in length. Although a circular tubular body is shown, rectangular or other multisided configurations might be used within the scope of the invention. A sign 124 is affixed to the second end 114 of the first member 110. The sign 124 may have indicia to provide an appropriate warning such as, for example, a “Call Before Digging” advisory with a toll-free number at which additional, pertinent information can be obtained. The sign 124 can be fabricated from a generally flat sheet of plastic material and provided with a cylindrical sleeve 125 for mounting the sign on the second end 114 of the first member 110 as shown.
In accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, a collar 126 is rotatably mounted proximal to the first end 118 of the second member 116. The collar 126 facilitates attachment of the pole assembly 108 to a base 128 that is partially embedded in hardened earth or concrete 106. The collar is provided with a splined or grooved portion 130 that mates with a complimentary splined or grooved portion 132 near the first end 118 of the second member 116. In this manner, the collar 126 can rotate in a fixed position around the second member 116. The collar further includes an annular flange 134 having a threaded portion 136 adapted to mate with a complimentary threaded portion 138 defined in the base 128.
The base 128 is preferably configured as a generally elongated tubular structure having a first end 140, a second end 142, and a centrally disposed elongated receptacle or bore 144 extending therethrough. The base 128 may be provided with a flange 146 to prevent the base from being pulled out of the hardened earth or concrete 106. The base 128 is preferably constructed from galvanized steel, but other materials including plastics or composites may be utilized within the scope of the invention.
The pole assembly 108 is installed in the base 128 by inserting the second end 120 of the second member 116 into the bore 142. The collar 126 and attached second member 116 is then locked to the base 128 by threading the collar 126 over the threaded portion 138 in the base 128. In this manner, the first member 110 is able to move relative to the second member 116 by virtue of the spring 122 in the event of an impact between the first member 110 or sign 124 with motor vehicles, lawn mowers and the like. This freedom of movement enables the pole assembly to survive impacts that would otherwise damage the pole assembly 108.
Referring now to
As in the first embodiment, the base 228 is preferably configured as a generally elongated tubular structure having a first end 240, a second end 242, and a centrally disposed elongated receptacle or bore 244 having a threaded portion 250 extending therethrough. The base 228 may be provided with a flange 246 to prevent the base from being pulled out of the hardened earth or concrete 206. The pole assembly 208 is anchored to the base 228 by simply screwing the threaded second member 216 into the threaded bore 244 in the base 228.
Referring now to
A base 328 is preferably configured as a generally elongated tubular structure having a first end 340, a second end 342, and a centrally disposed elongated receptacle or bore 344 sized and adapted for receiving a portion of the second member 316 of the pole assembly 308. As in the first and second embodiments, the base 328 may be provided with a flange 346 to prevent the base from being pulled out of the hardened earth or concrete 306. The pole assembly 308 is installed in the base by inserting the second member 316 into the bore 344 in the base 328. The base 328 has apertures 352 extending transversely through the sidewalls of the base. The second member 316 of the pole assembly 308 includes a mating aperture 354 that is aligned with apertures 352 in the base 328 when the second member 316 is fully inserted into bore 344 of the base 328. A bolt 356 is inserted through the respective apertures 352, 354 and locked down with a nut 358 in a conventional fashion. Of course it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many different kinds of fasteners can be utilized in lieu of bolt 356 within the scope of the invention.
The present invention has been shown and described in what are considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is anticipated, however, that departures may be made therefrom and that obvious modifications will be implemented by those skilled in the art. It will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous arrangements and variations which, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of the invention and are within their spirit and scope.
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