Patent Application
20180058144
This invention relates to signal lights and more particularly to a signal light assembly for positioning along roadways, railways, etc.
It is generally known to attach signal lights to signal light masts connected to ladders extending therealong. It is also known to incorporate with the mast and ladder of a signal mast assembly one or more support platforms accessible from the ladder.
The following patent documents are believed to be representative of the current state of the prior art in this field: U.S. Pat. No. 8,397,868, issued Mar. 19, 2013, U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,043, issued Aug. 7, 2001, U.S. Patent Appl. Publication No. US 2016/0047165, published Feb. 18, 2016, U.S. Patent Appl. Publication No. US 2012/0080266, published Apr. 5, 2012, and Canadian Patent No. 2,246,620, issued Mar. 4, 2000.
The signal light assembly of the present invention is an all welded assembly transportable in stacked condition with a plurality of signal light assemblies of like construction. The assemblies may be separately unstacked and separately installed at a selected location. When mast is installed, a ladder of the assembly may be bolted directly to foundation anchor bolts at the installation site.
The ladder extends along the elongated mast. This allows for two points of contact between the assembly and the foundation, one being with a base of the mast and a secondary support by the ladder to provide a stability with the foundation through the mast and adding to the load stability of the overall assembly through incorporation of the ladder, which in effect provides additional I-beam support.
The all welded assembly also incorporates structural features which enable the assembly to be moved and stacked by use of a fork truck. This is in stark contrast to the old method of using slings or having the unit roll on movable supports while being loaded and unloaded. The unique structure for accomplishing this is the incorporation of forklift pads at specific locations on the assembly to create a stable center of gravity and prevent the unit from falling during loading and unloading, preventing a worker from being injured.
A preferred dimensional feature of the platform width and the height of each platform assembly with a stacking bracket or cover secured to the mast base allows for four high and two set width on a standard 102 inch wide semi-trailer and the typical height requirement to meet highway regulations not being exceeded.
Other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.
Referring now to the drawings, an all welded signal light assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is designated by reference numeral 10. Signal light assembly 10 is suitably constructed of aluminum and includes an elongated mast 12 having a mast base 14, an elongated ladder 16 extending along the elongated mast. The ladder 16 has a ladder base 18 positioned adjacent to the mast base 14 and spaced therefrom. The ladder is attached to the mast at locations along the lengths thereof and cooperates therewith to essentially provide an I-beam support increasing the load ability of the overall assembly.
The ladder base may be attached directly to an existing foundation by anchor bolts. The mast base 14 is also attached via anchor bolts or other suitable mechanical expedient to the foundation.
The all welded signal light assembly 10 also includes platforms 22 attached to and interconnecting the mast and the ladder at spaced locations therealong.
As shown in
An important aspect of the present invention resides in the fact that the signal light assembly 10 may be transported in stacked condition with a plurality of all welded signal light assemblies of like construction. For example, the assemblies may be stacked and transported by truck, the all welded signal light assemblies substantially unstacked and separately installed at selected locations.
Another unique feature of the signal light assembly 10 is incorporation of forklift pads 28. The forklift pads 28 welded to the mast enable the assemblies to be readily moved, stacked and unstacked. This is in stark contrast to the established prior art methods of using slings or of supporting assemblies in unsecured and unstable fashion on the upper surface arms of fork trucks or other movable supports while being loaded and unloaded.
Incorporation of the forklift pads 28 on the mast of signal light assembly 10 provides a safety feature not used in prior art assemblies by creating a stable center of gravity and preventing the assembly from falling during loading and unloading, thus preventing the possibility of a worker being
injured during those operations. The all welded signal light assembly has a substantially uniform maximum cross-sectional dimension at opposed end portions thereof to facilitate stacking and to ensure that the desired number of assemblies are accommodated on a semi-trailer or other delivery platform. More particularly, the outermost portions of the assembly are defined by opposed outer surfaces of the platforms 22. Referring to
When stacked, the signal light assemblies are secured together by ties such as bands or straps 32 wrapped about adjacent masts at predetermined mast locations between spaced ends of the masts.
