Bracket arrangement for supporting the weld area of a pole

A bracket arrangement for supporting an elongated pole element mounted to a base element, comprising, an elongated pole element having a proximal end and a distal end and defining an elongated direction and a pole length from said proximal end to said distal end in said elongated direction, said proximal end of said elongated pole element being welded to a base flange along a weld line;

• an energy-absorbing element snugly surrounding said elongated pole element at a first position, said first position being spaced a first distance from said weld line in said elongated direction, said first distance being from 5% to 15% of said pole length;
• a bracket having a first end and a second end, said first end of said bracket snugly surrounding said energy-absorbing element at said first position;
• said bracket spanning from said first position to a second position located outside of said weld line such that said bracket spans across said weld line;
• and
• a fixed point at said second position, said fixed point being fixed relative to said base flange, wherein said bracket includes a rigid member that is independently fixed at said first position, spans across said weld line, and is independently fixed relative to said base flange at said second position,
• wherein said elongated pole element extends laterally from a vertical pole, said bracket is secured to said vertical pole at said second position, and said base element also is secured to said vertical pole, and
• wherein said second position lies on an anchoring member which extends through said vertical pole and is welded to said vertical pole, said second position being at a higher elevation than said first position and on the same side of the vertical pole as said weld line.