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US 11,773,898 B1Granted
Articulated utility pole
AssigneeAdkins Energy Concepts LLC
InventorJohn L. Adkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed and described herein are embodiments of an articulated utility pole that facilitates repair and/or reinstallation in the event of damage to the pole caused by wind loading (e.g., storms), trees or other items striking the utility lines, collisions with the poles, and the like. Also disclosed herein are methods of repairing and/or re-installing the articulated utility pole. Further disclosed herein are components for fabricating an articulated utility pole.
Claims9
A method of re-erecting an articulated utility pole, said method comprising:
- providing the articulated utility pole having a first section and a second section connected by a pivot point that is encompassed by a sleeve, said sleeve having a shape that conforms to an exterior of the first pole section and the second pole section proximate the pivot point, wherein the sleeve bridges the first pole section and the second pole section at the pivot point preventing one section of the pole from moving relative to the other section and preventing the two connected pole sections to move independently of the other, wherein the sleeve is configured such that it will fail before the first pole section or second pole section based on a force applied to any of the first pole section, the second pole section and/or to the sleeve,
- wherein at least one of the first pole section or the second pole section are comprised of plastic with metal (rebar) reinforcement, wherein the rebar runs vertically in the first pole section or the second pole section and is held in place by braces spaced apart and embedded in the plastic of the pole section,
- wherein when the sleeve has been fractured and the first section has moved with respect to the second section or the second section has moved with respect to the first section;
- then:
- aligning the first section and the second section;
- and
- replacing the sleeve.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.