Integrated bollard, anchor, and tower (ibat) apparatus and method
AssigneeZipholdings, LLC
InventorEric S. Cylvick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated bollard, anchor, and tower (IBAT) system constructed as a single monolith may be formed of a single material, such as concrete or steel, or assembled from components of distinct materials, such as reinforced concrete with metal brackets, fixtures, fasteners, and so forth. An anchor (e.g., base, pad), sized to engage the ground therebelow by weight and friction, includes a mass sufficient to provide frictional stability (no appreciable movement) of the IBAT unit at each end of a track line (cable, wire rope, line, etc.), which wraps around the bollard portion of each upright (tower, fin) portion at an operational height defining the path of a trolley carried on the free span of the resulting catenary.
Claims20
A tower system as an integrated, monolithic, multi-functional apparatus comprising:
- a first base portion operating as an anchor having a mass and a surface area selected to render the first base portion effectively immovable with respect to ground therebelow, the surface area being in contact with the ground;
- a first tower portion, integral and substantially homogenously formed with the first base portion to be monolithic therewith, the first tower portion extending away from the base portion a distance vertically, defining thereby an operational height above the ground;
- a first bollard portion, extending rigidly from the tower portion and shaped to reduce stress in a track line wrapped therearound and loaded in tension;
- and
- the track line, wrapped around the bollard portion to extend away therefrom supporting a load in tension selected with the mass and surface area of the first base portion to support the load while maintaining the tower system substantially immovable.
A tower system comprising:
- a first base portion having a mass and a surface area selected to render the first base portion effectively immovable with respect to a supporting surface therebelow;
- a first tower portion, integral with the first base portion to be monolithic therewith and extending away therefrom a distance vertically to define an operational height above the supporting surface;
- a first bollard portion, extending rigidly and orthogonally from the first tower portion;
- a track line, having a first end portion wrapped around the first bollard portion to be supported thereby and extending away therefrom;
- and
- a trolley, riding on the track line to support a load by tensioning the track line.
A method comprising:
- providing a tower system comprising
- a first base portion having a mass and a surface area selected to render the first base portion effectively immovable with respect to a supporting surface therebelow,
- a first tower portion, integral with the first base portion to be monolithic therewith and extending away therefrom a distance vertically to define an operational height above the supporting, and
- a first bollard portion, extending rigidly and orthogonally from the first tower portion
- providing a track line, having a first end portion wrapped around the first bollard portion to be supported thereby and extending away therefrom;
- providing a trolley, riding on the track line to support a load by tensioning the track line;
- the providing a tower system, wherein the distance is selected, and the shape of the surface area is selected to prevent tipping of the tower portion and base in response to the tensioning;
- and
- the providing a tower system, wherein the base portion and tower portion are substantially homogeneously formed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.