Reversible Clearance Indicator Assembly and Method of Use

A clearance indicator assembly for controlling approach to a building structure, comprising:

• a vertical support post securely mounted on a surrounding terrain and extending vertically upward therefrom;
• at least one horizontal clearance bar mounted on the vertical support post to extend outwardly therefrom in a generally perpendicular direction, the horizontal clearance bar being positioned above the surrounding terrain a predetermined clearance height indicating the maximum permissible height for a vehicle attempting to move past the indicator assembly;
• the horizontal clearance bar having an angular “V” shape as viewed from the side, with an apex which points in the direction of an on-coming vehicle and oppositely extending, flared sides;
• the horizontal clearance bar being mounted on the vertical support post by a mounting mechanism made up of a mounting plate and an associated pivot mechanism which pivots the clearance bar between a first, stationary position and a second, displaced position when contacted by a vehicle, the pivot mechanism including an associated barrel hinge, the clearance bar being rotatably mounted on the barrel hinge, and wherein a center bolt passes through a central opening in the barrel hinge, the bolt having an extended length which is fitted with a torsion spring which cooperates with the barrel hinge to pre-tension the horizontal clearance bar in the first, stationary position before the bar is contacted by a vehicle;
• and
• wherein the mounting plate has mounting holes provided thereon in a given pattern and the vertical support post has mating mounting holes arranged in a given pattern, and wherein the mounting holes on the vertical support post are offset from center slightly from the pattern of holes on the mounting plate, so that the horizontal clearance bar is mounted at a slight upward angle with respect to the surrounding terrain.

A method of assembling a clearance indicator for controlling approach to a building structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a vertical support post securely mounted on a surrounding terrain and extending vertically upward therefrom;
• providing a first horizontal clearance bar for mounting on the vertical support post so that the clearance bar extends outwardly therefrom in a generally perpendicular direction, the horizontal clearance bar being positioned above the surrounding terrain a predetermined clearance height indicating the maximum permissible height for a vehicle attempting to move past the indicator assembly once mounted;
• the horizontal clearance bar having an angular “V” shape as viewed from the side, with an apex which points in the direction of an on-coming vehicle and oppositely extending, flared sides;
• providing a mounting mechanism for mounting the horizontal clearance bar on the vertical support post, the mounting mechanism being made up of a mounting plate and an associated pivot mechanism which pivots the clearance bar between a first, stationary position and a second, displaced position when contacted by a vehicle;
• wherein the mounting plate has mounting holes provided thereon in a given pattern and the vertical support post has mating mounting holes arranged in a given pattern, and wherein the mounting 13 holes on the vertical support post are offset from center slightly from the pattern of holes on the mounting plate, so that the horizontal clearance bar is mounted at a slight upward angle with respect to the surrounding terrain;
• wherein the vertical support post is a polygonal tubular member having two pairs of opposing sides and wherein the support post is provided with a second pre-drilled hole pattern opposite a first pre-drilled pattern which is a mirror image of the first;
• and
• mounting the first horizontal clearance bar on a selected opposing side of the vertical support post.