Breakaway sign post coupling
AssigneeUnistrut International Corp.
InventorCharles O. Nehls
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A breakaway coupling to be interposed between a ground mounting post and a support post carrying a highway sign, barricade or similar highway appurtenance. The coupling has a horizontal plate on a pedestal which attaches to the mounting post and a horizontal plate on a support post mounting member which attaches to the support post. Bolts normally holding the plates together release upon vehicular impact. Use of a novel plate configuration, a gasket and roller cams enhance the structure.
Claims15
A breakaway coupling for a roadside support post to be used in conjunction with a ground engaging mounting post having a portion extending above ground level comprising, in combination:
- a pedestal mounting member having a longitudinally extending shank for engagement with said mounting post, and a generally triangular shaped base plate transversely located at one end of said shank;
- means for firmly attaching said shank to said mounting post;
- a support post mounting member having a longitudinally extending standard for engaging said support post and a generally triangular shaped slip flange congruent to said base plate transversely located at one end of said standard;
- means for firmly attaching said standard to said support post;
- generally V-shaped notches at the corners of said triangular shaped base plate and triangular shaped slip flange;
- a friction reducing gasket located between said base plate and said slip flange;
- a bolt and nut connection inserted in each notch drawing said plate and flange together with said gasket therebetween;
- and
- a pair of cam rollers on each bolt, one located between said gasket and said base plate, and the other located between said gasket and said slip flange;
- whereby when said post is subjected to a vehicular impact, said slip flange will slide relative to said base plate severing said support post mounting member and support post from the base plate of said pedestal mounting member.
A breakaway coupling for a roadside sign post to be used in conjunction with an embedded mounting post having a portion extending above ground level comprising, in combination:
- a pedestal mounting member having a longitudinally extending shank for engagement with said mounting post, and a generally triangular shaped base plate transversely located at one end of said shank, said plate having a V-shaped notch at each of its three corners;
- means for firmly attaching said shank to said mounting post;
- a sign post mounting member having a longitudinally extending standard for engaging a sign post and a generally triangular shaped slip flange having a V-shaped notch at each of its three corners, said slip flange being congruent to said base plate and transversely located at one end of said standard;
- means for firmly attaching said standard to said sign post;
- a friction reducing gasket located between said base plate and said slip flange, said gasket having a peripheral portion overlying said V-shaped notches;
- a bolt inserted into the plate and flange notch at each corner and passing through a hole in the peripheral portion of said gasket, and a nut on each of said bolts for drawing said plate and flange together with said gasket therebetween;
- and
- a plate cam roller located on each bolt between said gasket and said base plate, said plate cam roller having an axial length less than the thickness of said base plate, and a flange cam roller on each bolt between said gasket and said slip flange, said flange cam roller having an axial length less than the thickness of said slip flange, said gasket separating said plate cam rollers from said flange cam rollers;
- whereby when said post is subjected to vehicular impact, said slip flange will slide relative to said base plate while the cam rollers are free to rotate in either direction when they contact the plate and flange as the bolts move out of the V-shaped slots to sever the sign post mounting member and attached sign post from the pedestal mounting member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.