Breakaway sign post connector
OwnerLawrence E. Leahyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A breakaway sign post connector includes a shear member and a bushing. The shear member includes a first end, a second end, and a necked down section intermediate the first and second ends. A shoulder is attached to the second end, and a resilient bushing is positioned over the shoulder and surrounds the shear member. When attached to an anchor plate and a support plate for a sign post, the bushing strengthens the connector and resists wind shear while allowing the shear member to fracture in the necked down section at a predetermined impact load.
Claims24
A break away sign post connector for attaching a sign support member to an anchor member, said connector comprising:
- a shear member having a first end, a second end, and a necked down section between said first and second ends;
- and
- a bushing surrounding said shear member and supporting said necked-down section.
A breakaway sign post assembly comprising:
- an anchor member comprising an anchor plate and a ground member, said anchor plate connected to said ground member, said anchor plate including a threaded opening;
- a shear bolt comprising a threaded first end, a second end, and a necked down section, said necked down section separating said first end and said second end, said first end engaging said opening, said second end comprising a shoulder;
- a bushing surrounding said bolt and said shoulder, said bushing contacting said anchor plate;
- and
- a support member contacting said bushing and attached to said bolt at said bolt second end.
A method for assembling a breakaway sign post, said sign post including an anchor member, a support member, a shear member and a bushing, the anchor member including an anchor plate and a ground member, the anchor plate connected to said ground member and having an opening therethrough, the support member including a support plate and a sign support, the support plate connected to the sign support and having an aperture therethrough, the shear member including a necked down section between a first end and a second end, the second end comprising a shoulder, said method comprising the steps of:
- anchoring the ground member;
- extending the first end of the shear member through the opening of the anchor plate;
- attaching the shear member to the anchor plate;
- inserting the bushing over the shear member;
- inserting the second end of the shear member through the support plate;
- and
- attaching the shear member to the support plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.