Means and method for rigidly elevating a structure
AssigneeMusco Corporation
InventorsMyron K. Gordin, Jim L. Drost
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A means and method for rigidly elevating a structure includes a base member securable in the ground and which has a portion extending above the ground. A pole section, having a bore inside a lower end, and an upper end, can be stacked upon the base means upwardly by slip fitting the pole section onto the base end and securing it in place. A flexible, easily transportable and durable system is thereby created for elevating structures.
Claims38
A pole and base system for holding an array of pre-aimed, high intensity light fixtures in an elevated position comprising:
- a base comprising a single, elongated piece, a length of greater than about 8 feet and structural characteristics to support a pole and array of light fixtures thirty feet or higher above ground, and including a lower section comprising a majority of the length of the base adapted for insertion into the ground and an upper section adapted to extend above the ground when the base is inserted in the ground and having a taper decreasing about 0.12 to 0.16 inch per foot from at or near a bottom of the upper section to at or near a top of the upper section;
- a pole comprising a length of around 30 feet or greater, a relatively thin wall, and at least one structural characteristic different from the base, an upper end, a lower open end, and an interior bore extending axially and inwardly from the lower open end, the interior bore having an inside diameter and taper generally matching the outside diameter of the upper section of the base and said pole being mateably slip-fitted over at least a portion of the upper section of the base, the length of the pole being substantially longer than the length of the base;
- one or more cross arms attached at or near the upper end;
- an array of pre-aimed light fixtures mounted to said one or more cross arms;
- one or more connection members connecting the said one or more cross arms to the pole;
- and
- the upper section of the base positioning the lower open end of the pole, when slip-fitted onto the base, at least one foot above the ground but substantially nearer the ground than to the upper end of the pole when the pole is installed in operative position on the base and the lower section of the base is in operative position in the ground.
A method of rigidly suspending an array of pre-aimed, high intensity light fixtures in an elevated position comprising the steps of:
- providing a base comprising a single, elongated piece of a length of greater than about 8 feet and structural characteristics to support a pole and array of light fixtures thirty feet or higher above ground, the base including a lower section comprising a majority of the length of the base which is adapted to be mounted in the ground and an upper section having a taper decreasing about 0.12 to 0.16 inch per foot from at or near a bottom of the upper section to at or near a top of the upper section;
- positioning the upper section of the base above the ground when the base is mounted in the ground;
- providing a relatively thin walled pole comprising a length of around 30 feet or greater and a structural characteristic different from the base, the pole including a bore mateably slip fittable over the upper section of the base, the length of the pole being substantially longer than the length of the base;
- attaching to the pole an array of pre-aimed light fixtures mounted on one or more cross arms;
- slip fitting the pole to the base so that the lower portion of the pole is at least one foot above but nearer the ground than the top of the pole when the pole is installed in operative position on the base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.