# US 8,540,392 B2 · Devices and systems for improved traffic control signal assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,392 B2 - Document ID: US8540392B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/554,475 - Filed: 2012-07-20 - Published: 2013-04-18 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-16 - Assignees: Robert E. Townsend, Jr. - Applicants: Robert E. Townsend, Jr. - Inventors: Robert E. Townsend, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540392B2 ## CPC - G08G 1/095: Traffic lights - F21S 8/068: {from a stretched wire} - F21V 15/01: Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts (F21V15/02 takes precedence {housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04}) - F21W 2111/02: for roads, paths or the like - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract Methods and apparatuses are provided for improved traffic control devices including a continuous central hanger support system that is integral to the traffic control device and provides a central load path. In an embodiment of the invention, the terminal housing and traffic signal housing of the traffic control device can be included in a single unit housing. A single unit housing can also include an integral backplate. Also provided are span wire clamps, tether clamps, and mast arm clamps that can be used to affix the continuous central hanger of the traffic control device to various fixtures such as a single span wire, two span wires, a pole or a mast arm. The continuous central hanger integrated with the single unit housing can provide the traffic control device with improved securement of electrical components and structural stability for survivability during high wind events as compared to conventional traffic signal devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A traffic signal support apparatus for a traffic control device, wherein the traffic control device has a housing containing electrical connections and is held from a mounting structure, said traffic signal support apparatus comprising: a continuous load path hanger; and signal connection hardware that connects said continuous load path hanger to a traffic signal housing; wherein said continuous load path hanger is not a span wire or a housing containing electrical connections and includes a vertical component that comprises at least one of a solid rod portion, a hollow rod portion, or a cable; and wherein a majority of said continuous load path hanger in operation is deployed closer to a vertical central axis of a traffic control device than are the external edges of the traffic signal housing or a backplate of the traffic signal housing, the traffic signal housing is fixedly secured in both a vertical and lateral direction with respect to the continuous load path hanger, and the continuous load path hanger receives the load of at least most of the gravitational and wind-induced stresses of the traffic signal housing and transmits those stresses past the housing containing the electrical connections and to the mounting structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A traffic control signal device comprising a traffic signal support apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising a single unit signal housing having an integral backplate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A traffic signal support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said continuous load path hanger comprises a lower-most support portion wherein, when connected to a traffic signal housing and in operation with the traffic signal vertically mounted, said lower-most support portion is beneath a roof of the traffic signal housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A traffic signal support apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said lower-most support portion is beneath a floor of the traffic signal housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A traffic signal support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the continuous load path hanger comprises an upper attachment flange, a lower attachment flange, and a central load-bearing member extending between said upper attachment flange and said lower attachment flange. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A traffic signal support apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said continuous load path hanger is configured to extend substantially centrally through a terminal housing or a traffic signal housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A traffic signal support apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said lower-most support portion comprises a signal housing support shoe. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A traffic control signal device comprising a traffic signal support apparatus according to claim 7 and comprising a single unit signal housing having an integral backplate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) A traffic control signal device according to claim 2, further comprising a rear portion and a front portion, said rear portion comprising a plurality of hanger attachment apertures; and said front portion comprising a door and at least one light module aperture in said door. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A traffic control signal device according to claim 9, wherein said rear portion comprises a hanger receiving tube. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A traffic control signal device according to claim 8, wherein said single unit signal housing is a single unit signal and terminal housing that is manufactured from a thermoplastic, and further comprises a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein said continuous load path hanger extends internal to said rear portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) A traffic control signal device comprising a traffic signal support apparatus according to claim 4 and comprising a single unit signal housing having an integral backplate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) A traffic control signal device comprising a traffic signal support apparatus according to claim 5 and comprising a single unit signal housing having an integral backplate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) A traffic control signal device comprising a traffic signal support apparatus according to claim 6 and comprising a single unit signal housing having an integral backplate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) A traffic control signal device according to claim 9, further comprising at least two signal light modules. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) A traffic control signal device according to claim 2, wherein said single unit signal housing is a single unit signal and terminal housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A traffic control signal device according to claim 16, wherein said device is adapted to be held from a span wire mounting structure, beneath a span wire in a vertical orientation such that a red light and a green light of the traffic control device are located one above the other. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A traffic control device according to claim 17, wherein the span wire mounting structure is a dual span wire mounting structure and wherein said device is beneath both span wires. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A traffic control signal device according to claim 16, wherein said device is adapted to be held from a horizontal mast arm mounting structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 2) A traffic control signal device according to claim 2, wherein said single unit signal housing having an integral backplate is manufactured from a thermoplastic. ### Claim 21 (depends on 2) A traffic control signal device according to claim 2, wherein said single unit signal housing having an integral backplate is manufactured from a formed metal. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A traffic control signal device according to claim 21, wherein the formed metal comprises aluminum. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) A traffic control signal device according to claim 14, where said single unit signal housing is a single unit signal and terminal housing. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) A traffic control signal device according to claim 14, wherein said single unit signal housing is a single unit signal and terminal housing that is manufactured from a thermoplastic, and further comprises a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein said continuous load path hanger extends internal to said rear portion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) A traffic control signal device according to claim 23, wherein said single unit signal housing having an integral backplate is manufactured from a formed metal. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A traffic control signal device according to claim 25, wherein the formed metal comprises aluminum. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) A traffic control signal device according to claim 23, wherein said single unit signal housing having an integral backplate is manufactured from a thermoplastic. ### Claim 28 (depends on 11) A traffic control signal device according to claim 11, wherein the thermoplastic is an acrylic. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) A traffic control signal device according to claim 20, wherein the thermoplastic is an acrylic. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) A traffic control signal device according to claim 24, wherein the thermoplastic is an acrylic.