Abstract: An accessible pedestrian pushbutton station. The station includes an articulating rear mounting structure to facilitate accurate positioning of the station on either a curved or flat surface. Additionally, slots in the rear mounting structure allow for minor positional adjustments during installation. The crossing direction arrow is easily repositioned on the front of the station without disassembling the housing. After removing the screw-mounted arrow, the plunger can be turned clockwise or counter-clockwise using only a flat-head screw driver. The plunger is balanced between oppositely biased springs. The spring-balanced plunger indirectly actuates an offset piezo bender using a flexible spring actuator and a second, offset stem bumper. This protects the piezo bender from direct pressure and potential damage. The station includes an internal speaker and the housing includes bilateral sound vents to project the sound emitted by the speaker. Baffles may be inserted in one or both of the sound vents.

Abstract: A traffic control device, such as a traffic signal light housing, with a resiliently deformable back plate assembly. The backplate assembly comprises side flanges that bend or deform in response to external forces such as high winds and blowing debris. In one embodiment, rigid side flanges include a hinge or joint formed of an elastomeric material. This multi-directional wind-dampening backplate renders the housing more aerodynamic and benefits the entire signal structure, including mast arms, poles, and span wire systems.

Abstract: A terminal compartment for installation in the hand hole of a utility pole. The compartment comprises a frame, such as an oval weldment ring with a cover. A terminal block support is movably mounted in the compartment for movement between an operating position and a deployed position. In the operating position, a terminal block fixed to the terminal block support is contained entirely inside the internal space of the utility pole. In the deployed position, the terminal block extends through the access opening at least partially outside the pole. The terminal block support may be an elongate rigid strip mounted vertically inside the compartment with a bottom end hingedly attached to the frame. In this way, once the cover is removed, the terminal block can be folded down to a horizontal position extending out through the access opening and affording easy access for repair and maintenance.

Abstract: An accessible pedestrian pushbutton station. The station includes an articulating rear mounting structure to facilitate accurate positioning of the station on either a curved or flat surface. Additionally, slots in the rear mounting structure allow for minor positional adjustments during installation. The crossing direction arrow is easily repositioned on the front of the station without disassembling the housing. After removing the screw-mounted arrow, the plunger can be turned clockwise or counter-clockwise using only a flat-head screw driver. The plunger is balanced between oppositely biased springs. The spring-balanced plunger indirectly actuates an offset piezo bender using a flexible spring actuator and a second, offset stem bumper. This protects the piezo bender from direct pressure and potential damage. The station includes an internal speaker and the housing includes bilateral sound vents to project the sound emitted by the speaker. Baffles may be inserted in one or both of the sound vents.

Abstract: An accessible pedestrian pushbutton station. The station includes an articulating rear mounting structure to facilitate accurate positioning of the station on either a curved or flat surface. Additionally, slots in the rear mounting structure allow for minor positional adjustments during installation. The crossing direction arrow is easily repositioned on the front of the station without disassembling the housing. After removing the screw-mounted arrow, the plunger can be turned clockwise or counter-clockwise using only a flat-head screw driver. The plunger is balanced between oppositely biased springs. The spring-balanced plunger indirectly actuates an offset piezo bender using a flexible spring actuator and a second, offset stem bumper. This protects the piezo bender from direct pressure and potential damage. The station includes an internal speaker and the housing includes bilateral sound vents to project the sound emitted by the speaker. Baffles may be inserted in one or both of the sound vents.

Abstract: A pedestrian pushbutton for activating a traffic device. A plunger mounted in a housing impinges on a piezo element when pressed. O-rings between the bolts that secure the plunger to the housing and the housing bias the plunger inwardly. A foam disk under the piezo element, or a resilient stem bumper on the back of the plunger, or both, bias the plunger outwardly with a force about equal to the inwardly biasing force of the O-rings on the bolts. Thus, the opposing resilient members maintain the plunger at neutral buoyancy when at rest. An O-ring disposed between the edge of the plunger and the opening in the housing centers the plunger. The pushbutton may include light and sound assemblies to confirm to the pedestrian visually and audibly that the pushbutton has been engaged. The sound chamber may be tuned based on the Helmholtz formula to achieve an optimum frequency.

Abstract: A mounting bracket assembly for supporting a traffic control device on a mast arm or pole. The bracket includes a first clamp adapted to removably attach to the mast arm or pole or other elongate support, and is designed to be positioned vertically or horizontally. A second clamp is removably attachable to a strut member, such as a strut channel or tube.

Abstract: A traffic control assembly comprising a length of flexible cable as a cable dampener. The cable may be formed of wire rope, which comprises a bundle of twisted wire strands, with a fitting at each end. The cable section has the ability to resist torsional movement and the ability to bend to a limited extent along its vertical axis in response to wind forces and to return to its resting or straight configuration like a spring as the wind subsides. This provides a dampening function between the components of the traffic control assembly to absorb impacts imposed by winds or moving objects so as to reduce the likelihood that the connection will break and disconnect or dislocate the signal or other traffic control device.

Abstract: An articulating clamp assembly for traffic control assemblies that include luminaires. The clamp assembly includes first and second clamp members. The first clamp member includes a male tubular fitting for telescopically engaging a female fitting on the luminaire. The second clamp member is attachable to the end of a luminaire arm by a tenon sleeve, to the side of a pole with saddle plate, or to a simplex fitting with a simplex mounting bracket. The front ends of the first and second clamp members have inter-engaging serrated faces that allow adjustable engagement of the two clamp members to adjust the position of the luminaire. Each clamp member defines a continuous end-to-end conductor path, and the articulating ends are formed to create a continuous concealed conductor path through the joint. The tenon sleeve may include a U-bolt to secure it to the luminaire arm.

Abstract: A support tube assembly for use in mounting traffic signals and other traffic control devices. The tube has a standard 1.9 inch outer diameter with a wider three-quarter inch access slot and a larger internal volume to accommodate five-eighth inch conductors. The support tube assembly may include a secondary mounting assembly for attaching a second traffic control device. The secondary mounting assembly includes a mounting strip that fits inside the access slot and a mounting plate that attaches to the strip. Each edge of the access slot has a contoured profile that mates with the corresponding side on the mounting strip so, when the secondary mounting assembly is attached to the tube, the edges of the access slot are gripped between the back of the mounting plate and the inner mounting strip. A cut-to-fit vinyl closure strip is included to enclose the exposed sections of the access slot.

Abstract: An articulating clamp assembly for traffic control assemblies. The clamp assembly includes first and second clamp members. The first clamp member, or tube saddle, has a rear face designed for attachment to a bracket tube. The rear face of the second clamp member is attachable either to the end of a mast arm by a tenon sleeve or to the side of the mast arm by cables or bands. The front ends of the first and second clamp members have inter-engaging serrated faces that allow adjustable engagement of the two clamp members. Each clamp member defines a continuous end-to-end conductor path, and the articulating ends are formed to create a continuous and substantially straight conductor path through the joint in the assembled clamp. In this way, the path of a conductor from the mast arm to the bracket tube is substantially straight facilitating the installation of large diameter conductors.

Abstract: A mounting bracket assembly for supporting a traffic control device on a mast arm or pole. The bracket includes a first clamp adapted to removably attach to the mast arm or pole or other elongate support, and is designed to be positioned vertically or horizontally. A second clamp is removably attachable to pole or other elongate support member supporting the traffic control device. The second clamp includes inner and outer clamp members. The inner member has a pair of arcuate slots that are alignable with either of two pairs of bolt holes in the first clamp. Thus, the arcuate slots in the inner clamp member and the first and second pairs of bolt holes in the first clamp permit rotation of the inner clamp member 360 degrees relative to the first clamp.

Abstract: A screw-in foundation anchor for traffic, lighting and utility poles and the like. The anchor comprises a shaft with an upper end fixed to a base plate on which the pole base is attachable. A helical blade on the shaft allows the anchor to be driven into the earth by rotation. At least two notches are provided on the edges of the base plate, each notch sized to engage the shaft of an adjacent anchor. Multiple anchors can be strapped together in groups or bundles for storage and shipment, with the notches engaging adjacent anchor. Such an arrangement prevents dislodgement or shifting of the anchors in transit. This reduces the cost of shipping the anchors, decreases the likelihood of damage to the anchors during shipment, and improves the safety of handling the bundles and unloading the individual anchors.

Abstract: A cable retainer assembly for use inside utility pole base assembly. The cable retainer is anchored to the foundation using the same bolts as the pole base. The cable retainer discourages pole-to-pole cable theft by securing the copper conductor cables to the foundation and pole base plate below the handhole in the pole. Access to the clamps of the cable retainer may be prevented by including a blocking structure positioned between the cable retainer and the handhole in the pole base.

Abstract: An adapter for use between a two-hole blade end fitting of a line post insulator arm and a Y-clevis bolt eliminates the need to replace the entire insulator arm when the end fitting fails or becomes distorted due to wear of the Y-clevis bolt. The adapter includes a body with a two-hole insulator end that connects to the end fitting and a single or double eye conductor end that supports the Y-clevis bolt. The conductor end is configured to align the load axis of the insulator arm with the Y-clevis bolt to transfer the tension load effectively through the adapter. Annular shoulders surround the two holes in the adapter back and the insulator end of the body. The shoulders extend into the bolt holes in the end fitting to center the bolts and form a clamp on the blade end to prevent further damage to the end fitting.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for supporting a traffic camera or other traffic control device high above traffic. The assembly includes a conventional camera bracket, a vertical pole of at least two inches in diameter, an adapter for attaching the camera bracket to the top of the pole, and a mounting bracket for attaching the pole to the mast arm or other support. The bracket includes an adapter plate by which the pole can be rotated relative to the support so the camera can be mounted on either a vertical or a horizontal support structure. The bracket also includes a clamp that attaches to the support structure by a three point attachment. This versatile mounting assembly can support a traffic control device 10-15 feet above the mast arm or other support, without significant movement of the pole relative to the bracket or of the bracket relative to the support.

Abstract: A cable retainer assembly for use inside utility pole base assembly. The cable retainer is anchored to the foundation using the same bolts as the pole base. The cable retainer discourages pole-to-pole cable theft by securing the copper conductor cables to the foundation and pole base plate below the handhole in the pole. Access to the clamps of the cable retainer may be prevented by including a blocking structure positioned between the cable retainer and the handhole in the pole base.

Abstract: A pedestrian push button that discourages vandals and resists weather-related damage. The plunger is contained in a sleek, solid housing formed by a cup-shaped front cover that overlaps and substantially encloses a shallower, cup-shaped body, to protect the electrical components inside. The body is attachable from the inside to the traffic pole or other support surface, and the cover engages the body by means of a “twist-lock” connection that is hidden from view in the installed device. This reduces the appeal of the push button to vandals while at the same time making it easier for authorized personnel to open the housing for service and repair. The back of the body is contoured to conform to both flat and curved support surfaces, making the push button easy to mount securely regardless of the shape of the support surface.

Abstract: A pivot assembly that can be retrofitted to existing traffic poles. The pivot assembly comprises a bearing assembly disposed between a top plate and a bottom plate. The bottom plate connects to the existing pole foundation with the standard anchor bolt arrangement. Similarly, the top plate connects to the base plate of the traffic pole using additional bolts. Bearings in the pivot assembly allow the pole to rotate relative to the foundation. Preferably, roller bearings are utilized, as these can be contained substantially within the pivot assembly without extending down into the foundation or up into the pole. This means the pivot assembly can be installed in existing, standard traffic poles and foundations without modifying either. The pivot assembly does not interfere with existing wiring or access openings.

Abstract: A span wire assembly for supporting a traffic control device. The span wire assembly includes a pair of vertical members or cast arms for attachment to the traffic control device. The cast arms are integrally formed with tubular ends and a centrally positioned wiring passage. A span wire assembly utilizing the inventive cast arms has fewer parts and, consequently, is simpler for the manufacturer to produce and for the customer to use.