BASE FOR SUPPORT OF A REMOVABLE POST
A base for supporting a removable sign post on a surface utilizes a clamp, housed within a tubular housing, to grip and engage the post in a gripping position. The clamp has a clamp element that is flexibly displaceable to grip the post or alternatively has more than one discrete clamp element, each of which is actuable relative to the housing. Actuators, such as setscrews or bolts, are advanced through the housing into engagement with a corresponding clamp element to cause the clamp to grip the post. The actuators are retractable from the housing to cause the clamp to release from the post in a released position to enable removal of the post or insertion of the post into the base.
This application claims the benefits under 35 U.S.0 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/584,410, filed Jan. 9, 2012, the entirety of which is incorporated fully herein by reference.
FIELDThe provided embodiments relate generally to apparatus for supporting an elongate member, such as a sign post, and, more particularly, for releaseably, yet securely, clamping a post or other member within a support base.
BACKGROUNDMany municipalities support sign posts on a baseplate anchored to sidewalks, curbs and roadways. Roadside signposts are often damaged by vehicles thereby requiring periodic repair or replacement. Further, means used to secure the posts can result in damage to the post, causing it to loosen from the base over time.
One prior art system for a typical tubular sign post includes a post-receiving socket supported on a baseplate. Typically two setscrews are provided about the perimeter of the socket, the setscrews being actuable axially inwardly for engaging the post therein, when tightened. The sign post itself is a tubular aluminum post having a groove positioned thereabout to introduce a weakness in the post just above the socket. When a vehicle impacts the post, the post breaks cleanly at the groove. The broken portion or stub remaining in the socket is removed therefrom. The cleanly broken end of the remainder of the post is generally suitable for re-insertion into the socket, the post albeit being a few inches shorter.
Even when not involved in an accident, a post-to-socket interface can loosen over time. The setscrews impose high point loading on the tubular post, causing plastic deformation and material creep under sustained load of the setscrews which is heightened by repeated resistance to loads, such as wind. Over time, the post becomes loose within the socket and may tilt or fall over, causing a safety hazard and rendering the sign less effective or potentially ineffective. Service crews are required to occasionally attend and tighten each post. Servicing thousands of sign posts is expensive.
There is a need for a simple, inexpensive base which minimizes the need for repeated attention over a normal service life.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments described herein relate to a system for supporting a post, such as for a sign or a fence, through the use of a tubular housing, a clamp having at least one clamp element and actuator for securing the post within the tubular housing.
As a result of the embodiments shown herein, unlike the prior art, a gripping force is applied and distributed about the post for minimizing plastic deformation or wear due to movement of the post. Thus the posts can be made from low tensile materials or even non ductile materials such as fiberglass, composites and polymers. Further, the gripping force can be released for releasing the post.
In a broad concept, a base for releasably supporting a post from a surface comprises a tubular housing securable to the surface and has a perimeter wall forming a bore for receiving the post. A clamp element, located in an annular portion of the bore adjacent the perimeter wall, is actuable radially into the bore in a gripping position and releasable therefrom to a released position. At least one actuator is actuable between the housing and the clamp element, wherein when the at least one actuator engages the clamp element, the clamp element engages the post and the post is driven laterally towards an opposing wall of the housing for gripping the post therebetween in the gripping position. When the at least one actuator and the clamp element are released from the post in the released position, the post is released from the housing.
In another broad concept, a method for releasably supporting a post from a supporting surface comprises supporting a housing from the supporting surface, and locating one or more clamping elements within the housing for forming a post-receiving bore therein. The clamping elements reside in an annulus between the bore and the housing. The clamping elements are initially actuated to a released position for receiving a post. One or more of the clamping elements are actuated from the housing to engage the post in a gripping position. For post removal, the one or more clamping elements are actuated to the released position for releasing the post.
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FIG. 6A illustrates a weld between the housing and the clamp element for preventing rotation of at least the clamp and the post gripped therein, andFIG. 6B illustrates two embodiments implementing one or more locking setscrews, in one instance projecting through at least the housing, the split sleeve and the post or, in another instance as shown in dotted lines, through the housing between clamp elements;
As shown in
Having reference to
Embodiments of the system 30 comprise at least a tubular housing 14 which has a perimeter wall 32. The housing 14 forms an internal, post-receiving bore 34 for receiving the base end 18 of the post 12 therein. The system 30 further comprises one or more clamp elements 36 positioned in an annular portion 38 between the post-receiving bore 34, the annular portion adjacent the perimeter wall 32 and ultimately being formed between the post 12 in the bore 34 and the perimeter wall 32. A clamp is formed by actuating clamp elements 36, located within the housing 14, between a gripping position for gripping the post 12 therein and a released position for releasing the post 12 therefrom.
As shown in
As shown in
In an embodiment, actuators 40 are threaded fasteners such as setscrews, bolts or the like, which are advanced through the housing 14 for engaging the clamp element 36 in the gripping position.
Turning again to
The post 12 is supported from the housing 14 to the supporting surface S (discussed below for in
Materials for manufacture of the housing 14 can be different than the materials for manufacture of the one or more clamp elements 36. For example, the housing 14 could be of a robust steel construction which is readily tapped or fit to permit advancement of the actuators 40 therethrough. The clamp element 36 could be of a lighter, or otherwise less capable material, such as the same material as the post 12, or another complementary material which permits flexible actuation and distribution of the gripping load onto the post 12. Posts 12 are typically aluminum and the clamp element 36 could be similarly specified.
The clamp elements 36 further comprise one or more elements 36 which have an inner surface 44 which corresponds to a gripped surface 46 of the post 12. The one or more elements 36 reside within the annular portion 38 of the housing's internal bore 34. The one or more elements 36 can be integrated into a single element, such as shown in
The clamp element 36 has an outer diametral extent generally about that of the diametral extent of the inside of the housing 14 and an inner diametral extent about that of the post 12. The term diametral extent does not limit the form or cross-section of the post 12 or clamp element 36 to being circular, only that there is a surrounding and complementary structure for clamping the post 12.
The clamping elements 36 press against the outside of the post 12, regardless of its geometric shape.
In the embodiments shown in
Having reference to
Accordingly, in use, a post 12 is releaseably supported from a supporting surface S by supporting a housing 14 from the supporting surface S, one or more clamping elements 36 being housed within the housing 14 and forming a post-receiving bore 34 therein, the clamping elements 36 residing in an annulus 38 between the bore 34 and the housing 14. For installing or receiving a post 12, one actuates the clamping elements 36 to a released position. For supporting the post 12, one actuates one or more of the one or more clamping elements 36 to the gripping position. Further, for removal of the post or broken end of the post 12, one actuates the one or more clamping elements 36 to the released position.
Split SleeveHaving reference again to
In the embodiment shown in
The at least one actuator 40 is two corresponding actuators 40,40 such as fasteners, typically setscrews, each of which corresponds to one of the two flexible arms 50,50. Suitable setscrews may be ½″ UNC hex head bolts. The two setscrew actuators 40,40 and two flexible arms 50,50 are located generally on one side of the housing 14, each of the setscrews 40 acting on one of the flexible arms 50, to drive the split-sleeve 48 and engaged post 12 toward the opposing side of the housing's perimeter wall 32. The housing's perimeter wall 32 acts as a robust backing structure against which the split-sleeve 48 and post 12 are supportably driven.
In this embodiment, the clamp elements 36 extend from an actuating side of the post 12 to a supported side of the post 12, a portion of the split-sleeve 48 portion of the clamp element 36 residing between the perimeter wall 32 and the post 12. Generally, a portion of the split-sleeve 48, at about a midpoint M, becomes sandwiched between the housing 14 and the post 12 in the gripping position. The split sleeve 48 has an actuation range between the perimeter wall 32 and the post 12. The range of actuation or displacement of each flexible arm 50 is generally within the arm's range of elastic flexibility. Displacement reaching plastic deformation of the flexible arms 50, 50 can occur however, such as to engage an undersized post in which case the number of cycles of use between gripping and released positions is generally reduced.
Returning to
In the released position, the flexible arms 50,50 flex radially outwardly to permit release of the post 12 from the clamp element 36 or to permit insertion of the post 12 into the bore 34 within the one or more clamp elements 36. Alternatively, if the clamp element 36 happens to have a diametral extent smaller than the post diameter, the flexible arms 50, 50 can be flexibly manipulated to remove the post 12 from the clamp element 36 or to forcibly flex the arms 50,50 apart to insert the post 12 into the clamp element 36.
As shown in
Having reference to
In embodiments, as shown in
In an embodiment shown in
Alternatively, as shown in several other embodiments in
In another embodiment, shown in
Having reference again to
As shown in
As one of skill in the art will appreciate while
In embodiments disclosed herein, the post 12 need not be hollow or tubular, merely elongate and having the base end 18 which is compatible or has a complementary cross-section to that of the clamp element 36; for example circular-to-circular (
In embodiments shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
Claims
1. A base for releasably supporting a post from a supporting surface comprising:
- a tubular housing securable to the surface and having a perimeter wall forming a bore for receiving the post;
- a clamp element located in an annular portion of the bore adjacent the perimeter wall, the clamp element actuable radially into the bore in a gripping position and releasable to a released position; and
- at least one actuator located between the housing and the clamp element, wherein
- when the at least one actuator engages the clamp element, the clamp element engages the post and the post is driven laterally towards an opposing wall of the housing for gripping the post therebetween; and
- when the at least one actuator is released from the clamp element, the post is released from the housing.
2. The base of claim 1 wherein the clamp element further comprises:
- one or more clamp elements having an inner surface corresponding to a gripped surface of post, the clamp elements residing within the annular portion of the bore.
3. The base of claim 2 wherein the at least one actuator further comprises:
- one or more fasteners extending radially through the housing for engaging the one or more elements, the fasteners actuable to drive the elements into the post.
4. The base of claim 1 wherein, the clamp element further comprises:
- a generally C-shaped element encompassing more than one half a circumference of the housing, the C-shaped element forming at least one flexible arm, and
- wherein each of the at least one actuator engages the at least one flexible arm for driving the flexible arm into the post.
5. The base of claim 4 wherein the post is circular and the C-shaped element further comprises an arcuate inner surface corresponding to the circular post.
6. The base of claim 4 wherein:
- the C-shaped element further comprises a midpoint forming two flexible arms extending circumferentially therefrom, and
- the at least one actuator comprises two actuators, each actuator releasably engaging each flexible arm.
7. The base of claim 6 wherein the midpoint is secured to the housing to align each arm with each actuator.
8. The base of claim 1 wherein the clamp element is formed of a material resistant to deformation from engagement with the at least one actuator.
9. The base of claim 1 wherein the housing may be affixed to a baseplate for mounting the system to the supporting surface.
10. The base of claim 1 wherein the housing is embedded in the supporting surface.
11. The base of claim 1 wherein the at least one actuator is a setscrew.
12. A method for releasably supporting a post from a supporting surface comprising:
- supporting a housing from the supporting surface, one or more clamping elements within the housing and forming a post-receiving bore therein, the clamping elements residing in an annulus between the post-receiving bore and the housing;
- actuating the clamping elements to a released position for receiving a post;
- actuating one or more of the one or more clamping elements to a gripping position for gripping the post; and
- for post removal, actuating the one or more clamping elements to the released position for releasing the post.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the actuating of the clamping elements to the gripping position comprises radially advancing one or more actuators from the housing to reduce the effective diameter of the bore for clamping the post therein.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the actuating of the clamping elements to the gripping position comprises radially advancing one or more actuators from the housing reduce the effective diameter of the bore for clamping the post between the one or more clamping elements and the housing.
15. A post and base for releasably supporting the post from a supporting surface comprising:
- a post having a base end;
- a housing supported by the supporting surface and having a perimeter wall and a post-receiving bore for receiving the base end of the post;
- a clamp located in an annulus between the bore and the housing, the clamp actuable radially between a released and a gripping position; and
- at least one actuator located between the housing and the clamp, wherein
- in the gripping position, when the at least one actuator engages the clamp, the clamp engages the base end of the post, and the base end is driven laterally towards an opposing wall of the housing, gripping the base end, and
- in the released position, when the at least one actuator is released from the clamp, the clamp releases from the base end of the post permitting the base end to be released from the housing.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 9, 2013
Publication Date: Jul 11, 2013
Applicant: ADAPTIVE ENGINEERING INC. (Calgary)
Inventor: ADAPTIVE ENGINEERING INC. (Calgary)
Application Number: 13/737,758
International Classification: E04H 12/22 (20060101);