BREAKAWAY POST

• US 3,570,376 A
• Filed: 01/16/1968
• Issued: 03/16/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dolphin D. Overton, Rudloph B. Rustin Jr, William E. Hughes
• Original Assignee: Dolphin D. Overton, Rudloph B. Rustin Jr, William E. Hughes
• Inventors: Overton, Dolphin D., Rustin, Rudloph B. Jr., Hughes, William E.
• Application Number:
  US04/698,164
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• US Class Current: 52/38
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/623 characterised by form or by structural features, e.g. for enabling displacement or deflection
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/635 by shearing or tearing, e.g. having weakened zones

Abstract

A breakaway post is provided for supporting highway signs or the like. The post is made from independent flat rectangular segments arranged end to end to form three panels, with the segments secured together along their side edges to form a hollow post having a triangular cross section. A plurality of breakaway lines to start the breakup of the post upon impact by an automobile or the like are provided by the ends of the segments. The ends of the segments of any one panel are staggered longitudinally with respect to the ends of the segments of the other panels except at the top and bottom of the post. Staggering of the ends of the segments results in a post having sufficient strength to withstand wind loading even when signs are attached to the post.

Claims

1. In a support structure to be positioned adjacent a highway in a location where vehicles straying from the roadway could impact the structure, the improvement comprising a vertically disposed breakaway post, said breakaway post comprising three flat planar panels, each of said panels being of a uniform cross section throughout its length and formed of a plurality of independent segments arranged end to end in an end-abutting relationship, each of said segments having a rectangular shape in the plane of the panel it forms, and a trapezoidal cross sEction, and consisting of a single sheet of plywood with the end edges of each segment being planar and extending perpendicularly to the planes formed by the side edges of said segment, adhesive means connecting the side edges of segments in one panel with the side edges of segments in the other two panels in a mitered abutting relationship, the three panels forming a hollow triangular post;

the end of the segments of any one panel being staggered longitudinally between the top and bottom of the post with respect to the ends of the segments of other panels so that the ends of said segments provide breakaway lines to start the breakup of the post upon receiving an impact from a vehicle or the like while at the same time the staggering of the ends of said segments permits the post to have sufficient strength at its breakaway lines to withstand wind forces and other light impacts without the post being sheared.

2. The invention of claim 1 including an information-bearing sign affixed on said breakaway post.

3. The invention of claim 1 including a light reflective sheet that covers at least one panel of said breakaway post.

4. A support structure comprising:

a plurality of triangular members, each of said members including at least three flat planar panels, each of said panels being formed of a plurality of independent segments arranged end to end, and means for securing said segments together along their edges to form a hollow triangular member with the ends of the segments of any one panel being staggered longitudinally between the top and bottom of the member with respect to the ends of the segments of the other panels, the longitudinal axes of said members aligned in a parallel relationship with at least one panel of each member abutting a panel in another member; and

means for securing said members in a parallel aligned relationship.

5. The support structure of claim 4 wherein the perimeter of the support structure is formed by at least one panel from each of said members in said support structure.

6. The support structure of claim 4 wherein the perimeter of the support structure is a regular polygon formed by one panel from each of said members.

7. The support structure of claim 5 wherein said support structure has a square perimeter and is made up of two members the cross section of which are right triangles.

8. The support structure of claim 6 wherein the perimeter of the support structure is in the form of a regular hexagon and the support structure is made of six members.

9. The support structure of claim 6 wherein said means to secure said members in parallel aligned relationship is comprised of a film of plastic wrapped around the perimeter of the support structure.

10. The support structure of claim 7 wherein said means to secure said members in parallel aligned relationship is comprised of a film of plastic wrapped around the perimeter of the support structure.

11. The support structure of claim 9 wherein the abutting panels of said members are glued together.

12. The support structure of claim 10 wherein the abutting panels of said members are glued together.