Bracket assembly for supporting a traffic sign

• US 4,860,985 A
• Filed: 09/14/1988
• Issued: 08/29/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olson Pattern and Foundry Works Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Olson Pattern and Foundry Works Incorporated
• Inventors: Prunty, Lawrence L., Olson, Raylin J., Whitehead, Wendell W.
• Primary Examiner(s): FOSS, J
• Application Number:
  US07/244,020
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 248/347, 248/219.4, 248/278, 248/214, 248/231, 248/230, 248/229, 340/119, 116/63 R, 362/431
• US Class Current: 248/229.17
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/116 Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards F21V21/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/1808 using tensioned bonds, e.g. metallic
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/1813 using brackets having two parts for clamping the post
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure

Abstract

An electric traffic signal is supported from a horizontal mast by a bracket assembly comprising (1) upper and lower signal-supporting bracket arms located at the upper and lower ends of a vertical tube, (2) a swivel supporting the tube for vertical and angular adjustment and (3) a saddle pivotally supporting the swivel and adapted to be attached to the mast by a pair of clamping bands. Pressure plates are located in the saddle and are adapted to be adjusted to take up the slack in the bands and thereby cinch the bands tightly around the mast. Conventional muffler clamps are used to attach the bracket arms to the tube and to attach the tube to the swivel. A cylindrical rod made of elastomeric material closes an elongated slot in the rear of the tube, the slot enabling electrical leads for the traffic signal to be threaded into the tube.

Claims

1. A bracket assembly adapted to support a traffic sign and adapted to be fastened to a generally cylindrical mast, said bracket assembly comprising a saddle having front and rear sides, means for attaching the traffic sign to the front side of the saddle, the rear side of the saddle being sized and shaped to conform generally to the size and shape of said mast, said saddle being generally U-shaped in cross-section with the open end of the U facing rearwardly, and means for clamping said saddle releasably to said mast, said means comprising first and second flexible clamping bands adapted to be wrapped around the mast in spaced relation from one another along the mast, first and second pairs of spaced eyes formed through said mast with one pair of eyes being spaced from the other pair in accordance with the spacing of said bands, each eye of each pair being aligned with the other eye of the pair, said first and second bands being threaded through the eyes of said first and second pairs, respectively, means for securing the end portions of each band together while permitting relative adjustment of said end portions for purposes of cinching the band loosely around said mast and clamping said saddle loosely to said mast, and means independent of said securing means for tightening said bands to cause the bands to pull the saddle toward the mast and to clamp the saddle rigidly to the mast, said tightening means comprising first and second plates disposed within said saddle and engageable with the front sides of said first and second bands, respectively, and first and second screws threaded through the front side of said saddle and engageable with said first and second plates, respectively, said screws being operable when tightened to push said plates rearwardly against said bands and cause said bands to cinch tightly around said mast and clamp said saddle tightly to said mast.

2. A bracket assembly as defined in claim 1 in which each of said plates is located in its entirely between the eyes of the respective pair of eyes.

3. A bracket assembly as defined in claim 2 further including means within said saddle defining pockets for said plates.

4. A bracket assembly as defined in claim 2 in which the front side of said saddle is generally vertical, said saddle further including generally horizontal upper and lower sides formed integrally with and projecting rearwardly from the upper and lower margins, respectively, of said front side, one eye of each pair comprising a slot formed through the saddle at the junction of said front side with one of said horizontal sides, the other eye of each pair comprising a slot formed through said saddle at the junction of said front side with the other of said horizontal sides.

5. A bracket assembly as defined in claim 1 further including a swivel secured to the front side of said saddle and adapted to be turned to and held in different angular positions relative to said saddle, an elongated cylindrical tube adapted for attachment to said traffic sign, a pair of arcuate cradles on said swivel and sized and shaped to receive said tube, said cradles being spaced from one another along the axis of said tube, U-bolts extending around said cradles and having threaded legs straddling said tube, clamps having arcuate pockets for receiving said tube, there being one clamp supported on the legs of each U-bolt, and nuts threaded onto the legs of said U-bolts and operable when tightened to cause said tube to become clamped between said cradles and said clamps.

6. A bracket assembly as defined in claim 1 further including an elongated cylindrical tube attached to said saddle and adapted for attachment to said traffic sign, said tube defining a passage for electrical leads to said sign, one side of said tube being open, an arcuate seat within said tube and located between said passage and said open side of said tube, said seat extending longitudinally of said tube, and an elongated cylindrical rod made of elastomeric material and received within said seat with a snug fit, said rod serving to seal the open side of said tube.

7. A bracket assembly as defined in claim 1 further including a swivel, means for securing said swivel to said saddle in a selected angular position, an elongated cylindrical tube adapted for attachment to the traffic sign, a pair of arcuate cradles on said swivel and sized and shaped to receive said tube, said cradles being spaced form one another long the axis of said tube, U-bolts extending around said cradles and having threaded legs straddling said tube, clamps having arcuate pockets for receiving said tube, there being one clamp supported on the legs of each U-bolt, and nuts threaded onto the legs of said U-bolts and operable when tightened to cause said tube to become clamped between said cradles and said clamps.

8. A bracket assembly as defined in claim 7 further including bracket arms adjacent the ends of said tube, means for attaching said sign to said bracket arms, each of said bracket arms having an arcuate cradle sized and shaped to receive said tube, a U-shaped bolt extending around the cradle of each bracket arm and having threaded legs straddling said tube, clamping member supported on the legs of said U-shaped bolts and having arcuate pockets for receiving said tube, and nuts threaded on the legs of said U-shaped bolts and operable when tightened to cause said tube to become clamped between said clamping members and the cradles on said bracket arms.

9. A bracket assembly as defined in claim 7 in which said tube defines a passage for electrical leads to said sign, one side of said tube being open, an arcuate seat within said tube and located between said passage and said open side of said tube, said seat extending longitudinally of said tube, and an elongated cylindrical rod made of elastomeric material and received within said seat with a snug fit, said rod serving to seal the one side of said tube.