Load extension signaling device

• US 5,481,244 A
• Filed: 11/17/1993
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dicke Tool Company
• Original Assignee: Dicke Tool Company
• Inventors: Dicke, Grant D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/154,170
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 340/473, 340/815.73, 340/471, 340/431, 116/30, 116/28 R, 116/173, 116/202, 114/343
• US Class Current: 340/473
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 7/02 to be attached to overhanging loads or extending parts of vehicle

Abstract

A warning device includes a flexible collar of adjustable length so as to be wrapped about a beam, pole or log being transported on a vehicular carrier. The flexible collar includes a serial connection of a rigid mounting base, a tensioning device and a chain. A light fixture, warning flags or other devices can be supported by the rigid mounting base. The flexible collar also includes rigid arms hingedly connected to the mounting base, and preferably shaped in the form of a yoke.

Claims

1. An adjustable mounting device for a signal which device releasably attaches to the outer surface of an elongated object having a longitudinal axis, the mounting device comprising:

a rigid mount base having at least two opposed flanges extending downward therefrom, the flanges adapted to engage the surface of the elongated object;

at least two rigid arms, each arm having a pivotal coupling with the mounting base, each arm including gripping teeth spaced from the pivotal coupling, the teeth adapted to engage the surface of the elongated object as the arms are swingingly pivoted toward the surface of the object;

a chain adapted to wrap around the surface of the object and interconnect the arms when the signal is mounted onto the object and the chain is wrapped around the surface of the object; and

a tensioning device to pull the flanges into the surface of the object and pivotally engage the teeth into the surface of the object to releasably anchor the signal to the object.

2. An adjustable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the downwardly extending flanges are in planes generally parallel to planes formed by the gripping teeth, the planes being generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the object.

3. An adjustable mounting device as recited in claim 2 wherein the arms are at opposite sides of the mount base, each opposing arm having two parallel sections pivotally engaged with the base, the parallel sections forming a yoke adapted to be attached to the chain.

4. The adjustable mounting device as recited in claim 3 wherein the tensioning device includes outer and inner telescopically interfitting tubes, an end wall defining an aperture and enclosing one end of the outer tube, and a threaded fastener passing through the aperture, threadingly engaging the inner tube, said fastener having a head portion engaging the end wall of the outer tube.

5. An adjustable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the downwardly extending flanges are in planes generally perpendicular to planes formed by the gripping teeth, the downwardly extending flanges in planes generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated object.

6. An adjustable mounting device as recited in claim 5 wherein the arms are at opposite sides of the mount base, each opposing arm having two parallel sections pivotally engaged with the base, the parallel sections forming a yoke adapted to be attached to the chain.

7. An adjustable mounting device as recited in claim 6 wherein each parallel section of the opposing arms include said gripping teeth.

8. The adjustable mounting device as recited in claim 6 wherein the tensioning device includes outer and inner telescopically interfitting tubes, an end wall defining an aperture and enclosing one end of the outer tube, and a threaded fastener passing through the aperture, threadingly engaging the inner tube, said fastener having a head portion engaging the end wall of the outer tube.

9. An adjustable mounting device as recited in claim 1 wherein the arms are at opposite sides of the mount base, each opposing arm having two parallel sections pivotally engaged with the base, the parallel sections forming a yoke adapted to be attached to the chain.

10. An adjustable mounting device as recited in claim 9 wherein each parallel section of the opposing arms include said gripping teeth.

11. The adjustable mounting device as recited in claim 10 wherein the tensioning device includes outer and inner telescopically interfitting tubes, an end wall defining an aperture and enclosing one end of the outer tube, and a threaded fastener passing through the aperture, threadingly engaging the inner tube, said fastener having a head portion engaging the end wall of the outer tube.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the tensioning device includes a hook adapted to receive links of the chain.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the tensioning device includes outer and inner telescopically interfitting tubes, an end wall defining an aperture and enclosing one end of the outer tube, and a threaded fastener passing through the aperture threadingly engaging the inner tube, said fastener having a head portion engaging the end wall of the outer tube.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the tensioning device comprises a slide member guided by the mount base for movement toward and away from the mount base, a threaded fastener threadingly engaged with the mount base and having a free end engaging the slide member to press the slide member against the object for creating tension in the collar when pressing the slide member displaces the mount base away from the object.