ES2774211A1 - Service pole support (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

A utility pole holder has a trapezoidal shaped component with a base and opposite top. The top includes a concave portion effective to receive a utility pole positioned horizontally with respect to the ground. The dimensions of the utility pole support are effective in preventing movement of the pole without mechanical assistance. This utility pole bracket holds utility poles in temporary workplaces and prevents them from rolling, reduces vandalism by requiring a machine to remove a pole from the device, and helps staff position poles by raising the tops of the poles before placement. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Utility pole support

Cross reference to related patent application

This patent application claims a benefit of filing on January 17, 2019, US Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62 / 793,658, entitled "Utility Pole Caddy." The disclosure of US 62 / 793,658 it is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Disclosure Background

Disclosure field

The present disclosure relates generally to the utility industry and more specifically to a device and method for supplying and positioning utility poles. This device holds posts in temporary workplaces to prevent them from rolling, reduces vandalism by requiring a machine to remove a post from the device, and assists personnel in setting posts by raising the tops of the posts prior to placement.

Description of the prior art

Utility poles left unattached at construction sites can roll under various circumstances. Slope, distance from variable slopes, and soil type all contribute to the risk of poles rolling. Poles left in place are often accessible to the public and without mechanical methods to hold the poles in place, the public can be injured if the poles begin to roll.

A previous method of securing posts included driving a stake into the ground next to the post when it was determined that there was a risk of the post rolling. Wooden stakes can easily be taken out of service by the public, and if they are located in an area where the risk of a pole rolling has been determined, the public may be injured if the pole begins to roll.

Posts left in place must be raised and braced before a zip tie used to secure the post can be fastened around the post. This action increases the risk of injury to pole setting personnel.

Patents exist for securing utility poles while in their final upright position. By way of example are US patents US 9,739,070, "Methods and Apparatuses of Supporting and Bracing a Utility Pole", issued to Bushore; US 8,631,627, "Helical Pole Support Bracket and Method for Supporting a Pole", issued to Atchley; and US 9,777,500, "Pole Reinforcement", issued to Reisdorff. Neither of these patents addresses the securing of posts before placing the post.

Disclosure summary

A main object of the invention is to provide a device that will hold a post left in a workplace without the general public being able to take it out of service without the intervention of machines.

Another object of the device is to allow the post to be pre-lifted so that the post setting personnel eliminate the lifting and shoring step during post setting.

Another object of the device is to allow a clamping method that cannot be easily taken out of service in icy conditions.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood when discussed in conjunction with the illustration:

Figure 1 is a side view of a utility pole support.

Figure 2 is a top view of the post bracket of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the post bracket of Figure 1 illustrating different sizes of posts being accommodated.

Figure 4 is a side view of the utility pole bracket of Figure 3 that houses a utility pole.

Figure 5 is a close-up side view of the utility pole bracket housing a utility pole of Figure 4.

The invention is carried out as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, however the drawings are illustrative only and changes may be made to the specific construction.

Detailed description

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the utility pole support 1 is a high quality plastic support with a trapezoidal shape that has symmetry around a central axis "z" extending from a base 2 to a top surface 3. ("Base" and "top" define surfaces in the case where the utility pole bracket is positioned for the intended use.) The top surface 3 includes a concave parabolic portion 4 for two points of contact on a utility pole which is positioned horizontally with respect to the ground along the concave parabolic portion. Two ends of the concave parabolic portion 4 run in a rounded manner to a flattened plane 5 culminating in sides 6 connecting the base to the top. The length of the sides 6 and the angle, ^a , between the flattened plane 5 and the sides 6 provide a sufficient height, h, measured from the nadir 7 of the concave parabolic portion 4 to a surface 8 in contact with the ground of l to base 2, such that when a pole top is attached, the pole is propped up from the ground and staff can manipulate a flange under the pole.

The interior of the utility pole bracket has a cutout 9 to attach a handle or flange for easy handling. In one embodiment, the cutout 9 has an oval shape. Additional cutouts can be included to eliminate unnecessary material and weight.

The base corners 10 are rounded for worker safety. Optionally, the base includes notches 11 to facilitate the stacking of a utility pole support 1 on top of another repetition thereof. As a further feature, a central hole 12 extends through a middle portion for stacking multiple post supports 1 on a bar in the personnel truck. Typically, the bar will be made of a metal that is resistant to corrosion and oxidation. Optionally, the center hole 12 can support a stake driven into the ground for additional protection against rolling and to thwart efforts to displace the utility pole support.

Multiple threaded circular cutouts 13, such as eight, are located in the base for the installation of screws to insert into the ground and prevent slippage, including in icy conditions. Alternatively, instead of screws, protrusions 14 formed in the base 2 extend from the ground contacting surface 8 to limit movement on frozen or hard surfaces.

A preferred plastic for making the utility pole support 1 is ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. Example dimensions for a utility pole bracket (length / width / height) are 26 x 4 x 8 inches (0.6604 x 0.1016 x 0.2032 meters) to support small diameter utility poles up to poles class H1 distribution. Dimensions may vary based on the varieties of pole sizes required. The utility pole bracket is designed to withstand a compressive force of approximately 6,000 pounds (2,721,55422 kilograms) without deformation.

Figure 3 illustrates how the parabolic inner shape allows the fastening of different diameters of utility poles, from small diameter utility poles to H1 class distribution poles. The utility pole bracket can be increased to handle larger poles including transmission poles, as high tensile plastic can be used to ensure proper support per square inch.

Figure 4 is a side view of the utility post bracket of Figure 3 housing a utility post illustrating how a portion of the utility post is raised to facilitate sliding of a flange under the post prior to attachment.

Figure 5 is a close-up side view of the utility pole bracket housing a utility pole of Figure 4.

A typical utility pole has a diameter of between 10 and 18 inches (0.254 and 0.4572 meters) and a weight between 700 and 4000 pounds (317.514659 and 1,814.36948 kilograms). Typically, one utility pole bracket per pole is used and the typical weight supported by this utility pole bracket is approximately 1,000 pounds (453.59237 kilograms).

Claims (5)

1. Service pole support, comprising: a trapezoidal shaped component having a base and an opposite top; the upper part including a concave portion effective to receive a utility pole positioned horizontally with respect to the ground; wherein the dimensions of the utility pole bracket are effective in preventing movement of the pole without mechanical assistance. A utility pole support according to claim 1, wherein the concave portion is a parabola sized to accommodate a variety of utility pole diameters. A utility pole bracket according to claim 1, wherein a distance between a nadir of the concave portion and the base is sufficient to provide an effective opening to receive a fixing flange. A utility pole support according to claim 1, further including base-extending projections effective to limit movement on frozen or hard surfaces. A utility pole bracket according to claim 1, formed of a material that can withstand a compressive force of approximately 6,000 pounds (2,721,55422 kilograms) without deformation.