Pivotable signpost support device

Abstract

Disclosed is a pivotable signpost support device. The device includes a signpost support that is vertically aligned with a ground post support, wherein the signpost support is disposed above the ground post support that is affixed to a ground post. The signpost support and the ground post support are secured between first vertical support and a second vertical support. The signpost support is pivotally secured to the first and second vertical supports by means of a pivot bolt having a die spring at an end thereof, so that it can pivot forward and backward relative to the first and second vertical supports. The pivot bolt can tighten the die spring so as to keep the signpost support in an upright position but allowing the signpost support to fall into a collapsed position.

Claims

1. A pivotable signpost support device, comprising: a first vertical support and a second vertical support; a signpost support; a ground post support; wherein said signpost support and said ground post support are vertically aligned; said signpost support and said ground post support disposed between said first vertical support and said second vertical support such that said signpost support, said first vertical support, and said second vertical support are substantially aligned in a first plane; said signpost support pivotally attached to said first vertical support and said second vertical support via a pivot bolt; wherein said signpost support is adapted to move from an upright position into a collapsed position when pivoting about said pivot bolt, whereby said signpost support is adapted to pivot between said first vertical support and said second vertical support about said pivot bolt in a direction out of said first plane; said ground post support attached to said first vertical support and said second vertical support via one or more fasteners a spring attached to an end of said pivot bolt; wherein said spring resists said signpost support when said signpost support is pivoted from said upright position such that said signpost support substantially returns to said upright position after being pivoted therefrom.

2. The pivotable signpost support device of claim 1, wherein said spring further comprises a die spring attached to an end of said pivot bolt; wherein said die spring compresses when said signpost support is moved into said collapsed position.

3. The pivotable signpost support device of claim 1, wherein said ground post support comprises a pair of apertures on opposing sides thereof, wherein said pair of apertures of said ground post support are horizontally aligned; each of said pair of apertures of said ground post support adapted to receive a fastener therethrough to attach to a ground post.

4. The pivotable signpost support device of claim 1, wherein said signpost support comprises a pair of apertures on opposing sides thereof, wherein said pair of apertures of said signpost support are horizontally aligned; each of said pair of apertures of said signpost support adapted to receive a fastener therethrough to attach to a signpost.

5. The pivotable signpost support device of claim 1, wherein each of said first vertical support, said second vertical support, said signpost support, and said ground post support each comprise a rectangular cross section.

6. The pivotable signpost support device of claim 1, wherein each of said first vertical support and said second vertical support further comprises at least one carriage bolt extending therebetween.

7. The pivotable signpost support device of claim 1, wherein a lower end of said signpost support is adjacent to an upper end of said ground post support.

8. The pivotable signpost support device of claim 1, wherein a head of said pivot bolt bears against said second vertical support and an opposite end of said pivot bolt extends outward from said first vertical support; said opposite end of said pivot bolt having said spring thereon.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the numeral annotations are provided throughout.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a close-up reverse view of the present invention in use.

(4) FIG. 3A shows a close-up side view of the present invention in an upright position.

(5) FIG. 3B shows a close-up side view of the present invention in a collapsed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) References are made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the pivotable signpost support device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used to decrease damages to street signs and posts. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

(7) Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the present invention. The present signpost support device 21 comprises a signpost support 22 and a ground post support 23. Each of the signpost support 22 and the ground post support 23 comprises a rectangular cross section with a hollow interior, thereby defining four sides. The two supports 22, 23 are vertically aligned so that the lower end 27 of the signpost support 22 is adjacent to the upper end 28 of the ground post support 23.

(8) The cross sectional area of the signpost support 22 is substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the ground post support 23. The distance between the upper end 26 and the lower end 27 of the signpost support 22 defines the length of the signpost support 22. Similarly, the distance between the upper end 28 and the lower end 29 of the ground post support 23 defines the length of the ground post support 23. In the illustrated embodiment, the length of the signpost support 22 is greater than the length of the ground post support 23. However, the length of the signpost support 22 may be substantially equal to, or less than the length of the ground post support 23, depending on embodiment and the size and weight of the signpost attached to the signpost support 22. Generally, it is contemplated that the length of the signpost support 22 is greater than the length of the ground post support 23 when the signpost support 22 is supporting a large and a heavy signpost.

(9) The signpost support 22 comprises a pair of apertures 30 on opposing sides, wherein the apertures directly align with one another. Each of the apertures 30 is adapted to receive a fastener therethrough, so that a signpost can be mounted to the signpost support 22. Similarly, the ground post support 23 comprises a pair of apertures 33 on opposing sides. The apertures directly align with one another so as to receive a fastener therethrough. In this way, the ground post support 23 can be attached to the upper end ground post, wherein the ground post is preferably an existing ground post that is secured to the ground. It is contemplated that various types of fasteners, such as bolts, may be used.

(10) The present signpost support device 21 further comprises a first vertical support 24 and a second vertical support 25, wherein the two vertical supports 24, 25 are disposed parallel to each other and are substantially equal in dimension and shape. Thus, the distance between the first end 38 and second end 39 of the first vertical support 24 is substantially equal to the distance between the first end 36 and the second end 37 of the second vertical support 25. Similar to the signpost support 22 and the ground post support 23, each of the first vertical support 24 and the second vertical support 25 comprises a rectangular cross section with a hollow interior, thereby defining four sides. The two vertical supports 24, 25 are disposed on sides of the signpost support 22 and the ground post support 23.

(11) Each of the first vertical support 24 and the second vertical support 25 comprise a first set of apertures on opposing sides thereof and adjacent to the signpost support 22, wherein the apertures directly align with one another. Each of the first set of apertures is adapted to receive a carriage bolt 31 or another suitable fastener therethrough. The head of the bolt 31 is adjacent to the signpost support 22 so that the end of the bolt 31 extends outward and away from the signpost support 22 and the head of the bolt 31 faces toward the signpost support 22. The head of the bolt 31 is self-locking when placed through the first set of apertures, and is held in place via a nut. The carriage bolt 31 is secured to the vertical supports 24, 25 to strengthen their structure.

(12) It is contemplated that the first vertical support 24, the second vertical support 25, and the signpost support 22 further comprise a second set of apertures on opposing sides thereof, and between the first set of apertures. The second set of apertures are directly aligned with one another. In this way, the second set of apertures are adapted to receive a pivot bolt 34 therethrough. The head of the pivot bolt 34 directly contacts the second vertical support 25, and the end of the pivot bolt 34 extends outward from the first vertical support 24. The end of the pivot bolt 34 comprises a die spring 32 so that the die spring 32 is adjacent to the first vertical support 24. The die spring 32 may be secured in place via a nut. The die spring 32 and the pivot bolt 34 allow the signpost support 22 to pivot with respect to the first and second vertical supports 24, 25.

(13) The first vertical support 24, the second vertical support 25, and the ground post support 23 further comprise a third set of apertures on opposing sides thereof, and below the first and second set of apertures. The third set of apertures are adapted to receive a fastener 35 therethrough so as to secure the ground post support 23 to the first and second vertical supports 24, 25. The fastener 35 may comprise bolts and nuts. In this way, the ground post support 23 is affixed to the first and second vertical supports 24, 25 so that the ground post support 23 remains parallel to the first and second vertical supports 24, 25.

(14) Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a close-up reverse view of the present invention as mounted to a signpost 40 and a ground post 42. A signpost 40 is secured to the signpost support 22 via one or more fasteners 41, such as bolts or screws. The signpost 40 may comprise a plurality of apertures thereon, wherein the apertures are vertically aligned and separated at regular intervals. In this way, the signpost 40 can be mounted flush to the signpost support 22 at a desired height. Preferably, the signpost 40 is secured near the upper portion of the signpost support 22 so that it does not directly contact the first vertical support 24 and the second vertical support 25. This allows the signpost 40 and the signpost support 22 to pivot forward or backward via the pivot bolt 34 relative to the first and second vertical supports 24, 25.

(15) Similarly, the ground post 42 is secured to the ground post support 23 by means of one or more fasteners 41 such as bolts or screws. The ground post 42 is configured to be mounted flush against the ground post support 23. The ground post 42 may be an existing ground post that is already secured to the ground. It is contemplated that the ground post 42 is inserted approximately two feet into the ground, so that it is prevented from being easily knocked over. The ground post 42 may comprise a plurality of apertures that can be aligned with apertures on the ground post support 23 so as to receive fasteners 41 therethrough. The ground post 42 is mounted to the ground post support 23 so that the ground post 42 does not extend beyond the upper end of the ground post support 23. In this way, the ground post 42 does not interfere with the signpost support 22 when it pivots into a collapsed position.

(16) Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, there are shown views of the present invention in an upright position and in a collapsed position, respectively. In the illustrated embodiments, the present invention comprises a first pair of carriage bolts 31 above the pivot bolt 34 and a second pair of carriage bolts 31 below the pivot bolt 34, wherein the carriage bolts 31 are inserted through a first set of apertures on the first vertical support and the second vertical support 25. The head of the pivot bolt 34 directly contacts the second vertical support 25 so that the end of the pivot bolt 34 extends outward at the first vertical support 25.

(17) The end of the pivot bolt 34 comprises a die spring, which is secured in place via a nut. The die spring can be tightened around the pivot bolt 34 by turning the nut on the pivot bolt 34 to stabilize the signpost support 22 in an upright position. When hit by wide farming equipment or vehicles, the die spring is compressed, allowing the signpost support 22 to fall into a collapsed position. The signpost support 22 may fall forward or backward, so that it can collapse when hit by farming equipment or vehicles traveling either directions on the road. After the signpost support 22 is collapsed, it can be manually moved into an upright position without causing damage to the signpost 40.

(18) It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above descriptions then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specifications are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

(19) Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.