Title: Collapsible support structures

Abstract: Support structures for highway signs and barricades include collapsible assemblies which cause the structure, upon impact by a vehicle, to rotate away from the impact without flying apart. The collapsible assemblies utilize a connector fixture to couple a first member to a second member. The connector fixture includes a pivot pin which provides an axis of rotation for the second member and shear pins which hold the second member in a fixed orientation until the application to the second member of an impact. The impact fractures one of the shear pins and the second member rotates about the pivot pin away from the impact. Single post and multiple post support structures are disclosed. A support structure having two vertical members collapses to a flattened position when struck from any direction. The vehicle passes over the flattened support structure. In an alternate embodiment, the support structure rotates upward upon impact and passes over the vehicle.

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Other info:

Inventors: Rebentisch, Hugo E. (Garden City, MI)
Tuday, Thomas (Dearborn, MI)

Application Number: 06/148886
Filing Date: 1980-05-12
Publication_date: 1981-07-14
Assignee: GTE PROD CORP

Primary Class(es): 248/548 40/612
Other Classes: E01F9/018; F16M13/00; G09F15/00; E01F9/011; F16M13/00
US Patent Ref:

0079141	June, 1868	McFarlin	248/548
1335302	March, 1920	Stout	248/548	Fencepost
2309041	January, 1943	Booker et al.	52/98	Tower support
2309238	January, 1943	Corey	403/99	Valve stem or valve operating device for fire hydrants
3602065	August, 1971	Ratcliff	4/03	SAFETY LEVER FOR LOAD-SUSTAINING DEVICE
3628296	December, 1971	Henry	52/98	BREAKAWAY SIGN SUPPORT
4183695	January, 1980	Wilcox	272/102	Collapsible barricade

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Foss, Franklin J.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Mcclellan, William R.

Claims:

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