Patent ID: 6409156
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: E01F,Y10T

Abstract:
A post assembly, comprising:a base assembly anchored in the ground; a post; and a first breakaway bracket having a first end attached to the base assembly, a second end attached to the post, and a central section disposed between and integrally formed with the first and second ends, the central section extending outward from the first and second ends in a first direction to form a first and second shoulder, with the first and second ends, respectively, having a substantially planar exposed face that the base assembly and post bear against, the central section spanning the width of the brackets and having a channel formed thereacross with a V-shaped cross-sectional configuration to define a pre-formed break point that will fracture when subjected to a predetermined load through the first and second ends; a second breakaway bracket having a first end attached to the base assembly, a second end attached to the post, and a central section disposed between and integrally formed with the first and second ends, the central section extending outward from the first and second ends in a first direction to form a first and second shoulder, with the first and second ends, respectively, having a substantially planar exposed face that the base assembly and post bear against, the central section spanning the width of the brackets and having a channel formed thereacross with a V-shaped cross-sectional configuration to define a pre-formed break point that will fracture when subjected to a predetermined load through the first and second ends; and the first and second breakaway brackets cooperating whereby upon impact to the post, one of the first and second breakaway brackets will fracture and the other of the first and second breakaway brackets will bend about the breakpoint to maintain a connection between the post and the base assembly.