Abstract:
A fastener for fastening parts together. The fastener has a shaft, a head and movable members that spring outwardly from the shaft to firmly capture the parts between the members and the head upon insertion of the fastener into aligned holes in the parts. No threading step is necessary. The movable members may be retractable into the shaft to facilitate insertion into holes corresponding in size to the shaft. The members may have a contact surface sloping away from the head and forming a tapered space between the members and the head so that the outward spring bias tends to reduce the space and maintain tightness of the joint. The fastener may be operatively deployed by a single insertion step.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of prior pending U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 14/836,829 filed on Aug. 26, 2015, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates fasteners for fastening things together, a preferred embodiment of which is used to fasten parts to monopole towers to reinforce monopole towers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Monopole towers are used to support antenna arrays for wireless telecommunication systems. Monopole towers typically comprise a monopole, which is a hollow tubular structures, made of metal, with polygonal or circular cross section, relatively wider at the base, and tapering with elevation. Such towers typically further comprise structural enhancement attached to the bottom of the monopole, such as base plates. The towers are designed to support specified design loads. However, need may arise after the initial tower installation to exceed specified design loads. Thus it may become necessary to reinforce an existing tower to increase its load carrying capacity, such as to increase capacity to carry combined axial, moment and shear loading. 
         [0004]    Antennae impart vertical compressive loads and significant bending moments on the tower. Wind imparts cyclic lateral loads and bending moments, which induces sway causing additional secondary bending moments. Reinforcement means must accommodate these loads. 
         [0005]    One existing way to reinforce monopoles is to attach reinforcing rods to the sides of the tower. In such systems, the rods may be embedded in the foundation and tightly attached to the tower using mounting brackets at multiple elevations. An example of a mounting bracket comprises an angle iron bolted to the side of the tower with U-bolts that fasten the rods to the angle iron. Rods spaced a distance outboard of the tower increase the effective cross sectional moment of inertia and bending load capacity relative to the unreinforced tower. To transmit rod loads directly to the ground, some systems embed the rods directly in the tower foundation. 
         [0006]    When the entire system is experiencing bending loads, such as under lateral wind loads, individual reinforcing rods on one side of the tower may be in tension while rods on the opposite side may be in compression. Loads in a reinforcing rod may alternate cyclically from tension to compression when the tower experiences back and forth sway in wind. 
         [0007]    Existing systems rely on fixed attachment of the reinforcing bar rods at intermediate brackets that are spaced apart at vertical intervals. Fixed intermediate attachment affects the mechanical properties and mechanical behavior of the entire system and individual components thereof, including the pole, the brackets and the rods. The intermediate brackets experience significant loads. In addition, substantial assembly work is involved in making each intermediate connection separately, including mounting each bracket to the pole and mounting each bracket to the reinforcing rod. Typically, existing systems also embed reinforcing rods in the foundation by boring holes in the foundation, inserting rods in the holes, and then filling the remaining space in the holes with adhesive or grout to form the joint between the foundation and rod. This embedding procedure and resulting joint have undesirable qualities, such as undesirable qualities under cyclic loading. 
         [0008]    There is a need for a monopole tower reinforcing system with a different type of intermediate support that simplifies assembly, that provides lateral spacing and stability to the reinforcing rods, and that may reduce support loads and provide axial freedom of deflection to the rod. There is also a need for a system that does not rely on embedded reinforcing rods in the foundation and using adhesives or grout to form the joint between the rods and foundation. 
         [0009]    The present invention provides a fastener suitable for attaching standoffs and termination brackets to monopole towers in reinforcement systems that fills those and other needs. The fastener has inherent application for fastening parts in general, without need for a threading step to tighten the fastener. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In a first aspect, the present invention provides a fastener for inserting into a hole of at least one item, said fastener comprising: a body comprising a longitudinally extending first body portion, such as a shaft in a preferred embodiment, for insertion into the hole and a laterally extending second body portion, such as a head in a preferred embodiment, integral to and extending laterally outward from the first body portion for contacting one of the at least one item peripheral to the proximal end of the hole; said first body portion having at least one laterally facing opening; and at least one retractable member movably connected to the body; wherein said retractable member is movable between a retracted position in which at least a portion of the retractable member is disposed in said opening, and an extended position in which at least a portion of the retractable member extends out of the opening a longitudinal distance from said second body portion; said retractable member having a contact surface for contacting one of the at least one item peripheral to the distal end of the hole so as to hold the at least one item between said contact surface and said second body portion. 
         [0011]    In a second aspect, the present invention provides a fastener for fastening to at least one item, said fastener comprising: a body comprising a longitudinally extending nonthreaded shaft and a laterally extending body portion extending laterally outward from the shaft; said shaft having at least one laterally facing opening; and at least one retractable member movably connected to the body; wherein said retractable member is movable between a retracted position in which at least a portion of the retractable member is disposed in said opening, and an extended position in which at least a portion of the retractable member extends out of the opening a longitudinal distance from said laterally extending body portion so as to form a space between said member and the said laterally extending body portion for receiving the at least one item. 
         [0012]    In a third aspect, the present invention provides a fastener for fastening to at least one item, said fastener comprising: a body comprising a longitudinally extending shaft and a laterally extending body portion integral to and extending laterally outward from the shaft; at least one movable member having a contact surface, said movable member rotatably connected to the body at a first pivot connection a distance from the contact surface; said pivot connection being at a fixed distance from the laterally extending body portion; said movable member rotatable about said pivot connection between a first position and second position, wherein the contact surface is disposed further laterally outward from the shaft in the second position than in the first position; and wherein the contact surface is disposed a longitudinal distance from said laterally extending body portion so as to form a space between said contact surface and the said laterally extending body portion for receiving the at least one item. 
         [0013]    In a forth aspect, the present invention provides a method of fastening a fastener to at least one item that has a hole and a thickness, comprising the steps of: possessing a fastener comprising a body and at least one spring biased member movably connected to the body, said body comprising a longitudinally extending first body portion and a laterally extending second body portion; inserting the fastener into the hole of each of said at least one item until said second body portion contacts at least one of the at least one item peripheral to the proximal end of the hole; and allowing the spring biased member to deflect to a position in which at least a portion thereof extends laterally beyond the periphery of the hole and holds the at least one item tightly between said spring biased member and the second body portion. 
         [0014]    In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a method of fastening a part having a first hole to a monopole tower having a second hole, comprising the steps of: possessing a fastener comprising a body and at least one spring biased member movably connected to the body, said body comprising a longitudinally extending first body portion and a laterally extending second body portion; inserting the fastener into the first and second holes so that said second body portion contacts the part; and allowing the spring biased member to deflect to a position in which at least a portion thereof extends laterally beyond the periphery of the second hole and holds the monopole tower and part between said spring biased member and the second body portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. 
           [0016]    The invention, however, may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of various embodiments and the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a tower reinforcement system in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2A  is an elevation view of a bottom portion of the tower reinforcement system of  FIG. 1  cutaway to show an anchor of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2B  is an elevation view of an upper portion of the tower reinforcement system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2C  is a top plan view of a portion of the tower reinforcement system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3A  is an elevation view of an assembly of a tower, support rod and termination bracket of the present invention with one push pin un-inserted; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3B  is a an elevation view of an assembly of a tower, support rod and snap capture standoff of the present invention with one push pin un-inserted; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3C  is an elevation view of an assembly of a tower, support rod and slot-type standoff of the present invention with one push pin un-inserted; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a standoff of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4B  is a side view of the standoff of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4C  is a top view of the standoff of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4D  is an end view of the standoff of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a push pin of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9B  is another perspective view of the push pin of  FIG. 9A ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9C  is an end view of the push pin of  FIG. 9A ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 9D  is a side view of the push pin of  FIG. 9A ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 10A  is a side view of a vertical section down the centerline of the push pin of  FIG. 9C ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10B  is the view of  FIG. 10A  modified to show blades retracted and retainer ring placed around the blades; 
           [0034]      FIG. 10C  is the view of  FIG. 10A  modified to show fastened parts; 
           [0035]      FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of a push pin body of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 11B  is a side view of the push pin body of  FIG. 11A ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 11C  is a side view of a vertical section down the centerline of the push pin body of  FIG. 11A ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 12A  is a side view of a push pin blade of the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 12B  is a perspective view of the push pin blade of  FIG. 12A ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 12C  is another perspective view of the push pin blade of  FIG. 12A ; and 
           [0041]      FIG. 12D  is a perspective view of a actuator pin of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0042]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a typical monopole tower  1  is shown in assembly with one embodiment of a reinforcement system of the present invention. Anchor  10  is anchored to foundation  2 . The anchor extends above the foundation and is coupled to elongated reinforcing member  3  with a coupling  4 . Reinforcing member  3  is connected to tower  1  at at least one elevation above the anchor. The uppermost connection comprises a termination bracket  70 . Reinforcing member  3  may be connected to tower  1  with one or more standoffs  20  at one or a plurality of intermediate elevations above anchor  10  and below termination bracket  70 . 
         [0043]    The reinforcement system may comprise multiple reinforcing members spaced around the tower. They may be equally spaced, such as three members spaced 120° apart from each other around the tower as in  FIG. 2C . 
         [0044]    Connection of an upwardly extending elongated reinforcing member to the ground outboard of the monopole may comprise a connection that goes to or through the structural enhancements at the base of the monopole, such as to or through a base plate, and may comprise a connection that is an outboard distance away from such base structural enhancements. References to outboard of the monopole comprise outboard of the hollow tubular walls of the monopole. 
         [0045]    The term “standoff” herein is a device for providing lateral spacing between a monopole tower and an elongated reinforcing member and providing lateral stabilization of the said reinforcing member. Preferred embodiments of the present invention may comprise “boltless” standoffs, meaning that the structural elements of the standoff forming the connection with the reinforcing member, whether a loose or tight connection, do not comprise threaded members. Preferred embodiments of the present invention may comprise “insertion” standoffs, meaning that the method of connection between the standoff and reinforcing member comprises sideways insertion of the member into an opening in the standoff. 
         [0046]    In the description of the standoff bodies  21  and  41  herein, “distal” and “proximal” generally relate to proximity to the monopole when operatively assemble with the monopole. In the description of lock pin  52  and push pin  100 , “distal” and “proximal” relate to proximity to the head of those parts. 
         [0047]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , reinforcing member  3  may be a reinforcing rod and may have threaded ends for coupling with other threaded parts, such as threaded couplings or nuts. Couplings  4  may be threaded couplings. Reinforcing rods may be threaded over their entire length. Reinforcing members may also comprise segments that are coupled together endwise. Reinforcing members may comprise multiple segments coupled together endwise with multiple vertically spaced apart couplings. 
         [0048]    Termination bracket may be attached to the monopole using fasteners, which may be anchor bolts or any other suitable fastener. In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners are push pins  100  ( FIG. 9A ). Reinforcing rod  3  may be tightly attached to termination bracket  70  using top and bottom nuts  5  that are threaded on the rod and tightened against the top and bottom ends of cylinder  61  so as to prevent relative displacement between the rod and bracket. In the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 8A , termination bracket  70  is sufficiently long and strong and adapted for assembly with a sufficient number of fasteners to support the entire compressive and tensile loads of the rod without transmission of such rod loads to the monopole tower at intermediate elevations. 
         [0049]    With reference to  FIG. 2A , in a preferred embodiment, anchor  10  may comprise a commercially available wedge anchor for making a mechanical wedge connection to the foundation that does not require grout or adhesive to make the connection. Said anchor may comprise a threaded anchor bar  14  with a thrust ring  13  on a lower portion of the bar and an expansion shell  12  fitted around anchor bar  14  with a clearance fit so that it may freely rotate relative to the bar. The upper end of said shell may be in contact with the downward facing surface of thrust ring  13 . The anchor may further comprise a cone  11  connected to bar  14 , the upper portion of which is disposed within the bottom portion of said expansion shell  12 . Cone  11  may have internal threads for making a threaded connection with the bar threads. The anchor may further comprise an anchor bar nut (not shown) threaded to the anchor bar above the foundation and tightened against the foundation. The anchor bar may be pre-stressed so as to improve its fatigue life and resistance to cyclic loading. 
         [0050]    In operative deployment in a concrete foundation, the anchor is inserted cone-end-first a desired depth into a hole in the foundation. The expansion shell and hole are sized so that they have a snug fit. An anchor bar nut (not shown) may be tightened in contact with the foundation surface, or preferably with a washer or bearing plate disposed between the nut and foundation. The nut may be tightened against a base plate of the tower. Upon turning of the nut, the bar and cone translate toward the nut. The expansion shell is held in place by the walls of the hole. Turning of the nut also tightens the bar to the foundation, thus imparting tension preloading in the bar and compression preloading in the foundation. Tensioning of the bar may cause further insertion of the cone into the expansion shell, thus increasing the radial force between the shell and the foundation. Such preloading may reduce amplitudes of cyclic stress in the bar and foundation from cyclic loading imparted by the reinforcing rod, and thus increase fatigue life of the anchor and the foundation. A tight joint between the bar and foundation can be maintained through cyclic loads by applying a preload that exceeds expected operational tension loads applied on the anchor by the reinforcing member. 
         [0051]    The present invention may comprise other commercially available mechanical wedge anchors that may form a connection to the foundation without grout or adhesive. Mechanical wedge anchors may be attached to the ground through other media than the above described concrete foundations, such as attachment directly to rock with suitable holes drilled into the rock. Connection of a reinforcing member to an anchor attached to a monopole foundation is considered herein to be a connection to the ground. 
         [0052]    A method of monopole tower reinforcement of the present invention may comprise identifying the desired anchor location; boring an anchoring hole in the desired location to a desired depth and diameter; inserting the anchor into the hole to the desired insertion depth; and tightening the anchor bar. The tightening step may comprise turning the nut until the desired bar tension is achieved. The tightening step may comprise pulling on the upper portion of the bar to put it in the desired tension, such as pulling with a hydraulic tensioner. The tightening step may comprise a combination of pulling the bar in tension and turning the nut. The foregoing method steps may be performed independently with multiple anchors at locations around the monopole. 
         [0053]    With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2B and 3C , in the preferred embodiment, reinforcing rod  3  may be stabilized to the monopole with standoffs  20  at one or more intermediate elevations between anchor  10  (see  FIG. 1 ) and termination bracket  70 .  FIG. 3C  shows one push pin  100  before insertion through aligned holes in the monopole and standoff flange. 
         [0054]    With reference to  FIGS. 4A-4D , in one embodiment standoff  20  comprises a body  21  made from hollow rectangular bar stock, proximal portion  22  adapted for attachment to monopole  1 , and distal portion  23  adapted for receiving reinforcing rod  3 . The proximal portion comprises flange  30  with holes  34  for receiving fasteners to attach the standoff to the monopole. Said fasteners may be anchor bolts, or any other suitable fastener for structures where access is available from only one side. If access is available to the other side, then the fastener may be any suitable fastener, such as a nut and bolt, for example. In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners are push pins  100  ( FIG. 9A ). 
         [0055]    Standoff  20  and reinforcing rod  3  need not be tightly attached to one another. Thus, the standoff may provide lateral stability to the rod while allowing relative vertical displacement between the rod and standoff Thus loads on the standoff caused by such relative vertical displacement may be avoided or reduced. In the preferred embodiment, standoffs are structurally sufficient to accommodate all loading conditions for a tight fit or loose fit with the rod. 
         [0056]    The steps in the installation processes have no order limitation unless expressly recited or implicitly required. 
         [0057]    With reference to  FIGS. 9A-11C , one embodiment of push pin  100  comprises a body  110  ( FIG. 11A ) having a shaft  112  and a head  111 , and three retractable blades  130  that are movable between a retracted position ( FIG. 10B ) and an extended position ( FIG. 10A ). With reference to  FIG. 10C , the push pin may be deployed by inserting it into aligned holes of two objects  300  and  400 , whereupon the blades extend outwardly to retain the objects between the blades and head ( FIG. 10C ). 
         [0058]    With reference to  FIGS. 11A-11C , push pin body  110  comprises center chamber  113 , three sets of pin holes  116  in the distal portion of shaft  112  for each receiving a pivot pin  158  ( FIG. 9D ), and three openings  115  in the shaft for each receiving a blade  130  ( FIGS. 9A and 12A ). The distal end of body  110  has chamfered surface  120  to guide entry into a hole. In a preferred embodiment, shaft  112  and chamber  113  are generally cylindrical and may each vary in diameter along their respective longitudinal extent. 
         [0059]    With reference to  FIGS. 12A-12C , each blade  130  comprises a pinned end portion  131 , free end portion  132 , a pin hole  133  in the pinned end portion, and a contact surface  136  at the free end. Contact surface  136  is disposed at an acute angle to the interior side  137  of the blade. Contact surface  136  may have surface features such as knurls, striations, corrugation, ridges, grooves, dimples, or course surface roughness. The pinned end has a stop surface  134  for contacting an opposing stop surface of the pin body when the blade is fully deployed. Exterior side  138  of the blade may have a slight recess  135  for releasably receiving the inside surface of retainer ring  156  ( FIG. 10B ) for releasably positioning retainer ring in a desired position on the push pin prior to deployment. 
         [0060]    With further reference to  FIGS. 9A and 11A , blade  130  is disposed through slot  115  of body  110  ( FIG. 11A ). Pin hole  133  ( FIG. 12A ) of said blade is aligned with pin holes  116  of the body, and pivot pin  158  is disposed through holes  116  and  133  so as to rotatably attach the blade to the body. 
         [0061]    Blade  130  is rotatable between a retracted position ( FIG. 10B ) and an extended position ( FIG. 10A ). In the retracted position, the blade is sufficiently retracted within body  110  so as to fit through a hole in an object intended to receive the push pin for operative assembly. 
         [0062]    A retainer ring  156  may be slidably disposed around the push pin so as to retain blade  130  in the retracted position prior to operative deployment of the push pin. The retainer ring may secure the push pin in deployment-ready configuration and protect the push pin from damage during shipping and handling. 
         [0063]    In further reference to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , a preferred embodiment of push pin  100  comprises actuator pin  150  disposed in center chamber  113  ( FIG. 11A ). In reference to  FIG. 12D , actuator pin  150  comprises a front shaft portion  151 , rear shaft portion  155 , and knob  152  between the front and rear shaft portions. Knob portion  152  protrudes outwardly and has a sloped front surface  153  and rear shoulder surface  154 . Helical compression spring  157  is disposed around the rear shaft portion  155  of the actuator pin and is compressed longitudinally between shoulder surface  154  of the actuator pin and a spring retention bushing  159  ( FIG. 10A ). Retention bushing  159  is disposed in center chamber  113  of the push pin, rearward of spring  157 . The bushing is captured in place by a snap ring  160  disposed in a circumferential slot in the side wall of center chamber  113 . 
         [0064]    Spring  157  applies a forward force on actuator pin  150 . In the pre-deployment configuration of  FIG. 10B , retainer ring  156  keeps blades  130  retracted, knob  152  abuts against the free end of blades  130 , and front shaft portion  151  contacts interior sides  137  of blades  130 . Upon sliding retainer ring  156  to the position shown in  FIG. 10A  to release blades  130 , spring  157  pushes the actuator pin forward, causing knob  152  to wedge between blades  130  and to pivot them outward to their extended position shown in  FIG. 10A . Interior side  137  of the blade may have a longitudinal groove to accommodate shaft portion  155  in the retracted position and guide the knob surface  153  as it moves along the blade. In their fully extended position, stop surface  134  of the blade contacts stop surface  117  ( FIG. 11B ) of push pin body  110  to prevent further outward pivoting of the blade. In the extended configuration shown in  FIG. 10A , there is a space  161  between the retainer ring and contact surface  136  of the blade. In the preferred embodiment shown, space  161  tapers narrower in the radially inward direction. 
         [0065]    The push pin may be used to connect two objects together where the objects are of appropriate thickness and are provided with through holes of appropriate diameter. For such an application, the through holes are aligned and the push pin is pushed through the holes. The blades deploy and the objects are held between contact surface  136  and retainer ring  156  ( FIG. 10C ). Spring  157  and actuator pin  150  hold blades  130  in their extended position and capture the push pin so as to prevent it from backing out of the holes. Sloped contact surface  136  forming tapered space  161  permits application over a range of object thicknesses. Push pins may be provided in a range of sizes and shapes and may be customized to fit any application. To accommodate different object thicknesses, washers  156  of different thickness may be provided or multiple washers may be used to adjust the size of tapered space  161 . 
         [0066]    In an embodiment in which a retainer ring is not used, objects may be in direct contact with the head of the push pin and held between the blades and the head. 
         [0067]    The preferred embodiment of  FIG. 10A  comprises an actuator pin, but any means of spring actuation of the blades may be used, such as a spring-actuated ball bearing disposed at the front end of the spring. In the preferred embodiment, the actuator pin is accessible through either end of the center chamber  113  in push pin body  110  so that it may be pushed or pulled against the spring to allow retraction of the blades to set or reset the push pin to the pre-deployment configuration of  FIG. 10B . 
         [0068]    In a preferred embodiment, the push pin is configured so that blades  130  pivot in plane with the centerline of the push pin, the blades are evenly spaced an angular distance apart from each other around the centerline, and the push pin generally has 1/3 angular symmetry. Although a preferred embodiment of the push pin has three blades, any number of blades any be used. For example, another embodiment may be quarter-symmetrical and comprise four blades. Other embodiments may be asymmetric. 
         [0069]    A method of use of the push pin to fasten a plurality of objects having aligned holes may comprise the steps of: providing a push pin; inserting the push pin through the aligned holes; and allowing the blades to extend outwardly. The foregoing inserting step may comprise applying an external driving force against the head end of the push pin in the longitudinal direct. Said external force may comprise a hammer blow. The insertion step may further comprise the step of partially inserting the push pin before applying the driving force. 
         [0070]    Optionally, the push pin may be provided with a retainer ring slidably disposed around the push pin so as to hold the blades in the retracted position. In this embodiment, the push pin may be partially inserted in the holes to the point where the retainer ring contacts an object surface. The partial insertion step may be followed by a full insertion step in which the driving force is applied and the push pin is fully inserted to the point where the retainer ring contacts the head of the push pin. The full insertion step causes the retainer ring to slide along the push pin body out of the way of the blades. 
         [0071]    In applications involving multiple push pins, the push pins may be inserted independently of one another. Alternatively, the partial insertion step may be performed on two or more push pins before the full insertion step is performed on either or any of said two or more push pins. Thus, objects may be releasably held in alignment by partial insertion of multiple push pins before a full insertion step is performed on a push pin. After the partial insertion step and prior to the full insertion step is performed on a push pin, the push pin may be backed out of the hole. After the full insertion step is performed on a push pin, the push pin is captured in the hole and may only be backed out after applying external force on the actuator pin and moving said actuator pin rearwardly until knob  152  clears the blade path of travel so that the blade may be retracted. 
         [0072]    Push pins  100  may be used to attach standoffs  20  and  40  to a monopole tower  1  by aligning standoff holes  58  with holes in the tower and inserting push pins into the aligned holes as described above. The insertion step may be preceded by drilling holes into the monopole for receiving the push pins. Likewise, push pins may be used to attach termination brackets  70  to a monopole. 
         [0073]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.