Abstract:
An exemplary embodiment includes a wood hybrid light pole with an internal wireway for electrical wires and a base with anchoring bolts and space for electrical connections.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     U.S. design patent application No. 29314172 filed Mar. 10, 2009. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     None 
     BACKGROUND AND TECHNICAL FIELD 
     One very useful embodiment of the Invention relates to the following field, although the Invention may also relate to other fields and uses. The Invention may have various embodiments and variations. One aspect of the Invention is as a light pole. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Typical of the art related to the more widely useful embodiments of the present Invention are following patents. The following examples of related art and its limitations are illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon study of the specification and drawings of this application. Other embodiments of the Invention may relate to other arts and uses. U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,262, Jan. 30, 1973 to Jatcko, discloses a tapered lock break-away pole. U.S. Pat. No. 3,746,776, Jul. 17, 1973 to Monahan et al. discloses a resin coated wooden pole and light standard. U.S. Design Pat. No. D496, 120 S, Sep. 14, 2004 to Cooper et al. discloses a light pole. 
     SUMMARY 
     One of the more widely useful embodiments of the present Invention may be summarized as follows. This embodiment is exemplary only. Other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon study of the specification and drawings of this application. Other embodiments of the Invention may relate to other arts and have usefulness in those arts. 
     The present invention relates generally to exterior light poles, and more particularly, to a hybrid laminated wood pole that has an aluminum base plate, for anchoring and wiring, and an upper pole section that is laminated wood for supporting a luminaire assembly. Lighting poles are generally made of steel, aluminum or composite materials. These are hollow tubes that provide for an internal electrical wireway, as well as a means of support and mounting the lighting fixture assembly, which may include multiple lighting fixtures. Utility or telephone poles, used mainly for overhead electrical transmission and or communication transmission, can also have lighting fixtures attached to the pole for illumination purposes. Wood utility poles are one continuous, solid wood structure, typically embedded in the ground as a means of mounting. 
     There are several problems and drawbacks associated with using conventional wood poles when used in a non-utility application such as architectural site lighting, where a lighting assembly will be attached on the top of the pole and connected to an electrical circuit: 
     a. Utility or telephone transmission poles are typically directly buried in the ground, below grade level, rather than attached to a concrete foundation, at or above grade level, via anchoring bolts. Installing and removing direct embedded wood poles is fairly simple when placed in a open area of soil such as along a roadway. Installing embedded poles in an area with finished grade materials such as concrete, paving stones, landscapes, etc. makes it more complicated and expensive to install and remove the poles. Attaching a pole to a concrete foundation with anchoring bolts is the preferred method of installing a conventional steel or aluminum pole in an area with finished grade materials. 
     b. Direct buried wood poles are typically coated with a combination of chemicals to retard rotting of the wood, that is below grade, due to moisture, insects and chemicals contained in the soil substrate. These chemicals, some of which are toxic, will leach into the surrounding soil over time. 
     c. Conventional solid wood poles have no means of internally bringing electrical wires from the base of the pole to the top of the pole. Conduit is necessary to be run alongside the wood pole to encase the electrical wires vertically up the pole. The various embodiments of the present invention address these issues. 
     PURPOSES AND ADVANTAGES 
     The invention may have various embodiments and variations and may be useful in different fields and for different purposes. The purposes and advantages of the more widely useful embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, the following, and may include other purposes and advantages in different fields of use not listed herein: 
     1. To provide a decorative wood hybrid pole used for exterior lighting applications where the visual vocabulary of wood is preferable to a metal pole. The wood hybrid pole can be finished in various wood colors as specified by the user. 
     2. To provide an internal wireway in the center of the pole for bringing the electrical wires from the base of the pole, at grade level, to the top of the pole. 
     3. To construct the pole of a laminated wood structure, instead of a single piece of wood used in a wood utility or telephone pole. A laminated wood structure is stronger in compression and under a load than a single piece of homogenous wood. 
     4. To provide a pole base plate for attaching to a foundation, using conventional anchor bolts, which installs like a metal pole. 
     5. To provide a pole top tenon for attaching a luminaire, or luminaire and arm assembly, on the top of the pole. 
     6. To provide that the wood pole is constructed of Alaskan Yellow Cedar wood which is naturally impervious to the intrusion of moisture and insects, without the use of chemical treatments, to avoid deterioration, decay or rotting due to insects and moisture. 
     The main pole shaft comprises a hollow, laminated wood structure. The laminations are arranged to maximize the strength of the pole shaft when the individual laminations are adhered to each other. The base of the pole is cast aluminum. The base includes four openings for attaching the pole to the foundation with anchor bolts and associated hardware. 
     7. To provide in the base of the pole, an electrical wiring compartment that complies with the 2008 National Electrical Code requirements for wiring compartments. This will allow connections between the load power source and the lighting fixture or other electrical device on the top of the pole. 
     8. To provide an integral electrical wiring compartment in the base, as well as the anchor, bolts, which are covered by a gasketed, watertight cover to preclude the intrusion of water and dirt into the base area of the pole. 
     9. To provide a structure where the wood shaft slips into the outer aluminum base tube section. 
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
     
         
           100  tenon assembly 
           101  circular tenon 
           102  tenon plate 
           103  inner sleeve 
           200  wood shaft 
           201  passageway or wireway 
           202  laminated planks 
           300  anchor base 
           301  center shaft 
           302  bottom horizontal plate 
           303  raised rim 
           304  radial ribs 
           307  holes 
           310  wire access compartment 
           311  open passage 
           312  cavity 
           313  base 
           320  cover disk 
           321  circular gasket 
           322  flat gasket 
           323  cover disk holes 
           324  cover disk bolts 
           500  foundation 
           501  anchoring bolts 
           502  anchoring nuts 
           503  wires 
           504  conduit 
           505  wires 
           506  wire nut connectors 
           601  luminaire 
           602  luminaire arm assembly 
       
    
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       This Brief Description and the Detailed Description Of The Drawings cover only some embodiments of the Invention, and other embodiments will be clear to those skilled in the art from the description, drawings, and Alternative and Additional Embodiments, etc. 
       The Drawings are illustrative and not limiting. 
         FIG. 1  shows a cross section of the pole and internal parts. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1  but in perspective. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective and partial section, at the open passage, of the base. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view, looking down, of the base. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the wood shaft installed on the ground, showing internal wiring. 
         FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5  but showing anchoring bolts. 
         FIG. 7  shows anchor base  300 , the wood shaft  200 , with a luminaire mounted to the wood shaft. 
         FIG. 8  shows a lunimaire and arm assembly mounted to the wood shaft. 
         FIG. 9  shows a cross section of the base with the cover disk and gaskets. 
         FIG. 10  shows the cover disk with the flat gasket in place. 
         FIG. 11  shows a cross section of the laminated wood shaft. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a cross section of the pole or wood shaft. The tenon assembly  100  has a circular tenon  101  that accepts a lighting fixture and or bracket arm to slip over the outside perimeter of the circular tenon  101 . The circular tenon  101  can be of different combinations of diameter and height to accommodate a wide range of light fixtures and or bracket arms. The tenon  100  assembly has an integral tenon plate  102  that acts as a stop for the light fixture or bracket arm that is received over the circular tenon  101 . The tenon plate  102  is permanently sealed to the top of the wood shaft  200  to protect the top end of the wood shaft  200  from environmental elements such as rain, sunlight and insects. The inner sleeve  103  provides a passageway for electrical wires connecting the light fixture at the top of the pole to the electrical power connection at the base of the pole. The wood shaft  200  is comprised of planks of wood adhered together longitudinally to form a laminated beam. The planks are adhered with an exterior grade adhesive, held under pressure until the adhesive is cured. The planks are continuous pieces of wood the entire length of the wood shaft. The laminated wood shaft is machined into a tapered shaft of various lengths. The wood shaft  200  is hollow with a passageway  201  for electrical wires connecting the light fixture at the top of the pole to the electrical power connection at the base of the pole. The wood shaft  200  is preferably comprised of Alaskan yellow cedar wood planks. Other wood species can be used to form the wood shaft  200 . The Alaskan yellow cedar wood is used because of its natural resistance to moisture and insects, without the use of chemical treatment for moisture and insect protection. The wood shaft  200  is permanently attached to the anchor base  300 , inside the vertical center shaft  301 . The Figure also shows cover disk  320  attached to the base  313 . 
       FIG. 2  is a cross section of the pole which shows the circular cover disk  320  which is attached to the lower portion of the anchor base  300  and base  313  with cover disk bolt  324  which fastens cover disk  320  to the bottom of anchor base  300  through cover disk holes not shown. See  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the lower portion of the anchor base  300  and base  313  with outer round raised rim  303  that has radial ribs  304  that project out from the center shaft  301  to the raised rim  303 . This design provides structural strength to the assembly. The cut away also shows the open passage  311  at the lower portion of the base  313  to the center of the pole passageway  201 , not shown. 
       FIG. 4  shows a plan view of the lower part of base  313  which includes the bottom horizontal plate  302  portion of the base  313  with four holes  307  equidistant around the circumference of a circle to provide for attaching the base  313 . The wire access compartment  310  is shown with the open passage  311  to the center passageway  201  of the wood shaft  200 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross section of the anchor base  300  and base  313  which has an integral wire access compartment  310  that has an open passage  311  to the cavity  312  at the base of the pole. Electrical wires  503  in conduit  504  are normally situated in the foundation  500 . The pole has a cavity  312  to contain the conduit  504  and wires  503 . The wires are routed through the open passage  311  to the wire access compartment  310 . The wires  505  extend vertically from to top of the pole to the wire access compartment  310 . This wire access compartment  310  allows for electrical connections between the electrical wires  503  and  505  to be made after the pole is anchored. Wire nut connectors  506  are shown connecting wires  503  and  505 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a cross section detail of the anchoring of the pole to a suitable foundation  500 . Four anchoring bolts  501  affixed to the foundation  500  extend vertically through the base holes  307 . The anchoring nuts  502  are tightened down onto the bottom horizontal plate  302  of base  313  to secure the pole to the foundation  500 . Cavity  312  and conduit  504  are also shown. 
       FIG. 7  shows the anchor base  300 , wood shaft  200 , with a luminaire  601  slipped over the circular tenon  101  (not shown). 
       FIG. 8  shows a fixture with luminaire arm assembly  602 , with the assembly  602  slipped over the circular tenon  101  (not shown). 
       FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the lower part of the base  313  with the cover disk  320 . A continuous one piece, silicone gasket, round in cross section  321 , is captured and compressed by the cover disk  320 , when the cover disk is secured to the base  313  with four stainless steel bolts  324  (see  FIG. 2 ). This prevents the intrusion of water into the voids between the ribs  304  (see  FIG. 3 ) and the raised rim  303  of the base  313 . The flat gasket  322  seals the wire access compartment  310 . 
       FIG. 10  shows the underside of cover disk  320  with the flat gasket  322 , and the flat circular gasket  321  in position on the cover disk  320  and the four cover disk holes  323  for the cover disk bolts  324  not shown. Gasket  322  seals the wire access compartment from water and solid contaminants. 
       FIG. 11  shows a cross section of the wood shaft  200 , shown with six laminated planks  202  and  201  wireway. The number of laminations can be adjusted from four to eight in cross section depending on the thickness of the planks used. 
     DESCRIPTION 
     Preferred Embodiment 
     The preceding description is the embodiment presently preferred by the Inventor, but over time other embodiments and uses in other areas may become preferred to those skilled in the art. The materials for the pole, apart from the wood, could be various metals or perhaps certain strong plastics. The dimensions could vary based on aesthetic appearance, and the height could vary based on installation location and lighting requirements. 
     Tests of One Embodiment 
     The hybrid pole was tested for failure under load using the static load testing method, measuring the load with a dynamometer. The test method was per ASTM 136.20. Multiple poles were tested until failure. Failure occurred at 1205 to 1210 pounds. This compares favorably to high strength composite poles that fail at 300 to 400 pounds using identical testing methods. The testing was conducted on Dec. 8, 2008. The test data was inputted into a “load” program to determine the acceptable wind loading of the pole under various conditions. This is the standard method of determining the maximum weight and EPA (effective projected area) of luminaires and arms that can be attached to the top of the pole under specific wind conditions. 
     Alternative Embodiments 
     Other species of wood can be used to form the wood shaft, although most types of wood, such as Douglas Fir, pine, oak, etc. require chemical treatment to protect the wood from water and insect damage. Hardwoods such a teak and ipe, which are resistant to water and insect damage, do not accept adhesives well and are prone to failure at the glue joints. 
     An alternative method of installing the pole would be a direct embedment whereas the pole extends below the finished grade. The pole base would be constructed of stainless steel instead of aluminum to resist corrosion on the portion of the base that is below grade, and in direct contact with soil. 
     The wood shaft can be attached to the base by means of mechanical attachments such as screws or bolts as opposed to using a structural adhesive. Mechanical attachments are prone to long term failure due to the natural occurrence of pole vibration due to the wind which will enlarge the mounting holes. 
     The wood shaft  200  and the vertical portion  301  of the anchor base  300  can be produced as a square shape in cross section rather than round as shown in the drawings. 
     CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE 
     A number of changes are possible to the parts described above while still remaining within the scope and spirit of the Invention. The specifics about the form and use of the Invention described in this application (including the specifics in the Summary, Abstract, Preferred Embodiment, Additional Embodiments, and Alternative Embodiments, etc.) are examples and are not intended to be limiting in scope. Those skilled in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions, subtractions and sub-combinations thereof, and may discover new fields of use. The scope of the Invention is to be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents, not the examples, purposes, summary, preferred embodiments, alternative or additional embodiments, operation, tests, parameters, or limitations etc. given above. It is intended that the claims are interpreted to include all such modifications, additions, subtractions, permutations and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope, including those which may be recognized later by those skilled in the art.