Adjustable and recoverable vertical assembly

An adjustable and recoverable vertical assembly comprised of a post containing a load cell, mounted to a base, capable of recovering its original vertical and horizontal orientation after an impact with a moving object, with the additional capability of accepting attachments of various types and sizes. A low profile signage panel so designed to provide a surface with no protruding edges to be snagged during a vehicle collision, that may be attached to the vertical assembly. Attachments capable of being mounted on top of the vertical assembly that enable it to be utilized as a sign stanchion or a base for objects requiring a horizontal mounting surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention pertains in general to stationary highway marker 
posts and more particularly to posts having the characteristics of self 
restoration after a collision with a moving object. Delineator posts for 
marking roadways and identifying the existence of hazards are frequently 
accidentally struck by vehicles straying off the designated travel way. 
The need therefore was presented to provide characteristics for automatic 
restoration once the post was contacted. A proliferation of designs have 
been presented which provided for this restoration capability in various 
ways, but inherent in present designs, there is exhibited a tendency to 
pivot when uprighted, to not possess the feature of tension adjustability 
without complete disassembly, and to not have the capability of adapting 
to various other attachments when so required. 
Consequently, it is desirable to provide an assembly which would 
incorporate all aforementioned features into one design. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is an improved vertical assembly comprised of a post 
capable of uprighting itself after being impacted by a moving object; 
additionally providing for simplified assembly, adjustment and repair and 
being equipped with the options of attaching a signage panel so designed 
to provide for a minimal surface area to be snagged during a collision. 
It also may be optionally equipped to provide for attachments of posts of 
varying lengths or with hardware to accomplish various other functions. 
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the 
following specification and will be obvious therefrom without being 
specifically referred to, the same being realized and obtained as will be 
pointed out in the claims hereof. 
THE PRIOR ART 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,199,814 and 4,806,046 exhibits a design of a delineator 
post with similar capabilities of the current invention, but still exhibit 
the characteristic whereby the post may be pivoted at the juncture of its 
load cell elements after an impact. Additionally, the compression spring 
held in place by cable stops could become a projectile if the 
aforementioned lower cable stop failed while the spring was in a 
compressed state such as during an impact, and could be propelled 
elsewhere if the compression existing in the pneumatic sealed delineator 
post tube allowed the tuve to become dislodged from its load cell. 
Additionally, the signage affixed to the post structure exhibits acute 
turning angles on the lower extremeties, leading to possible snagging onto 
a contacted surface. 
Tension springs such as are utilized in the current invention do not 
exhibit a large amount of stiffness when compared to compression springs 
and therefore do not characterize themselves as such a potentially 
formidable projectile if accidentally released. 
Related designs of structures as exhibited in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,084,914; 
4,092,081; 4,123,183; 4,343,567; 4,106,878; 4,588,324; 4,636,108; and 
4,636,109 when compared to the current invention do not possess all the 
characteristics of returning exactly to their original position when 
impacted, are not tension adjustable to conform to varying stress loads, 
and do not have the characteristics of readily adapting to other functions 
other than that for which they were originally intended.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, a vertical assembly is 
illustrated incorporating a base 10 that supports a vertical post 11 
constructed of highly resilient and impact resistant material such as 
polypropylene or other similar polymer materials, containing the load cell 
12 that is capped and supported by washer assembly 13. The vertical post 
11 is provided with a reflective signage panel 14 made of a high impact 
polymer material and covered with a reflective surface which may suitably 
attached with fasteners 15 and 16 through orifices 17 and 18 to provide a 
firm sign attachment to the vertical post. The aforementioned panel 14 is 
designed with a low profile leading edge 19 curved and tapered at its 
lowest extremity, then extended upward at an acute angle toward the wider 
portion of the upper panel section, which is rectangular in shape and 
designed to be covered with the reflective surface. This design 
characteristic enables the panel 14 to prevent being snagged by objects it 
comes in contact with and presents excellent aerodynamic characteristics 
when the panel is in an other than totally vertical position such as when 
confronted by severe wind forces or turbulance created by oncoming objects 
or by objects that come in contact with the panel, thus helping to prevent 
distortion. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the present invention is sectionalized to illustrate 
the components of the load cell 12 that is encased in vertical post 11, 
supported by base 10, and adjusted at washer assembly 13 for proper 
tension. 
The base 10 is constructed of a high strength polymer material and is 
equipped with an orifice 20 through which the load cell support cable 21 
passes and where the alignment flange 22 is housed when the vertical 
assembly is in a vertical position. The base 10 is additionally provided 
with a recess 23 where the retaining bar 24 is located and is attached by 
fasteners 25 and 26. Referring now to FIG. 7 the base 10 is also provided 
with orifices 27, 28, 29, and 30 that may contain fasteners 31, 32, 33, 
and 34 that fasten the base 10 to another surface. Base 10 may also be 
bonded to a road surface with an epoxy bonding material that may be 
extruded through orifices 27, 28, 29, and 30 to increase adhesion to the 
road surface. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, the retaining bar 24, consists of a flat section 
of steel that is provided with orifices 43 and 44 at the two ends of the 
plate, for mounting, and is provided with cutouts 45 and 46. Referring now 
to FIG. 2, the retaining bar 24 is attached to base 10 in recess 23 by 
fasteners 25 and 26. 
Referring again to FIG. 2, the base 10 provides the platform for alignment 
flange 22, which is exhibited in FIG. 3. Referring now to FIG. 3, 
alignment flange 22 consists of a tubular section 35, sealed on the lower 
tubular end 36, that is threaded with standard threads 37 on the upper 
portion. It is provided with orifices 38 and 39 that have been drilled 
through the sealed lower portion of the tube at diametrically opposed 
locations on the inner diameter of the tube. Washer 40 is attached at a 
right angle to and at the lower extremity of the threaded section of 
tubular section 35 to complete the assembly of alignment flange 22. 
Referring again to FIG. 2, alignment flange 22 is secured into the interior 
threaded portion of standard plastic adapter sleeve 40. The vertical post 
11 is then placed over the exterior surface of standard plastic adapter 
sleeve 40 until the lower surface of vertical post 11 contacts the washer 
surface of alignment flange 22. The vertical post 11 is then secured to 
standard plastic adapter sleeve 12 with self threading screws 41 and 42. 
The two extremeties of load cell support cable 21 are initially placed 
along the concave surfaces 45 and 46 and looped around the lower surface 
of retaining bar 24. They they pass through the center orifice 20 of base 
10, then through the orifices 38 and 39 and through the tubular section of 
alignment flange 22. The two extremeties of load support cable 21 then 
enter tubular post 11 and pass through the opposing sides of the lower 
loop of expansion spring 47. The entire looped portion of load cell 
support cable 21 is then attached with cable stop sleeve member 48. 
The upper loop of expansion spring 47 is passed through the lower loop of 
eye bolt 49. The upper threaded portion of eye bolt 49 is then passed 
through washer assembly 13 and is terminated at the top of washer assembly 
13 with washer 50 and nut 51. The insertion of a screwdriver into slot 52 
of eye bolt 49 coupled with the tightening of nut 51 accomplishes 
adjustment of load cell 12 to any desired tension. 
Washer assembly 13 is formed by welding a standard washer 53, whose outer 
diameter is less than the inner diameter of tubular post 11, to the lower 
horizontal surface of standard washer 54, whose outer diameter is equal to 
the outer diameter of tubular post 11. This assembly will prevent the 
lower surface of standard washer 54 from sliding across the upper surface 
of tubular post 11 when washer assembly 13 is secured against tubular post 
11 as load cell 12 is placed in a tensioned state. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, the vertical assemnbly 55 is shown in a horizontal 
position after impact, illustrating the potential of recovery to the 
vertical position with the lower portion of alignment flange 22 removed. 
The fulcrum point 56 between the base 10 and the vertical assembly 55 is 
in the center of orifice 20. When the vertical assembly 55 attempts to 
upright itself, the lower rounded edge will tend to remain stable against 
the sides of orifice 20 and full upright positioning may not be achieved. 
Referring now to FIG. 6, where the vertical marker assembly 55 is again in 
a horizontal position, the fulcrum point 57 has now shifted to the 
exterior surface of orifice 20 on base 10 due to the addition of the lower 
portion of alignment flange 22. This shifting of fulcrum point 57 will 
place the lower rounded edge of vertical assembly 55 on a flat surface and 
restoration to the full vertical position will consistently occur. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, the consistent alignment of vertical post 11 to 
base 10 to its original orientation is accomplished when alignement flange 
22 travels along cable 21 as vertical post 11 returns to the vertical 
position. As alignment flange 22 nears retaining bar 24, the tensioning of 
cable 21 will direct two lower orifices 38 and 39 to be directed toward 
the two concave surfaces 45 and 46 of retaining bar 24, thus returning 
vertical post 11 to the original orientation position it assumed prior to 
impact. 
Referring now to FIG. 8, an optional addition to the top of vertical post 
11 is illustrated when the vertical assembly is utilized for functions 
other than were originally intended. A standard plastic coupling 58 is 
added to vertical post 11 prior to the attachment of washer assembly 13, 
washer 50 and nut 51. This will permit pipe extensions or other optional 
attachments to be added to vertical post 11. 
Referring now to FIG. 9, an optional insert for plastic coupling 58 is 
shown to permit the vertical assembly to be utilized as a sign stanchion. 
Standard plastic plug 59 is provided with orifices 63 and 64 through which 
pass fasteners 61 and 62 to permit a section of aluminum channel 60 to be 
mounted to cap 59. The aluminum channel 60 is then provided with threaded 
orifices 65 and 66 which enable fasteners 67 and 68 to secure a sign 
placed through the center of aluminum channel 60. 
Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown another optional insert for 
plastic coupling 58 to permit vertical post 11 to be utilized as a base 
for such items as mailboxes, lights, bird houses and other similar 
attachments which require a horizontal mounting surface. Standard plastic 
plug 59 is again provided with orifices 70 and 71 through which fasteners 
72 and 73 pass to permit attachment of horizontal rectangular plate 69. 
Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should 
be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be 
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention 
as devined by the appended claims.