Patent Publication Number: US-7712264-B2

Title: Extendable aerial service wire mast

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates generally to equipment and methods for providing telecommunications services and, more particularly, to an extendable aerial service wire mast for addressing aerial service wire clearance problems. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Service wires, such as electric supply lines and communication lines have long been used in aerial applications. Standards, such as the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), have been adopted to ensure safety to operating personnel and the general public in the application of aerial service wires. For example, these standards subject the placement of aerial service wires to certain minimum clearances above ground in urban and rural areas. 
   Problems arise, however, where sufficient and safe clearance cannot be obtained by attaching aerial service wires directly to a building or structure. In the past, the problems of insufficient height or clearance for aerial service wires have been addressed in one of three ways. One way involved mounting a bracket on the power mast and attaching the aerial service wire to the bracket. NESC policies, however, have mandated that this option is no longer acceptable due to the possible dangers when using a power mast to attain sufficient height or clearance. 
   A second way to attain sufficient height or clearance involved attaching a “ramshorn” to a higher peak on the building or structure. In general, a ramshorn is an iron rod having one end inserted in an insulator (e.g., rubber, composition, or metal-clad glass) and the other end shaped like a ram&#39;s horn. The aerial service wire is secured to the insulator by threading it through the opposing “horns.” Sometimes this peak is far away from the outside network interface, however, which results in extra work for the technician who must run the aerial service wire from the peak around the eaves to the location of the outside network interface. This solution also requires the use of more materials (e.g., wire, drive rings, clamps). For aesthetic reasons, this solution caused customer dissatisfaction because wires from the house were not uniform due to the power drop being attached at one place on the house and telephone and television cable being attached at another. 
   A third way to attain sufficient height involved setting a new telephone pole between the house and the serving terminal. This engineering job was and is very costly to the responsible company or customer. 
   Accordingly, there exits the need for equipment and methods to provide sufficient and safe clearance for aerial service wires while avoiding possible dangers and/or expenses. 
   SUMMARY 
   In one general aspect, an apparatus for supporting an aerial service wire includes a mast capable of attachment to an aerial service wire. The mast may be extendable between at least a first position and a second position and connected to a clamp capable of attachment to a support structure. 
   Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the mast may include first and second telescoping portions, such as interlocking pipes, constructed from metal and/or plastic. The telescoping portions may include one or more holes. At least one hole may be used for attachment to an aerial service wire. One or more holes of the first telescoping portion may be aligned with one or more holes of the second telescoping portion. A locking member such as a bolt, a screw, a rod or a pin may be used to lock the first and second telescoping portions in the second position. 
   The clamp may include a bracket and/or telescoping side plates. The aerial service wire may include a service drop and/or an attachment member, such as a ramshorn. The support structure may be a building and/or include an interface for the aerial service wire. 
   In another general aspect, a method for supporting an aerial service wire includes attaching an extendable aerial service wire mast to a support structure, attaching an aerial wire to the extendable aerial service wire mast, and adjusting the height of the extendable aerial service wire mast. 
   Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description, including the drawings, and from the claims. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of an extendable aerial service wire mast according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the use of a plurality of extendable aerial service wire masts according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for supporting an aerial service wire according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In one aspect, an extendable aerial service wire mast provides extra height needed to gain proper clearance for aerial service wires on most buildings and structures. This avoids the need for pole placements and the unacceptable and dangerous practice of attaching aerial service wires to a power mast. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of an extendable aerial service wire mast  10 . As shown, the extendable aerial service wire mast  10  includes a first (inner) pipe  11  and a second (outer) pipe  12 . The inner pipe  11  and the outer pipe  12  may be constructed of galvanized steel pipe, for example. In other embodiments, different material such as corrugated plastic may be used. 
   In one implementation, the inner pipe  11  and the outer pipe  12  of the extendable aerial service wire mast  10  are in interlocking engagement. That is, the inner pipe  11  fits within the outer pipe  12  for telescoping effect. In other embodiments, however, the telescoping effect could be achieved by using a first (outer) pipe and a second (inner) pipe. 
   While the dimensions may vary depending upon the particular implementation, in one embodiment, the inner pipe  11  may have a length of approximately eighteen inches and a diameter of approximately two inches. The outer pipe  12  may have a length of approximately sixteen inches and a diameter marginally greater than the diameter of the inner pipe  11 . 
   In general, the height of the extendable aerial service wire mast  10  may be adjustable to give aerial service wires needed height and/or clearance (see  28   a ,  28   b  in  FIG. 2 ). In one embodiment, the height of the extendable aerial service wire mast  10  may be adjusted to approximately three feet. As shown, the inner pipe  11  may include a plurality of prefabricated threaded holes  13   a - 13   c  for accommodating different adjustable heights. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the inner pipe  11  includes three holes  13   a - 13   c , with the uppermost hole  13   a  being located approximately 1.5 inches below the top. 
   As mentioned above, the inner pipe  11  and the outer pipe  12  of the extendable aerial service wire mast  10  are in interlocking telescoping engagement. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the inner pipe  11  fits snugly within the outer pipe  12 , and the top of the outer pipe  12  extends beyond the top of the inner pipe  11 . The height of the extendable aerial service wire mast  10  may be adjusted, for example, by sliding the outer pipe  12  upward and connecting the inner pipe  11  and the outer pipe  12 . 
   In one embodiment, the outer pipe  12  includes a plurality of prefabricated threaded holes  14   a - 14   f . In this embodiment, the outer pipe includes six holes. A first locking member  15  may be positioned through the uppermost hole  14   a  of the outer pipe  12  to secure an attachment member  16  (e.g., ramshorn) to the outer pipe  12 . The attachment member  16 , in turn, may be connected to an aerial service wire  17 . The locking member  15  may be any type of device configured to secure the attachment member  16  to the outer pipe  12 . In general, the type of locking member  15  that is used may depend on the particular implementation. Examples include, but are not limited to a threaded bolt and nut, a screw, a rod, and a pin. 
   A second locking member  18  may be used to connect the inner pipe  11  to the outer pipe  12  when adjusting the height of the extendable aerial service wire mast  10 . For example, by positioned the second locking member  18  through hole  14   f  of the outer pipe  12  and through hole  13   a  of the inner pipe  11 , the maximum height of the extendable aerial service wire mast  10  is achieved. In general, however, the locking member  18  may be positioned through any one of holes  14   b - 14   f  of the outer pipe  12  and any one of holes  13   a - 13   c  to adjust the height of the extendable aerial service wire mast  10 . The size and spacing of the holes  13   a - c  and holes  14   b - 14   f  may be substantially similar so as to allow for easy alignment. The locking member  18  may be any type of device (e.g., threaded bolt and nut, a screw, a rod, a pin, etc.) configured to secure the inner pipe  11  to the outer pipe  12 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the extendable aerial service wire mast  10  also may include a clamp for securing the extendable aerial service wire mast  10  to a building or other structure. The clamp may be used, for example, to secure the extendable aerial service wire mast  10  to a house at a point where the fascia and the soffit meet. In one embodiment, the clamp includes a generally U-shaped bracket  19 , a first (left) inner side plate  20   a , a first (left) outer side plate  21   a , a second (right) inner side plate  20   b , and a second (right) outer side plate  21   b.    
   In one implementation, the inner side plates  20   a ,  20   b  and corresponding outer side plates  21   a ,  21   b  may provide telescopic effect. The inner side plates  20   a ,  20   b  each may include a respective slot  22   a ,  22   b  for limiting the amount of extension. In one embodiment, the extension may be from approximately eighteen to thirty-five inches. The left outer side plate  21   a  may include holes  23   a ,  24   a  (e.g. predrilled screw holes) for receiving screws to attach the left inner side plate  20   a  and the left outer side plate  21   a  to a building or other structure. Similarly, the right outer side plate  21   b  may include holes  23   b ,  24   b  (e.g., predrilled screw holes) for receiving screws to attach the right inner side plate  20   b  and the right outer side plate  21   b  to a building or other structure. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the inner pipe  11  may be angled relative to one of the inner side plates for added stability. In one embodiment, the inner pipe  11  may be angled at approximately 70° relative to the left inner side plate  20   a . The extendable aerial service wire mast  10  may further include a stabilizing strap (not shown) when the mast is in the extended position to provide further stability. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates use of a plurality of extendable aerial service wire masts according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, a first extendable aerial service wire mast  10   a  is attached to a first house  25   a  and a second extendable aerial service wire mast  10   b  is attached to a second house  25   b . In one implementation, the first extendable aerial service wire mast  10   a  may connect to a first service drop  26   a  running from a utility pole  27  with clearance  28   a . The second extendable aerial service wire mast  10   b  may connect to a second service drop  26   b  running from the utility pole  27  with clearance  28   b . In general, a service drop includes one or more service lines e.g., wires, cables that run from a utility distribution point e.g., distribution transformer, distribution cable on a utility pole e.g., electric pole, telephone pole to a service entry point of a household or building. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart for one embodiment of a method  30  for supporting an aerial service wire. In general, supporting an aerial service wire with an extendable aerial service wire mast will provide the extra height needed to gain proper clearance for the aerial service wire on most buildings and structures. This avoids the need for pole placements and the unacceptable and dangerous practice of attaching the aerial service wire to a power mast. 
   At step  32 , a technician attaches the extendable aerial service wire mast to a building or other structure. In one implementation, the extendable aerial service wire is attached using a clamp. For example, the clamp may be used to secure the extendable aerial service wire mast to a house at a point where the fascia and the soffit meet. In some cases, attaching the extendable aerial service wire mast may include adjusting the side plates of the clamp and using screws to secure the side plates to the building or structure. 
   At step  34 , the technician attaches an aerial service wire to the extendable aerial service wire mast. In general, the aerial service wire may include an attachment member such as a ramshorn. In one implementation, the extendable aerial service wire mast may include a pipe having a prefabricated hole. A locking member such as a threaded bolt and nut, a screw, a rod, or a pin may be positioned through the hole of the pipe to secure the attachment member. 
   At step  36 , the technician adjusts the height of the extendable aerial service wire mast. In general, the height of the extendable aerial service wire mast may be adjusted to provide safe and sufficient clearance. In one implementation, the extendable aerial service wire mast may include first and second pipes that are interlocking and in telescoping engagement. Adjusting the height of the extendable aerial service wire mast may include sliding one of the pipes upward and connecting the two pipes together. The pipes each may include prefabricated holes and may be connected together using a locking member such as a threaded bolt and nut, a screw, a rod, or a pin. 
   When attached to an aerial service wire and a building, the aerial service wire mast provides safe and sufficient clearance for service drops. Accordingly, the extendable aerial service wire mast may be used to address problems where sufficient and safe clearance cannot be obtained by attaching the wire directly to the building or structure at the nearest point where the outside network interface is placed. Technicians also would avoid possible danger and/or expenses that might be incurred by using the power mast in order for the aerial service wire to attain sufficient height or clearance. 
   As described and illustrated, aspects of the present invention provide an improvement over past and current equipment and methods. Namely, the extendable wire service mast may provide the extra height needed to gain proper clearance for aerial service wires on most buildings and structures while avoiding the need for pole placements and the unacceptable and dangerous practice of attaching aerial service wires to a power mast. 
   A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made and that other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the extendable aerial service wire mast may be used by other utilities such as, for example, television cable companies that have a similar need to attach service drops to buildings with safe and sufficient clearance.