Patent Abstract:
A base spacer that is useful for securing a horizontal member to a vertical support with accurate vertical and horizontal position has an extended horizontal surface and at least one deformable finger extending vertically from this horizontal surface. The horizontal surface also has: (a) a pair of oval openings dimensioned to receive securing bolts, wherein the deformable finger extends from the horizontal surface at less that a right angle for a distance sufficient to contact a horizontal member secured by the spacer.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a base spacer that is useful for securing a horizontal member to a vertical member in a desired vertical and horizontal position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electrical switch pole units must be secured to support members with sufficient force to provide a secure arrangement that permits careful alignment of the supported member to the support. In the case of an electrical telephone or power pole, the horizontal support beam must securely hold the electrical switching components that vertically extend therefrom. 
     One example of a clamping arrangement for power poles is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,463, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. The clamp of this patent includes a pole unit base and a dead-end bracket secured around a horizontal support member by a single U-bolt. Deformable “tangs” are used in the connection to provide a securing force when tightened about the horizontal support member. 
     It would be desirable to have a support system that was useful for securing a vertically extending member to a horizontal support. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a base spacer plate that is useful for securing a vertically extending first member to a horizontally extending second member, wherein the spacer has an extended horizontal surface and at least one deformable finger extending vertically from the horizontal surface. The horizontal surface also has: (a) a pair of oval openings dimensioned to receive and locate securing bolts, and (b) a channel along one edge of said spacer that exhibits a length sufficient to align opposite legs of U-bolts used to secure the vertical and horizontal members, wherein said deformable finger extends from said horizontal surface at less than a right angle. 
     The spacer plate of the invention is useful for providing accurate vertical and horizontal alignment for vertical members mounted to a horizontal bearing surface as well as prevent movement of the vertical member relative to the horizontal member when uneven side force is applied to either end of the vertical member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a spacer plate of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side illustration of the spacer plate from FIG.  1 . 
     FIGS. 3-5 show the spacer plate as used for securing a vertical member to a horizontal support. 
     FIGS. 6-9 illustrate the use of a base spacer according to the invention to secure a horizontal member to a vertical member. 
     FIG. 10 is a view of a spacer according to the invention in use for securing an overhead high voltage phase switch to a horizontal support member. 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 are views of the spacer of FIG. 10 for securing an overhead high voltage phase switch to a horizontal support member. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention is conveniently described with reference to the enclosed figures. 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of base spacer  1 . FIG. 2 is a side view. Please note that the terms “horizontal” and “vertical” are used solely as directional frame of reference. In use, the spacer plate can be installed in virtually any planar orientation without affecting its function or performance. The following description will relate to a spacer plate standing vertically as it would be used for securing a vertical beam member against a horizontal support member. 
     Base spacer  1  has a substantially flat vertical plate surface  2  with a pair of fingers  3  that extend horizontally from plate surface  2  at an angle  4  that is less than a right angle, i.e., 90° and at an angle sufficient to contact the outer surface of a horizontal member  5  when secured by base spacer  1  with bolts  6  against a vertical support member  7 . (See FIGS. 3-5.) Preferably, angle  4  is within the range from about 45° to 85°. Even more preferably, angle  4  is at an angle within the range of 60° to 80° relative to plate surface  2 . 
     After a distance  8 , vertical fingers  3  are bent away from plate surface  2  at an angle  9  that is sufficient to increase the amount of force needed to bend finger  3  over distance  8  away from plate surface  2  as spacer  1  is tightened against horizontal member  5 . Angle  9  increases relative to a perpendicular plane from plate surface  2  at bend  32 . Fingers  3  extend from the surface of plate  10  for a total distance  41  and increases the length of distance  8 . 
     In the embodiment depicted, spacer plate  2  has a top edge  18  and a bottom edge  19 . Channel  11  on top edge  18  is located between a pair of fingers  3  with a width  15  that can vary depending on the amount of urging force desired on the surface of vertical member  7  that will be secured by plate  1 . Channel  11  has interior edges  12 ,  13  extending towards the center of plate  11  for a distance  14 . 
     Elongated bolt holes  15  are located on plate  1  opposite channel  11  toward bottom edge  19  and are spaced on centers separated by distance  16 . The centers of bolt holes  15  are spaced from bottom edge  19  by a distance  20 . 
     Bolt holes  15  are also spaced on center from lateral edges  22  of plate  1  by a distance  23  on center with a diameter sufficient to allow outer edges  21  of holes  15  to be spaced from lateral edge  22  by a distance  24  and aligned with interior edges  12 ,  13  (as shown by the dotted line). With such dimensions, a pair of U-bolts  6  will fit through holes  15  as well as against interior edges  12 ,  13  of fingers  3 . 
     Space plate  1  may come in a variety of physical dimensions to secure a variety of sized members against horizontal movement. To that end, plate  1  may have a length  28  between the bottom edge  27  at bend  8  on fingers  3  and bottom edge  29  of elongated bolt holes  15 . 
     Vertical member  7  is secured in position with spacer plate  1  by passing one leg of each U-bolt  6  through elongated bolt hole  15 . The other leg of U-bolt  6  is passed into channel  11  between fingers  3 . The male end of each U-bolt  6  is then passed through a hole  30  in vertical member  7  and secured thereto with nut  31 . 
     The dimensions of plate  1  should be sufficient so that bottom edge  27  at bend  8  contacts the upper surface  32  of horizontal member  5 . As nuts  31  are tightened, spacer  1  pulls down on the mating surface of horizontal member  5  and pulls the edge of slots  29  tight against U-bolts  6 . The spacer secures the U-bolts in position and structurally secure U-bolts  6  to horizontal member  5  as bearing members. 
     FIGS. 6-9 illustrate the steps used to secure vertical member  7  to horizontal member  5  using U-bolts  6 , spacer plate  1 , and nuts  31 . As shown by FIGS. 6-9, U-bolts  6  are loosely placed around horizontal member  5 . Spacer  1  is then positioned over the upright legs of U-bolts  6  so that vertical fingers  3  engage lateral side surface  50  on horizontal member  5 . Angle  4  and length  8  to bend  27  cause spacer  1  to rest at an angle  51  relative to the upper surface  52  of horizontal member  5 . Vertical member  7  is then placed over U-bolts  6  and secured with nuts  31 . As nuts  31  are tightened, angle  51  is reduced until vertical member  7  is flat against spacer  1  against upper surface  52 . Pressure from the angular deformation of vertical fingers  3  against side surface  50  maintains a secure connection of vertical member  7  to horizontal member  5 . 
     Additionally, bolt holes  15  and interior edges  12 ,  13  of channel  11  secure against torsional movement of vertical member  7 . This torsional resistance can be particularly useful when, as shown in FIG. 10, spacer  1  is used to secure an overhead high voltage power line distribution phase switch  60  against torsional rotation when rigid rod  61  rotates switch  60  to disconnect power flow through the switch. See, copending application Ser. No. 09/457,593 (attorney docket no. 39343) filed concurrently herewith and whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIGS. 10-12 show spacer  1  in position when securing a horizontal member  5 , such as crossarm  70  on a telephone pole, to a vertical member  7 , such as channel-shaped support  71  for a high voltage interrupter switch  60  an overhead power distribution system.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5