Abstract:
A pole assembly for supporting at least one item, the pole assembly comprising at least one tubular column having at least two longitudinally extending external tracks integrally disposed therein. Each of the external tracks has an internal groove adjacent thereto. The at least one item supported by the pole assembly is any one of a streetlight, sign, traffic signal, pedestrian signal, security camera or banner.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a pole assembly for mounting at least one item thereto. Such items may include streetlights, signs, traffic signals, pedestrian signals, security cameras, banners and the like.  
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Poles for the mounting of streetlights, signs, pedestrian signals, traffic signals, security cameras, banners and the like are well known and generally take the form of structural columns with out-reach arms and brackets fitted at various positions to support lights, signs and other ancillary items at desired heights and positions. These poles are generally made from hard wood, reinforced concrete or from tubular galvanised steel or extruded aluminium. Tubular poles have the advantage of the ability to hide switchgear, cables and the like inside the pole.  
         [0003]     Australian Patent No. 741370 applied for by the Council of the City of Sydney and published in year 1998 describes “A Multi-function Pole” comprising a hollow column with one or more internal or recessed tracks to aid the mounting of ancillaries, such as street lights, signs, and the like. The multi-function pole of this disclosure suffers from a number of disadvantages.  
         [0004]     One major disadvantage of internal or recessed tracks is that the geometry of the inside of the pole makes it difficult to simply reinforce the pole because the inside profile of the pole is not round and the tracks take up significant space inside the pole.  
         [0005]     Hollow or tubular poles can also suffer from internal corrosion because of moisture ingress.  
         [0006]     Fluted cladding is often fitted to the lower part of street poles to improve appearance, hide access hatches and make it difficult to add unwanted graffiti or bills to the lower part of poles.  
         [0007]     Furthermore, such poles are generally installed by one of three methods. The first method is the “direct bury” technique where the base of the pole is buried in a hole in the ground that may or may not be lined with concrete. Earth, rock or concrete is generally compressed into the gap around the base of the pole to firmly hold it in place. The second method utilises a spigot, which is fixed into a concrete block in the ground. The pole fits over the spigot with the lower end of the pole at ground level so that the spigot is hidden from view. In a third method, a rigid base is attached to the bottom of the pole and the base is bolted onto the top of a concrete block that is just above or below ground level.  
         [0008]     Each of these methods suffers from disadvantages. For example, poles that are direct buried or installed on spigots are difficult to install in a completely vertical position and they are also difficult to replace. Although the use of a pole base overcomes these problems, the base and fixing bolts can trip pedestrians if installed above or at ground level. Alternatively, if the base is installed below ground level, the hidden installation bolts and base can then corrode and fail without warning.  
         [0009]     The present invention preferably overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In a first aspect the present invention consists in a pole assembly for supporting at least one item, the pole assembly comprising at least one tubular column having at least two longitudinally extending external tracks integrally disposed therein.  
         [0011]     Preferably each of said external tracks has an internal groove adjacent thereto.  
         [0012]     Preferably a reinforcing sleeve is internally fitted along at least a portion of said tubular column.  
         [0013]     Preferably a round tubular section telescopically extends from said column.  
         [0014]     Preferably said round tubular section has at least one internal track.  
         [0015]     Preferably at least one fluted cladding member is secured to said column by at least two circular collars.  
         [0016]     Preferably a deformable clamp block is adapted to interconnect said at least one item to said column and said deformable clamp block engages with at least one of said external tracks of said column.  
         [0017]     Preferably said at least one item is an arm fixedly engaged with one of said internal grooves to prevent the rotation of said arm relative to said column.  
         [0018]     Preferably said deformable clamp block is adapted to be relatively movable with respect to said column to allow an angular adjustment of said at least one item relative to the longitudinal axis of said column.  
         [0019]     Preferably said pole assembly further comprises a ventilated pole cap.  
         [0020]     Preferably in one embodiment said round tubular section projects from the upper end of said column.  
         [0021]     Preferably in another embodiment said round tubular section projects from the lower end of said column. Preferably said round tubular section is connected to a base member.  
         [0022]     Preferably said base member is fully mounted within a drainage pit.  
         [0023]     Preferably said pit is covered by a lid and at least two jacking screws are located in said drainage pit for adjustment of the height of said lid relative to surrounding ground level.  
         [0024]     Preferably at least one fluted cladding member is secured to said column by at least an upper circular collar and a lower circular collar, and the bottom of said lower circular collar is seated on a ridge disposed on said lid.  
         [0025]     Preferably at least one item is any one of a streetlight, sign, traffic signal, pedestrian signal, security camera or banner. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0026]     Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within its scope, some preferred forms of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is an end view of a structural column of a pole assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is an end view of the structural column shown in  FIG. 1 , with internal dividers inserted.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is an end view of a structural column of a pole assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the attachment of a telescopic pole top with internal tracks for attachment of ancillaries, to the column shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a pole assembly in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is a horizontal cross section through VI-VI of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 7  is a vertical cross section through VII-VII of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 8  is an end view of a clamp block in an open position fitted to a column of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 9  is an end view of the clamp block of  FIG. 8  in the closed position holding a street name sign to the column.  
         [0036]      FIG. 10  is a horizontal cross section through the assembly of an outreach arm fitted to the column by a clamp block of the pole assembly shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 11  is a horizontal cross section showing engagement of the outreach arm spigot assembly in the internal groove of the column shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 12  is a vertical cross section showing assembly of the outreach arm and ventilated cap to the pole assembly shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 13  is a section through the centre of a pit, in which the base of a pole assembly of  FIG. 5  is housed.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0040]     A first embodiment of a structural column  1  of a pole assembly in accordance with the present invention is depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The horizontal cross section of structural column  1 , with four integral external tracks  2  and four longitudinal internal grooves  3  adjacent to the tracks  2 , is depicted in  FIG. 1 . The column  1  may preferably be manufactured from extruded aluminium alloy.  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  shows how the longitudinal internal grooves  3  inside the column  1  aid in the fitting of a plate  4 , inside the column  1 . Plate  4  may be used to reinforce the pole assembly, and/or divide the interior of the column  1  into two or more sections, or be utilised for the mounting of switchgear or the like.  
         [0042]     A second embodiment of a pole assembly in accordance with the present invention is depicted in  FIG. 3 . In this embodiment the pole assembly is a composite pole assembly. The composite pole assembly comprises a column  1  with external tracks  2 , with an internal structural reinforcing sleeve  5  fitted for part or all of its length. The reinforcing sleeve  5  would generally be of a circular cross section. It may be manufactured from a structural grade of extruded aluminium, galvanised steel or other structural material. It may preferably be used to reinforce the lower part of the column  1 . The reinforcing sleeve  5  may include internal tracks or grooves  103  to aid in the mounting of ancillary items such as switchgear inside the pole. The sleeve  5  may be fixed inside the pole  1  by adhesive, fasteners, welding or a combination of these.  
         [0043]     The attachment of a telescopic pole top  6 , with internal tracks  7  for attachment of ancillaries, is shown in  FIG. 4 . The pole top  6  slides inside the column  1  with a typical overlap of say three times the diameter of column  1 . It is held in place by adhesive, fasteners such as security screws  108 , welding or a combination thereof.  
         [0044]      FIGS. 5 and 6  depict a third embodiment of a pole assembly in accordance with the present invention. Like reference numerals are used to denote components common to the first, second and third embodiments.  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a pole assembly comprising a column  1  with outreach arm  9 , streetlight  10 , deformable clamp block  11 , street name sign  12 , fluted cladding  13 , recessed circular collars  14 , base plate  15  and ventilated cap  16  shown.  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  depicts a horizontal cross section of the lower portion of the pole assembly showing the fluted cladding  13  fitted around the column  1  and held in place by the recessed circular collar  14 . The cladding  13  is shown fitted in four sections but it could be in any number of sections. The cladding  13  is preferably manufactured from extruded aluminium alloy, sheet metal, extruded plastic, plastic mouldings or other appropriate material. The collars  14  could be made from cast, moulded, spun or machined metal or plastic.  
         [0046]      FIG. 7  is a vertical cross section of the lower portion of the pole assembly depicting the fluted cladding  13 , recessed circular collars  14  and fasteners  17  that hold the collars  14  in place. Only a single fastener  17 , such as a grub screw or security screw is required to lock each collar  14  in place and the cladding  13  is captured between the two collars without the need for any fixing holes in the cladding  13  itself. This is a low cost method of attaching cladding with the further advantage that the height of the cladding assembly above the ground level is readily adjusted on site following pole erection.  
         [0047]     A deformable clamp block  11  in the open or pre-deformed state is shown in  FIG. 8 . The fasteners  18  shown in  FIG. 9  are used to deform or bend the block  11  until it locks onto the external track  2  of the pole  1 . The clamp block  11  shown in  FIG. 9  is used to attach a street name sign to pole  1  via fasteners  19 . Various forms of clamp block  11  can be used to fit traffic light brackets, pedestrian signals, security cameras, banner arms, cable exits and the like to the external tracks  2  wherever required. The clamp block  11  could be manufactured from machined extruded aluminium alloy, or a metal casting or by plastic moulding.  
         [0048]      FIGS. 10, 11  and  12  show details of the assembly of an outreach arm  9  to the pole assembly shown in  FIG. 5 . The outreach arm  9  slides over spigot  20  that fits through a clearance hole in the side of pole  1 . A transition casting or moulding  23  is used to hide the small gap between the spigot  20  and the clearance hole. A deformable clamp block  11  is fitted to the external track  2 , on directly the opposite side of pole  1  to where the outreach arm  9  sticks out of pole  1 . Screw  22  is used to clamp the outreach arm spigot  20  in place via the attached spigot end plug  21 . When screws  18  and  22  are loosened, clamp block  11  can be slid up or down pole  1  for a small distance to achieve a limited adjustment on the angle of the outreach arm spigot  20  to the longitudinal axis of the pole assembly. The hole in pole  1  through which screw  22  passes is machined deliberately oversize or is slotted to facilitate this adjustment.  FIGS. 11 and 12  also show that the outreach arm end plug  21  has a tongue  26  on either side of screw  22 . The tongue  26  fits into groove  3  inside pole  1  to prevent rotation of the end plug  21 . The end plug  21  is fixed to the outreach arm spigot  20  by appropriate fasteners, adhesive or welding. The outreach arm  9  is in turn is fixed to the outreach arm spigot  20  by appropriate fasteners, adhesive or welding. Thereby the tongue  26  and groove  3  effectively prevent rotation of the outreach arm  9  and streetlight  10 , which is usually but not necessarily fixed to the outreach arm  9 .  
         [0049]     A ventilated top cap  16  is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 12 . The cap  16  is attached to a largely hidden inner part of the cap  24  that is fixed to the inside of the top of pole  1  by welding, adhesive or appropriate fasteners such as screws or rivets. The outer cap  16  is fixed to the inner cap  24  by appropriate fasteners, adhesive or welding. Caps  16  and  24  are generally though not necessarily round in shape and can be manufactured from spun aluminium, machined metal, cast metal or plastic mouldings. Gaps between the caps and ventilation holes  25  in the inner cap  24  are employed to aid evaporation of moisture that would otherwise be trapped inside pole  1 , thereby minimising the likelihood of corrosion inside the pole.  
         [0050]      FIG. 13  is a section of a pole of the type shown in  FIG. 5  mounted in a prefabricated pit  27  that can be used to hide the installation, foundation or rag bolts  30  and wiring to the pole. The base  15  of the pole assembly is mounted fully within pit  27 . The bottom of pit  27  is disposed between foundation  31  and base  15 . The bottom of the pit  27  includes jacking screws  29  that are used to adjust the top of the pit lid  26  to ground level  28 . The outer edges of pit lid  26  are bevelled so that it will move away from the top of the pit  27  without dislodging the side of the pit  27  if the bottom of the pole is bent or sheared. The pit lid  26  has a raised ridge around the centre hole that the bottom of the recessed circular collar  14  engages or nests on in order to minimise rainwater seepage into the pit  27 . Any water seepage that does enter the pit  27  leaves the pit  27  via gaps in the pit base  27  adjacent to the pole base  15 . The pit can be installed before a pole is delivered to site.  
         [0051]     From the foregoing it should be apparent that the invention encompasses an advantage in the art or at least a commercial alternative to the prior art. Further, it should be clear that the invention might be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope or the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. For example whilst column  1  of the above mentioned embodiments Has four external tracks  2 , it should be understood two or more such tracks can be used in other not shown embodiments.