Abstract:
A pole retrofit adaptor includes a flange, a base segment and a distal or end segment. The base segment and distal end segment intersect along a plane forming an oblique angle with respect to the horizontal plane. The segments can be inserted into an internal diameter of an existing pole that is cut off near the ground. A fastener such as a draw bolt extends through the flange and both segments. Tightening the draw bolt causes the distal end segment to laterally displace relative to the base segment, which locks the adaptor into the inner diameter of the existing pole segment. A pole can be mounted atop the flange of the adaptor. A plurality of threaded studs can be provided to the flange for facilitating securing of the pole.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/301,751 filed on Mar. 1, 2016, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to poles for mounting parking meters and similar devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    There is a need to mount parking meters at a given height above the ground to facilitate the ease of use by users. Typically a parking meter is mounted on a pole. The pole is simply a length of hollow steel metal tube. The tube is typically sunk into a recess formed in the concrete while it is still wet so that the hardened concrete retains the pole in place. Alternatively, a bottom mounting flange can be secured to the pole at the bottom end thereof, and the flange is bolted to bolts protruding from the cement slab. 
         [0004]    Retrofitting a new or replacement parking meter pole presents the difficulty and expense of digging up the old pole from the concrete as well as replacing the concrete once the new pole is installed. Thus, there is a need for an improved retrofit pole mount, mounting system and method of adapting a parking meter mounting pole to an existing installation. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Disclosed is a unique pole retrofit adaptor for parking meter poles and the like. The adaptor can take many forms for different applications depending on what is being mounted and what the adapter is going into. For example, the pole existing in the ground can be round, square, rectangular, etc. in cross-section. The adapter uses correspondingly-shaped tubing (e.g., round, square, rectangular, etc.) but with a smaller diameter (or width) so that the tube fits snug inside of the inner diameter of the existing pole. 
         [0006]    The adaptor can comprise a base segment and a distal or end segment that intersect along a plane in the range of 15 to 60 degrees from the horizontal. The distal end piece includes an end plate with a nut attached. A draw bolt extends through both segments. A flange is disposed at an opposing proximal end of the base segment and the draw bolt head can be accessed from that end. Tightening the draw bolt causes the distal end segment to laterally displace relative to the base segment, which locks the adaptor into the inner diameter of the existing pole segment fastened to the ground. 
         [0007]    The old pole is cut off at the ground level prior to installing the adaptor. 
         [0008]    The upward facing flange of the adaptor can be configured to receive upward-facing studs, or can have a plurality of bolt holes, so that the new meter pole can be mounted. 
         [0009]    The adaptor can be used to vertically straighten the alignment of a new pole that is being mounted in an existing pole segment that was not satisfactorily close to being within the vertical plane or that was disposed in ground that was not in the horizontal plane. 
         [0010]    One suitable pole that can be mounted with the disclosed adaptor is disclosed in U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2015/0294526, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety as part of the present application. The present adaptor and the pole disclosed in said incorporated patent publication together can form a pole system to which signs, parking meters, lights, booms, flags, cameras, and any other pole-mounted item can be mounted. 
         [0011]    The disclosure includes a pole mounting adaptor device. A flange defines an upper side and a lower side. A base portion defines an upper end joined to the lower side of the flange and a distal end opposite the upper end. A distal end section defines a proximal end contacting the distal end of the base portion and a remote end opposite the proximal end. A bolt extends completely though the flange and base portion, and engages the remote end of the distal end section. The distal end of the base portion and the proximal end of the distal end section each define a planar surface oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the bottom side of the flange. The oblique angle can be in a range of 15 to 60 degrees. 
         [0012]    The bolt can engage the remote end of the distal end section by way of a threaded nut provided to the remote end of the distal end section. The bolt can comprise a head and a threaded body portion. A washer can be disposed between the head of the bolt and the upper side of the flange. 
         [0013]    The upper end of the base portion can be rigidly secured to the flange, such as by welding. 
         [0014]    A plurality of threaded studs can extend proximally from the upper side of the flange. 
         [0015]    The base portion and distal end section can each have the same outer diameter dimension. The flange can define a diameter that is larger than the diameters of both of the base portion and the distal end section. The base portion and the distal end section can have an inner diameter dimension that is larger than an outer diameter dimension of the elongated body portion of the bolt. 
         [0016]    The distal end section offsets laterally as the bolt draws the distal end section towards the flange. 
         [0017]    The disclosure also includes a pole mount system. The distal end of the base portion and the proximal end of the distal end section each can intersect along a plane offset from a horizontal plane such that the distal end section offsets laterally as the bolt draws the distal end section towards the flange. A new pole can be secured to the flange. The means for securing the new pole can include a plurality of threaded studs secured to the flange which extend through a base plate of the pole. 
         [0018]    The disclosure also includes a method of retrofitting a pole to an existing pole section. The old or existing pole is cut off adjacent to ground level. A distal end section and a base portion of an adaptor are both inserted into an internal diameter of the existing pole until a flange of the adaptor contacts either the ground or an upper end of the existing pole, after the existing pole is cut off. The distal end section is drawn towards the flange to offset the distal end section laterally with respect to the base portion until the adaptor is secured within the inner diameter of the existing pole. A new pole can be disposed atop the flange and secured to the flange. 
         [0019]    A plurality of washers can be disposed over one of a plurality of threaded studs secured in the flange before disposing the new pole atop the flange in order to straighten the new pole with respect to a vertical plane. 
         [0020]    Tightening a bolt can cause the distal end section to move towards the flange while it slides against the base portion in a plane forming an oblique angle with respect to a horizontal plane. The flange can be restrained from rotating while the distal end section is drawn towards the flange. 
         [0021]    The above summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, or describe each embodiment, aspect, implementation, feature or advantage of the invention. The detailed technology and preferred embodiments for the subject invention are described in the following paragraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the claimed invention. It is understood that the features mentioned hereinbefore and those to be commented on hereinafter may be used not only in the specified combinations, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an adaptor for a pole system according to certain example embodiments. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the adaptor for a pole system as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the adaptor for a pole system as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the adaptor for a pole system taken along line C-C in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional of a pole mounting system according to certain example embodiments. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a view of detail A indicated in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional view of an adaptor fastened to an existing pole base according to certain example embodiments. 
       
    
    
       [0029]    While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular example embodiments described. On the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    In the following descriptions, the present invention will be explained with reference to various exemplary embodiments. Nevertheless, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention to any specific example, environment, application, or particular implementation described herein. Therefore, descriptions of these example embodiments are only provided for purpose of illustration rather than to limit the present invention. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-7  generally and  FIGS. 1-4  in particular, the pole adapter  100  generally comprises a distal end portion  102 , a base portion  104  and a flange or disc portion  106 . 
         [0032]    The distal end section or portion  102  defines a tubular structure that has a threaded end  103  at a distal-most or remote end thereof. The threads can be provided by securing a nut to the distal end or by tapping threads into the distal end portion  102 . The distal end portion  102  defines a hollow inner channel  105  extending through the body. The proximal end  107  defines a planar surface that is offset from the horizontal by a value in the range of 15-60 degrees. 
         [0033]    The base portion  104  also defines a tubular structure. The distal-most end  109  defines a plane that is offset from the horizontal by the same value as the proximal end  107  of the distal end portion  102 . The proximal end  111  of the base portion is affixed to the flange  106 . 
         [0034]    The flange  106  is a disc-shape. The base portion  104  is centered and fastened to the flange  106 . The center of the flange can receive a base washer  113  to cover a center opening in the flange and define a center diameter though which a draw bolt  110  can extend through the flange and continue to extend distally into the distal portion  102 . As shown, the base washer  113  surrounds the proximal end  111  of the base portion  104  so that the bolt head  115  actually abuts the proximal end  111  of the base portion  104 . 
         [0035]    The base washer  113  can be welded to the to the flange to make it integral with the flange. 
         [0036]    A second washer  112  can be provided over the bolt  110  on top of the base washer  113  (or the top side of the flange  106  if no base washer is used) to ensure that the bolt head  115  does not slip through the aperture in the base washer provided to the flange or proximal end  111  of the base portion  104 . 
         [0037]    The flange  106  can include a plurality of apertures configured to have a pole mounted thereto, including threaded holes for receiving mounting studs  108 . 
         [0038]    The flange  106  can also have a slot  119  defined radially therein to provide clearance for power, communication and/or other cables and conduits to pass through the adaptor to reach the new pole assembly disposed atop the flange  106 . 
         [0039]    A draw bolt  110  is disposed through the assembly of the base portion  104 , distal portion  102  and flange  106  preferably so that the bolt&#39;s head  115  is assessable from the proximal side of the flange (i.e. opposite side of the base portion  104 ). 
         [0040]    The inner diameter of the base portion  104  can be slightly larger than the diameter of the distal portion  102  so that the draw bolt  110  can move slightly laterally as the bolt  110  is tightened. 
         [0041]    The outer diameters of the base portion  104  and the distal portion  102  are preferably approximately the same. The diameters are selected to be just slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the old pole that the adaptor will fit into. 
         [0042]    The outer cross-sectional shape of the distal portion  102  and the base portion  104  are selected to approximate the inner diameter shape of the old pole that is to be adapted. For example,  FIGS. 1-4  show a circular cross section, which is well suited to poles that have a circular cross section. However some poles have square or rectangular cross sections, for example, so the distal  102  and base portions  104  would then preferably have a respective square or rectangular cross section to achieve a secure fit. The invention, therefore, is not limited to specific outer cross-sectional shapes of distal portion and base portion except where specifically claimed in a given claim. 
         [0043]      FIG. 4  shows the bolt  110  tightened to cause the distal portion  102  to offset or move horizontally or laterally with respect to the base portion  104  as the distal portion  102  moves proximally towards the flange  106 . This is also shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . The lateral movement of the distal portion  102  with respect to the base portion  104  is provided by the respective angled surfaces  107 ,  109  of the distal  102  and base  104  portions sliding across one another as the distal portion  102  moves proximally towards the flange  106  when the bolt  110  is tightened. The lateral offset of these components causes the effective width of the portions of the adaptor  100  disposed inside of the inner diameter of the old pipe to increase. The effective diameter is increased until the adaptor becomes locked into the inner bore of the old pipe such as is shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . 
         [0044]      FIGS. 6-7  illustrate a situation where the old pole is not aligned with the vertical plane. This can be corrected at least somewhat by placing a plurality of washers  114  on one or more of the studs  108  before securing the base plate  118  of the pole system to the studs  108 . This allows the new pole  120  to be generally vertically oriented even when the old pole base is not vertically oriented. 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  illustrates a situation where no alignment of the new pole is necessary. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIGS. 6-7 , in use, the old pipe is cut or sawed off as close as possible to level with the cement or other surface through which the old pole is mounted. Then the remaining old pipe extending above the cement or surface is ground down until it is completely flush with the top plane of the cement/surface. Any concrete or other material inside of the bore of the old pipe is removed at least to the depth that the adaptor will extend into the bore of the old pipe. 
         [0047]    The adaptor  100  is assembled with the draw bolt  110  slightly loosened so that the distal end  102  portion is axially aligned with the base portion  104 . Then the distal  102  and base  104  portions of the adaptor  100  are inserted into the inner diameter or bore of the old pipe such that the distal side  117  of the flange  106  rests flush on the ground. Then the draw bolt  110  is tightened to cause the distal portion  102  to offset with respect to the base portion  104  until the adaptor becomes secured within the old pole. Preferably a pry bar is engaged across two of the upwardly extending studs  108  while the bolt  110  is tightened so that the act of tightening does not spin the adaptor  100  inside of the bore. The bolt  110  is tightened to a desired torque (e.g. 35 ft-lbs). The upwardly extending pole system  120  is then mounted to the flange as discussed in U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2015/0294526. Of course, other types of pole systems can be attached to the flange. 
         [0048]    The old pole can be secured into the ground in any manner; it need not be cemented in place. 
         [0049]    The adaptor  100  allows the new pole  120  to be mounted in the location of the existing old pole without drilling, cutting or removing the sidewalk, pavement or digging up dirt to remove the old pole first. This saves time and cost of the installation/replacement operation. The adaptor  100  can be mounted anywhere where there is an existing tube or pole in the ground, cemented or not. 
         [0050]    The flange  106  provides predetermined or non-predetermined studs  108 , taped holes or bolt holes (drilled at time of install), so that there is no additional mounting required. 
         [0051]    The adaptor  100  can be used to mount many different types of things, including parking meters on poles, street signs, lights, cameras, etc. 
         [0052]    The various components of the adaptor can be formed from any suitable rigid material, such as metal, fiber glass, plastics, etc. In one example, the parts are formed of steel. The parts can be plated, coated or painted as is known in the art for various functional and aesthetic reasons. For example coated parts are less vulnerable to corrosion and oxidization (e.g., rust). 
         [0053]    While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and equivalent arrangements can be made thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, such scope to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products. Moreover, features or aspects of various example embodiments may be mixed and matched (even if such combination is not explicitly described herein) without departing from the scope of the invention.