Abstract:
A pole reinforcing element having oppositely disposed channels interconnected by a web. The oppositely disposed channels are formed in a geometric shape selected from the group consisting of cylinders, rectangles, and other geometric shapes so that the pole reinforcing element has a high structural rigidity and can provide substantial support to a utility pole to be reinforced.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention is directed to the field of reinforcing elements to be used within the service utilities industries to reinforce utility poles and the like.  
         [0003]     2. General Background and State of the Art  
         [0004]     Wooden utility poles are in common use for stringing power cables, television cables, telephone wires and other types of cables or wires over long distances. While these types of poles may have a substantial life expectancy, they may eventually need to be replaced as a result of age, deterioration or physical damage or to comply with safety regulations. As an alternative to a replacement, which may cause disruption of utility services, reinforcing elements are known which can be lodged into the ground proximate to the utility pole, and then secured to the utility pole in order to reinforce the base structure of the utility pole, thereby increasing the useful life of the utility pole. A representative reinforcing element is illustrated, for example, in U.S. Design Pat. No. 425,631 issued May 23, 2000. The reinforcing element of the U.S. Pat. No. 425,631 design is formed from a bent sheet of steel which may be partially or fully wrapped around a utility pole and driven into the ground to lend support to the utility pole. The design according to the U.S. Pat. No. 425,631 provides support by bracing and therefore stabilizing the utility pole.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention is directed to a utility pole reinforcing element which features a stronger, more structurally sound design having almost completely enclosed or enclosed channels at outer edges of the reinforcing element which when secured to utility poles provides a more structurally resilient reinforcing element for the utility pole. The present invention is depicted in the appended drawings and more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention and as set forth in the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a utility pole reinforcing element of the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  depicts a cross-sectional view of the reinforcing element of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of a reinforcing element.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  depicts a cross-sectional view of the first alternative embodiment of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of the second alternative embodiment of the reinforcing element.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  depicts a cross-sectional view of the second alternative embodiment of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of a third alternative embodiment of the reinforcing element.  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  depicts a cross-sectional view of the third alternative embodiment of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  depicts a perspective view of a fourth alternative embodiment of the reinforcing element.  
         [0015]      FIG. 10  depicts a cross-sectional view of the fourth alternative embodiment of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a pole reinforcing element  10  according to the present invention. The pole reinforcing element  10  includes two hollow cylinders  12  and  14  interconnected by a web  16  that extends from the top  18  to the base (not shown) of the pole reinforcing element  10 . The cylinders  12  and  14  and the web  16  are preferably formed from structural grade steel. The steel is preferably galvanized prior to fabrication or galvanized or painted with an environmentally resistant coating after fabrication. The steel components have a thickness in a range of 3 mm to 12 mm. The thickness of the cylinders  12  and  14  may be greater than or less than the thickness of the web  16 . The length of the pole reinforcing element  10  can be in a range of 2 to 5 meters in length. However, a length in the range of 2.4 to 2.7 meters for most standard size utility poles is adequate. The width of the web  16  section of the pole reinforcing element  10  can be in the range of 10 cm to 25 cm although larger widths may be appropriate for larger size utility poles. The diameter or width of the cylinders  12  and  14  is preferably in the range of 6 cm to 15 cm.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  depicts a cross-sectional view of the pole reinforcing element  10  according to  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the web  16  connects to the cylinders  12  and  14  in a manner such that if the plane of the web was extended, it would pass through the centerline of the cylinders  12  and  14 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, that the line of attachment of the web  16  to the cylinders  12  and  14  may be offset from the centerline of the cylinders.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of the pole reinforcing element  10 ′, which also includes hollow cylinders  12  and  14 . The web  16 ′ of  FIG. 2 , however, generally connects tangentially to the cylinders  12  and  14 . This construction is more clearly shown by the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4 . For the first alternative embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the materials, thicknesses, lengths and widths described above with respect to  FIG. 1  are also applicable.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of a pole reinforcing element  20 . In this embodiment, the web  22  interconnects oppositely disposed channels  24  and  26 . The channels  24  and  26  are generally constructed in a hollow rectangular shape, although a square configuration would be applicable. The web  22  is illustrated in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6  as connecting the channels  24  and  26  generally in the center of the long axis of the channels  24  and  26 . However, the web  22  could also be offset from the centerline or even connected to the ends of the channels  24  and  26 . With respect to the construction of the pole reinforcing structure  20  depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the types of materials, thicknesses, lengths and widths described above with respect to the first embodiment would also apply to this design.  
         [0020]     From the three foregoing embodiments of the present invention, it may be appreciated that other types of geometric channel shapes could be attached to the lateral sides of the web. For example, triangular, oval or other types of polygonal columns or channels could be utilized. For ease of fabrication, however, the rectangular or cylindrical channels are preferred.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of a third alternative embodiment of a pole reinforcing element  30 . The configuration of  FIG. 7 , which is also depicted in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8 , depicts generally triangular shaped elements  32  and  34  connected to the lateral external ends of an angled web  36 . The triangular shaped elements  32  and  34  may or may not be closed, although preferably they are close to being closed or completely bounded. The web element  36  may be straight or, as depicted in the figures, may have a bend in the center section to form a flattened “V” shape. For the configuration according to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the materials, thicknesses, lengths and widths discussed above with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2  are also equally applicable to this design.  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  depicts a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the invention which is also shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 10 . In this embodiment, a pole reinforcing element  40  includes a web  46  that connects to two hollow channels  42  and  44  as described in the foregoing embodiments of the invention. The web  46 , however, only extends partially from the top  48  of the channels  42  and  44  to a mid point  50  above the base  52  of the channels  42  and  44 . This configuration will allow the channels  42  and  44  to more readily be driven into the ground next to the utility pole, and only a portion, or no portion, of the web  46  may be driven into the ground.  
         [0023]     In use, the various embodiments of the present invention may be placed against a utility pole or in proximity to a utility pole, either individually or in pairs. They may be placed such that the pole is positioned adjacent to the web of the pole reinforcing elements. The pole reinforcing elements are then driven into the ground. A hammer, pile driver or similar device may be used to place the pole reinforcing element. Alternatively, a device to vibrate the pole reinforcing element into the ground may be used as is known in the art. After the pole reinforcing element is fixed in the ground, metal strapping elements and/or bolts may be used to secure the pole reinforcing element to the utility pole.  
         [0024]     Generally, the pole reinforcing element is driven into the ground to approximately one-half of its length. However, the ground or soil conditions, the integrity of the base of the utility pole and other environmental factors may be considered in determining the length of the pole reinforcing element and the division between the length driven into the ground as opposed to the length extending above the ground available to secure the utility pole. Moreover, for the embodiment with the web only partially extending from the top to some mid point before reaching the base of the geometric channels, a greater percentage of the length of the pole reinforcing element including the web may remain protruding from the ground.  
         [0025]     It may be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the utility pole can be secured at multiple locations on the lower portion of the utility pole, and that preferably the utility pole is secured both proximate to the ground and proximate to the top of the pole reinforcing element in addition to being secured at intermediate locations on the free standing portions of the utility pole and pole reinforcing element. As an alternative, the utility pole and the pole reinforcing element can be continuously wrapped from the bottom portion extending from the ground all the way to the top of the pole reinforcing element to maximize the securement of the pole reinforcing element to the utility pole.  
         [0026]     Having described the preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention, it is recognized that those skilled in the art will be able to make modifications of the design, which remain contemplated by the present invention in the scope of the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, the invention is to be understood as being represented by the foregoing specification but limited only by the appropriate scope of the appended claims.