Patent ID: 8858111

Claim:
A connector for a utility pole comprising: a cylindrical outer wall that defines a circular cross-section, an outside diameter, an inside diameter defining an interior volume, a central axis, and a distal end; a flange portion disposed on the distal end, and the flange portion defines an aperture that opens into the interior volume, the aperture having a central axis coaxial with the central axis of the cylindrical outer wall; a cam member comprising: an outer body that defines an exterior surface on an outside diameter, an inside diameter defining an internal volume, and an axial length along a central axis, the central axis coaxial with the central axis of the flange portion; the inside diameter of the outer body telescoped over the flange portion for a distance less than the axial length of the outer body, and the inside diameter of the outer body also telescoped over the outside diameter of the outer wall; a plate member coupled to the inside diameter of the outer body and that defines a non-zero axial length less than the axial length of the outer body, the plate member disposed within the internal volume of the outer body, and abutting the flange portion; an aperture through the plate member congruent with the aperture of the flange portion; wherein in a first rotational orientation of the cam member the aperture of the cam member rotationally aligns with the aperture of the flange portion, and in a second rotational orientation the aperture of the cam member is rotationally misaligned with the aperture of the flange portion; a top cap, distinct from the flange portion, the top cap coupled in a rotationally fixed orientation relative to the flange portion, the top cap telescoped within the inside diameter of the outer body of the cam member, the top cap coupled to the cylindrical outer wall, and the top cap defines an aperture rotationally aligned with the aperture of the flange portion of the cylindrical outer wall; and wherein the top cap has an interior wall that defines the aperture of the top cap, and the interior wall comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a plurality of longitudinal ridges parallel to the central axis of the cylindrical outer wall; a plurality of longitudinal slots parallel to the central axis of the cylindrical outer wall.