Patent ID: 8540392

Claim:
A traffic signal support apparatus for a traffic control device, wherein the traffic control device has a housing containing electrical connections and is held from a mounting structure, said traffic signal support apparatus comprising: a continuous load path hanger; and signal connection hardware that connects said continuous load path hanger to a traffic signal housing; wherein said continuous load path hanger is not a span wire or a housing containing electrical connections and includes a vertical component that comprises at least one of a solid rod portion, a hollow rod portion, or a cable; and wherein a majority of said continuous load path hanger in operation is deployed closer to a vertical central axis of a traffic control device than are the external edges of the traffic signal housing or a backplate of the traffic signal housing, the traffic signal housing is fixedly secured in both a vertical and lateral direction with respect to the continuous load path hanger, and the continuous load path hanger receives the load of at least most of the gravitational and wind-induced stresses of the traffic signal housing and transmits those stresses past the housing containing the electrical connections and to the mounting structure.