Patent ID: 7523912

Claim:
A pivot assembly for use with a traffic pole having a base plate supportable on a grounded pole foundation, the pivot assembly comprising: a bottom plate nonmovably connectable to the pole foundation; a top plate nonmovably connectable to the base plate of the traffic pole; and a bearing assembly substantially contained between the bottom plate and the top plate so that, when the pivot assembly is installed between the base plate and the pole foundation, the traffic pole is rotatable relative to the pole foundation, where the bearing assembly comprises: a shaft having first and second ends, wherein the first end is nonrotatably fixed to the top plate; a first bearing having an inner and an outer race, the outer race fixed relative to the bottom plate, and the inner race fixed relative to the shaft; and a second bearing having an inner and an outer race, the outer race fixed relative to the bottom plate, and the inner race fixed relative to the shaft; wherein the first and second bearings are spaced a distance apart along the shaft and wherein the outer race of each of the first and second bearings is independently supported by the bottom plate.