US5535555A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Breakaway post coupling
Assignee: Cal Poly Partners
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Filing: 1995-11-17
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Granted: 1996-07-16
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Expires: 2015-11-17
Abstract
Abstract A breakaway post coupling with a hollow, tubular sleeve which accomodates a ground-mounted stub post and a top, sign-supporting post. The sleeve is held onto the posts by a plurality of pins which engage a corresponding plurality of slots in the sleeve. Collars slidably engage the sleeve and force the pins into the post material as the collars are drawn over the sleeve and pins. A plurality of cutouts in the sleeve define a shear point in the coupling. When the top post is struck by a vehicle, the coupling breaks at the shear point, leaving an intact stub post upon which a new top post can be joined.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven D. Boyd
- 👤 Randy W. Akana
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:53
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01F; E01F9/00; E01F9/60; E01F9/623; E01F9/631; E01F9/635; F; F16; F16B; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/63; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S248/00; Y10S248/90; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/57; Y10T403/5733
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A breakaway post coupling, comprising: (a) a hollow, tubular sleeve, said sleeve including a plurality of apertures, said apertures defining a shear point in said sleeve, said sleeve including a plurality of slots; (b) a plurality of tapered pins, said slots accommodating said tapered pins; (c) an upper collar, said upper collar slidably engaging said sleeve; and (d) a lower collar, said lower collar slidably engaging said sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A breakaway post coupling, comprising: (a) a hollow, tubular sleeve, said sleeve including a plurality of apertures, said apertures defining a shear point in said sleeve, said sleeve including a plurality of slots; (b) a plurality of tapered pins, said slots accommodating said tapered pins; (c) an upper collar, said upper collar slidably engaging said sleeve; and (d) a lower collar, said lower collar slidably engaging said sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A breakaway post coupling as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of inwardly bent flanges adjacent said apertures, said flanges defining a barrier in said sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A breakaway post coupling as recited in claim 2, wherein said apertures and said flanges are triangular-shaped.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A breakaway post coupling as recited in claim 1, wherein said sleeve comprises a first sleeve member and a second sleeve member, said sleeve members fitting together to form said sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
A breakaway post coupling, comprising: (a) a hollow, tubular sleeve, said sleeve including an upper end and a lower end, said sleeve including a plurality of longitudinal slots; (b) a plurality of tapered pins, said pins engaging said slots; (c) said sleeve including a plurality of apertures, said apertures defining a shear point in said sleeve; (d) an upper collar, said upper collar slidably engaging said sleeve; and (e) a lower collar, said lower collar slidably engaging said sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
A breakaway post coupling, comprising: (a) a hollow, tubular sleeve, said sleeve including an upper end and a lower end, said sleeve including a plurality of longitudinal slots; (b) a plurality of tapered pins, said pins engaging said slots; (c) said sleeve including a plurality of apertures, said apertures defining a shear point in said sleeve; (d) an upper collar, said upper collar slidably engaging said sleeve; and (e) a lower collar, said lower collar slidably engaging said sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A breakaway post coupling as recited in claim 5, wherein said plurality of longitudinal slots comprises a first plurality of slots positioned adjacent said upper end of said sleeve and a second plurality of slots positioned adjacent said lower end of said sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A breakaway post coupling as recited in claim 5, further comprising a plurality of inwardly bent flanges adjacent said apertures, said flanges defining a barrier in said sleeve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A breakaway post coupling as recited in claim 7, wherein said apertures and said flanges are triangular-shaped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A breakaway post coupling as recited in claim 5, wherein said sleeve comprises a first sleeve member and a second sleeve member, said sleeve members fitting together to form said sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
118 words
A breakaway post coupling, comprising: (a) a hollow tubular sleeve having upper and lower ends, said sleeve including a first plurality of slots positioned adjacent said upper end and a second plurality of slots positioned adjacent said lower end; (b) a plurality of tapered pins, each pin including a honed edge, said pins received by said slots; (c) said sleeve including a plurality of apertures, said apertures defining a shear point in said sleeve; (d) said sleeve including a plurality of inwardly projecting flanges adjacent said apertures, said flanges defining a barrier inside said sleeve; (e) an upper collar, said upper collar slidably engaging said sleeve; and (f) a lower collar, said lower collar slidably engaging said sleeve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
118 words
A breakaway post coupling, comprising: (a) a hollow tubular sleeve having upper and lower ends, said sleeve including a first plurality of slots positioned adjacent said upper end and a second plurality of slots positioned adjacent said lower end; (b) a plurality of tapered pins, each pin including a honed edge, said pins received by said slots; (c) said sleeve including a plurality of apertures, said apertures defining a shear point in said sleeve; (d) said sleeve including a plurality of inwardly projecting flanges adjacent said apertures, said flanges defining a barrier inside said sleeve; (e) an upper collar, said upper collar slidably engaging said sleeve; and (f) a lower collar, said lower collar slidably engaging said sleeve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A breakaway post coupling as recited in claim 10, wherein said apertures and said flanges are triangular-shaped.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
159 words
A breakaway post coupling, comprising: (a) a first sleeve member and a second sleeve member, each of said sleeve members including an upper end and a lower end, said sleeve members fitting together to form a hollow, tubular sleeve, said each of said sleeve members including a first plurality of slots positioned adjacent said upper end, each said sleeve member including a second plurality of slots positioned adjacent said lower end; (b) a plurality of tapered pins, each pin including a honed edge, said pins received by said slots; (c) each of said sleeve members including a plurality of triangular-shaped apertures, said apertures defining a shear point in said sleeve member; (d) each of said sleeve members including a plurality of triangular-shaped inwardly projecting flanges adjacent said apertures, said flanges defining a barrier inside said sleeve; (e) an upper collar, said upper collar slidably engaging said sleeve; and (f) a lower collar, said lower collar slidably engaging said sleeve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
159 words
A breakaway post coupling, comprising: (a) a first sleeve member and a second sleeve member, each of said sleeve members including an upper end and a lower end, said sleeve members fitting together to form a hollow, tubular sleeve, said each of said sleeve members including a first plurality of slots positioned adjacent said upper end, each said sleeve member including a second plurality of slots positioned adjacent said lower end; (b) a plurality of tapered pins, each pin including a honed edge, said pins received by said slots; (c) each of said sleeve members including a plurality of triangular-shaped apertures, said apertures defining a shear point in said sleeve member; (d) each of said sleeve members including a plurality of triangular-shaped inwardly projecting flanges adjacent said apertures, said flanges defining a barrier inside said sleeve; (e) an upper collar, said upper collar slidably engaging said sleeve; and (f) a lower collar, said lower collar slidably engaging said sleeve.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-16 | 2000-01-15 | 2000-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-16 | 2004-01-15 | 2004-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-16 | 2008-01-15 | 2008-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |