초록 ▼

An improved sign post assembly (10) for roadway use is provided wherein a sign post (12) includes a lower section ( 16) adapted for anchoring to the earth, a mating upper section ( 20) and a magnetic coupling assembly (24) for maintaining the sections during normal use while permitting breakaway of

An improved sign post assembly (10) for roadway use is provided wherein a sign post (12) includes a lower section ( 16) adapted for anchoring to the earth, a mating upper section ( 20) and a magnetic coupling assembly (24) for maintaining the sections during normal use while permitting breakaway of the upper section (20) when the host (10) is struck by a vehicle. Preferably, the coupling assembly (24) includes a magnetic body (26) and a corresponding component (28) which is magnetically attracted to the body (26). In order to cause breakaway in a predetermined direction, the coupling assembly (24) has mating surfaces for the body (26) and component (28) which are in a stairstep configuration.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A breakaway sign post, comprising: a first sign post section adapted to be anchored to the earth and presenting an upper end; a second sign post section including a lower end; and a magnetic coupling assembly operably coupling said second section lower end to said first section upper en

I claim: 1. A breakaway sign post, comprising: a first sign post section adapted to be anchored to the earth and presenting an upper end; a second sign post section including a lower end; and a magnetic coupling assembly operably coupling said second section lower end to said first section upper end and permitting breakaway of the second section relative to the first section in event of application of sufficient force against the second section, said assembly including a magnetic body carried by one of said sections, and a component which is magnetically attracted to said body carried by the other of said sections, said coupling assembly including a shear pin associated with said body and said component and operable to shear in the event of said application of force. 2. The sign post of claim 1, said coupling assembly configured to cause said second section to break away from said first section in a predetermined direction. 3. The sign post of claim 1, said body and component configured for face-to-face engagement. 4. The sign post of claim 3, said body and component having complemental surfaces. 5. The sign post of claim 3, said body comprising a permanent magnet, and said component selected from the group consisting of another permanent magnet and a metallic body which is attracted to said body. 6. The sign post of claim 3, said magnetic body being integrally formed with one of said first and second sections. 7. The sign post of claim 1, said component being integrally formed with one of said first and second sections. 8. The sign post of claim 1, said body being separate from and connected to one of said sections. 9. The sign post of claim 1, said component being separate from and connected to one of said sections. 10. The sign post of claim 1, said coupling assembly comprising a pair of tubular brackets respectively connected to said upper end and said lower end, one of said brackets supporting said body and the other of said brackets supporting said component. 11. The sign post of claim 1, said assembly having elongated, mating surfaces adjacent said body and said component and forming a non-magnetic zone along the length thereof. 12. A breakaway sign post, comprising: a first sign post section adapted to be anchored to the earth and presenting an upper end; a second sign post section including a lower end; and a magnetic coupling assembly operably coupling said second section lower end to said first section upper end and permitting breakaway of the second section relative to the first section in event of application of sufficient force against the second section, said assembly including a magnetic body carried by one of said sections, and a component which is magnetically attracted to said body carried by the other of said sections, said body and component configured for face-to-face engagement, one of said body and said component presenting a stairstep configuration including upper and lower vertically spaced apart, generally horizontal contact surfaces and an upright riser contact surface extending between the upper and lower contact surfaces. 13. The sign post of claim 12, said upper contact surface having a surface area less than the surface area of the adjacent lower contact surface. 14. The sign post of claim 12, the region adjacent the intersection of said riser surface and said upper contact surface being beveled. 15. The sign post of claim 12, there being a lower, intermediate and upper vertically spaced apart, generally horizontal contact surfaces, and a pair of riser surfaces respectively extending between the lower surface and intermediate surface, and between the intermediate surface and the upper surface. 16. The sign post of claim 15, the surface area of said upper surface being less than the surface area of said intermediate surface, and the surface area of said intermediate surface being less than the surface area of said lower surface. 17. The sign post of claim 12, said horizontal contact surfaces being generally L-shaped in plan configuration. 18. A magnetic coupling assembly adapted for interconnecting first and second sign post sections, said coupling assembly comprising a pair of tubular brackets respectively adapted for connection to the first and second sections, one of said brackets supporting a magnetic body, and the other of said brackets supporting a component magnetically attracted to said body, said coupling assembly operable to magnetically couple the first and second sections and permitting breakaway of one of the sections relative to the other section, said coupling assembly including a shear pin associated with said body and said component. 19. The coupling assembly of claim 18, said brackets configured to cause breakaway of said one section relative to said other section in a predetermined direction. 20. The coupling assembly of claim 18, said body and component configured for face-to-face engagement. 21. The coupling assembly of claim 20, said body and component having complemental surfaces. 22. The coupling assembly of claim 18, said body comprising a permanent magnet, and said component selected from the group consisting of another permanent magnet and a metallic body which is attracted to said body. 23. The coupling assembly of claim 18, said magnetic body being integrally formed with one of said brackets. 24. The coupling assembly of claim 18, said component being integrally formed with one of said brackets. 25. A magnetic coupling assemble adapted for interconnecting first and second sign post sections, said coupling assembly comprising a pair of tubular brackets respectively adapted for connection to the first and second sections, one of said brackets supporting a magnetic body, and the other of said brackets supporting a component magnetically attracted to said body, said coupling assembly operable to magnetically couple the first and second sections and permitting breakaway of one of the sections relative to the other section, said body and component configured for face-to-face engagement, one of said body and said component presenting a stairstep configuration including upper and lower vertically spaced apart, generally horizontal contact surfaces and an upright riser contact surface extending between the upper and lower contact surfaces. 26. The coupling assembly of claim 25, said upper contact surface having a surface area less than the surface area of the adjacent lower contact surface. 27. The coupling assembly of claim 25, the region adjacent the intersection of said riser surface and said upper contact surface being beveled. 28. The coupling assembly of claim 25, there being a lower, intermediate and upper vertically spaced apart, generally horizontal contact surfaces, and a pair of riser surfaces respectively extending between the lower surface and intermediate surface, and between the intermediate surface and the upper surface. 29. The coupling assembly of claim 28, the surface area of said upper surface being less than the surface area of said intermediate surface, and the surface area of said intermediate surface being less than the surface area of said lower surface. 30. The coupling assembly of claim 25, said horizontal contact surfaces being generally L-shaped in plan configuration.