초록 ▼

Costly devices are supported atop telescopically extensible masts of theft resistant mounts well suited to be positioned at temporary, often unattended, outdoor locations. An upper component of each mast carries a torque-disconnect coupler that has two relatively turnable elements, including one fix

Costly devices are supported atop telescopically extensible masts of theft resistant mounts well suited to be positioned at temporary, often unattended, outdoor locations. An upper component of each mast carries a torque-disconnect coupler that has two relatively turnable elements, including one fixed to the mast, and another that defines a threaded formation extending along an upstanding axis about which the elements are relatively turnable. A costly device can be tightened to the threaded formation, or can be loosened and removed therefrom—but only when an elongate key-like tool is inserted into aligned passages of the two elements to prevent turning of the threaded formation so a costly device tightened onto the formation can be threaded off of the formation. A shroud cloaks the torque-disconnect coupler and has an opening through which the tool must pass to reach the aligned passages.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A theft resistant mount for adjustably supporting at temporary outdoor locations a costly device likely to be a target for theft, comprising: a) a roadway barrier segment that is impossible for one person to manually carry due to at least a selected one of the weight and the size of the barrier s

1. A theft resistant mount for adjustably supporting at temporary outdoor locations a costly device likely to be a target for theft, comprising: a) a roadway barrier segment that is impossible for one person to manually carry due to at least a selected one of the weight and the size of the barrier segment, with the barrier segment including a base positionable on a generally upwardly facing support surface, and an elongate mast connected to the base and being capable of extending upwardly from the base to a selection of heights;b) first and second elements of a bearing extending concentrically along an axis, and being capable of turning relative to each other about the axis unless and until an elongate tool is caused to extend concurrently into aligned first and second passages, with the first passage being defined by the first element, with the second passage being defined by the second element, with the first element surrounding the second element such that the first element covers the second passage to render the second passage inaccessible except through the first passage when the first and second passages are aligned, and with alignment of the first and second passages being achieved by turning at least one of the first and second elements about the axis relative to the other of the first and second elements;c) with the first element being fixed to the mast, with the second element defining a threaded formation extending along the axis, with the costly device being tightenable to and removable from the threaded formation when, and only when, the elongate tool is inserted into the aligned first and second passages to thereby substantially prevent turning of the threaded formation about the axis;d) a shroud that covers the first and second elements of the bearing such that the shroud at least partially cloaks from view an opening into the first passage, through which opening the elongate tool extends when the elongate tool is being inserted into the aligned first and second passages; ande) with the shroud including a generally cylindrical sidewall that encircles, at a distance spaced from, the first element of the bearing, and the generally cylindrical sidewall has a third passage extending therethrough that the elongate tool must extend through before the elongate tool can be inserted into the aligned first and second passages. 2. The theft resistant mount of claim 1 with the shroud having a circular top wall through which is formed a hole at the center of the circular top wall, with the threaded formation extending upwardly through the hole formed in the circular top wall, and with the shroud being freely turnable relative to the threaded formation, with the shroud needing to be turned about the axis in order to align the third passage of the shroud with the aligned first and second passages so the elongate tool can be inserted through the third passage of the shroud before being moved toward, for insertion into, the aligned first and second passages. 3. The theft resistant mount of claim 1 including means constraining the first and second elements from moving relative to each other in directions paralleling the axis. 4. The theft resistant mount of claim 1 with the axis being an upstanding axis when the barrier segment is oriented so the mast extends upwardly from the base. 5. The theft resistant mount of claim 1 with the elongate tool having a selected portion configured to be insertable into the first and second passages when the first second and third passages are aligned one with the other. 6. The theft resistant mount of claim 5 with the selected portion of the elongate tool being configured to minimize relative movement of the first and second elements when the selected portion extends concurrently into the aligned first and second passages. 7. The theft resistant mount of claim 1 with the elongate mast including at least a pair of adjacent elongate components that can telescopically retract and extend relative to each other, with each of the adjacent components having certain holes formed therethrough that align when the adjacent components telescopically retract, and having other holes formed therethrough that align when the adjacent components telescopically extend, and with the elongate mast additionally including lockable together hitch pin components that can be inserted into opposite end regions of, and locked together to retain the locking hitch pin in selected ones of the certain and other holes. 8. A theft resistant mount for adjustably supporting at temporary outdoor locations a costly device likely to be a target for theft, comprising: a) a roadway barrier segment that is impossible for one person to manually carry due to at least a selected one of the weight and the size of the barrier segment, with the barrier segment including a base positionable on a generally upwardly facing support surface, and an elongate mast connected to the base and being capable of extending upwardly from the base to a selection of heights;b) first and second elements of a bearing extending concentrically along an axis, and being capable of turning relative to each other about the axis unless and until an elongate tool is caused to extend concurrently into aligned first and second passages, with the first passage being defined by the first element, with the second passage being defined by the second element, with the first element surrounding the second element such that the first element covers the second passage to render the second passage inaccessible except through the first passage when the first and second passages are aligned, and with alignment of the first and second passages being achieved by turning at least one of the first and second elements about the axis relative to the other of the first and second elements;c) with the first element being fixed to the mast, with the second element defining a threaded formation extending along the axis, with the costly device being tightenable to and removable from the threaded formation when, and only when, the elongate tool is inserted into the aligned first and second passages to thereby substantially prevent turning of the threaded formation about the axis;d) with the elongate mast including at least a pair of adjacent elongate components that can telescopically retract and extend relative to each other, with each of the adjacent components having certain holes formed therethrough that align when the adjacent components telescopically retract, and having other holes formed therethrough that align when the adjacent components telescopically extend, and with the elongate mast additionally including lockable together hitch pin components that can be inserted into opposite end regions of, and locked together to retain the locking hitch pin in selected ones of the certain and other holes; ande) tubular collars having inner end regions thereof fixed to selected ones of the adjacent components of the elongate mast in alignment with selected ones of the certain and other holes so the tubular collars can surround opposite end regions of the locking hitch pin when the locking hitch pin is retained in any of the certain and other holes. 9. The theft resistant mount of claim 8 additionally including relatively small holes formed through the tubular collars near outer end regions thereof so that shackles of padlocks can extend through the relatively small holes to restrict access to opposite end regions of the locking hitch pin when the locking hitch pin is locked in any of the certain and other holes. 10. A theft resistant mount for adjustably supporting at temporary outdoor locations a costly device likely to be a target for theft, comprising: a) a roadway barrier segment that is impossible for one person to manually carry due to at least a selected one of the weight and the size of the barrier segment, with the barrier segment including a base positionable on a generally upwardly facing support surface, and an elongate mast connected to the base and being capable of extending upwardly from the base to a selection of heights;b) first and second elements of a bearing extending concentrically along an axis, and being capable of turning relative to each other about the axis unless and until an elongate tool is caused to extend concurrently into aligned first and second passages, with the first passage being defined by the first element, with the second passage being defined by the second element, with the first element surrounding the second element such that the first element covers the second passage to render the second passage inaccessible except through the first passage when the first and second passages are aligned, and with alignment of the first and second passages being achieved by turning at least one of the first and second elements about the axis relative to the other of the first and second elements;c) with the first element being fixed to the mast, with the second element defining a threaded formation extending along the axis, with the costly device being tightenable to and removable from the threaded formation when, and only when, the elongate tool is inserted into the aligned first and second passages to thereby substantially prevent turning of the threaded formation about the axis; andd) with the elongate mast including a pair of adjacent elongate mast components including a first component having a substantially square cross section that extends somewhat loosely into a second component having a substantially square cross section, and a threaded, headed member is threaded through a threaded passage provided at one of four corner regions of the substantially square cross section of the second component, with an inner end region of the threaded, headed member being tightenable into engagement with a corner region of the first component to reduce rattling of the first component within the second component due to the somewhat loose fit of the first component within the second component. 11. A theft resistant upstanding mount for adjustably supporting at temporary outdoor locations a costly device likely to be a target for theft, comprising: a) a massive concrete structure that is impossible for one person to manually carry due to at least the weight of the structure, with the structure including a base positionable on a support surface, and an elongate mast connected to the base and extensible upwardly therefrom to a selection of above-ground heights;b) a torque-disconnect coupler having a first element and a second element that are relatively turnable about, and extend coaxially along a common axis, with the first element being fixed to the elongate mast, with the second element defining a threaded formation extending along the common axis, with the costly device being tightenable to the threaded formation to normally turn freely about the common axis in unison with the second element;c) a tool having an elongate portion configured to be insertable substantially concurrently into both of a first passage defined by the first element and a second passage defined by the second element, but only when at least one of the first and second elements has been turned about the common axis relative to the other element to bring the first and second passages into alignment, and only when an elongate portion of a tool extends into both of the first and second aligned passages;d) with the first element surrounding the second element such that the first element blocks access to the second passage to render the second passage inaccessible except through the first passage when the first and second passages are aligned;e) with the tool normally retained by an entity authorized to control the whereabouts of the costly device, the tool having an elongate portion configured to be insertable into the passages and to extend substantially concurrently into both of the passages only at times when the entity wants the threaded formation to be prevented from turning about the common axis so the costly device can be tightened to, or loosened and removed from the threaded formation;f) a shroud that covers the first and second elements such that the shroud at least partially cloaks from view an opening into the first passage; andg) with the shroud being connected to the threaded formation but being free to turn about the common axis, and defining a third passage therethrough through which the tool must pass before being inserted into the first passage, and then into the second passage. 12. The theft resistant mount of claim 11 additionally including means constraining the relatively turnable elements from translating relative to each other in directions paralleling the common axis. 13. A theft resistant mount for adjustably supporting at a selection of above-ground heights and at temporary outdoor locations a costly device likely to be a target for theft, comprising: a) a base structure positionable on a support surface;b) a telescopically extensible mast structure connected to and extending upwardly from the base structure and having an uppermost component that can be raised to and held at a selection of above-ground heights;c) a torque-disconnect assembly having first and second elements extending concentrically along, and being relatively turnable about an upstanding axis unless and until an elongate tool is inserted into first and second passages when the first and second passages are aligned, with the first passage being defined by the first element which is fixed to the mast structure, with the second passage being defined by the second element, with the first element surrounding the second element such that the first element covers the second passage to render the second passage inaccessible except through the first passage when the first and second passages are aligned;d) with the second element also defining a threaded formation that extends along the upstanding axis AND which can have the costly device both tightened thereon, and loosened therefrom, with said tightening and said loosening only being possible when the elongate tool extends concurrently into the aligned first and second passages to prevent the threaded formation from turning relative to the mast, with the first and second passages being alignable by turning the second element relative to the first element about the upstanding axis;e) a shroud extending around and at least partially cloaking from view the first and second elements; andf) with the shroud defining a sidewall that encircles and is free to turn about the upstanding axis, the sidewall defining a third passage formed through the shroud, through which the elongate tool must move before being inserted into the aligned first and second passages. 14. The theft resistant mount of claim 13 including means constraining the first and second elements from moving relative to each other in directions paralleling the upstanding axis. 15. The theft resistant mount of claim 14 additionally including a bearing connected to the uppermost component of the mast and positioned to at least aid the second element to turn smoothly about the upstanding axis. 16. The theft resistant mount of claim 13 with the base structure comprising a segment of highway barrier that is impossible for one person to manually carry due to at least one of a weight of at least 1000 pounds of the base structure, and a size of at least 3 feet in height and multiple feet in length of the base structure. 17. A theft resistant upstanding mount for adjustably supporting at temporary outdoor locations a costly device likely to be a target for theft, comprising: a) a base positionable on a support surface;b) an elongate mast fixed to and extending upwardly from the base;c) a torque-disconnect assembly including a first element fixed to the elongate mast, and a second element defining a threaded formation that extends along an upstanding axis about which the first and second elements can turn relative to each other unless and until an elongate tool extends concurrently into a first passage defined by the first element and a second passage defined by the second element, which passages align to permit insertion of the elongate tool concurrently therein when the first and second elements are turned relative to each other to a particular orientation;d) with the first element surrounding the second element such that the first element blocks access to the second passage to render the second passage inaccessible except through the first passage when the first and second passages are aligned;e) with the inserted elongate tool preventing the first and second elements from turning about the upstanding axis so that a costly device can be turned about the upstanding axis 1) to be connected and tightened to, and 2) to be loosened and removed from the threaded formation;f) a shroud encircling the torque-disconnect assembly to cloak the torque-disconnect assembly from view; andg) wherein the shroud includes a generally cylindrical wall that encircles the torque-disconnect assembly, and wherein the shroud has an opening formed therethrough, through which opening the elongate tool must pass in order to be inserted into the aligned first and second passages of the first and second elements. 18. The theft resistant mount of claim 17 additionally including the elongate tool, the elongate tool having a portion configured to be insertable into the first and second passages when the second element is turned relative to the first element about the upstanding axis to bring the first and second passages into alignment with each other, with at least a part of the insertable portion of the elongate tool being operable to establish a driving connection between the first and second elements to prevent relative rotation of the first and second elements about the upstanding axis. 19. The theft resistant mount of claim 18 with the base including an assembly formed from a first set of components that includes a saddle-shaped support configured to overlie and to be clamped securely to the support surface defined by an upper part of a relatively massive barrier segment positionable atop a ground surface. 20. The theft resistant mount of claim 19 additionally including the relatively massive barrier segment positionable atop a ground surface and having an upper part that defines the support surface. 21. A theft resistant upstanding mount for supporting at least one costly device at any of a selection of above-ground heights, comprising: a) a massive base positionable on a support surface, with the base being impossible for one person to manually carry due to at least the weight of the base;b) a telescopically extensible mast fixed securely to and extending upwardly from the base;c) a combination bearing and torque-disconnect coupler including first and second elements that are permitted by the coupler to normally turn relative to each other about an upstanding axis, and that are prevented by the coupler from moving relative to each other along the upstanding axis, with the first element being fixed to an upper part of the mast, and with the second element defining a threaded formation extending along the upstanding axis;d) with the at least one costly device being threadably tightened to the threaded formation, and being unthreadable from the threaded formation only when the normal capability of the first and second elements to turn relative to each other is overridden by causing a suitably configured elongate tool to extend concurrently into aligned first and second openings, with the first opening defined by the first element and the second opening defined by the second element;e) with the first element surrounding the second element such that the first element covers the second opening to render the second opening inaccessible except through the first opening when the first and second openings are aligned;f) a shroud encircling the combination of bearing and torque-disconnect coupler to at least partially cloak the combination of bearing and torque-disconnect assembly from view; andg) wherein the shroud includes a generally cylindrical wall that encircles the torque-disconnect assembly, and wherein the shroud has a third opening formed therethrough, and through which the elongate tool must pass in order to be inserted into the aligned first and second openings of the first and second elements. 22. The theft-resistant mount of claim 21 with the mast having at least two adjacent, telescopically extensible and retractable components lockable to each other when extended, and when retracted, by inserting a lockable hitch pin through aligned holes formed through each of the two components.