Break-away post

Abstract

A break-away post includes a post portion, a base portion, and a shear pin. The post portion includes a mounting base and an aperture disposed through the mounting base. The base portion includes a mounting head having an aperture disposed therethrough. The shear pin includes a compressible ring portion adapted to be inserted through the aperture of the mounting head when the mounting head is disposed through the aperture of mounting base thereby coupling the post portion to the base portion.

1 . A break-away post comprising: 
 an elongate post portion including a post aperture;    a base portion including a mounting head sized and configured to be disposed through the post aperture of the post portion, the mounting head including a head aperture therethrough; and    a shear pin sized and configured to be inserted through the head aperture of the mounting head when the mounting head is disposed through the post aperture of the post portion.    
   
   
       2 . The break-away post of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the shear pin includes a compressible ring portion which compresses upon insertion of the shear pin into the head aperture of the mounting head.    
   
   
       3 . The break-away post of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the post portion includes a reflector mounting area including at least one recess adapted to receive a reflector.    
   
   
       4 . The break-away post of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the post portions include at least one reflector.    
   
   
       5 . The break-away post of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the post portion includes a rounded front side.    
   
   
       6 . The break-away post of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the post portion includes bracing.    
   
   
       7 . The break-away post of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the base portion includes a stake.    
   
   
       8 . The break-away post of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the stake includes at least one fin.    
   
   
       9 . The break-away support post of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a tether cord connecting the post portion to the base portion.    
   
   
       10 . A break-away post assembly comprising: 
 a post;    a base configured to be engaged with the post;    a first one of the post or the base includes a first aperture, and a second one of the post or the base includes a mounting head adapted to mate with the first aperture, the mounting head including a second aperture disposed therethrough; and    a shear pin that is adapted to be insertable through the second aperture to secure the post to the base.    
   
   
       11 . The break-away post assembly of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the post portion includes a reflector mounting area including at least one recess adapted to receive a reflector.    
   
   
       12 . The break-away post assembly of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the post portions include at least one reflector.    
   
   
       13 . The break-away post assembly of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the post includes a front side having a rounded surface.    
   
   
       14 . The break-away post assembly of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the post includes a back side including bracing.    
   
   
       15 . The break-away post assembly of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the post includes the first aperture and the base includes the mounting head.    
   
   
       16 . The break-away post assembly of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the base includes a plurality of fins.    
   
   
       17 . The break-away post assembly of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the shear pin includes a compressible ring adapted to compress upon insertion into the second aperture and to expand upon exiting therefrom.    
   
   
       18 . The break-away post assembly of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the shear pin shears when subjected to a predetermined force.    
   
   
       19 . The break-away post assembly of  claim 10 , further including: 
 a tether cord connected to the post portion and the base portion.    
   
   
       20 . The break-away post assembly of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the first aperture includes a first flat edge and the mounting head includes a flat side;    wherein the flat edge and flat side are aligned when the mounting head is mated to the first aperture.    
   
   
       21 . A break-away post comprising: 
 a post including a post aperture;    a base including a mounting head, the mounting head including a base aperture disposed therethrough; and    a shear pin including a compressible portion;    wherein the mounting head is sized and configured to be disposed through the post aperture and the shear pin is sized and configured to be disposed through the post aperture, thereby coupling the post to the base.    
   
   
       22 . The break-away post of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the compressible portion is compressed when the shear pin is inserted into the post aperture and decompressed when the compressible portion exits the post aperture.    
   
   
       23 . The break-away post of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the post portion includes a reflector mounting area including at least one recess adapted to receive a reflector.    
   
   
       24 . The break-away post of  claim 23 , wherein: 
 the post portions include at least one reflector.    
   
   
       25 . The break-away post of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the post includes a rounded front side.    
   
   
       26 . The break-away post of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the post includes bracing.    
   
   
       27 . The break-away post of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the base includes a stake.    
   
   
       28 . The break-away post of  claim 21 , further including: 
 a tether cord for connecting the post to the base.    
   
   
       29 . The break-away post of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the shear pin is broken when subjected to a predetermined force.