Breakaway utility pole with decorative base cover

Abstract

A breakaway pole installation includes a vertical pole having an anchored lower section anchored to a foundation and including a breakaway device for fracturing upon an impact of predetermined force. A decorative cover extends around the pole's lower section. The cover includes a lower foot and an upper lip. The pole includes an outward bump-out situated within the cover. The bump-out includes an energy transfer portion spaced below the cover's lip and above the cover's foot for transferring impact energy from the cover to the pole. The energy transfer portion has a height extending at least 60 mm above and 60 mm below a point of impact disposed about 450 mm above the foundation. The energy transfer portion has a maximum horizontal spacing from the cover of up to about 6 mm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A breakaway pole assembly comprising:
 a pole adapted to be anchored to a foundation by a breakaway device for fracturing upon an impact of predetermined force; and   a decorative cover extending around a lower section of the pole and including a lower foot and an upper lip;   wherein said pole includes an outward bump-out situated within the cover, the bump-out including an energy transfer portion spaced upwardly from the cover's foot and downwardly from the cover's lip for transferring impact energy from the cover to the pole, the energy transfer portion having a maximum horizontal spacing from the cover of up to about 6 mm.   
     
     
         2 . The breakaway pole assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a height of said energy transfer portion of the bump-out extends at least 60 mm above and 60 mm below a point disposed about 450 mm above a lower end of the pole. 
     
     
         3 . The breakaway pole assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a plurality of sections joined together along vertical interfaces by frangible connectors. 
     
     
         4 . The breakaway pole assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said cover is formed of two clam-shell shaped sections forming a neck which converges upwardly, said portion of said bump-out converging upwardly in conformance to the neck. 
     
     
         5 . The breakaway pole assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the pole comprises metal. 
     
     
         6 . The breakaway pole assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the pole comprises fiber-reinforced polymer. 
     
     
         7 . A breakaway pole installation comprising:
 a vertical pole anchored to a foundation by a breakaway device for fracturing upon an impact of predetermined force; and   a decorative cover extending around said lower section and including a lower foot and an upper lip;   wherein said pole includes an outward bump-out situated within the cover, the bump-out including an energy transfer portion spaced upwardly from the cover's foot and downwardly from the cover's lip for transferring impact energy from the cover to the pole, the energy transfer portion having a maximum horizontal spacing from the cover of up to about 6 mm.   
     
     
         8 . The breakaway pole installation according to  claim 7 , wherein the cover comprises a plurality of sections joined together along vertical interfaces by frangible connectors. 
     
     
         9 . The breakaway pole installation according to  claim 8 , wherein said cover is formed of two clam-shell shaped sections forming a neck which converges upwardly, said portion of said bump-out converging upwardly in conformance to the neck. 
     
     
         10 . The breakaway pole installation according to  claim 7 , wherein the pole comprises metal. 
     
     
         11 . The breakaway pole installation according to  claim 7 , wherein the pole comprises fiber-reinforced polymer. 
     
     
         12 . A breakaway pole installation comprising:
 a vertical pole having an anchored lower section anchored to a foundation and including a breakaway device for fracturing upon an impact of predetermined force;   a decorative cover extending around said lower section and including a lower foot and an upper lip;   wherein said pole includes an outward bump-out situated within the cover, the bump-out including an energy transfer portion spaced below the lip and above the foot for transferring energy from the cover to the pole, the energy transfer portion having a height extending at least 60 mm above and 60 mm below a point disposed about 450 mm above the foundation, said energy transfer portion having a maximum horizontal spacing from an inner surface of the cover of up to about 6 mm.   
     
     
         13 . The breakaway pole installation according to  claim 12 , wherein the cover comprises a plurality of sections joined together along a vertical interfaces by frangible connectors. 
     
     
         14 . The breakaway pole assembly according to  claim 13  wherein said cover is formed of two clam-shell shaped sections forming a neck which converges upwardly, said portion of said bump-out converging upwardly in conformance to the neck. 
     
     
         15 . The breakaway pole installation according to  claim 12 , wherein the pole comprises metal. 
     
     
         16 . The breakaway pole installation according to  claim 12 , wherein the pole comprises fiber reinforced polymer.