Concrete sign dart

Abstract

A sign dart and a method for installing a sign dart wherein the retention of the sign dart in the ground relies solely on frictional engagement of the sign dart with a borehole passing into the ground.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sign support system comprising:
 a sign dart having a hollow shaft, the hollow shaft having an exterior, an interior, a first end and a second end;   the first end of the hollow shaft carries a cutter, the cutter configured to cut a borehole through a pavement material, wherein the cutter is configured to produce the borehole; and,   the second end of the shaft carrying a plate, the plate having a central passageway in alignment with the interior of the hollow shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The sign support system of  claim 1 , wherein the plate is configured as a base mounting plate of a multi-directional slip base breakaway system. 
     
     
         3 . The sign support system of  claim 1 , wherein the cutter has a central hollow passage configured to direct cuttings to the interior of the hollow shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The sign support system of  claim 1 , wherein the cutter is configured to form a borehole having a diameter which frictionally engages the exterior of the hollow shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The sign support system of  claim 1 , wherein between the first end of the hollow shaft and the second end of the hollow shaft, the exterior of the hollow shaft is free of outwardly projecting elements. 
     
     
         6 . The sign support system of  claim 1 , further comprising a driver configured to be removably secured to the sign dart. 
     
     
         7 . The sign support system of  claim 1 , further comprising a driver configured to be removably secured to the plate carried by the second end of the shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The sign support system of  claim 1 , wherein the sign support system does not include binder material. 
     
     
         9 . A method of positioning a sign dart within a pavement material, the method comprising:
 providing a sign dart, the sign dart comprising:
 a hollow shaft having an exterior and an interior and a first end and a second end; 
 the first end of the shaft carrying a cutter, the cutter configured to bore a hole through the pavement material; and, 
 the second end of the shaft carrying a mounting plate; 
   attaching a driver to the sign dart;   cutting a borehole though at least a portion of the pavement material by using the driver to rotate the sign dart at a rate sufficient to permit the cutter to cut a borehole;   continue cutting the borehole until the mounting plate is positioned a desired location from the pavement material;   retaining the sign dart within the resulting borehole wherein the resulting borehole has a borehole wall which frictionally engages the hollow shaft.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the driver is removably attached to the mounting plate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the exterior of the hollow shaft is free of outward projecting elements. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mounting plate has a central passageway in alignment with the interior of the hollow shaft; and, further comprising the step of using the central passageway to direct cuttings to the interior of the hollow shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of removing the driver after retaining the sign dart within the resulting borehole. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the resulting borehole is sized to frictionally engage the exterior of the hollow shaft and wherein the step of retaining the sign dart within the borehole relies upon the frictional engagement of the exterior of the shaft with the borehole 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the resulting borehole is sized to frictionally engage the exterior of the hollow shaft and wherein the step of retaining the sign dart within the borehole does not require the use of binder material.