Connector for concrete poles
A concrete pole includes an attachment mechanism which provides a structurally sound means of attaching to the pole and permits the use of short, inexpensive bolts. The attachment mechanism includes reinforcing bars, a base plate, an internally threaded fastener insert fixed to the base plate, which provides a path from the base plate, which is embedded in the concrete pole, to the finished outside surface of the pole. One embodiment includes a pipe connecting opposing fastener inserts for added strength.
1. A reinforced concrete pole, defining a central vertical axis, said pole comprising:
a reinforcing cage, including vertical reinforcing rods and annular members;
a first connector, including
a first base plate having an inner surface directed toward said central vertical axis and an outer surface directed away from said central vertical axis;
a first hollow fastener, having first and second ends and defining internal threads, said first fastener being fixed to said first base plate with said first end directed toward said axis and said second end directed away from said axis and projecting outwardly from said first base plate; and
concrete surrounding said reinforcing cage and said connector, said concrete defining an outer concrete surface, wherein the second end of said first hollow fastener lies adjacent to said outer concrete surface, and said internal threads extend at least part of the distance between said second end and said base plate, so that a bolt can enter the second end of said first hollow fastener from outside the pole and can be threaded into said first hollow fastener.
2. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first base plate lies inside said cage and extends across a plurality of said annular members.
3. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 2 , wherein said connector includes at least one vertical reinforcing bar fixed to said first base plate.
4. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 1 wherein said first fastener defines a first shoulder between said first and second ends, and wherein said first shoulder abuts the inner surface of said first base plate.
5. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 4 , wherein said first fastener is welded to said first base plate at said first shoulder.
6. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 5 , and further comprising:
a second connector diametrically opposite said first connector, including a second base plate having inner and outer surfaces, with the outer surface of the second base plate lying adjacent the inside surface of said reinforcing cage; and
a second hollow fastener defining internal threads and having first and second ends, said second fastener being fixed to said second base plate and projecting outwardly from said second base plate.
7. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 6 , and further comprising a separator having first and second ends, which are fixed to the first ends of said first and second hollow fasteners, respectively.
8. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 7 , wherein said separator is a pipe, which fits over the first ends of said first and second hollow fasteners.
9. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 8 , wherein said second fastener includes a first shoulder between said first and second ends, and wherein said first shoulder rests against said inside surface of said second plate.
10. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 9 , wherein said second fastener is welded to said second plate at said first shoulder.
11. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 10 , wherein each of said first and second fasteners has a second shoulder recessed from its first end, and said ends of said separator pipe abut said second shoulders.
12. A reinforced concrete pole defining a central vertical axis and comprising:
a reinforcing cage, including vertical reinforcing rods and annular members;
a connector, including
a base plate having an inner surface directed toward said axis and an outer surface directed away from said axis, said base plate lying inside said reinforcing cage adjacent said annular members;
upper and lower hollow fasteners, each having an inner end and an outer end, and defining an outer shoulder fixed to the inner surface of said base plate, wherein said hollow fasteners project outwardly through and beyond said base plate; and
concrete surrounding said reinforcing cage and said connector and defining an outer surface, wherein said upper and lower hollow fasteners extend substantially to said outer surface and define internal threads which are accessible from outside said pole and which extend a substantial distance between said base plate and said outer surface.
13. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 12 , and further comprising a pole attachment having a body defining upper and lower holes; and upper and lower bolts extending through said upper and lower holes and threaded into said upper and lower hollow fasteners, respectively.
14. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 12 , wherein said pole includes two of said connectors, diametrically opposed to each other, and further comprising at least one separator secured to the opposed lower hollow fasteners.
15. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 14 , and further comprising a second separator secured to the opposed upper hollow fasteners.
16. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 15 , wherein said separators are pipes, which telescope over the inner ends of their respective hollow fasteners.
17. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 4 , wherein said first base plate has an opening through which the first hollow fastener extends, and wherein the outside diameter of said first hollow fastener from said second end to said first shoulder is small enough to fit through said opening, and the outside diameter of said first shoulder is too large to fit through said opening.
18. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 17 , wherein said first hollow fastener also defines a second shoulder, located inwardly from said first shoulder, and wherein the outside diameter of said second shoulder is larger than the outside diameter of said first hollow fastener from said first end to said second shoulder.
19. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 18 , wherein said first hollow fastener defines a beveled surface portion between said second shoulder and said first end.
20. A reinforced concrete pole as recited in claim 19 , and further comprising a separator pipe having one end which is telescoped over the first end of the first fastener and which is secured to said first fastener at said beveled surface portion.