Sign post with stress-defined breakaway splice

Abstract

A sign post is formed of a lower support component for anchoring within terrain, leaving an exposed upper portion at the surface of such terrain. The support component includes an array of longitudinally regularly spaced apertures. An upper support component having the same regular spacing of apertures is attached to the lower component at the exposed portion through the utilization of a splicing technique. The splice is formed as a stress transfer component having two strategically positioned boltways therein. These boltways are spaced apart longitudinally a distance representing an even integer of the upper and lower component aperture spacings. The boltways are configured having a small threaded region adjacent one surface. Bolts having a threadless shank and threaded region therebelow are slidably inserted through one of the components into the stress transfer whereupon they are rotated for preassembly engagement with the minor threaded regions of the stress transfer component. In the course of sign assemblage, the bolts are tightened to deform or strip the threads within the stress transfer component. When the splice is completed by the addition of nuts to the ends of the bolts, the bolts are substantially unrestricted by threaded engagement within the stress transfer component and the splice or joint affected is more structurally definable, permitting the bolts to yield along their lengths under load.