Signpost Support Apparatus with Ground Anchor and Upper Bar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Signposts often tilt or rotate due to uneven loading and external forces like wind, and can become loose over time, leading to instability.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a vertical bar with a ground anchor and an upper bar that includes vertical portions to secure the signpost, providing a stable support system that prevents tilting and rotation by anchoring into the ground with spikes and a tab that fits within the signpost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the signpost is inserted into the ground with a simple vertical bar, then the installation is simple, but the signpost becomes unstable and tilts due to unequal loading and wind forces
Solution Approach 1:
The support apparatus is divided into multiple functional segments: a ground anchor portion with spikes for ground insertion, a vertical bar for structural support, and an upper bar with vertical portions for securing the signpost. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall simplicity of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper bar is designed to be inserted into the hollow interior of the signpost, creating a nested structure. The vertical portions of the upper bar engage with the interior walls of the signpost, providing internal support that prevents tilting without requiring external attachment hardware.
2Manufacturing precision
If the upper bar is rigid with fixed dimensions, then the manufacturing is precise, but the apparatus cannot adapt to different signpost widths
Solution Approach 1:
The upper bar incorporates bendable portions that allow the distance between the vertical portions to be adjusted. This dynamic capability enables the apparatus to adapt to different signpost widths while maintaining manufacturing precision for the base dimensions. The bendable sections allow field adjustment without requiring multiple pre-fabricated sizes.
3Length of moving object
If the ground anchor is placed close to the top of the vertical bar, then the structural height is reduced, but the leverage against tilting forces is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The upper bar extends horizontally from the vertical bar in addition to the vertical dimension. This creates a triangular bracing structure where the upper bar and ground anchor work together to resist tilting forces through geometric stability, effectively increasing the resistance without reducing the useful height of the signpost support.
4Device complexity
If the vertical portions of the upper bar are positioned close to the vertical bar, then the apparatus is compact, but the signpost cannot be securely held against rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical portions of the upper bar are pre-positioned at optimal distances from the vertical bar during manufacturing, creating preliminary geometric constraints. When the upper bar is inserted into the signpost, these pre-positioned vertical portions automatically engage with the interior walls at locations that prevent rotation, eliminating the need for additional anti-rotation mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for a signpost includes a vertical bar comprising a first end and a second end. The apparatus includes an upper bar coupled to the vertical bar. The upper bar includes a center portion substantially perpendicular to the vertical bar and two vertical portions coupled to the center portion. Each vertical portion is coupled to the center portion distal to a connection point to the vertical bar. The apparatus includes a ground anchor coupled to the vertical bar between the upper bar and the second end of the vertical bar. The ground anchor includes one or more spikes oriented toward the second end of the vertical bar, and a tab coupled to the ground anchor and oriented extending away from the ground anchor.