FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] The present disclosure relates to devices for anchoring poles, such as monopoles. More particularly, the present disclosure includes a bracket for securing a pole, such as a monopole, to an anchor, such as a foundation.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] Since the 1980's wireless networks for mobile communications have become more and more pervasive across the world. While the technical elements of the network (such as RF (radio frequency) equipment, antennas and radios, and the like) have continued to evolve, the design of antenna supporting structures (or towers) has remained pretty much unchanged. The towers, whether self-supporting, guyed or of monopole type, have served the industry well through the ongoing evolution of network architecture, however, the modification of these existing tower structures to increase structural capacity is becoming more and more commonplace.

[0003] In order to support heavier and often more numerous antennas required by the current build out of LTE (Long Term Evolution) or 4G networks, the industry is considering new and creative ways to add capacity to existing tower structures.

[0004] One common tower structure used in densely populated urban areas is the monopole. Monopoles are usually multi-sided tapered tubular structures with a very small profile and it is thus easier to get approval to install them at a build site. Unfortunately, however, they are also more difficult to augment or modify structurally since the bolting of additional structural elements must be done from the outside as they are too narrow to access from the inside.

[0005] Steel elements have been added to monopole shafts to strengthen them. This can be accomplished by adding flat plates or other structural steel shapes to the "flats or flat sides" of the multi-sided structures. One aspect of these installations that has often been overlooked or misunderstood is the proper transfer of the forces from the additional steel elements to the foundation. In some instances of flat plate installation, the lower end is terminated simply by welding the flat plates directly to the base plate or in some cases directly on top of the original base plate weld, which ignores the effect to the base plate and the pole anchors (the anchor bolts securing the base plate of the pole to the foundation). These termination methods have not been fully investigated; as a result the effectiveness and reliability of such methods is unknown.

[0006] One possible solution is to terminate by welding the flat plates to the pole shaft well above the base plate and to add vertical stiffener plates adjacent to new plates. This design, while more effective, necessitates proper spacing of both the flat plates and the vertical stiffeners and often results in total weld lengths of more than 20 feet per location. This excessive field welding is not only costly, but is often difficult to complete to an adequate level of quality.

[0007] These and other shortcomings are addressed by aspects of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0008] In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various aspects discussed in the present document.

[0009] FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a pole and anchor bracket according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

[0010] Aspects of the disclosure relate to a device for reinforcing a pole supported by a foundation at a base of the pole. The device includes: at least one reinforcing bar including a first side proximate to and directly attached to the pole and a second side distal to and facing away from the pole; at least one anchor bracket directly attached to the second side of the at least one reinforcing bar; an anchor secured to the at least one anchor bracket and secured to the foundation; and a plurality of pole anchors that directly secure the pole to the foundation. The pole anchors are separate from the anchor that secures the at least one anchor bracket to the foundation, and the pole anchors do not interact with the at least one anchor bracket.

[0011] Aspects of the disclosure further relate to a method for reinforcing a pole, the pole supported by a foundation at a base of the pole and directly secured to the foundation by a plurality of pole anchors. The method includes in some aspects: attaching a first side of at least one reinforcing bar proximate to and directly to the pole, the at least one reinforcing bar including a second side distal to and facing away from the pole; attaching at least one anchor bracket directly to the second side of the at least one reinforcing bar; and securing an anchor to the at least one anchor bracket and to the foundation. The pole anchors are separate from the anchor that secures the at least one anchor bracket to the foundation, and the pole anchors do not interact with the at least one anchor bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] The present disclosure can be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure and the Examples included therein. In various aspects, the present disclosure pertains to a device for reinforcing a pole supported by a foundation at a base of the pole. The device includes: at least one reinforcing bar including a first side proximate to and directly attached to the pole and a second side distal to and facing away from the pole; at least one anchor bracket directly attached to the second side of the at least one reinforcing bar; an anchor secured to the at least one anchor bracket and secured to the foundation; and a plurality of pole anchors that directly secure the pole to the foundation. The pole anchors are separate from the anchor that secures the at least one anchor bracket to the foundation, and the pole anchors do not interact with the at least one anchor bracket.

[0013] Before the present compounds, compositions, articles, systems, devices, and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that they are not limited to specific synthetic methods unless otherwise specified, or to particular reagents unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0014] Various combinations of elements of this disclosure are encompassed by this disclosure, e.g., combinations of elements from dependent claims that depend upon the same independent claim.

[0015] Moreover, it is to be understood that unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is no way intended that an order be inferred, in any respect. This holds for any possible non-express basis for interpretation, including: matters of logic with respect to arrangement of steps or operational flow; plain meaning derived from grammatical organization or punctuation; and the number or type of aspects described in the specification.

[0016] It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the specification and in the claims, the term "comprising" can include the embodiments

"consisting of and "consisting essentially of." Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. In this specification and in the claims which follow, reference will be made to a number of terms which shall be defined herein.

[0017] As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a,"

"an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "an anchor" includes a device having two or more anchors.

[0018] As used herein, the terms "optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event or circumstance can or cannot occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not. For example, the phrase "optional connectors and link plates" means that the connectors and link plates can or cannot be included and that the description includes devices that both incorporate connectors and link plates and that do not incorporate connectors and link plates.

[0019] Each of the materials disclosed herein are either commercially available and/or the methods for the production thereof are known to those of skill in the art.

[0020] It is understood that the compositions disclosed herein have certain functions.

Disclosed herein are certain structural requirements for performing the disclosed functions and it is understood that there are a variety of structures that can perform the same function that are related to the disclosed structures, and that these structures will typically achieve the same result.

Device for anchoring and reinforcing a pole

[0021] When the equipment requirements of new wireless networks exceeds the structural capacity of existing monopole structures, monopoles may be structurally modified by adding flat plates, flat bars, or other structural steel shapes to the monopole to reinforce the monopole. Aspects of the present disclosure thus relate to a device to reinforce and anchor a monopole. In some aspects excessive welding associated with terminating the reinforcement is eliminated, and reliability of the monopole structure is enhanced.

[0022] With reference to FIG. 1, aspects of the disclosure relate to a device for reinforcing a pole 100 supported by a foundation 1 10 at a base of the pole 100, including: at least one reinforcing bar 102 comprising a first side proximate to and directly attached to the pole 100 and a second side distal to and facing away from the pole 100; at least one anchor bracket 105 directly attached to the second side of the at least one reinforcing bar 102; an anchor 104 secured to the at least one anchor bracket 105 and secured to the foundation 110; and a plurality of pole anchors 11 1 that directly secure the pole 100 to the foundation 1 10. The pole anchors 1 11 are separate from the anchor 104 that secures the at least one anchor bracket 105 to the foundation 1 10, and the pole anchors 1 11 do not interact with the at least one anchor bracket 105.

[0023] More specifically, the present disclosure includes an anchor bracket 105 and anchor 104. The anchor bracket 105 is attached to a pole 100, optionally through reinforcing bars 102 as discussed below. In some aspects, the anchor bracket 105 may be attached to the reinforcing bars 102, which are then bolted to the pole 100. In such aspects, the excessive welding widely used in current termination methods may be reduced or eliminated. This may be desirable in certain applications since existing poles 100 carry existing radio equipment, coaxial cables and other flammable equipment and reducing the use of welding could reduce the risk of fire.

[0024] The anchor 104 secures the anchor bracket 105 to the foundation 1 10 of the pole 100. Thus, the anchor bracket 105 bracket provides a direct connection between the reinforcing bars 102, which have been secured to the pole 100, and the existing concrete foundation 1 10 through the anchor 104.

[0025] In certain aspects, the device is used in cooperation with reinforcing bars 102 that are attached (for example, welded or otherwise fastened) to the pole 100 to support and reinforce the pole 100. In particular aspects, the reinforcing bars 102 may include the connectors and link plates disclosed in related U. S. Patent Application Serial Number 14/552,263, which incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety. Briefly stated, in such aspects, the reinforcing bars 102 include load transfer connectors, optionally at the ends of the reinforcing bars 102. Reinforcing bars 102 are spliced together using a link plate, which includes openings that mate with the load transfer connectors to overlie the joint between reinforcing bars being spliced. A cover plate may be fastened over the link plate. [0026] Aspects of an anchor bracket 105 include one or more stiffener plates 108 attached to the main pole reinforcing bar 102. In some aspects, the stiffener plates 108 are shop- or field-welded to the reinforcing bar 102, although it is contemplated that the stiffener plates may be connected to the reinforcing bars 102 in any manner. In certain aspects the anchor bracket 105 including the stiffener plate 108 and tube 106 are integral to the base section of the reinforcing bars 102 added to the pole 100. The stiffener plates 108 may run along the reinforcing bars 102 and extend perpendicularly from the reinforcing bars 102 near the base of the pole 100. However, it is contemplated that in some aspects the stiffener plates 108 may attach to the reinforcing bars 102 in any angle or relationship. The stiffener plate 108 may in particular aspects extend away from the reinforcing bars so that the anchor 104 passing through the anchor bracket 105 will bypass the existing base plate 109 by either clearing it or by drilling a hole in the existing base plate 109 to allow for an anchor to pass through.

[0027] In some aspects one or more of the stiffener plates 108 may be connected to a tube 106. The stiffener plate may be, but does not have to be, shop- or field-welded to the tube 106. It is contemplated that the tube 106 may be round, square, or any other hollow- shaped tube. The tube 106 may be integrally formed with the stiffener plate 108 in some aspects.

[0028] In certain aspects the anchor 104 passes through the tube 106 and is secured to the foundation 1 10 supporting the pole 100. The anchor 104 may take any form, including conventional concrete anchors such as Williams Anchors, Dy widag threaded bards, or the like. The anchor 104 may be drilled into the foundation 110 (e.g., the existing concrete foundation supporting the existing pole 100 being reinforced).

[0029] Thus anchored, external forces on the pole 100 are transferred, via the main pole reinforcing bars 102, to the concrete foundation 1 10.

[0030] It is contemplated that the reinforcing bars 102 may extend along all or a substantial length of the pole 100 to thereby support the pole 100. In some aspects, however, the reinforcing bars 102 may extend along only the lower end of the pole 100. In such aspects, the anchor bracket 105 is used to add anchors 104 as a modification when existing pole anchors 1 11 are found inadequate. The anchor bracket 105 can also be used to add anchors 104 thereby relieving overstress on existing base plates 109 by reducing the load being carried by them. Methods for reinforcing a pole

[0031] Aspects of the disclosure further relate to a method for reinforcing a pole, the pole supported by a foundation at a base of the pole and directly secured to the foundation by a plurality of pole anchors. The method includes in some aspects: attaching a first side of at least one reinforcing bar proximate to and directly to the pole, the at least one reinforcing bar including a second side distal to and facing away from the pole; attaching at least one anchor bracket directly to the second side of the at least one reinforcing bar; and securing an anchor to the at least one anchor bracket and to the foundation. The pole anchors are separate from the anchor that secures the at least one anchor bracket to the foundation, and the pole anchors do not interact with the at least one anchor bracket. Other aspects of the device described herein may be incorporated into the method.

[0032] Various combinations of elements of this disclosure are encompassed by this disclosure, e.g., combinations of elements from dependent claims that depend upon the same independent claim.

Aspects of the Disclosure

[0033] In various aspects, the present disclosure pertains to and includes at least the following aspects.

[0034] Aspect 1 : A device for reinforcing a pole supported by a foundation at a base of the pole, comprising:

at least one reinforcing bar comprising a first side proximate to and directly attached to the pole and a second side distal to and facing away from the pole;

at least one anchor bracket directly attached to the second side of the at least one reinforcing bar;

an anchor secured to the at least one anchor bracket and secured to the foundation; and

a plurality of pole anchors that directly secure the pole to the foundation, wherein

the pole anchors are separate from the anchor that secures the at least one anchor bracket to the foundation, and

the pole anchors do not interact with the at least one anchor bracket.

[0035] Aspect 2: The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one anchor bracket further comprises a stiffener plate attached to the at least one reinforcing bar and a tube attached to the stiffener plate such that the anchor is secured to the at least one anchor bracket through the tube. [0036] Aspect 3: The device according to Aspect 1 or 2, wherein external forces applied to the pole bypass the base of the pole and are transferred from the at least one reinforcing bar directly through the at least one anchor bracket and the anchor to the foundation.

[0037] Aspect 4: The device according to any of Aspects 1 to 3, wherein the pole is a monopole.

[0038] Aspect 5: The device according to any of Aspects 1 to 4, wherein the anchor secured to the at least one anchor bracket is directly secured to the foundation and does not contact or pass through the base of the pole.

[0039] Aspect 6: The device according to any of Aspects 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of pole anchors directly secure the pole to the foundation through the base of the pole.

[0040] Aspect 7: A method for reinforcing a pole supported by a foundation at a base of the pole and directly secured to the foundation by a plurality of pole anchors, the method comprising:

attaching a first side of at least one reinforcing bar proximate to and directly to the pole, the at least one reinforcing bar comprising a second side distal to and facing away from the pole;

attaching at least one anchor bracket directly to the second side of the at least one reinforcing bar; and

securing an anchor to the at least one anchor bracket and to the foundation, wherein

the pole anchors are separate from the anchor that secures the at least one anchor bracket to the foundation, and

the pole anchors do not interact with the at least one anchor bracket.

[0041] Aspect 8: The method according to Aspect 7, wherein the at least one anchor bracket further comprises a stiffener plate attached to the at least one reinforcing bar and a tube attached to the stiffener plate such that the anchor is secured to the at least one anchor bracket through the tube.

[0042] Aspect 9: The method according to Aspects 7 or 8, wherein external forces applied to the pole bypass the base of the pole and are transferred from the at least one reinforcing bar directly through the at least one anchor bracket and the anchor to the foundation.

[0043] Aspect 10: The method according to any of Aspects 7 to 9, wherein the pole is a monopole. [0044] Aspect 11 : The method according to any of Aspects 7 to 10, wherein securing the anchor to the at least one anchor bracket and to the foundation comprises directly securing the anchor to the at least one anchor bracket and to the foundation without contacting the base of the pole or without passing the anchor through the base of the pole.

[0045] Aspect 12: The method according to any of Aspects 7 to 11 , wherein the plurality of pole anchors directly secure the pole to the foundation through the base of the pole.

[0046] Method examples described herein can be machine or computer-implemented at least in part. Some examples can include a computer-readable medium or machine- readable medium encoded with instructions operable to configure an electronic device to perform methods as described in the above examples. An implementation of such methods can include code, such as microcode, assembly language code, a higher-level language code, or the like. Such code can include computer readable instructions for performing various methods. The code may form portions of computer program products. Further, in an example, the code can be tangibly stored on one or more volatile, non-transitory, or nonvolatile tangible computer-readable media, such as during execution or at other times.

Examples of these tangible computer-readable media can include, but are not limited to, hard disks, removable magnetic disks, removable optical disks (e.g., compact disks and digital video disks), magnetic cassettes, memory cards or sticks, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and the like.

[0047] The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other aspects can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description as examples or aspects, with each claim standing on its own as a separate aspect, and it is contemplated that such aspects can be combined with each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the disclosure should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.