Kenneth L Krenk

US Patent:

58554432, Jan 5, 1999

Filed:

May 16, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/857419

Inventors:

Ronald K. Faller - Lincoln NE
John D. Reid - Lincoln NE
Eugene W. Paulsen - Wichita KS
Kenneth L. Krenk - Lincoln NE

Assignee:

Board of Regents of University of Nebraska - Lincoln NE

International Classification:

F16D 906

US Classification:

403 2

Abstract:

A breakaway mounting system for mounting a structure to a fixed support surface has a plurality of elongated mounting members extending generally perpendicular to the support surface. An attachment plate is coupled with the structure to be mounted. The attachment plate has a plurality of apertures formed therein, and each of the mounting members extends through one of the apertures. A plurality of shearing plates are provided. Each shearing plate generally surrounds one of the mounting members and is positioned between the support surface and the attachment plate. Each shearing plate has an upper surface and a lower surface. The area of the shearing plate upper surface is substantially smaller than the area of a lower surface of the attachment plate, and the area of the shearing plate lower surface is substantially smaller than the area of the support surface. A fastener is attached to the mounting member for securing the attachment plate to the support surface. One of the upper surface and the lower surface of each shearing plate forms a shear plane for shearing the associated mounting member when the structure is impacted by a vehicle with sufficient force.