Pole riser guard{13 backup plate combination

Claim 2

In combination: a utility pole extending out of the ground, an elongated backup member secured to said pole being channel shaped in cross section, the channel being defined by an open front portion and a closed rear portion, said channel comprising a pair of sidewalls each merging into said rear portion located intermediate said sidewalls, at least a portion of said rear portion engaging said pole, said sidewalls extending in a direction away from said pole, at least one cable located within the confines of said channel, a protector guard secured to said pole independently of said backup member and generally hat-shaped in cross section with flanges at each side and a crown portion located intermediate and merging into said flanges, the inner surface of said flanges substantially engaging said pole, said backup member being substantially received within the inner confines of said crown portion of said protector guard.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said rear portion of the channel is generally planar.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 wherein the channel is defined by a generally U-shaped wall in cross section.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 2 wherein said sidewalls and said rear portion comprising the channel are generally planar and the sidewalls are at an obtuse angle with said rear portion.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 wherein the length of the backup member is substantially less than said protector guard and one end of the backup member is in the vicinity of the ground.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 further comprising a protector boot which is secured to said pole, receives an elongated portion of said backup member therein, is located between the ground and said protector guard, and the upper end of said boot is contiguous the lower end of said protector guard.

Claim 8

The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein said flanges and crown portion are joined by a curved portion, said backup member being flexible, said walls being resiliently urged outwardly into engagement with the inner surface of said crown portion.

Claim 9

The combination of a pole riser protector guard and a backup member for protecting cables secured to utility poles extending out of the ground comprising: said protector guard being elongated and generally hat shaped in cross section with securing flanges at each side and a crown portion located intermediate said flanges, said flanges and crown portion being joined by a respective curved portion, the inner surface of said curve portion comprising a camming surface, said protector guard being so proportioned and shaped that the inner surface of said flanges will substantially engage the pole; said backup member being elongated and being channel shaped in cross section, the channel being defined by an open front portion and a closed rear portion, said channel comprising a pair of sidewalls each merging into said rear portion located intermediate said sidewalls, the distance between the free edges of said backup member walls being of about the same dimension as the distance between said camming surfaces, said backup member being flexible whereby upon assembly of the guard and backup member to the pole said camming surfaces will engage said free edges and bias the walls inwardly to be received within the confines of and engage the inner surface of said crown portion.

Claim 10

The combination of a pole riser protector guard and a backup member for protecting cables secured to utility poles extending out of the ground comprising: said protector guard being elongated and generally hat shaped in cross section with securing flanges at each side and a crown portion located intermediate said flanges, said flanges and crown portion being joined by a respective curved portion, the inner surface of said curve portion comprising a camming surface, said protector guard being so proportioned and shaped that the inner surface of said flanges will substantially engage the pole; said backup member being elongated and being channel shaped in cross section, the channel being defined by an open front portion and a closed rear portion, said channel comprising a pair of sidewalls each merging into said rear portion located intermediate said sidewalls, the distance between the free edges of said backup member walls being of about the same dimension as the distance between said camming surfaces, said backup member being flexible whereby upon assembly of the guard and backup member to the pole said camming surfaces will engage said free edges and bias the walls inwardly to be received within the confines of and engage the inner surface of said crown portion.