Abstract:
A post mounting and stabilization assembly for securing hollow posts to a foundation surface. The mounting assembly provides for wedging retainment of a hollow post thereover by the progressive engagement and deployment of opposing finger pairs extending from an integral base by a sliding deployment wedge fitting there within.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/901,566, filed Nov. 8, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    This invention relates to post and rail systems that utilize post supports that provide for anchor assembly over which a hollow finish post is secured in a post and rail assembly, specifically the invention relates to post support inserts on a post mount to which the railing structure is secured. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0005]    Prior art fencing and railing systems have relied on a variety of mounting and post rail supporting systems for securing to a mounting surface, see for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,972,495, 5,359,827, 5,709,366, 7,188,457 and 7,802,351, applicant&#39;s own U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,141,928 and 6,718,710 and Publications 2001/0025651 and 2011/0175045. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,972,495 discloses a spring metal U-shaped anchor having an interior coupling using an expansion clamp to engage the interior of an abutting tube for connection thereto. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,827 claims a hollow fence post attachment fixture wherein multiple angle irons extend from a bottom plate with a central threaded rod onto which a top engagement plate is drawn down wedgeably engaging the angle irons forcing them outwardly against the interior of an exterior tube positioned thereon. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,366 illustrates a fence post support with a ground engaging spike having an internal expansion wedge driven by an adjustable threaded bolt and engagement plate. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,457 shows a hollow post anchoring bracket for securing a hollow post to a base with interior legs that are wedgeably expanded there against by a central advancing fitting. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,802,351 illustrates a composition post mount having an interior sub-structure with a compression plate engageable on an adapter in a receiving channel the length of the support member with a hollow post insert there over. 
         [0011]    Applicant&#39;s own U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,928 discloses a post mount having a support block attached to a support surface with a fin insert secured thereto over which a hollow post is slideably positioned for fastener related retainment support. 
         [0012]    Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,710 claims a post mount having a support block with an adjustment plate and a plurality of adjustment bolts threadably mounted thereto. A flange head on the support block provides frictional engagement with a hollow post inserted there over in support relation thereof. 
         [0013]    Applicant&#39;s U.S. Publication 2010/0025651 is directed to a post insert support with opposing fingers with an expanding wedge slideably within for direct surface contact with the respective fingers wedgeably engaging with the interior surface of a hollow finish post positioned there over. 
         [0014]    Finally, in applicant&#39;s U.S. Publication 2011/0175045, a fencing system is disclosed having a post insert which shows opposing engagement with multiple fingers with the wedging expansion insert for direct contact with the respective finger&#39;s surface forcing them outwardly against the interior of a hollow post positioned there over, retaining same and providing reinforcement thereto. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    A post mounting system for post and rail fencing provides post engagement and retention to a foundation surface utilizing a main support interior tubing mounting post secured directly to a support surface. A finished post mounting and stabilization assembly insert affords progressive frictional retainment against a hollow finished post slidably positioned thereon. An expandable wedge fitting movable on a mounting post for multiple edge engagement and displacement of stabilization insert there against. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of the post mounting assembly of the invention positioned on a post installation. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the rail top stabilizer of the mounting assembly. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section on lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an expansion post insert fitting of the post mounting assembly of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view thereof. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view thereof. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a section on lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    A post mounting and stabilization system  10  of the invention can be seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings positioned on a hollow mounting post mount  11  for securing to a foundation via an attachment plate  12  shown broken away. A top rail stabilizer  13 , best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  of the drawings has a generally square tapered sleeve base  14  with opposing pairs of independent extending engagement finger plates  15 ,  16 ,  17  and  18 . The corresponding respective finger plate pairs are integral to the base  14  with corresponding spaced adjacent elongated generally parallel edges  15 B and  18 A,  18 B and  17 B,  17 A and  16 B and  16 A and  15 A defining multiple longitudinal tapered openings  19 - 22  between the respective finger plates  15 ,  16 ,  17  and  18 . 
         [0024]    Each of the finger plates is of a tapered dimensional thickness from its respective base  15 C,  16 C,  17 C and  18 C to its free end edge  15 D,  16 D,  17 D and  18 D, best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3  of the drawings. The taper affords the finger plate&#39;s displacement under applied force outwardly and opposing finger plate pairs  15  and  17  and  16  and  18  indicated by directional arrows A in  FIGS. 2 and 3  of the drawings. 
         [0025]    The sleeve base  14  has tapered reinforcement ribs  14 A on each of its exterior surfaces  14 B which extend and engage with the hereinbefore described finger plates as illustrated in  FIG. 3  of the drawings with an interior uniform pass through dimension to accommodate the insertion of the top rail stabilizer  13  onto the mounting post  11  as seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings and broken lines in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. 
         [0026]    An expander wedge fitting  23  can be seen in  FIGS. 4-7  and  FIG. 1  of the drawings in solid and broken lines of a one piece generally square tubular configuration having interconnecting upstanding sidewalls  24 ,  25 ,  26  and  27 , each within integral right angularly inwardly extending flanges  24 A,  25 A,  26 A and  27 A respectively, best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 6  of the drawings. The flanges define a central opening at  28  for registration with the mounting post  11 . 
         [0027]    The adjoining sidewalls define respective curved corners  29 , each of which has a finger edge engagement contoured lug  30  extending outwardly therefrom in angular relation to the respective adjoining sidewalls planar surfaces. The lugs  30  have a contoured bottom surface  30 A and transitional oppositely disposed side engagement surfaces  31 A,  31 B as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, it will be seen that the post mount stabilizing system  10  is illustrated in use wherein the wedge fitting  23  is shown in integral mounting post  11  engagement position in engaging deployed position on the mounting post  11  and in broken lines prior to insertion on the mounting post  11  within the finger plates  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 . 
         [0029]    In sequential operational deployment steps, the mounting post  11  is secured to the chosen foundation by multiple fasteners, not shown, extending through corresponding aligned apertures A in the attachment plate  12 , as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The post stabilizer  13  is inserted onto the mounting post  11  at its desired location and secured in place by fasteners F. The expandable wedge fitting  23  is prepositioned on the support mounting post  11  acting as a sizing stabilizer to effectively adjust the post stabilizer  13  to engagement with the finished post FP, shown in broken lines in a typical post rail installation which will be positioned there over. The expander wedge fitting  23  shown in broken lines prior to use as inserted is driven down the mounting post  11  by applying external force against the fittings interlocking flanges  24 A,  25 A,  26 A and  27 A in this example shown in solid lines wherein the multiple contoured lugs  30  are correspondingly slidably engaged within the respective tapered openings  19 - 22  between the finger plates forcing the respective finger plates  15 - 18  progressively outwardly in translateral forced applied orientation to one another so as to engage the respective applied inner surfaces of the finished post FP securing and stabilizing same in place. 
         [0030]    It will be apparent that the post stabilizer  13  as inserted and expanded as hereinbefore described will provide the adjustable size stabilization to accommodate different dimensional finished post FP as required by the thickness of the post composition encountered within the industry. Additionally, the post stabilizer  13  provides for rail reinforcement bracket attachment, if required, in such applications including placement, multiple post stabilizers  13  on a single mount post  11  as will be understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0031]    It will be evident that the post mounting and stabilization system  10 , hereinbefore described provides for a universal fit for a variety of dimensionally sized finished posts FP for use, as noted. 
         [0032]    It will thus be seen that a new and novel mounting post and stabilization system has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore I claim: