Abstract:
A post ram is disclosed herein. The post ram includes a socket member that is configured to receive one end of a wooden post. A thumbscrew threadably engages, and penetrates, the socket member for selectively securing the wooden post within the socket member. A bottle jack is affixed atop the socket member.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to implements for applying pushing or pulling force utilizing fluid pressure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During reconstruction projects, carpenters frequently substitute temporary supports for load-bearing walls to keep buildings sound. When the walls are rebuilt or replaced by other structures, the supports are removed and set aside for reuse thereby minimizing waste and reducing costs. 
     An adjustable column is a common type of temporary support. Such a column includes a rigid, metallic tube having a load-bearing plate affixed to one of its ends and a threaded rod screwed into the other one of its ends. Usually, a second, load-bearing plate is affixed to the free end of the threaded rod. By turning the rod with a wrench, the length of an adjustable column can be varied for a custom fit between a floor and a ceiling. 
     Adjustable columns have drawbacks. First, the metallic tube of an adjustable column is hollow and can bend if it is not properly placed. Second, the metallic tube cannot be easily cut to fit within an extremely short span. Also, when the weight of a structure is placed on an adjustable column, stresses within the threaded rod can exceed design limits resulting in structural failures. Additionally, many users do not provide footings of sufficient size and strength beneath adjustable columns. Many users simply place the column on a wood or concrete floor thereby causing the floor to crack. Finally, adjustable columns are not capable of operating without the use of additional tools. If a user lacks an appropriate wrench, or is unable to turn the threaded rod with a wrench in a tight spot, an adjustable column cannot be utilized. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the problems associated with adjustable columns, it is a principal object of my invention to provide a temporary support for a building structure that is exceptionally strong, unlikely to deform under expected loads, and can be easily sized to fit into spaces having high or low ceilings. My support can be used in construction and remodeling projects, large and small. If needed, my support can be used to correct sagging floors by propping up basement, porch, or deck beams and can take the weight of large appliances positioned on the sagging floors. Alternately, my support can be used to level and support recreational vehicles or manufactured homes. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a temporary support of the type described that is easy to install, has no loose parts, and requires no additional tools to use. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a temporary support of the type described that utilizes a conventional wooden post of square cross section in its construction. Prior to use, the post may be custom cut to any desired length. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a temporary support of the type described that features a post ram—a bottle jack affixed atop a socket member that is adapted to snugly receive one end of a wooden post therein. During use, the bottle jack is manually pumped to selectively lengthen the temporary support thereby snugly fitting the temporary support into the gap that it is intended to span. 
     It is another object of my invention to provide a post ram featuring a load-bearing plate that can be attached by penetrating fasteners to a wooden member like a stud or joist. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved features and arrangements thereof in a post ram for the purposes described which is portable, lightweight in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and dependable in use. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of my temporary support and post ram will become readily apparent upon reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       My invention can be more readily described and understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a temporary support in accordance with the present invention with portions broken away to reveal details thereof. The temporary support has a post ram fitted atop a wooden post. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the temporary support with portions of the wooden post being broken away. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the load-bearing plate and the top of the bottle jack. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the accompanying drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the FIGS., a post ram in accordance with the present invention is shown at  10 . The post ram  10  includes a bottle jack  12  affixed atop a socket member  14 . The socket member  14  is sized to snugly receive one end of a wooden post  16  therein. When joined together, the post ram  10  and post  16  define a temporary support  18  that is useful in a variety of settings. 
     The bottle jack  12  includes a reservoir  20 , containing a measured quantity of hydraulic oil  22  affixed atop a base plate  24 . A main cylinder  26  is affixed within the reservoir  20  and has an opening  28  located at the top of the reservoir  20 . A main piston  30  is slidably positioned within the main cylinder  26  and can be selectively extended from the opening  28 . A wide, load-bearing plate  32  is affixed to the free end of the main piston  30  outside the main cylinder  26 . 
     A pump cylinder  34  is affixed atop the base plate  24  adjacent the reservoir  20 . The pump cylinder  34  has an open top  36 . A pump piston  38  is slidably positioned within the pump cylinder  34  and can be selectively extended from the open top  36 . 
     An L-shaped lever arm  40  is utilized to reciprocate the pump piston  38 . The lever arm  40  has an inner segment  42  that is joined to an outer segment  44  at a right angle. While the post ram  10  is being stored prior to use, the inner segment  42  is normally disposed in a horizontal position parallel to the base plate  24 . Simultaneously, the outer segment  44  is oriented in a vertical position, extending downward from the inner segment  42  adjacent to the socket member  14 . A rubber handgrip  45  is disposed on the outer segment  44  to facilitate a good grip on the lever arm  40  by the hand of a user. 
     The inner segment  42  of the lever arm  40  is pivotally connected, by means of a hinged link  46 , to the base plate  24  adjacent the pump cylinder  34 . A pivot pin  48 , positioned between the link  46  and the junction of the inner segment  42  and outer segment  44 , connects the lever arm  40  to the top of the pump piston  38 . By moving the free end of the lever arm  40  up and down, the pump piston  38  is reciprocated within the pump cylinder  34  with a mechanical advantage. 
     A pump passageway  50  within the base plate  24  places the reservoir  20 , the main cylinder  26 , and the pump cylinder  34  in fluid communication with one another. The pump passageway  50  has four principal parts: a valve segment  52 , a reservoir segment  54  that connects the valve segment  52  to the reservoir  20 , a main cylinder segment  56  that connects the valve segment  52  to the main cylinder  26 , and a pump cylinder segment  58  that connects the valve segment  52  to the pump cylinder  34 . 
     The valve segment  52  of the pump passageway  50  has a small-diameter chamber  60  and a large-diameter chamber  62  connected side-by-side. As shown, a small-diameter ball  64  is positioned within the small-diameter chamber  60  and a large-diameter ball  66  is positioned in the large-diameter chamber  62 . The small-diameter ball  64  and the large-diameter ball  66  are free to move within their associated chambers  60  and  62 . The large-diameter ball  66  is larger in diameter than the small-diameter chamber  60  and cannot enter the small-diameter chamber  60 . A pair of compressed springs  68  presses the balls  64  and  66  into sealing engagement with the ends of the chambers  60  and  62 . 
     The reservoir segment  54  of the pump passageway  50  extends from the bottom of the reservoir  20  to the small-diameter chamber  60 . Since the reservoir segment  54  has a diameter that is less than that of the small-diameter ball  64 , the ball  64  is effectively trapped within the small-diameter chamber  60  and cannot pass into the reservoir segment  54 . 
     The main cylinder segment  56  of the pump passageway  50  extends from the large-diameter chamber  62  to the bottom of the main cylinder  26 . Since the main cylinder segment  56  has a diameter that is less than that of the large-diameter ball  66 , the ball  66  is effectively trapped within the large-diameter chamber  62  and cannot pass into the main cylinder segment  56 . 
     The pump cylinder segment  58  of the pump passageway  50  extends from the small-diameter chamber  60  to the bottom of the pump cylinder  34 . More specifically, the pump cylinder segment  58  branches from the small-diameter chamber  60  at a point about midway between the connections with the reservoir segment  54  and the large-diameter chamber  62  to the small-diameter chamber  60 . Since the pump cylinder segment  58  has a diameter that is less than that of the small-diameter ball  64 , the ball  64  cannot pass into the pump cylinder segment  58 . 
     A pressure release passageway  70  serves to allow the flow of oil  22  to bypass the balls  64  and  66 . The pressure release passageway  70  connects the middle of the reservoir segment  54  to the large-diameter chamber  62 . The pressure release passageway  70  extends around the pump cylinder segment  58 . 
     A helically threaded port  72  is provided in base plate  24  for access to the pressure release passageway  70 . A thumbscrew  74  is screwed into the port  72  and projects into the pressure release passageway  70  to limit flow therein. When fully screwed into the port  72 , the thumbscrew  74  fully blocks flow through the pressure release passageway  70 . When unscrewed, oil  22  freely flows from the main cylinder  26  to the reservoir  20  when a downward force is applied to the top of the main piston  30  so as to return the main piston  30  to its retracted position within the main cylinder  26 . 
     Operating the bottle jack  12  is straightforward. First, with the main piston  30  in a fully retracted position within the main cylinder  26 , the thumbscrew  74  is fully tightened to ensure that the pressure release passageway  70  is closed. Then, the lever arm  40  is elevated to create a partial vacuum (capable of drawing oil  22  from the reservoir  20  into the pump cylinder  34 ) in the pump cylinder  34 . Next, the lever arm  40  is given a down stroke to push pressurized oil  22  from the pump cylinder  34  into the main cylinder  26 . As the oil  22  enters the main cylinder  26 , the main piston  30  is driven outwardly from the opening  28  of the main cylinder  26 . Repeated stroking of the lever arm  40 , elevates the main piston  30  to a desired height. 
     As the lever arm  40  is moved up and down, the balls  64  and  66  unseat from their resting positions in the chambers  60  and  62 . On the upstroke, the small-diameter ball  64  unseats to allow oil  22  to flow into the pump cylinder  34  while the large-diameter ball  66  remains seated and the chamber  62  is closed to the flow of oil  22 . On the down stroke of the lever arm  40 , however, the small-diameter ball  64  seats against the end of the chamber  60  once again under the influence of the engaged spring  68  and the large-diameter ball  66  unseats so as to permit the oil  22  to flow to the main cylinder  26 . 
     The piston  30  remains in a position extended from the main cylinder  26  when pumping of the lever arm  40  is stopped since the oil  22  in incompressible. When it is desired that the piston  30  be retracted, the thumbscrew  74  is unscrewed a few turns thereby permitting the oil  22  to return to the reservoir  20  through the pressure release passageway  70 . Under load, the piston  30  retracts fully and permits the post ram  10  to be immediately reused. 
     The socket member  14  is an open-bottomed box with a square cross section. As such, socket member  14  has a top that is defined by the base plate  24  which has a square outline. Opposed front and back walls  78  and  80  are affixed to, and project downwardly from, the front and back of the top wall  76 . A pair of opposed side walls  82  is affixed to, and projects downwardly from, the opposed sides of the top wall  76 . The opposed side walls  82  also are affixed along their respective lengths to the front and back walls  78  and  80 . Walls  76 - 82  are formed of sheet metal having a heavy gauge. 
     The socket member  14  is sized to receive one end of the 4×4 wooden post  16  therein. To this end, the opening  84  in the bottom of the socket member  14  measures about 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches (8.9 cm×8.9 cm). Since the walls  78 - 82  are about 6 inches (15.2 cm) long, the post  16  can be inserted to a depth of about 6 inches (15.2 cm) into the socket member  14 . 
     A helically threaded aperture  86  is provided in the center of the front wall  78 . A helically threaded sleeve  88  is affixed to the front wall  78  so as to surround and reinforce the aperture  86 . A thumbscrew  90  is screwed into the aperture  86  and sleeve  88  so as to project through the aperture  86  and into the post  16  positioned within the socket member  14  thereby locking the post ram  10  and post  16  together. By unscrewing the thumbscrew  90 , however, the post  16  is selectively released from the socket member  14 . 
     A lever arm retaining bar  92  is affixed to a side wall  82 . The bar  92  has a length sufficient to reach the inner segment  42  of the lever arm  40  when the lever arm  40  is positioned horizontally. A locking pin  94  is extended through axially aligned bores  96  and  98  respectively provided in the bar  92  and the inner segment  42  to selectively lock the lever arm  40  in a position where the outer segment  44  can serve as a convenient carrying handle for the post ram  10 . When the pin  94  is pulled from the bores  96  and  98 , the lever arm  40  can be reciprocated to drive the main piston  30  from the main cylinder  26 . 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , details of the piston  30  and the load-bearing plate  32  can be seen. As shown, piston  30  is provided with a helically threaded socket  100  that extends downward from the top thereof. Rotatably fitted within the socket  100  is an externally, helically threaded rod  102 . Affixed atop the rod  102  is the load-bearing plate  32 . By rotating the rod  102  within the socket  100 , the load-bearing plate  32  can be selectively extended from the piston  30  or retracted toward the piston  30 . Thus, the length of the temporary support  18  can be finely adjusted. 
     The load-bearing plate  32  is provided with optional features that facilitate its attachment to a wooden member like the joist shown at  104 . In this regard, plate  32  has a pair of shallow, V-shaped notches  106  in its top and a pair of bores  108  that intersect each of the notches  106 . The notches  106  intersect one another at right angles at the center of the plate  32 . The bores  108 , however, extend upwardly and inwardly from the bottom edge of the plate  32  to penetrate one of the notches  106  at a slight angle. The bottom edge of the plate  32  is provided with a beveled surface  110  around each of the bores  108 . Each beveled surface  110  is flat and oriented at right angles to its associated bore  108 . 
     A penetrating fastener such as the screw  112  can be positioned in the bores  108 . The threaded shaft  114  of the screw  112  extends through a bores  108  and into the joist  104 . The head  116  of the screw  112 , being affixed to the threaded shaft  114  fits flush against a beveled surface  110 . The inclination of the bores  108 , of course, facilitates the engagement of a screwdriver (not shown) with the screw head  116 . 
     The use of the post ram  10  is straightforward. First, a temporary support  18  is constructed by inserting a post  16  of suitable length into the socket member  14  and locking the post  16  in the socket member  14  by tightening the thumbscrew  90 . Then, the temporary support  18  is oriented vertically such that the bottom of the post  16  is resting on, say, a basement floor and the load-bearing plate  32  engages the bottom of a sagging joist forming part of the first floor of a house. Next, the locking pin  94  is disengaged from the lever arm  40 , and the lever arm  40  is manually pumped up and down to extend the main piston  30  and plate  32 . 
     Continued pumping of the lever arm  40  causes the post ram  10 , and the temporary support  18  made therefrom, to lengthen. The movement of the main piston  30  from the main cylinder  26  applies enough force to a building member, like a sagging floor joist, to straighten and level it. The force can be applied for as long as may be desired, days or even weeks. 
     While the temporary support  18  is in place, repair or reconstruction of a building is undertaken. (For example, a sagging joist is buttressed, reinforced, or replaced.) When the work is complete, the pin  94  is inserted back into the lever arm  40  to lock the outer segment  44  parallel to the side wall  78  thereby forming a solid handhold at one end of the support  18 . Then, the thumbscrew  74  is loosened to allow the main piston  30  to retract into the main cylinder  26 . The retraction of the main piston  30  disengages the plate  32  from the supported building member. Finally, the support  18  is moved to a desired location with the outer segment  44  serving as a convenient handle. If desired, the thumbscrew  90  is unscrewed and the post ram  10  is removed from the post  16 . The post ram  10  now is stored in a toolbox or other convenient spot for immediate reuse. 
     The process of putting the post ram  10  to use as part of a temporary support  18  for a building structure requires one person only a few minutes to complete. Provided that the post  16  is supplied at a suitable length for use in the support  18 , so that no sawing is required, no additional tools are needed to use the post ram  10 . Use of the post ram  10 , causes no damage to either the post  16  of the building structure supported thereby. 
     While the post ram  10  has been described with a high degree of particularity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the field that modifications can be made to it. Therefore, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited solely to the post ram  10 , but encompasses any and all rams within the scope of the following claims.