TOOL AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR REMOVING SUNKEN POST FROM SUBSURFACE POSITION

A tool for use in removing a post from the ground includes a housing having a recess therein for slidably receiving the post. A hinged support arm extends from the housing into the recess, wherein the support arm is initially angled relative to the recess such that a protrusion extending from the post received within the recess causes a ramp-up movement relative to the support arm when the tool is being lowered onto the post as the protrusion impacts the support arm and a locked-in-place orientation when the support arm is wedged onto a lower surface of the protrusion as the tool is being translated upwardly. The hinged support arm is biased into the locked-in-place orientation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a tool for removing sunken post from a sub surface position.

BACKGROUND

Posts are driven into the ground for purposes of establishing a fence for containment, or as part of a structure, or other general construction project. Sometimes the posts are permanent in nature, meant to stay in place long term. Other times, the posts are temporary in nature, installed into the subsurface, but needing removal at some later date. In these instances, the posts are driven into the ground, often at a depth of two (2) or more feet. The ground may be soft and more pliable when installed, however, after time, the posts become very challenging to remove from the ground for temporary installation.

With metal “t-posts” that are installed in the ground, removal is most often accomplished by wrapping a chain around the t-post and using a lift or pole attached to hydraulic powered equipment to remove the post from the ground. This process has many significant advantages. Wrapping the chain around the post is cumbersome, requiring an extra person to wrap the chain and one to operate the equipment. Additionally, the post is often bent when being pulled up out of the ground, as the uneven forces from the chain impart a bending force onto the post. Finally, the post will often suddenly break suction with the soil and projectile out of the ground surface, creating a dangerous situation where persons could be injured.

Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide an improvement that addresses the above-noted disadvantages.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce in a simplified form concepts that are further described in the following detailed descriptions. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it to be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Disclosed herein is a tool for use in removing a post from the ground. The tool includes a housing having a recess therein for slidably receiving the post, and a hinged support arm extending from the housing into the recess. The support arm is initially angled relative to the recess such that a protrusion extending from the post received within the recess causes a ramp-up movement relative to the support arm when the tool is being lowered onto the post as the protrusion impacts the support arm, and a locked-in-place orientation when the support arm is wedged onto a lower surface of the protrusion as the tool is being translated upwardly. The hinged support arm is biased into the locked-in-place orientation.

According to one or more embodiments, the recess in the housing has a main channel for receiving a back portion of the post, and a planar section defining the channel for receiving another portion of the post.

According to one or more embodiments, the hinged support arm is biased into the locked-in-place orientation by a spring extending from a tab off the hinged support arm to the housing.

According to one or more embodiments, pressing of the tab imparts hinged movement of the hinged support arm.

According to one or more embodiments, the hinged support arm is biased into the locked-in-place orientation by a spring.

According to one or more embodiments, the housing defines an opening for receiving a chain or other fastener to couple the tool to an equipment for imparting the upward translation.

According to one or more embodiments, the hinged support arm extends between two opposing panels that protrude from the housing.

According to one or more embodiments, the hinged support arm is carried by a pin or fastener extending between the two opposing panels.

According to one or more embodiments, the post being worked on by the tool is a t-post.

According to one or more embodiments, the housing defines a vertically extending support to which a chain or other fastener couples the tool to an equipment for imparting the upward translation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Below, the technical solutions in the examples of the present invention are depicted clearly and comprehensively with reference to the figures according to the examples of the present invention. Obviously, the examples depicted here are merely some examples, but not all examples of the present invention. In general, the components in the examples of the present invention depicted and shown in the figures herein can be arranged and designed according to different configurations. Thus, detailed description of the examples of the present invention provided in the figures below are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention as claimed, but merely represent selected examples of the present invention. On the basis of the examples of the present invention, all of other examples that could be obtained by a person skilled in the art without using inventive efforts will fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

A tool for use in removing a post from the ground is generally designated10and the post designated1, a protrusion from the post designated2, and a ground surface designated3. The tool10includes a housing12. The housing12is shown constructed out of metal, which may be a usual embodiment, however, the housing12may be constructed out of any material and may take on many various types of construction and dimensionality. The housing12may define a recess14therein for slidably receiving the post1. The recess14and associated features will be described in more detail later.

A hinged support arm16extends from the housing12into the recess14. The hinged support16may take on any appropriate construction and dimensionality, and may embody a flat blade shape as shown, or may embodiment more of a rod or similar shape. As will be described in more detail later, the support arm16may be initially angled relative to the recess14such that the protrusion2extending from the post1, where the post1is received within the recess14causes a “ramp-up” movement of an end of the support arm16when the tool10is being lowered onto the post1as the protrusion2impacts the end of the support arm16. The support arm16also a locked-in-place orientation when the support arm is wedged onto a lower surface of the protrusion as the tool is being translated upwardly. In one or more embodiments and as will be described with greater detail herein, the hinged support arm16is biased into the locked-in-place orientation.

A top view of the tool10is illustrated inFIG. 2. The recess14in the housing12has a main channel20for receiving a back portion of the post1, and a planar section22surrounding the channel20for receiving another portion of the post1. In this manner, the recess14and planar section22mount against the back side of most “t posts.” Due to the hinged movement of the support arm16, a variety of sizes oft posts can be accommodated and a larger t post will have a more vertically extending hinged support arm16due to greater size required to traverse the main channel20.

With reference again toFIG. 1, the hinged support arm16is biased into the locked-in-place orientation by a spring26. The spring26may be a torsional spring, or a helical spring extending from a tab24off the hinged support arm16to the housing12. The bias of the hinged support arm always imparts a counter-clockwise rotational force when viewed from the right of the device as illustrated inFIG. 1. Pressing of the tab24imparts hinged movement of the hinged support arm16in the clockwise direction in order to position the support arm16out of the way of the protrusions2from the post1so that the tool can be removed after use, or re-adjusted based on a desired location of the tool10relative to the post1. As illustrated, the hinged support arm16extends between two opposing panels36that protrude from the housing12and rotates about pin40.

With further reference toFIG. 1, the housing12defines an opening32for receiving a chain, cable, or other fastener34to couple the tool to an equipment for imparting the upward translation. The opening32is defined at an end of a vertically extending support30that provides vertical clearance for tool10relative to post1.

Operation of the tool is illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the tool10is placed proximal post1such that the post1is received within recess14and such that the back spine of the post1is received within main channel20. The tool10is then lowered as shown with the directional arrow inFIG. 3until an end of the hinged support arm16contacts protrusion2, at which point the hinged support arm16pivots clockwise out of the way so that the tool10can continue translating downwardly. Once a desired downwardly position is reached, the hinged support arm16is placed into the locked-in place orientation by simply pulling up on the tool10as illustrated inFIG. 1until the end of the hinged support arm16engages with a bottom facing surface of protrusion2of the t post1. At this point, further and continued upward translation forces pulls the t post out of the ground. Removal of the tool10is accomplished by pressing onto tab24, which rotates the support arm16out of the way of the post1, and then lifting the tool10upwardly off of the post1. Alternatively, if there is no obstruction on the post1, in some instances, the tool10can be removed by sliding the tool10until it comes off of the bottom of the post1.

The tool10is shown working on a t post1, but can be used with a variety of structures where the end of support arm16“digs into” the structure upon being translated upwardly. For example, the tool10can have a larger recess area14that accommodates wooden stakes or posts, or more in some embodiments work on a ridged rebar structure. For further reinforcement, an additional chain structure can extend from the tool10to further wrap around any t post or similar that is exceedingly sunk into the ground.

Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in the subject specification, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a device” can include a plurality of such devices, and so forth.

Any dimensions expressed or implied in the drawings and these descriptions are provided for exemplary purposes. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions are made according to such exemplary dimensions. The drawings are not made necessarily to scale. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions are made according to the apparent scale of the drawings with regard to relative dimensions in the drawings. However, for each drawing, at least one embodiment is made according to the apparent relative scale of the drawing.

Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in the subject specification, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a device” can include a plurality of such devices, and so forth.