POST SUPPORT

Abstract: A post support comprises an elongate ground engaging portion, preferably a cruciform cross section, capable of being driven vertically into the ground, and a post engaging portion attached to the ground engaging portion and in the form of a hollow box section for receiving one end of a post to be supported in a vertical position and with its axis substantially parallel to the axis of the ground engaging portion, wherein the hollow box section is formed with means, integral there­ with, other than means for adjusting the size of the box sec­ tion, for enabling an undersized post to be rigidly supported in the box section and/or for removing excess post material from an oversized post. Means for removing excess material from an oversized post may comprise a bevelled edge formed on the top surface of at least one wall of the box section to present a chisel edge to a post being driven into the box section. Means for enabling an undersized post to be rigidly supported in the box section preferably comprise an upstand­ ing projection or plurality of projections on the inner surface of at least one wall of the box section whereby the interior dimensions of the box section are effectively reduced. Prefer­ ably the projections comprise vertical flanges produced by punching out a section of the wall of the box section and bending the punched section inwardly of the box section.

Description: This invention relates to means for supporting vertical posts, for example, posts for supporting fencing or the like, sign boards, stakes for supporting plants, etc. UK Patent Specification No. 1461802 relates to a post support comprising an elongate ground engaging portion capable of being driven vertically into the ground and a vertical post engaging portion in the form of a hollow box section of integral construction rigidly attached to the ground engaging portion and so formed that a post to be supported and engaged by, for example, attached to or received in, the post engaging portion extends vertically and with its axis substantially parallel to the axis of the ground engaging portion. Wooden posts, although cut to a nominal size, are frequently over or under size and, accordingly, if the box section of the post support is dimensioned to receive a 3" (25mm) post, for example, an under sized post is a loose fit in the box section and must be wedged if the post is to be supported rigidly in a vertical position and an over sized post must be planed down, or otherwise reduced in size, at the end to be received in the box section. GB-A-2092638 discloses a pole support comprising a tube having at one end an auger which is to be embedded in the ground. A handle may be provided for assisting in rotating the device to force the auger into the ground. A detachable spring clip is attached to the open end of the tube. The use of the spring clip enables articles with stems somewhat thinner than the internal dimensions of the tube to be held reasonably securely in place. US-A-4269010 discloses a post support comprising a tubular main sleeve, a disc member extending horizontally from a mid length position on the sleeve and radial fin members above and below the disc member. The inner surface of the sleeve is provided with resilient splines. According to the invention, a post support comprising an elongate ground engaging portion capable of being driven vertically into the ground, and a post engaging portion, attached to the ground engaging portion, in the form of a hollow box section of integral construction for receiving one end of a post to be supported in a vertical position and with its axis substantially parallel to the axis of the ground engaging portion wherein the hollow box section is formed with integral means comprising an upstanding projection or plurality of projections forced by material punched out of the wall of the box section, the or each projection having an inwardly projecting free end and being capable of cutting into the surface of a wooden post, on the inner surface of at least one wall and preferably of two adjacent walls of the box section for enabling an under-sized post to be rigidly supported in the box section. The post support of the invention may also be provided with means for removing excess material from an over-sized post preferably comprising a bevelled edge formed on the top surface of at least one wall, and preferably of two adjacent walls, of the box section, which bevelled edge(s) present(s) a chisel edge to a post being driven into the box section. Preferably any wall with a bevelled top surface is lower than any un-bevelled wall so that the portion of any other wall(s) extending above the bevelled edge will serve to guide the post as it is driven into the box section. For support of a fence post, it is only necessary that the post be prevented from movement in any direction perpendicular to the plane of the fence, since movement in the direction of the plane of the fence is prevented by the fence panels themselves on either side of the post. Accordingly, it is necessary only that projections need be formed in one side portion of the hollow box section provided that when the post support is introduced into the ground the projections are aligned so as to prevent undesired movement of the fence post perpendicular to the plane of the fence. Although projections need only be present on one side of hte box section preferably they are present on two adjacent sides of a rectangular box section. In the case of a circular box section there is only a need for projections in one location on the wall, although, of course they may be present in two or more spaced locations. The projections are integral with the wall of the box section and are formed by material punched out of the wall of the box section leaving an aperture in the wall, with the cut out portion of the wall turned inwardly of the box section. The projections may, for example, comprise inwardly projecting flanges tangs or barbs in combination with indented portions in the wall. Vertically extending inwardly projecting flanges are preferred since they will then cut more easily into the post as it is driven in to the box section. An upwardly extending tang may be provided with a bevelled edge so that the material of the post is chiselled away as the post is driven into the box section. In such a case, the wall of the box below the tang is preferably deformed inwardly to such an extend that the groove formed in the post by the chiselled edge fits snugly over the deformed portion of the wall. The box section may be mounted on the ground engaging portion in such a way as to allow minor adjustment of the box section relative to the ground engaging portion after the gound engaging portion has been driven into the ground, for example, the box section may be mounted on the ground engaging portion by an arrangement similar to that shown in specification no. GB-A-2111553A, or as described in our co-pending application no. 8308486 (GB-A-2140839), both of which are not prepublished. Preferably, however, the box section is rigidly attached to the ground engaging portion, for example by welding. The projections may be of any size or shape capable of accomodating the cutting tolerances normally found in fencing posts. In the case of a post which is not under size or which is under size by less than the maximum allowed for, the projections will cut into the post so that they do not prevent entry of the post into the box section. The ground engaging portion may be of any desired configuration but is preferably of cruciform section, which may be a trifin cross but is preferably a saltire. When the ground engaging portion has a saltire section the arms of the saltire preferably extend diagonally of a rectangular box section. The invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of post support according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the post support of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second form of post support according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the post support of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a third form of post support according to the invention; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the post support of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth form of post support according to the invention; Fig. 8. is a plan view of the post support of Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 1 the post support comprises a ground engaging portion 1 and a post engaging portion 2 of hollow rectangular box section. The ground engaging portion 1 is of cruciform cross section and tapers from the top end 3 at which the post engaging portion 2 is located, to the free end 4. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in each wall of the box section 2 is an inwardly depressed portion 8, which is stamped out of the wall by cutting round three sides of a rectangular portion. The top edge 9 of each portion 8 is provided with a bevelled cutting edge. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the post support is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except that inwardly depressed portions 8 are formed on only two adjacent sides of the box section 2, and the height of these depressed portions 8 is reduced. Immediately below each inwardly depressed portion 8 is an indented portion 10 of width equal to that of the portion 8 and able to be received within the channel section cut out of a post by the bevelled cutting edge 9 of the portion 8. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, on each of two adjacent walls of the box section 2 are four stamped out portions 11. These portions 11 are each formed by making two horizontal cuts and a vertical cut extending between the midway points of the horizontal cuts and then pressing the two tabs 12 that are so formed inwardly of the box until they extend perpendicular to the walls. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the arrangement is similar to that of Figs. 7 and 8 except that each stamped out portion 11 forms only a single tab 12 instead of a pair of tabs. In the case of a box section 6" (150mm) high, the projections may extend from a point about 1" (25mm) above the base to a point about 1" (25mm) below the open end. For use with a nominal 3" (75mm) square post, the box section will have an internal cross section with 3" (75mm) sides and a projection is, for example, formed approximately 1" (25mm) from each corner and hence the projections on each side are spaced by approximately 1" (75mm).

Claims: A post support comprising an elongate ground engaging portion (3), preferably of cruciform cross-section, capable of being driven vertically into the ground, and a post engaging portion (2), attached to the ground engaging portion (3), in the form of a hollow box section (2) of integral construction for receiving one end of a post to be supported in a vertical position and with its axis substantially parallel to the axis of the ground engaging portion (3) characterised in that on the inner surface of at least one wall the hollow box section (2) is formed with integral means comprising an upstanding projection or plurality of projections (8, 12) formed by material punched out of the wall of the box section, the or each projection having an inwardly projecting free end and being capable of cutting into the surface of a wooden post for enabling an under-sized post to be rigidly supported in the box section (2). A post support according to claim 1, wherein upstanding projections (8, 12) are formed on the inner surface of two adjacent walls of a rectangular box section (2). A post support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the projections (8, 12) comprise flanges, tangs or barbs. A post support according to claim 3 wherein inwardly projecting flanges (12) extend axially of the box section (2). A post support according to claim 3 wherein the projecting portions (8, 12) include upwardly extending tangs (8) provided with a bevelled edge (9) so that the material of the post is chiselled away as the post is driven into the box section (2), and indented portions (10) arranged at a lower level than the tangs (8). A post support according to claim 5, wherein the tang (8) and indented portion (10) are so sized that the groove formed in the post by the chiselled edge (9) fits snugly over the indented portion of the wall. A post support according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the box section (2) is rigidly attached, preferably welded, to the ground engaging portion (3). A post support according to any one of claims 1 and 4 to 7 wherein the box section (2) is of circular section.

Inventors: MILLS, DEREK JOHN
Applicants: METPOST LIMITED
Application year: 1984
Main classification: E04H12
IPC codes: E04H12