POST-HOLDER

Abstract: A post-holder particularly suitable for holding wooden posts for fences, signs etc., temporarily in the ground comprises a soil-screw (1) of helical form with a point (2) at one end and a post receiver (4), preferably of box section, at the other. A stabilising ground plate (3) may be provided at the base of the post receiver.

Description: " POST-HOLDER " The invention relates to a holder for posts which are to be erected in the ground. Although the post-holder of the invention is suitable for posts which are to be permanently erected, it has characteristics which make it particularly suitable for temporary posts such as are used for temporary signs, or temporary fencing or the like. It is common practice in erecting a temporary post merely to hammer a pointed stake into the ground. Not only is this difficult to do if the post is tall but also the hole can be enlarged and the post loosened and removed by shaking - either deliberately or by wind force. Inevitably, an unsightly hole remains. The present invention seeks to overcome these difficulties. According to the invention there is provided a post-holder which comprises a .soil-screw of generally helical form with a point at one end and a post- receiver at the other, the post receiver being adapted to receive the lower end of a post and there being means for retaining the post in the receiver. The soil-screw will generally be a helix of steel rod of suitable cross-section - preferably round . spring steel. While it is possible that the post receiver may be formed of the rod itself it is preferred that it can be constructed by a tubular steel section corresponding in cross-section with the shape and size of the post. Typically, the post will be a 2" x 2" wooden post and the receiver will be correspondingly box-shaped. The retaining means may be * one or more bolts which pass through the holes in the receiver and the post. Preferably, however, the retaining means comprises at least one pinch bolt threadedly engaged in the post receiver to project through the wall of the steel section. In use, the post-holder is screwed into the ground, preferably with the aid of a key which fits the receiver. The post is then fixed in the receiver. The nature of the soil-screw means that no post-hole is made in the ground and the post cannot readily be loosened by shaking or removed easily without a key. Preferably a ground platform is provided at the base of the post-receiver to provide a platform on the ground which aids stability. The ground platform may take the form of a circular plate. The ground platform may have holes to accommodate retaining pins to be driven into the ground. In one embodiment of the invention the tubular post receiver is pivotally mounted on the ground platform. This arrangement allows a strut held in the tubular section to be mounted at an angle to the ground. This provision is made for bracing struts for large structures. The pivot may be a simple pivot about one axis or may be a universal joint about two perpendicular axes. The other end of the strut may be provided with a fixing unit comprising a tubular section for accommodating the end of the strut and a plate or channel section pivoted to the tubular section for attaching to a vertical post to which the strut is to be fixed. The invention will further be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a post-holder according to the invention; Figure 2 is a series of diagram showing insertion of the holder and erection of, the post; Figure 3 is an illustration of another embodiment of the invention; Figure -4 is a perspective view of part of a post-holder embodying the invention; Figure 5 is a plan. view of the Figure 5 arrangement with post in place; Figure 6 is a perspective view of another post- holder embodying the invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view of another post- holder embodying the invention; Figure 8 is a two-part drawing showing alternative ways of using the post-holder of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a two-part drawing showing means for attaching an angled strut to a vertical post. Referring to Figure 1 the post-holder comprises a soil-screw 1 of circular-section spring steel rod pointed at the lower end 2. The upper end is welded to a circular steel stabilising plate 3 and on plate 3 is welded a box-shaped post-receiver H , .also of steel. The receiver . has two pairs of opposed holes 5 for receiving bolts. Figure 2 shows the manner in which the post- holder is used. In figure 2a_ the post-holder is being screwed into the ground with the aid of a key 6 which has a square sectioned shank 7 which fits the post- receiver *. and a bar handle 8. Next the post is stood in the receiver (Figure 2b_) and finally the retaining bolts 9 are fitted (Figure 2c_) . Figure 3 shows an embodiment in which the post- receiver 4 is round, for receiving a round post. In order to turn such an arrangement for insertion and « removal a slotted key 10 is provided, which engages with a tommy-bar 11 fitted through bolt-holes 5. In Figure 3 the screw is shown as left-handed, which is a variation possible to the Figure 1 embodiment. Figure 3 shows also another improvement. A difficulty sometimes experienced in practice is that a divot of turf is taken by the screw as it is removed. This is because the turf is wedged in the narrowing gap between the screw and the stabilising plate. In order to avoid this, a spacer ring 12 may be used. This is placed on the ground before the screw is inserted. The spacer ring is of steel and carries three (or four) spacer blocks 13- The screw is inserted until the stabilising plate engages firmly on the blocks 13- In this way the top most part of the helix is prevented from entering the turf. Referring to Figure 4 the post-holder has a square-section tubular post-receiver 5 with two holes in adjacent walls at 15 and 16. Over each hole is welded a nut 17 and pinch bolts 18 are threaded in the nuts to project through the walls and hold a post 19 as shown in Figure 5. Figure 6 shows a post-holder with a ground- plate having two holes 20. Locking pins 21 are driven * through the holes into the ground to hold the post- holder firmly in place. Figure 7 shows a post-holder with a ground plate 3 from which project a pair of brackets 22. A pivot pin 23 is held in holes in the brackets and the post-receiver 4 is mounted thereon, so being pivoted. Figure 8(a) shows the post-holder of Figure 7 at 24 holding an angled bracing strut 25 which supports a vertical post 26. In Figure 8(b) the post- holder 24 is screwed obliquely into the ground, the pivot allowing fine adjustments of the angle of the strut. Figure 9 shows at 9(a) a means for attaching the bracing strut 25 to the vertical post 26. This comprises a square sectioned holder part 27 pivoted at 28 to a channel section 29. Part 27 receives the strut which is fixed by screws through holes 30, and part 29 is screwed to the vertical post 26 by holes 31. Figure 9 ( b ) shows a modification to part 29. In this embodiment 29 is a flat plate. 10 15 20 25 30 35

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A post-holder which comprises a soil-screw of generally helical form with a point at one end and a post-receiver at the other, the post receiver being, adapted to receive the lower end of a post and there being means for retaining the post in the receiver. 2. A post-holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the soil screw is of spring steel of round cross-section. 3. A post-holder as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the post-receiver comprises a tubular steel section. 4. A post-holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein the retaining means comprises at least one pinch bolt threadedly engaged in the post receiver to project through the wall of the steel section. 5. A post holder as claimed in claim 4 wherein there are two pinch bolts arranged substantially at right-angles. 6. A post-holder as claimed in claim 5 wherein the pinch bolts are spaced axially with respect to the tubular post retainer. 7. A post-holder as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the post receiver comprises a ground platform. 8. A post-holder as claimed in claim 7 wherein the ground platform has holes to receive retaining pins which in use are driven into the ground. 9. A post-holder as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the post receiver comprises a tubular steel section which is pivotally mounted on the ground platform. 10. A post-holder as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9 wherein spacer blocks are provided beneath the ground plate to preve.nt the top-most part of the soil screw entering the ground. 11. A post-holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figures 1 and 2; 3; and 5; 6; or 7 to 9 of the accompanying drawings

Inventors: SMART PETER WILLIAM, SMART, PETER, WILLIAM
Applicants: SMART PETER WILLIAM, SMART, PETER, WILLIAM
Application year: 1985
Main classification: E04H17
IPC codes: E04H12