Abstract:
A bracket including a foundation portion and a post leg portion. The post leg portion may include a plurality of tabs for engaging a strap member. The strap member is configured to engage and support a post member.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This U.S. patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/891,700 filed on Oct. 16, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a post support and, more particularly, to such supports used on protective pipes where overhead power and telephone wires enter a structure. 
         [0003]    Currently, if a user would like to support a, for example, an electrical service mast where overhead power and telephone wires enter a structure they must use a single-piece support, which tend to be inflexible and so regularly break during installation or while providing support due to strain on the element of the support that holds the post. Additionally, because installation of the single-piece supports typically demands removal of the “weather head”—the weatherproof cap at the entry point of such wires - disconnection and reconnection of the services provided by the wire is also a problem. 
         [0004]    As can be seen, there is a need for a two-piece, flexible post support. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIGS. 1A to 1E  shows various views of a bracket of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIGS. 2A to 2C  show various views of a strap of an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary embodiment of the present invention installed on a roof. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 4A to 4E  show various views of an alternative embodiment of a bracket of the present invention that incorporates a hinge. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0010]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a post support device, system and method. The post support may include a bracket and a strap. The user may adapt the bracket to mount a post thereon and then attach the bracket to a foundation or other rigid support and separately may couple the strap to the bracket with the post securely sandwiched in between. 
         [0011]    In certain embodiments, the user may adapt the strap to mount a post thereon and then couple the strap to the bracket with the post securely sandwiched in between, and then may attach the bracket to the foundation. 
         [0012]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the present invention may include a post support  40  that includes a bracket  10  ( FIG. 1D ) and strap  20  ( FIG. 2C ). The bracket  10  may include a foundation leg  12  having a first end  11  connected to a post leg  14  having a first end  19  and a second end  17 . The second end  17  may include a plurality of tabs  16  and a notch  18 . The strap  20  may include a plurality of arms  22  connected to opposite ends of a collar  24 . The bracket  10  and the strap  20  may be connected by attaching the plurality of strap arms  22  to the plurality of tabs  16  sandwiching the post  42  between the notch  18  and the collar  24 . The foundation leg  12  may be attached to a rigid support, like a roof, wall, or other structural element. 
         [0013]    In certain embodiments, the notch  18  and collar  24  may be shaped to at least partially conform to an outer contour differently shaped pipe or post, for example, but not limited to, circular, square, oval, and the like. In certain embodiments, the tab  16  may include a tab opening  15 , the arm  22  may include a strap opening  23 , and the foundation leg  12  may include a plurality of foundation leg openings  13 . Openings  15 ,  23  may be used to accommodate the passage of a fastener. In alternate embodiments, the arm  22  may be connected to the tab  16  by an attachment device that, for example, passes through both the strap opening  23  and tab opening  15 . In other embodiments, the foundation leg  12  may be connected to the foundation by an attachment device passing through the foundation leg openings  13  to the foundation. 
         [0014]    In certain embodiments, the present invention may be comprised of a flexible sheet of weatherproof material such as metal, metal composites, plastic, plastic composites, resin impregnated carbon fiber material, etc. that may be repeatedly used without fracturing. 
         [0015]    In certain embodiments, the angle “A” between the foundation leg  12  and the post leg  14  may be less than approximately 180 degrees to facilitate the method of using the present invention. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 4A through 4E , first leg  19  of post leg  14  may be joined to first end  11  of foundation leg  12  by way of an articulating member  21 , such as an articulating hinge member (see  FIGS. 4A through 4E ). Articulating member  21  may be fabricated in the style of a barrel hinge. In an embodiment, the hollow cylindrical shaped portions of the barrel hinge may be at least in part formed from at least a portion of the first leg  19  of the post leg  14 , or the first end  11  of the foundation leg  12 , or both. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the hollow cylindrical portion of at least a portion of the barrel hinge is formed by rolling at least an end portion of at least one of the first leg  19  or the first end  11  to form the hollow cylindrical portion that is adapted to accept pivot pin  44 . 
         [0018]    A method of using the present invention may include the following. The post support  40  disclosed above may be provided. A user may adapt the post support  40  so to sandwich the post  42  between the collar  24  and the notch  18 . The user may then connect the arms  22  to the tabs  16 . The user may then attach the foundation leg  12  to the foundation or other rigid support. Alternatively, the user may first attach the foundation leg  12  to the foundation, then sandwich the post between the notch  18  and the collar  24 , and then connect the arms  22  to the tabs  16 . 
         [0019]    In certain embodiments of the two-piece post support ( 10 ,  20 ), the user may keep the weather head intact when installing and using the post support  40  since the support need not be lowered down over the post, unlike currently used single-piece post supports. 
         [0020]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.