Abstract:
A ground spike is disclosed having a plurality of blades and a flat plate secured thereto. The blades each have a reinforcement deformation proximal to a longitudinal outer edge. The reinforcement deformation may be a reinforcement line stamped therein, may be a bent outer edge, or the like. Objects may be attached to the flat plate, thereby securing such objects to the ground when the ground spike is used. The ground spike may have a post receiving socket secured to the flat plate. Each component may comprise metals of varying thickness and rigidity or other suitable materials.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to supporting and firmly anchoring vertical posts, such as fence posts and the like, in the ground. 
     REFERENCE TO EARLIER FILED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Canadian patent application No. 2,563,135 filed Oct. 11, 2006 and Canadian patent application No. 2,573,995 filed Jan. 16, 2007. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is desirable to be able to securely fasten various objects to the ground. One object that is commonly secured to the ground is a vertical post. 
     When installing a vertical post, such as a fence post, it is common to support the post in the ground by one of: (1) burying one end of the post in a hole dug in the ground; (2) filling the area around the base of the post with concrete; or (3) securing the post to a ground spike that, in turn, is secured into the ground. 
     Burying one end of the post in the ground is often unsatisfactory for various reasons, including that digging out a suitable hole and burying the post may be difficult and the ground may not provide suitable support. This may result in a wobbly post that is not well suited for anchoring a fence or the like. A buried post may also be susceptible to rot. 
     Filling the area around the base of the post with concrete has its own limitations. This requires digging suitable holes around each post, acquiring sufficient concrete to set each post, mixing concrete, pouring concrete into holes around each post, and ensuring that the post is held straight while the concrete sets. 
     Securing posts to post support means, such as metal ground spikes, is a relatively easy and cost efficient alternative for securing a post to the ground. 
     Metal ground spike post supports of varying shapes have been used to secure posts to the ground. U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,646 to Mills discloses a prior art metal post support ( 2 ) having a ground engaging blade portion ( 4 ) and a post supporting hollow box portion ( 6 ) as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Mills discloses four blades ( 8 ) disposed in a cross-shaped cross-section, meeting at a central joint ( 10 ). Each of the four blades ( 8 ) is welded to a flat plate ( 16 ), which in turn is welded onto the sides ( 12 ) of the hollow box portion ( 6 ). The Mills post support is made of mild steel plate of one-eighth inch thickness (3.2 mm). To allow drainage of water entering the box-section ( 14 ), drain holes may be drilled in the plate ( 16 ). To secure a post to the Mills post support, holes may drilled in the sides ( 12 ), through which bolts can be inserted. 
     A second common ground spike post support ( 20 ) is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The common ground spike ( 20 ) has a blade portion ( 21 ) comprising four blades ( 22 ), and a post socket portion ( 30 ). The blade portion may be made by cutting two pieces of metal, then bending the two halves of each piece of the metal into a perpendicular arrangement along a longitudinal fold line ( 23  or  24 ). The two pieces of metal are then attached along the respective fold lines by a welded connection ( 25 ). 
     The post socket portion ( 30 ) is made from a unitary piece of metal. Three perpendicular bends (along bend lines  32 ) form four walls ( 31 ) to the post socket ( 30 ). Perpendicular bends (along bend lines  34 ) enable base tabs ( 35 ) to form a partially closed lower surface of the post socket ( 30 ). Clamping tabs ( 36 ) are formed in one corner of the post socket ( 30 ) by additional bends (along lines  33 ) in the metal. Apertures ( 38 ) for bolt connectors appear in the clamping tabs ( 36 ). 
     The blade portion ( 21 ) is attached to the post socket portion ( 30 ) by a welded connection ( 28 ) between the top of each blade ( 22 ) and the lower face of the base tabs ( 35 ). 
     The blade portion ( 21 ) and post socket portion ( 30 ) of the common ground spike ( 20 ) are typically made of the same metal material, often having a thickness of between 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm. Mills discloses use of steel having a thickness of one-eighth inch (3.2 mm). The cost of the metal starting material is a major component of the cost of producing a ground spike. Reducing the thickness of metal for the prior art ground spike designs result in premature deformations and failures under normal to heavy wear conditions. 
     There exists a need for stronger, improved blades for a ground spike post support. There exists a need for a stronger, improved ground spike design, preferably that requires less metal such that it can be manufactured for a lower cost without sacrificing product quality. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described with reference to the detailed description of the invention and to the drawings thereof in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first prior art ground spike post support; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the first prior art ground spike post support; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second prior art ground spike post support; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a portion of blade material according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional top plan view of a blade portion according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a plan view of starting material used in the construction of a blade portion of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a plan view of starting material used in the construction of a base plate of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a plan view of starting material used in the construction of a socket portion of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a plan view of starting material used in the construction of a blade portion of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a plan view of starting material used in the construction of a socket portion of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a plan view of starting material used in the construction of a base plate of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 20  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the socket portion of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 21  is a partial perspective view of the socket portion of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 22  is a partial perspective view of the socket portion of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 23  is a partial perspective view of the socket portion of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 24  is a partial perspective view of the socket portion of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 25  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 26  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 27  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 28  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 29  is a side view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 30  is a top view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 31  is a top view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 32  is a side view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 33  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 34  is a top view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 35  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 36  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 37  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 38  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 39  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 40  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 41  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 42  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 43  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 44  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 45  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 46  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 47  is an perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 48  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 49  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Throughout the following description specific details are set out to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4  and subsequent figures, embodiment  200  comprises a ground engaging blade portion  41  and a base plate  60 . 
     The blade portion  41  comprises a plurality of blades  42  designed for driving into the ground. In embodiment  40 , there are four blades  42 , though alternate embodiments may have two, three, five, six or more blades. The blades have a reinforcement deformation proximal to a longitudinal outer edge thereof. In embodiment  200  the reinforcement deformation comprises a bent outer edge  110 . In certain other embodiments, such as embodiments  40 ′,  104  and  106 , reinforcement deformations are illustrated as reinforcement lines that have been stamped or otherwise marked as lines  46 ,  47  into the blades. Each reinforcement line has a convex portion  46  on one side of the blade and a corresponding concave portion  47  on the other side of the blade. 
     Where the reinforcement deformation comprises a bent outer edge  110 , the blade may be bent proximal to a longitudinal outer edge thereof. At the top end of the blade, the distance  111  from the edge of the blade and the bend line may be any suitable distance. To minimize material the need for extra material, a distance between 2.5 mm and 10 mm may be suitable, and a distance of approximately 5 mm may be preferable. In many embodiments the blades taper from the top end of the blade down to the tip  48 . This may make folding the blade difficult near the tip. The fold line may taper closer to the edge of the blade closer to the blade tip  48 . The bent outer edge  110  may be not run the entire length of the blade, but rather stop at point  201  short of the tip of the blade by as much as 5% to 35% as shown in  FIG. 4 . In embodiment  200 , the bent outer edge  110  terminates about 10% to 20% of the length L of the blade away from the tip  43  of the blade, and particularly about 15% away from the tip  43 . 
     The bend for the edge portion  110  may be any suitable angle  164 , such as 45 degrees to 120 degrees, or preferably between 80 degrees and 100 degrees, and most preferably approximately 90 degrees. Other angles less than 45 degrees or greater than 120 degrees may also be suitable for enhancing the strength of the blade to resist torsion forces when in use. 
     The blade portion  41  may be made from two pieces of metal, each having been cut, for example as shown in  FIG. 14 ,  17  or  6 . Bending of the edges of the blades or stamping of reinforcement lines  46 ,  47  on the blades  42  may occur before, after or contemporaneously with the cutting of the blade material. The material is then bent at a substantially perpendicular angle along fold line  43  to form two blades  42 A and  42 B. This is repeated for a second piece of blade material which is folded to form two blades  42 C and  42 D along fold line  44 . The two pieces of blade material may then be welded together along join  45 . Welding may be applied in 2, 3, 4 or more discrete portions of the join  45 , or it may be applied along the entire join. 
     The welds may comprise spot welds. In certain embodiments, regular welds are applied at the top and bottom of the join  45  and spot welds are applied in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more positions along join  45 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , multiple holes  120  may be cut in the blade material along fold line  43  to facilitate the welding process. In this case regular welds can be applied in each hole.  FIG. 12  illustrates 4 holes, although 2, 3, 5 or more holes may also be provided in accordance with this invention. 
     To facilitate the welding process, discrete apertures may be cut along fold lines  43  and  44 . The discrete apertures can coincide with the portions to be welded so that the weld may be applied from a single side of the blades. 
     If the outer edges of the blades are bent due to the stamping of reinforcement lines, the edge of the blades may be straightened, such as by mechanical straightening. This can occur before or after the bending of the blade material. 
     In alternate embodiments, the blade portion may be constructed without folding by welding individual blade pieces together along join  45 . 
     Base plate  60  is preferably formed of a unitary piece of metal. The base plate  60  may comprise apertures  203  for securing means to the ground spike. Any item that is desired to be secured to the ground could be secured to the base plate. For example, a metal fence could be bolted to the base plate, possibly via a foot joint for securing the post to the plate  60 . Other items could also be secured to the base plate  60  such as floodlights, sprinkler systems, lawn ornaments, etc. The size of the base plate  60  can vary significantly depending upon the desired use. Apertures  203  may also be of different shape, such as oblong if the ability to laterally position an object away from the centre of the ground spike is desired. The rotational positioning of the blades with respect to the base plate may also be varied as shown with reference to  FIGS. 8-11  and embodiments  200  and  208 . 
     The base plate may be reinforced with reinforcement deformations. The reinforcement deformation may comprise a bent outer edge  206  or may comprise reinforcement lines  62 . 
     In certain embodiments, such as embodiment  40 , the base plate is secured to each of the sides of the socket portion  50 . As shown in  FIGS. 15 and 19 , socket base plate  60  has four main sides  65  that define a square in the approximate dimensions of the inside of the socket portion  50 . Each of the four corners of the square may be cut out. Socket base plate  60  has three removed corners  66  of equal size, and a larger removed corner  68  to correspond with the corner in which the clamping tabs  56  are located in embodiment  40 . Socket base plate  60  may have a central aperture  64 . The central aperture  64  and the cut-out corners  66  may assist in the drainage of water or liquids when in use, and may assist in powder coating or painting during manufacture. Bent edges  206  may assist with reinforcement of the plate  60 , particularly against torsion forces when the ground spike is in use. 
     Reinforcement lines  62  may be stamped into socket base plate  60  for increased strength and rigidity, which may increase the resistance of the base plate  60  to torsion forces. 
     With reference to  FIG. 13 , where the blade portion  41  has four blades, made from two pieces of metal, the angles  160  and  162  may be varied away from 90 degrees. Where two blades are made out of a unitary piece of metal such as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , and where the two edges  110  are bent towards each other, arranging four blades at 90 degrees to each other would result in uneven soil displacement/working areas. For example, where angles  160  and  162  are 90 degrees, the distance  166  that could exert pressure on surrounding ground would be less than the distance  168 , and will be much less than the distance  170 . Distance  166  forms the shortest footprint distance of the ground spike. Depending upon which direction external forces pressure the ground spike when it is bearing a load in the ground, it may be desirable to maximize the shortest footprint distance, such as by making distance  166  approximately equivalent to distance  168 . This can be done by varying the angles  160  and  162  as necessary. For example, an angle of about 95 degrees for  160  and a resulting angle of about 85 degrees for  162  may result in distance  166  approximately equaling distance  168 . 
     Embodiment  40  further comprises a post receiving socket portion  50 . The post supporting socket portion  50  comprises four side walls  51  that are in a substantially perpendicular arrangement to each other. Reinforcement lines  55  may be stamped or otherwise marked in each side wall  51 . The reinforcement lines  55  may be concentrated on the lower portion of the socket portion  50 , or may extend further up the side walls  51 . One, two, three, or more reinforcement lines  55  may be applied to each side wall  51 . 
     Clamping tabs  56  may be provided on one or more corners of the socket portion  50 . The clamping tabs may take one of various forms known in the art. Examples of differently shaped clamping mechanisms can be seen with reference to embodiments  80 ,  82 , and  84 . Clamping tabs have apertures  58  to allow a bolt to pass therethrough for tightening the socket portion  50  on a post placed therein during installation. Clamping tabs may have one, two, three, or more apertures  58  to allow various numbers of bolts to secure the socket portion  50  to a post. 
     Once the blade portion  41 , the socket portion  50 , and the socket base plate  60  have been manufactured as described above, embodiment  40  is further assembled by welding each of the four sides  65  of the socket base plate to a side wall  51  of the socket portion  50 . For example, side  65 A may be welded to side wall  51 A, and side  65 B may be welded to side wall  51 B, etc. The length of the weld between each side  65  and side wall  51  is almost the entire depth D of each side wall  51 . 
     The length L of the blades may be any suitable length, for example between 40 and 10 inches, or more preferably between 32 and 24 inches. The length of the blades portion  41  may be varied according to the soil conditions of the application. 
     The width W of the blades may be any suitable length for a given application. Where the application is for supporting a 4×4 post, which is generally 3.5″ by 3.5″ wide, the inside depth D of each side wall  51  of the socket portion  50  may be slightly more than 3.5″. In this case the width W will be the same or less than the distance between opposing sides  65  of the square  61  defined by plate  60  if the blades  42  are welded to the plate  60  at angles parallel to the sides  65 . In embodiments where the blades  42  are parallel to the sides  65 , width W will be between 3.5″ and 2.5″, and more preferably between 3.5″ and 3″, and most preferably between 3.5″ and 3.3″. In embodiments where the blades  42  are welded to the plate  60  at approximately 45 degree angles to the sides  65  (i.e. the top surface of the blades extend towards the corners of square  61 ), then width W must be the same or less than the length of a diagonal line that would extend from corner to opposite corner of the square  61 . For supporting a 4×4 post that is 3.5″ by 3.5″ wide, the diagonal line  69  extending between opposite corners of square  61  may be about 5″. For embodiments with blades welded to plate  60  generally along diagonal line  69 , the width W will be between 5″ and 2.5″, preferably between 5″ and 4″ and more preferably between 4.9″ and 4.5″. 
     The blades taper from the top to the bottom, such that the width T at the tip of the blades is significantly less than the width W at the top of the blade portion. 
     It is noted that the width W, which is illustrated as being the width of the piece of material that is bent to form blades  42 A and  42 B, is approximately the same as the width of the top portion of the assembled blade portion  41 . Similarly the width T is generally the same as the width of the tip portion  48  of the assembled blade portion  41 . Although in practice these widths may vary, particularly due to variations in the curvature of bends  43  and  44  and in the welds joint  45 , for ease of reference in this section widths W and T are treated as equivalent and therefore reference to one of these widths may be applied to either width value. 
     Height H of the socket portion  50  may be any suitable height. If height H is too high, the post support will not be suitable for constructing certain fences because dogs, raccoons or other animals may fit under the fence. For 4×4 post installations, height H may be between 6.5″ to 4″ or more preferably between 4.75″ and 5.75″, and most preferably between 5″ and 5.5″. 
     Alternate embodiments of the blade portion  41 ′, the socket portion  50 ′ and the plate  60 ′ are within the scope of the invention. Blade portion  41 ′ has cut outs  49  which protrude from one side of the blade. Other alterations to the surface of the blades, including stamped out portions or alternative reinforcement mechanisms are understood to fall within the scope of the invention. The blade tip  48  may be of any suitable shape, including having a rounded end, having tips cut off, or with the tips square (not shown). 
     Plate  60 ′ has tabs  74  that may be folded perpendicular to the flat surface  70  along lines  72 . Plate  60 ′ may be welded to the side walls  51  of the socket portion  50  along one or both of the fold line  72  and the outer edge of tab  74 . 
     Socket portion  50 ′ shows alternate embodiments for clamping tabs  56 ′ in which the entire tab, that may have two apertures  58 , remains as a single piece of material. The corners  59  of the clamping tabs  56 ′ may or may not be removed. Rounded corners may increase the safety of handling the ground spike. 
       FIG. 20  shows an enlarged perspective view of the underside of the socket portion  50  of embodiment  40 . Plate  60  is welded a distance  76  away from the lower edge of the side walls  51 . Distance  76  may be between 30 mm and 0 mm, preferably between 15 mm and 2 mm, and more preferably between 10 mm and 3 mm. One consideration in choosing a suitable distance  76  may be the distance that can be filled entirely with weld material. 
     Width W of the blade portion  41  may be varied to fit on plate  60 . The distance  78  between the closest top edge corner of the blade portion  41  and the side wall  51  (measured along a line that continues in the plane of the blade) may be between 0 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 0 mm and 25 mm, and more preferably between 0 mm and 15 mm. 
     Although various clamping mechanisms have been described, embodiment  86  illustrates a post support with no clamping mechanism. The side walls can be welded together to form a join in place of the clamping mechanism. 
     Different orientations of the blades are within the scope of the invention. Embodiments  40  and  82  show an X-shaped design wherein the blades extend towards the corners of the socket. Embodiment  92  shows a +-shaped cross-section where the blades extend towards the mid sections of the walls  51 . Embodiment  90  shows an orientation of the blades that is intermediate between the X-shape and the +-shape cross-sections. The distance  78  can be varied, such as from approximately 0 mm shown in embodiment  82  to between 5 and 25 mm shown in embodiment  40 . 
     Embodiment  40  has two reinforcement lines on the plate  60 , whereas embodiments  82 ,  90  and  92  do not have reinforcement lines on the plate. 
     The corners and aperture  64  that may be cut from the plate  60  may allow drainage of powder during powder coating and may allow drainage of fluid after installation. 
     Embodiment  92  has the blade portion  41  oriented 90 degrees from the orientation shown in embodiment  40 . 
     Embodiments  94  and  140  are adjustable ground spikes, having two domes  96  and  97  sitting in place of the base plate  60 . A bolt  99  and nut  98  arrangement allows adjustment of the orientation of the socket from the blades portion during installation. This may be advantageous during installation, particularly if the blades are not driven into the ground straight. The socket may have an opening  95  to allow access by a wrench or other device to adjust and tighten the head of the bolt during installation. Domes  96  and  97  may be any suitable thickness, such as between 3.0 mm and 9.0 mm, and more preferably between 5.0 mm and 7.5 mm. The domes  96  and  97  may be stamped with reinforcement lines, whether concentric circles or lines that radiate outward. Reinforcement lines can be stamped in the blades and in the socket. 
     For embodiments  94  and  140 , base plate  60  is a domed surface, namely lower dome  97 . In alternate embodiments of adjustable ground spikes, the base plate  60  may be a flat surface with a circular shape configured so that an upper dome can slide thereupon to adjust the angle and position of the post-receiving socket. 
     Embodiment  100  is an example of a post support that could be set in concrete. This type of post support does not require a blade portion. However the socket  50  and the plate  60  could be constructed in the same manner. 
     Embodiment  102  is an example of a post support that can be bolted down to a surface, such as a concrete surface or a wooden deck. The socket may be constructed as in embodiment  40 . The plate may extend outward beyond the socket walls. 
     Embodiments  104  and  106  are examples of post supports having plates  108  that extend outward beyond the socket walls. Embodiment  106  also shows an alternate pattern for the construction of the blade elements. Reinforcement lines can be placed in some or all of the blades, socket and plate  108  in embodiments  104  and  106 . 
     Post support ground spikes are installed by placing a short post segment into the post socket, then hammering the post segment, which in turn drives the post support into the ground. No digging or mixing concrete is involved. 
     Different portions of the ground spike may be made of different types of metal, whether that be different alloys, different coatings on the metal, different treatments of the metal, and/or different thicknesses of metal. Early test results of the invention indicate that the portion of the ground spike that requires the thickest and/or strongest material is the base plate  60 . Test results further indicate that the portion of the ground spike that requires the least strength and/or may permit the least thickness is the socket portion  50 , with the blade portion  41  requiring an intermediate strength and/or thickness of metal. 
     Test results also indicate that the socket portion  50  requires the most strength at and near the weld to the base plate  60 . For this reason, the reinforcement lines  55  in embodiment  40  only appear at or near the area in which the side walls  51  are welded to the base plate  60 . The reinforcement lines  55  may be raised slightly above the area in which the base plate  60  is welded so that there is no gap in the weld between the plate  60  and the side walls  51 . 
     The top one to two thirds of the blade portion require the most rigidity and the most resistance to torsion. The tips of the blades  48  also must be relatively strong to avoid distortion when hitting rocks or other hard items when driven into the ground. 
     It is possible to weld additional pieces onto the blades, below the reinforcement lines, to add extra rigidity to the blade portion. This may be particularly useful when trying to minimize the thickness of the blades and yet are unable to stamp suitable reinforcement lines in certain sections of the blades, or where certain portions of the blades require extra reinforcement. 
     In alternate embodiments, reinforcement lines may be added, where practicable, to any portion of the ground spike without departing from the invention. The nature and pattern of the reinforcement lines, as well as the thickness of the lines and the depths of the contours may be varied. 
     Typically ground spike post supports are used to support posts that are generally square in cross section, for example a 4×4 post (which has side dimensions in cross section of 3.5 inches). However it is also possible to attach a suitable post socket for supporting posts with non-square cross sections, such as a rectangular cross-section, a triangular cross-section, a circular cross-section or an oval cross-section. Other examples of supportable posts include 2×2, 3×3 and 5×5 in the imperial system, and 9×9, 7×7 and 5×5 posts in the metric system (i.e. 9 cm×9 cm). The dimensions of the socket of the ground spike would vary accordingly, for example may be 91 mm to hold a 9 cm×9 cm post, 71 mm to hold a 7 cm×7 cm post, or similar suitable variations. The distance between the edge of the post and the edge of the post support socket may be varied to correspond with the type of fastening mechanism chosen for the socket. For example a socket without a clamping mechanism which merely has holes for placing one or two anchoring bolts through the post and socket might be a closer fit than a socket having wedge grips. 
     Ground spikes without lumber supporting sockets can be used to secure outdoor lighting, such as flood lamps or garden lights, garden ornaments, and water sprinkler hoses and nozzles. 
     Although ground spikes according to this invention have been primarily described as being comprised of metal, it is within the scope of the invention that the ground spike may comprise other suitable material such as plastic. Accordingly, ground spikes according to this invention may be made from injection molding. In such cases references to welding would clearly not apply. The ground spike may be made of a unitary piece of plastic, such as PVC, or may comprise more than one piece of plastic and attached together by adhesion methods known in the art. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although certain embodiments have been described above in some detail, many modifications may be practiced without departing from the principles of the invention.