Patent Publication Number: US-6340147-B1

Title: Fence post holder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to fence post holders and more particularly pertains to a new fence post holder for holding fence posts in the ground. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of fence post holders is known in the prior art. More specifically, fence post holders heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,135,192; 5,090,656; 4,923,165; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 276,588; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 277,643; U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,107; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 844,726; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,271,646; 4,644,713; 5,568,909; 4,860,940; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 164,994. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new fence post holder. The inventive device includes a support portion that has a closed bottom, an open top and a perimeter side wall extending between the closed bottom and the open top to define an interior space designed for receiving a base of a fence post inserted through the open top. The insertion portion extends downwardly from the support portion. The insertion portion has a bottom point whereby the insertion portion is designed for facilitating insertion of the insertion portion into a ground surface. 
     In these respects, the fence post holder according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of holding fence posts in the ground. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of fence post holders now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new fence post holder construction wherein the same can be utilized for holding fence posts in the ground. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new fence post holder apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the fence post holders mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new fence post holder which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art fence post holders, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a support portion that has a closed bottom, an open top and a perimeter side wall extending between the closed bottom and the open top to define an interior space adapted for receiving a base of a fence post inserted through the open top. The insertion portion extends downwardly from the support portion. The insertion portion has a bottom point whereby the insertion portion is adapted for facilitating insertion of the insertion portion into a ground surface. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new fence post holder apparatus and method that has many of the advantages of the fence post holders mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new fence post holder which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested or even implied by any of the prior art fence post holders, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new fence post holder which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new fence post holder which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new fence post holder which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such fence post holder economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new fence post holder that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new fence post holder for holding fence posts in the ground. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new fence post holder which includes a support portion that has a closed bottom, an open top and a perimeter side wall extending between the closed bottom and the open top to define an interior space adapted for receiving a base of a fence post inserted through the open top. The insertion portion extends downwardly from the support portion. The insertion portion has a bottom point whereby the insertion portion is adapted for facilitating insertion of the insertion portion into a ground surface. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new fence post holder that holds fence posts of any shape in the ground. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new fence post holder that holds fence posts of any shape or size in the ground. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new fence post holder according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross section view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to FIGS. 1 through 2, a new fence post holder embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 2, the fence post holder  10  generally comprises a fence post  11 , along with a fence post support member  12  that has a support portion  13  and an insertion portion  14 . 
     The support portion  13  has a closed bottom  15 , an open top  16  and a generally square perimeter side wall  17 . The side wall  17  extends between the closed bottom  15  and the open top  16  to define an interior space  18  for receiving a base  19  of the fence post  11  when the base  19  of the fence post  11  is inserted through the open top  16 . 
     The insertion portion  14  extends downwardly from the support portion  13 . The insertion portion  14  has a bottom  20  point. The insertion portion  14  is for facilitating insertion of the insertion portion  14  into a ground surface  21  such that ground surrounds the insertion portion  14  and the support portion  13 . 
     The perimeter wall  17  is structured to include a plurality of drainage holes  22 . The drainage holes  22  are adapted for draining a liquid  23  from the interior space  18 . 
     Each of the drainage holes  22  is positioned proximate the closed bottom  15  such that the drainage holes  22  are positioned in spaced relationship to each other around a circumference of the perimeter wall  17 . 
     The perimeter wall  17  of the support portion  13  has a plurality of exterior edges  25  extending between the closed bottom  15  and the open top  16 . Each of the exterior edges  25  has a plurality of teeth  26  for facilitating removal of the fence support device  10  from the ground  30  using a shovel  27 . 
     In an embodiment, the plurality of teeth  26  of each exterior edge  25  extends the full length between the closed bottom  15  and the open top  16 . 
     In an embodiment, the insertion portion  14  is generally pyramid shaped. The closed bottom  15  of the support portion  13  form a base  28  of the pyramid shape such that the pyramid shape is in an inverted position when the fence post support device  10  is inserted into the ground surface  21 . In an embodiment, the insertion portion  14  is hollow for minimizing weight of the fence post support device  10 . 
     In an embodiment, the base  19  of the fence post  11  has a round cross-section taken transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fence post  11 . The distance measured orthogonally between opposite interior faces  29  of the perimeter wall  17  is equal to a diameter of the cross-section of the fence post  11 . Thus, the fence post  11  abuts each of the interior faces  29  of the perimeter wall  17  for supporting the fence post  11  in an upright position when the fence post support member  12  is inserted into the ground  30  and the fence post  11  is inserted into the support portion  13  of the fence post support member  12 . 
     In an embodiment, the perimeter wall  17  has a height of about 12 inches to provide sufficient support to the fence post and a stable base when inserted into the ground. 
     In use, the insertion portion of the fence post holder is inserted into the ground so that the closed bottom of the support member is relatively level with a ground surface. The fence post is then positioned in the fence post holder. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.