Patent Publication Number: US-4543757-A

Title: Post support and protector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relate generally to devices for supporting and protecting posts such as fence posts, sign posts and the like. This invention relates particularly to a device which mounts to one end of a post to support the end of the post above or near the ground level to protect the post from rotting and becoming unusable. 
     Various types of post supports are known in the art for supporting posts such as fence posts within a hole in the earth. Typically, such post supports consist of a pair of flat spaced apart metal members between which a post is mounted by bolts or other suitable fasteners. Such supports generally must extend a considerable distance on the post above the ground level to provide adequate support and are used only when there is a roof or other support for the upper ends of the posts. 
     Generally, the portions of a fence post in or adjacent the ground are the first components of a fence to experience structural failure even if the ends of the post are embedded in concrete. Prolonged exposure of the lower portions of a post to moisture in the soil causes the post to fail while the remainder of a structure supported by the post, such as a fence, remains structurally intact. A person supporting a fence or other device, such as a deck or sign, with wooden posts ordinarily desires that the post will last as long as possible and will often attempt to somehow isolate the post from environmental factors which would tend to destroy the post. 
     Another problem confronting a person desirous of maintaining a fence or similar device is the replacement of existing posts which may have rotted without the necessity of taking down the entire fence. Replacement of a post embedded in concrete requires extensive excavation to remove the post and surrounding concrete support. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior devices for supporting posts by providing a post support and protector which engages all four sides of a typical square post formed of a member such as a four-by-four. The post support according to the invention includes a first portion formed for attachment to the end of a post and a second portion extending from the first portion for anchoring within the earth or within concrete to support the post and protect the post from contact with the earth. The post may be mounted with the first portion of the support member partially covered by the earth, or the first portion of the support member may extend above the earth so that all of the post is supported above ground level. 
     The post support of the invention may include an inwardly extending projection for placement adjacent the end of the post to aid a user in properly locating the post support upon the post. The invention is preferably formed of sheet metal and comprises two separate members having an L-shaped cross-sections. The lower portions of the support members may include suitable means such as passages therethrough for permitting concrete poured around the lower end thereof to engage the post support to retain the post support against axial motion out of a hole in which it is mounted. The second portions of the support members may also include outwardly extending flanges which engage concrete or other material placed around the post support to retain it in position. 
     A significant advantage of the post support and protector, according to the invention, is that removal of a few bolts permits removal of sections of a fence to provide easy access for passage of trucks, boats, trailers and other similar vehicles without destroying a section of the fence. 
     Existing wooden fences may also be repaired simply by cutting off unserviceable posts at ground level, digging out the damaged in-ground part and adding the fence support and protector of the present invention to support the remaining portion of the post. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a post support and protector according to the invention for use with a rectangular post; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the post support and protector of FIG. 1 attached to a post prior to placement thereof in a post hole in the earth; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the post support and protector of FIGS. 1 and 2 attached to a post and secured within a post hole; and 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of a post support and protector for use with a round post. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a post support and protector 10 comprises a pair of substantially identical support members 12 and 12a. The support member 12 comprises an elongate body 16 formed to have a pair of perpendicular legs 18 and 20. The support member 12a similarly includes an elongate body 16a having perpendicular legs 18a and 20a. Each of the support members 12 and 12a includes a first portion 22 and 22a, respectively, for attachment to a post 24, shown in FIG. 2, and a second portion 26 and 26a, respectively for insertion into a post hole 28 also shown in FIG. 2. 
     The first portions 22 and 22a include means for mounting the post support and protector 10 to the post 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the first portion 22 includes a pair of passages 30 and 32 in the leg 18, and the first portion 22a includes a corresponding pair of passages 30a and 32a, respectively. 
     The support member 16 preferably include a projection 36, which defines the boundary between the first and second portions 22 and 26. The support member 16a preferably includes a projection 36a, which defines the boundary between the first and second portions 22a and 26a. 
     The second portion 22 preferably includes a pair of flanges 38 and 40 extending generally perpendicularly therefrom. The second portion 22a similarly includes a pair of projections 38a and 40a. The second portions 16 and 16a also preferably include a plurality of passages 42, 44 and 42a, 44a, respectively, therethrough. The flanges 38, 38a, 40, 40a and the passages 42, 42, 44 and 44a, respectively, provide means for engaging the post support and protector 10 with a material such as concrete for retaining the support and protector 10 within the post hole 28. 
     The support members 16 and 16a are preferably formed of a suitable sheet metal material. The passages 30, 30a, 32, 32a, 34, 34a, 42, 42a, 44, 44a may be formed in flat rectangles of sheet metal (not shown), which may then be bent by any convenient means, well known in the sheet metal working arts to form the legs 18 and 20 and 18a and 20a. The projections 36 and 36a are conveniently formed by punching a U-shaped slit in the legs 18 and 18a, respectively, and then bending the material enclosed within the legs of the U outward to a desired position. 
     The lengths of the first and second portions 22 and 26, respectively, depend upon the size of the post to be mounted on how deeply the second portion 26 must be imbedded in the earth to prevent alternate freezing and thawing of the earth in some climatic zones from forcing the post support and protector 10 out of the ground. It has been found, by way of example only, that in a region where freezing is unexpected, a length of about twelve inches for the second section 26 and a length of about six inches for the first section 22 provide adequate support for a typical 4&#34;×4&#34; post that extends five feet above ground level. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the post support and protector 10 assembled and mounted to the post 24, and FIG. 3 illustrates the assembly anchored within the post hole 28. Suitable fasteners, such as bolts 46, 48 and 50, are passed through the corresponding passages 30 and 30a, 32 and 32a, 34 and 34a, respectively, with the support members 16 and 16a being positioned on the post, which is typically a 4×4 wooden post having passages 52, 54 and 56 drilled therethrough for receiving the bolts 46, 48 and 50, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, the projections 36 and 36a support the end of the post 24 so that only a predetermined length of the post 24 may be inserted between the support members 16 and 16a. 
     The support members 16 and 16a are mounted to the post 24 which, as shown, has a rectangular cross section so that the flat faces of the legs 18, 18a, 20 and 20a are on the flat sides of the post 24 with the right angled corner between adjacent legs, such as the legs 18a and 20a, being aligned with and positioned adjacent a corner 58 of the post 24 as shown in FIG. 2. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the assembled post support and protector 10 and post 24 are placed in the posthole 28 to a predetermined depth, and then uncured cement 60 is preferably poured and tamped around the post support and protector 10. The cement covers the flanges 38, 40, 38a and 40a to retain the post support and protector 10 against axial movement out of the post hole 28. A portion of the cement passes through the passages 42, 42a, 44 and 44a to form lugs which engage the second portions 26 and 26a to retain them against movement relative to the earth. Only a small amount of cement 60 is required for passage through the passages 42, 42a, 44 and 44a to provide the desired retention of the second portions 26 and 26a within the post hole 28. Therefore, in a typical application with cement mixed with the proper amount of water, a small projection of cement will extend through the passages 42, 42a, 44 and 44a, and the remainder of the volume enclosed within the second portions 26 and 26a will contain only air. The bottom of the post hole 28 may include a layer of cement thereon to prevent moisture from rising above the ends of the second portions 26 and 26a. Therefore, the post support and protector 10 does not require as much concrete to mount the post 24 within the post hole 28 as would a device that fails to form an enclosure below the end of the post 24. 
     The post 24 is preferably mounted to have the lower end portion thereof above the ground level 62. When the post 24 is mounted so that the bolts 46, 48 and 50 are at or above the ground level 62, replacement of the post 24 requires only removal of the bolts 46, 48 and 50, withdrawal of the old post 24, insertion of a new post inside the post support and protector 10 and reattachment of the bolts 46, 48 and 50. 
     The post support and protector 10 may be used to mend a fence (not shown) in which posts were merely embedded in the earth. Such posts ordinarily decay after several years and break off near the ground level. The post hole may be dug again, and the post support and protector 10 may be attached to the lower end of the existing post in the manner described above. The second portions of the support members 16 and 16a are then mounted in the post hole and are preferably secured with cement 60. The invention thus permits repair of a fence without taking down the fence and without replacement of the post if only the portion of the post that had been near or below ground level had rotted. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of an embodiment of the post support and protector 10 suitable for use with a round post 63. A pair of support members 64 and 66 are formed to have cross sections that are arcs of circles of predetermined size. The support members 64 and 66 include projections 36 and and 36a, and a plurality of passages 68, 70 for receiving a bolt 72 to fasten the support members 64 and 66 to the post 63. The support members 64 and 66 may include flanges similar to the 38 and 38a described above with reference to FIGS. 1-3. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention encompasses the subject matter of the appended claims which distinctly point out the invention. 
     The support members 64 and 66 include a plurality of passages 74 and 76 for receiving additional bolts 72 to securely connect them to the post 63. The pair of passages 68, 70 and the pair of passages 74, 76 should be at different elevations on the support members 64 and 67 so that the bolts 72 may pass through the post 63 without interfering with one another.