Patent Publication Number: US-2006006306-A1

Title: Post support apparatus with rotatable post guide

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to tools and relates, more particularly, to means for use when pounding, or driving, a post into the ground.  
      In my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 6,719,261, I described an apparatus for supporting a post, such as a metal t-post, which is to be driven into the ground by an individual. Briefly, that apparatus includes a platen base upon which an individual can stand while the post is being driven into the ground, and the base defines a through-opening which is disposed between the feet of the individual when the individual stands upon the base. A cavity-providing guide is mounted upon the base for slidably receiving a post inserted endwise therein and so that the cavity of the guide means is positioned in registry with the through-opening of the base. When an individual stands upon the base with his feet disposed on opposite sides of the through-opening and a post is positioned within the guide means, the post is supported by the guide means in a steady condition for being driven into the ground.  
      A limitation associated with the apparatus of my earlier patent relates to the fact that once the platen base of the apparatus is positioned upon the ground, the orientation of the post which is desired to be driven into the ground relative to the surface of the ground cannot be appreciably altered. In other words, in order to make a significant adjustment in the orientation of a post desired to be driven into the ground once the platen base of my patented apparatus is placed upon the ground, the position of the base will have to be re-adjusted.  
      Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved post support apparatus which is capable of supporting a post while it is being driven into the ground and which accommodates a substantial adjustment in the orientation of a post desired to be driven into the ground without requiring that the base of the apparatus be moved.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus which is uncomplicated in structure, yet effective in operation.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention resides in a support apparatus for supporting a post which is to be driven into the ground by an individual wherein the post has a ground-engaging lower end.  
      The apparatus includes a platen base for resting upon the ground and having an upper surface upon which an individual can stand while the post is being driven into the ground. The base defines a through-opening therein which is located within the upper surface of the base so that when an individual stands upon the upper surface while the post is being driven into the ground, the through-opening is disposed between the feet of the individual. The apparatus further includes guide means for providing an elongated cavity having two opposite ends, wherein the cavity is sized to slidably receive a post inserted end-wise therein. Furthermore, the apparatus includes means for attaching the guide means to the base so that the cavity of the guide means is positionable in registry with the through-opening of the base so that when an individual stands upon the base with his feet disposed on opposite sides of the through-opening and a post is received by the cavity so that the lower end of the post engages the ground through the through-opening of the base, the post is supported by the guide means in a steady condition for being driven into the ground.  
      The attaching means permits the guide means to be rotated in position relative to the platen base to accommodate a rotational adjustment in position of a post which is supported by the guide means without requiring that the position of the platen base be altered, and the cavity of the guide means is at least about twelve inches in length to enhance the steadiness of the post positioned within the guide means. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the support apparatus within which features of the present invention are incorporated.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a fragment of the  FIG. 1  embodiment, shown exploded.  
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the fragment of  FIG. 2 , shown assembled and as seen from above in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 4  is an elevational view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment, as seen generally from the left in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken about along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken about along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT  
      Turning now to the drawings in greater detail and considering first  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated an embodiment, generally indicated  100 , of a support apparatus within which features of the present invention are incorporated. The support apparatus  100  includes a platen base  102  which rests upon the ground and guide means, generally indicated  104 , which cooperates the base  102  for supporting a post, such as a t-post, in a steady condition while the post is being driven into the ground. The apparatus  100  also includes means, generally indicated  103 , for rotatably supporting the guide means  104  atop the platen base  102  to accommodate a change in rotational position of the guide means  104 , and hence a post supported by the guide means  103 , relative to the platen base  102 .  
      The class of post with which this invention is concerned is preferably constructed of steel and has a lower end which is adapted to be driven into the ground while its opposite, or upper, end is pounded upon with a sledge hammer or comparable driver or driving tool. Accordingly, the post is designed to withstand repeated impact as its upper end is repeatedly struck with a driver as the post is being driven into the ground. In addition, such a post may be provided with a T-shaped, U-shaped, square, round or cross(+)-shaped cross section, although posts having alternative cross-sectional shapes can be had.  
      The posts which have a T-shaped cross-section are referred to herein as t-posts and are commonly used on a farm to support wire fences for containing livestock. Compared to the installation of posts having large cross-sectional areas, the installation of t-posts is relatively easy. Heretofore, however, the installation of t-posts usually require two people wherein one person is required to hold the post in a steady condition while the other person pounds upon the post with a driving tool. It is very difficult for one person to drive a post by himself because he would have to use one hand to hold the post steady while at the same time use the other hand to drive the post into the ground. The present invention is designed so that one person can drive a t-post into the ground without assistance from another person. Therefore, the apparatus  100  is advantageous in that it permits a single individual to drive a post into the ground without the aid of another individual for holding the post steady as the post is being driven into the ground.  
      With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the platen base  102  has a lower surface  106  which rests upon the ground when the apparatus  100  is being used and has an upper surface  108  upon which an individual can stand as the post is being driven into the ground. In addition, the base  102  defines a through-opening  110  (best shown in  FIG. 2 ) which extends between the upper and lower surfaces  106  and  108  of the base  102 . The through-opening  110  is located along the upper surface  108  of the base  102  so that when an individual stands with his feet upon the base  102  for use of the apparatus  100 , the individual&#39;s feet are disposed on opposite sides of the through-opening  110 . The plate  102  is preferably constructed of steel, but other materials can be used.  
      Although the  FIG. 1  embodiment  100  and, more particularly, its base  102  is adapted to be stood upon by an individual while the embodiment  100  is being used to drive a post into the ground, it is not necessary for an individual to stand upon every embodiment which incorporates features of the present invention during use of the embodiment. For example, an embodiment could be heavy enough to easily support a post in a stable condition for driving purposes without the user being required to stand upon the base of the embodiment (and thereby add his weight to the embodiment) to adequately stabilize the embodiment during use. In fact, the design and/or shape of an embodiment can render it difficult for the user to stand upon the embodiment base during a post-driving operation. Accordingly, it will be understood that it is not always necessary for a user to stand upon the base of an embodiment in order for the embodiment to be used.  
      In the interests of the present invention, the term “through-opening” is intended to mean any opening provided in the base through which a post desired to be driven into the ground is permitted to pass and can include, for example, a circular-shaped opening provided with a notch which opens along the side edge of the base (such as the opening  110  of the apparatus  100 ). Upon completion of a post-driving operation, a base whose through-opening is provided by a notch may be simply withdrawn sideways from a post whereas a through-opening which is provided by a circular hole will likely require that the base be bodily lifted up and over the post to remove the base from the post.  
      To facilitate the transport of the  FIG. 1  apparatus  100  between sites, the apparatus  100  includes a pair of handles  5  which are attached to the base  102  along the upper surface  108  thereof and on opposite sides of the through-opening  110 . Preferably, the handles  5  are spaced far enough away from the through-opening  110  so that each foot of an individual who uses the apparatus  100  can be positioned between the through-opening  110  and the handle  5  which is positioned to one (i.e. the corresponding) side of the through-opening  110 .  
      It is a feature of the embodiment  100  that its guide mean  104  is supported atop the platen base  102  in a manner which permits rotation of the guide means  104  relative to the base  102  to alter the position of the guide means  104 , and hence a post supported by the guide means  104 , relative to the base  102 . To this end, the rotatable support means  103  includes a substantially circular tray member  105  having a notch  109  opening out of one side thereof, and the tray member  105  is rotatably secured to the base  102  across the opening  110 . For securing the tray member  105  across the opening  110 , the apparatus  100  includes a set of L-shaped pillow blocks  107 , or clamps, which are each possess substantially an L-shaped cross section and which are positioned about the circumference of the tray member  105  and secured, as with screws, to the base  102 . In this connection, the pillow blocks  107  are arranged upon the base  102  so that the legs thereof collectively define a circular guide channel within which the tray member  105  is permitted to slidably rotate. In other words, with the tray member  105  positioned upon the base  102  and the pillow blocks  107  secured in position upon the base  102  so that one leg of each pillow block  107  extends over the edge of the tray member  105 , the tray member  105  is captured upon the base  102 , yet is free to be rotated about an axis, indicated  111  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base  102  and which extends through the approximate center of the tray member  105 .  
      With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the guide means  104  includes a member, described herein, which provides an elongated cavity having two opposite ends wherein the cavity is sized to slidably receive a post, such as a t-post  112  or  FIG. 1 , inserted endwise therein and so that when inserted therein, the surfaces of the post are closely spaced to the inside surfaces of the cavity. In the depicted embodiment  100 , the cavity is provided by the interior of a hollow cylinder or shaft  3  which extends between the opposite ends of the shaft  3 . Furthermore, the shaft  3  is arranged in such a relation to the platen base  102  that its cavity is positionable in registry with the through-opening  110  of the plate  102 . Therefore, when a post is inserted endwise through the cavity of the shaft  3 , the lower end of the post is engageable with the ground through the through-opening  110  of the platen base  102 . To enhance the capacity of the guide means  104  to steady the post as it is being driven therethrough, the cavity provided by the guide means  104  is at least twelve inches in length, and the cavity of the shaft  3  includes a cross section which is shaped complimentary to the cross-sectional shape of the post received thereby.  
      In the depicted  FIG. 1  embodiment  100 , the shaft  3  is pivotally joined to a pair of pedestals  113  which are, in turn, fixedly secured atop the tray member  105 . In this connection, the pedestals  113  are each fixed upon the base  102  and on opposite sides of the center of the tray member  105 , as best viewed in  FIG. 1 .  
      For securement of the shaft  3  to the pedestals  113 , there is provided a sleeve  115  ( FIG. 5 ) which is secured to the shaft  3 , and the shank of a bolt  117  is slidably received by the sleeve  115 . More specifically, the shaft  3  is secured, as with welds, to the outer surface of the sleeve  115  adjacent the center thereof. Meanwhile, the opposite ends of the bolt  117  are positioned so as to rest across upwardly-opening notches provided in the upper end of the pedestals  113  so that the shaft  3  is supported across the spacing provided between the pedestals  113 . It follows that with the shaft  3  supported across the pedestals  113  in this manner, the shaft  3  is permitted to pivot relative to the pedestals  113  between, for example, the position illustrated in solid lines in  FIG. 4  and the position illustrated in phantom in  FIG. 4  about an axis, indicated  119  in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , which is arranged substantially parallel to the plane of the platen base  102  and is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the bolt  117 .  
      The shaft  3  can be held in a desired pivotal position relative to the pedestals  113  by way of a number of different means or methods. However, in the depicted embodiment  100  and as best shown in  FIG. 6 , there is arranged upon the sleeve bolt  115  and at each end thereof a pair of discs  121 ,  123  wherein each disc has a side surface with radially-extending grooves defined therein and wherein the discs  121 ,  123  are arranged so that the grooved sides of the disc  121 ,  123  face one another. Furthermore, the discs  121 ,  123  are arranged inboard of the pedestals  113 , and one disc  121  of each set is fixedly secured, as with welds, to the sleeve  115  for rotation therewith. Meanwhile, the other disc  123  of each set is fixedly secured, as with welds, to the corresponding pedestal  113  for rotation therewith.  
      By loosening a nut  125  which is threadably secured upon the end of the bolt  117  opposite the head end, the shaft  3  (and associated discs  121 ) can be pivoted about the pivot axis  119  relative to the pedestal  113  (and associated discs  123 ) to position the shaft  3  at a desired pivotal relationship relative to the base  102  and so that the rotational position of each disc  121  relative to its opposite disc  123  is altered. At that point, the nut  125  can be re-tightened upon the bolt  117  so that the facing pairs of discs  121 ,  123  mesh with one another and thereby lock the shaft  3  in a fixed pivotal position relative to the pedestals  113 . For a more detailed description of the grooved disc system with which the shaft  3  can be releasably locked in alternative pivotal positions relative to the base  102 , reference can be had to my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 6,719,261, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
      It follows from the foregoing that the shaft  3  can be pivoted relative to the base  102  and releasably locked in alternative angular positions relative to the base  102  by way of the sets of grooved discs  121 ,  123  and that the rotational position of the shaft  3  can be altered by rotating the rotatable tray member  105  to alternative rotational positions relative to the base  102 . Such capabilities are advantageous in that once the base  102  is positioned upon the ground at a location at which a post  112  is desired to be driven with the apparatus  100 , the position of the shaft  3  relative to the underlying base  102  can be significantly altered, as desired, without the need to move the base  102 . For example, if the underlying ground is not level, the base  102  will not normally be horizontal when placed thereon. Consequently, the shaft  3  may need to be re-oriented (by appropriate rotation of the tray member  105  relative to the base  102  or by appropriate pivoting of the shaft  3  relative to the base  102 ) to position the shaft  3 , and more particularly, a post  112  supported thereby to a desired orientation in relation to the underlying ground. In any event, the apparatus  100  accommodates a significant adjustment in position of the shaft  3  relative to the base  102 , and the apparatus  100  is advantageous in this respect.  
      It follows that an apparatus  100  has been described which enables an individual to drive a post into the ground. More specifically and to use the apparatus  100 , the base  102  is positioned upon the ground so that the opening in the base  102  is positioned over a location at which a post is desired to be driven, and then an individual inserts a post (e.g. a t-post  112 ) into the cavity of the shaft  3  so that lower end of the post engages the ground through the notch  109  of the tray member  105  and the through-opening  110  of the base  102 . The shaft  3  is then re-oriented, as necessary, by either rotating the tray member  105  relative to the base  102  or altering the angular orientation of the shaft  3  relative to the base  102  to alter the orientation of the post  112  relative to the underlying ground, and then the individual can stand upon the base  102  with his feet positioned on opposite sides of the through-opening  110 . With the post  112  supported within the shaft  3  in this manner, the base  102  and post  112  are prevented from shifting laterally with respect to the ground and both hands of the individual are free to pound the post into the ground with a driver as the post is supported in a steady condition within the guide means  104 . It follows that as the post is driven into the ground by the individual, the post is free to slide downwardly through the cavity of the shaft  3 .  
      Upon completion of a post-driving operation, the nut  125  is loosened from the bolt  117  the shaft  3  (and attached sleeve  115  and bolt  117 ) can be lifted from the pedestals  113  and up and over the post without also having to lift the weight of the base  102  with that of the shaft  3 . If the through-opening of the base  102  is a circular opening, then the base  102  will also have to be lifted up and over the post, but if the through-opening includes a notch which opens out of a side edge of the base (like that of the opening  110  of the base  102 ), the base  102  can be removed from the post by sliding the base sideways as the notch is guided along the post.  
      If desired, the base  102  can be stabilized by providing the apparatus  100  with anchor means, generally indicated  132  ( FIG. 4 ), for holding the base  102  firmly in place against the ground. In the depicted embodiment  100 , the anchor means  132  is in the form of protrusions  9 , such as downwardly-extending spikes, which are joined to the lower surface of the base  132  and are adapted to sink into the ground when the base  132  is stepped upon by the user to anchor the base  102  and thereby minimize its side-to-side movement.  
      The advantage provided by an apparatus having a removable shaft is that the apparatus can, with the aid of shafts having cavities of alternative cross-sectional shapes, accommodate more than one shape of post using the same steadying plate. Fencing is not the only application for metal posts. For example, it is common to use posts to erect road signs or support utility meters or for other support purposes. The same invention can be used by a single worker having nothing more in his truck than the post, the support, and the driver. Sign posts have cross sections which are not normally shaped like a “T”, but rather like a “U”, or are even square or round in cross section. A variation of an embodiment which includes a plate and a shaft which are separable from one another is one in which the plate and shaft are fixedly attached to one another. Furthermore, a plate which can be detached from a shaft could be constructed to accommodate more than one type of shaft depending upon the cross-sectional shape of the post. For example, a single plate can be used to alternatively hold shafts intended to accept posts having a T, square, round or U-shaped cross section.  
      A person skilled in the art could think of many uses that have not been set forth in this document.  
      Exemplary dimensions of the embodiment are provided here as follows: The platen base  102  measures about 24 inches in length and 11.25 inches in width; the circular portion of the through-opening  110  has a radius of about 4.25 inches and its center is positioned about 6.625 inches from the rear of the base  102 ; the handles  5  are between about 3 and 4 inches in length; the tray member  105  has a radius of about 4.75 inches in length; and its notch  109  is about 2.5 inches in width and 4.75 inches in depth; and each of the pedestals  113  has a height which measures about 6.56 inches and a tapering width which measures about 3.25 inches across its base and measures about 2 inches across its top. Meanwhile, the notch provided at the top of each pedestal  113  is about 1.5 inches in depth and about 0.5 inches across; and pedestals are arranged about 3.625 inches apart.  
      It will be understood that numerous modifications and substitutions can be had to the aforedescribed embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the embodiment  100  could include a built-in level so that the true vertical, or other desired angles, could be easily detected. Accordingly, the aforedescribed embodiments are intended for the purpose of illustration and not as limitation.