Abstract:
A wedge post-base system for adjusting the orientation of an attached post relative to a mounting surface is disclosed. The base utilizes a two-piece structure, each piece having an angled mating surface relative to an opposing surface which allows a central axis of a post mounting collar to be altered, and thus the angle of the post itself. The resulting angle addresses the issue of mounting posts on a sloped plane. A fencing system having hinged railings and balusters as well as a railing system having a hinged upper rail are also disclosed.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/305,214 filed Feb. 17, 2010, and titled “Wedge Post Base System,” and incorporates the same herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present device relates to a base system for posts, including posts for fencing, railings, signs, lights, poles, and other such structures. Particularly, the present device relates to a base system effective for adjusting the post angle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The post is, generally speaking, a basic component of support for many everyday structures. Fences, signs, stair railings, lights, supports, tents, cages, barriers, and a number of other such structures all use posts as an integral support element. For some, erection of such structures can occur on a perfectly flat, smooth surface. For others, however, sloping and uneven terrain may present the most difficult challenge for erecting a structure which requires parallel posts along an entire construction. 
         [0004]    The present invention overcomes these and many other disadvantages of previous devices. Disclosed is a fencing system and a fence post base which can be decorative, yet functional; versatile in use for supporting any number of structures, and particularly fencing; and it is easy to install wherever it is needed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a section of the present fencing system on a substantially flat surface; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the section of fencing of  FIG. 1  mounted on a pitched surface; 
           [0008]      FIGS. 3-8  are various views of an embodiment of components of a two-piece mounting plate assembly arranged for a level surface mounting ( FIG. 3 ) and for a pitched surface mounting ( FIG. 4 ); 
           [0009]      FIGS. 9-12  are various views of an embodiment of fencing post and railing attachments arranged to accommodate level and pitched mounting; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 13-16  are various views of an embodiment of fencing railing and baluster attachments arranged to accommodate level and pitched mounting; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 17-20  are various views of an embodiment of a rubber boot assembly used to cover a mounting plate assembly of the present invention, showing both a level surface mounting ( FIG. 17 ) and a pitched surface mounting ( FIG. 18 ); 
           [0012]      FIGS. 21(   a ) and ( b ) are views of an embodiment of a base leveling plate used with the rubber boot assembly illustrated in  FIGS. 17-20 ; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 22(   a ) and ( b ) are views of an embodiment of a top leveling plate used with the base plate of  FIG. 21 ; and 
           [0014]      FIGS. 23(   a ) and ( b ) are views of an embodiment of a top plate used with the base leveling plate and top leveling plate of  FIGS. 21 and 22 , respectively. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to embodiments illustrated. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-23 , there are illustrated embodiments of a fencing (or railing) system and a post mounting system generally designated by the numerals  10  and  12 , respectively. The post mounting system  12  is illustrated in connection with the fencing (or railing) system  10 , but it should be understood that the post mounting system is to be more broadly enabled by the present disclosure. That is, the post mounting system  12  may be used for the mounting of posts and similar post-like structures used in the erection of, but not limited to, fencing, railings, signage, lighting, displays, shelving, temporary building structures, blockades, supports, markers, scaffolding, artificial foliage, and other such structures. Those skilled in the art would understand the application of the following fencing related disclosure to each of these other fields without undue experimentation. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of the fencing system  10  is illustrated as it might appear mounted to a level surface ( FIG. 1 ) and to a pitched surface ( FIG. 2 ). The fencing system  10  comprises at least one post structure and a plurality of fencing structures. Each post structure comprises a post  14  and a posting mounting system  12  for supporting fencing. The fencing is comprised of an upper rail  24   a  attached by an end to the post  14  via a bracket  30   a , a lower rail  24   b  attached by an end to the post  14  via a bracket  30   b , and a plurality of balusters  26 , each connected by opposing ends to the upper rail  24   a  and the lower rail  24   b.    
         [0018]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4-8 , the post mounting system  12  comprises a lower mounting plate  16  having a bottom surface and a mating surface, an upper mounting plate  18  having a top surface and a mating surface for engaging the mating surface of the lower plate  16 , and a post collar  20  attached to the top surface of the upper plate  18  and having a central axis (X), the post collar  20  being coupled to a post  14  to retain the post  14  in a desired, typically vertical position. The mating surface of the lower plate  16  and the mating surface of the upper plate  18  are each angled relative to the bottom surface and top surface, respectively, such that the lower plate  16  and the upper plate  18  can be rotated with respect to one another to alter an angle of the central axis (X) relative to the bottom surface of the lower plate  16 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 9-16 , in a preferred embodiment of the system  10 , fencing structures are attached to at least one post  14  and comprises an upper rail  24   a  attached by an end to the post  14  via a bracket  30   a , a lower rail  24   b  attached by an end to the post  14  via a bracket  30   b , and a plurality of balusters  26 , each connected by opposing ends to the upper rail and the lower rail. The attachment of rails  24   a ,  24   b  to a post  14  is preferably hinged via brackets  30   a ,  30   b  to allow inclination of the fencing structures to parallel or nearly parallel the sloping surface onto which the fencing system  10  is mounted. Each hinged attachment of a rail  24   a ,  24   b  to a post  14  as well as the hinged attachment of the balusters  26  to a rail  24   a ,  24   b  (see  FIG. 16 ) preferably allows a range of movement from normal of about ±10 degrees. Most preferably, the range of movement of the rails  24   a ,  24   b  and balusters  26  of the fencing system  10  will be approximately equal to the angle of inclination for the post  14  relative to the mounting surface. 
         [0020]    Where a railing system is desired (not shown), the lower rail  24   b  and the balusters  26  can be omitted. The railing system can be placed along a stairway, on a hill, along a trail (paved or unpaved), and other such terrain where a hand-railing is useful. 
         [0021]    For a complete decorative look, the fencing system may further include a boot  22 , preferably made of a weather-resistant rubber material, for covering a non-decorative embodiment of the assembled mounting plates, as illustrated in  FIGS. 17-23 . The rubber boot  22  would protect the base hardware against the elements in an outdoor mounting. However, where such conditions are not an issue, such as indoors, the boot  22  may be comprised of a plastic, metal or alloy with an aesthetically-pleasing surface, for example. 
         [0022]    Another embodiment of the leveling post mounting system  12  is illustrated in the drawings of  FIGS. 21-23 . The base or lower plate  16  has a bottom surface and a mating surface, while an upper mounting plate  18  includes a top surface and a mating surface for engaging the mating surface of the lower plate  16 . A top plate  19  attaches to the top surface of the upper mounting plate  18 . The three-piece assembly has a central opening  21  for retaining a post  14  in a desired, typically vertical position. The mating surface of the lower plate  16  and the mating surface of the upper plate  18  are each angled relative to the bottom surface and top surface, respectively, such that the lower plate  16  and the upper plate  18  can be rotated with respect to one another to alter an angle of a central axis relative to the bottom surface of the lower plate  16 , as described in the previous embodiment of  FIGS. 3-8 . 
         [0023]    Once secured with a post, the assembly of  FIGS. 21-23  can be provided with the boot assembly of  FIGS. 17-20 . The cap  23  is used at the upper end of the boot  22  to secure to the associated post  14 . The cap  23  is also preferably made from a material similar to that of the boot—e.g., rubber, metal, plastic. In the case of a rubber boot, the flexible material allows it to accommodate multiple different degrees of sloping surfaces while still maintaining an effective covering of the post base. 
         [0024]    As previously described for the embodiment of  FIGS. 3-8  and  21 - 23 , the wedge post base system  12  comprises a lower plate  16  having a bottom surface and a mating surface, an upper plate  18  having a top surface and a mating surface for engaging the mating surface of the lower plate  16 , and a post collar  20  having a central axis (X) and attached to the top surface of the upper plate  18 . The mating surface of the lower plate  16  and the mating surface of the upper plate  18  are angled relative to the bottom surface and top surface, respectively. That is, the angles of each of these surfaces are preferably identical such that when arranged in an assembled configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the angles can cancel each other ( FIG. 3 ) or they can add to a greater angle ( FIG. 4 ). By rotating the lower and upper plates,  16  and  18 , with respect to one another the angle of the central axis relative to the bottom surface of the lower plate  16  can be changed. 
         [0025]    The angle of the central axis relative to the bottom surface is preferably adjustable by rotation of the two surfaces relative to one another within the range of from about 90 degrees (normal) to about 75 degrees (±15 degrees). Alternatively, the angle of the central axis to the bottom surface is adjustable between one of either (i.e., from one to the other and back again) about 90 degrees (normal) and about 84 degrees (±6 degrees). A total inclination of 6.4 degrees is illustrated in  FIG. 4  as a result of two 3.2 degree angles for the mating surfaces on the upper plate  16  and the lower mounting plate  18 . Preferably, the angle of the mating surfaces of the upper and lower plates are within the range of from about 1 degree to about 10 degrees to accommodate most inclined surfaces. 
         [0026]    Finally, the upper and lower plates could be arranged to secure an existing hollow post. For example, instead of the post collar  20 , a post stump (not shown) having a central axis (X) could be attached to the top surface of the upper plate  18 . Then, a hollow or partially hollow post could be mounted and secured to the post stump. This would allow for the mounting of many existing post, such as those used for street lighting, on slanted or sloping surfaces. 
         [0027]    The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.