Patent ID: 6854531

Claim:
A post, comprising: an elongate ground piercing member having a ground piercing end and an anvil end at which is positioned an anvil, the anvil having a first striking face and a second striking face, the second striking face being opposed to the first striking face; a tubular housing having a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity, the anvil being positioned within the interior cavity of the housing with the ground piercing member extending through the second end of the housing; a first hammer positioned at the first end of the housing, such that relative axial movement of the ground piercing member and the housing brings the first hammer into contact with the first striking face of the anvil to drive the ground piercing end of the ground piercing member into the ground; a second hammer positioned at the second end of the housing, such that relative axial movement of the ground piercing member and the housing brings the second hammer into contact with the second striking face of the anvil to remove the ground piercing end of the ground piercing member from the ground; and a lock engaging the ground piercing member and the housing to selectively limit relative axial movement of the ground piercing member and the housing to prevent the second hammer from contacting the second striking face of the anvil, the lock including a transverse passage spaced from the first end of the housing which is adapted to receive a locking pin, the locking pin engaging the anvil end of the ground piercing member to limit relative axial movement of the ground piercing member and the housing, the transverse passage being laterally spaced from the ground piercing member and underlying the anvil such that the locking pin permits relative rotational movement of the ground piercing member and the housing, while engaging the anvil to limit relative axial movement of the ground piercing member and the housing.