Patent ID: 8820007

Claim:
A post sleeve installation system to assist in forming a post sleeve within a post hole in the ground to include a post sleeve cavity to insertably receive and support a post, the post sleeve installation system comprising: a post sleeve core configured to be removed from a hardenable material that is deposited in the ground and used to form the post sleeve about the post sleeve core, the post sleeve core having an upper end and a lower end and having an exterior surface sized and shaped to define at least a portion of the post sleeve cavity of the post sleeve when the post sleeve core is removed from the hardenable material; an elongate installation member removably coupleable to the post sleeve core and translationally adjustable relative to the post sleeve core to protrude a selected distance beyond a lower end of the post sleeve core to assist in positioning the post sleeve core at an elevated height within the post hole during formation of the post sleeve; a locking mechanism coupled to the lower end of the post sleeve core and operable upon the elongate installation member, the locking mechanism resisting translation of the elongate installation member when in a locked state and enabling translation of the elongate installation member when in an unlocked state; and an actuatable release device coupled to the upper end of the post sleeve core which is operable by a user, the actuatable release device moving the locking mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state and allowing translational movement of the elongate installation member in an upward direction relative to the post sleeve core upon actuation of the release device by the user.