GB2275702A

GB2275702A - Adjustable post support

Info

Publication number: GB2275702A
Application number: GB9304090A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Powell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-03-01
Filing date: 1993-03-01
Publication date: 1994-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-01
Also published as: GB2275702B; GB9304090D0

Abstract

An adjustable post support comprises a sleeve 5 forming a post engaging portion which is adjustably attached to a ground-engaging portion (shown in Fig. 2) in such a way as to allow vertical orientation of the post. Arms 8 are pivotally mounted on the ground-engaging portion and are guided in an arc by curved elements 9 fixed to the ground-engaging portion, the arms being bolted to the sleeve 5, one on each side thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

ADJUSTABLE POST SUPPORT This invention relates to a mechanical device fashioned in steel or other suitable material that is used to support posts set in a vertical position that are used in the construction of fences and the like. With the added virtue that once the device is driven into the ground adjustments can be made to ensure that the axis of the post is perfectly vertical.

A previous method of supporting a post was to dig a hole of the required depth, place the post within the hole and filling in with concrete.

According to the present invention there is provided a ground engaging portion being a four bladed elongated spike sixty centimetres long. Each blade set at right angles to one another and being parallel down its length except for the last eight centimetres which is tapered off to a point.

At the other end of each blade a section is bent at right angles and continued on to form a curve upon itself which is then welded to a suitable part of that blade so as to maintain the curve in a rigid position.

In the face of each blade is pierced a hole positioned in such a way as to use its centre point as a datum to scribe an arc which would follow precisely the curve on the curved blade section of each adjacent blade.

Attached to the face of each blade is an arm. To accomplish this a hole is pierced in the arm near to one end. A rivet is then passed through this hole and the hole in the blade face and then peened over in such a way as to allow each arm to make a swinging motion about the rivet axis. At the free end of each arm, each is bent at right angles in such a way as not to interfere with the aforesaid swinging action. In the centre of each external face of the bend and parallel to the axis of the arm is pierced a hole. This hole lines up exactly with the hole in the external face of its opposing arm, when the arm is set at right angles to its blade.

The post engaging portion consists of a hollow box section, one corner of which is open, but fashioned in a way as to allow fasteners to pass through holes in the corner pieces. When these fasteners are tensioned the resulting pressure clamps the box section to the post. The height of this box section be fifteen centimetres. The box section should be made to receive a post measuring seventy seven millimetres sq or thereabouts.

The hollow box portion has a hole pierced in each side. The centre of each hole being thirteen millimetres from its base and central to each face.

The method required to attach the ground engaging portion to the post engaging portion is as follows: Firstly the post engaging hollow box portion is presented to the ground engaging portion where screws are passed through the holes that are at the base of the hollow box section, then through the holes in the faces of the arms to nuts which are at the back of the bends in the arms. The screws are tightened thus locking the hollow box portion to the arms of the ground engaging portion.

It follows that by this method of clamping the post engaging portion may be sighted at any angle restrained only by the maximum amount of travel that the arms have about their rivet axes. The movement about the screw axis on the face of the arms is directly proportional to the axis movement around the rivets.

Similarly the movement of the arms about their rivet axes is further restrained by the action of the nuts clamping onto the underside of the curved blade sections of adjacent blades, trapping the curved section of blades between the nuts and the bent section of the arms and also the movement about the screw axes in the faces of the arms will also be restricted by virtue of this tightening.

To execute the herein defined method of supporting posts in a vertical position and being able to vary the post vertical axis angle from that of the ground engaging portion vertical axis the following procedure must be adhered to: After the post engaging portion has been attached to the ground engaging portion, as has been previously defined, the adjustable post support is taken to a suitable spot and there driven vertically into the ground to a depth of sixty centimetres. A suitable post is then placed in the hollow box section of the post engaging portion and therein secured by means of fasteners employed on the corner pieces of the said box.If when a spirit-level has been placed against the side of the post its vertical axis is found to be not true, screws which pass through each side of the post enagaging portion are turned one quarter anti-clockwise thus releasing the nuts that are exerting combined pressure upon the curve, the bent end of the arm and the box section itself.

The post may now be moved to its required position, by virtue of the arms which are pivoting around their rivet axes. When the post has its axis in a perfectly upright position, the screw in each face is tightened causing the nut to exert pressure on the curve, the bent end of arm, and the box section.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 Shows the vital components necessary for the successful operation of the invention.

Fig.2 Shows the ground engaging portion.

Fig.3 Shows the plan of the ground engaging portion.

Fig.4 Shows the under part of the ground engaging portion.

Fig.5 Shows the post engaging portion in plan view.

Fig.6 Shows a side view of the post engaging portion.

Referring to the drawings the ground engaging portion shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 is attached to the post engaging portion shown in Figs. 5-6 by means of a screw passing through hole 1 then hole 2 and then entering nut 4. This is repeated on all four sides of the hollow box of the post engaging portion. The screws are then tightened.

Fig. 7 shows the completed assembly. Once the adjustable post support has been driven into the ground and the post has been received within the hollow box portion 5 and secured by fasteners passing through holes 6. Adjustment may be needed to maintain its axis in a vertical position. To carry out this procedure screw 7 will need to be slackened releasing pressure that nut 4 has on curve 9, this also releases pressure from arm 8 and box section 5. Arm 8 may now be allowed to pivot around rivet 10. By holding a spirit-level against post 11 and moving the post accordingly its axis may be set in a vertical position, no matter at which angle within reason the ground engaging portion has entered the ground. When a true vertical axis has been found for the post the screws 7 may be re-tightened in a clockwise manner thus holding its position with substantial force.

Claims

ADJUSTABLE POST SUPPORT An adjustable post support comprises a four bladed ground engaging portion which is attached to a post engaging portion by means of nuts and screws.

Means for adjustment to the vertical axis of the post engaging portion is provided for when the adjustable post support has been driven vertically into the ground.

W An adjustable post support as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the ground engaging portion is a four bladed elongated spike, each blade set at right angles to one another and being parallel down its length and tapered off to a point a short distance from the end.

3 An adjustable post support as claimed in Claim 1 to Claim 2 wherein the post engaging portion is in the form of a box section, open at one corner but provided with means to close by the use of screws and nuts.

4 An adjustable post support as claimed in Claim 1 to Claim 3 wherein the post engaging portion is attached to the arms of the ground engaging portion by screws passing through holes in the sides of the post engaging portion and the external faces of the arms, to nuts at the rear of the aforesaid faces.

S An adjustable post support as claimed in Claim 1 to Claim 4 wherein the arms of the ground engaging portion are secured by means of riveting the arms to the blade faces of the ground engaging portion.

6 An adjustable post support as claimed in Claim 1 to Claim 5 wherein the arms pivot about their rivet axis.

7 An adjustable post support as claimed in Claim 1 to Claim 6 wherein the arms can be clamped at their free ends to the required section of the curved blades when the correct adjustment to the vertical axis of the post engaging portion has been made.

t An adjustable post support substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1-7 of the accompanying drawings.