GB2435484A

GB2435484A - Post support

Info

Publication number: GB2435484A
Application number: GB0604003A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred George Waylan Coombes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-02-28
Filing date: 2006-02-28
Publication date: 2007-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-28
Also published as: GB0604003D0; GB2435484B

Abstract

A post support 21 comprising an elongate hollow member 22 extending in a first direction along a major axis substantially the entire length of the support 21 the hollow member 22 being adapted to receive and engage a post through an opening at a first end of the hollow member; and fins comprising a first, preferably planar, section 24 extending outwards from an outer surface of the hollow member 22 along at least a portion of the length of the support 21 in the first direction along the major axis. The invention further provides a member (51 Figure 5) for a post support, and a post support comprising one or more of said members. The member (51 Figure 5) comprises a first portion (52 Figure 5) for engaging a post to be supported against a first surface thereof; a substantially planar second portion (53 Figure 5) extending from the first portion (52 Figure 5) and means (54,55 Figure 5) for coupling said member (51 Figure 5) to another said member.

Description

POST SUPPORT

Contents Page

Field of the Invention 2

Background of the Invention 2

Summary of the Invention 3

Brief Description of the Drawings 6

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments 7 Claims 11 Abstract 15 Drawings

Prior Art FIG. I

Moulded Post Support FIG. 2 Plan Views of Moulded Post Support FIG.s 3 & 4 Individual Segment of Post Support FIG. 5 Plan View of Post Support Using Individual Segments FIG.s 6 & 7 Assembly of Individual Segments Forming Post Support FIG. 8

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Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to means for providing support for posts, such as fence posts.

Background of the Invention

EP-A-0 120 643 (see FIG. 1) describes a post support capable of being driven vertically into the ground. The post support comprises an elongate ground engaging portion 1 attached to a post engaging portion 2. The ground engaging portion 1 is of cruciform cross section and tapers from the top end 3, at which the post engaging portion 2 is located, to the free end 4. The post engaging portion 2 is in the form of a hollow rectangular box section for receiving one end of a post to be supported in a vertical position with its axis substantially parallel to the axis of the ground engaging portion 1.

In order to attain the required level of support, the ground engaging portion I must extend a significant distance into the ground. This is not always possible when, for example, concrete foundations, stones or rock formations are present below the ground but close to the surface. The post support of EP A-0 120 643 is not suitable in such cases nor in cases where it is deemed necessary to set a post in concrete in order to provide additional support.

There is a need for a post support that provides improved levels of support but that reduces the depth required for the post and support in the ground.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a post support comprising an elongate hollow member extending in a first direction, along a major axis thereof, substantially the entire length of the support, the hollow member being adapted to receive and engage the post to be supported through an opening at a first end of the hollow member. A plurality of fins, each comprising a first planar section, extend outwards from an outer surface of the hollow member along at least a portion of the length of the support in a first direction along the major axis. Where the cross-section of the hollow member is polygonal, a fin may be provided running along one, more or each corner thereof alternatively, they may be provided on the faces thereof.

Preferably, the first planar section of at least one of the fins extends substantially the entire length of the support. More preferably, the fin comprises one or more second planar sections extending perpendicular to the first direction. These second planar sections arc preferably provided at the other end of the hollow member, i.e., at the end of the support furthest from the surface of the ground when in use.

In preferred embodiments, the post support is provided with a plurality of the fins extending outwards from the outer surface of the hollow member.

Preferably, the plurality of fins extend radially outwards from the major axis from the outer wall of the hollow member with equal angle spacings between each adjacent pair of fins. Alternatively, the fins may be offset from the major axis.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a member for a post support comprising a first portion for engaging a post to be supported against a first surface thereof a substantially planar second portion extending from the first portion; and means for coupling said member to another said member.

Preferably, the means for coupling comprises one or more hooks for engaging in a corresponding one or more slots of said another said member. Preferably, the second portion comprises a substantially planar third portion extending perpendicular to the second portion.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a post support comprising one or more of the members of the second aspect.

The present invention provides a support that enables posts to be supported without the need for concrete settings but with reduced depths required for the post and/or support to be inserted into the ground. This is achieved by having fins extending substantially along the length of the support, and, in preferred embodiments, by providing an additional portion of the fin that is perpendicular to the major portion of the fin (i.e., portions of the fin are provided that are parallel to the surface of the ground, when in use, but are provided at the end of the support deepest in the ground). Using the fins, the surface area of the post is increased, thereby increasing resistance to movement of the post when in use. Note that although not required, the support of the present invention may be used with concrete settings.

However, where concrete settings are not used, the support may be re-used.

Additionally, post supports according to the present invention may be easily and cheaply manufactured as an integral unit (see FIG. 2), such as by extrusion or moulding, or may be made up of readily assembled like constituent parts (see FIG. 5) for configuration by the consumer (see FIG. 8).

In the latter case, volume for packaging and storage is reduced and manufacturing may be further simplified. The support of the present invention may also provide extra protection from rotting for wooden posts at ground level, by extending the hollow member, or the first portions of the constituent members of the second aspect of the invention (see portion 52 of FIG. 5), upwards from the support, so that it protrudes well above ground level.

There now follows a description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of example only, described with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a post support according to a prior art arrangement.

Figure 2 shows a post support in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3a shows a cross-section of the top of the post support of Figure 2.

Figures 3b to 3d and 4a to 4d show cross-sections of the top of alternative embodiments of post supports that are preferably formed as integral units.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a member for coupling with other such members to form a post support.

Figures 6a to 6d and 7a to 7d show cross-sections of the top of alternative embodiments of post supports that are made using members similar to those of Figure 5.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment of a post support comprising four of the members of Figure 5.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Figure 2 shows a post support 21 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. The post support 21 includes a hollow member 22 appropriately configured for receiving a post. It will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that the configuration of the hollow member 22 is set for a post having a particular cross-section and that the post support 21 may be adapted such that the hollow member 22 is appropriately configured to receive and engage posts having different cross-sections (e.g. circular, triangular, rectangular, etc).

One or more fins are provided along the length of the support 21. Preferably, the fins are provided along the entire length of the support. A first portion 24 (preferably planar) of the fin is coupled to, or formed on, an outer surface of the hollow member 22 and extends outwards therefrom. A second portion 26 (preferably planar) of the fin extends perpendicular to the first portion 24, such that, in use, the second portion 26 is substantially parallel to the ground.

A third portion 25, substantially parallel to the ground, may be provided inside the hollow member 22 towards the bottom end thereof to, at least partially, close the other end of the hollow member 22.

Preferably, the support 21 is manufactured from a suitable plastic. However, metals or other materials having the appropriate rigidity, resistance to degrading and ability to be formed in the shown configurations may be used.

Figure 3a shows a cross-sectional view of the top of the support 21 of Figure 2. Figures 3b, 3c and 3d show cross-sectional views of the top of the support 21 for alternative embodiments that are respectively configured for posts having rectangular, circular and triangular cross-sections. The present invention is not limited to these particular configurations.

Figures 4a to 4d show alternative embodiments of the support in which the angles that the fins extend from the outer wall of the hollow member are altered. Again, the invention is not limited to these two sets of embodiments and it will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that the arrangement of the fins may be further altered without departing from the scope of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a member 51 for coupling with other such members to form a post support. The member 51 comprises a first portion 52 for engaging against a surface of the post to be supported and a second portion 53 that is preferably planar and provides the fins described in relation to Figure 2. The member 51 is further provided with one or more slots 54 for engaging one or more respective hooks 55 of a second said member 51. The present invention is not limited to the particular joining means shown. The skilled man will be aware of other means for making the joins between adjacent members without departing from the scope of the invention.

Where the first portion 52 is adapted to engage a surface of a post having a flat surface, the member 51 itself may be flat (i.e., there is an angle of approximately 1800 between the first and second portions) when seen in plan view. Alternatively, the second portion 53 may be offset from the first portion, such as by 450* Due to the configuration of the members 51, they may be readily stacked, thereby providing for easy and compact storage.

Figures 6a to 6d and 7a to 7d show cross-sectional views of the top of post supports configured using members similar to those shown in Figure 5. These figures are similar to Figures 3a to 3d and 4a to 4d but show the interlocking nature of the members. Again, alternative arrangements or configurations within the scope of the invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art.

Figure 8 shows the assembled post support using four members 51, such as those shown in Figure 5, interlocked together to form one unit. Interlocking between members 51 allows a certain amount of latitude between first portion 52 of Figure 5 and the actual post because of the slackness provided between the hooks 55 and the slots 54 of Figure 5.

It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the above description has been given by way of example only, and that modifications of detail can be given without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the fbllowing claims.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A post support comprising: an elongate hollow member extending in a first direction along a major axis substantially the entire length of the support, the hollow member being adapted to receive and engage a post through an opening at a first end of the hollow member; and a plurality of fins comprising a first section extending outwards from the outer surface of the hollow member along at least a portion of the length of the support in the first direction of the major axis.

2. The post support of claim 1, wherein said first section is substantially planar.

3. The post support of claim I or 2, wherein the first section of the fin extends substantially the entire length of the support.

4. The post support of any preceding claim, wherein the fin comprises a second section that is substantially planar and extends perpendicular to the first direction.

5. The post support of any preceding claim, wherein the fin comprises a third section that is coupled to the second section, is substantially planar and extends perpendicular to the first direction.

6. The post support of claim 4 or 5, wherein said second section is proximate the second, other end of the hollow member.

7. The post support of claim 5 or 6 when dependent thereon, wherein said third section is proximate the second, other end of the hollow member.

8. The post support of any preceding claim, wherein said plurality of fins extend radially from the major axis of the hollow member and are uniformly spaced apart.

9. The post support of claim 8, wherein said hollow member has a polygonal cross-section and said fins are arranged to extend from the vertices thereof.

10. The post support of any one of claims I to 7, wherein said plurality of fins extend radially from the major axis of the hollow member but offset from said axis.

11. A member for a post support comprising: a first portion for engaging a post to be supported against a first surface thereof; a second portion extending from the first portion; and means for coupling said member to another said member.

12. The member of claim 11, wherein said means for coupling comprises a hook for engaging a slot of said another said member.

13. The member of claim 11 or 12, wherein said second portion is substantially planar and extends along substantially the entire length of the first portion.

14. The member of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein said second portion comprises a substantially planar third portion extending perpendicular to the second portion.

15. A post support comprising a member according to any one of claims 11 to 14.

16. A post support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 8 of the drawings.

17. A member for a post support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 5 of the drawings.