Patent Application
20140083025
The present system relates generally to post supports and anchor assemblies for posts, as well as to anchoring of structures and other physical objects and structures requiring anchoring.
Post or pole fixation is most often seen in securing fence posts in the ground. These applications require that the pole or post be vertically aligned with great accuracy; however, the ground into which these are secured, may not be level or may be against the side of a slope or hill. Because the poles or posts being utilized are typically long in relation to their thickness, it can be difficult to accurately align them.
One of the existing common methods utilized is to dig a hole and set the post in concrete. The post or pole can be aligned vertically with other posts or poles to keep the alignment while the concrete cures. In many cases, the position of the pole or post must also be constrained with additional posts or poles to maintain alignment during concrete curing. Generally, concrete must cure for several days, depending on weather conditions, before the post or pole is sufficiently fixed to be usable. This method, although labor intensive and time consuming, allows for exact vertical alignment of the pole or post. Thus, there is a need for a system that allows for the accurate alignment of posts or poles while requiring much less labor and time than the existing systems.
In addition, many post or poles used currently for fencing deploy wood directly in the earth or encased in cement. Both of these methods result in failure in a relatively short period of time. In some environments where moisture, freezing temperatures and insects are prevalent the time period is extremely short. Frost heave is a common problem in cold weather climates, in which the frozen ground effectively pushes out of the ground the concrete block that is securing a post. Thus, there remains a further need to an improved system for anchoring posts that minimizes costs, and enables the use of materials having long-term durability in a ranges of environments.
The present system relates to post supports that can pivot at an angle sufficient to provide structural support for posts installed against a hillside or other non-level surface, as well as on level surfaces. The support may include an anchor assembly adapted to receive the pivotable post support, or other supports that may require secure anchoring.
The present system is used for anchoring fence posts, sign posts, flag posts, flag poles, or a post for any purpose that requires anchoring. As used in this document, the term “post” refers to both posts and poles, including fence posts, sign posts, flag posts, and flag poles, that are rounded or includes one or more squared edges, or any post, pole, or other substantially elongate item used for any purpose that requires essentially vertical anchoring. The present system is used to fix poles or posts into the earth for permanent construction or temporary applications.
An advantage of the present system is the ability to adjust the angular orientation of the post or pole after the stakes have been set into the earth. Another advantage of the present system is that a relatively small number of components are necessary to assemble the system, which conserves cost and reduces the amount of raw materials. A still further advantage of the present system is that the components are made of preferably galvanized steel for long life even in harsh conditions.
Accordingly, the present system is a post support assembly for receiving a post, comprising a post support structure adapted to receive an end of an elongated post extending along a post axis, an anchor assembly adapted for stable fixation in the ground at a geographic location, and a coupling assembly for coupling the post support structure to the anchor assembly by way of a ball joint element and associated clamp assembly. In this system, a post received by the post support is adjustably positionable to establish the post axis to a desired angle with respect to local gravity at the geographic location.
In an embodiment of the present system, the coupling assembly further comprises a ball joint element extending along a post axis between a support end and a post end, wherein the support end has an outer surface disposed about a center point CP on the post axis, and characterized by a radial distance from CP less than or equal to R0. The outer surface of the ball joint element includes an outer surface region that includes one or more spherical segments centered about CP and being a radial distance R0 from CP, and the outer surface region extends between angle A1 and angle A2. The spherical segments may be contiguous to form an outer surface having a solid spherical shape, or the surface may be striated or variegated with holes. In an embodiment, A1 is an upper limit angle between an upper limit point of the spherical segment on a first side of a reference plane orthogonal to the post axis and passing through CP, wherein A1 is greater than 0° and less than 90°, and A2 is an lower limit angle between a lower limit point of the spherical segment on a second side of the reference plane, wherein A2 is greater than 0° and less than 90°.
The system further comprises a post support element extending between a ball end and the post end, wherein the ball end is affixed to the ball joint element at a point on the outer surface of the ball joint element at an angle greater than A1 with respect to the reference plane.
In another embodiment, the coupling assembly is a clamp assembly. The clamp assembly includes: (i) an upper clamp element, including a planar region having a central aperture therein disposed about an upper clamp axis orthogonal to the planar region, wherein the central aperture includes a circumferentially dispersed circular segment having a radius RUC is greater than RUC cos A1, and RUC greater than or equal to RUC otherwise; (ii) a lower clamp element, including a planar region having a central aperture therein disposed about a lower clamp axis orthogonal to the planar region, wherein the central aperture includes a circumferentially dispersed circular segment having a radius RLC is greater than RLC cos A1, and RLC greater than or equal to RLC otherwise; and (iii) a clamp coupler, including at least three bolt assemblies adapted to adjustably couple the upper clamp element to the lower clamp element with the upper clamp element disposed with its central aperture extending about a portion of the spherical regions on one side of the reference plane, and the lower clamp element disposed with its central aperture extending about a portion of the spherical regions on the other side of the reference plane.
In this embodiment, the anchor assembly further comprises a plurality of elongated anchor elements extending from at least one of the upper clamp element and the lower clamp element and in a direction away from the upper clamp element. These anchor elements secure the anchor assembly into the ground, and preferably are elongate rigid stakes.
Upon assembly, the post support system includes a post extending along a post axis between a support end and a distal end, wherein the support end of the post axis extends from and is integral with the support end of the post support element, and the post axis is coaxial with the post axis. Alternatively, the support end of the post axis is adapted to slidingly engage the support and of the post support element, whereby the post axis is coaxial with the post axis.
The present anchor element for an anchor and support assembly, comprises a first anchor plate, wherein the plate is a sheet element having a uniform thickness D, and having a planar central portion with a nominal periphery P, and extending along and about a principal plane transverse to a central axis. The sheet element includes a coupling region disposed about the central axis and within the central region, and at least three elongated tab elements, each tab element extending along an associated tab axis from the nominal periphery P, from a proximal portion at a proximal end thereof to a distal end, wherein a principal plane of the proximal portion extends along and is parallel to the principal plane. The tab axes are co-planar and are transverse to and extend radially outward from the central axis, and each tab element includes, at its distal end, a capture bend region, whereby the tab axis of a distal portion of the tab element extends from an intermediate point, away from the principal plane in a first direction, and thereafter extends toward and across the principal plane in a second direction to the distal end. Each tab element includes a primary bend region between its proximal portion and the intermediate point, whereby a distal portion of the tab element extending from the intermediate point to the distal end extends transverse to the tab axis in a direction perpendicular to the principal plane, between a first lateral edge on one side of the principal plane and a second lateral end on the other side of the principal plane. Each distal portion includes a slot having a predetermined width D extending from the first lateral edge into the distal portion along an associated slot axis parallel to and a distance S from the central axis.
In an alternative embodiment, the anchor element includes a structure for coupling the coupling region to an externally applied element. In an embodiment, the tab elements are equi-angularly disposed about the central axis.
As described herein, the present anchor and support assembly kit comprises a first anchor plate, and a second anchor plate, as described above. The kit further includes a set of fastening elements adapted to clamp the first anchor plate to the second anchor plate with distal portions of opposite tab elements disposed within corresponding slots, and a set of elongated anchor elements, each anchor element being associated with a tab element, and wherein each anchor element extends from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the proximal and is adapted for capture between oppositely positioned bend regions of the plus first anchor plate and the second anchor plate when positioned opposite each other with the fastening elements.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the description of the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention as described herein and as illustrated in the drawings.
The present post support assembly 100, as shown in
As shown in
In an embodiment, the outer surface of the ball joint element 106 includes an outer surface region, which preferably is a solid surface. In alternate embodiments, the surface may be formed from separate segments or may be striations or variegated with holes on the surface itself. The ball element may be a solid structure, or may be hollow, provided that the materials with which the ball joint element is manufactured is sufficiently strong to support a post of the desired dimensions. Thus, the thickness of the ball joint may vary from solid to several millimeters, depending on the intended use of the ball joint. The ball joint element 106 may be spherical, or may have an essentially spherical shape, depending on the specific application. Alternatively, the element 106 may include multiple segments that are manufactured from the same or different materials from the center of the element 106. The ball joint element 106 may be integral with the post support element 102, or may otherwise be affixed to the post support element 102, for example by welding. The ball joint element 106 preferably is manufactured from a rigid material, such as steel or aluminum, and may be manufactured using standard manufacturing methods, such as die casting.
As shown in the cut-away view of the present system 100 in
The coupling assembly 120 includes an elongate post support element 102 extending along the post axis PA between the post proximal end PPE and the post distal end PDE. The post distal end PDE is affixed to the ball joint element 106 at a point on the outer surface 112 of the ball joint element 106 substantially along the post axis PA. Such fixation may be achieved through welding, screws, or other secure method known in the field. The size, diameter, and shape of the post support element 102 varies depending on the size, diameter, and shape of the post element which mounts onto the support element 102. Thus, the support element 102 may be adapted to accept a post of any diameter or shape, or example a round pole, or a square post.
In the embodiment shown in
The present system 100 further includes a clamp assembly 122, as shown in
As best shown in
The upper clamp element 124 preferably is made of a sheet of rigid material having a uniform thickness D, of about 3 mm, depending on the nature of the intended use. Larger posts will require greater thickness D. The element 124 includes a planar central portion 132 having a nominal periphery P, and extends along and about the planar region PR along an upper plate axis UPA transverse to the central axis CA. In an embodiment, the clamp assembly 122 includes an anchor assembly 104 for securing structural stake elements 114 (shown in
The lower clamp element 126 preferably is made of a sheet of rigid material having a uniform thickness D, of about 3 mm, depending on the nature of the intended use. Larger posts will require greater thickness D. The element 126 includes a planar central portion 133 having a nominal periphery P2, and extends along and about the planar region PR along an upper plate axis UPA transverse to the central axis CA. In an embodiment, the clamp element 126 includes an anchor assembly 104 for securing structural stake elements 114 (as shown in
As shown in
In practicing the present coupling assembly 120, a post 200 is positioned and secured on the support element 102 while the attached ball joint element 106 is placed between the upper clamp element 124 and the lower clamp element 126. The clamp elements 124, 126 are held together using two or more fastening element, to securely and rotatably engage the ball joint element 106 therebetween. The post 200 then may be rotated into the desired vertical position.
The present post support assembly 100 further includes an anchor assembly 104. In the illustrated embodiment of
The tab axes TA are co-planar to, transverse to, and extend radially outward from the central axis CA. Each tab element 140 includes at its distal tab end DTE a capture bend region 144, defined by the tab axis of a distal portion 148 of the tab element extends from an intermediate point, away from the principal plan in a first direction, and then extends toward and across the principal plane in a second direction to the distal tab end DTE. This forms an essentially S-shaped distal tab end DTE. In addition, each tab element includes a primary bend region 146 between its proximal portion 142 and the intermediate point IP on the tab, whereby the proximal portion is twisted to a degree between 0° and 90° relative to the tab axis. The twist effectively results in the distal portion 148 extending from the intermediate point IP to the distal tab end DTE such that it extends transverse to the tab axis in a direction perpendicular to the principal plane, between a first lateral edge on one side of the principal plane and a second lateral edge on the other side of the principal plane.
The distal portion 148 of each tab element 140 further includes a slot 150 having a predetermined width W extending from the first lateral edge into the distal portion along an associated slot axis parallel to and a distance S from the central axis CA.
As shown in
Rigid structural stake elements 114 are inserted, or otherwise secured in the space created between the capture bend regions 146 of each pair of complimentary tab elements 140, as shown in
As shown in
The anchor assembly 104 preferably is manufactured from a rigid metal, such as steel, and is adapted, as described below, to receive stakes 114 manufactured from rigid steel, aluminum, or other materials commonly used. In a preferred embodiment, the stakes 114 are standard “T” bar fence posts, readily commercially available and relatively inexpensive.
When using the present post securing system 100, and as shown in
Once the system 100 is installed, loosening the clamp couplers 128 releases the tension hold of the ball joint element 106 from between the two clamp elements, allowing a user to adjust the angular orientation of the post 200 secured therewithin without compromising the security of the position of the post in the system 100. Thus, the angle of the post 200 can be maintained at an accurate angle relative to the ground. This allows the system 100 to be installed against a hill, and the ball joint element 106 can be rotated to maintain the accurate alignment of the post 200 in a vertical position relative to the ground, if desired. The angle of the ball joint element 106 and post 200 can be altered at initial deployment of the system 100 or at a later date to readjust the orientation. Such ability to pivot the post 200 within the system 100 makes the installed post 200 more resilient to accidental impacts that otherwise would lift the installation assembly out of the ground. In such an accident, using the present system 100, the ball joint element 106 rotates with the impact, and absorbs most of the power of such an impact, leaving the system 100 essentially in the ground. The post 200 then merely needs to be realigned, without having to remove or replace the entire system 100.
The system 100 may be assembled, e.g., as shown in
As illustrated in
In some installations of round chain link fencing or sign posts/poles, the post/pole once leveled to vertical may be driven to further secure the installation. In some cases, this may be dictated by local building codes.
The above disclosure is not intended as limiting. Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the restrictions of the appended claims.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2012/036907 | 5/8/2012 | WO | 00 | 11/8/2013 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61518762 | May 2011 | US |
