Patent Application
20110047896
Vertically positioned poles are routinely utilized to support elevated birdfeeders, birdhouses, planters, lights, and similar containers and objects. Critical to maintaining such items in place is the manner in which the respective supporting poles are embedded into the ground. A wide variety of systems have been devised which attempt to keep poles rigid and vertical, while still maintaining feeders, birdhouses, planters, etc. atop the poles. Most of these systems have significant disadvantages and limitations. Many with spiked or similarly pointed members are difficult to drive into the ground or set up. Others cannot bear the weight of the objects they are supporting. Most have inadequate means to maintain the pole in a vertical position and no or insufficient means to permit the adjustment of poles to keep them vertical. These pole systems also do not have members which can support poles of varying diameters and still permit adjustments to maintain the poles in vertical orientation, especially when the poles are supporting elevated objects.
It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a centering ground spike for supporting a vertical pole which overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of such prior devices.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a centering ground spike for supporting a vertical pole which is configured to be readily driven into the ground and, once so positioned, can readily accept a vertically standing pole.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a centering ground spike for supporting a vertical pole which can accept poles having a variety of different diameters.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a centering ground spike for supporting a vertical pole which has means for adjusting the pole, to maintain it in vertical position, regardless of the diameter of the pole.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a centering ground spike for supporting a vertical pole which will bear the weight of bird feeders, birdhouses, planters, lights, or other objects which would be elevated and supported on the pole.
These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a centering ground spike for supporting a vertical pole comprises an integral body having a top member and a downwardly extending hollow, main body section. The main section extends down to a hollow, cone shaped section which forms a point. A first cavity is enclosed between the top member and the main section, and a contiguous second cavity is formed within the cone shaped section. An opening through the top member permits the insertion of a support pole into the first cavity. The end of the pole within the cavity rests on the intersection of the interior surface of the walls of the main section and cone shaped section or on an interior surface of the wall of the cone shaped section. The pole itself is maintained in vertical position by a locking ring with adjustment screws which are tightened around the outer surface of the pole. The size of the opening through the top member and the tapered shape of the cone shaped section permit the ground spike to accept and vertically support poles of various diameters. In alternate embodiments, the bottom end of the pole will rest on inverted cone shaped walls which extend into the main body section cavity.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Centering ground spike 1 comprises elongated, integral unitary body 2 having top member 4 at its upper end and downwardly extending hollow main section 3 with outer wall 5. The width of main section 3 or, if circular, its diameter, remains substantially the same as it extends vertically downward from top member 4, although in manufacture, this section may be slightly tapered downward. Main section 3 merges into hollow, cone shaped lower section 6 with outer walls 7 which terminate at point 8. Side fins 9, 10, and 11 are located on the external surface of wall 5 of main section 3 and are tapered from top member 4 to cone section 6.
As best seen in
Locking ring 18 is located adjacent to top member 4 and is secured thereto. Locking ring 18 is shown as being circular in shape in order to conform with the shape of common circular diameter poles, e.g. poles 20 and 21. However, it is contemplated that locking ring 18 can be any shape which conforms to the shape of the pole being used, and the invention is not to be considered restricted by the shape of the locking ring or of the pole. Threaded adjustment screws 21, 22, and 23 extend through the threaded openings in locking ring 18. The screws extend over opening 16 of top member 4.
In use, centering ground spike 1 is driven into the ground such that its top member 4 is substantially flush with the ground's surface. Tapered side fins 9, 10, and 11 greatly assist in this process. Adjustment screws 21, 22, and 23 within the openings in locking ring 18 are loosened and retreated back a sufficient distance to allow pole 20 (
As can be seen in
Thus, the embodiments shown in
Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
