Patent Application
20240254803
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The disclosure relates to installation devices and more particularly pertains to a new installation device enabling installation of a plurality of posts with the posts being substantially parallel and coplanar. The present invention discloses an installation device for post mounts that enables a user to install the post mounts properly so that posts subsequently attached to the post mounts are parallel and coplanar.
The prior art relates to installation devices, which may comprise an extensible rod have clamping members or brackets at each end that are attachable to posts. While these installation devices are useful in positioning posts, many fencing systems and support systems using multiple posts rely on post mounts that are attached to or positioned in the ground. These prior art installation devices do not enable proper positioning of post mounts. Related prior art includes post location marking devices, which may include a pair of pipes and a crossmember, and drilling jigs having two collars slidably attached to a crossmember. What is lacking in the prior art is an installation device that is attachable to a first post mount and which can be used to indicate proper positioning of a second post mount.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a first pipe, a second pipe, and a third pipe. The first pipe is configured to be removably attachable to a first post mount. The second pipe is attached to and extends perpendicularly from the first pipe so that an upper limit of the second pipe is substantially coplanar with an upper end of the first post mount. The second pipe also is substantially parallel to an imaginary line that extends between the first post mount and a location for installation of a second post mount. The third pipe is slidably attached to the second pipe and thus is selectively extensible from the second pipe. A respective opposed end of the third pipe is configured to indicate a point adjacent to the location for installation of the second post mount.
Another embodiment of the disclosure includes a method for installing post mounts. Provision steps entail providing a plurality of post mounts and providing a post mount installation device, according to the disclosure above. Operational steps are installing a first post mount, attaching the first pipe to the first post mount, extending the third pipe from the second pipe such that a respective opposed end of the third pipe is positioned to indicate a point adjacent to a location for installation of a second post mount, installing the first second mount, and repeating as necessary until all post mounts have been installed.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
The first pipe 12 is configured to be removably attachable to a first post mount 24, as shown in
The second pipe 14 is attached to and extends perpendicularly from the first pipe 12 so that an upper limit 34 of the second pipe 14 is substantially coplanar with the upper end 32 of the first post mount 24. The second pipe 14 also is substantially parallel to an imaginary line that extends between the first post mount 24 and a location for installation of a second post mount 36. The second pipe 14 may be attached to the first pipe 12 by means of a plate 38 and a spacer 40. The plate 38 is attached to and extends from the upper terminus 28 of the first pipe 12. The spacer 40 is attached to a lower face 42 of the plate 38, distal from the first pipe 12, and also is attached to the second pipe 14 so that the upper limit 34 of the second pipe 14 is substantially coplanar with the lower limit 30 of the collar 26. In another configuration (not shown) of the post mount installation device 10, the first post mount 24 is insertable into first pipe 12 and the second pipe 14 is attached directly to the first pipe 12.
The third pipe 16 is slidably attached to the second pipe 14 and thus is selectively extensible from the second pipe 14. The third pipe 16 is circumferentially complementary to the second pipe 14 so that the third pipe 16 is slidable within the second pipe 14. A fastener 44 is attached to the second pipe 14 and is configured to enable attachment of the second pipe 14 to the third pipe 16 to fixedly position the third pipe 16 relative to the second pipe 14. A respective opposed end 46 of the third pipe 16 is configured to indicate a point adjacent to the location for installation of the second post mount 36.
It often is required to install a plurality of posts so that the posts are substantially parallel and substantially coplanar, as might be the case when two or three posts are installed to support a sign. Upon installation of a first post mount 24, it can be difficult to properly install a second post mount 36 so that one ends up with posts that are substantially parallel and substantially coplanar. The same holds true for subsequent post mounts 64 that might need to be installed. The post mount installation device 10 facilitates proper installation of the second post mount 36, and subsequent post mounts 64, by properly spacing the second post mount 36 from the first post mount 24, via selective extension of the third pipe 16, and by assuring that the first post mount 24 and second post mount 36 are level, as the upper end 32 of the first post mount 24 is flush with a top 48 of the third pipe 16.
The post mount installation device 10 also can assist in installing the first post mount 24 so that it is oriented as desired relative to a reference line, such as in providing a plurality of posts in a vertical plane that is substantially perpendicular to a roadway. It can be difficult to install the first post mount 24 so that its front edge 50 and back edge 52 are perpendicular (or other desired angle) relative to a reference line. It is much easier to achieve the desired orientation with the first post mount 24 by removably attaching it to the post mount installation device 10. Prior to final attachment to the surface, the first post mount 24 can be checked for level by positioning a level (not shown) upon the third pipe 16. The third pipe 16 also is much easier to relate to the reference line than are the front edge 50 and the back edge 52 of the first post mount 24, which are much shorter that the third pipe 16.
The fastener 44 may comprise a pair of first holes 54, the first holes 54 of which are opposingly positioned in the second pipe 14. A plurality of second holes 56 is positioned in the third pipe 16 so that the second holes 56 are substantially evenly spaced between the opposed ends 46 of the third pipe 16. Each second hole 56 is opposingly positioned in the third pipe 16 relative to an associated second hole 56. A pin 58 is selectively insertable through the pair of first holes 54, a respective second hole 56, and an associated second hole 56 to fixedly position the third pipe 16 relative to the second pipe 14. The second holes 56 may be separated by defined increments, such as one inch. The present invention anticipates the fastener 44 comprising other fastening means, such as, but not limited to, twist locks, clamps, spring-loaded pins, and the like.
The present invention also anticipates a bracket, a socket, or the like (not shown) that is attached to the third pipe 16 proximate to the respective opposed end 46 that is positioned adjacent to the location for installation of the second post mount 36. The bracket or socket would support the second post mount 36 during installation, allowing it to be more easily plumbed and installed.
In use, the post mount installation device 10 enables a method for installing post mounts 60, which comprises a first provision step 62 that entails providing a plurality of post mounts 64. A second provision step 66 of the method 60 is providing a post mount installation device 10, according to the specification above. A first operational step 68 of the method 60 is installing a first post mount 24. A second operational step 70 of the method 60 is attaching the first pipe 12 to the first post mount 24. A third operational step 72 of the method 60 is extending the third pipe 16 from the second pipe 14 so that a respective opposed end 46 of the third pipe 16 is positioned to indicate a point adjacent to a location for installation of a second post mount 36. A fourth operational step 74 of the method 60 is installing the second post mount 36. A fifth operational step 76 of the method 60 is repeating as necessary until all the post mounts 64 are installed.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
