The invention relates to a self-rightening post system that elastically restrains a post in a vertical orientation with adjustable retainer assemblies.
Posts are used to secure any number of items including mailboxes, lights, signs and fencing, bird feeders and the like. These posts are typically secured in the ground and sometimes have cement configured around the portion of the post in the ground. Unfortunately, posts can be deflected by contact with a car or lawnmower and this leaves the post extending up from the ground at a tilted angle. This can be very unappealing to many homeowners and neighbors. In addition, some posts simply tilt overtime due to settling of the ground, again leaving a tilted post. To correct these drawbacks of a tilted post extension, the post can be forced back into a straight or vertical orientation but this can be short lived as the ground or support has been compromised. Alternatively, the post can be dug up and removed and then re-set in a vertical orientation. When the post has been set with concrete, this can be very difficult work, as the concrete will be adhered to the post.
Likewise, a post can sometimes be set in the ground or within a casing and the angle may be undesirable. Also, a post can be deflected out of desired rotational alignment by an object such as a car or lawnmower and this can also cause problems. A mailbox that does not face the road can look awkward and can be difficult for a mail carrier to access. It can be very difficult if not impossible to righten a post rotationally when secured in the ground.
The invention is directed to a self-rightening post system configured to secure a post in a casing in a vertical orientation and to self-righten the post upon the removal of a deflecting force, such as from a car or lawnmower. An exemplary self-rightening post system utilizes a plurality of adjustable retainer assemblies that are configured between the post and the inside surface of the casing to produce a self-rightening force upon deflection of the post. The plurality of adjustable retainer assemblies may be configured around the post and/or on opposing sides of the post to ensure that the post will self-righten regardless of the direction of a deflecting force.
An exemplary adjustable retainer assembly comprises a post contact extension that is coupled to the post and a casing extension coupled to the post contact extension by a hinge. On an adjustment end of the adjustable retainer assembly an adjustment extension, such as a bolt, extends from the post extension to the casing extension and can adjust a retainer distance, or distance between the casing extension and the post extension. A spring is configured in compression between the post and casing extensions and produces a separating force that the adjustment extension can overcome to change the distance between the post and casing extensions. The retainer distance can be changed to create a force on the post wherein the casing extension is forced against the casing and the post is forced by the post extension.
In an exemplary embodiment, a post is rectangular in cross-sectional shape and there are four adjustable retainer assemblies configured on each of the four sides of the post. The casing may be a tube having a circular cross-sectional shape and a casing interface contoured to the inner diameter of the casing and coupled to the casing extension may enable the post and the self-rightening post system to rotate within the casing. This can further reduce any damage that might be caused by an object hitting the post. Also, this enables a user to simply rotate the post to a desired orientation after a deflection.
In an exemplary embodiment, a post is circular in cross-sectional shape and there are at least three adjustable retainer assemblies configured around the post, preferably at uniform angular offset positions, such as at about 120 degrees apart for a system having three adjustable retainer assemblies. The post extensions may have a curved surface to enable a secure engagement with the circular outer surface of the post. Again, the casing may be a tube having a circular cross-sectional shape and a casing interface coupled to the casing extension may enable the post and the self-rightening post system to rotate within the casing.
An exemplary adjustable retainer assembly comprises a bolt as an adjustment extension and a threaded adjustment aperture is configured in the post extension to allow the threads of the bolt to change the retainer distance. The bolt head may be secured to the casing extension by a adjustment flange and extend through an adjustment apertures in the casing extension. The extended end, or threaded end, of the bolt may extend out from the post extension and into an aperture in the post, to allow the bolt to change the retainer distance. The adjustable retainer assemblies may be secured to the post by post extension fasteners.
When the post is deflected, one or more of the adjustable retainer assemblies will be compressed and those on an opposing side, the side receiving the deflection force from an object, will be pulled away from the casing. Upon removal of the deflecting force, the compressed adjustable retainer assemblies will force the post back to a straight and vertical orientation.
An exemplary self-tightening post system can be used to position a post in a desired orientation and most often in a vertical orientation, regardless of the casing orientation. For example, a casing may be offset an offset angle from vertical and an exemplary self-rightening post system can be used to force the post vertical within the offset casing. Each of the adjustable retainer assemblies can be adjusted separately to produce more force on one side of the post to force the post vertical within an offset casing. The gap distance between the post and the casing may therefore be different from side to side of the post.
An exemplary spring, as used herein, may be a coiled spring, or an elastomeric material, a material that returns substantially to an original orientation after removal of a deflecting force, such as within about 90% of an original deflected dimension. An elastic spring may therefore be an elastomer, such as silicone, urethane, rubber and the like. A coiled spring may be retained between the casing and post extensions by guide posts that extend within the coil of the coiled spring. These spring guide posts may ensure that the spring stays in an aligned position between the post and casing extensions.
An exemplary self-rightening post system comprises a top plate that is configured around the post above the casing. An exemplary top plate has an aperture to receive the post and may comprise a flange to prevent dirt, debris and water from getting into the casing. The top plate may slide freely over the casing to enable the post to deflect and then return back to an original orientation.
An exemplary self-tightening post system comprises a base retainer that extends between the post and the casing below the plurality of adjustable retainer assemblies, such as proximal to the bottom of the casing and also proximal to the extended or inserted end of the post. The base retainer may comprise a recess or aperture to receive the inserted end of the post and may retain the inserted end in a central location in the casing.
A casing may be configured at least partially within the ground or be submerged or maybe configured above the ground. A casing may be circular in cross-sectional shape, such as being a tube, or may be rectangular, polygonal shaped or irregular shaped. A casing may be formed by an aperture in a material, such as within a poured concrete slab, PVC tubing, for example.
Rectangular, as used herein, includes four sided polygonal shapes and includes square shapes.
A hinge may be a hinge comprising a post and cylindrical elements that extend around the post to enable rotation, or a living hinge that comprises a bent portion of a single piece of material such as a bend in a piece of metal or plastic between the post extension and the casing extension. Note too that a hinge may be a coupling between the post extension and casing extension, such as a weld or other attachment including an attachment comprising fasteners, such as bolts.
The summary of the invention is provided as a general introduction to some of the embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to be limiting. Additional example embodiments including variations and alternative configurations of the invention are provided herein.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the figures. The figures represent an illustration of some of the embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Also, use of “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.
Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein and are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications, combinations and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such alternate embodiments, combinations, modifications, improvements are within the scope of the present invention.
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It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Specific embodiments, features and elements described herein may be modified, and/or combined in any suitable manner. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications, combinations and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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