GB2151273A

GB2151273A - Post support

Info

Publication number: GB2151273A
Application number: GB08333139A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Kenneth Boulton
Original assignee: SPECIAL MACHINE MAKERS Ltd
Current assignee: SPECIAL MACHINE MAKERS Ltd
Priority date: 1983-12-12
Filing date: 1983-12-12
Publication date: 1985-07-17
Also published as: GB2151273B; GB8333139D0

Abstract

The support comprises a walled socket portion 14 for post 27, and a portion 13 to be implanted in the ground. Socket portion 14 has a pair of spaced opposed tapered edges 21 on to which a tapered locking member 22 can be driven, to reduce gap 17 and clamp the post. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in post supports This invention relates to a post support.

According to the invention there is provided a post support comprising a walled socket portion to receive and support a lower end of a post, and extending downwardly from the socket portion a portion to be implanted in the ground, the socket portion comprising first and second co-operating parts, the second of which can be driven with respect to the first part to reduce the internal size of the socket portion in such a way as to clamp the post in the socket portion.

The walls of the socket portion may be provided by the first part of the socket portion alone, or the second part may also form part of the walls of the socket portion.

The first and second parts of the socket portion are preferably provided with co-operating, relatively slidable taper formations arranged so that the second part can be slidably driven with respect to the first part so to reduce the internal size of the socket portion.

The taper formations on the first and second parts preferably taper upwardly so that the second part can be driven downwardly after the support has been implanted in the ground so to reduce the internal size of the socket portion.

The first part may be in the form of a split sleeve in which case the taper formations on the first part may be provided by an edge or surface on either side of the split.

The split sleeve may comprise on either side of the split a pair of lips whose outer edges form the taper formations.

The second part may be in the form of a plate element in which case the taper formations on the second part may be provided by a pair of opposed channels.

The component parts may conveniently be of sheet metal.

By way of example, an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a post support according to the invention, Figure 2 is an underneath plan view of the post support of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the post support of Figures 1 and 2.

A post support 10, as shown in the drawings, comprises an elongate member 11 which is of V-shaped cross-section and which tapers uniformly from one end 12 to the other end 13. End 13 provides a portion for location in the ground. Adjacent to end 12 there is provided a tubular housing, generally indicated by 14, which is designed to receive and support the lower end of a post, such as a fence post.

In this embodiment, the support is designed for a standard square post, but it will be appreciated that the shape of the housing may be varied to suit any type of post. The component parts of the support are conveniently made of mild steel, although other suitable materials could of course be used.

Figures 2 and 3 show more clearly that the tubular housing 14 is formed on two sides by a pair of flat rectangular plates 15 that are each connected, conveniently by welding, to a respective flange of the V-shaped member. The plates 15 are attached at right angles to these flanges along lines 16 which are parallel to the spine of the V-shaped member 11.

This means that the tubular housing defines a parallel-sided volume of, in this case, square crosssection.

The outer edges of the plates 15 are separated by a parallel-sided gap 17, and at these edges, the plates 15 are each formed with a lip 18. Each lip 18 lies in a plane which is at an angle of approximately 45 to the plane of its respective plate 15. Also, the lower end 19 of each lip 18 is broader than its upper end 20, so that the lips look rather like a pair of tapering lapels, with the outer, leading edges 21 of the lips 18 together forming an opposed convergent pair.

An elongate locking member 22 has a channel 23 formed by a turned-over edge 24 along either of its sides. The channels 23 are more adjacent at the top 25 of the member 22 than at the bottom 26 so that together they form an opposed convergent pair. The channels 23 of the locking member 22 are designed to fit over the lips 18 of the plates 15so that in this way the locking member is engagable on the tubular housing 14.

When the locking member 22 is engaged on the housing 14 and moved in the direction of arrow A, the opposed pair of channels 23 bear on the opposed pair of leading edges 21 of the lips 18 which, because they are convergent, tends to force the lips towards each other and close up the gap 17. This can occur because of the flexibility of the material from which the housing 14 is made, and the effect is to reduce the inner dimensions of the housing thereby clamping a post 27 in position. Clearly, the further the locking member 22 is engaged on the housing 14, the more the inner dimensions of the housing will be reduced and the tighter the post 27 will be clamped.

The locking member 22 is effectively held in position by the large frictional forces between the leading edges 21 of the lips 18 and the channels 23 of the locking member.

As an alternative to the above embodiment, it would be possible for the locking member itself to form part of the tubular housing by forming, for example, one or more of the side walls of the housing. In such a case, the locking member could be designed to fit on the walls of the housing in a similar way to that described in the above embodiment, and the locking member, in such an arrangement, could itself act to clamp the post in position.

It will be appreciated that the above described post supports can be used with posts of different sizes without needing special adaptation, and this is an important advantage since standard posts of imperial measurement differ in size slightly, though significantly, from their metric equivalents.

1. A post support comprising a walled socket

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in post supports This invention relates to a post support. According to the invention there is provided a post support comprising a walled socket portion to receive and support a lower end of a post, and extending downwardly from the socket portion a portion to be implanted in the ground, the socket portion comprising first and second co-operating parts, the second of which can be driven with respect to the first part to reduce the internal size of the socket portion in such a way as to clamp the post in the socket portion. The walls of the socket portion may be provided by the first part of the socket portion alone, or the second part may also form part of the walls of the socket portion. The first and second parts of the socket portion are preferably provided with co-operating, relatively slidable taper formations arranged so that the second part can be slidably driven with respect to the first part so to reduce the internal size of the socket portion. The taper formations on the first and second parts preferably taper upwardly so that the second part can be driven downwardly after the support has been implanted in the ground so to reduce the internal size of the socket portion. The first part may be in the form of a split sleeve in which case the taper formations on the first part may be provided by an edge or surface on either side of the split. The split sleeve may comprise on either side of the split a pair of lips whose outer edges form the taper formations. The second part may be in the form of a plate element in which case the taper formations on the second part may be provided by a pair of opposed channels. The component parts may conveniently be of sheet metal. By way of example, an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a post support according to the invention, Figure 2 is an underneath plan view of the post support of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the post support of Figures 1 and 2. A post support 10, as shown in the drawings, comprises an elongate member 11 which is of V-shaped cross-section and which tapers uniformly from one end 12 to the other end 13. End 13 provides a portion for location in the ground. Adjacent to end 12 there is provided a tubular housing, generally indicated by 14, which is designed to receive and support the lower end of a post, such as a fence post. In this embodiment, the support is designed for a standard square post, but it will be appreciated that the shape of the housing may be varied to suit any type of post. The component parts of the support are conveniently made of mild steel, although other suitable materials could of course be used. Figures 2 and 3 show more clearly that the tubular housing 14 is formed on two sides by a pair of flat rectangular plates 15 that are each connected, conveniently by welding, to a respective flange of the V-shaped member. The plates 15 are attached at right angles to these flanges along lines 16 which are parallel to the spine of the V-shaped member 11. This means that the tubular housing defines a parallel-sided volume of, in this case, square crosssection. The outer edges of the plates 15 are separated by a parallel-sided gap 17, and at these edges, the plates 15 are each formed with a lip 18. Each lip 18 lies in a plane which is at an angle of approximately 45 to the plane of its respective plate 15. Also, the lower end 19 of each lip 18 is broader than its upper end 20, so that the lips look rather like a pair of tapering lapels, with the outer, leading edges 21 of the lips 18 together forming an opposed convergent pair. An elongate locking member 22 has a channel 23 formed by a turned-over edge 24 along either of its sides. The channels 23 are more adjacent at the top 25 of the member 22 than at the bottom 26 so that together they form an opposed convergent pair. The channels 23 of the locking member 22 are designed to fit over the lips 18 of the plates 15so that in this way the locking member is engagable on the tubular housing 14. When the locking member 22 is engaged on the housing 14 and moved in the direction of arrow A, the opposed pair of channels 23 bear on the opposed pair of leading edges 21 of the lips 18 which, because they are convergent, tends to force the lips towards each other and close up the gap 17. This can occur because of the flexibility of the material from which the housing 14 is made, and the effect is to reduce the inner dimensions of the housing thereby clamping a post 27 in position. Clearly, the further the locking member 22 is engaged on the housing 14, the more the inner dimensions of the housing will be reduced and the tighter the post 27 will be clamped. The locking member 22 is effectively held in position by the large frictional forces between the leading edges 21 of the lips 18 and the channels 23 of the locking member. As an alternative to the above embodiment, it would be possible for the locking member itself to form part of the tubular housing by forming, for example, one or more of the side walls of the housing. In such a case, the locking member could be designed to fit on the walls of the housing in a similar way to that described in the above embodiment, and the locking member, in such an arrangement, could itself act to clamp the post in position. It will be appreciated that the above described post supports can be used with posts of different sizes without needing special adaptation, and this is an important advantage since standard posts of imperial measurement differ in size slightly, though significantly, from their metric equivalents. CLAIMS

1. A post support comprising a walled socket portion to receive and support a lower end of a post, and extending downwardly from the socket portion a portion to be implanted in the ground, the socket portion comprising first and second cooperating parts, the second of which can be driven with respect to the first part to reduce the internal size of the socket portion in such a way as to clamp the post in the socket portion.

2. A post support as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the walls of the socket portion are provided by the first part of the socket portion.

3. A post support as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the first and second parts of the socket portion are provided with co-operating, relatively slidable taper formations arranged so that the second part can be slidably driven with respect to the first part so to reduce the internal size of the socket portion.

4. A post support as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the taper formations on the first and second parts taper upwardly so that the second part can be driven downwardly after the support has been implanted in the ground so to reduce the inernal size of the socket portion.

5. A post support as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the first part is in the form of a split sleeve and the taper formations on the first part are provided by an edge or surface on either side of the split.

6. A post support as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the split sleeve comprises on either side of the split a pair of lips whose outer edges form the taper formations.

7. A post support as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 6 wherein the second part is in the form of a plate element and the taper formations on the second part are provided by a pair of opposed channels.

8. A post support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the component parts are of sheet metal.

9. A post support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.