Post Support

Abstract

The present invention is a post support for use in stabilizing a post during installation. The invention features a support body housing a rack-and-pinion system that incorporates an extendable arm, so that the support may be mounted upon the post and extended to interface with the walls of the installation hole. I an alternate embodiment, the extensible arm and support body are in threaded engagement and the arm is simply screwed out. Dual armed embodiments are also possible. Another embodiment features the support and arm interfacing each other with inclined planes which force the arm downward and outward with the force of gravity. With all embodiments, a bearing plate is present for contacting the wall of the installation hole at the terminal end of the arm. The support is ideally made of rigid plastic or other suitable material, allowing for a low cost and eventual sacrifice of the support as it is entombed in foundational materials for long term post support.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority based on prior filed U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/595,439, filed on Jul. 5, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of supports for posts while preparing the same for installation and more particularly relates to a post support that is permanently attached to the post prior to anchoring the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a support for posts utilizing the sides of an installation hole. Post support means are known in the prior art, and are usually found as collars that are staked into the ground, either from around or within the installation hole. Unfortunately, these devices are usually cumbersome, and leave little opportunity for adjustment of the post during installation.

The present invention represents a departure from the prior art in that the post support of the present invention allows for easy adjustment of the post without extensive removal and is easily installed upon a post.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of post supports, this invention provides a support system for ground-installed posts. As such, the present invention's general purpose is to provide a new and improved post support that is easily installed on a post while simultaneously providing position adjustment and disposability.

To accomplish these objectives, the support comprises a main body attachable to a post. At least one extendable arm is attached to the main body and is designed to extend and interface the ground wall inside a hole. Extension is accomplished by a number of means. A first embodiment utilizes a rack-and-pinion configuration pushing the arm outwards. A second accomplishes the same effect by using a threaded interface. In this embodiment, the extension means is adapted to be actuated by a common power drill or other similar device, so that setting up the post is relatively easy to accomplish. In a third embodiment, a wedge shaped body is attached to the post and a wedge shaped arm is pounded into place. The main components are made of a durable plastic so as to lessen end cost to the user and increase production capability.

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.

Many objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the invention installed on a post.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an alternate embodiment of the invention, installed on a post.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, in partial section, of the support body of the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, in partial section, of the brace arm of the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of four units of the third embodiment of the invention installed on a post in a post hole before filing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the post support is herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an” and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Each embodiment of the invention features a base with some form of extending arm, causing an enlarged support circumference that interfaces with the post's hole. Each embodiment is ideally made of plastic or other suitable materials as the supports should be considered disposable as they are generally encased when a post hole is filled.

With reference to FIG. 1, the support body 2 is comprised of two portions. The first is a base plate 3 upon which a cylindrical sleeve 1 is mounted. Base plate 3 is mounted upon post 9 with screws 11, shown in FIG. 2. Sleeve 1 serves as a guide for rack gear 6 in the system. As shown in FIG. 2, pinion gear 4 is mounted on a flanged end 7 of sleeve 1 and interfaces with rack gear 6. Pinion gear 4 has a drive means 8 either installed thereon or fashioned therein, capable of interfacing with a power tool, such as a drill, powered screwdriver, or other device, so as to allow easy actuation of said pinion gear 4. Pinion gear 4 may also interface with a catch 5 to keep pinion gear 4 from turning in a direction to loosen the support. Bearing plate 10 is mounted on an advancing end of rack gear 6 for the purpose of interfacing with walls of a hole. Bearing plate 10 is preferred to have a large, rounded surface, as shown, however a flat surface would suffice. Base plate 3 attaches to a post through a plurality of mounting holes 12 as shown in FIG. 3. Alternately, it is easily conceived that a worm gear may be utilized in place of the rack and pinion configuration. In the preferred embodiment, the entire assembly is molded from rigid plastic, thereby allowing for a low cost and increased utility from a disposability feature (i.e. the support may be left in concrete as a the post foundation is poured). Flanged end 7 of the cylinder 1 should flange in an interior direction to support the pinion gear 4. Four of these units would be needed to support a rectangular post and the shape and size of the base plate 3 may be varied for post size and shape.

In an alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, two extension arms 42 are in a threaded engagement with a support body 40. These arms 42 are capped with bearing plates 44 and simply screwed out until they engage the hole wall 46. Two such units would be needed for a rectangular post, reducing the cost, though this embodiment is more difficult to operate.

In a third embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5-8, a wedge shaped support body 50 is attached to post 59. As shown in FIG. 5, the attachment means may be at least one band 58 encompassing post 59 and attached to the support body 50. The advantage of such bands is the ability to slide the band over the post and tighten it in place by utilizing worm gear 60. Other means of attachment are, of course, possible, such as the basic screw attachment shown in FIG. 1. As seen in FIG. 6, support body 50 comprises a base 51, attached to bands 58, with at least one perpendicular sloping rise wall 52 and resulting in a sloped arm support 53. Brace arm 54 interfaces with arm support 53 with a receiving means 55. Bearing plate 57 attaches to receiving means 55 with at least one sloped second rise wall 56, which is complimentary to the first rise wall 53. Receiving means 55 slides against arm support 53 and is held in place by guides 55a, 55b. While shown on the receiving means 55, the guides 55a 55b may just as easily be positioned on the arm support 53. The complimentary angles of the rise walls 52 and 56 allow bearing plate 57 to interface the post hole wall 80 as gravity forces brace arm 54 down and out. In practice, four such devices would be sufficient to support a post and could be arranged, as shown on FIG. 8, to share attachment bands 58. Once positioned and the brace arms 54 installed, brace arms 54 may be pounded into a secure holding position for the post 59.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.

Claims

1. A post support comprising:

A support body having post mounting means;

A means of extension, mounted upon the support body.

At least one extendable arm operably connected to the means of extension in a manner to extend a divergent end of the arm away from the support body; and

Contact structure mounted upon the divergent end of the extendable arm.

2. The post support of claim 1, further comprising a pinion gear, with the extension arm being an interfacing rack gear, as the means of extension.

3. The post support of claim 2, further comprising an automatic actuation means.

4. The post support of claim 3, wherein the automatic actuation means is a power tool interface built within the pinion gear.

5. The post support of claim 1, further comprising a worm gear as the means of extension.

6. The post support of claim 5, further comprising an automatic actuation means.

7. The post support of claim 6, wherein the automatic actuation means is a power tool interface built within the worm gear.

8. The post support of claim 1, the means of extension being a threaded interface between the extendable arm and the post mounting means.

9. The post support of claim 8, further comprising two extendable arms, extending in opposite directions.

10. The post support of claim 1, the means of extension being two inclined planes, one on the support body and the other on the extendable arm, the planes in a slidable relationship and inclined in a manner to force the arm away from the support body.

11. The post support of claim 10, a first plane having perpendicular guides to position the other plane on the first plane.