ANCHOR SYSTEM FOR FENCING

Abstract

An anchor for fence post has at least one anchor post having an elongated body, and at least one pair of anchor tabs which protrude from an outer wall of the body, wherein the tabs initially are parallel to the body and are bent outwardly at an angle to the body wherein each tab has an opening therein to facilitate bending of the tabs. An anchor system for fence posts includes at least one anchor post for anchoring a fence post. The anchor post has an elongated body and a plurality of anchor tabs extending from an outer wall of the body. An anchor tool for bends the anchor tabs at an angle from the elongated body. The tool has at least one prong which matingly engages an opening formed in one of the anchor tabs for bending the tabs outwardly with respect to the elongated body.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/388,738 filed on Oct. 1, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure is directed to an anchor assembly which can be used to install fences, in particular fence posts used with vinyl or aluminum fencing.

Existing methods of installing fencing include the use of concrete or gravel and of digging up the surrounding area, which may cause damage to the end user's property or landscaping.

Additionally, multiple trips may be required by the work crew, and extensive clean-up may be required. This results in several days being required to install a fence, which is not time or cost effective.

Another disadvantage with existing fence posts is the laborious technique used to insert a fence post into the ground. Typically, a hole is dug and the post is placed in the hole. Sometimes, concrete is used to hold the post in place. The hole is dug manually or using a digging augur. The post is dropped into the hole and an operator must backfill the hole once the post has been placed, and compact the loose earth around the post. Alternatively, the post is simply pounded into the ground. This latter technique requires an extremely strong post to be used.

With these conventional techniques, should a post become damaged or destroyed, it is difficult, time-consuming, and therefore quite expensive to replace the damaged or destroyed post.

Other existing systems use posts to be secured to side walls of a fence post. However, side walls can buckle or bend under the stress of being loaded, thus causing damage to the fence.

Therefore, there is a need for an anchor post assembly which could be more readily driven into the ground and especially without requiring any digging or excavation of the ground, but which also did not require excessive pounding the post itself thereby allowing the post to be made of more flexible and thinner material such as a plastic or thin metal.

It is also desired to provide a post with an anchor portion which is permanently secured to the fence post and does not loosen, wobble or move once the fence post is installed.

Thus, there is a need for an efficient method of installing fences which overcome the above-mentioned difficulties and others while providing better overall results.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to an anchor assembly for use in installing fences. In particular, it relates to a no-dig anchor system for use with vinyl or aluminum fencing.

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, an anchor for fence posts includes at least one anchor post having an elongated body, and at least one pair of anchor tabs which protrude from an outer wall of the body, wherein the tabs initially are parallel to the body and are bent outwardly at an angle to the body, wherein each tab has an opening therein to facilitate bending of the tabs.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an anchor system for fence posts includes at least one anchor post for anchoring a fence post, the anchor post has an elongated body and a plurality of anchor tabs extending from an outer wall of the body. An anchor tool bends the anchor tabs at an angle away from the elongated body, wherein the tool has at least one prong which matingly engages an opening formed in the anchor tabs for bending the tabs outwardly with respect to the the elongated body.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method of installing fence posts includes driving a first anchor post into ground via a driver mounted to an end of the anchor post; bending anchor tabs formed on an outer wall of the anchor post outwardly with respect to the outer wall of the anchor post; and lowering a first fence post over and into the first anchor post aligning the anchor tabs of the anchor post with corresponding inner corners of the first fence post.

One aspect of the disclosure is it allows fence installation to be completed in one day.

Another aspect of the disclosure is a post driver which is portable, lightweight, efficient and operator-friendly.

Another aspect of the disclosure is there is no need for concrete or gravel.

Another aspect of the disclosure is an anchor post with protruding locking tabs for permanently securing the anchor post to a fence post.

Another aspect of the disclosure is an anchor post which is pounded into the ground using a pneumatic or manual driver.

Another aspect of the disclosure is an anchor post with modified tabs to accommodate fence rails.

Another aspect of the disclosure is an anchor tool which is used to bend the locking tabs upwardly and rotate the posts to align the tabs of adjacent anchor posts.

Still another aspect of the disclosure is an anchor system which is easily driven into the ground, even frozen ground.

Still other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, an embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a post driver driving an anchor post into the ground in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 1B is an enlarged perspective view of the post driver of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a post with an anchor system in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the anchor system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the anchor system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the anchor system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the anchor system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the anchor system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a post with an elongated opening in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an anchor tool in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view and a perspective view of the anchor tool of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of an anchor tool in accordance with another aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view illustrating the use of the anchor tool to bend the locking tabs;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the anchor tool to rotate the post to align locking tabs with a fence post;

FIG. 14 is a top elevational view illustrating the lock tabs mounted to inner corners of a fence post;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a fence post lowered onto an anchor post in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an anchor post with alternative tabs in accordance with another aspect of the discosure;

FIG. 17 is another perspective view of the anchor post of FIG. 16; and

FIG. 18 is a top elevational view illustrating the tab mounted to inner corners of a fence post.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring now to FIGS. 1A & 1B, a post driver A in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure is shown. The typical driver A is a pneumatic driver which is portable, lightweight, efficient and operator-friendly. The driver A is used to pound an anchor post B into the ground G. Anchor post B is preferably a cylindrical tube made of metal and is hollow. Post B can be made of other suitable materials as well, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The tube is preferably 1-½ or 2 inches in outer diameter and about 78 inches long with a wall thickness of about 1/16 inches. The system can accommodate virtually any size fence post, but in particular 3.5×3.5 inches, 4×4 inches and 5×5 inches wide posts are preferably accommodated. Fence posts are typically made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), but other suitable materials may also be used. Various lengths of fence posts are accommodated by the anchor posts.

Referring to FIG. 1A, pneumatic driver A has a housing 12, and a single stroke action trigger 14 which is depressed to set the post into position. Once the post is set, a continuous stroke toggle switch 16 is pressed to drive or pound the post using the driver into the ground to a preferred depth. Anchor post B is easily driven into the ground using the driver, even frozen ground. A pair of handles 18 is provided on housing 12 to set the post. Elongated bars or handles 20 are also provided to facilitate pounding of the post into the ground. As an alternative, the post B can be manually driven into the ground by using a manual driver. (not shown)

Referring now to FIGS. 2-7, various views of the anchor post B are shown. The post B has an elongated metal body 21 which is hollow and cylindrical, preferably with an outer diameter of about 1-½ or 2 inches, an inner diameter of 1-⅜ inches to about 1-⅞ inches and a wall thickness of about 1/16 inches. The body has a length of about 78 inches. The body has a plurality of locking tabs 22 which initially extend vertically and parallel to an outer wall 24 of the post and are formed in outer wall 24. The tabs are oriented about 90 degrees apart or about 180 degrees apart and can be offset in a vertical direction as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Alternately, four tabs can be positioned 90 degrees apart along the same plane. There are typically three sets of 4 tabs spaced along the longitudinal axis of the post. Each set has two tabs oriented 180 degrees apart in one plane and two tabs oriented 180 degrees apart in a second plane, where the first set of tabs is positioned in a different plane than the second set of tabs.

Digging or excavation is not needed, nor is concrete or gravel, to install the post B into the ground. Once the post B is anchored into the ground in a preferred position, referring to FIGS. 9, 10 and 12, an anchor tool 30 is used to pull up or bend up integrated locking tabs 22 which are spaced 90 degrees or 180 degrees apart on or about the circumference of the anchor post. Each locking tab is initially parallel to the outer wall 24 of the post. The tabs are cut out of or etched or punched out of the wall 24 of the post and form a corresponding elongated hole or opening 26 within wall 24. Each tab has an elongated aperture or substantially rectangular-shaped opening 28 formed adjacent a distal end 29 of the tab. End 29 of the tab has a curved or angled outer edge 31 as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. However, other configurations of tabs are contemplated as well. Tabs 22 are configured to matingly engage four opposite inner corners 33 of the fence post which are the thickest and sturdiest part of the fence post. The tabs 22 may bend or deform slightly to engage the inner corners in a snug or friction fit.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a first embodiment of the anchor tool 30 has a first end 40 having a pair of substantially L-shaped prongs 42, 44 extending from opposite sides 41, 43 of end 40. Side 41 also has a circular or round-shaped index cut-out 46 which substantially corresponds to and matingly engages the shape of outer wall 24 of the anchor post. Each peg 42, 44 has a first portion 45, 47 extending from end 40 and a second portion 48, 49 extending about 90 degrees from first portion 45, 47. End 40 also has a sloped or angled end wall 51 which abuts outer wall 24 of the post while bending the tabs 22 as seen in FIG. 12. Similarly, a second opposite end 50 has first side 53 and a second side 55 having a pair of L-shaped prongs 52, 54 extending from opposite sides of end 50. Side 53 also has circular or round-shaped cut-out 56 which corresponds to outer wall 24 of the post. Each peg 52, 54 has a first portion 57, 59 extending from end 50 and a second portion 61, 63 extending 90 degrees from first portions 57, 59. End 50 also has a sloped or angled end wall 65 which abuts outer wall 24 of the post while bending the tabs 22 as seen in FIG. 12. Cut-outs 46 and 56 may have a different radius to accommodate different size posts. One of the prongs 42 or 52 is inserted into one of the openings 28 of one of the locking tabs 22, and the locking tab 22 is bent or pried upwardly at an angle α of preferably about 45 degrees (or between 30 and 60 degrees) from vertical as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 12 by rotating the tool 30 with respect to the anchor post. Similarly, each of the remaining locking tabs is bent upwardly in the same manner. Portions 49 and 61 of the prongs 42 and 52 hook into one of openings 28 of tabs 22 of the post and retain the tool in engagement with the tab opening. Then, the tool is rotated which rotates the tab 22 away from the outer wall of the post.

An alternative anchor tool 60 is shown in FIG. 11. Like the tool in FIGS. 9 and 10, tool 60 has a first end 62 having a first side 67 and a second side 69 and a pair of L-shaped prongs 64, 66 formed on opposite sides 67, 69 of end 60. Side 67 also has a circular or round cut-out 68 which substantially corresponds to a radius of outer wall 24 of post B. Prongs 64, 66 each has a first portion 71, 73 extending from walls 67, 69 and a second portion 75, 77 extending about 90° from first portions 71, 73. Sloped or angled end wall 79 abuts wall 24 of the post when bending a tab 28 as seen in FIG. 12.

On an opposite end 70 of the tool is formed an ergonomic handle 72 for manually gripping the tool. Either tool 60 or 30 can be effectively used to bend the locking tabs 22 as shown in FIG. 12. Prong 64 of tool 60 has portion 77 which is inserted into hole 28 of a tab 22 and retains the tool in contact with the tab during rotation of the tab.

Referring now to FIG. 2, adjacent a top end 80 of the anchor post is at least one opening 82 which is used to align the locking tabs 22 of adjacent posts so that each post installed in the ground has tabs 22 which are aligned with tabs 22 of an adjacent post, so that when square shaped fence posts are installed, they are aligned with each other and are oriented to receive fence rails which extend between the fence posts through openings 96 in fence posts 98. One of the prongs 44, 54, 66 of one of the anchor tools 30, 60 is inserted into opening 82, and the post is rotated clockwise or counter clockwise as necessary to properly align the tabs of each adjacent post from post to post as shown in FIG. 13.

An alternative anchor post 90 is shown in FIG. 8. The post has an elongated section 92 which has several elongated openings or cut-outs 94 which correspond to mating openings 96 formed in fence posts 98. Openings 94 and 96 are aligned to accommodate a fence rail passing through each post. Openings 94 can be longer than openings 96 to accommodate any offset of the posts 98.

Referring to FIG. 14, once the locking tabs 22 have been properly aligned with tabs 22 on adjacent posts, a fence post 98 having four outer walls 100, 102, 104, 106 and an inner cavity 99 with four inner walls 108, 110, 112, 114 is lowered onto the anchor post B, aligning the locking tabs 22 with the mating inner corners 33 of an inner wall 108, 110, 112, 114 of the fence post 98 as seen in FIG. 14. Tabs 22 may bend or flex to contact corners 33 of the fence post. If used, the elongated opening 96 in the fence post is also aligned with the elongated opening 94 in the anchor post, and then the fence post is completely lowered onto the mating anchor post to the desired position on the ground as seen in FIG. 15. This process is repeated until all of the fence posts are installed.

An alternative anchor post 120 is shown in FIGS. 16-18. As with the anchor post shown in FIGS. 2-7, the post 120 has an elongated metal body 122 which is hollow and cylindrical preferably with an outer diameter of about 1-½ to 2 inches and a wall thickness of about 1/16 inches. The inner diameter is about 1-⅜ inches to about 1-⅞ inches. The body has an overall length of about 78 inches. The body has a plurality of locking tabs 124 which are formed in and initially extend or hang vertically and parallel to an outer wall 126 of the post. When the tabs are bent outwardly using tool 30 or 60 which engage elongated openings 125 in the tabs, the tabs form corresponding openings 127 in wall 126. The tabs are oriented about 90 degrees apart or about 180 degrees apart and can be offset in a vertical direction is shown in FIGS. 16-18. Alternatively, four tabs can be positioned 90 degrees apart in the same plane. There are typically three sets of four tabs form spaced along the longitudinal axis of the post. Each set has two tabs oriented 180 degrees apart in one plane and two tabs oriented 180 degrees apart in a second plane, where the first set of tabs is positioned in a different plane than the second set of tabs.

At least one set of tabs 124 has a notched end 128 which has a first protrusion 130 which is substantially rectangular in configuration. A second protrusion 132 has an angled or curved configuration. The two protrusions form notches 134, 136 which allows a rail to pass through a routed opening 96 in the fence post 98 or 140. That is, the vinyl fence post 98 or 140 has a routed opening 96 through which a longitudinal rail passes and is inserted.

During use, the anchor post 120 is installed into the ground using a pneumatic driver A or a manually driven driver, then a fence post 140 with inner walls 142, 144, 146, 148 is installed over the post 120 as shown in FIG. 18. The rails are typically about 2 inches thick and 5, 6 or 7 inches wide and extended between adjacent fence posts through openings 96. The notched tabs 124 are typically the bottom two sets of four tabs. The conventional tabs 22 are typically the upper or first set of tabs. The tabs 124 may deform or curve a little to fit within the inner opening of the fence post adjacent corners 133 of the fence post. The tabs 124 are typically bent at an about an angle α of about 30 to 60 degrees from vertical. Preferably, angle α is about 45 degrees. The rail is lowered in at an angle then rotated into position within the routed openings 96 of the post. The notches 134, 136 of the anchor post provides clearance to lower the rail into the routed opening.

Advantages of the no dig anchor system are: it requires less time and manpower to use, less cost for equipment and supplies, fewer trips are required to the work site, and it minimizes damage to the customer's grounds and landscaping.

Another advantage of the anchor system is it allows fence installations to be completed in one day.

Still another advantage of the anchor system is it eliminates the need for concrete and gravel.

Another advantage of the anchor system is the anchor post remains with the fence post for the life of the fence.

Still another advantage of the anchor system is the posts do no weaken due to frost heaves or other environmental changes.

Yet another advantage of the system is there is no need for post stiffeners.

The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations.

Claims

1. An anchor for fence posts, comprising:

at least one anchor post comprising: an elongated body, and at least one pair of anchor tabs which protrude from an outer wall of said body; wherein said tabs initially are parallel to said body and are bent outwardly at an angle to said body; wherein each tab has an opening therein to facilitate outward bending of said tabs.

2. The anchor of claim 1, wherein each of said tabs has a tapered end wall.

3. The anchor of claim 1, wherein said pair of tabs are positioned about 180 degrees from each other along said outer wall of said body.

4. The anchor of claim 3, further comprising a second pair of anchor tabs which are positioned about 180 degrees from each other along said outer wall of said body.

5. The anchor of claim 4, wherein said first pair of anchor tabs is offset from said second pair of anchor tabs by 90 degrees.

6. The anchor of claim 1, wherein said anchor tabs are bent from vertical in a range of 30 to 60 degrees from vertical.

7. The anchor of claim 4, comprising three sets of first and second pairs of anchor tabs.

8. The anchor of claim 1, further comprising an opening located on said outer wall of said body used for rotation of said anchor.

9. The anchor of claim 1, wherein each of said anchor tabs comprises a first protrusion and a second protrusion, said first protrusion forms a first notch in said tab and said second portion forms a second notch in said tab.

10. The anchor of claim 9, wherein said first portion is substantially rectangular in configuration and said second portion is angled in configuration.

11. The anchor of claim 1, wherein said openings formed in said tabs matingly engage an associated tab formed in an inner wall of an associated fence post.

12. An anchor system for fence posts, comprising:

at least one anchor post for anchoring an associated fence post;

said anchor post comprises an elongated body and a plurality of anchor tabs extending from an outer wall of said body; and

an anchor tool for bending said anchor tabs at an angle from said elongated body, wherein said tool comprises at least one prong which matingly engages an opening formed in one of said anchor tabs for bending one of said tabs outwardly with respect to said elongated body.

13. The anchor system of claim 12, wherein said anchor post comprises an opening for rotating said anchor post.

14. The anchor system of claim 12, wherein said anchor tool comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion comprises a prong having a substantially L-shaped conformation.

15. The anchor system of claim 14, wherein said anchor tool second portion comprises an ergonomic handle.

16. The anchor system of claim 13, wherein said anchor tool comprises a second L-shaped prong for matingly engaging said opening in said anchor post for rotating said post.

17. The anchor system of claim 16, wherein said anchor tool further comprises a curved cut-out to accommodate said outer wall of said anchor post.

18. The anchor system of claim 17, wherein said anchor tool further comprises an angled wall for matingly engaging said outer wall of said anchor post while one of said anchor tabs is being bent upwardly by said anchor tool.

19. A method of installing fence posts, comprising:

driving a first anchor post into ground via an associated driver mounted to an end of said anchor post;

bending anchor tabs formed on an outer wall of said anchor post outwardly with respect to said outer wall of said anchor post; and

lowering a first fence post over and into said first anchor post aligning said anchor tabs of said anchor post with corresponding inner corners of said first fence post.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing an anchor tool with at least one prong which engages an opening in one of said anchor tabs and bends said one of said anchor tabs outwardly with respect to said outer wall of said anchor post.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

driving a second anchor post into the ground via an associated driver mounted to an end of said anchor post;

bending anchor tabs formed on an outer wall of said second anchor post outwardly with respect to said outer wall of said second anchor post; and

lowering a second fence post over and onto said second anchor post aligning said anchor tabs of said second anchor post with corresponding inner corners of said second fence post.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

rotating said first anchor post to align said anchor tabs of said first anchor post with said anchor tabs of said second anchor post prior to lowering said first and second posts onto said first and second anchor posts.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

using said anchor tool to rotate said first anchor post by inserting a prong on said tool into an opening in said outer wall of said first anchor post and rotating said first anchor post by rotating said anchor tool.