Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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POST ANCHORING SYSTEM
The present invention relates to the anchoring of posts to the
ground.
In the anchoring of posts of various types, including, for
example, fence posts and sign posts, it is common practice to dig a post
hole to the required depth and to support the post in the hole using gravel,
concrete or both. With temporary sign posts, gravel only may be used in a
relatively shallow hole. For permanent fence posts, concrete is commonly
used in a hole of much greater depth for stability. Where frost is
encountered, fence posts are generally installed to a considerable depth,
often below the frost line. For plastic fence posts, commonly made of vinyl,
the hollow posts are supported with reinforcing steel bars (rebars) and filled
with concrete.
This process is all relatively time consuming and costly. With
temporary posts, the installation often lacks stability and frequently can not
be used in frozen soil.
The present invention is concerned with an improved post
anchoring system for hollow posts.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a post system comprising:
a post comprising a hollow, rectangular tube; and
an elongate anchor of rigid material suitable to be driven
endwise into soil, the anchor comprising four elongate, flat flanges and
having a substantially uniform cross-sectional profile dimensioned to slide
into the post with the flanges engaged in respective corners of the post.
The anchor is driven directly into the ground and the post slides
over the anchor down to the ground level. This eliminates the digging of a
post hole and the use of gravel, concrete and rebar for support.
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For hollow, square vinyl posts, the anchor is an X-shaped
profile onto which the post will slide. With a vinyl fence installation the
invention significantly reduces the amount of post material required as the
post ends at the ground and no longer extends to the bottom of a post hole.
With temporary signs, the installation eliminates the digging of
post holes and the use of conventional wooden posts. It provides a very
stable sign without lawn damage. The sign post maintains a good
appearance over a long life. Removal and installation are simple and quick
operations.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is
provided a driver for a substantially X-shaped post anchor, said driver
comprising two elongate guides, spaced apart and parallel such as to be
slideably enga~eable in opposed an~les of the anchor, a cap secured across
top ends of the guides and handles secured to the ~uides.
For an X-shaped anchor, the driver may have matching V-
shaped guides.
The driver is slipped over the anchor, raised and then dropped
onto the anchor repeatedly until the anchor has penetrated the ground to
the desired level.
For frozen or hard ground, it may be desired to provide a pilot
hole into which the anchor may be driven. Thus, according to another
aspect of the present invention there is provided a pilot for opening an X-
shaped slot in frozen soil for receiving a substantially X-shaped post anchor,
said pilot comprising four flanges secured together in an X-shaped cross-
section, the flan~es having leading edges sloping to a point at the center of
the pilot and having trailing ends, and a cap secured to the trailing ends of
the flanges - and having a substantially flat hammering face directed
oppositely to the leading edges.
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The pilot may be driven into the ~round using a sledge hammer
or other instrument. It is especially useful when installing temporary signs in
frozen ground. The material of the pilot may be much stronger than that of
the anchor. It may be equipped with hardened cutting edges.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a sign according to the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of the sign post;
Figure 3 is a cross section along line 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a side view of a driver;
Figure 5 is a cross section along line 5-5 of Figure 4; and
Figure 6 is an isometric view of a pilot.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a
si~n 10 includin~ a post 12 supported in the ground 14. The post has a
peaked cap 16 to provide for rain water runoff. An arm 18 is cantilevered
from one side of the post and a sign panel 20 is suspended from the arm.
The overall configuration of a sign of this type is fairly conventional. In thiscase however, the post 12 is constructed of a square vinyl tube and is
anchored to the ground using the system of the present invention.
As illustrated most particularly in Figures 2 and 3, the sign post
12 includes an anchor 22 of X-shaped profile with a bottom end section of
the anchor extending into the ground. The anchor is made of two V-shaped
profiles 24, each with two divergent flanges 26 and a narrow center web
28. These profiles are fabricated from corrosion resistant material, for
example galvanized steel. To construct the anchor, two of these V-profiles
are arranged back to back and fastened together using sheet metal screws
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30 throuqh the center webs. This allows the anchor parts to be shipped
stacked and assembled either on site or at a distribution point.
The anchor has a tapered ground penetratin~q end 32 that is
driven into the ground to the desired depth producing minimal disturbance to
a lawn into which the anchor is driven.
The post is completed with a hollow, square vinyl tube 34
slipped over the X-shaped anchor with the edges of the flanges 26 engaging
in the corners of the tube. The upper end of the tube 34 carries the cap 16.
A driver 36 for driving the anchor into the ground is illustrated
most particularly in Figures 4 and 5. As shown in those Figures, the driver
includes two angles 38 with their apices arranged towards one another but
spaced by a gap 40. Each angle has a loop handle 42 projecting from its
inner side. A cap 44 is secured to the top ends of the two angles.
In use of the driver, the post is located at the proper site and
the driver 36 is dropped over the top end of the post with the two angles 38
sliding into opposite angular segments between the anchor flanges. The
driver is then repeatedly raised and dropped onto the anchor to deliver
repeated blows to the top end of the anchor from the cap 44. This drives
the anchor into the ground.
Another tool that is used for frozen or exceptionally hard
ground is the pilot 46 illustrated in Figure 6. That tool has four flanges 48
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arranged in a cruciform pattern matching that of the anchor. The flanges
are tapered to a penetrating end 50. Hard carbide steel edges 52 are
provided along the bottoms of the flange edges. A cap 54 extends over the
tops of the four flanges. To use this tool, it is located where a post is to be
S anchored and is driven into the ground using a sledge hammer or other
appropriate device, impacting on the flat plate 54 serving as a cap. Once
the pilot has been driven to the desired depth, it is pulled from the ground,
leaving an appropriate slot into which the ground anchor may be driven. It
is to be understood that hardened edges will not be necessary in all
10 applications. Hardening, where used may not involve the addition of carbide
edges, but may include such techniques as heat treatment of the flanges or
their edges.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been
described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments
15 are possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is also
applicable to posts in general and not strictly to sign posts. It may, for
example, be used to great benefit in vinyl fencing. The invention is
therefore to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended
claims.
