Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02804702 2013-02-05
A FENCE POST ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates generally to fence construction. More
particularly,
this invention relates to a novel fence post assembly that simplifies fence
construction and prevents fence post rot.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] The construction of a wood fence has changed very little over the
years.
Conventionally, a wood fence post is set into a post hole formed in the ground
to
a depth of a number of feet that is sufficient to provide vertical support to
the
wood fence post. The fence post is supported by back filling the post hole
with
soil and/or a combination of soil and concrete which serves to vertically
support
the fence post.
[003] The conventional wood fence construction presents a number of problems.
One
problem is associated with fence post rot that is caused by the wood fence
posts
being buried in the ground. The life span of a newly constructed fence is
greatly
diminished due to the inevitable rotting of the fence posts. A tangential
problem
with rotting fence posts is that the posts rot at different rates, and thus,
require
constant fence maintenance to replace each fence post as it rots.
[004] A second problem associated with conventional wood fence construction is
the
extensive labor required to replace a rotten fence post. Often, when a fence
post
rots it breaks below the ground surface leaving a section of the post that is
buried
CA 02804702 2014-05-15
in the ground. The buried section then must be dug out and removed to enable
the
replacement of a new fence post in the same location. The labor in digging out
the buried section is increased several times when concrete is used as back
fill.
Often the concrete must be broken up into smaller sections to permit removal.
Additionally, to dig out the buried section, a hole several times larger than
what is
necessary to support a fence post is required. This larger hole causes a
disruption
of the ground surrounding the post hole, which often requires the use of
additional
concrete as back fill to support the new fence post.
[0051 Despite these problems, little advancement has been made to improve wood
fence
construction, and particularly, in the setting of the wood fence posts.
However,
with increasing in labor costs, environmental concerns, and material costs, a
need
and a desire exists for an improved wood fence construction_
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[006] Embodiments of the present invention provide a specially designed fence
post
assembly having a wood fence post mounted to and vertically supported by a pre-
cast concrete footing that is set into the ground. The pre--cast concrete
footing is
dimensioned so as to minimize fence post-to-ground contact, thereby preventing
fence post rot. Additionally, the fence post assembly is designed in such a
manner that permits easy replacement of a __ maged fence post as compared to
a
damage fence post that is set into the ground by the conventional construction
discussed above.
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[007] Embodiments of the present invention also provide a fence post assembly
comprising a pre-cast, light weight concrete footing that includes expanded
foam
aggregate, such as Styrofoam and the like.
[008] Embodiments of the present invention also provide a fence post assembly
that
eliminates the need to bury a wood fence post in the ground while maintaining
the
traditional appearance of a conventional wood fence construction.
[009] Embodiments of the present invention also provide a fence post assembly
that
simplifies replacing damaged or broken fence posts.
[010] In accordance with one aspect, the fence post assembly comprises a pre-
fabricated
concrete fooling; a rigid support rod extending upwardly from said pre-
fabricated
concrete footing; a fence post having a blind hole in a bottom end thereof,
said
fence post positioned on said rigid support rod with said rigid support rod
received within said blind hole; and at least one fence post withdrawal
preventing
member projecting laterally from a side of said rigid support rod from said
blind
hole_
[011] In accordance with another aspect, the fence post assembly comprises a
pre-
fabricated concrete footing, a cap plate attached to a surface end of said pre-
fabricated concrete footing, a rigid support rod extending upwardly from said
pre-
fabricated concrete footing and through said cap plate, and a fence post
having a
blind hole in a bottom end thereof. The fence post is positioned over the
rigid
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support rod with the rigid support rod disposed within said blind hole and
said
bottom end engaged with said cap plate. A plurality of fence post withdrawal
preventing members project from said rigid support rod and are engaged with
said
fence post so as to prevent withdrawing said rigid support rod from said blind
hole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[012] Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a fence post
assembly in
accordance with the present invention;
[013] Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the
assembly of FIG. 1;
[014] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the assembly of FIG. 2;
[015] Figure 4 is an enlarged view, similar to FIG_ 3, illustrating a second
embodiment
of the invention; and
[016] Figure 5 is an enlarged view, similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a third
embodiment of
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[017] With reference now to FIGS_ 1 through 3 of the drawings, the fence post
assembly
is generally designated by the reference number 10.
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[018] The fence post assembly 10 is specially designed to enable easier fence
construction and to prevent fence post rotting by eliminating the requirement
of
sinking a wooden fence post into the ground. The fence post assembly 10
generally comprises a fence post 12 supported on a pre-fabricated concrete
footing 14 that is sunk into the ground 18 and which supports the fence post
above the ground. The footing 14 is made from precast concrete which may be
optionally prestressed or post tensioned. The precast concrete may also
include
expanded foam particles to lessen the weight of the footing 14. As illustrated
the
footing 14 is generally elongated and has a square cross section of a size
equal to
the cross-section of the fence post 12.
1019) A support rod 16 extends upwardly from the footing 14 and may be of
traditional
rebar, other tubular steel or the like. The support rod 16 is embedded into
the
footing 14 when the footing is precast, and may serve to help reinforce the
footing. The support rod 16 extends into a blind hole 20 in a bottom end 22 of
the
fence post 12 and vertically supports the fence post on the footing 14.
[020] At least one, but preferably a plurality of fence post withdrawal
preventing
members 24 project or extend outwardly from the side 26 of the support rod 16
and engage with the fence post 12 such that the support rod is restrained
against
withdrawal from the blind hole 20 of the fence post. Members 24 may comprise
downwardly facing barbs, circumferential ribs, screw-like ridges, and the like
so
long as the members act to engage the fence post and prevent support rod 16
withdrawal.
. _ .
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[021] A cap plate 28 may be secured to the surface end 30 of the footing 14
and
attached to the support rod 16. Cap plate 28 serves as a bearing surface upon
which the bottom end 22 of the fence post 12 may be engaged to further support
the fence post upon the footing 14. Cap plate 28 is sized to correspond to the
cross-sectional shape of the footing 14 to provide a uniform transition
between the
fence post 12, cap plate 28 and footing 14 so as to have the same general
configuration as a standard fence post that is sunk into the ground. In this
manner,
no edges are presented that could present a safety hazard or an undesirable
appearance.
[022] In use, one would initially form a hole in the ground to receive the pre-
fabricated
footing 14. The depth of the hole is fashioned such that with the footing 14
positioned in the hole, the surface end 30 is about flush with the ground
surface.
The hole is then back filed with the earth displaced by creating the hole for
the
footing 14 while ensuring the support rod 16 is plumb. Once the footing 14 is
secured in the ground, the fence post 12 is mounted to the footing by aligning
the
support rod 16 with the blind hole 20 and downwardly moving the fence post
over
the support rod, thereby fully inserting the support rod into the fence post.
Once
the fence post 12 is mounted to the footing 14, fence panels may be secured in
a
traditional fashion to the fence post.
[023] With reference to FIG. 4, there is illustrated an
alternative embodiment of the
fence post assembly 10', and wherein like reference numbers refer to the same
or
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similar elements as embodiment 10 discussed above. Fence post assembly 10' is
similar to assembly 10 with the exception of a support rod 16' provided
without
fence post withdrawal preventing members 24. In assembly 10' a suitable
adhesive 32 disposed within the blind hole 20 binds the support rod 16' and
the
fence post 12 to prevent withdrawal of the support rod from the blind hole.
With
reference to FIG. 5, assembly 10' is illustrated without adhesive 32 which may
be
desirable.
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