Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Fence Post Repair Device
Background of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of fence repair. Many fences are
built using wooden
fence posts that are anchored in the ground using cement fill around the
post's below-ground
lower portion. The installation process is based on using an auger to drill a
cylindrical hole in
the earth that is filled with concrete while the fence post is held vertically
in the hole. When the
concrete has hardened, the fence post is ready for use to support the fence
that is attached to
the fence posts.
Over a period of time the fence post may suffer from rot or some other type of
damage at or
near to the lower portion of the fence post, allowing the fence to lean
because the damaged
fence post will no longer stay vertical or support any lateral loads. In order
to replace the
damaged fence post, it is necessary to dig up the concrete around its base,
which is a difficult
task at best and will probably require dismantling the fence around the fence
post in question.
Commercial alternatives exist, basically manufactured stakes that are driven
into the ground,
which attach to the lower portion of the remaining fence post, but none of
them allow for the
fact that the concrete with the lower portion of the fence post remains in the
way of the stake.
A better solution that can be used to repair the fence post in situ, without
any digging up of
concrete or dismantling of the fence is the subject of this invention.
Summary of the Invention
It is the object of this invention to provide a device that can be used to
repair a damaged fence
post in situ, without any digging up of concrete or dismantling of the fence.
The fence post repair device consists of three main components:
1) The spike that is driven into the ground to provide the stability to the
device.
2) The horizontal portion that connects to the spike and joins it to the
vertical portion.
This horizontal portion provides the offset that allows the spike to miss the
concrete
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Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-27
holding the fence post base. This horizontal portion also provides a surface
for striking
with a hammer to drive the spike into the ground.
3) The vertical portion that attaches the device to the upper portion of the
damaged
fence post using screws or other types of fasteners.
In general terms these three components have the following characteristics:
1) The spike is between 2 to 4 feet long and is tapered (or not) to provide
easy entry into
the ground while providing resistance to movement due to its bearing on the
soil
around it. The spike is preferably made of metal, most likely steel, but other
materials
are not precluded. Attachment to the horizontal portion is made through
welding,
screwing, or other bonding methods.
2) The horizontal portion is between 3 and 12 inches long and is stiff enough
and strong
enough to prevent permanent distortion during installation. It too is
preferably made of
metal, most likely steel, but other materials are not precluded. In the
embodiment
shown here, it is made from a section of channel with reinforcing brackets and
it is
attached to the vertical portion through welding, screwing, or other bonding
methods.
3) The vertical portion is between 6 and 36 inches long and is stiff enough
and strong
enough to prevent permanent distortion during installation. It too is
preferably made of
metal, most likely steel, but other materials are not precluded. In the
embodiment
shown here, it is made from a section of channel with bolt holes and it is
attached to the
fence post through screwing, or other bonding methods.
During installation of the fence post repair device it as expected that the
following steps will be
followed:
For installing the fence post support device using concrete.
1) The process starts by digging a hole beside the existing concrete around
the base of the
broken post,
2) The fence post support device is the bolted to the upper portion of the
broken post,
3) The broken post upper portion is then braced in a vertical position,
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Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-27
4) Wet concrete is then poured into the hole around the portion of the fence
post support
device,
5) The concrete is the allowed to set,
6) The bracing is removed,
7) The broken post is now repaired.
For installing the fence post support device by driving it into the ground.
1) The process starts by locating the fence post support device next to the
broken post location,
2) Then the fence post support device is driven into the earth,
3) Then the fence post support device is bolted to the post using lag bolts,
4) The broken post is now repaired.
Brief Description of the Drawings
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from reading a
detailed
description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a fist embodiment of the fence post repair device.
FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the fence post repair device of FIG. 1 attached to
a broken wooden
post above the break in the broken wooden post.
FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a second embodiment of the wooden fence post
repair device.
FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the fence post repair device of FIG. 3 attached to
a broken wooden
post above the break in the broken wooden post, and the fence post repair
device embedded in
concrete.
FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a third embodiment of the fence post repair
device.
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Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-27
FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the fence post repair device of FIG. 5 attached to
a broken wooden
post above the break in the broken wooden post, also showing the fence
portions attached to
the wooden post.
FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a fourth embodiment of the fence post repair
device.
FIG. 8 is a drawing showing the fence post repair device of FIG. 7 attached to
a broken wooden
post above the break in the broken wooden post, also showing the fence
portions attached to
the wooden post.
FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a fifth embodiment of the fence post repair
device.
FIG. 10 is a drawing showing the fence post repair device of FIG. 9 attached
to a broken
wooden post above the break in the broken wooden post, also showing the fence
portions
attached to the wooden post.
FIG. 11A is a drawing showing a channel cross section.
FIG. 11B is a drawing showing an X cross section.
FIG. 11C is a drawing showing an H cross section.
FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the steps involved in installing a fence post
repair device when it
is installed using concrete.
FIG. 13 is a drawing showing the steps involved in installing a fence post
repair device when it is
installed by driving it into the ground.
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Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-27
Detailed Description
With reference to FIG. 1 a fence post repair device is shown, 1, having an
upper channel
portion, 2, which has three bolt holes, 3, drilled in it, while there is also
a horizontal channel
portion, 5, the upper channel portion, 2, and the horizontal channel portion,
5, are connected
by reinforcing panels, 4, and a lower channel portion, 6, that has two holes,
7, in it and a
sharpened point, 8. The sharpened point, 8, allows for easy penetration of the
ground when the
horizontal channel portion, 5, is repeatedly struck by a hammer. The interior
width of the upper
channel portion, 2, is designed such that a wooden fence post will snugly fit
between the
flanges of the channel.
With reference to FIG. 2 a repaired wooden fence post is shown, 15, using the
fence post repair
device, 1, from FIG. 1. Shown are the upper portion of the broken wooden post,
16, the lower
portion of the broken wooden post, 17, which is inside the concrete anchor,
18, which was
installed in the ground when the wooden post was first installed during the
build of the fence.
The fence post repair device, 1, is driven into the ground and then is bolted
to the upper
portion of the broken fence post, 16, using bolts, 19.
With reference to FIG. 3 a second embodiment of a fence post repair device is
shown, 25,
having an upper channel portion, 26, which has three bolt holes, 27, drilled
in it, while there is
also a horizontal channel portion, 29, the upper channel portion, 26, and the
horizontal channel
portion, 29, are connected by reinforcing panels, 28, and a lower channel
portion, 30, that has
two holes, 31, in it and a point with flanges, 32. The flanges, 32, allows for
better anchoring in
concrete. The interior width of the upper channel portion, 26, is designed
such that a wooden
fence post will snugly fit between the flanges of the channel.
With reference to FIG. 4 a repaired wooden fence post is shown, 35, using the
fence post repair
device, 25, from FIG. 3. Shown are the upper portion of the broken wooden
post, 36, the lower
portion of the broken wooden post, 37, which is inside the concrete anchor,
39, which was
installed in the ground when the wooden post was first installed during the
build of the fence.
Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-27
The fence post repair device, 25, is inserted into a wet concrete block, 40,
located in the
ground, and then is bolted to the upper portion of the broken fence post, 36,
using bolts, 38.
When the concrete block, 40, cures the fence post is then repaired.
With reference to FIG. 5 a third embodiment of a fence post repair device is
shown, 45, having
an upper channel portion, 46, which has four bolt holes, 48, drilled in it,
while there is also a
horizontal channel portion, 49, the upper channel portion, 46, and the
horizontal channel
portion, 49, are connected by reinforcing panels, 47, and a lower tapered X
shaped portion, 50.
The tapered X shaped portion, 50, allows for easy penetration of the ground
when the
horizontal channel portion, 49, is repeatedly struck by a hammer. The interior
width of the
upper channel portion, 46, is designed such that a wooden fence post will
snugly fit between
the flanges of the channel.
With reference to FIG. 6 a repaired wooden fence post with fence portions
attached is shown,
55, using the fence post repair device, 45, from FIG. 5. Shown are the upper
portion of the
broken wooden post, 58, the lower portion of the broken wooden post, 59, which
is inside the
concrete anchor, 60, which was installed in the ground when the wooden post
was first
installed during the build of the fence. Also shown are portions of the fence,
56 and 57,
attached the upper portion of the broken post, 58. The fence post repair
device, 45, is driven
into the ground and then is bolted to the upper portion of the broken fence
post, 58, using
bolts, 61.
With reference to FIG. 7 a fourth embodiment of a fence post repair device is
shown, 65, having
an upper channel portion, 66, which has four bolt holes, 67, drilled in it,
while there is also a
horizontal channel portion, 69, the upper channel portion, 66, and the
horizontal channel
portion, 69, are connected by reinforcing panels, 68, and a lower tapered H
shaped portion, 70.
The tapered H shaped portion, 70, allows for easy penetration of the ground
when the
horizontal channel portion, 69, is repeatedly struck by a hammer. The interior
width of the
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Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-27
upper channel portion, 66, is designed such that a wooden fence post will
snugly fit between
the flanges of the channel.
With reference to FIG. 8 a repaired wooden fence post with fence portions
attached is shown,
75, using the fence post repair device, 65, from FIG. 7. Shown are the upper
portion of the
broken wooden post, 78, the lower portion of the broken wooden post, 79, which
is inside the
concrete anchor, 80, which was installed in the ground when the wooden post
was first
installed during the build of the fence. Also shown are portions of the fence,
76 and 77,
attached the upper portion of the broken post, 78. The fence post repair
device, 65, is driven
into the ground and then is bolted to the upper portion of the broken fence
post, 78, using
bolts, 81.
With reference to FIG. 9 a fifth embodiment of a fence post repair device is
shown, 85, having
an upper channel portion, 86, which has four bolt holes, 87, drilled in it,
while there is also a
horizontal channel portion, 89, the upper channel portion, 86, and the
horizontal channel
portion, 89, are connected by reinforcing panels, 88, and a lower H shaped
portion, 90. The H
shaped portion, 90, allows for penetration of the ground when the horizontal
channel portion,
89, is repeatedly struck by a hammer. The interior width of the upper channel
portion, 86, is
designed such that a wooden fence post will snugly fit between the flanges of
the channel.
With reference to FIG. 10 a repaired wooden fence post with fence portions
attached is shown,
95, using the fence post repair device, 85, from FIG. 9. Shown are the upper
portion of the
broken wooden post, 98, the lower portion of the broken wooden post, 99, which
is inside the
concrete anchor, 100, which was installed in the ground when the wooden post
was first
installed during the build of the fence. Also shown are portions of the fence,
96 and 97,
attached the upper portion of the broken post, 98. The fence post repair
device, 85, is driven
into the ground and then is bolted to the upper portion of the broken fence
post, 98, using
bolts, 101.
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Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-27
With reference to FIG. 11A, 11B, and 11C, a comparison between the cross
sectional shape
possibilities of the channel, 105, of FIG. 11A, the X cross section, 106, of
FIG. 11B, and the H
cross section, 107, of FIG. 11C is made. The comparison is based on the
surface area in contact
with the ground when the cross sectional shapes, 105, 106, and 107 are driven
into the ground.
Assuming that the channel cross section, 105, is 4 inches by 1 inch, the X
cross section, 106, is 4
inches by 4 inches and the H cross section, 107, is also 4 inches by 4 inches,
then the surface
contact for a 1 inch length is as follows:
Cross Section Area ¨ Square Inches
Channel Cross Section, 105 12
X Cross Section, 106 16
H Cross Section, 107 24
Since the pull out force is proportional to the contact are between the cross
section and the
ground, it is clear that H cross section, 107, is superior to both the X cross
section, 106, and the
channel cross section, 105.
With reference to FIG. 12 a flow chart, 110, for installing the fence post
support device using
concrete is shown. The process starts by digging a hole beside the existing
concrete around the
base of the broken post, 111, the fence post support device is the bolted to
the upper portion
of the broken post, 112, the broken post upper portion is then braced in a
vertical position,
113, wet concrete is then poured into the hole around the portion of the fence
post support
device, 114, the concrete is the allowed to set, 115, the bracing is removed,
116, and the
broken post is now repaired, 117.
With reference to FIG. 13 a flow chart, 120, for installing the fence post
support device by
driving it into the ground is shown. The process starts by locating the fence
post support device
next to the broken post location, 121, then the fence post support device is
driven into the
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Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-27
earth, 122, then the fence post support device is bolted to the post using lag
bolts, 123, and the
broken post is now repaired, 124.
This invention has been described with reference to detailed descriptions of
preferred
embodiments. The details of the descriptions are given for the sake of
explanation only and are
not intended as limitations upon the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
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Date Regue/Date Received 2022-08-27
