AU2010214644A1

AU2010214644A1 - Post

Info

Publication number: AU2010214644A1
Application number: AU2010214644A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert Stephen Davis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-25
Filing date: 2010-08-25
Publication date: 2011-03-17

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Robert Stephen Davis Actual Inventor Robert Stephen Davis Address for service is: WRAYS Ground Floor, 56 Ord Street West Perth WA 6005 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: Post The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -2 Post Field of the Invention This invention relates to a post or stake which can be used in fencing and/or for construction purposes to provide a support for form work, retaining walls and the 5 like. Background The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part 10 of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application. In the building industry it is known to utilise stakes which are formed of metal and are known as a "Star' picket. Star pickets general have a cross section consisting of three webs which are equi-angularly spaced from each other and which extend radially from a central axis. One end of the picket is pointed while the other end is 15 generally planar and transverse to the central axis of the picket. In use the pointed end of the picket is driven into the ground using a post hole driver and/or sledgehammer or the like upon the other end of the picket. As a result of the impact by post drivers, hammers and the like, the end of the picket becomes damaged and burred. In order to minimise the occurrence of 20 injury by accidental engagement with the damaged end of the picket, the pickets are supplied with a cap which will overlie the other end and thus cover the burred or mushroomed edges. These caps are generally formed from plastic and are generally brightly coloured such that they are visually distinctive. A disadvantage with the current situation is that it is difficult to apply the caps over 25 the damaged end of the pickets. Furthermore the need to provide the caps -3 means that the operator must have a supply of caps readily available to them. A further difficulty arises from the ease with which the caps can become dislodged or damaged leaving the damaged end of the picket, creating a hazardous environment. 5 Disclosure of the Invention Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. 10 According to one aspect, the invention resides in a post comprising an elongate element having a pointed one end, a cap supported from an other end, the cap having a generally end surface and formed of a metal material similar to that of the post. According to a preferred feature of the invention, the dimensions of the cap being such that the outer edge of the elongate element are aligned with or 15 underlie the edge of the cap, the cap being shaped to have no sharp edges at its perimeter. According to a preferred feature of the invention is in the form of a shaft having a cross section defined by a set of webs which are disposed to extend radially from the central axis of the post. According to a further aspect, the invention resides in a post comprising a shaft 20 having a pointed one end, the shaft having a cross section defined by a set of webs which are disposed to extend radially from the central axis of the post, the webs being interconnected at their inner edge, a cap supported from an other end, the dimensions of the cap being such that the outer edge of the webs are aligned with or underlie the edge of the cap. 25 According to a further aspect, the invention resides in a post comprising a shaft having a pointed one end, the shaft having a cross section defined by a set of webs which are disposed to extend radially from the central axis of the post, the -4 webs being interconnected at their inner edge, a cap supported from an other end, the cap having a generally end surface and formed of a metal material similar to that of the post, the dimensions of the cap being such that the outer edge of the webs are aligned with or underlie the edge of the cap, the cap being 5 shaped to have no sharp edges at its perimeter. According to a further preferred feature of the invention the cap is circular. According to a preferred feature of the invention the cap is dimensioned such that the outer edge is aligned with the outer edge faces of the webs. According to a preferred feature of the invention the outer edges of the cap are 10 chamfered. According to a preferred feature of the invention the cap is fixed to the other end of the shaft. According to preferred feature of the invention the cap is formed integrally with the shaft. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention the cap is welded to the shaft. 15 According to an alternative preferred feature of the invention the cap is removable from the post. According to another aspect the invention resides in a cap which in use is to be applied to a post comprising a shaft having a pointed one end the shaft having a cross section defined by a set of webs which are disposed to extend radially from 20 the central axis of the post, the webs being interconnected at their inner edge where the cap is to be applied to the other end to be supported thereby, the cap having a generally end surface and formed of a metal material similar to that of the post, the dimensions of the cap being such that the outer edge of the webs are aligned with or underlie the edge of the cap, the cap being shaped to have no 25 sharp edges at its perimeters.

-5 According to a preferred feature of the invention the cap is provided as a separate component to the post and is intended in use to be permanently fixed to the post prior to installation. According to a preferred feature of the invention the under surface of the cap is provided with protrusions which will receive and engage with 5 at least one web of the cap. According to a preferred feature the protrusions are received between the webs to be closely abutting the junction between adjacent webs. According to a preferred feature of the invention the shaft comprises three spaced webs and the cap has three protrusions. According to a preferred feature of the invention the webs are equi-angularly spaced. According to a preferred 10 feature of the invention the webs are configured such that once side of the central axis presents a flat surface formed by two webs spaced 1800 from each other. According to a preferred feature of the invention the cap is arranged and configures to be able to be welded to the other end. According to a preferred feature of the invention the cap is arranged and configured to be frictionally 15 engaged with the other end. According to a preferred feature of the invention the cap is painted a visually distinctive colour. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description 20 of several embodiments. The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fence post according to a first embodiment; Figure 2 is an upper isometric view of a cap according to a second embodiment; 25 Figure 3 is a lower isometric view of a cap according to the second embodiment; -6 Figures 4 and 6 are an exploded lower and upper isometric view respectively of the cap and other end of the stake; Figures 5 and 7 are a lower and upper isometric view of the post according to the second embodiment with the cap in position; 5 Figure 8 is a side elevation of a fence post according to a third embodiment; and Figure 9 is a view similar to figure 8 but rotated 90". In the drawings like structures are referred to by like numerals throughout the several views. The drawings shown are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis 10 instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention. Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments Each of the embodiments of the present invention relate to a fence post of the form which are generally known as "Star" pickets. These posts generally 15 comprise a set of three, equi-angularly spaced webs which are interconnected at their inner radial ends and which extend radially from a central axis of the post. One end 15 of the post is pointed. According to the first embodiment an other end 17 has applied thereto a cap 19 formed of a suitable steel. The cap 19 comprises a circular disc. The radius of 20 the disc is greater than the width of each web 13 such that when the cap is applied to the other end 17 its outer peripheral edge will extend beyond the outer edge of each web 13. The outer circumferential edges 21 and 23 of the cap are chamfered. The cap 19 of the first embodiment is welded to the other end 17 of the post.

In addition it is anticipated that in use the cap 19 and/or the other end 17 including the cap 19 of the post will be coloured a suitable visually distinctive colour such as yellow. It is anticipated that in use, any impact that is applied to the fence post to cause it 5 to be driven into the ground will be accommodated by the cap member 19 rather than the other end 17 of the post. This will serve to prevent any deformation of the other end 17 of the post as well as the formation of any dangerous sharp edges. As a result once the post has been installed there is no need to provide a separate plastic cap to overlie the other end. 10 The second embodiment of the invention utilises a cap 19 which is formed separately from the steel post and can be applied to the post on site and, if desired, can be permanently fixed to the post by welding or the like, or merely be retained in position by frictional engagement with the other end of the post. The cap 19 of the second embodiment takes the same form as that of the first 15 embodiment with the exception that the under surface of the cap 19 incorporates a set of three protrusions 25 having a triangular shape and which are supported from the underside of the cap. These protrusions are equi-angularly spaced from each other. The protrusions 25 are radially disposed with respect to the central axis of the cap. The spacing between the inner edges of the protrusions 25 is 20 such that when the cap is applied over the other end 17 of the shaft the protrusions 25 are received between the webs 13 of the fence post with their inner edges located at the junctions of the adjacent webs. Once the cap 19 is in position the protrusions 25 are welded to the other end 17 of the shaft. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention which is a variation of the 25 second embodiment the spacing between the protrusions is such that they will frictionally engage with the other end whereby if desired the caps are not welded to the other end but reliance is placed on the frictional engagement to hold the cap in place -8 A further embodiment of the invention is shown in figures 8 and 9. This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment but has the further variation whereby the webs 13 of the post are spaced such that two of the webs 13a, 13b are spaced at 180* to each other to provide a flat surface 27. In order to assist in 5 securing the cap 19 a bracing protrusion 125 extends between the cap 19 and the flat surface 27. The post of this embodiment is particularly useful when posts are required to support form work as the flat surface 27 provides a suitable surface for the form work to abut. The present invention is not to be limited in scope by any of the specific 10 embodiments described herein. These embodiments are intended for the purpose of exemplification only. Functionally equivalent products, components, configurations and methods are clearly within the scope of the invention as described herein.

Claims

1. A post comprising an elongate element having a pointed one end, a cap supported from an other end, the cap having a generally end surface and 5 formed of a metal material similar to that of the post.

2. The post according to claim 1 wherein the dimensions of the cap are such that the outer edge of the elongate element are aligned with or underlie the edge of the cap, the cap being shaped to have no sharp edges at its perimeter.

3. The post according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the elongate element has a cross 10 section defined by a set of webs which are disposed to extend radially from the central axis of the post.

4. A post comprising a shaft having a pointed one end, the shaft having a cross section defined by a set of webs which are disposed to extend radially from the central axis of the post, the webs being interconnected at their inner edge, 15 a cap supported from an other end, the dimensions of the cap being such that the outer edge of the webs are aligned with or underlie the edge of the cap.

5. The post according to claim 4 wherein the cap is circular.

6. The post according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the cap is dimensioned such that the outer edge is aligned with the outer edge faces of the webs. 20

7. The post according to claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein the outer edges of the cap are chamfered.

8. The post according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the cap is fixed to the other end of the shaft. -10

9. The post according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the cap is formed integrally with the shaft.

10. The post according to any one of claims 4 to 9 wherein the cap is welded to the shaft. 5

11. The post according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the cap is removable from the post.

12. The post according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the webs are configured such that once side of the central axis presents a flat surface formed by two webs spaced 1800 from each other. 10

13.A cap which in use is to be applied to a post comprising a shaft, the shaft having a pointed one end and having a cross section defined by a set of webs which are disposed to extend radially from the central axis of the post, the webs being interconnected at their inner edge where the cap is to be applied to the other end to be supported thereby, the cap having a generally end 15 surface and formed of a metal material similar to that of the post, the dimensions of the cap being such that the outer edge of the webs are aligned with or underlie the edge of the cap, the cap being shaped to have no sharp edges at its perimeters.

14.The cap according to claim 13 wherein the cap is provided as a separate 20 component to the post and is intended in use to be permanently fixed to the post prior to installation.

15.The cap according to claim 13 or 14 wherein the under surface of the cap is provided with protrusions which will receive and engage with at least one web of the shaft. - 11

16.The cap according to claim 15 wherein the protrusions are received between the webs to be closely abutting the junction between adjacent webs.

17.The cap according to claim 15 or 16 wherein the shaft comprises three spaced webs and the cap has three protrusions. 5

18. The cap according to any one of claims 13 to 17 wherein the cap is arranged and configured to be able to be welded to the other end.

19. The cap according to any one of claims 13 to 17 wherein the cap is arranged and configured to be frictionally engaged with the other end.

20.The cap according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cap is 10 painted a visually distinctive colour.

21.A post comprising a shaft having a pointed one end, the shaft having a cross section defined by a set of webs which are disposed to extend radially from the central axis of the post, the webs being interconnected at their inner edge, a cap supported from an other end, the cap having a generally end surface 15 and formed of a metal material similar to that of the post, the dimensions of the cap being such that the outer edge of the webs are aligned with or underlie the edge of the cap, the cap being shaped to have no sharp edges at its perimeter.

22.A post as substantially herein described with reference to the drawings. 20

23.A cap as substantially herein described with reference to the drawings.