S&F Ref: 973731 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Name and Address Stephen Gorton, of Applicant: of 11 Shortland Close, Maryland, New South Wales, 2287, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Stephen Gorton Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: A mounting assembly for a post The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5843c(3359245 1) I A Mounting Assembly for a Post Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mounting assembly for a post, and in particular, a collapsible mounting assembly for holding a beverage or item. 5 Background of the Invention Umbrellas are frequently used at the beach or park to protect against the sun and other natural elements. They are particularly beneficial when spending a large amount of time outside. Some beach umbrellas fold or collapse for easier transport and storage. Beach umbrellas are typically positioned by inserting the stem or shaft into the sand until 1o the umbrella is secure. It is common to bring food and drinks to the beach, park, or other venue where umbrellas are used. Drinks such as soft drinks, water, and juice typically come in either cans or bottles. It is often desirable to set drinks, food, or rubbish away from the ground to protect them from things such as insects, sand, or debris. is There are drink holders which include a holder attached to a long spike. The holder is secured in place by inserting the spike into the ground. However, the holder can hold only one drink and is typically secured in place by sticking the spike directly into the sand. Accordingly, if there are a group of people, multiple drink holders are required. Additionally, if the sand is loose, the spike will need to be inserted far into the sand to 20 ensure stability. This results in the holder, and consequently the drink, being too close to the sand thus risking getting sand in it. Further, the spike is in the way of passersby and can be knocked over and easily accessed by insects. There are drink holders for holding multiple drinks which can be permanently attached to the post of an umbrella or the like. However, since the attachment is 25 permanent, the height cannot be adjusted, and the drink holder does not collapse down for storage and transport.
2 Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art or at least provide a useful alternative. Summary of the Invention 5 The present invention provides a mounting assembly for an elongate post. The mounting assembly includes a first member having first and second open ends and a cavity extending between the open ends. The first member includes a first engagement means. The mounting assembly further includes a second member having first and second open ends and a cavity extending between the open ends. The second member 1o includes a second engagement means. In use the post is insertible into the respective cavities of the first and second members and the first engaging means engages the second engaging means to fix the mounting assembly to the post in a desired location along the post. The first and/or second member includes a formation configured to attach an item. Preferably, the mounting assembly includes at least one arm, the at least one arm is pivotably attaching the holding means to the sleeve. Preferably, the at least one arm is moveable between a collapsed position where the at least one arm is substantially parallel to the axis and an extended position whereby the at least one arm is substantially perpendicular to the axis. In one embodiment, the sleeve includes two sleeve portions so that in use the 20 sleeve portions surround the post when in a locked configuration. Preferably, the sleeve is slidable along the post and locatable to the post at the particular location by way of the clamping member. Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way 25 of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a mounting assembly for a post according to the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates another embodiment of a mounting assembly for a post according to the present invention; 30 Figure 3 illustrates the second member of Figures 1 or 2; 3 Figure 4 illustrates the embodiment shown in Figure 2 in use on an umbrella; Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of a mounting assembly for a post according to the present invention; and Figures 6 and 6A illustrate another embodiment of a mounting assembly for a 5 post wherein the mounting assembly includes two portions; and Figures 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of a mounting assembly for a post. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments There is disclosed herein a mounting assembly 10 for an elongate post 12. It is to envisioned that the mounting assembly will be suitable for mounting an item 11 such as a drink holder, trash bag or the like to the post 12. Although the post 12, in the preferred embodiments, is circular, it will be appreciated that other suitable shapes such as square or oval or the like are envisioned. In a first embodiment, shown in Figure 1, the mounting assembly 10 includes a is first member in the form of a sleeve 14 and a second member in the form of a collar 16. The sleeve 14 includes a first open end 18 and a second open end 20 and a cavity 22 extending between the open ends 18, 20. The collar 16 includes a first open end 24 and a second open end 26 and a cavity 28 extending between the open ends 24, 26. The sleeve 14 includes a first engaging means in the form of a plurality of finger portions 36, each 20 adjacent finger portion 36 being separated by a gap 38. At least a portion of each finger portion 36 includes external threading 40. The collar 16 includes a second engaging means in the form of threading (not shown) on an internal surface of the collar 16. In use, the post 12 may be inserted through the first open end 18 of the sleeve such that the post 12 is located in the cavity 22 and extends through the second open end 20 of the sleeve 25 14. Similarly, the post 12 may be inserted through the first open end 24 of the collar 16 such that the post 12 is located in the cavity 28 and extends through the second open end 26 of the collar 16. The sleeve 14 may be positioned along the post 12 such that the finger portions 36 of the sleeve 14 are adjacent the collar 16. The sleeve 14 and collar 16 are rotated relative to each other so that the threads 40 of the finger portions 36 engage the 30 threading on the internal surface of the collar 16. As the collar 16 and the finger portions 4 36 of the sleeve 14 engage each other the collar pushes the finger portions 36 radially inward toward the post 12 to fix the mounting assembly 10 to the post 12. The sleeve 14 includes formations, or lugs 30 which may be used for attaching an item 11 to the mounting assembly 10. Whilst not shown, it will be appreciated that the 5 collar 16 could also include one or more lugs 30. The lugs 30 may be used for attaching the item 11 such as a trash bag or the like As shown in Figure 3, the collar 16 may include a ribbing 44 to facilitate gripping by a user. As best seen in Figures 2 and 5, the assembly 10 may include one or more io holding arms 32. Each holding arm 32 may be formed from plastic or other suitable material. For example, holding arms 32 for a mounting assembly 10 fixed to a light post or sign post in a public place can be made from aluminium or metal. In this case the holding arms 32 can be used to hold a rubbish container or recycle bin. Each arm 32 is attached at a first end 46 to the mounting assembly 10. It is envisioned that each arm 32 is is attached such that the arm 32 may move between an extended position for use and a collapsed position for storage. Figure 2 shows a holding arm 32 attached to the assembly 10 using a lug 30 and pin 31. Other suitable attachment means include a hinge, lug, bracket, plate, strut or the like. In Figure 2 the holding arm 32 is in the extended position. A second end 48 of the holding arm 32 includes a hook 50 to hold the item or basket 11. 20 It is readily apparent that the holding arm 32 is suitable to hold other items such as a drink holder, keys, or the like. It is envisioned, in some embodiments, that the holding arms 32 may be used to facilitate positioning of the post 12 in the ground. It is also envisioned that the arms 32 may be rotatable around the post 12. In an alternative embodiment, shown in figures 7 and 8, the first member is in 25 the form of a locking nut 14a, and the second member is in the form of a sleeve 16a. The locking nut 14a and the sleeve 16a are mounted on the post 12 in the same manner as described above. The locking nut 14a includes a first engaging means in the form of finger portions 32 having external threading 40. The locking nut 14a includes ribbing 44 to facilitate gripping. The sleeve 16a includes a second engaging means in the form of an 30 internal surface 43 which tapers inwardly in the longitudinal direction wherein the internal surface 43 of the sleeve 16a includes threading 42. The locking nut 14a and the sleeve 16a may be mounted to the post 12 in the same manner as described above, ensuring that the finger portions 32 of the locking nut 14a are adjacent the sleeve 16a. To fix the mounting assembly 10 to the post 12, the locking nut 14a is pushed into the sleeve 35 16a and rotated to engage the internal threading 42 of the sleeve 16a. The sleeve 16a 5 includes lugs 30 which may be used to hold an item such as a trash bag or for attachment of a holding arm 32 as described above. Figures 6, 6A and 6B illustrate another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is useful when it is not possible to slide the mounting assembly 10 over 5 a free end of the elongate post 12. In Figure 6, the first member is in the form of a two piece sleeve 14b divided longitudinally. As best shown in Figure 6A, the sleeve 14b includes a first portion 52 and a second portion 54. The first and second portions 52, 54 are connected along one side using a hinge 56. The hinge 56 enables the user to separate the portions 52, 54 for placement around the post 12. The first and second portions 52, 54 10 can be secured, or 'snapped' together using tabs 58 and grooves 60. Figures 6A and 6B show the tabs 58 on the first portion 52 and grooves 60 on the second portion 54. Each tab 58 has a corresponding groove 60 such that the first and second portions 52, 54 snap together to form the sleeve 14b around the post 12. Whilst Figures 6 - 6B show the tabs 58 and grooves 60 at the lower end of the sleeve 14b, it will be appreciated that the tabs is and grooves may also be located on the upper end. Once the sleeve 14b is mounted around the post 12, it can then be moved along the post 12 to a desired location. The two piece sleeve 14b may include one or more lugs 30. The sleeve 14b may include nipples 62 to facilitate alignment. In Figure 6, the second member is in the form of a two-piece collar 16b. The 20 two-piece collar 16b is best shown in Figure 6. The two-piece collar 16b may be mounted to the post 12 in a similar manner to the two-piece sleeve 14b. Once the sleeve 14b and the collar 16b are positioned on the post 12, they can be fixed to the post 12 by rotating the sleeve 14b and the collar 16b relative to each other such that the finger portions 36 of the collar 16b engage the internal threads 42 of the sleeve 14b. 25 Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be embodied in many other forms.