EP0770161A1

EP0770161A1 - Post installations

Info

Publication number: EP0770161A1
Application number: EP95924464A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Ralph Marshall Hodges
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Jesse Hodges & Co Ltd
Priority date: 1994-07-13
Filing date: 1995-07-12
Publication date: 1997-05-02
Also published as: AU2895995A; WO1996002704A1

Abstract

A post housing is provided for ground installation of a post, the post housing comprising a tubular sleeve (150) for receiving the post, the sleeve having a portion (158) adapted to releasably secure the post. In some embodiments the means to releasably secure the post is integral with the sleeve. In other embodiments a separate bung (167) may be used, keyed to the sleeve to prevent rotation. The housing provides a highly effective means to erect poles such as traffic light poles, and facilitate their replacement, for example if they are damaged in a traffic accident.

Description

POST INSTALLATION

The present invention relates to the field of post or pole installation, particularly although not exclusively to the installation of posts for street furniture, eg. traffic light posts, pedestrian rail posts or the like.

A common method of installing a conventional post is to dig a hole in the ground at an installation site of the post, insert a base of the post into the hole and fill the space between the post and the side walls of the hole with concrete. The concrete sets, to rigidly fix the post in the hole at the installation site. To avoid rotation of the post about a central longitudinal axis of the post, an anchor bar laterally extending to the length of the post bar may be fitted through a lower end of the post prior to inserting the lower end in the hole, such that when the concrete sets around the lower end, the laterally extending bar prevents rotation of the post in the concrete.

However, such conventional post installation has a problem that the post is permanently fixed into the installation. Removal and replacement of the post can take three or four hours, and involves digging out the concrete.

Specific embodiments and specific methods according to the present invention aim to provide an improved post installation.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a post housing for ground installation of a post, the post housing comprising a tubular sleeve for receiving the post, the sleeve having a portion adapted to releasably secure the post. Preferably, a base portion of the sleeve is adapted to releasably secure a lower end of the post. Preferably, the portion adapted to releasably secure the post comprises an upright wall, inclined to a main length of the sleeve. The wall is preferably arranged such that, in use. the post may become wedged against the wall to secure the post in the sleeve.

The base portion preferably comprises an upright stud portion having a tapered upright outer wall. The outer wall is preferably tapered inwardly toward the central axis of the post housing, and towards an upper end of the sleeve. The stud may be substantially mesa shaped.

In use, when the post housing is installed at an installation site, the post may be slid into the post housing and may be jammed into, or onto the stud.

The base portion may comprise a collar, a surface of which is tapered inwardly towards a lower end of the base.

An internal width of the tapered portion of the collar may be selected so as to closely coincide with an outside diameter or width of a corresponding post to be fitted into the sleeve.

The post may be driven downwardly in order to jam the lower end of the post into the inwardly tapered collar portion, which grips the lower end of the post to resist removal of the post in an upward axial direction, and to resist rotation of the post about a main central axis of the post.

The post housing may comprise a compression means, eg. a ring, adapted to fit to the collar portion. Preferably the ring is of metal construction. Preferably the compression ring is provided with a locating means, in the form of one or a plurality of peripheral grooves, for locating the ring to the collar.

This may have an advantage of strengthening the lower collar portion of the post to prevent splitting of the collar under driving of the post into the collar by force.

Preferably the post housing has at an upper end thereof, a post centralising means, for aligning the post co-axially with the sleeve. The post centralising means may comprise a ring adapted to fit into an upper rim portion of the sleeve.

The ring is preferably formed into the sleeve such that the plastics material of the sleeve surrounds the ring. Preferably, in use. the sleeve material is interposed between the post and the ring. Preferably, the plastics material is deformable.

This may have an advantage of allowing re-usability of post housing when the post is impacted, for example by a vehicle. When a vehicle impacts the post, the plastics material may absorb some impact of the post such that the post is caused to bend about the post centralising means, without splitting the post housing. The bent or damaged post may be pulled out of the post housing and a new post fitted into the post housing to replace the damaged post in a short time.

Preferably, the plastics material has a memory so as to recover its original shape when deformed. The post centralising means may prevent the ingress of dirt between the post and the post housing, and may provide a cover for the post housing.

The upper end of the sleeve may be fitted with the centralising ring, the ring insert having an inside aperture of width such as to closely fit a selected pole.

Preferably the post housing is formed of a spun plastics material.

Preferably the post housing is formed in a rotational spinning process.

Preferably, an outer surface of a side wall of the post housing comprises a plurality of projections and a plurality of indentations. Preferably, the side wall comprises a plurality of first ring sections of a first external width and a plurality of second ring sections of a second external width, the second external width being greater than the first external width, said pluralities of first and second ring sections being arranged in serial concatenated linkage. The side wall may be of convoluted shape.

This may have an advantage of providing a post housing having a relatively large outside surface area for contact with a hole infill material such as a dry sand/cement mixture, such that once the post housing is installed in a hole at a post installation site, the bonding or friction between the external surface of the post housing and the infill material prevents movement of the post housing in a direction axial to a main length of the post housing, and prevents rotational movement about a main length axis of the post housing. The alternating concatenated rings of first and second diameter may particularly provide resistance to axial movement, and resist driving of the post housing further into the ground, upon impact of a post into the post housing.

The sleeve may be provided with an elongate slot apeπure for accommodating electric cables which may be used for supply of power to a sign on the top of the post, for example traffic signal lines where the post is used for a traffic signal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a post housing for ground installation of a post, the post housing comprising a tubular sleeve formed by a rotary casting process.

The invention includes a method of forming a post housing for housing a post in a ground installation, the post housing comprising a tubular sleeve having one or a plurality of reinforcement members formed therein, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) securing one or a plurality of reinforcement members in a mould; and

(ii) forming the tubular sleeve in the mould such that the reinforcement member(s) are embedded in the tubular sleeve.

Preferably the tubular sleeve is formed of a plastics material, which may be polyethylene. The reinforcement member may be a ring, eg. a steel ring. The tubular sleeve may be formed in a two piece mould, which is rotationally spun in order to form the tubular sleeve. Rotational spin forming of the tubular sleeve may provided a relatively quick method of formation of a post housing, and thereby enable a significant cost reduction.

Alternatively, the tubular sleeve may be injection moulded, blow moulded, or cast.

Preferably the mould is adapted for formation of a plurality of tubular sleeves in a single formation. The single formation may comprise a plurality of tubular sleeves arranged end to end lengthwise, the individual tubular sleeves being detachable from each other by cutting or breaking the single formation.

The sleeve according to aspects of the invention may have a side aperture, for example through which electrical cables may be passed, if the post comprises a traffic signal post.

Preferably the axis of the aperture is inclined to the axis of the sleeve to facilitate the threading of cables into the post.

Preferably the aperture is defined by a tubular member projecting from the sleeve at an angle.

The lower end of the sleeve may have at least one projection extending radially outwardly, so that if the sleeve is embedded in the ground, for example using concrete, concrete being poured around the sleeve will land on the projection and tend to retain the sleeve in its desired position. The projection may comprise an annular flange.

The sleeve and post may be shaped such that two parts cooperate to mechanically key the post and sleeve together such that the post cannot rotate about its axis with respect to the sleeve.

There may for example a projection moulded into the sleeve which engages in a slot in the post.

The sleeve may be provided with one or more adaptors to enable a close fit to be made with one or more posts of different diameters.

An adaptor may be adjustable, for example expandable, to increase the grip between the sleeve and the post.

Where the sleeve is provided with a reinforcement ring, the reinforcement ring may have holes therein to facilitate the flow of material when the sleeve is moulded around the reinforcement ring.

A reinforcement ring may be provided which is totally embedded within the material of the sleeve to reduce the risk of the reinforcement ring becoming corroded.

A bung may be provided to temporarily close the sleeve prior to insertion of the post.

The bung and sleeve may be moulded as an integral component which is subsequently separated, for example by cutting. The post may locate within the sleeve according to aspects of the invention in such a manner that rotation of the post is resisted. This is particularly desirable where the post carries apparatus, the direction of which is important, for example, traffic lights.

Some embodiments have an additional feature which further reduces the risk that the post might be rotated with respect to the sleeve.

According to this additional inventive feature a locking member is provided, for connection to the lower part of the post, there being means to lock the locking member to the tubular sleeve.

The means to lock the locking member to the tubular sleeve may comprise complementary shaped formations on the locking member and the sleeve. There may for example be a square socket on the locking member which receives a square spigot of the sleeve.

By way of example, specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows in cut away view a first post housing according to a first specific embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 show in plan view and cut away side view respectively, a reinforcing ring component of the first post housing;

Figure 4 shows in a cross section, the ring of Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 shows in cross section a second ring, suitable for use in the post housing of Figure 1 ;

Figures 6 and 7 show in cut away and plan view respectively a second post housing according to a second specific embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 shows the third post housing, according to a third specific embodiment being a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 9 shows an upper end of the third post housing;

Figure 10 shows a fourth post housing according to a fourth specific embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 1 1 shows schematically a cut away view of a post housing deployed for holding a traffic light post at a ground installation site:

Figures 12 and 13 respectively show in cross section and cut away view a further embodiment post housing, deployed insitu in a ground installation, for holding a pedestrian guard rail.

Figure 14 shows an alternative embodiment of sleeve according to the invention;

Figure 15 shows part of yet another embodiment of sleeve:

Figure 16 shows an embodiment of sleeve provided with an adaptor; Figures 17a and 17b are respectively a cross-sectional view and an end view of an embodiment of sleeve provided with an adjustable adaptor;

Figures 18a and 18b, 19a and 19b, and 20a and 20b are respectively cross-sectional views and end views of three further embodiments of sleeve.

Figure 21 is a vertical cross-sectional view through one embodiment of locking member according to the invention:

Figure 22 is a plan view of the locking member;

Figure 23 is a vertical cross-section showing the cooperation of the locking member with the sleeve and post: and

Figures 24 and 25 show further locations for a reinforcing ring.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, the first post housing comprises an elongate tubular sleeve 1 formed of a plastics material by means of a conventional rotary spinning method, the sleeve comprising a plurality of tubular side wall ring sections of a first diameter όl and a plurality of tubular side wall ring sections of a second width φ2, the second width φ2 being larger than the first diameter όl , the plurality of first side wall portions 2 being connected together by the second side wall sections 3, a second side wall section being positioned between each of two adjacent first side wall sections, such that the tubular sleeve is built up of successively a first, a second, a first, a second etc. side wall sections connected together co- axially; at a base 4 of the sleeve is provided an inwardly tapered tubular collar 5. being tapered in a direction towards the lower end of the base: the collar 5 being provided at a lower periphery thereof with a ring insert 6. which is made of. for example, galvanised steel. At an upper end 7 of the sleeve, is provided a rim seating portion 8, into which an upper centralising ring may be inserted for centralisation of a post co-axially with a main length axis of the sleeve. The upper centralising ring may be for example of mild or stainless steel.

Referring to Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown in plan view, in cut away side view, features of a ring suitable for use as the lower ring in the embodiment shown in Figure 1. The ring of Figures 2 to 4, comprises a circular metal annulus. having a cross section, as seen in a direction tangential to the outermost perimeter of the ring, which is as shown in Figure 4. First and second peripheral location grooves 10, 11 are provided on an outermost facing surface 13 of the ring.

Referring to Figure 5, there is shown in cross section an alternative embodiment of the ring member of Figures 2 to 4, the alternative embodiment having an additional groove formed on an inwardly facing surface 15 of the ring.

An internal width of the tapered portion of the collar is selected so as to closely coincide with an outside diameter or width of a corresponding pole to be fitted into the sleeve.

Similarly, the upper end 8 of the sleeve is fitted with the centralising ring insert, the ring insert having an inner aperture of width such as to closely fit a selected pole. The sleeve is provided with an elongate slot aperture 20 for accommodating electric cables which may be used for supply of power to a sign on the top of the pole, for example traffic signal lines where the pole is used for a traffic signal.

In use, a post e.g., a hollow tubular post or a solid post may be installed using the sleeve as shown in Figure 1 by digging a hole in the ground at the installation site, and inserting the sleeve into the hole. The space between the sleeve and side walls of the hole may be filled with infill material, eg. concrete, cement or aggregate. The external surface of the post sleeve, having a set of alternating projections and indentations of first and second widths φ\ , φ2 presents a corrugated outer surface which, when installed in the hole, and surrounded by the infill material, prevents the sleeve from being pulled or pushed in a direction axially with respect to the main lengthwise axis of the sleeve, so that the sleeve cannot be pulled out of the ground or pushed further into the ground.

Once the sleeve is installed in the hole, a post member may be inserted into the upper end of the sleeve, slid down the length of the sleeve, and may jam into the inwardly tapering collar 5 at the base of the sleeve. The post may be mechanically driven by hitting the top of the post with a large hammer or pole driver such as to jam the lower end of the post into the tapering collar 5 such that friction holds the post in place in the collar and prevents the post from sliding out of the sleeve. The lower ring, which is retained in the base of the sleeve by the retaining grooves 1 1 and 12 prevents the base of the sleeve from splitting, and adds additional mechanical strength to the lower end of the sleeve for holding the lower end of the post. When installed in the hole in the ground, the stepped profile of the outer surface of the sleeve prevents, in addition to axial movement of the sleeve, rotational movement of the sleeve. Additional resistance to rotational movement of the sleeve is provided, as compared with a conventional cylindrical post of comparable diameter, due to the additional suπace area provided by connecting portions 7 between the rings of smaller and larger outside diameter l and ό2 respectively.

The sleeve may be installed in a hole at the installation site by packing a dry mixture of sand and cement powder and/or other aggregate between the outer surface of the sleeve and the side walls of the hole, without necessitating the addition of water. Where this method is used, the ingress of moisture from the surrounding hole, side walls, or from the general damp of the atmosphere may gradually set the sand/cement mixture over a period of time.

Preferably the first post sleeve is of length of the order 610mm. and has a circular cross section in a direction viewed along a main length of the sleeve, the outer diameter φ2 is preferably of the order of 175mm. whereas the lower diameter όl is preferably of the order of 1 15mm. The collar 5 preferably has an outside diameter of 135mm and an inner bore diameter of 125mm. The lower ring is preferably of galvanised steel. Preferably the ring sections have a length of the order of 20mm, and the connecting portions 7 between the small and larger ring sections are preferably angled at an angle of 15° to the horizontal, when the sleeve is placed vertically upright.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a second embodiment post sleeve, the second embodiment post sleeve being substantially similar to the first embodiment in general construction, except the second post sleeve is of a rectangular cross section, as shown in a direction looking along a main lengthwise axis of the second post sleeve.

Suitably, the external dimensions of the second sleeve as viewed in Figure 8 in a direction along the main length of the sleeve are external width 70mm, external breadth 50mm, internal width 50mm, and internal aperture breadth 30mm.

The second post sleeve is preferably of length around 430mm. and the ring sections are preferably of depth around 10mm.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a cut away view of the third post housing, and an upper end of the third post housing respectively.

The third post housing is similar to the first and second post housings, but differs therefrom, in details of the upper end of the tubular sleeve, and the base portion.

The base portion comprises an upright stud 40, in the shape of a mesa, the stud having an upright side wall 41 extending in a ring, concentric with the first and second rings 42,43 of the side wall of the sleeve. The stud 40 is arranged coaxially with the first and second rings. A cap 44 of the stud, extending across the top of the stud and closing off the side wall 41 is of dimension lower than the width of όl of the first, smaller, rings 42. The upright wall 41 has an outer surface which is angled towards the central main axis of the housing, and towards the upper end of the housing. Suitably, the angle of the outer surface of the upright wall 41 makes an angle of around 5- 10° to the main central length axis of the sleeve, or to the vertical, when this coincides with the central axis.

In use, the lower end of a hollow tubular post engages the stud 40. The dimensions of the cap 44 of the stud are selected so as to fit inside the tubular post. As the post is slid down onto the stud, the side wall 41 which is angled with respect to the main axis of the tubular sleeve engages the lower end of the post. A base 45 of the stud has an outside width which is greater than the internal width of the tubular post. Thus, the post may be wedged onto the stud, the stud holding the lower end of the post by means of friction between the side wall 41 and the inside of the tubular post.

The upper end 50 of the third post housing comprises a tubular neck portion 51 formed of plastics material, and having embedded therein, an upper reinforcement ring 52, of mild steel, galvanised steel or similar material. The upper ring 52 acts as a post centralising means, for centralising the post within the housing. There is provided a layer of plastics material 53 between the reinforcement ring 52 and the inner surface 54 of the upper end of the post housing which contacts the outer surface of the post.

In the event of the post being bent, for example due to impact with a vehicle, the layer of plastics material 53 between the reinforcement ring 52 and the post deforms, allowing movement of the post. Thus, minor knocks to the post may be accommodated by the deformation of the plastics material, which has a memory such that the plastics material, over a period of time naturally expands back to its originally formed state. In the event of a heavy impact, the post may be bent around the reinforcement ring 52. and/or may break off. In this event, the lower part of the post is removed from the post housing, by pulling the post vertically upwards, releasing the lowermost end of the post which is wedged onto the stud 40, and a new post can be inserted into the existing post housing. The rigidity and strength of the post housing, and in particular the reinforcement ring 52 and upper end 51 of the post housing are selected in relation to any particular post, such that the post will generally break or bend before significant damage to the upper end of the post housing is incurred.

Referring to Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a fourth post housing, being a further variant preferred specific embodiment of the present invention.

The fourth post housing is substantially similar to the third post housing, except that a further reinforcement ring 60 is provided between the upper end 61 , and the base 62 of the fourth post housing. The further reinforcement ring is preferably of mild steel, and may be galvanised.

A peripheral notch 62 is formed in the outer surface of the tubular sleeve wall, which may act as a weak point for sawing or otherwise cutting the tubular sleeve, such that a single tubular sleeve moulding may be adaptable to give a post housing of a first or a second depth, the first depth being between the lowermost part of the base 62 and the uppermost part of the upper end 61 , and the second depth being between the lowermost part of the base 62 and the peripheral notch 64, when the tubular sleeve is sawn at the notch 64. When the sleeve is used in the first depth, the upper end of the sleeve contains a reinforcement ring 65 for use as described herein above with reference to the third post housing. When the fourth post housing is used in the second mode, ie. sawn off to the second depth, the reinforcement ring 60 acts as the reinforcement ring at the upper end of the post housing.

Referring to Figure 1 1 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown, for example, the third or fourth post housing, deployed insitu buried in the ground at a post ground installation. A hollow traffic signal post 100 is inserted into the post housing sleeve 1 10. The post housing is connected with a signal junction box 120, which connects via a duct 117 to a traffic control signal site. The post housing is surrounded by a concrete/sand mix 115. and covered with a thin layer of sand 114, upon which conventional paving slabs 113 are laid. At the pavement level, arrowed 121 , all that is visible of the post housing is an upper surface 123 of the upper end.

Referring to Figures 12 and 13, there is shown a further embodiment post housing insitu at a post installation site, the post housing embedded in a sand/cement mix 130. The further embodiment supports a pedestrian guard rail 131. The pedestrian guard rail has a square or rectangular cross section tubular post 132. A lower end of the square/rectangular tubular post is wedged over a corresponding square/rectangular stud 133 at a lower end of the further post housing.

The embodiment of sleeve shown in Figure 14 differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 8 in three key respects. Firstly, the sleeve 150 has a side aperture 151 defined by an integrally moulded tube 152 which projects at an angle inclined to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 150.

The presence of the tube 152 facilitates the threading of cables into a post secured within the sleeve. Because of the way in which the tube 152 is angled, cables which are pushed into the aperture 151 will tend to be guided into the oval slot shown in the tube in Figure 8, in such a way that the cables tend to travel upwardly within the post. This is particularly convenient when the post is intended to carry traffic light signals.

Secondly, the sleeve 150 is moulded in such a way as to provide an inwardly projecting rib 153. When the post is pushed downwardly into the sleeve 150 the slot in the post can be arranged so that it is in register with the projection 153 which then locates in the slot. This then prevents any tendency for the post to rotate within the sleeve. Rotation of the post in its mounting can be highly undesirable, particularly in the case of traffic lights.

Thirdly, the lower part of the sleeve 150 is moulded so as to have a substantial flange 154.

Without this flange, the sleeve tends to be squirted upwardly out of the ground as concrete is poured into the ground around the sleeve. Because the flange provides a substantial upwardly facing surface area, the concrete which initially fills the space between the sleeve and the ground impinges on the upper face of the flange 154 and the force applied to the sleeve by the concrete tends to retain the sleeve in its desired position in the ground. The sleeve shown in Figure 15 has a metal reinforcing ring 155 completely embedded in the plastics material 156 from which the sleeve is moulded. This substantially reduces or eliminates any tendency for the reinforcing ring to corrode, even in the extreme conditions encountered in use.

Another innovation of the embodiment shown in Figure 15 is that an integral bung 157 is moulded with the sleeve. This bung is then separated from the sleeve by cutting and can be subsequently used to plug the upper end of the sleeve prior to insertion of a post. This means, for example, that if there has to be a time delay between securing the sleeve in the ground, and inserting a post, the sleeve does not become filled with water or dirt.

It will be seen from Figure 14 that, like earlier embodiments, there is an upwardly extending, tapered, plug 158 which plugs into the bottom of the post, to retain the post in position in the sleeve.

Figure 16 illustrates a further embodiment which makes it possible to use one size of sleeve to accommodate different diameters of pole.

The diameter of the plug 158 can readily be varied during moulding by adjusting the size of part of the moulding core.

The upper part of the sleeve is not so easily altered during moulding but Figure 16 illustrates an embodiment in which an intermediate adaptor 159 is provided to take up the space between the sleeve 150 and a pole 160. Figures 17a and 17b illustrate an alternative embodiment of adaptor 159 which is adjustable. The adaptor comprises an annular member which is split on location 161. A bolt 162 can be screwed into the split to expand it. the widening of the split causes the adaptor 159 to be compressed between the post 160 and the sleeve 150 thus making the post even more secure in the sleeve.

Figures 18a and 18b illustrate the use of a reinforcing ring 163 that has a plurality of radially extending holes 164 spaced about the periphery thereof. When the sleeve is moulded, plastics material 165 flows into the hole to assist in securing the reinforcing ring in position.

Figures 19a and 19b show a similar arrangement, except that the apertured reinforcing ring 163 is spaced inwardly from the outer periphery of the sleeve whereas the reinforcing ring shown in Figures 18a and 18b is positioned on the periphery sleeve.

In Figures 20a and 20b. there is illustrated yet another embodiment of reinforcing ring 166 which is similar to the ring shown in Figures 19a and 19b except that the holes 164 project in the axially direction rather than the radial direction.

The locking member shown in Figures 21 to 23, comprises a tapered bung 167 which has a circular cross-section except for a square cross-section socket 168 in the base of the bung.

The bung is arranged to cooperate with a sleeve which is generally similar to the sleeves shown in the earlier Figures except that the base of the sleeve is provided with an upstanding square cross-section spigot 169. This spigot 169 is shaped to fit closely within the square section socket 168 of the bung 167.

In use, the bung 167 is first hammered into the base of a post 170. Because of the tapered shape of the bung, hammering it into the base of the post 170 causes the bung to be very tightly locked within the post so that there is virtually no possibility of the bung being able to rotate with respect to the post.

The post, with the bung inserted therein, is then fitted securely within the sleeve. The engagement of the spigot 169 with the socket 168 ensures that the bung (and hence the post coupled thereto) cannot rotate with respect to the sleeve.

This in turn ensures that if traffic lights, directional signs, or like apparatus, are mounted at the top of the pole, steps can be taken to ensure that the apparatus always points in the desired direction.

In Figures 24 and 25, a tapered adaptor ring 200 is used to provide further grip between a pole 201 and a sleeve 202. A reinforcing ring 203 may be located in the ring (Figure 24) or the sleeve (Figure 25).

The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises only one embodiment, and the shapes and dimensions can be adjusted to suit different sleeves and poles. The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one. or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAJ S

1. A post housing for ground installation of a post, the post housing comprising a tubular sleeve for receiving the post, the sleeve having a portion adapted to releasably secure a lower end of the post.

2. A post housing as claimed in claim 1 , in which the sleeve has a base portion comprising an upright stud portion having a tapered upright outer wall for jamming into the lower end of the post.

3. A post housing as claimed in claim 2. in which the upright stud portion comprises a bung connected to the rest of the sleeve by a spigot and socket connection shaped to prevent rotation of the bung with respect to the sleeve.

4. A post housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which an outer surface of a side wall of the post housing comprises a plurality of projections and a plurality of indentations.

5. A post housing as claimed in claim 4, in which the side wail comprises a plurality of first ring sections of a first external width and a plurality of second ring sections of a second external width, the second external width being greater than the first external width.

6. A post housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sleeve has a side aperture, for example through which electrical cables may be passed.

7. A post housing as claimed in claim 6, in which the aperture is defined by a tubular member projecting from the sleeve at an angle.

8. A post housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the lower end of the sleeve has at least one projection extending radially outwardly, so that if the sleeve is embedded in the ground, for example using concrete, concrete poured around the sleeve will land on the projection and tend to retain the sleeve in its desired position.

9. A post housing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sleeve is provided with one or more adaptors to enable a close fit to be made with one or more posts of different diameters.

10. A post housing for ground installation of a post, the post housing comprising a tubular sleeve formed by a rotary casting process.