EP2559828A2

EP2559828A2 - Holding apparatus and method of use thereof

Info

Publication number: EP2559828A2
Application number: EP12275117A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mark Wells
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-08-16
Filing date: 2012-08-16
Publication date: 2013-02-20
Also published as: GB201114050D0

Abstract

A method and apparatus for holding or supporting a post in a preselected position such that a person working by themselves can fix the post in said position. The apparatus including a post support means having a recess or channel defined therein for supporting a post in use, and leg support means having a recess or channel defined therein for supporting one or more legs in use. The one or more legs are used to help support the post in a required orientation and/or position and the longitudinal axis of the recess or channel of the post support means is provided in a non-parallel orientation to a longitudinal axis of the recess or channel of the leg support means.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for positioning and holding a post in a preselected position and/or orientation before the post is secured in said position and/or orientation.
Although the following description refers exclusively to fence posts, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that apparatus and method of the present invention can be applied to other articles which have to be aligned and/or held in position before being fixed in said position.
It is recognised that the conventional process of erecting fencing, and specifically the positioning of fence posts, is a two-person process. Typically, the first step is to dig a hole into which one end of a fence post is inserted. A first person then holds the post in position, usually by holding the post in a substantially vertical orientation, whilst a second person backfills the hole. If the hole is to be filled with concrete, the post usually has to be held in position until at least some of the concrete has set.
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an apparatus which reduces the number of people required to erect posts in the required position.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a method of using the aforementioned apparatus which allows an individual to erect posts quickly and efficiently.
In a first aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus suitable for holding and/or supporting a post in use, said apparatus including a post support means having a recess or channel defined therein for supporting a post in use, and leg support means having a recess or channel defined therein for supporting one or more legs in use, said one or more legs used to help support the post in a required orientation and/or position in use, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the recess or channel of the post support means is provided in a non-parallel orientation to a longitudinal axis of the recess or channel of the leg support means.
In one embodiment the post support means is in the form of a sleeve and/or collar in which at least part of the post is held or located in use. Typically the recess or channel is defined in the sleeve and/or collar. Further typically the post protrudes through the sleeve and/or collar in use.
In one embodiment leg support means includes at least one sleeve and/or collar in which at least one leg is held in use. Typically the recess or channel is defined in the leg support means. Further typically the leg protrudes through the leg support means sleeve and/or collar in use.
In one embodiment the longitudinal axis of the post support means is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the post located in the post support means in use.
In one embodiment the one or more legs are substantially linear elongate legs. Typically the one or more legs and/or leg support means are shaped and/or arranged such that a leg can be slidably mounted within the channel or recess of the leg support means in use.
In one embodiment the legs are provided separate to the apparatus. Typically the legs are engaged with, and/or mounted within the leg support means by inserting at least a portion of the leg into the leg support means. Further typically the longitudinal axis of the leg support means is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the leg located in the leg support means in use.
In one embodiment the legs are substantially the same length and/or have the same cross-sectional area.
In one embodiment the longitudinal axis of the leg support means is located at an angle of greater than 0° (parallel) and up to 90° (perpendicular) in respect of the longitudinal axis of the post support means.
Typically the legs held and/or mounted in the leg support means in use are at an angle in respect of the longitudinal axis of the post support means. Further typically the angle θ between the longitudinal axis of the post support means and the longitudinal axis of the leg support means is expressed as: 0°<θ≤90°.
In one embodiment the angle θ is: 0°<θ<90°
Typically the angle θ is: 15°≤θ≤25°.
Preferably the angle θ between the longitudinal axis of the post support means and the longitudinal axis of the leg support means is substantially 20°.
This arrangement ensures that the legs are splayed or spread out such that stability is given to the post support means, and/or the portion of the legs in contact with the ground or located substantially outside and/or around the post hole, giving the user room to work and/or cement the post in place. The post hole being the hole that the user can dig, into which the post is inserted. The post hole can then be backfilled and/or filled with concrete.
In one embodiment the apparatus includes adjustment means for adjusting the position and/or orientation of the leg support means on the post support means. Typically the position or orientation of the leg support means can be selected by the user. Further typically the angle between the longitudinal axis of the post support means and the longitudinal axis of the leg support means can be selected by the user by positioning the leg support means at the desired angle and/or position, using said adjustment means.
In one embodiment the leg support means can be positioned by pivoting and/or rotating the same about an axis. Typically the axis about which the leg support means can be pivoted and/or rotated is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the leg support means.
Preferably the leg support means are permanently fixed in position in respect of the post support means.
In one embodiment the leg support means are located or spaced substantially equidistantly around an outer surface of the post support means.
Typically apparatus includes three or four leg support means. Preferably the apparatus includes four leg support means.
In one embodiment the leg support means include fixing means to hold and/or fix the legs in position in use. The fixing means can include any one or any combination of screws, bolts, pegs, detents, and/or the like, which substantially fix and/or secure the legs in the selected position in use.
Typically the fixing means are engaged with a leg when the position and/or orientation of the post is selected and then the leg can be secured in position. This is facilitated by having the legs in an angled configuration as the post angle can be adjusted by moving the top of the post backwards or forwards, and/or left or right whilst the bottom of the legs remain in contact with the ground. When the correct position and/or orientation is achieved (usually vertical) this position is fixed by engaging the fixing means with the leg.
In one embodiment the post support means and/or the leg support means channel or recess is defined by one or more walls.
In one embodiment the post support means and/or the leg support means channel or recess is defined by a plurality of substantially planar walls. Typically at least one edge of a wall is joined or attached to an edge of an adjacent wall to form a tube and/or sleeve with substantially planar walls.
In one embodiment the post support means and/or the leg support means channel or recess is substantially cylindrical.
Typically the post support means and/or the leg support means is open at both ends.
Preferably the post support means includes four planar walls of substantially the same dimensions. Typically the walls form a post support means which is substantially square in cross section when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the post support means.
In one embodiment each wall of the post support means includes a leg support means.
In one embodiment the apparatus includes at least one fixing means to fix and/or secure the post located within the post support means to the same. Typically the fixing means engage with the surface of the post.
In one embodiment the post support means includes at least one indication means. Typically the indication means provides an indication that the support means and/or the post is substantially horizontal and/or vertical in position. Further typically the indication means is a bubble of gas in a fluid, such as a spirit level and/or the like. The indication means in one embodiment allows the post to be orientated substantially vertically.
In one embodiment the indication means includes one or more electronic switches and/or gauges such that the post can be positioned at a selected angle in respect to the horizontal and/or vertical axis.
In one embodiment the post support means and/or the leg support means are provided in two or more segments. Typically the two or more segments are positioned around the post and/or leg in use and the segments secured together. In one embodiment the two or more segments are pivotally connected together. Typically the two or more segments are pivotally connected about a hinge and/or the like such that the support means can be opened to receive a post and/or leg as required.
In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a post holding apparatus including a post holding sleeve or recess and a plurality of leg holding sleeves or recesses attached thereto wherein the longitudinal axis of at least one of the leg holding sleeves or recesses is at an angle in respect to the longitudinal axis of the post holding sleeve or recess.
In a third aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus suitable for holding and or supporting a post in use, said apparatus including a post support means with a first longitudinal axis and a plurality of leg support means each with further longitudinal axis wherein the longitudinal axis of at least one of the leg support means is positioned at an angle in respect of the first longitudinal axis of the post support means.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of fixing a post in a selected position and/or orientation using an apparatus, said apparatus including a post support means having a recess of channel defined therein for supporting the post in use, and leg support means having a recess or channel defined therein for supporting one or more legs in use, said one or more legs used to help support the post in the selected position and/or orientation, wherein a longitudinal axis of the recess or channel of the post support means is provided in a non-parallel orientation to a longitudinal axis of the recess or channel of the leg support means, said method including the steps of:

locating at least part of a post substantially inside the post support means and securing the same together;
locating at least part of the legs inside the leg support means such that a distal end of at least one of the legs is in contact with the ground;
moving at least the uppermost end of the post until the predetermined orientation and/or angle is achieved; and
securing the legs in position in the leg support means.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the following figures wherein:

Figure 1 shows a front view of the apparatus in use in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 shows a plan view of the apparatus in accordance with one embodiment and the invention; and
Figure 3 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the invention.

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for holding posts in position. The apparatus is particularly effective when a post hole has already been dug and the post is to be positioned in the same, usually with cement and/or backfilled. However, the person skilled in the art will appreciate that the same apparatus could be used to hold a post in position before driving the same into the ground.
Turning firstly to figure 1 there is shown a post holding apparatus 2 including a post holding collar 4 into which a post (not shown) is secured using the hand screws 6, 6'. Essentially, the post collar 4 slots over the top of the post and is fixed in place on the post. The bottom end of the post is then placed in the hole 12 and the legs 8a-d are slotted or slid into the leg holding sleeves 10a-d until the bottom ends of the legs are in contact with the ground.
As the legs are fully adjustable/slidable in the leg sleeves, all the legs can be in contact with the ground, even on particularly uneven surfaces.
Furthermore, as the longitudinal or central axis of the leg sleeves is at an angle to the longitudinal or central axis of the post collar, the legs are splayed and provide working room between the same to fill the hole.
Once the legs are slotted into position the post can be oriented to the correct angle (vertical in this case) in the conventional manner, as the support is now doing the job of the second man (which is no longer required). In effect the length of the legs as well as the position and/or orientation of the post can be selected simultaneously, simply by moving the top of the post to the required position. As the legs slide freely in their sleeves there is no need to adjust each leg individually. Once at the correct angle, the hand screws 14a-d are tightened and the post is fixed in position.
One particular advantage of the present apparatus is that the post collar can be attached to any point on the post and the leg sleeves and hand screws are located relatively close together on the post. As such, the post can be secured in position without the user having to bend down and adjust each leg individually. The user can, whilst standing up at all times, position the post and make adjustments. Once this has been done the hand screws 14a-d are tightened and the post is fixed in position without having to bend over.
In this embodiment the leg sleeves are angled at 20° from the longitudinal axis of the post collar, giving the user a working area around the base of the post/hole of around 18", this is more than enough room to safely cement the post in place.
The person skilled in the art will appreciate that if the post was to be driven into the ground, all that would be required would be to loosen the post collar hand screws 6, 6' and the post could be driven in, whilst being held or supported in the correct orientation.
Turning now to figures 2 and 3 wherein it can be seen that the post collar 4 is a rectangular prism in this example. The leg sleeves 10a-d are positioned in substantially the same place on each face of the post collar. The cylindrical shape of each of the leg sleeves 10a-d can also be seen. Therefore, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the post collar and indeed the leg sleeves can be almost any shape including cylindrical, trigonal prism, square prism, rectangular prism, etc. thereby forming a channel or recess.
Also, it will be appreciated that additional hand screws or other fixing means could be provided to secure the post and/or legs to the apparatus.

Claims

An apparatus suitable for holding and/or supporting a post in use, said apparatus including a post support means having a recess or channel defined therein for supporting a post in use, and leg support means having a recess or channel defined therein for supporting one or more legs in use, said one or more legs used to help support the post in a required orientation and/or position in use, and wherein a longitudinal axis of the recess or channel of the post support means is provided in a non-parallel orientation to a longitudinal axis of the recess or channel of the leg support means.
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the post support means is in the form of a sleeve and/or collar in which at least part of the post is held or located in use.
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the leg support means includes at least one sleeve and/or collar in which at least one leg is held in use.
An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the longitudinal axis of the post support means is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the post located in the post support means in use.
An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the one or more legs are substantially linear elongate legs.
An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the one or more legs and/or leg support means are shaped and/or arranged such that a leg can be slidably mounted within the channel or recess of the leg support means in use.
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the legs are engaged with, and/or mounted within the leg support means by inserting at least a portion of the leg into the leg support means and the longitudinal axis of the leg support means is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the leg located in the leg support means in use.
An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the legs held and/or mounted in the leg support means in use are at an angle θ in respect of the longitudinal axis of the post support means said angle being 15°≤θ≤25°.
An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus includes adjustment means for adjusting the position and/or orientation of the leg support means on the post support means.
An apparatus according to any of claims 1-8 wherein the leg support means are permanently fixed in position in respect of the post support means.
An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the leg support means are located or spaced substantially equidistantly around an outer surface of the post support means.
An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus includes fixing means to hold and/or fix the legs and/or post in position in use.
An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus includes an indication means to provide an indication that the support means and/or the post is substantially horizontal and/or vertical in position.
An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the post support means and/or the leg support means are provided in two or more segments, at least two of said segments are pivotally connected together.
A method of fixing a post in a selected position and/or orientation using an apparatus, said apparatus including a post support means having a recess of channel defined therein for supporting the post in use, and leg support means having a recess or channel defined therein for supporting one or more legs in use, said one or more legs used to help support the post in the selected position and/or orientation, wherein a longitudinal axis of the recess or channel of the post support means is provided in a non-parallel orientation to a longitudinal axis of the recess or channel of the leg support means, said method including the steps of:
- locating at least part of a post substantially inside the post support means and securing the same together;

- locating at least part of the legs inside the leg support means such that a distal end of at least one of the legs is in contact with the ground;

- moving at least the uppermost end of the post until the predetermined orientation and/or angle is achieved; and

- securing the legs in position in the leg support means.