GB2218718A

GB2218718A - Post sockets for fence posts

Info

Publication number: GB2218718A
Application number: GB8810658A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman John Childs; David Edward Shillingford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-05-05
Filing date: 1988-05-05
Publication date: 1989-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 2008-05-05
Also published as: GB8810658D0; GB2218718B

Abstract

A post support e.g. a fence post support has a hollow tubular section 31 which may have fins attached to it 33 and 34 with a stop 32, special sockets 38 on the top into which may be fixed timber posts. The special socket enables the posts to be driven into it and locks the post firmly in position. The support is driven into the ground either manually or using a power tool by means of special driving rods. <IMAGE>

Description

FENCE POST SUPPORTS This invention relates to fence and multi-various post supports and to a method of installing these supports.

Many supports comprise a metal spike which may be cruciform, Tee, angle or similar in cross section. On the top of the spike is fixed a suitable shoe, socket or bracket to receive the post, or alternatively a strap or other device is fixed to which the post may be attached either vertically above or to the side.

The metal spike is usually tapered from the base of the post support downwards along its length to enable the support to be driven more easily into the ground.

This is normally done by means of a wooden dolly capped with and bound with metal to prevent damage to the post socket and to enable the spike to be driven into the ground with a club hammer.

Such post supports are used for erecting inter alia boundary markers, fences and temporary barriers. The installations of these forms of post supports is difficult and together with the fact that any obstruction such as a stone in the ground or soil will possibly deform, arrest or deflect the spike and prevent the accurate location of the support. It is also difficult and cumbersome to drive and to ensure that it is driven to the correct depth.

A post socket has been proposed which consists of a hollow tubular section which may be of rectangular, square, round or polygonal cross section. The end of the tube that is to be inserted into the ground is pointed and near to the point is fixed between the walls of the tube a solid rod which may be round, rectangular or square on which rests a special driving tool. The top of the tube may also be pointed and project upwards into the socket to locate and fix the bottom end of any timber posts which are used.

The tubular section which forms part of the post socket which is driven into the ground is different from the post supports described above in that it is of uniform section and tubular.

An aim of the present invention is to proyide post supports that are easy to install quickly and accurately and are capable of a wide variety of applications depending on the type of soil or strata into which they are to be fixed.

Accordingly the present invention comprises a tubular element with or without fins attached which may extend along part of or all of its length for insertion into the ground to provide resistance to deflection of the support and to support the base plate of the socket into which the posts fix.

Although the invention may be carried out in a great variety of ways some particular features of it are described below by way of example together with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a post support according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a plan of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an underside plan of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the device.

The head of the device into which a post may be fixed as shown in Figures 1 and 2 may have alternative forms as shown in plan and elevation in Figures 8 and 10 to 16 inclusive.

Figure 5 is an elevation of a modification of the device with separate pairs of fins in the same planes at the top and bottom of the tubular section.

Figure 6 is an elevation of a modification of the device with continuous fins from the top to the bottom of the tubular section.

Figure 7 is an elevation of a modification of the device with discontinuous fins in different planes at the top and bottom.

Figure 8 is a plan of the device of figure 7.

Figure 9 is an underside plan of the device of figure 8.

Figures 10 to 12 inclusive are each an elevation of forms of a drive rod which may be used to make a hole to receive the post support and which is used to drive the post support into the ground. The drive rod may be square, rectagonal, round or polygonal in cross section and is made of solid section.

Figure 13 is an elevation showing the stages in the erection of a fence using a post support according to the invention.

To install a post support a pilot hole is preferably made using the drive rod shown diagramatically in Figure 10 to 12 inclusive. Alternatively a proprietory power driven rotary or hammer drill may be used to drill a hole in the ground to the requisite depth. The post support is then inserted into the hole and the drive rod is inserted into the tube until it comes to rest on the stop formed by the solid rod as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and described above.

The post support is then driven into the ground by means of a conventional hammer or a purpose made drive rod in a proprietory power driven hammer or tool until the support is at the requisite depth in the ground.

The method described above for driving the post support into the ground ensures that the energy being used to drive it is applied very near to the bottom of the post except in the case of the modified device for supporting an existing post as shown in figure 23. This means that normally less energy is required to drive the post into position and it also enables greater accuracy of location to be achieved.

When the post support has been driven into place the post is then located in the head of a socket by driving the post with a conventional hammer or by other means.

The various types of the head of the socket are shown in elevation and plan in Figures 1 and 3 and 14 to 20 inclusive.

Alternative post supports for setting into concrete are shown in figures 25 and 28. These types may have any of the socket heads shown in elevation and plan in Figures 1 and 3 and 14 to 20 inclusive.

Figure 21 is an elevation of a modification of the device for a side fixing post support.

Figure 22 is a plan of the device for Figure 21.

Figure 23 is another modification of the device for a side fixing post support.

Figure 24 is a plan of the device of Figure 23.

Figure 24, modification of the device for supporting an existing post, has the stop 32 located in an angled tube 40 attached to the main tubular support 31 giving sufficient clearance from the existing post to enable the device to be driven into the ground by means of a drive rod as shown in Figures 10, 11 or 12 using a conventional hammer or by means of a drive rod and a proprietory power driven hammer or tool.

As shown in Figures 1 to 9 and 21 to 30 inclusive the device is intended to provide a post support for erecting, inter alia, boundary markers, fences and temporary barriers and consists of a tubular body 31 having a stop 32 welded across the tube near to the bottom or otherwise suitably located in a position along the length of the tube as may be required.

A number of fins 33 are welded around its upper end but other fins 34 may also be welded around its lower end and the fins 33 may extend for the full length of the tube as shown in Figure 6.

The configuration, number and the lengths of the fins may be varied to suit the types of soil or the strata in which the support is to be used.

On the top fins a base plate 36 is welded through which the tube 31 passes. The upper end of the tube 37 when used for timber posts is pointed so that when a timber post is driven down into the socket 38 the bottom of the post is firmly located as the points penetrate the timber. On top of the base plate 36 is welded or formed the socket head 38 to receive the post which is to be supported.

The bottom of the tubular body is also pointed 39 to assist in penetrating the soil or strata in which the device is to be installed.

Clearly the optimum size and length of the tubular body, the type and the number of fins attached to it will be determined by its intended application and the type of soil or strata in which it is to be installed.

Figure 21 is an elevation of the device modified to enable a timber post to be supported by means of a side fixing 40.

Figure 25 is an elevation of yet another modification of the device for casting into concrete.

Figure 26 is a plan of the device of Figure 25.

Figure 27 is a longitudinal section of the device of Figure 25.

Figure 28 is also an elevation of a modification of the device for casting into concrete.

Figure 29 is a plan of the device of Figure 28.

finy type of the head of the socket as shown in Figures 1 to 16 inclusive may be used in conjunction with the post supports shown in Figures 25 and 28.

To install a post support a pilot hole 42 is preferably made using the drive rod. Alternatively a proprietory power driven rotary or hammer drill may be used. The support 44 is then inserted into the hole and the drive rod 42 is then inserted in the tubular section 31 until it comes to rest on the stop 32.

The post support is then driven into the ground by means of a conventional hammer or a purpose made drive rod in a proprietory power driven hammer until the post support is at the requisite depth in the ground.

The drive rod 42 is withdrawn, the post is then located in the head of the socket by driving the post with a conventional hammer, or by other means.

Figure 13 illustrates from to D the successive stages as described above in the installation of a fence post support and the positioning of a fence post thereon.

Figure 35 also illustrates the use of the device to support timber posts to which is attached larch lap fencing.

Claims

1. A fence post support comprising a hollow tubular section, with or without fins attached, various sockets to support timber posts fixed to the top thereof with a stop near the bottom of the tube which is pointed.

2. A fence post support as claimed in Claim 1 wherein purpose made drive rods are provided to enable pilot holes to be made in the ground to the requisite depth to assist the accurate location of the support.

3. A fence post support as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the use of the drive rods to form a pre-drilled hole displaces or breaks up stones or obstructions and assists in preventing the post support from being deflected when it is installed.

4. A fence post support as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the drive rods are inserted in the tube resting against the stop and the support is driven manually or by a power driven tool using the pre-drilled pilot hole as a guide to enable the support to be located accurately.

5. A fence post support as claimed in Claim 2 Claim 3 and Claim 4 wherein the kinetic energy needed to drive the support into the ground is applied near the bottom of the tube and enables the support to be located with much greater accuracy and efficiency than when it is applied to the top of the tube.

6. A fence post support as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the socket attached to the top of the tube enables timber fence posts to be driven into it fixing the post firmly at the bottom when the support has been driven into the ground.

7. A fence post support substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 - 30 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A fence post support comprising a hollow tubular section with or without fins of various lengths shapes and sizes attached in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support depending on the geotechnical properties of the ground into which it is to be driven.

2. A fence post support as claimed in Claim 1 wherein any fins attached thereto may be varied in shape length and size to suit the soil into which the support is to be driven which may vary from sand to firm clay or even medium hard rock when the fins are omitted and a pre-drilled hole is made in the rock.

3. A fence post support as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 with various sockets fixed to the top thereof with a stop near the bottom of the tube which is pointed.

-4. A fence post support as claimed in Claim 2 and Claim 3 wherein the use of the drive rods to form a pre-drilled pilot hole displaces or breaks up any obstructions such as stones and greatly assists in preventing the post support from being deflected when it is being installed.

5. A fence post support as claimed in Claim 3 and Claim 4 wherein a post support when installed, can resist considerable horizontal forces applied at right angles to the vertical axis of the support in any direction due to the passive pressure developed in the surrounding soil acting against the fins when these are used and restraint by the surrounding rock when used without fins in this material.

6. A fence post support as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the drive rods are inserted in the tube resting against the stop and the support is driven manually or by a power driven tool using the pre-drilled pilot hole as a guide to enable the support to be located accurately.

7. R fence post support as claimed in Claim 5 and Claim 6 wherein the kinetic energy needed to drive the support into the ground is applied near the bottom of the tube and enables the support to be located with much greater accuracy and efficiency than when it is applied to the top of the tube.

8. n fence post support as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the socket attached to the top of the tube enables timber fence posts to be driven into it fixing the post firmly at the bottom when the support has been driven into the ground.

9. R fence post support substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 - 30 of the accompanying drawings.