GB2322877A

GB2322877A - Post support

Info

Publication number: GB2322877A
Application number: GB9704800A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivan Patrick Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-03-07
Filing date: 1997-03-07
Publication date: 1998-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2017-03-07
Also published as: GB2322877B; GB9704800D0

Abstract

A post support comprising an elongate ground engaging end (36) capable of being driven into the ground and a post receiving portion (34). The ground engaging portion is fabricated from a single plate and comprises a main blade (52) having a pair of substantially parallel and oppositely disposed wings (54,56) integrally connected together by blade (52) so that the ground engaging portion is, over a portion of its length, substantially Z -shaped in cross - section.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN POST SUPPORTS This invention relates to a post support of the type used for receiving posts for supporting fencing or the like and which can also be used as means for anchoring structures to the ground.

Examples of known post supports for like purposes are disclosed in GB 1 461 802 and in GB 2 152 550 and comprise a post receiving box section and an elongate ground engaging portion or spike.

In the known constructions, the ground engaging portion is of saltire or trifid cross section which is formed by securing two or more separate tapered plates together, usually by welding, to form a spike which tapers to a point at one end to facilitate the ground engaging portion being driven into the ground. A separate post receiving box section, which may not comprise a single piece, is then secured, also usually by welding, to the non-tapered end ofthe spike.

Thus, a series of assembly and welding operations are required to produce the complete post support which has an adverse effect on the cost of the device.

The present invention seeks to simplify the construction and manufacture of such post supports by providing a spike which is formed from a single metal plate and uses less material.

Indeed, in one embodiment of the invention, the whole post is formed from a single metal plate whereby the post receiving box section and the ground engaging end are integrally formed together.

One aspect of the present invention provides a post support comprising an elongate ground engaging end capable of being driven into the ground and a post receiving portion at one end of the ground engaging portion wherein the ground engaging portion is fabricated from a single plate.

According to a feature of this aspect of the invention, the ground engaging portion may comprise a pair of substantially parallel wings integrally connected together by a main blade.

Preferably, the ground engaging portion is, over a portion of its length, substantially 'Z' shaped in cross-section.

According to another feature of this aspect of the invention, each wing may taper downwardly towards a tip of the main blade and the blade may taper to a point from the tapered ends of the wings. Preferably, the wings extend from opposed substantially parallel side edges of the main blade throughout their lengths.

According to a further feature of this aspect of the invention, the main blade may be formed with a longitudinal strengthening rib.

According to a still further feature of this aspect of the invention, the post receiving portion may be formed integrally with said ground engaging portion from the said single plate.

Preferably, the single plate is of substantially triangular form and is cut and folded to form the post support and the post receiving portion is welded at diagonally opposed corners thereof.

Another aspect of the invention provides a post support comprising an elongate ground engaging end and a post receiving portion integrally formed together from a single plate, the said ground engaging portion including a main blade and a pair of substantially parallel wings, the wings extending downwardly along opposite edges of the main blade and each providing one of an opposed pair of side walls of the post receiving portion.

Yet another aspect of the invention provides a ground engaging portion of a post support comprising a main blade tapered at one of its ends and a pair of wings extending from opposed edges of the blade, the blade and the wings being formed integrally so that the ground engaging portion is substantially 'Z' shaped in cross-section over a part of its length.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a post support according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure la is a perspective view ofthe ground engaging spike and the post receiving box ofthe post support shown in Figure 1 with the box and spike separated; Figure ib is a top plan view ofthe post support of Figure la; Figure ic is a sketch of a blank sheet of metal for forming the ground engaging spike; Figure id is a sketch of a length of metal stock from which blanks of the type shown in Figure lc are struck; Figure 2 is a sketch of a blank sheet of metal for integrally forming both the ground engaging spike and the post receiving box of a post support according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective sketch of the top end of a post support formed from a blank according to Figure 2 shown before the post receiving box is completed; and Figure 4 is a top plan view of the post support of Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 1 to id, a post support P according to one embodiment of the invention comprises an elongate ground engaging portion formed to provide a spike 10, and a post receiving box section 12 mounted atop the spike.

The spike is fabricated from a single blank 14 of metal of generally triangular form which can be struck from a stock of eg. steel sheet 16 in the manner shown in Figure id to minimise wastage. The blank 14 is then pressed to form the spike such that it has a main blade 18 which tapers downwardly to a point and a pair of integral oppositely disposed wings 20 and 22 respectively. Each of the wings depends from one of two opposite parallel side edges 24, 26 of the main blade and tapers downwardly from the top of the spike to terminate at a location at which the edges 24, 26 of the blade start to converge.

The spike is, therefore, of 'Z' shaped cross-section over the upper part of its longitudinal extent. Preferably, the main blade is formed with an integral central longitudinal strengthening rib 28 which in this embodiment is of triangular cross-section. To complete the post support, a post receiving box section 12 comprises two like channel shaped components which are secured together and to the upper edges of the wings of the spike. The width of each of the wings is similar to a side wall of the box section 12. A pair of screw clamps 30 or other clamping means are provided by the box section to hold a post fast in the box section.

Where necessary, the lower end of the box section adjacent the spike may be partially or completely closed by a plate (not shown) to prevent the post support from sinking too far into the ground.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, there is shown a further metal blank 32 of generally triangular configuration which is adapted to form a post support in which the post receiving box section 34 (Figures 3 and 4) and the spike 36 are integral. The blank parts 38, 40 and 42 are scraped out, the blank then press formed to fold along fold lines 44-50 to fabricate the main blade 52 between fold lines 46 and 48 combined wing and box section side walls 54 and 56 between fold lines 44, 46 and 48, 50 respectively and box section side walls 50 and 60. The central longitudinal rib 62 is also formed by pressing the metal along fold lines 64, 66 and 68 to create a raised channel of triangular cross-section.

Thus, upper parts 54a, 56a ofthe wings 54 and 56 respectively, form two opposite side walls of the box section while the other opposed side walls are provided by panels 58 and 60 respectively.

The folding arrangement is shown in Figure 3 and it will be seen that in order to complete the post support after a multiple folding operation, it is necessary simply to secure the free edges 58a and 60a of side wall 58 and 60 respectively, to the adjacent side walls by welds W.

The scraped out panel 40 may be used as a base of the post receiving box section if desired.

Platforms 70 to receive the base of a post may be displaced inwardly of the side walls of the box section and, likewise, barbs 72 may be formed in the side walls to be hammered into the post once fitted into the box section.

Claims

1. A post support comprising an elongate ground engaging end capable of being driven into the ground and a post receiving portion at one end of the ground engaging portion wherein the ground engaging portion is fabricated from a single plate.

2. A post support according to claim 1 wherein the ground engaging portion comprises a pair of substantially parallel wings integrally connected together by a main blade.

3. A post support according to claim 2 wherein the ground engaging portion is, over a portion of its length, substantially 'Z' shaped in cross-section.

4. A post support according to claim 2 wherein each wing tapers downwardly towards a tip of the main blade and wherein the blade tapers to a point from the tapered ends of the wings.

5. A post support according to claim 4 wherein the wings extend from opposed substantially parallel side edges of the main blade throughout their lengths.

6. A post support according to any of claims 2 to 5 wherein the main blade is formed with a longitudinal strengthening rib.

7. A post support according to any of the preceding claims wherein the post receiving portion is formed integrally with said ground engaging portion from the said single plate.

8. A post support according to claim 7 wherein the single plate is of substantially triangular form and which is cut and folded to form the post support and the post receiving portion welded at diagonally opposed corners thereof.

9. A post support comprising an elongate ground engaging end and a post receiving portion integrally formed together from a single plate, the said ground engaging portion including a main blade and a pair of substantially parallel wings, the wings extending downwardly along opposite edges of the main blade and each providing one of an opposed paid of side walls of the post receiving portion.

10. A ground engaging portion of a post support comprises a main blade tapered at one of its ends and a pair of wings extending from opposed edges of the blade, the blade and the wings being formed integrally so that the ground engaging portion is substantially 'Z' shaped in cross section over a part of its length.