GB2327225A

GB2327225A - Preserving wooden posts for fencing and the like.

Info

Publication number: GB2327225A
Application number: GB9714620A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Gary Frank Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-07-14
Filing date: 1997-07-14
Publication date: 1999-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 2017-07-14
Also published as: GB9714620D0; GB2327225B

Abstract

A fencing accessory for a wooden post (34) which is to implanted in the ground (36) is arranged to fit the base of the post, to be implanted in the ground with the post and to provide a means (38) for introducing wood preserving liquid (40) to the surface of the implanted base of the post after the post has been implanted. The accessory comprises a sleeve (12) arranged to be fitted around the base of the post, the sleeve having at least one inwardly facing channel (20, 24) which, with the post, provides a passageway or reservoir for the wood preserving liquid, the channel leading to an inlet (38) above the ground once the post has been implanted for the introduction of wood preserving liquid.

Description

IlILE PRESERVING WOODEN POSTS FOR FENCING AND THE LIKE DESCRIPTION This invention is concerned with preserving wooden posts for fencing and the like and in particular relates to a fencing accessory for such wooden posts, a method of implanting such wooden posts in the ground, and a wooden post which has been implanted in the ground.

In this specification, references to the accessory being a "fencing" accessory and references to "fencing" do not limit the invention to being for use with fences and fence posts, and it is equally applicable to, for example, gate posts, posts used for pergolas and the like, and so on.

Traditionally, such wooden posts are implanted in the ground either by driving them downwardly into the ground, or by digging a hole, putting the post in position, and then refilling the hole, for example with earth or concrete. Because the base of the post is situated below ground, it is prone to moisture attack, which causes the wood to deteriorate or rot. The post is thus weakened and may break at its base. The post then needs to be replaced or special fixing device needs to be used, both of which can take considerable time and money. The base of the post may be treated before it is implanted, for example by steeping it in proprietary wood preserving liquid, creosote or old sump oil, and this will serve to increase the life of the post to some extent.

In order to deal with the problems mentioned above, it is known to provide a fencing accessory which comprises a long metal spike which is driven into the ground and an upper socket which is intended to remain above ground level and into which the base of the post is fitted. Such accessories are expensive. If they are made of mild steel or the like, they will eventually rust away. If they are made of a non-rusting metal, then the expense increases. Typically, such accessories do not providing as sturdy a fixing as implanting the post into concrete below the ground.

A first aspect of the present invention is concerned with tackling the problem of rotting.

In accordance with the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a fencing accessory for a wooden post which is to implanted in the ground, the accessory being arranged to fit the base of the post, to be implanted in the ground with the post and to provide a means for introducing wood preserving liquid to the surface of the implanted base of the post after the post has been implanted. Accordingly, the base of the post can be re-treated, for example perhaps once per year.

A subsidiary feature of this aspect of the invention is concerned with providing a cheap and sturdy fixing of such posts. To this end, the accessory preferably comprises a sleeve arranged to be fitted around the base of the post, the sleeve having at least one inwardly facing channel which, with the post, provides a passageway or reservoir for wood preserving liquid, the channel leading to an inlet which is above the ground once the post has been implanted for the introduction of wood preserving liquid.

Preferably, the sleeve has a closed end to extend across the bottom of the post, and the channel, or at least one of the channels, may be provided in the closed end.

In one embodiment, the sleeve has a plurality of such channels which are annular, and at least one channel interconnecting the annular channels. In another embodiment, the channel, or at least one of the channels is spiral shaped, extending around and along the sleeve.

The accessory preferably further includes means for closing the inlet to protect it from the elements and keep dirt, insects and the like out of the channel(s).

Preferably, the sleeve is flexible so that the pressure of the ground can urge portions of the sleeve against the base of the post when the base of the post is being implanted in the ground. The sleeve is preferably formed of moulded plastics material.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wooden post which is implanted in the ground with such a fencing accessory fitted to the base of the post.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of implanting a wooden post in the ground, comprising the steps of: fitting such a fencing accessory to the base of the post; and implanting the base of the post with the accessory in the ground. The fencing accessory can then be used to introduce wood preserving liquid to the surface of the implanted base of the post after the post has been implanted.

Similarly to a conventional method, the implanting step may comprise the steps of: placing the base of the post with the accessory in a hole in the ground; and filling the hole with concrete or a like material.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectioned side view of a fencing accessory, using the section plane I-I shown in figure 3; Figure 2 is a sectioned side view of the fencing accessory, using the section plane II-II shown in figure 3; Figure 3 is a plan view in the direction III shown in figure 1; Figure 4 is similar to figure 1, but with a fence post in place and buried in concrete; and Figure 5 is a partial side view in the direction V shown in figure 1 of a modification to part of the accessory.

Referring to figures 1 to 3, the fencing accessory 10 is formed of moulded plastics material, for example by blow moulding, about 1 mm thick and is in the form of a sleeve 12 having an open upper end 14 and a closed bottom end 16. As shown particularly in figure 3, the sleeve 12 has a generally square cross-section of an internal dimension which is slightly greater than the size of the post to be used. For example, a fencing post which has a nominal size of 3" x 3" typically has a cross-section of 74 mm x 74 mm, in which case the internal cross-section of the sleeve 12 may be chosen to be 76 mm x 76 mm.

The sidewall of the sleeve 12 is formed alternately by straight portions 18 and V-shaped channel portions 20 facing the inside of the sleeve. The lowermost 22 of these channel portions 20 has a half-V-shape. A further V-shaped channel portion 24 facing the inside of the sleeve extends longitudinally of the sleeve and interconnects the channel portions 20, 22. This longitudinal channel portion 24 projects upwardly beyond the open upper end 14 of the sleeve 12 and has a pair of fixing tabs 26. The closed bottom end 16 is formed with a series of V-shaped channel portions 28, which merge into the lowermost channel portion 22 in the sidewall of the sleeve 12.

The uppermost 30 of the straight portions 18 and also the fixing tabs 26 may be preformed with fixing holes 32, or these holes may be formed by the person erecting the post.

Referring to figure 4, in use, the base of the post 34 is inserted into the sleeve 12 so that the bottom of the post reaches the closed bottom end 16 of the sleeve 12, and then small galvanised nails are driven through the fixing holes 32 to hold the sleeve 12 temporarily in position. A hole is then dug in the ground for the post 34, and the post, complete with the sleeve 12 is temporarily held in position. Concrete 36 is then poured into the hole to a level just above the uppermost straight portion 30 but below the top of the interconnecting channel portion 24, and the concrete is allowed to set. Although the internal cross-sectional size of the sleeve 12 is slightly greater than the external cross-sectional size of the post 34, due to the flexibility of the material of the sleeve, the pressure of the concrete, before it has set, urges the straight portions 18 into firm contact with the surface of the post 34. Thus, once the concrete 36 has set, the post 34 is held firmly in place.

It will be appreciated that the channel portions 20 in combination with the post 34 form a series of passageways around the post 34, that the channel portions 28 in combination with the post 34 form a series of passageways across the bottom of the post 34 and joining the lowermost passageway around the post, and that the channel portion 24 in combination with the post 34 forms a vertical passageway interconnecting the other passageways and opening at an inlet 38 above the level of the concrete 36.

In order to treat the wood of the base of the post 34 with preserving liquid, the liquid is poured into the inlet 38 using a funnel or a top-up bottle with a flexible tubular spout until the level of the liquid 40 reaches, or nearly reaches, the inlet 38. A triangular cross-section plug 42 is then inserted into the inlet 38 to seal it. The channel portions 20, 22, 24, 28 therefore provide a reservoir for the wood preserving liquid 40, with the liquid being in contact with the majority of the surface area of the buried base of the post 34. The liquid 40 can therefore soak into the wood of the base of the post in the regions of the channel portions 20, 22, 24, 28, and from them soak into the wood in the regions of the straight portions 18, 30. The treatment can be repeated at regular intervals, for example each autumn.

Various modifications and developments may be made to the fencing accessory described above. For example, as shown in figure 5, the vertical channel portion 24 may extend upwardly only as far as the top of the uppermost straight portion 30. A separate element 42 is provided which has a lower, V-shaped portion 44 which fits into the top of the vertical channel portion 24, and an upper, V-shaped portion 46 which projects above the level of the concrete 36 and has a pair of fixing tabs 48 by which the element 24 may be nailed to the post 34. Especially in the case of the modified accessory shown in figure 5, but also in the case of the embodiment described with reference to figures 1 to 4, the sleeve 12 may be supplied of a predetermined length, and it may then be trimmed at the top to provide the required length.

Also, the accessory may be modified by omitting the closed bottom 10 and relying on the concrete 36 to trap the wood preserving liquid 40 at the bottom of the post 34.

Furthermore, the channel portions 20, 22, 24, 28 may have cross-sectional shapes other than a V-shape.

Moreover, rather than providing a plurality of channel portions 20 extending around the post 34, a single channel portion may be provided which spirals its way around and along the length of the sleeve 12. In this case, it may be possible to omit an interconnecting channel portion 24.

Claims

1. A fencing accessory for a wooden post which is to implanted in the ground, the accessory being arranged to fit the base of the post, to be implanted in the ground with the post and to provide a means for introducing wood preserving liquid to the surface of the implanted base of the post after the post has been implanted.

2. An accessory as claimed in claim 1, and comprising a sleeve arranged to be fitted around the base of the post, the sleeve having at least one inwardly facing channel which, with the post, provides a passageway or reservoir for wood preserving liquid, the channel leading to an inlet which is above the ground once the post has been implanted for the introduction of wood preserving liquid.

3. An accessory as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sleeve has a closed end to extend across the bottom of the post.

4. An accessory as claimed in claim 3, wherein the channel, or at least one of the channels, is provided in the closed end.

5. An accessory as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the sleeve has a plurality of such channels which are annular, and at least one channel interconnecting the annular channels.

6. An accessory as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the channel, or at least one of the channels is spiral shaped, extending around and along the sleeve.

7. An accessory as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6, further including means for closing the inlet.

8. An accessory as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the sleeve is flexible so that the pressure of the ground can urge portions of the sleeve against the base of the post when the base of the post is being implanted in the ground.

9. An accessory as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8, wherein the sleeve is formed of moulded plastics material.

10. A fencing accessory, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

11. A wooden post which is to implanted in the ground with a fencing accessory as claimed in any preceding claim fitted to the base of the post.

12. A method of implanting a wooden post in the ground, comprising the steps of: fitting a fencing accessory as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 to the base of the post; and implanting the base of the post with the accessory in the ground.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, further including the step of: using the fencing accessory to introduce wood preserving liquid to the surface of the implanted base of the post after the post has been implanted.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the implanting step comprises the steps of: placing the base of the post with the accessory in a hole in the ground; and filling the hole with concrete or a like material.

15. A method of implanting a wooden post in the ground, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.