GB2339217A

GB2339217A - Fence post socket

Info

Publication number: GB2339217A
Application number: GB9814417A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillip Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-07-06
Filing date: 1998-07-06
Publication date: 2000-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 2018-07-06
Also published as: GB9814417D0; GB2339217B

Description

2339217 FENCING POST SOCK This invention relates to improvements in

fencing post sockets.

Wooden fence posts, in the form of pointed stakes driven directly into the ground have a limited life, due to a tendency for the wood to decay when encased in wet soil, and also for the posts to work loose, or break off the thinner ends of the points. A number of solutions have been attempted, including bedding posts in concrete foundations, substituting concrete posts for wooden posts, or sealing the ends of posts in metal sockets provided with a point, in order to drive the post and socket together into the ground.

These alternatives are however expensive, and due to deterioration and damage to concrete, or corrosion of metal parts provide a product which is not, in relation to cost, proportionately significantly more durable than simple and relatively cheap wooden posts.

An object of this invention is to provide a means whereby the useful life of wooden fence posts may be significantly extended at a cost which is proportional to the gain in durability.

According to the invention this is achieved by providing a plastics socket, of the same configuration as the end of the fence post, which may receive or sheathe the end portion of the fence post. The invention also provides a post and socket combination achieved thereby.

-2 The post and socket combination may be driven directly into the ground, if pointed, using a mallet, alternatively a flat-tipped post and socket combination may be inserted into a pre-prepared post hole, in the ground or in a concrete base.

The socket may be provided with ribs on its external faces for keying with concrete into which the post and socket combination may be inserted when the concrete is uncured. Preferably the post and socket are a sealed unit, and a sealing bead may be incorporated around the upper rim of the socket to prevent access of water.

In an important preferred aspect of the invention, means are provided for ensuring that the end of the post within the socket is constantly provided with a supply of wood preservative, such as creosote or proprietary wood preservatives. This may be achieved by means of a receptacle for liquid preservative on the upper edge of the socket, and channels extending down the inner surface of the socket, to provide passages between the post and the socket for low volume, especially capillary flow. The preservative will tend to flow slowly down the channels into the base of the socket and provide a bath of preservative for the end of the post.

The preservative in the receptacle can be replenished from time to time, and the receptacle may have a flip-lid to prevent contamination but allow topping-up.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a post socket with an end part of a post inserted therein; Figure 2 is a side view of the socket of figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the socket and post combination of figure 1 on line 111-111 in figure 1; and Figure 4 is a sectional view of an upper end part of the post socket.

In accordance with the invention, a post socket 10 comprises a generally square cross-sectional, flat-ended, tube of a robust, preferably somewhat pliable, synthetic plastics material, such as heavy duty polyethylene or the like. The tube has four side walls 11, 12, 13 and 14 and a flat bottom end 15, and an open upper end, into which a flat ended wooden post 16 is inserted.

The walls of the tube have a plurality of keying ribs 17 formed thereon, for keying with concrete for example. The ribs 17 also provide a decorative finish.

A reservoir or receptacle 18 is located near the upper end of the socket 10, on wall 12. This has a spring loaded flip lid 19, and serves to hold a supply of wood preservative such as creosote. The receptacle 18 connects via a hole 20 with the interior of the socket, into grooves 21 formed on the inner surfaces of the walls. There are about 1 mm deep, and 5mm wide, allowing slow percolation of the preservative between the post and the side walls by capillary action. The system of grooves 21 comprises a major downwardly extending groove on each side wall, leading to the bottom of the socket, and at least two cross-wise extending grooves in each wall to ensure that liquid is supplied to all sides of the post. The grooves 21 are shown as broken lines in figure 1. An air vent 22 is provided from the top of the socket into the receptacle 18, for air displaced by filling the grooves with liquid.

The supply of preservative can be replenished as required.

A sealing bed 23 is provided about the top of the socket to seal with the post and prevent access by water.

The socket 10 may be used in a number of ways, e.g. by embedding the socket in fresh concrete bedding the socket and post as a unit in concrete; pre-digging or driving a post hole in earth and seating the socket and post combination in sequence, or together into the hole; and driving the socket and post combination into soft earth.

The socket may be formed to match the post in size and shape - for example be suitable for use with round stakes as well as square posts, or be pointed particularly when to be driven directly into soft earth. Any suitable plastics material may be used.

The keying ribs 17 may be different in pattern from that shown, for example chevron or herring bone.

The socket extends the life of wooden fencing posts by effectively preventing access of water to the wooden post due to the barrier provided by the walls of the socket. Where a supply of preservative, or a preservative bath, is provided in the socket, as in the preferred embodiment, the post is further protected and will be usable for considerably longer than unprotected posts, whether seated in earth or concrete.

The post and socket combination will normally be supplied as a pre assembled unit. If a post is broken, a replacement post can be fitted, and a new sealant bead installed.

Claims

-6CLAIMS

1 A fence post socket of synthetic plastics material of the same configuration as the end of a fence post to be received therein to thereby receive or sheathe the end portion of the fence post.

2. A fence post socket according to claim 1 wherein the socket is provided with ribs on its external surfaces for keying with concrete.

3. A fence post socket according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the socket comprises a sealing bead around the upper rim of the socket to sea[ with the post to prevent access of water into the socket.

4. A fence post socket according to any preceding claim comprising means for supplying wood preservative to the end of the post within the socket.

5. A fence post socket according to claim 4 wherein said means for supplying wood preservative comprises a receptacle for liquid preservative provided on the upper rim of the socket, and channels formed in and extending down the inner surface of the socket to provide passages between the post and the socket.

6. A fence post socket according to claim 5 wherein the receptacle has a flip-lid.

7. A fence post socket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.