GB2353808A

GB2353808A - Tubular plastic base for square section post

Info

Publication number: GB2353808A
Application number: GB0015435A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Staunton Norris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-23
Filing date: 2000-06-23
Publication date: 2001-03-07
Also published as: GB0015435D0

Abstract

A reusable plastic base comprising a tubular plastic body or socket 10 with a sealed bottom 11 and four detachable inserts 12. The inserts fit into the body around a post to hold it in a secure erect position. The tubular plastic body 10 is held in place by embedding it in concrete. The inserts 12 may have a half-round side, which abuts the inside of the body, and a straight side, to form a square aperture, so that a square post can be secured in the tubular body. The inserts may be withdrawn to free the post allowing it to be removed. The tubular body and the inserts may be of various sizes in order to accommodate different widths of square section posts. The inserts may have a lip at the top to form a cap around the rim of the tubular body. The tubular body may allow the post to be rotated to enable the post to be aligned before securing with the inserts.

Description

REUSABLE PLASTIC BASE This invention relates to a reusable plastic base

for square section fencing posts.

Square section fencing posts are usually erected by embedding the base of the post in the ground in concrete.

This method is expensive in that the posts decay or break at a point just above the concrete requiring the concrete around the post stump to be broken up to remove the stump before a new post can be erected. Other methods of erecting posts use metal sections driven into the ground, these are subject to movement in the ground and being metal can become corroded.

According to the present invention, there is provided a reusable base comprising of a tubular plastic body with a sealed cap at the bottom end, and four removable plastic inserts. The tubular body is to be embedded in concrete in the ground up to the top rim, to erect a fencing post simply lower the base of the post into the tubular body slotting in the four plastic inserts around the post, with the halfiround side of the inserts fitting into the contour of the body keeping the post in a secure releasable erect position, the lip at the top of each insert forming a scaled cap.

To remove a post withdraw plastic inserts and the post is free to be withdrawn.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 shows in perspective, a cut away view of the reusable plastic base showing two of the inserts in position in relation to the plastic tubular body, and also in relation to a prospective post. The position of the post is shown by dotted lines on the drawing, (the post is not part of the invention).

Figure 2 shows one of a set of four inserts illustrating the lip at the top.

Figure 3 shows a cut away section as viewed from the top showing the halfround side of the inserts in relation to the contour of the inside of the body and the flat sides forming a square aperture for a prospective post.

Figure 4 shows four inserts as viewed from the top with the lips forming a sealed cap over the rim of the tubular body, Figure 5 shows a cut away view of the tubular body with the inserts in position and their relationship to each other.

Referring to the drawings a reusable plastic base comprises of a plastic tubular body 10 with scaled bottomed cap 11 and four detachable plastic inserts 12 with a lip at the top of each which forms a sealed cap around the rim of the body when in position.

With the body embedded in concrete in the ground, to erect a fencing post simply place the base of the post into the tubular body and slot in the four detachable inserts around the base of the post in the tubular body pushing them down to the bottom maldng the post releasably secure in the body.

To remove a fencing post from the base gently prise out one insert, this will loosen the post enabling the post to be withdrawn from the base, the remaining inserts can now be removed from the base ready for the reerection of the post or a new post.

The reusable base removes the necessity of digging up the concrete around a post that has been concreted directly into the ground.

L

Claims

1. A reusable plastic base comprising a tubular plastic body with a sealed bottom and four detachable inserts the inserts fit in to the body and around a post holding it in an erect secure position the tubular plastic body held in place by embedding the body in the ground in concrete up to the rim of the body.

2. A reusable plastic base as claimed in Claim 1 wherein all that is necessary to remove a post for maintenance or replacement is to withdraw the four inserts freeing the post allowing it to be removed from the base without disturbing the base or surrounding concrete.

3. A reusable plastic base as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the base being wholly constructed of plastic is rot proof and is free of corrosion.

4. A reusable plastic base as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the tubular body allows the post to be turned in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction to enable the post to be lined up With other posts in the fencing complex before securing with the four inserts.

5. A reusable plastic base as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the plastic tubular body and the inserts can be manufactured in various sizes to accommodate different widths of square section fencing posts.

6. A reusable plastic base substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawings.