GB2580097A

GB2580097A - Post mounting assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2580097A
Application number: GB1820976.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Davies Simon
Original assignee: Protectapet Ltd
Current assignee: Protectapet Ltd
Priority date: 2018-12-21
Filing date: 2018-12-21
Publication date: 2020-07-15
Also published as: GB201820976D0

Abstract

A post mounting assembly including a ground engaging base formed of two pivotally connected parts 14 which are selectively pivotally movable to a coplanar alignment, wherein post engagement formations 24 are provided on each base part 14, the formations and base parts move to the closed coplanar alignment to engage with a post 12 to be mounted. The engagement formations may be located within a post or outside of a post when mounted. The pivotable connection may be may be provided by a pivotable connection (32 fig.5) between post engagement formations.

Description

Post Mounting Assembly This invention concerns a post mounting assembly, and particularly but not exclusively such an assembly usable for mounting posts on the ground, suitable for use with fencing.

It is often required to mount posts to the ground for instance in fencing structures, and conventionally the posts are inserted into dug holes in the ground and fixed with concrete. This is though not always possible, for 10 instance with hard ground or when mounting the posts on a concrete base.

One method used when holes cannot be dug, is to weld a plate to the bottom of the post. Other methods involve the use of screws or other fastening means, and may therefore require the use of such tools in sometimes difficult to access locations. Furthermore with such systems it is also often necessary to align mounting holes in a post and base, which can sometimes be quite difficult and problematic.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a post mounting assembly, the assembly including a ground engaging base formed of two pivotally connected parts which are selectively pivotally movable to a substantially coplanar closed alignment, post engagement formations are provided on each base part which formations are movable as the base pads are moved towards the closed alignment, to engage with a post to mount the post on the assembly.

In one configuration the post engagement formations are located in use within a post, and are movable to engage against the interior of the post as the base parts are moved towards the closed alignment.

The post engagement formations may be upstanding from the base part, and may be configured so as to be fully upstanding when the base is in the closed alignment.

The post engagement formations may be pivotally interconnected so as to provide the pivotal connection of the base parts.

Identical post engagement formations may be provided on each base part, and the pivotal connection on each post engagement formation may be offset.

The post engagement formations may be substantially n shaped in plan view, with the side limbs of the n pointing inwardly towards the other base plate The post engagement formations may be mountable to the base plates by tabs on the underside of the post engagement formations locating in corresponding openings in the base parts.

Mounting holes may be provided in the base parts to permit mounting of the base on the ground.

In a second configuration the post engagement formations are engageable in use against the outside of a post.

The post engagement formations on each base part may extend to above the other base part when the base parts are in a closed alignment.

The post engagement formations may each comprise a first part 30 mounted to a respective one of the base parts, and a second part extending over the other base part to engage against the outside of a post above the other base part.

The post engagement formations may be substantially n shaped in plan view, with the side limbs of the n pointing inwardly towards the other base plate, and the post engagement formations may be configured in the closed alignment to engage together to enclose a rectangular cross section volume which can locate the lower end of a post.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a first post mounting assembly according to the invention in a closed alignment; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic end view of the assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective side view of the post of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4 but with the assembly moving towards the closed alignment; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view from above showing a post being mounted on the assembly; Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 6 with the post mounted on the assembly; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of part of the assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a similar view to Fig. 8 but as an exploded view; Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic side view of a second post mounting assembly according to the invention; Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic end view of the assembly of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic plan view of the assembly of Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view from above of the assembly of Fig. 10 moving to a closed alignment; Fig. 14 is a similar view to Fig. 13 but in a closed alignment; Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic perspective view from above of a post being mounted to the assembly of Fig. 10; Fig. 16 is a similar view to Fig. 15 but with the post mounted to the assembly of Fig. 10; and Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic perspective view of part of the assembly of Fig. 10; Figs. 1 to 9 show a first post mounting assembly 10 for mounting a hollow post 12 to the ground. The assembly 10 includes two identical base parts 14, with an identical post engagement part 16 extending from each of the base parts. The post engagement parts 16 are pivotally interconnected to pivotally interconnect the base parts 14 such that the base parts can be moved to and from a substantially coplanar closed alignment as shown for example in Fig. 1.

Each base part is rectangular in plan view with a mounting hole 18 adjacent each of two outer corners 20. The base parts 14 are engageable together along an inner edge 22 to define a substantially square base as shown for example in Fig. 3, with a mounting hole 18 at each corner.

Each post engagement part 16 comprises a length of channel section 24 in the form of a shallow n facing inwardly and spaced inwardly from the inner edge 22 of the base part 14. A respective linking finger 28 extends inwardly from lower end of each channel section 24 to extend over the other base pad 14, and a joining hole 30 is provided through the linking finger 28 towards the distal end thereof, such that the joining holes 30 overlie the inner edges 22 of the respective base parts 14.

The linking finger 28 is mounted offset towards one side of the channel section 24 such that when two base pads 14 are brought together the respective linking fingers 28 will lie adjacent each other with the joining holes 30 aligned. An appropriate nut and bolt fastening arrangement 32 is provided to pivotally mount together two linking fingers 28 and hence two base parts 14 at respective post engagement formations. This means that the base parts 14 can be pivotally moved to a coplanar closed alignment, but the base parts 14 can be pivotally inclined towards each other as shown in Fig. 5 and 6. As can be seen tabs 34 are provided on the underside of the sides and web of the channel sections 24 which engage in appropriately configured openings 36 in the base parts 14. A similar tab can also be provided on the underside of the linking finger with a corresponding opening in the base part 14. A tab 38 is provided on the proximal end of the linking finger 28 engageable in an opening 40 in the web of the channel section 24. This means that the post engagement parts 16 can readily be constructed, and the parts can be mounted together for instance by welding.

In use as shown for example in Fig. 6, the base parts 14 will be inclined 30 gently towards each other such that the upper ends of the channel sections 24 are moved towards each other. A hollow post 12 can then be lowered onto the post engagement part 16 with the channel sections 24 within the post 12, to abut against the base parts 14. Once in this position the base parts 14 can be moved to the closed alignment as shown in Fig. 7, and the post engagement channel sections 24 will engage against the interior of the post 12 to mount the post 12 to the assembly 10. Appropriate bolts 42 can be provided on the assembly 10 extending through the mounting holes 18 in each corner to mount the assembly 10 to the ground.

This means that parts of the assembly 10 can be interconnected initially and then the assembly located on the ground and a post 12 readily mounted on the assembly 10, without requiring any fastening means to extend between the assembly 10 and the post 12, nor require for instance the alignment of any holes in the assembly 10 and the post 12. The assembly 10 can readily be mounted to the ground, and for instance on hard ground such as a concrete base, by the bolts 42 passing through the holes 18 in the base plate into the ground. This therefore provides a significantly more straightforward and easy to use post mounting arrangement, than previously.

Figs. 10 to 17 show a second post mounting assembly 50, which is engageable on the outside of a post 52, which post 52 could for example be solid. The assembly 50 again comprises two similar rectangular base parts 54 which together form a square base, each with an upstanding post engagement formation 56. In this instance though the post engagement formations 56 each comprise a pair of spaced generally J shaped members 58 with a distal part 60 of the base of the J mounted adjacent an inner edge 62 of one of the base parts 54, with the remainder of the J extending above the other base part 54.

Joining holes 64 are provided in each of the J shaped members 58 extending above the inner edges 62 of the respective base parts 54. A cross 30 member 66 extends between the stems of the J shaped members 58. This means that in practice each post engagement formation 56 defines in plan view an n shape above the other base part 54 to that which the J shaped member 58 is mounted.

The J shape members 58 on each base part 54 are provided facing 5 each other with respective J shaped members 58 adjacent each other such that appropriate nut and bolt fastening arrangements 66 can be provided engaging through respective aligned jointing holes 64 on each respective pair of adjacent J shaped members 58. This again pivotally interconnects the base parts 54. In plan view the two post engagement formations 56 define a 10 closed square space 68 when the base parts 54 are in a closed alignment.

As can be seen in Figs. 13 and 15, if the base parts 54 are inclined towards each other this opens out the square space 68 such that a post 52 can be inserted into the space 68 defined by the two post engagement formations 56. As the base parts 54 are moved to the closed alignment, this will urge the post engagement formations 56 onto the post 52 thereby mounting the post 52 to the assembly 50. The assembly 50 can be mounted on the ground again by bolts 70 engaging through mounting holes 72 provided adjacent the outer corners of each base part 54.

There is thus described a further post mounting assembly which again readily permits a post, which in this instance could be solid, to be mounted to hard ground such as a concrete base, just requiring the fixing of bolts to the ground, extending through the mounting holes on the base plate.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example profiled surfaces and/or additional materials such as for instance rubber or plastics inserts, can be provided on respective parts of the post engagement formations to engage with posts. Different fastenings can be used. The post engagement formations may have a different profile, or be made differently.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A post mounting assembly, the assembly including a ground engaging base formed of two pivotally connected parts which are selectively pivotally movable to a substantially coplanar closed alignment; wherein post engagement formations are provided on each base part, which formations are movable as the base parts are moved towards the closed alignment, to engage with a post to mount the post on the assembly.
2. A post mounting assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the post engagement formations are located in use within a post, and are movable to engage against the interior of the post as the base parts are moved towards the closed alignment.r 15
3. A post mounting assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein C\I the post engagement formations are upstanding from the base part.O
4. A post mounting assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the post C\I engagement formations are configured so as to be fully upstanding when the base is in the closed alignment.
5. A post mounting assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the post engagement formations are pivotally interconnected so as to provide the pivotal connection of the base pads.
6. A post mounting assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein identical post engagement formations are provided on each base part.
7. A post mounting assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pivotal connection on each post engagement formation is offset.
8. A post mounting assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the post engagement formations are substantially n shaped in plan view, with the side limbs of the n pointing inwardly towards the other base plate.
9. A post mounting assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the post engagement formations are mountable to the base plates by tabs on the underside of the post engagement formations locating in corresponding openings in the base parts.
10. A post mounting assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein mounting holes are provided in the base parts to permit mounting of the base on the ground.
11. A post mounting assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the post r 15 engagement formations are engageable in use against the outside of a post.
12. A post mounting assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the post engagement formations on each base part extend to above the other base part C\I when the base parts are in a closed alignment.
13. A post mounting assembly as claimed in any of claims 11 to 12, wherein the post engagement formations each comprise a first part mounted to a respective one of the base parts, and a second part extending over the other base part to engage against the outside of a post above the other base part.
14. A post mounting assembly as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the post engagement formations are substantially n shaped in plan view, with the side limbs of the n pointing inwardly towards the other base plate.
15. A post mounting assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the post engagement formations are configured in the closed alignment to engage together to enclose a rectangular cross section volume which can locate the lower end of a post.