IES86554B2 - A steadying device for steadying a member being driven into a substrate - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a steadying device for steadying a member such as a wooden or metal stake/pole being driven into a substrate such as the ground, the device comprising an engagement element adapted for releasable engagement with the member, and a handle extending from the engagement element and secured to the engagement element via a shock isolating coupling adapted to reduce the transmission of impact shock from the engagement element to the handle, in particular as the engagement element is struck by a tool such as a hammer or the like. <Figure 1>

Description

A steadying device for steadying a member being driven into a substrate Field of the invention 5 This invention relates to a device for steadying a member being driven into the ground or a wall, and in particular a device that is adapted to be located over an upper free end of a stake or similar member, allowing the stake to be steadied which being driven into the ground.

Background of the invention When driving items into a substrate, for example elongate posts, poles, pegs, etc. into the ground, it is conventional for the operation to be carried out by at least two people. One person is tasked with holding the post in an upright position at the desired location, while the other person will then strike the top of the post with a sledge hammer or the like in order to drive the post downwardly into the ground. This is a dangerous undertaking, in particular for the person holding the post in position, as they are at significant risk of being hit by the sledgehammer, both in the event that the other person misses the post or simply if the hammer is deflected off the post after a successful strike.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned problems of the prior art.

Summary of the invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a steadying device for steadying a member being driven into a substrate, the device comprising an engagement element adapted for releasable engagement with the member; a handle extending from the engagement element and secured to the engagement element via a shock isolating coupling adapted to reduce the transmission of impact shock from the engagement element to the handle.

Preferably, the shock isolating coupling comprises a mounting bracket slidably mounted on the engagement element.

Preferably, the engagement element defines a central axis that in use extends parallel with a longitudinal central axis of the member, and the mounting bracket is slidable on the engagement element in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. $86554 Preferably, the steadying device comprises at least one travel limiter adapted to limit displacement of the mounting bracket relative to the engagement element.

Preferably, the travel limiter is adapted to limit the travel of the mounting bracket relative to the engagement element in two directions along the longitudinal axis.

Preferably, the engagement element comprises a cylinder having an open end and a closed end.

Preferably, the closed end is defined by an abutment element.

Preferably, the abutment element comprises at least part of the travel limiter.

Preferably, the cylinder comprises a cylindrical sidewall about which the mounting bracket is located and slidable thereabouts.

Preferably, the mounting bracket fully circumscribes the cylindrical sidewall.

Preferably, the abutment element comprises an end plate that defines and closes the enclosed end of the cylinder.

Preferably, the end plate extends radially outwardly beyond the cylindrical sidewall.

Preferably, the travel limiter comprises at least one protrusion on an exterior surface of the engagement element.

Preferably, at least one protrusion comprises a portion of the cylindrical sidewall that has been deformed outwardly.

Preferably, the handle comprises an elongate shaft extending from the mounting bracket.

Preferably, the handle comprises a handgrip disposed about a free end of the elongate shaft.

Preferably, the handgrip comprises a shock absorbing material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for driving a member into a substrate, the method comprising the steps of providing a steadying device according to a first aspect of the invention; engaging the engagement element with the member; retaining the member steady and substantially aligned with the direction in which the member is to be driven into the substrate by holding the steadying device by the handie; and impacting the engagement eiement with an impact driving means such as to drive the memory into the substrate.

Brief description of the drawings An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of a steadying device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a side elevation of the steadying device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a sectioned side elevation of the steadying device along the line XX shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates a sectioned plan view of the steadying device; and Figure 5 illustrates a front elevation of the steadying device.

Detailed description of the drawings Referring now to the accompanying drawings there is illustrated a steadying device according to the present invention, generally indicated as 10, for use in steadying a member such as a S (partially shown in outline in Figure 2) or the like that is to be driven into a substrate such as the ground, a wall or similar. In particular the steadying device 10 is suitable for use in steadying a stake S of the type used in the construction of fencing, during driving of the stake S into the ground by an impact driving means such as, for example, a sledge hammer (not shown) or the like.

The steadying device 10 comprises an engagement element 12 which is shaped and dimensioned for reieasabiy engaging the stake S or other member about an upper free end of the stake S. The engagement element 12 is, in the embodiment illustrated, cylindrical in form and of square cross section in order to closely correspond to the cross sectional shape of the stake S to be driven into the ground. It will therefore be appreciated that the engagement element 12 may be of any other cross sectional shape, for example having a circular cross section. The engagement element 12 is also dimensioned to fit over the upper free end of the stake S, and to preferably have a reasonably snug fit therewith in order to minimise unnecessary movement between the engagement element 12 and the stake S when located thereon.

The engagement element 12 thus comprises a cylindrical sidewall 14 that in use circumscribes the upper free end of the stake S. The engagement element 12 further comprises an abutment element in the form of a cap 16 secured to an upper end of the sidewall 14, preferably by means of lines of fillet weld as described hereinafter, and thus defining a closed end 18 of the engagement element , opposite to an open end 20 via which the engagement element 12 may be slid over the upper free end of the stake S. Thus in use the engagement element 12 may be slid over the upper end of the stake S until the upper free end of the stake contacts the underside of the cap 16, thereby arresting the advance of the engagement element 12. The impact driving means, again for example a sledge hammer or the like, may then be utilised to impart impacts to the exterior or upper face of the cap 16, in order to drive the stake into the ground. Given the relatively harsh conditions that the steadying device 10 will be subjected to in use, at least the engagement element 12 and cap 16 are formed from metal or the like, for example steel. It will also be appreciated that the steadying device 10 may be provided in a number of different sizes in order to suit different applications. In some applications a material such as plastic may be of sufficient strength to form the engagement element 12 and/or the cap 16.

In order to allow a user to ho(d the engagement element 12 in position while impacting same with a sledge hammer or the like, and simultaneously isolate the user from these impacts, the steadying device 10 comprises a handle 22 which is secured to the engagement element 12 via a shock isolating mounting bracket 24. The mounting bracket 24 is adapted to isolate the handle 22, and therefore the user, from the impacts that will be experienced by the engagement element 12 during use. The mounting bracket 24 thus comprises an annular or cylindrical band which is shaped and dimensioned to circumscribe the cylindrical side wall 14 of the engagement element 12 and to have a close fit therewith while still permitting the mounting bracket 24 to slide longitudinally on the sidewall 14. The mounting bracket 24 thus serves as a means of holding the engagement element 12 while simultaneously allowing the engagement element 12 to move independently of the handle 22, thereby allowing the handle 22 to be isolated from impacts experienced by the engagement element 12, as described in more detail hereinafter.

In order to prevent separation of the mounting bracket 24 and engagement element 12 the steadying device 10 comprises a travel limiter in the form of a pair of abutments 26 projecting outwardly from the sidewall 14 at a position spaced below the mounting bracket 24 in the longitudinal direction.

Thus as the mounting bracket 24 slides downwardly towards the open end 20, the abutment 26 will be engaged by the lower edge of the mounting bracket 24, thus arresting the further downward displacement of the mounting bracket 24. It is to be understood that in the present context the term downwardly refers to travel of the mounting bracket 24 towards the open end 20. Similarly the cap 16 defining the closed end 18 forms a second travel limiter preventing the mounting bracket 24 from passing beyond the closed end 18. The cap 16 is therefore dimensioned to extend radially outwardly beyond the sidewall 14 in order to form an overhanging lip that will arrest the sliding mounting bracket 24.

The longitudinal spacing between the cap 16 and the protrusions 26 provide sufficient travel of the mounting bracket 24 along the sidewall 14 to accommodate significant movement of the stake S or other member to be driven, and in turn the engagement element 12 relative to the mounting bracket 24 during each impact, thereby preventing or significantly minimising the transmission of impact shock from the cap 16 to the handle 22. in the embodiment illustrated the pair of protrusions 26 are each formed by cutting an outline of the protrusion 26 into the sidewall 14, and then deforming the outlined area outwardly to form the protrusion 26. It will however be appreciated that the protrusion could be formed by any other suitable means. For example a line or spot of weld (not shown) could be provided on the exterior of the sidewall 14, at one or more locations, in order to form the protrusions.

To further isolate the user from impact shock the handle 22 is preferably provided with a handgrip 28 about the free end thereof, the grip 28 preferably being formed from a shock absorbing material such as rubber or the like. The handle 22 is provided, in the embodiment illustrated, as an elongate shaft such that a user, gripping the handgrip 28, will have their hand positioned a sufficient distance from the cap 16 to avoid any danger of a misdirected sledge hammer blow striking the hand of the user.

Thus in use, the stake S or other member is piaced on the ground, for example with a pointed lower end of the stake initially pressed into the ground in order to temporarily located and retain the stake S in position. The steadying device 10 is then located onto the stake S by sliding the open end 20 over the upper end of the stake S such that the upper end of the stake S is contained within the cavity defined by the sidewall 14. The handle 22, and particularly the handgrip 28, is then held by the user in order to steady the stake S, for example in a vertical orientation, it is then preferable that a second user operates the sledge hammer or other driving implement, by delivering blows from the sledge hammer onto the upper surface of the cap 16. These blows will thus incrementally drive the stake S into the ground or other substrate. Prior to contacting the cap 16 with the sledge hammer, the first user, by means the handle 22 slides the mounting bracket 24 towards the closed end 18 until it contacts the protrusions 26. Then during each blow of the sledge hammer the engagement element 12 is forced downwardly through the mounting bracket 24 until the mounting bracket 24 engages the cap 16, which is acting as the upper travel limiter. By the time the mounting bracket 24 has come into contact with the cap 16 the impact of the hammer blow on the cap 16 has been sufficiently dissipated in order to substantially isolate the user from the impact shock. in securing the engagement element 12 to the cap 16, in particular when the two components are formed from steel or other metal, welding the components together provides a relatively simply yet strong means of connection. The most obvious approach is to provide a seam of weld around the exterior upper end of the engagement element, at the interface with the cap 16. However it has surprisingly been found that this line of weld results in damage to the mounting bracket 24 as it strikes the weld seam during use. It is therefore preferred to avoid locating any lines of weld in the path of the mounting bracket 24. For this reason the cap 16 comprises a number of cut-outs or recesses 30, preferably one on each of the four sides, which serve to expose the upper end of the engagement element 12, thereby allowing a seam of weld 32 to be laid down between the upper end of the engagement element 12 and the cap 16 in each ofthe recesses 30. This serves to secure the cap 16 and engagement element 12 to one another while preventing damage to the mounting bracket 24 during use of the steadying device 10.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. A steadying device for steadying a member being driven into a substrate, the device comprising an engagement element adapted for releasable engagement with the member; a 5 handle extending from the engagement element and secured to the engagement eiement via a shock isolating coupling adapted to reduce the transmission of impact shock from the engagement element to the handle.

2. A steadying device according to claim 1 in which the shock isolating coupling comprises a 10 mounting bracket slidably mounted on the engagement eiement.

3. A steadying device according to claim 2 in which the engagement element defines a central axis that in use extends parallel with a longitudinal central axis of the member, and the mounting bracket is slidable on the engagement element in a direction substantially parallel 15 to the longitudinal axis.

4. A steadying device according to claim 2 or 3 in which the steadying device comprises at least one travel limiter adapted to limit displacement of the mounting bracket relative to the engagement element.

5. A method for driving a member into a substrate, the method comprising the steps of providing a steadying device according to a first aspect of the invention; engaging the engagement element with the member; retaining the member steady and substantially aligned with the direction in which the member is to be driven into the substrate by holding 25 the steadying device by the handie; and impacting the engagement eiement with an impact driving means such as to drive the memory into the substrate.