Supports – Staff type – Ground inserted
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-10-30
King, Anita (Department: 3632)
Supports
Staff type
Ground inserted
C248S545000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308926
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to a post holder having a ground embedding spike and an upper bracket for receiving the base of a post. In particular, the present invention relates to an adjustable bracket on a post holder of the type described immediately above.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the past, the standard method of putting up a fence is to first mount the fence posts by embedding the base of the posts in concrete supports dug into the ground.
Recently fence posts mounts which spike into the ground have been made available eliminating the requirement for underground cement supports. These spikes include brackets which sit above ground level for receiving the bottom ends of the fence posts.
The known spike bracket, which has a metallic construction, is pre-shaped to generally match with the configuration of the fence post, e.g. a rectangular bracket for receiving a rectangular fence post. Again, the known bracket has a one piece construction open along one side for opening and closing the bracket around the fence post and then using adjustable tightening members typically nuts and bolts for closing the one open side of the bracket.
Often times there is a substantial discrepancy in the size of the fence post and the size of the opening formed by the bracket. This requires a substantial deformation of the one piece bracket at a single location, i.e. the one open side, in order to properly secure the bracket to the fence post. Typically, such deformation requires bending of the bracket and produces small area point contacts with the fence post. This results in a less then optimal securing action which may result in movement of the fence post under load.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides a post holder which has an upper bracket portion specifically designed to provide a very positive securing of the base of a post such as a fence post. This upper bracket portion is connected to a bottom spike portion which is to be embedded into a ground support for the post holder.
In accordance with the present invention, the bracket portion of the post holder has a base part secured to the spike, a first bracket part attached to the base part, and a second bracket part which is not attached to the base part but rather which is adjustably secured at spaced apart locations to the first bracket part.
As a result of the two piece construction of the bracket, i.e. as a result of it being formed by two bracket parts, one of which is freely adjustable, tightening of the bracket does not produce unwanted bending at a single location but rather causes movement of the entire freely movable bracket part. This in turn enables the bracket to accommodate for a substantial tolerance between its size and the size of the post. In addition, the provision of a freely movable bracket part produces substantial surface area contact between it and the post upon tightening of the bracket.
REFERENCES:
patent: 844726 (1907-02-01), Hunger
patent: 3817394 (1974-06-01), Saiki
patent: 4588157 (1986-05-01), Mills
patent: 4846499 (1989-07-01), Izumi et al.
patent: 4874149 (1989-10-01), Miceli
patent: 5709366 (1998-01-01), Speece
patent: 5884874 (1999-03-01), Speece et al.
patent: 6039298 (2000-03-01), Stier
King Anita
Royal Capital Stamping & Tooling Ltd.
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