POST SLEEVE ASSEMBLY

• US 20090320396A1
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knudsen N. Eric
• Original Assignee: Knudsen N. Eric
• Inventors: Knudsen, N. Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,011,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/297
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/627 self-righting after deflection or displacement
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/42 Foundations for poles, masts or chimneys sockets or holders for poles or masts per se E04H12/22
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 5/60 Piles with protecting cases
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/92 Protection against other undesired influences or dangers buildings providing protection against external dangers E04H9/00; shielding against dangerous radiation G21F
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/30 Columns; Pillars; Struts not designed for end loading E04C3/02; posts, masts, as independent structures E04H12/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 19/00 Other details of constructional parts for finishing work on buildings ladders, e.g. climbing irons, E06C9/04
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2215 driven into the ground ground anchors E02D5/80
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2269 in a socket
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2292 Holders used for protection, repair or reinforcement of the post or pole E04H12/2276 takes precedence

Abstract

A post sleeve includes a reinforced concrete body preformed around a liner that defines a cavity extending longitudinally within the body, sized to receive a post. Standoff ribs run lengthwise within the cavity and extend inward from inner walls of the cavity. A post in the cavity is supported laterally by the standoff ribs. Drain channels between the ribs permit water to flow past the post and exit the cavity via a lower aperture. A drain tube is coupled to the lower aperture, and extends downward where it is covered with gravel at the bottom of a post hole. Concrete is poured around the post sleeve in the hole. The cavity is adaptable to receive posts of varying sizes, and at various depths. A collar closes a space between the post and the top of the cavity, permitting air circulation within the cavity while shedding water and substantially preventing insects from entering the cavity.

Claims

1. A sleeve assembly for a post, comprising:

a body of a material that is substantially impervious to water;

a cavity extending longitudinally within the body;

an upper aperture extending in the body to a first end of the cavity;

a plurality of standoff elements extending inward from inner walls of the cavity, innermost surfaces of the plurality of standoff elements collectively defining, at a plurality of depths within the cavity, an inner space having dimensions of a selected size;

a lower aperture extending in the body to a second end of the cavity;

a plurality of drain channels within the cavity configured to permit fluid to flow through and exit the cavity via the lower aperture while an innermost surface of each of the standoff elements is in contact with a surface of a post positioned in the cavity; and

a first plurality of stops extending inward from the inner walls of the cavity without extending into the inner space, and having a bearing surface lying substantially in a first plane, the first plane lying perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cavity.

2. The sleeve assembly of claim 1, further comprising an identification plate coupled to the body.

3. The sleeve assembly of claim 1, further comprising a drain tube having first and second ends, the first end being coupled to the second aperture such that fluid exiting the cavity passes into the drain tube.

4. The sleeve assembly of claim 1, further comprising a socket positioned within the cavity and configured to receive a bottom end of a post of the selected size.

5. The sleeve assembly of claim 4 wherein the socket is one of a plurality of sockets positioned in the cavity near the second end thereof and arranged concentrically on a longitudinal axis of the body, each configured to receive a bottom end of a post.

6. The sleeve assembly of claim 5 wherein the plurality of drain channels includes a plurality of gutters extending across each of the plurality of sockets so as to permit a flow of fluid between the cavity and the second aperture regardless of the presence of a post in one of the sockets.

7. The sleeve assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a threaded aperture extending from an outer surface of the body to the cavity, and having a longitudinal axis lying perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cavity; and

a fastener having threads engaged by threads of the threaded aperture, the fastener substantially traversing the threaded aperture and being configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the threaded aperture.

8. The sleeve assembly of claim 1 wherein the body is of reinforced concrete.

9. The sleeve assembly of claim 8, further comprising a sleeve liner positioned within the body, inner surfaces of the sleeve liner substantially defining the inner surfaces of the cavity, including the pluralities of standoff elements and drain channels.

10. The sleeve assembly of claim 9 wherein the sleeve liner comprises two substantially identical liner sections of injected-molded plastic.

11. The sleeve assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner space collectively defined by the innermost surfaces of the plurality of standoff elements has substantially the lateral dimensions of a 4×

4 post extending longitudinally within the cavity.

12. The sleeve assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of standoff elements comprises a plurality of standoff ribs lying parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cavity and extending within the cavity of the body a majority of the length of the body.

13. The sleeve assembly of claim 12 wherein each of the first plurality of stops extends between a respective pair of standoff ribs.

14. The sleeve assembly of claim 13, comprising a plate having a plurality of tabs, each tab positioned to bear against the bearing surface of a respective one of the first plurality of stops when the plate is positioned in the cavity with a surface lying in the first plane.

15. The sleeve assembly of claim 14 wherein the plate includes an aperture sized and positioned to provide lateral support to a post that is smaller than the selected size, extending axially within the cavity and traversing the aperture.

16. The sleeve assembly of claim 14 wherein the plate includes a socket sized and positioned to receive a bottom end of a post that is smaller than the selected size, extending axially within the cavity.

17. The sleeve assembly of claim 1, comprising a second plurality of stops extending inward from the inner walls of the cavity without extending into the inner space, each having a bearing surface lying substantially in a second plane, the second plane lying parallel to and separated a selected distance from the first plane.

18. The sleeve assembly of claim 17, comprising a plate having a plurality of tabs each positioned to bear against the bearing surface of a respective one of the second plurality of stops when the stop plate is positioned in the cavity with a surface lying in the second plane.

19. The sleeve assembly of claim 17 wherein the selected distance is four inches.

20. The sleeve assembly of claim 1, comprising a rim extending around the upper aperture at a top end of the body and including an enlarged portion of the body, laterally.

21. The sleeve assembly of claim 20 wherein the rim includes decorative features formed thereon.

22. The sleeve assembly of claim 20 wherein the rim includes a legend identifying a manufacturer of the body.

23. The sleeve assembly of claim 1, comprising a collar including a portion sized to fit within the upper aperture.

24. The sleeve assembly of claim 23 wherein the collar includes a collar aperture sized to receive a post of the selected size, extending axially within the cavity.

25. The sleeve assembly of claim 23 wherein the collar includes a collar aperture sized to receive a post that is smaller than the selected size, extending axially within the cavity.

26. The sleeve assembly of claim 23 wherein the collar includes a plurality of spacing ribs extending between a lower surface of the collar and an upper surface of the body, the spacing ribs being sized to hold the collar a first selected distance above the body, and being spaced apart and having a second selected space between adjacent pairs of the spacing ribs.

27. A post sleeve, comprising:

an elongate body;

a cavity extending longitudinally within the body and configured to receive an end of a post therein; and

an identifier affixed to the body and uniquely differentiating the post sleeve from other post sleeves.

28. The post sleeve of claim 27 wherein the identifier is provided on a plate affixed to the body.

29. The post sleeve of claim 27 wherein the identifier comprises a serial number.

30. The post sleeve of claim 27 wherein the identifier is formed in the material of the body.

31. The post sleeve of claim 27 wherein the identifier is in a machine-readable form.

32. The post sleeve of claim 31 wherein the identifier comprises a bar code.

33. The post sleeve of claim 31 wherein the identifier comprises a radio-frequency identification tag.

34. A post sleeve, comprising:

an elongate body of preformed concrete;

a first aperture in a top surface of the body;

a cavity extending from the first aperture longitudinally within the body and configured to receive a post therein; and

an upper rim extending around the first aperture and having an upper surface sloping away from the aperture, outer transverse dimensions of the upper rim being greater than outer transverse dimensions of the body below the upper rim.

35. The post sleeve of claim 34 wherein the elongate body is of reinforced concrete having a psi rating of about 4,000 psi or greater.

36. The post sleeve of claim 34, further comprising a liner at least partially encapsulated by the elongate body, the cavity extending within the liner.

37. The post sleeve of claim 34, further comprising a second aperture in a bottom surface of the body and extending within the body to the cavity.

38. The post sleeve of claim 34, further comprising a socket within the cavity configured to receive a bottom end of a post positioned within the cavity.

39. The post sleeve of claim 34, further comprising a plurality of sockets within the cavity, each configured to receive a bottom end of a post of a different size.