Ground pocket support

• US 5,632,464 A
• Filed: 09/05/1995
• Issued: 05/27/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven C. Aberle
• Original Assignee: Steven C. Aberle
• Inventors: Aberle, Steven C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US08/523,347
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 248/530, 248/532, 248/533, 248/545, 248/156, 248/507, 52/165, 52/298
• US Class Current: 248/530
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/685 Subsoil means, e.g. foundations
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2269 in a socket

Abstract

A ground pocket support device is disclosed for removably mounting a post having variable cross-section shape and size. The ground pocket support device includes an elongate ground engaging member having upper and lower end portions. The member is adapted for placement in the ground and defines a hollow post-receiving portion for receiving and supporting a post in a substantially upright position. The ground engaging member further includes elongate wall members and a post wedging mechanism positioned toward the lower end portion for firmly engaging the lower end of a post inserted therewithin. A post-engaging member is disposed at the upper end portion of the ground engaging member. The post-engaging member includes members for removably anchoring a post inserted within the ground engaging member and for adjusting the vertical alignment of the post independent of the vertical alignment between the ground engaging member and the ground in which it is placed.

Claims

1. A ground pocket support device for removably mounting a post having variable cross-section shape and size, said pocket support device comprising;

an elongate ground engaging member having upper and lower end portions and adapted for placement in the ground, said ground engaging member defining a hollow post-receiving portion for receiving and supporting said post in a substantially upright position and including elongate wall members and post wedging means positioned toward said lower end portion for firmly engaging the lower end of a post inserted therewithin; and

a post-engaging member disposed at the upper end portion of said ground engaging member and including means for removably anchoring a post inserted within said ground engaging member and for adjusting the vertical alignment of said post independent of the vertical alignment between the ground engaging member and the ground in which it is placed.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ground engaging member has a rectangular cross-section.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ground engaging member has a square cross-section.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said wall members taper from said upper end portion to said lower end portion approximately 1°

-5°

from the vertical axis of said ground engaging member.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said post wedging means include a plurality of interior ledge members spaced about the inner surfaces of said wall members and adapted to engage the bottom surface of said post.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein each said spaced ledge member includes a plurality of progressively inwardly stepped sills from the interior of each said wall member interconnected by beveled surfaces to provide a plurality of wedged surfaces to receive post of variable width dimensions.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongate ground engaging member includes an exterior rim disposed about the lower potion thereof, said rim and the lower portions of said wall members being sized and shaped to engage an elongated extension member.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said post-engaging member comprises a top plate defining a central entry opening into said hollow post-receiving portion, said wall members depending from said top plate.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said anchoring means comprises a plurality of post retainer members spaced about said plate and said central entry opening and adapted for adjustable lateral movement toward and away from the axis of said opening.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein each said post retainer member is secured for transverse lateral movement for adjustably engaging the side surface of a post positioned within said hollow post-receiving portion, said post retainer members interacting to maintain said post in selective vertical alignment.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein each said post retainer member is centered along one said wall member at said central entry opening for interaction with a side of said post.

12. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said post retainer members are positioned at the corner junctions of said wall members at said central entry opening for interaction with the corners of said post.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said post-engaging member and said post wedging means are adapted to receive posts of rectangular and annular cross-section.

14. A ground pocket support for placement in the ground and adapted for removably mounting a post of variable width and shape therewithin, said support comprising;

an elongate body for placement in the ground and having upper and lower end portions, said body including a plurality of elongate wall members defining a central post-receiving portion;

means disposed in said lower end portion for firmly engaging the lowermost end of a post of variable cross-section width and shape positioned within said post-receiving portion; and

means disposed at said upper end portion for removably anchoring said post positioned within said post-receiving portion and for adjusting the vertical alignment of said post independent of the vertical alignment of said elongate body as it is positioned in the ground.

15. The pocket support as claimed in claim 14, wherein said elongate body includes four elongate wall members having a substantially rectangular cross-section.

16. The pocket support as claimed in claim 15, wherein said elongate wall members are tapered from said upper end portion to said lower end portion at approximately 1°

-5°

from the vertical axis of said elongate body.

17. The pocket support as claimed in claim 16, wherein said taper is approximately 2°

.

18. The pocket support as claimed in claim 17, wherein said post lowermost end engagement means comprises a plurality of stepped ledge members spaced along the interior surface of said wall members at said lower end portion, each said stepped ledge member including a series of laterally projecting steps to form laterally and vertically spaced sills for selective engagement with the end surface of said post, said sills being separated by an angular wedged surface adapted to increase lateral force on the end of said post as it is inserted into said post-receiving portion and seated onto one of said sills.

19. The pocket support as claimed in claim 14, wherein said post lowermost end engagement means comprises at least one interior ledge member having a wedged-shaped portion to laterally press against at least one side of said post as it is inserted into said central post-receiving portion.

20. The pocket support as claimed in claim 14, wherein said upper end portion includes a top plate defining a central opening coaxial with said central post-receiving portion and sized to receive posts of varying width dimension and shape.

21. The pocket support as claimed in claim 20, wherein said anchor means comprises a plurality of post retainer tabs spaced about said top plate surrounding said central opening, said retainer tabs being laterally adjustable relative to the axis of said central opening to firmly engage said post when disposed in said pocket support and interact with each other to move and maintain said post to an optimum vertical alignment.

22. The pocket support as claimed in claim 21, wherein said each said retainer tab includes a central slot and an attachment member disposed through said slot and secured to said plate, said attachment member fixing the lateral position of said tab relative to said plate when tightened, and permitting lateral movement and positional adjustment of said tab along the length of said slot when loosened.

23. The pocket support as claimed in claim 22, wherein each said retainer tab is centered along one said wall member to abut the surface of a rectangular post.

24. The pocket support as claimed in claim 23, wherein each said retainer tab includes teeth to grip the outer surface of said post.

25. A pocket support device for mounting a post of variable cross-section width and shape in the ground, said device adapted for ease of removal of said post in case of post damage as well as adjustable vertical alignment of said post, said device comprising:

an elongate ground engaging member having upper and lower portions and adapted for placement in the ground, said ground engaging member including four wall members defining a hollow post-receiving portion having a substantially rectangular cross-section for receiving and supporting said post in a substantially upright position;

means disposed in said lower end portion for firmly engaging the lowermost end of said post when positioned within said post-receiving portion; and

a top plate member disposed at the upper end portion of said ground engaging member defining a central opening for said hollow post-receiving portion and including a plurality of anchor mounts secured to said plate about said opening for lateral adjustable engagement with said post to removably secure said post within said post-receiving portion and to provide adjustable vertical alignment independent of the vertical axis of said ground engaging member.

26. The device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said post lowermost end engagement means comprises a plurality of engagement elements spaced about the inner surface of said wall members, each engagement element including a plurality of laterally and vertically spaced steps for selectively supporting the end surface of said post.

27. The device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the steps of each said engagement element are spaced by beveled surfaces to provide a wedge-like surface against the bottom portion of said post to create lateral force against said post.

28. The device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said top plate member includes an angled notch disposed in the surface thereof at the center portion of each said wall member, each said anchor mount being sized and shaped to slidingly fit within said notch for lateral movement and selective attachment therewithin relative to the axis of said opening, said anchor mounts interacting to provided adjustable vertical alignment of said post relative to the vertical axis of said ground engaging member.