Fence post positioning apparatus

• US 6,658,753 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2002
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Tatarnic
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Tatarnic
• Inventors: Tatarnic, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REIS, TRAVIS M
• Application Number:
  US10/036,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20020095813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 336/13, 336/45, 333/33, 333/34, 338/09
• US Class Current: 33/613
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/02 Means for marking measuring points
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/28 Mountings

Abstract

Fence post positioning and leveling apparatus comprising in combination a first post-embracing frame member having an operable and closeable side wall having an inner face defining in a closed mode a post-receiving chamber; rotation means to allow of the opening and closing of the side wall; releasable fastening means to hold the side wall in the closed mode; a second post-embracing frame member having an operable and closeable side wall having an inner face defining in a closed mode a post-receiving chamber; and inter-frame elongate member positioning means adapted to be connected to the first and the second frame members to provide a desired fixed inter-frame member distance. Preferably the inter-frame positioning means comprises a pair of telescopic forks. Each of the frame members preferably has a vertical spirit level and a horizontal spirit level. The apparatus provides for simple fence post alignment, leveling and horizontal cross-post, single-handled, installation at desired, variable inter-post distances.

Claims

1. A fence post positioning and leveling apparatus comprising

a) an elongate spacing member having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis;

b) a first posting-embracing frame member rigidly connected to said spacing member at said first end, and having a first vertical axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said spacing member;

c) a second posting-embracing frame member rigidly connected to said spacing member at said second end, and having a second vertical axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said spacing member, whereby said first vertical axis is parallel to said second vertical axis;

d) wherein each of said first and second post-embracing frame members has

i) four rectangularly-shaped sides defining a post-embracing chamber adapted to surround and receive a portion of a post therein; and

ii) releasable locking means extending through at least one of said sides for retaining said post in secure abutment with at least certain of said sides;

e) horizontal level visual inspection means on at least one of said first and second post-embracing frame members; and

f) vertical level visual inspection means on at least one of said first and second post-embracing frame members.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and said second post-embracing frame members are integrally formed with said spacing member.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said releasable locking means comprises a threaded bolt or screw.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said spacing member has a length selected from 2-8 feet.

5. A fence post positioning and leveling apparatus comprising in combination

a first post-embracing frame member having four side walls with at least one of the side walls being openable and closeable, each side wall having an inner face defining in a closed mode a post-receiving chamber constructed and arranged to surround a portion of a post;

rotation means to allow of said opening and closing of said one side wall;

releasable fastening means to hold said one side wall in said closed mode;

a second post-embracing frame member having four side walls with at least one of the side walls being openable and closeable, each side wall having an inner face defining in a closed mode a post-receiving chamber constructed and arranged to surround a portion of a post; and

inter-frame elongate member positioning means adapted to be connected to said first and said second frame members to provide a desired fixed inter-frame member distance.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising

first horizontal level determination means on said first frame member;

first vertical level determination means on said first frame member;

second horizontal level determination means on said second frame member; and

second vertical determination means on said second frame member.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said inter-frame positioning means comprises

a first rigid elongate member having a first end connected to said first frame member and a first terminal portion distal of said first end;

a second rigid elongate member having a second end connected to said second frame member and a second terminal portion distal of said second end;

wherein said first terminal portion and second terminal portion are connectable one to the other to provide an extended elongate lockable positioning member of a selected length connecting said first frame member to said second frame member at a selected distance therefrom; and

releasable locking means for holding said first rigid member to said second rigid member at said selected distance.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said inter-frame positioning means comprises telescopic fork means.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said first end is integrally formed with said first frame member, and said second end is integrally formed with said second frame member.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said first elongate member has graduated distance markings on said first terminal portion.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said one side wall is open-faced.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said rotation means comprises hinge means.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said releasable fastening means comprises a knuckle lock clamping means selected from a knuckle lock means, nut and bolt means and screw means.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said frame members and said positioning means are formed of aluminum, fibreglass or a rigid plastics materials.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said first frame member and said second frame member has a cross-post support means extending from each of said first and second frame to provide support to a horizontal cross post when said post is extended between said first and second frame member in a desired position to be held to said vertical posts.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein each of said cross-post support means comprises an integrally formed lip located on a face of said first frame and said second frame at an upper part thereof to enable said cross post to be fastened to vertical posts embraced by said first and second frame members.

17. Fence post positioning and leveling apparatus comprising in combination

a first hollow, rectangular-shaped frame member having

(i) four vertically aligned parallel faces which in a frame member closed mode define a rectangular-shaped post-receiving chamber therebetween;

(ii) releasable fastening means to hold said frame member in said closed position;

(iii) rotation means to enable at least one pair of adjacent said faces to rotate apart one from the other around the vertical axis;

a second hollow, rectangular-shaped frame member having

(iv) four vertically aligned parallel faces which in a frame member closed mode define a rectangular-shaped post-receiving chamber therebetween;

(v) releasable fastening means to hold said second frame member in said closed position;

(vi) rotation means to enable at least one pair of adjacent said faces to rotate apart one from the other around the vertical axis;

horizontal level determination means on said first frame member and said second frame member;

vertical level determination means on said first frame member and said second frame member; and

a pair of lockable, rigid elongate telescopic fork members comprising a first elongate rigid telescopic fork member having a first end and a terminal portion distal of said first end;

a second elongate rigid telescopic fork member adapted to be received by said first fork member in telescopic engagement;

locking means for retaining said first and second fork members in said telescopic engagement at a desired location therein;

wherein said first end of said first elongate member is integrally formed with said first frame member; and

said first end of said second elongate member is integrally formed with said second frame member.