Anchoring system for posts

• US 7,954,289 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nok Lok Licensing Limited
• Original Assignee: Nok Lok Licensing Limited
• Inventors: Evans, Dean Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield; Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gitlin; Matthew J
• Application Number:
  US12/129,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20090025332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 52/40, 522/97, 522/98, 521/691.3, 521/70, 521/59, 521/55, 521/65, 522/96, 522/231.3, 248/548, 248/256, 248/530, 248/545, 248/523, 256/65.14, 403/109.5, 403/297, 403/314, 403/374.1, 403/374.2, 403/374.3, 403/374.4, 405/249, 405/258.1, 405/259.1, 405/259.4
• US Class Current: 52/298
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/685 Subsoil means, e.g. foundations
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2269 in a socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32501 Cam or wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/5793 including member wedging or camming means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7064 by wedge or cam

Abstract

An anchoring system to lock posts into housings mounted in the ground, or to lock pipes into housings within holes through walls or foundations uses plastic collets to match post outer profiles to inner housing profiles. The collets have two gently tapered circumferential areas which lock into corresponding tapered areas in the housing. Keys help to lock the post into the collet and in turn into the housing. Customized collets match incompatible posts and housings. The anchored post may be released for re-use, with a security release system that requires the use of special tools.

Claims

1. An anchor for fastening an elongate member into a substrate, said elongate member having a foot of substantially constant cross-section, characterised in that said anchor comprises:

at least one elongate collet having an inward face shaped to fit along and around a section of said foot;

and an elongate housing having an internal cavity shaped and dimensioned to house said at least one collet and said foot in combination;

wherein said at least one collet each has a top end and a bottom end, said top end and bottom end being spaced to be positionable near a top and bottom of said internal cavity in said housing, and an outward face which tapers inwardly from said top end towards said bottom end in a first tapered portion near said top end and in a second tapered portion near said bottom end, and wherein said internal cavity of the housing tapers inwardly in a corresponding first and second portion, and wherein said outward face of each said collet is untapered between said first tapered portion and said second tapered portion and said second tapered portion;

whereby in use downward pressure on a said collet can create wedging contact between said outward face and said housing near said top end and near said bottom end and wherein substantially no wedging contact occurs between the collet and the housing between said first and second tapered portions.

2. The anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one collet and said housing are formed from a resilient plastics material.

3. The anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anchor includes two collets configured to form substantially complementary parts of a sleeve that is shaped and arranged to surround said foot.

4. The anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one collet includes an outwardly projecting flange at said top end.

5. The anchor as claimed in claim 4, wherein said housing includes a collar shaped and arranged to house said flange.

6. The anchor as claimed in claim 5, further including a cap, dimensioned and adapted to engage into said collar.

7. The anchor as claimed in claim 6, wherein said cap is annular, and is dimensioned and arranged to fit around said elongate member.

8. The anchor as claimed in claim 4, further including a collet-removing tool comprised of a handle, a fulcrum, and a crescent-shaped head extending transversely relative to said handle and offset relative to said fulcrum, whereby the tips of said crescent-shaped head can be engaged under said projecting flange at the top end of a said collet.

9. The anchor as claimed in claim 8, wherein said tool further includes a bearing block adapted and arranged to fit under said fulcrum.

10. The anchor as claimed in claim 8, wherein said head is pivotally mounted with respect to said handle and said fulcrum.

11. A method for removing an elongate member fastened in a substrate using the anchor of claim 8, comprising the steps of:

engaging the tips of said crescent-shaped head of the tool under a projecting flange of a collet;

applying pressure to said handle of the tool, to lift said collet with leverage against said fulcrum;

removing said collet;

and removing said elongate member.

12. The anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein a said collet includes a longitudinal slot extending downwardly from said top end;

and wherein the anchor further includes a key shaped and dimensioned to fit into said slot, and configured to engage between said foot and said housing through said collet.

13. The anchor as claimed in claim 12, wherein said housing further includes a recess and a metal backing plate configured to be engaged by said key.

14. The anchor as claimed in claim 12, wherein said key comprises a flat blade having an edge arranged to engage with said foot, said edge being concave in cross-section.

15. The anchor as claimed in claim 12 wherein said key includes a flange at a top end thereof, substantially corresponding in size and shape with a section of said slotted collet.

16. The anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inward face of each said collet includes a plurality of transverse ribs near said top end and near said bottom end.

17. The anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes at least one aperture at or near said bottom end, dimensioned and arranged to admit electrical wiring.

18. The anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes at least one frangible membrane, dimensioned and arranged to admit electrical wiring.

19. The anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes at least one longitudinal rib on a wall of said internal cavity, adapted and arranged to key with said at least one collet.

20. The anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said foot and said housing includes a transversely projecting pin, and the other includes a transversely extending aperture therein shaped and arranged to engage on said pin, whereby in use downward pressure on a said collet can press said pin into engagement with said aperture, such that longitudinal movement of said foot relative to said housing is prevented by said pin.

21. The anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes one or more projections on an external surface thereof, to engage with said substrate.

22. A method for fastening an elongate member in a substrate using the anchor of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

setting a said housing into a hole in said substrate, using a settable fluid construction material such as concrete;

inserting a foot of said elongate member into the internal cavity of said housing;

inserting at least one said collet alongside said foot into the internal cavity of said housing;

applying downward pressure on said at least one collet to create wedging contact between said collet and said housing near the top end and near the bottom end, and wherein substantially no wedging contact occurs between the collet and the housing between said first and second tapered portions.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein a said collect includes a longitudinal slot extending downwardly from said top end, and said anchor further includes a key shaped and dimensioned to fit into said slot;

further including the step of fitting said key into said longitudinal slot to engage between said foot and said housing through said collet.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22, further including the step of applying an annular cover over said housing around said elongate member, and engaging said cover in a collar on said housing.