US3293809A

US3293809A - Easily installable post for fences, docks and the like

Info

Publication number: US3293809A
Application number: US343745A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daline Gordon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-02-10
Filing date: 1964-02-10
Publication date: 1966-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 1983-12-27

Description

G. DALINE Dec. 27, 1966 EASILY INSTALLABLE POST FOR FENCES, DOCKS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 10, 1964 opawv 041. m

United States Patent 3,293,809 EASILY INSTALLABLE POST FOR FENCES, DOCKS AND THE LIKE Gordon Daline, 3548 Colfax Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. 55408 Filed Feb. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 343,745 2 Claims. (Cl. 52-157) This invention relates to posts for use with fences, docks and the like, which may be easily installed without requiring the preparation of post holes or the utilization of pile drivers, sledges or the like, for anchoring.

It is an object of my invention to provide simple and highly efiicient post construction capable of utilizing readily available materials such as short lengths of the heavier lumber, short poles and stakes, and also inexpensive metals which enables a hollow post member to be initially set in upright position by hand, in combination with a freely slidable stake member telescoped therewithin and securely anchor itself and the post by application of torque from the upper end of the stake.

More specifically it is an object to provide an easily installable post for fences, docks and the like, of sound reinforced structure which may utilize short lengths of 4 x 4 lumber as well as sheet metal, to form an ornamental post body having a bore or cylindrical media therein which slidably receives a reinforcing and anchoring stake preferably cylindrical throughout its upper portion and having an elongated tapered or pointed lower portion which is coarsely threaded for screw-drivin into the ground, such being combined with a simple means for applying torque to an exposed portion of the stake.

My improved construction lends itself well to do it yourself purchasers who take pride in their homes and grounds, but seek to avoid heavy installation costs and efforts.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more readily appear fromthe following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 shows :a view mostly in side elevation with some portions broken away and shown in section, of an embodiment of my structure after it has been securely anchored in the ground with fence rails attached and before the anchoring stake has been cut at its upper end and the ornamental top cap applied;

FIG. 2 shows a view partly in side elevation and partly in section on a larger scale, of the complete structure of the form illustrated in FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 3 shows a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 shows a cross section similar to FIG. 3, of another form of my invention wherein sheet material such as anodized aluminum is used for the post body, reinforced at longitudinally spaced portions throughout its length by metal bearing rings wherein the anchoring stake is telescopically mounted.

Referring now to the form shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, I provide as shown, an elongated post of rectangular structure having axially and longitudinally drilled therethrough a bore 4b of preferably cylindrical shape extending from end to end. Short lengths of 4 x 4 lumber either planed or rough are abundantly available in many lumber mills and in very little demand.

The lower end of the post body 4 for a short distance is preferably tapered and is provided with ground-entering and engaging means which may be in the form of a coarse, external thread 4a or may be in the form (not shown) of a plurality of longitudinal grooves or flutings for penetrating the ground when the post is slightly driven or pounded from its upper end.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the body 4 will be set in upright position on the ground and will thereafter be stationary.

Within the post body 4 I provide an elongated anchoring stake 5 which is substantially longer than the body 4 and may have the longer and upper portion thereof of cylindrical form loosely fitting but reinforcing the post body 4 in use. The anchoring stake 5, if desired, may be made from short lengths of available pole stock, tapering slightly from its upper to its lower end but having an upper portion which nicely interfits and telescopes with the upper end of the hollow body 4.

The lower end of stake 5 is substantially tapered and is coarsely threaded to facilitate engagement with and screw-driving into the ground when torque is applied to the upper end of the stake with only slight downward pressure being required.

It is to be understood that stake 5 is long enough so that its lower threaded end may be projected for a considerable distance below ground level in fence post use, an anchoring extension of from one foot to two and one half feet being desirable. The stake also must be of such a length as to extend for in most instances, two or more feet above the upper end of post body 4 to facilitate application of torque and screw-driving of the stake. As shown in FIG. 1 a reinforcing ring or ferrule 6 may be applied to the upper extremity of the stake, reinforcing turning action and preventing splitting when torque is applied, as by an elongated, rigid torque arm 7 inserted through a diametrical aperture provided in the upper end of the stake and the reinforcing ring 6.

It will be understood that the post body 4 may be made of two or more sections for higher fences or docks. Stake member 5 in such instances will be preferably integral but not necessarily in length, in excess of the two sections. One post section may be positioned in the ground or lake bottom (in case of a dock) and the stake may then be screw-driven for several feet into the ground, being of adequate length so that its upper end projects the required distance above the lowermost section of the post body. Thereafter the upper section of the post body may be telescoped and superimposed about the upper end of the stake and secured thereto.

In the procedure or operation of my structure, after the stake is completely screw-anchored, any portion of the upper end of the stake above the upper end of the post body is'sawed off and an ornamental cap member 8 is then secured to the top of the post body, as shown in FIG. 2 It will be understood that the integral stakes S, tapered at the lower ends thereof and externally coarse threaded, may be constructed of any suitable material such as metals, wood posts or poles, or even plastic.

As one alternative of the construction first described of my invention, the post body may be constructed from sheet metal or even plastic, as shown in FIG. 4, being angularly and longitudinally bent with edges of the original sheet being overlapped or otherwise secured, to in cross section form a rectangular or other polygonal or circular shape. Thereafter or in the formation of the body 10, a series of longitudinally spaced metal rings or the like 11 may be secured concentrically within the post body, providing cylindrical walls or bearing surfaces with which the integral stake member may have close telescopic clearance. If the post body 10 is made from certain sheet metal such as aluminum the bodies may be heated and superimposed about the metal rings 11 mounted on a suitable jig and thereafter, when cooled, shrink the body upon the rings, giving the proper spaced relation. The stake 5 telescopically interfits the several rings of the post body for longitudinally sliding therethrough and the stake in its anchoring operation and the initial vertical positioning of the post body, is similar to that of the form first described. When my post structures are properly anchored under the operation herein described, the fence rails 9 or wiring may be attached to the post members, as shown in FIG. 1, to complete the fence structure.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a highly eflicient post structure for fences, docks and the like, which may be very easily installed without post hole diggers or without the use of pile drivers or heavy sledge action to anchor the post. My construction enables posts, fences or docks of various heights to be readily and securely installed and firmly anchored, without the use of special tools, sledge driving or extensive exercise of work and effort.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A readily installable post for fences, docks and the like comprising,

an elongated hollow body having an axial bore therethrough providing cylindrical slide-bearing surface area therein,

external ground penetrating means at the lower end of said body for initially setting said body in upright position when said body is slightly driven from its upper end,

an elongated anchoring stake having a tapered lower end provided with an external coarse thread to facilitate screw-driving of said stake into the ground,

said stake having an upper end initially extending beyond the upper end of said defined body and provided with means for attachment of a radially extending torque arm,

and a torque :arm removably attachable to said upper end for applying torque to said stake.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said stake is constructed of material which may be readily sawed,

and a cap member for covering and sealing the upper end of said body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,940,938 12/1933 Chance 52-157 2,488,036 11/1949 Pofcher 85-41 X 3,075,252 1/1963 King 52157 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A READILY INSTALLABLE POST FOR FENCES, DOCKS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED HOLLOW BODY HAVING AN AXIAL BORE THERETHROUGH PROVIDING CYLINDRICAL SLIDE-BEARING SURFACE AREA THEREIN, EXTERNAL GROUND PENETRATING MEANS AT THE LOWER END OF SAID BODY FOR INITIALLY SETTING SAID BODY IN UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN SAID BODY IS SLIGHTLY DRIVEN FROM ITS UPPER END, AN ELONGATED AHCHORING STAKE HAVING A TAPERED LOWER END PROVIDED WITH AN EXTERNAL COARSE THREAD TO FACILITATE SCREW-DRIVING OF SAID STAKE INTO THE GROUND, SAID STAKE HAVING AN UPPER END INITIALLY EXTENDING BEYOND THE UPPER END OF SAID DEFINED BODY AND PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT OF A RADIALLY EXTENDING TORQUE ARM, AND A TORQUE ARM REMOVABLY ATTACHABLE TO SAID UPPER END FOR APPLYING TORQUE TO SAID STAKE.