# US 10,501,957 B1 · Underground post mounting apparatus

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- Number: US 10,501,957 B1
- Document ID: US10501957B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/048,557
- Filed: 2018-07-30
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-30
- Applicants: Jeffery A. Borowiak
- Inventors: Jeffery A. Borowiak
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501957B1

## CPC

- E04H 12/2253: {Mounting poles or posts to the holder (E04H12/2284 takes precedence; break-away mountings E01F9/631)}
- E01F 9/677: the sign posts being removable without tools, e.g. of stud-and-socket type
- E01F 9/685: Subsoil means, e.g. foundations
- E02D 27/42: Foundations for poles, masts or chimneys {(sockets or holders for poles or masts per se E04H12/22)}
- E04H 12/22: Sockets or holders for poles or posts {(for sports articles, e.g. floor sockets A63B71/023; for road signs E01F9/673)}
- E04H 12/2269: {in a socket}
- E04H 12/34: Arrangements for erecting or lowering towers, masts, poles, chimney stacks, or the like
- E04H 17/009: {Footing elements for fence posts or fence sections}
- E02D 2200/1628: rectangular
- E02D 2600/20: comprising details of connection between elements
- E04H 12/2292: {Holders used for protection, repair or reinforcement of the post or pole (E04H12/2276 takes precedence)}
- E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D)
- E01F: ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
- E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)}

## Abstract

A post mounting apparatus for removably securing the lower end of a post in the ground. The post mounting apparatus comprises a base plate with an upwardly facing socket sized to receive the lower end of the post, the base plate and socket being buried in the ground with an upper end of the socket exposed above ground to receive the post. A cross-piece traversing the interior of the socket and spaced above the lower end of the socket supports the bottom of the post above the bottom of the socket. Internal vertical splines formed on the socket inner wall above the cross-piece engage the lower portion of the post with a snug but easily-removable fit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A post mounting apparatus comprising:
a rectangular base plate comprising sides and ends and an upward-facing socket, the socket comprising a perimeter wall defining a sleeve configured to receive a lower end of a post, the socket comprising a lower end and an open upper end;
a cross-piece extending across an interior of the socket at a height between the upper and lower ends of the socket and spaced above the lower end of the socket to define a protective spacing between the lower end of the socket and the cross-piece, the cross-piece positioned to receive a lower end of a post to rest thereon spaced above the lower end of the socket, the cross-piece further having a width less than a width of the socket such that air space remains on either side of the cross-piece in the socket; and,
two spaced transverse stabilizer legs, one of each of the stabilizer legs located on a respective one of the ends of the base plate parallel to the ends and perpendicular to the sides of the base plate, the stabilizer legs extending beyond their respective ends and beyond the sides of the base plate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The post mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the socket comprises a plurality of internal vertical splines spaced around an inner side of the socket perimeter wall above the cross-piece, the splines configured to penetrate into outer end and side surfaces of a lower end of a post inserted in the socket above the cross-piece.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The post mounting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the splines have a length extending above and below the cross-piece so that only upper portions of the splines are available for engaging a post resting on the cross-piece.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The post mounting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve extension configured to mate with the socket over an exterior of the socket perimeter wall, a lower end of the sleeve extension including apertures positioned to be aligned with apertures in the socket perimeter wall to admit the cross-piece therethrough to lock the sleeve extension to the socket.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The post mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer legs are removably attached to the ends of the base plate.

### Claim 6

A post mounting assembly comprising:
a base plate comprising an upward-facing socket, the socket comprising a perimeter wall defining a sleeve configured to receive a lower end of a post, a lower end, and an open upper end;
a cross-piece extending across an interior of the socket at a height between the upper and lower ends of the socket and spaced above the lower end of the socket to define a protective spacing in the socket between the lower end of the socket and the cross-piece; wherein,
the base plate is buried below a surface of the ground with the socket facing upwardly, and wherein at least a portion of the socket including the cross-piece and the protective spacing is buried below the surface of the ground with the open upper end of the socket communicating with a post insertion and removal opening located at or above the surface of the ground, and the lower end of the post is inserted in the socket and rests on the cross-piece spaced above the lower end of the socket and above the protective spacing and below the surface of the ground;
the cross-piece having a width less than a width of the socket such that air space remains on either side of the cross-piece in the socket.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The post mounting assembly of claim 6, wherein the socket comprises a plurality of internal vertical splines spaced around an inner side of the socket perimeter wall above the cross-piece, the splines penetrating into outer end and side surfaces of the lower end of the post resting on the cross-piece below ground.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The post mounting assembly of claim 7, wherein the splines have a length extending above and below the cross-piece so that only upper portions of the splines engage the lower end of the post.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The post mounting assembly of claim 6, wherein the base plate is buried at a depth where the open upper end of the socket is located at or above the surface of the ground and defines the post insertion and removal opening.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The post mounting assembly of claim 6, further comprising a sleeve extension mated with the socket over an exterior of the socket perimeter wall, a lower end of the sleeve extension including apertures aligned with apertures in the socket perimeter wall and the cross-piece extending therethrough to lock the sleeve extension to the socket, and wherein the open upper end of the socket is below the surface of the ground and an open upper end of the sleeve extension is located at or above the surface of the ground to define the post insertion and removal opening.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The post mounting assembly of claim 6, wherein the base plate is rectangular and comprises ends and sides, and further comprising two spaced transverse stabilizer legs, one of each of the stabilizer legs located on a respective one of the ends of the base plate parallel to the ends and perpendicular to the sides of the base plate, the stabilizer legs extending beyond their respective ends and beyond the sides of the base plate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The post mounting assembly of claim 11, wherein the stabilizer legs are removably attached to the ends of the base plate.