Bracket for a wooden post

A method of supporting a support post in an upright position, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a bracket having a bracket front, a bracket rear, a bracket length extending from the bracket front to the bracket rear, a bracket left side, a bracket right side, a bracket width extending from the bracket left side to the bracket right side and perpendicular to the bracket length, a bracket top, a bracket bottom, and a bracket height extending from the bracket top to the bracket bottom, perpendicular to the bracket length and bracket width, the bracket configured to support a support post in an upright position, the bracket further comprising:
• a base plate comprising a base plate bottom, a base plate top, a base plate height extending from the base plate top to the base plate bottom and parallel to the bracket height, a base plate front, a base plate rear, a base plate length extending from the base plate front to the base plate rear and parallel to the bracket height, a base plate left side, a base plate right side and a base plate width extending from the base plate left side to the base plate right side and parallel to the bracket length,
• a horizontal plate comprising a horizontal plate bottom located above the base plate top and separated from the base plate top by a gap, the horizontal plate further comprising a horizontal plate top, a horizontal plate height extending from the horizontal plate top to the horizontal plate bottom and parallel to the bracket height, a horizontal plate front, a horizontal plate rear, a horizontal plate length extending from the horizontal plate front to the horizontal plate rear and parallel to the bracket height, a horizontal plate left side, a horizontal plate right side, and a horizontal plate width extending from the horizontal plate left side to the horizontal plate right side and parallel to the bracket width;
• a left side plate extending upward from the base plate and supporting the horizontal plate, the left side plate having a left side plate left side, a left side plate right side, a left side plate thickness extending from the left side plate left side to the left side plate right side and parallel to the bracket width, a left side plate bottom adjacent to the base plate, and a left side plate top located above the horizontal plate top;
• a right side plate extending upward from the base plate, supporting the horizontal plate, the right side plate oriented parallel to the left side plate, the right side plate comprising a right side plate bottom adjacent to the base plate, a right side plate top located above the horizontal plate top and at approximately the same height as the left side plate top, a right side plate left side facing the left side plate right side, a right side plate left side, a right side plate thickness extending from the right side plate left side to the right side plate right side and parallel to the bracket width;
• a front plate supporting the horizontal plate, oriented perpendicular to the left and right side plates, and having a front plate bottom adjacent to the horizontal plate and a front plate top located above the horizontal plate top, a front plate front, a front plate rear, a front plate thickness extending from the front plate front to the front plate rear and parallel to the bracket length;
• and
• a rear plate supporting the horizontal plate, oriented perpendicular to the left and right side plates and parallel to the front plate, and having a rear plate bottom adjacent to the horizontal plate and a rear plate top located above the horizontal plate top and at approximately the same height as the front plate top, a rear plate front, a rear plate rear, and a rear plate thickness extending from the rear plate front to the rear plate rear and parallel to the bracket length,
• wherein the front plate and the rear plate each comprise one or more fastener apertures located above the horizontal plate top and extending through the thickness of the respective plate, and/or the left side plate and the right side plate each comprise one or more fastener apertures located above the horizontal plate top extending through the thickness of the respective plate,
• wherein the horizontal plate bottom, the base plate top, the left side plate right side and the right side plate left side define a substantially hollow cavity having an open front and an open rear;
• wherein the horizontal plate top, the left side plate right side, the right side plate left side, the front plate rear, and the rear plate front form a recess configured to support a support post in an upright position, the recess having a bottom defined by the horizontal plate top and an open top,
• further wherein the horizontal plate extends from the left side plate to the right side plate parallel to the bracket width and from the front plate to the rear plate parallel to the bracket length;
• b) embedding the bracket in a support surface comprising a support surface top so that the horizontal plate is located below the top of the support surface;
• c) providing a support post comprising a support post top and a support post bottom;
• d) placing the support post in an upright position in the recess;
• and
• e) positioning one or more fasteners through the one or more fastener apertures and into the support post to secure the support post to the bracket.