# US 12,768,192 B2 · Side load picket driver > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,768,192 B2 - Document ID: US12768192B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/651,488 - Filed: 2024-04-30 - Published: 2024-12-05 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-05-19 - Applicants: Dallis Wilschefski - Inventors: Dallis Wilschefski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12768192B2 ## CPC - E04H 17/263: {for erecting posts (pile driving E02D7/00)} - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) ## Abstract The side load picket driver is loaded from the side instead of from the bottom. The side load star picket driver is closed at the top end and open at the bottom end and has a slot down the full-length on one side of the star picket driver so that the star picket can be loaded from the side instead of the open end. There are two handles, welded to each side of the star picket driver for the operator to grip the driver and pound the star picket into the ground. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A picket driver comprising: a striker including a striking surface configured to strike a picket; a sidewall extending away from said striker along an axis passing through said striking surface, said sidewall having a top edge coupled to said striker, a bottom edge opposite said top edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, an exterior surface, and an interior surface, said interior surface at least partially defining a picket receiving space below said striker, said sidewall defining an opening into said interior space, said opening defined between said first side edge and said second side edge and between a first end and a second end of said bottom edge, whereby an entire end of said picket can be moved into said interior space through said opening; and a first handle fixed with respect to said sidewall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The picket driver of claim 1, wherein said interior surface of said sidewall includes a first portion having a first radius of curvature and a second portion having a second radius of curvature that is less than said first radius of curvature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The picket driver of claim 2, wherein: said interior surface of said sidewall includes a third portion; said third portion is planar; and said second portion is disposed between said first portion and said third portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The picket driver of claim 1, further comprising a second handle fixed with respect to said sidewall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The picket driver of claim 4, wherein: said first handle extends from said exterior surface of said sidewall on a first side of said picket driver; and said second handle extends from said exterior surface of said sidewall on a second side of said picket driver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The picket driver of claim 5, wherein: said first handle forms a first angle of less than 180 degrees with said second handle; and said opening is disposed between said first handle and said second handle within said first angle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The picket driver of claim 1, wherein: said first side edge of said sidewall extends along a first linear path; said second side edge of said sidewall extends along a second linear path; and said first linear path is parallel to said second linear path. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The picket driver of claim 7, wherein: said striking surface is substantially planar; said first linear path is perpendicular to said striking surface; and said second linear path is perpendicular to said striking surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The picket driver of claim 1, wherein: said sidewall has a cross-sectional profile that is perpendicular to said axis; and said cross-sectional profile of said sidewall is constant along said axis between a top margin of said opening and said bottom edge of said sidewall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The picket driver of claim 9, wherein said cross-sectional profile of said sidewall includes a first portion having a first radius of curvature and a second portion having a second radius or curvature that is lesser than said first radius of curvature. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The picket driver of claim 10, wherein said cross-sectional profile of said sidewall includes a third portion; said third portion is flat; and said second portion of said cross-sectional profile of said sidewall is disposed between said first portion of said cross-sectional profile of said sidewall and said third portion of said cross-sectional profile of said sidewall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The picket driver of claim 1, wherein said picket driver is a metal rigid body structure. ### Claim 13 A method for driving a picket into the ground, said method comprising: providing a picket having a bottom end, a top end, and a cross-sectional profile, said cross-sectional profile having at least one leg extending outwardly from a longitudinal axis of said picket; providing a picket driver including a striker including a striking surface configured to strike a picket, a sidewall extending away from said striker along an axis passing through said striking surface, said sidewall having a top edge coupled to said striker, a bottom edge opposite said top edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, an exterior surface, and an interior surface, said interior surface at least partially defining a picket receiving space below said striker, said sidewall defining an opening into said interior space, said opening defined between said first side edge and said second side edge and between a first end and a second end of said bottom edge, and a first handle fixed with respect to said sidewall; moving said picket thorough said opening of said sidewall at least partially into said picket receiving space; rotating one of said picket driver and said picket relative to the other of said picket and said picket driver in a first direction to move said picket further into said receiving space of said sidewall; positioning said picket and said picket driver in an upright position with said bottom end of said picket on the ground; repeatedly urging said striker away from said top portion of said picket and then impacting said top portion of said picket with said striker until a portion of said picket is driven into the ground; and rotating said picket driver relative to said picket in a second direction opposite said first direction to remove said picket from said picket receiving space of said sidewall through said opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein: said picket includes a plurality of legs extending outwardly from said longitudinal axis of said picket; and said at least one leg of said picket is longer than a second leg of said picket. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein: said sidewall has a cross-sectional profile that is perpendicular to said axis; and said cross-sectional profile of said sidewall is constant along said axis between a top margin of said opening of said sidewall and said bottom edge of said sidewall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said cross-sectional profile of said sidewall includes a first portion having a first radius of curvature and a second portion having a second radius of curvature that is less than said first radius of curvature. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein said cross-sectional profile of said sidewall includes a third portion; said third portion is flat; and said second portion is disposed between said first portion and said third portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein: said first side edge of said sidewall extends along a first linear path; said second side edge of said sidewall extends along a second linear path; and said first linear path is parallel to said second linear path. ### Claim 19 A picket installation system comprising: a picket having a bottom end, a top end, and a cross-sectional profile perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said picket, said cross-sectional profile having at least one leg extending outward from said longitudinal axis of said picket; and a picket driver including a striker including a striking surface configured to strike said top end of said picket, a sidewall extending away from said striker along an axis passing through said striking surface, said sidewall having a top edge coupled to said striker, a bottom edge opposite said top edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, an exterior surface, and an interior surface, said interior surface at least partially defining a picket receiving space below said striker, said sidewall defining an opening into said interior space, said opening defined between said first side edge and said second side edge and between a first end and a second end of said bottom edge, whereby an entire end of said picket can be moved into said interior space through said opening, and a first handle fixed with respect to said sidewall. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The picket installation system of claim 19, wherein: said interior surface of said sidewall includes a first portion having a first radius of curvature in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said picket receiving space; and said interior surface includes a second portion having a second radius of curvature in said plane that is less than said first radius of curvature.