Base for support of a removable post

A method for releasably supporting a post from a supporting surface comprising:

• supporting a housing from the supporting surface, one or more clamping elements within the housing and forming a post-receiving bore therein, the clamping elements residing in an annulus between the post-receiving bore and the housing;
• actuating the clamping elements to a released position for receiving a post;
• actuating one or more of the one or more clamping elements to a gripping position for gripping the post;
• and
• for post removal, actuating the one or more clamping elements to the released position for releasing the post.

A post and base for releasably supporting the post from a supporting surface comprising:

• a post having a base end;
• a housing supported by the supporting surface and having a perimeter wall and a post-receiving bore for receiving the base end of the post;
• a clamp located in an annulus between the bore and the housing, the clamp actuable radially between a released and a gripping position;
• and
• at least one actuator located between the housing and the clamp, wherein
• in the gripping position, when the at least one actuator engages the clamp, the clamp engages the base end of the post, and the base end is driven laterally towards an opposing wall of the housing, gripping the base end, and
• in the released position, when the at least one actuator is released from the clamp, the clamp releases from the base end of the post permitting the base end to be released from the housing.