Post support frame and method for making same

Abstract

A post support frame is provided comprising brackets, a top plate, and a bottom plate. In one embodiment, the brackets are identical and generally H-shaped. The crossbar of the H includes a slot substantially perpendicular to the crossbar, and the ends of the legs of the H each have a tab. Each leg also includes a part which tapers inward toward the adjacent leg. The top plate includes a series of notches around its periphery, which accommodate the tabs at the ends of the bracket legs. The bottom plate includes two sets of holes therethrough. One set of holes accommodates the tabs at the ends of the bracket legs, while the other is used for attaching the completed post support frame to a flat surface. The support frame is assembled by interengaging the slots of the brackets. The interengaged brackets are coupled with the bottom and top plates by fitting the tabs at the ends of the brackets into one set of the holes in the bottom plate and the notches in the top plate. Tack welding may be used at discrete points, for example between the crossbar portions of the brackets or between the tabs of the brackets and the plates, to further fix the brackets and plates to each other.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.