Post stabilization support

#1. Technical Field

#This invention relates to post supporting devices that are used to temporarily hold a fence post or the like and vertical alignment in the ground during installation.

#2. Description of Prior Art

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention in use on a post set in the ground;

#FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the post engagement portion of the invention;

#FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view illustrating the cam locking assembly of the invention;

#Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a post support 10 can be seen having a post engagement portion 11 and multiple ground stabilization portions 12. The post engagement portion 11 is comprised of a generally rectangular retaining sleeve 13 having multiple sides 14, 15, 16 and 17. Each of the respective sides 14-17 is of a generally rectangular configuration and of equal height and width and defines a post engagement area 18 within. A locking post engagement assembly 19 is centered within the respective sides 14 and 17 having a pair of spaced parallel mounting lugs 20 extending therefrom. An opening at 21 is defined between the upstanding lugs 20 which are apertured at 22 for receiving a pivot pin 23 on which is positioned a movable cam arm 24. The cam arm 24, best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings has a cam portion 25 with a corresponding contoured cam engagement surface 25A thereon. A handle extension 26 extends integrally from the cam portion 25 which has an off center mounting aperture for the pivot pin 23, noted above.

#Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6 of the drawings, it will be seen that the retaining sleeve 13 when positioned on a post 27 can be locked thereto by rotation of the respective cam arms 24 indicated by directional arrows A engaging the post 27 forcing the respective sleeve sides 15 and 16 against the post. The cam arms 26 so engage as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 3 of the drawings will lock in a deployed position due to the respective cam surfaces 25A as will be evident to those skilled in the art.

#The multiple ground stabilizer portions 12 are each defined by adjustable leg assemblies 28, best seen in FIGS. 1, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings. Each leg assembly 28 has three tubular leg elements 29, 30, and 31. The leg elements 29 and 31 are secured at the respective upper ends to a hinge mounting fitting 32 which has a pair of leg engagement plates 32A and 32B and sleeve engagement plate 33. A hinge pin 34 interconnects the respective hinge plate portions as in a typical hinge configuration. The leg elements 28 and 31 are tapered on their hinge engagement ends 35 and have respective effacing registration channels 36 that extend longitudinally their entire length. The channels 36 are keyed to registerably accept corresponding ribs 37 & 38 on oppositely disposed longitudinal sides of the center leg 30 as seen in FIG. 7 of the drawings. A leg locking clamp assembly 39 is used to lock the center leg 30 when extended. The clamp assembly 39 has a front and back leg engagement plates 40A and 40B interconnected by an adjustment bolt 41 that extends through said respective plates and the central leg 30. An adjustment knob 42 is threadably secured on the free end of the adjustment bolt 41 allowing for compression of the hereinbefore described engagement plates 40A and 40B against the abutting legs 29, 30 and 31 frictionally locking and holding the center leg 30 in position when extended as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings.