US 7,278,240 B2Granted

System for securing a post

AssigneeStallion Fence Accessories

InventorsMichael G. Burkart, Jeffrey G. Herion

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A post mounting system and method that includes individually adjustable angled gripping elements which contact the interior of a hollow post so as to hold the post firmly against a retaining wall of a base member surrounding the lower end of the post. One or more shim components having a surface area substantially the same as at least the surface area of the bottom of the base member is used to adjust the vertical angularity of a post secured to the base member. The shims may be circularly shaped with a slot extending to the center thereof for shim placement about a rod upon which the base member is mounted. There is a thicker portion of such a shim opposite the slot. Alternative embodiments include additional post reinforcing structures insertable into the interior of the hollow post to provide additional support for complying with building code requirements, such as second story dwelling uses, etc.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A post mounting apparatus, comprising:

a base member for attaching to an end of a post, wherein the post end has an opening into an interior of the post, said interior having one or more interior walls;
wherein said base member includes:
(a1) a support member for inserting into the interior, said support member having one or more sides that slope relative to the interior walls of the post when the support member is provided in the interior, and
(a2) a post receiving portion provided between a wall of the base member, and said support member, wherein when the post end is provided within said post receiving portion, said wall contacts an exterior of the post end;
one or more gripping members, each gripping member having a portion for providing in a corresponding position between one of the sides and one of the interior walls;
a tightening mechanism for securing the portion of at least one of the gripping members in the corresponding position;
wherein said tightening mechanism includes at least one part that is moveable between:
(b1) a first configuration, wherein the at least one gripping member is not secured to at least one of:
any of the sides, and any of the interior post walls, and
(b2) a second configuration, wherein the at least one gripping member is secured to both:
one of the sides, and one of the interior post walls, wherein the at least one gripping member contributes to maintaining the post in a desired orientation.

8 more elements

A method for positioning a post, comprising:

positioning one or more gripping members in a predetermined orientation relative to a base member;
wherein:
(1) said base member includes (i) and (ii) following:
(i) a support member for inserting into an opening of a post having an interior, said support member having one or more sides, and
(ii) a post receiving portion provided between a wall offset from said support member, and the support member, wherein when the post is provided in said post receiving portion, said wall is substantially parallel to an exterior of the post;
(2) each of said gripping members includes a wedge with a narrower end and a wider end, such that said predetermined position positions said wedge between one of the sides and a surface of the post interior, wherein the narrower end is closer to the opening of the post;
connecting a securing mechanism to at least one of said gripping members for moving the at least one gripping member between its position in the predetermined orientation and a gripping position, wherein its wedge (W) securely contacts one of the sloping side, and the surface of the post interior;
wherein said securing mechanism includes at least a part that is moveable between:
(b1) a first configuration, wherein the wedge W is not secured to at least one of:
any of the sides, and the surface of the post interior, and
(b2) a second configuration resulting in the wedge W being secured to both of:
one of the sides, and the surface of the post interior;
inserting said support member and said gripping members into said post interior such that said opening enters said post receiving portion;
and
moving a portion of said securing mechanism in a predetermined way so that said at least one gripping member moves to the gripping position.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/982,024Filed 5 Nov 2004 · continuation
Priority: 29 Apr 2002
Published: US 2005/0072068 A17 Apr 2005
Granted: 9 Oct 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification23 codes

B29C 33/005
Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor: characterised by the location of the parting line of the mould parts
B29C 33/44
Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor: with means for, or specially constructed to facilitate, the removal of articles, e.g. of…
B29C 33/444
With mechanical ejector or drive means therefor: for stripping articles from a mould core, e.g. using stripper plates
C08G 18/0823
Containing anionic or anionogenic groups: containing carboxylate salt groups or groups forming them

Family

Application60/376,658Us provisional application · filed 29 Apr 2002
Application10/426,442Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Apr 2003
US 2005/0072068 A1Pre-grant publication · published 7 Apr 2005
US 6,948,283 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2003/0233793 A1Published application
US 7,278,240 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.