FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a post apparatus. This invention has particular application to a reusable sign post apparatus, and for illustrative purposes the invention will be described with reference to this application. However it is envisaged that this invention may find use in other applications such as post applications generally.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the referenced prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Apart from permanently-set posts, posts for supporting signage and the like may comprise a driven stake or post to which is attached the sign or thing to be supported such as a banner end. Examples of drivable posts include hot rolled steel Y fence posts or star pickets. These may be hammered into the ground or driven by a special driver or dolly comprising a heavy tube having one end blanked and the other passing over the top of the picket. Raising the dolly and dropping or driving it downward for the blanked end to impact on the top of the picket inertially drives the picket into the ground.

The steel star picket has disadvantages for signage. The picket is not readily removable. A separate tool in the form of a dolly, mash hammer or sledge hammer is required to drive the picket. The picket is not particularly adapted for signage, some having snaggy outer features adapted for use with barbed wire or the like.

WO 9945209 (A1 ) describes a self-driving post assembly (10) for supporting a fence, a sign or receptacle such as a mailbox. The post assembly comprises a ground penetrating rod (12) having an enlarged head (22), a square, hollow body (14), and a footplate (16). An enlarged head of the rod (22) cooperates in close fit within the hollow body (14). A pin (18) frictionally fits into openings (20) formed in the body, interfering with the rod as the body is lowered over the rod. The body is then employed as a driver to force the rod into the ground. When the rod is driven down to the point that the body contacts the footplate, the pin is removed from the body. The body is then lowered into abutment with the footplate. The openings (20) of the body which receive the pin then align with a passage formed in the enlarged head of the rod. The pin is reinserted into the body, this time passing through the passage of the enlarged head of the rod. The rod and body are thus interlocked. The footplate has prongs (44) for engaging the ground, and a hole (42) through which the rod passes and in which the rod is maintained upright. The rod and prongs of the footplate combine to secure the assembled post within the ground.

The disclosed system is a permanent system in that there is no provision for reuse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention resides broadly in post apparatus including: a shaft having a ground penetrating lower end;

a slide hammer sleeve on the shaft and movable between a lower position where a driving hammer portion of the slide hammer sleeve contacts a driving anvil portion of the shaft, and an upper position where an extraction hammer portion contacts an extraction anvil of the shaft.

The shaft having a ground penetrating lower end may take any suitable form including round or other solid rolled or drawn metal bar, forged bar, hollow section or the like. The shaft is preferably of metal selected from steel or stainless steel and of as section capable of being axially impact driven. The shaft may for example be formed of post stock such as hot rolled steel T or Y section fence post or star picket stock. The shaft may be a toughened round bar bitumen spike having an upper end configured as a driving anvil and an extraction anvil portion adjacent said upper end. The ground penetrating lower end may be integrally formed or fabricated to the lower end of the shaft. In the case of steel picket stock the ground penetrating part may comprise an end cut to a point. The ground penetrating lower end may be a separate piece assembled to the lower end of the shaft. The ground penetrating lower end may be selectively releasable from the shaft such as by rotation or release mechanism to assist in post removal.

The shaft and/or its ground penetrating lower end may be provided with means resisting straight removal of the shaft from the ground. For example, the shaft may be provided with axially-angled tabs causing the shaft to rotate into the ground and resisting a straight pull out. The shaft or ground penetrating lower end may include arrowhead or flight portions.

The slide hammer sleeve may be formed of any suitable material including but not limited to steel or other metal, fibre reinforced polymer material or composite materials. The inertial characteristic inherent to slide hammers may in this application be provided by the weight of the chosen material or may be added weight assembled to it or encapsulated in it. The slide hammer sleeve may be captive on the shaft or it may be selectively removable. The slide hammer sleeve may be of any suitable hollow cross section including but not limited to round, rectangular or square hollow section. The slide hammer sleeve may be of an economical stock tube of diameter sufficient to accept a tubular liner adapted to add more inertial mass to the slide hammer sleeve. The slide hammer sleeve may be intended to remain on display after installation. Accordingly the sleeve may be decorative or decorated for the purpose, or at least be of a neutral appearance. The sleeve may be provided with traditional slide hammer handles. Alternatively the outer surface of the sleeve may include a resilient cover that serves at least the purpose of providing a grip for the user in lieu of the traditional slide hammer handles. The resilient cover may also be selected for aesthetic appeal. For example the resilient cover may comprise an expanded neoprene section having a woven or not woven fabric layer that may be coloured and/or printed or overprinted. The lower position where a driving hammer portion of the slide hammer sleeve contacts a driving anvil portion of the shaft may be defined by any suitable means. For example the lower position may coincide with a blind inner hammer end of the slide hammer sleeve contacting the top of the shaft forming the driving anvil portion of the shaft. Alternatively, the shaft and slide hammer sleeve may be provided with substantially annular complementary hammer and anvil portions intermediate their respective ends.

The upper position where an extraction hammer portion of the slide hammer sleeve contacts an extraction anvil of the shaft may be defined by any suitable means. The extraction hammer means may comprise an extraction hammer body secured to the slide hammer sleeve after installation of the slide hammer sleeve on the shaft to provide an arrangement whereby the slide hammer sleeve is essentially captive on the shaft between the upper and lower positions. For example, the extraction hammer may comprise one or more blocks pushed up the bore of the sleeve to a locating position and secured from the outside of the sleeve by set screws, grub screws, pins or swage arrangement such as blind rivets or huck bolts. The blocks may be adapted to reside in recesses in the sleeve inner wall surface whereby the shear loads are borne on lands formed by the recesses rather on the fixings per se. The block or blocks may be annular or part annular. The extraction hammer body may comprise a plate or plug welded or otherwise secured to the lower open end of the slide hammer sleeve. The sleeve may be permanently captured on the shaft whereby the assembly forms a reusable post assembly. Alternatively the sleeve may be separable from the shaft and usable with other shafts. The separable embodiments may include a shaft assembly having a lower cap portion slidably mounted on the shaft and selectively secured to the lower end of the sleeve. Alternatively, the shaft may be inserted into the lower end of the sleeve and captured by engagement means provided in the sleeve. The engagement means may form the extraction and/or driving anvil of the shaft. The engagement means may take the form of a removable anvil assembly selectively fixed to the upper end of the shaft. For example, the removable anvil assembly may comprise a body portion secured to the upper portion of the shaft and having a driving anvil upper portion and an extraction anvil lower portion, the body portion being bolted or pinned transversely through the shaft. For example, there may be provided a spring loaded transverse pin associated with the body and accessible through a port in the side of the sleeve. The spring loaded pin may for example be adapted to be partially withdrawn against spring bias to release the shaft. The removable anvil assembly may be captive in the bore of the sleeve or may be removable though a removable top or bottom cap portion.

There may be provided one or more guide portions in the bore of the slide hammer sleeve, secured to either the shaft or the sleeve. The abovementioned plate or plug may be configured to form a guide for the slide hammer sleeve such as by conforming to the shaft cross section.

The extraction hammer body may be adapted to act in the upper position against an extraction anvil that may be formed by any suitable means. For example the extraction anvil may be associated with or form part of the driving anvil, or in the alternative it may be separate and spaced from the driving anvil. Where the driving anvil is the shaft upper end, the extraction anvil may comprise a collar or lug welded or otherwise formed or secured adjacent the driving anvil portion of the shaft upper end. The collar or lug may also serve as part of the driving anvil. The sleeve may be provided with display mounting means. The display mounting means may take any suitable form. For example the display mounting means may comprise a simple post extension extending axially from the upper end of the slide hammer member and adapted to secure the luff or post edge of a flag, pennant, banner or the like, have a metal sheet sign or CORFLUTE ^® attached thereto by bolts screws or rivets, with or without transverse stiffening battens. The display mounting means may comprise an elongate pin portion upon which a corresponding sleeve portion of a sign assembly may rotate, either to provide a rotating sign or an orientable sign. In the case of a rotating sign the upper end of the pin may have a hardened or self-lubricating tip to provide for low friction rotation. There may be provided securing means to secure the signage.

The display mounting means may be secured to the side wall or elsewhere on the sleeve. For example there may be provided a lateral extension toward the lower end of the sleeve and including a mounting lug for a sign or the like. A lower end plate of the sleeve may extend transverse the sleeve long axis to provide the lateral extension and thus a mounting base for a sign post deployed alongside the sleeve.

In a further aspect the present invention resides broadly in self-drivable post apparatus including:

a shaft having a ground penetrating lower end ;

a slide hammer sleeve on the shaft and movable between a lower position where a driving hammer portion of the slide hammer sleeve contacts a driving anvil portion of the shaft, and an upper position where an extraction hammer portion contacts an extraction anvil of the shaft; and

display mounting means adapted to selectively mount a sign, flag, banner or the like on said slide hammer sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the following non-limiting embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings and wherein: Fig. 1 is an exploded side view of apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of a sign mounting portions for use in the apparatus of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is an exploded detail view of an alternative extraction hammer plate suitable for use in the apparatus of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 is an exploded side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the sleeve of the apparatus of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is an exploded view of a yet further embodiment of the present invention.

In Fig. 1 there is provided a broadly in self-drivable post apparatus including a shaft 10 formed of hot rolled steel Y-post stock and having a ground penetrating lower end 1 1 formed by cutting a point. A slide hammer sleeve 12 is formed of tubular steel and is closed at its upper end by a welded driving hammer cap 13 having a solid round-bar core extending into the bore of the body to provide driving inertial mass.

A display mounting post 14 is welded axially of the sleeve 12 to the cap 13. A pair of dolly handles 15 is provided on the slide hammer sleeve 12.

The shaft 10 has a limit pin receiving aperture 16, the purpose of which will become apparent hereinafter. The shaft 10 has an upper anvil end 17 having steel round bar inserts 20 welded into the Y-section valleys of the shaft 10 and forming at their upper end a common anvil surface with the upper anvil end 17 and at their lower end an extraction anvil. A liner sleeve 18 is located within and provides additional inertial mass to the economical-tube sleeve 12.

An extraction hammer plate 21 has a star shaped axial aperture 22 there through, forming a guide for the shaft 10, and is welded to the bottom end of the sleeve 12. The plate 21 has a lobe 24 extending laterally of the sleeve 12 in use and capable of supporting a sign (not shown) on mounting lug 26.

A pair of spaced lugs 23 are welded to the face of the plate 21 disposed in spaced relation about the axial aperture 22 and thus about a web of the shaft 10 including the limit pin receiving aperture 16. Opposed apertures in the lugs 23 cooperate with the limit pin receiving aperture 16 to retain the sleeve 12 to the shaft 10 in the fully driven position by means of retaining pin assembly 25.

In assembly, the shaft 10 is passes point 1 1 first through the aperture 22 in the plate 21 , and then the anvil end 17 is passed into the lower bore opening of the sleeve 12. The plate 21 is then offered up to the lower bore opening of the sleeve 12 and welded in position at 26.

A sign assembly (not shown) may be secured to the mounting post 14 by conventional means.

In use, the assembly is placed in position and the user grips the handles 15 to work the slide hammer sleeve 12 as a conventional slide hammer until the opposed apertures in the lugs 23 cooperate with the limit pin receiving aperture 16 to retain the sleeve 12 to the shaft 10 in the fully driven position by means of retaining pin assembly 25. The sign assembly is then installed. To remove or reuse, the retaining pin assembly 25 is removed, freeing the slide hammer sleeve 12 to be raised with force until the plate 21 impacts the lower ends of the welded steel round bar inserts 20. The inertia of the slide hammer sleeve 12 drives the shaft 10 out.

In the alternate arrangement of Fig. 2, the driving hammer cap 13 is welded to the sleeve 12 and mounts a separable display mounting post 14 via a welded-in adapter 26. In the alternate arrangement of Fig. 3, the extraction hammer plate 21 is a plain, round plate welded to the lower end of the sleeve 12 and in turn having welded to it the lugs 12 supporting the pin assembly 25.

Apparatus in accordance with the foregoing embodiment requires no special tools for installation or extraction. The assembly is preserved against accidental or unauthorized removal by the retaining pin assembly 25, which prevents any extraction momentum being applied, and which can be made lockable.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the slide hammer sleeve 12 is again formed of tubular steel and is closed at its upper end by a welded driving hammer cap 13. A pair of dolly handles 15 is again provided on the slide hammer sleeve 12. An extraction hammer plate 21 has a star shaped axial aperture 22 therethrough, forming a guide for the shaft 10 (omitted for clarity and used without the inserts 20), and is welded to the bottom end of the sleeve 12. A pair of spaced lugs 23 are again welded to the face of the plate 21 disposed in spaced relation about the axial aperture 22 and thus about a web of the shaft 10 including the limit pin receiving aperture 16. Opposed apertures in the lugs 23 cooperate with the limit pin receiving aperture 16 to retain the sleeve 12 to the shaft 10 in the fully driven position by means of retaining pin assembly 25.

A carrier assembly 30 is captive in the sleeve 12 and comprises a substantially cylindrical body 31 closed at its upper end by a welded-on driving anvil cap 32. The cylindrical body 31 is substantially closed at its lower end by a welded-on lower extraction anvil cap 33 having a star shaped aperture 34 for accepting the upper end of the shaft 10.

A pin/handle 35 has pin portions 36 passing into the body 31 through holes 37 and retained by springs 40, washers 41 and dome nuts 42. The nuts are installed and removed by indexing the body 31 with socket access ports 43, which align with corresponding access holes (not shown) which are diametrically opposed to the holes 37. The handle 35 extends out of the sleeve 12 through slot 44. In use, the nuts 42 are removed through the access ports 43 with a socket wrench. The upper butt end of the shaft is passed through the aperture 34 of the lower extraction anvil cap 33 until holes in the shaft 10 align with the holes 37, whereupon the pin portions 36 are inserted through and the springs 40, washers 41 and dome nuts 42 reinstalled. The now captive shaft 10 can now be dolly- driven as before.

Essentially the same configuration may allow the pin/handle 35 to be withdrawn against spring bias to allow quick insertion and insertion and release of the shaft 10. This only requires that the pin portions extend beyond the nuts or the nuts are configured to engage the shaft 10.

When the driving is done, the assembly may be retained in situ by engagement of the pin assembly 25 with the shaft 10 aperture 16 as before. Alternatively the pin/handle 35 can be removed to release the shaft 10 from the body 31 , allowing the sleeve 12 be withdrawn, leaving the driven shaft 10 in situ. The sleeve 12 may be reinstalled to allow extraction of the shaft 10. In the embodiment of Fig. 6, there is provided a self-drivable post apparatus for use on e.g. bitumen paved surfaces and including a toughened round bar bitumen spike 46 having a pavement-penetrating lower end 45. A slide hammer sleeve 12 is again formed of tubular steel and is closed at its upper end by a welded driving hammer cap 13. An extraction hammer plate 21 has an axial aperture 22 therethrough, forming a guide for the spike 46 and is welded to the bottom end of the sleeve 12 to make the spike 64 captive in the sleeve 12.

The top of the spike 46 has an anvil body 47 having at its upper end a driving anvil surface 50 and an extraction anvil surface 51 at its lower end.

It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is set forth in the claims appended hereto.