FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates an anchoring system for securing posts, such as fence posts, sign posts or the like into the ground.

BACKGROUND

[0002] One conventional way to secure posts in the ground is by pouring concrete into the post hole along with the post and allowing the concrete to set surrounding the post. This method has a number of disadvantages. The post may shift position or tilt before the concrete is sufficiently set causing the finished post to extend from the ground at a tilted angle. If the post becomes damaged by wear and tear over time, the entire post and concrete anchor would have to be removed and a new one installed. It is not possible to simply remove the post from the anchor and replace the post. The concrete which surrounded the old post must be disposed of at specialized landfill sites.

[0003] Another conventional way to secure a post is to insert the post into a socket having a large heavy spike and driving the socket into the ground. The anchor spikes are typically made of metal to withstand the forces needed to drive the spike socket into the ground. The socket spike or the post may become tilted during the process of setting the spike and inserting the post, resulting in a tilted post. A metal spike is heavy to manufacture and transport. Moreover, a metal spike socket may be vulnerable to corrosion while buried in the earth.

[0004] US patent 3,809,346 teaches a fence post having a rectangular base plate which rests on the surface of the ground. A vertically extending socket is attached to the base plate to contain one end of the fence post. Drift pins are inserted into brackets fixed onto the socket and driven through slots in the base plate to enter the ground at an angle of about 45 degrees to the vertical to lock the fence post support to the ground. Fence posts are supported in the fence post sockets to carry fencing in a conventional manner. The socket is metallic and is welded to the base plate. This anchor is not intended to be buried in the ground. The anchor relies upon the height and strength of the walls of the socket to retain the post in a vertical position, and the retention of the drift pins in the ground to secure the base plate to the ground.

[0005] German patent 3,820,698 teaches a foundation for signposts which consists of lightweight plastic mouldings which can be joined to one another with bolts or fasteners to surround and support a signpost. Each of the mouldings has a baseplate and an outer wall which protrudes upward from the baseplate. An inner wall also protrudes from the baseplate (and surrounds the post). Support ribs extend between the inner and outer walls and are fixed to the baseplate. The mouldings are attached to the signpost at any desired height in the region of its insertion into the ground and achieve a tilting stability of the signpost. For extra strength the cup-like segments formed by the base plate, the support ribs and the inner and outer walls can be filled with concrete or other material. The post protrudes through the foundation, such that the foundation does not support the weight of the post and would not prevent the post from being directly uprooted.

[0006] International application WO2010000403 teaches a stabilizer and adjusting device for ground anchorages. The stabilizer is intended for use on an already built already in the ground anchor, to improve stability and increase the force required to pull the anchor out of the ground. The stabilizer comprises a laterally extending baseplate and rods which protrude through the baseplate at oblique angles and are anchorable in the ground, substantially increasing the pull out forces and improving the stability against tilting. Figure 4 shows a stabilizer base plate with a number of radially extending clamping elements 15 (preferably threaded spindles) arranged on the stabilizer base plate. This stabilizer does not support the base of the post, and such that it does not rely on the weight of the post itself for additional stability.

[0007] US patent No. 9,238,922 teaches a ground anchor for a flexible delineator. The ground anchor includes a unitary plastic body having a receptacle shaped and configured for connection to a delineator post and a ground engaging anchor portion extending from the receptacle along a longitudinal axis. The anchor portion includes a plurality of tapered blades. Delineator assemblies using the ground anchor, and methods of installing the ground anchor, are also provided. The patent teaches that the anchor which is embedded in the ground is comprised of a lightweight unitary plastic body or base, preferably constructed from high impact polystyrene or similar materials. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An anchoring system for securing a post into the ground comprises an anchor plate for insertion into a hole in the ground. The anchor plate defines a post receiver to receive a first end of the post and support the weight of the post. A ground supporting body extends laterally from the post receiver. A plurality of struts is attachable to the post and mountable to the anchoring plate at positions distal to the post receiver. The post receiver is a recess within the anchor plate having a base sized and positioned to receive the first end of the post. The base defines an opening to receive a fastening means for securing the post to the post receiver. The anchor plate defines a plurality of indentations at positions distal to the post receiver, each one of said indentations being adapted to seat one of the plurality of struts.

[0009] Each of the indentations comprises a back wall and a front wall. The back wall presents a seating surface to orient a corresponding one of the struts toward the post at an angle between 30-70 degrees. Each of the indentations defines an opening through its back wall to receive one of the plurality of struts therethrough.

[0010] Each of the struts has a first end for mounting within one of the indentations in the anchor plate and a second first end for attachment to the post. Each of the struts is a hanger bolt having a thread at the first end to receive a nut for mounting to the anchor plate, and a tapered screw thread at the second end thereof for threaded attachment to the post.

[0011] A method of securing a post into the ground has the following steps. A first end of the post is seated on a post receiver of an anchoring plate and fastened to the anchoring plate. The first ends of a plurality of struts are seated into a corresponding plurality of indentations in the anchor plate at positions distal to the post receiver. The second ends of the plurality of struts are attached to the post at positions adjacent to the first end of the post. The plurality of struts is then mounted to the anchor plate. Next, the first end of the post with the anchor plate fixed thereto is inserted into a hole in the ground. The ground is backfilled onto the anchor plate to bury the anchor plate while allowing the post to protrude above ground level. Finally, the ground is tamped around the post to pack the ground onto the anchor plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG.1 is a sectional view of a post and an anchoring system for securing post, shown installed in the ground

[0013] FIG.2 is a top plan view of an anchoring plate in accordance with the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of the anchoring plate being fixed to the post;

[0015] FIG.4 is a side view of the anchoring plate being tensioned.

[0016] FIG.5 is a perspective view of the post and anchoring system being lowered into a hole dug in the ground. [0017] FIG.6 is a perspective view of the post and anchoring system in the ground and being back filled.

[0018] FIG.7 is a perspective view of the post installed on site with surrounding fill being tamped.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words“lower,”“bottom,”“upper,” and“top” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words“inwardly,” “outwardly,”“upwardly” and“downwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device, and designated parts thereof, in accordance with the present disclosure. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms“a,”“an” and“the” are not limited to one element, but instead should be read as meaning“at least one.” The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

[0020] The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0021] The present invention is an anchoring system for securing a post into the ground. In FIG.1 the anchoring system 10 is shown in operation securing a post

12 in the ground 14. The post 12 is shown with a first end 16 buried underground and the remainder extending above ground. The post 12 could be of any desired height, however, for convenience only a portion of the post has been shown in the drawings. The anchoring system 10 comprises an anchor plate 18 plate for insertion into a hole in the ground. The anchor plate 18 defines a post receiver 20 to receive the first end 16 of the post 12 and to support the weight of the post. The anchor plate 18 extends beyond the footprint of the post on all sides defining a laterally extending ground supporting body 22 surrounding the post receiver 20. A plurality of struts 42 are attachable to the post 12 and mountable to the anchor plate 18 at positions distal to the post receiver. Preferably, at positions on the ground supporting body 22 equidistant from the post and diagonally opposed to one another. Since FIG. 1 is a sectional view, only two of the struts are visible, however their positioning equidistant from the post and diagonally opposed to one another can be seen.

[0022] The contours of the anchor plate 18 are clearly shown in FIG.2 The post receiver 20 is a recess in the top of the surface of the plate which is sized and positioned to receive the first end of the post. The base 30 of the recess is a smooth flat surface to mate well with the squared off first end 16 of the post and to provide a level surface upon which to support the weight of the post. The post receiver 20 may be constructed to accommodate a variety of cross-sectional post sizes and shapes. By way of example the post receiver 20 is shown as a recess having three nested borders 24, 26, 28. The innermost border 24 defines a space which would accommodate a post having a small square cross section. The base 30 would support the first end of the post as mentioned above. The middle border 26 defines a somewhat larger space to accommodate a larger post. It should also be noted that a first raised step 32 is formed between the innermost border 24 and the middle border 26. This first raised step 32 provides a smooth, flat and level surface to support the perimeter of the first end 16 of the post. The outer border 28 defines a larger square cross section to accommodate a larger post. A second raised step 34 is formed between the outer border 28 and the middle border 26. The second raised step 34 provides a smooth flat surface to support the perimeter of the first end of a larger post. It should be understood that the post receiver 20 is not in the nature of a deep socket or sleeve. The post receiver does not engage the sides of the post and does not function in maintaining the post in a vertical position. Instead it serves as a footprint for the first end 16 of the post 12 on the anchor plate 18.

[0023] The base 30 of the post receiver 20 defines an opening 36 to receive a fastening means 38 (shown in FIG. 1 ) for securing the post to the post receiver 22 of the anchor plate 18. In the embodiment illustrated, there may be provided more than one opening 36 and more than one fastening means 38 which can be used to fasten the post 12 to the anchor plate. The post 12 can be fastened to the anchor plate 18 by fastening means 38 extending through the opening(s) 36 the anchor plate in the base 30 of the anchor plate 18 and embedded into the base of the first end 16 of the post 12.

[0024] The anchor plate 18 defines a plurality of indentations 40 at positions which are distal to the post receiver 20. The indentations are located on the ground supporting body 22 distal to the post receiver 20. As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment the indentations 40 are positioned equidistant from the post receiver and diagonally opposed to one another. Four indentations 40 are shown for illustrative purposes, but it should be understood that the plate 18 could be constructed with three or more indentations 40 arrayed at positions distal to the post receiver 20. Each one of the indentations 40 is adapted to seat one of a corresponding plurality of struts 42 which are attachable to the post 12 and mountable on the anchoring plate 18. As shown, each indentation 40 has a back wall 44 (being the wall at the greater distance from the post receiver 20) and a front wall 45. The back wall 44 and the front wall 45 are sloped inwardly toward one another such that the indentations 40 have substantially V-shaped bottoms.

[0025] Each back wall 44 faces the post receiver 20 and is sloped at an angle between 30-70 degrees. Each back wall 44 presents a seating surface which orients the strut 42 toward the post 12 at an angle between 30-70 degrees. The size of the seating surface should be just large enough to seat the strut 42. The orientation of the struts 42 relative to the plane of the anchor plate 18 and the plane of the post 12 provides lateral stability to resist lateral tilting forces as well as vertical uprooting forces. An angle of 45 degrees will provide optimal load transfer between the anchor plate 18 and the post 12, spreading the load outward from the center of the anchor plate. In the extreme, an angle approaching either zero or 90 degrees would provide no load transfer. The struts 42 may act in tension or in compression to resist whatever directional force is applied to the post 12 once the anchoring device 10 is fully assembled and attached to the post. Each of the struts 42 comprises a first end 48 adapted for mounting within one of the indentations 40 in the anchor plate 18 and a second end 50 adapted for

attachment to the post 12 adjacent the first end 16 thereof.

[0026] In the preferred embodiment of the invention best seen in FIG 1 and FIG. 3, each of the struts 42 may be constructed as a hanger bolt having a threaded first end 48 to receive a nut 52 for mounting to the anchor plate 18, and a tapered screw thread at the second end 50 for threaded engagement to the post 16.

[0027] The indentations 40 in the anchor plate 18 preferably each define an opening 46 to receive one of the struts 42 therethrough. As shown in FIG. 2 each of the openings 46 is located on the back wall 44 of the indentation 40. When the struts 42 are mounted to the anchor plate 18 within the indentations 40, the sloped shape of the back wall 44 orients each strut 42 toward the post 12 at an angle between 30-70 degrees, and as discussed above, optimally at a 45-degree angle for the greatest load transfer between the post and the anchor plate. The back wall 44 should be just large enough to fit the first end 48 of the strut and still be able to tighten the nut 52 with an open-ended wrench. The size of the opening 46 is also important. The opening 46 should be just large enough to fit the first end 48 of the strut 42 in order to prevent the strut from shifting in an oversized hole when forces are applied. Minimizing the flat surface size and positioning any bends in the anchor plate 18 closer to the opening 46 (the location of contact between a bolt/nut received through the opening) reduces the ability of the material of the anchor plate 18 to flex around the connection due to applied forces. Flexion of the anchor plate 18 should be avoided. [0028] In an alternative embodiment not shown in the drawings, each of the struts 42 may comprise a first end 48 adapted for mounting within one of the

indentations 40 in the anchor plate 18. Instead of having the threaded first end pass through an opening in the anchor plate and receive a nut for mounting to the anchor plate, the first end 48 might be provided with a foot angled to seat against the back wall 44 of the indentation without passing through an opening in the back wall. The second end of the strut would still be fixed firmly, and preferably embedded in the post. In this embodiment, the strut would provide compressive load bearing support to resist lateral forces applied to the post. The fastener(s) which secure the bottom of the post to the base of the post receiver of the anchoring plate would provide load bearing strength in tension to prevent uprooting of the post. With the anchor plate fastened to the post, the struts would be effectively mounted to the anchor plate by retention of the first end of each strut against the back wall within one of the indentations in the anchor plate.

[0029] In a second alternative embodiment, the anchor plate could be contoured with sockets or key hole notches to lock onto specially contoured rods to serve as struts. Each of the rods would be locked to the anchor plate at their first ends and then screwed into the post at their second ends.

[0030] The anchor plate 18 is constructed to be relatively thin but rigid and lightweight. Preferred materials from which to construct the anchor plate 18 could include steel, aluminum or other metals or alloys which have similar strength characteristics to steel. The material must not be brittle and should be very resistant to cracking or tearing. The anchor plate 18 can be constructed with strengthening contours 60, such as dimples, bends, ribs or webs to add strength to the anchor plate to resist flexion. A further advantage of strengthening contours 60 is that once the anchor plate is buried, the ground will be captured in any dimples or hollows formed in the plate improving retention of the plate within the surrounding ground.

[0031] The anchor plate 18 is downwardly angled (as indicated by reference numeral 56) adjacent its perimeter to form at the perimeter of the anchor plate 18 a biting edge 54 directed downward for contact with the ground beneath the anchor plate.

[0032] In order to secure a post into the ground according to the present invention a method having the following steps method may be followed. As shown in FIG. 3, the first step is seating a first end 16 of a post 12 on a post receiver 20 of an anchoring plate 18. Next, the first end 16 of the post is fastened to the anchor plate 18. A plurality of struts 42 are provided, each strut having a first end and a second end. The first ends 48 of each of the plurality of struts 42 is seated into one of a corresponding plurality of indentations 40 defined in the anchor plate 18 at positions distal to the post receiver 20. The second ends 50 of each of the plurality of struts is attached to the post 12 at positions adjacent to the first end 16 thereof. Next the first ends 48 of the plurality of struts 42 are mounted to the anchor plate 18.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment the struts are received within openings 46 through the anchor plate 18. Each opening 46 is located in a back wall 44 of one of the indentations 40 in the anchor plate 18. The first ends 48 of the plurality of struts 42 are threaded to receive a nut 52 for mounting to the anchor plate. Each of the plurality of struts 42 has a tapered screw thread at a second 50 end thereof. Each of the plurality of struts 42 is turned to embed the tapered screw thread into the post adjacent the first end 16 thereof. As shown in FIG. 4, once the second end 50 of each of the struts 42 is embedded within the post 12, the first ends 48 of each of the struts is mounted to the anchor plate. This mounting step is

accomplished by tightening the nuts 52 onto the struts 42 adjacent their first ends 48.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 5, the next step is inserting the first end 16 of the post 12, having the anchor plate 18 fixed thereto, into a hole in the ground. Preferably the hole will be flat bottomed and level. The depth of the hole will be selected by the person who installs the post. The desired depth for any given installation would vary with the height of the pole, the make-up of the ground, soil type, rock content, moisture levels, etc. As shown in FIG. 6, the anchor plate 18 is positioned in the bottom of the hole with the biting edge 54 of the perimeter of the anchor plate 18 directed downward for biting contact with the ground below the anchor plate 18 and then the ground is backfilled onto the anchor plate 18. The ground supporting body 22 receives and supports the ground. Likewise, the contours 60 retain ground. The anchor plate 18 is completely buried inside the hole while allowing the post 12 to protrude above ground level.

[0035] Finally, as shown in FIG. 7, once the ground has been replaced to completely fill the hole, the ground is tamped using a tamper 58 to pack the ground onto the ground supporting body 22 of the anchor plate 18, into the contours 60, and to permit the biting edge 54 of the perimeter of the anchor plate to form a biting contact with the ground below the anchor plate.

[0036] In principle the anchoring system 10 according to the present invention relies upon the weight of the ground on top of the anchor plate 18 to secure the post 12 into the ground 14. The post is fixed to the anchor plate by the combined downward weight of the post 12 resting on the post receiver of the anchor plate 18, the fastener 38 secured through the fastener opening 36 in the base 30 of the anchor plate 18 and into the base of the post, and the presence of the struts 42 attached to the post 12 and mounted to the anchor plate18. The struts 42 are held in compression between the anchor plate 18 and the post 12. The presence and the angled orientation of the struts 42 provides lateral stability to resist a lateral load applied to the post above ground level. Thus, the post 12 will be stabilized against tilting or tipping. The fastening of the anchor plate 18 to the post 12 provides tension to resist any upward force preventing the anchor from being uprooted. There are also vertical forces to resist. Frost in the up direction and the weight of the fence in the down direction. The struts also distribute these forces farther out from the middle of the plate. Without the struts, these forces would be applied within the dimensions of the post (4x4 or 5x5 or 6x6). Without the struts to spread out the load, the plate material would need to be thicker to achieve the same vertical resistance without bending or deforming.

[0037] The anchoring system 10 of the present invention has been designed so that the anchor plate 18, the fasteners 38, and the struts 42 are all detachable from the post 12. If the post becomes damaged and requires replacement, it is a simple matter to unearth the anchor plate and remove the fastener and struts to disengage the post from the anchor plate. The old post can be removed and a new post can be attached to the anchor plate using the same fastener and struts and the anchor plate can be reburied. There is no need to replace or dispose of the anchor plate.

[0038] The anchor plate is much lighter and easier to manufacture than conventional spike sockets. The anchor plate is fabricated as a single piece construction with no crevices or cracks that would make painting difficult. Anchor plates can be stacked on one another for storage and shipping. The anchor plates can be manufactured from corrosion resistant materials or treated with corrosion resistant methods such as painting or galvanizing.