U.S. patent number RE35,133 [Application Number 08/219,118] was granted by the patent office on 1995-12-26 for channel sign post socket and method of installing sign post.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sign Post Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Charles F. Halloran, Jr..
United States Patent |
RE35,133 |
Halloran, Jr. |
December 26, 1995 |
Channel sign post socket and method of installing sign post
Abstract
A socket and method for anchoring a sign post in the ground
securely without requiring the sign post to be drivingly impacted.
The socket has a hollow cavity having a cross sectional
configuration substantially the same as that of the post, the
cavity terminating at a ledge. The ledge is an edge of a portion of
a leader inserted into one end of the socket and having the
remainder of the leader extending from that one end. The socket is
driven into the ground by inserting a driving rod into the cavity
and impacting the driving rod against the ledge formed by the
leader until the socket is driven to the desired depth in the
ground. The driving rod is then withdrawn and the sign post is
inserted into the socket and secured to it.
Inventors: |
Halloran, Jr.; Charles F.
(Chattanooga, TN) |
Assignee: |
Sign Post Products, Inc.
(Chattanooga, TN)
|
Family
ID: |
24785777 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/219,118 |
Filed: |
March 29, 1994 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
693710 |
Apr 30, 1991 |
05104265 |
Apr 14, 1992 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
405/244; 405/249;
405/253; 52/165 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H
12/2215 (20130101); E04H 17/263 (20130101); E01F
9/685 (20160201) |
Current International
Class: |
E04H
17/26 (20060101); E04H 12/22 (20060101); E02D
005/54 (); E02D 005/22 (); E02D 007/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;405/231,232,244,249,253,255 ;52/155,156,158,165 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Ricci; John A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ruderman; Alan
Claims
Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimed
herein is:
1. A socket for installing a sign post in the ground, said sign
post having a substantially U-shape channel cross sectional
configuration, said socket comprising a housing having wall means
of finite length defining an elongated hollow cavity, said cavity
having a U-shape cross sectional configuration substantially
identical to that of said sign post for receiving said sign post
snugly, a rigid leader having a U-shape cross sectional
configuration substantially identical to said sign post, means for
securing a portion of said leader including a free edge within said
cavity to form a closure to said cavity at one end of said socket,
the remaining portion of said leader extending out from said socket
at said one end, said socket being adapted to be disposed in the
ground with an end opposite said one end above the surface of the
ground, whereby said sign post may be inserted into said socket
through the end above the surface of the ground and abut said edge
of said leader as a stop and may be secured to said socket adjacent
said end disposed above the ground.
2. A socket as recited in claim 1, wherein said wall means
comprises a pair of spaced apart walls having a cross sectional
configuration substantially identical to said sign post, and means
for securing lateral ends of said walls together in spaced apart
relationship.
3. A socket as recited in claim 1, wherein said leader includes
laterally extending wings on at least a part of said remaining
portion for securely anchoring said socket within the ground.
4. A method for installing a sign post in the ground, said sign
post having a .[.substantially U-shape.]. channel cross sectional
configuration, .[.aid.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.method comprising:
(a) providing a socket having an elongated hollow cavity with a
cross sectional configuration substantially identical to the sign
post;
(b) providing a rigid leader of finite length including first and
second spaced apart distal edges and having a cross sectional
configuration substantially identical to said sign post;
(c) securing said leader partly into said cavity adjacent one end
of said socket with a first distal edge of said leader within said
cavity to form a closure to said cavity at said one end while
permitting the remainder of said leader including a second distal
edge to extend from said one end;
(d) disposing said socket such that said second distal edge engages
the surface of said ground;
(e) impacting said first distal edge of said leader from within
said socket toward said ground to drive said leader together with
said socket to a desired depth into said ground; and
(f) inserting said sign post into said socket.
5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said impacting of said
leader comprises inserting a driving rod into said cavity until it
abuts said leader, and impacting said driving rod from outside said
socket while maintaining the rod in abutment with said leader.
6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said inserting of said
driving rod includes providing a driving rod having a cross
sectional configuration substantially identical to said sign
post.
7. The method as recited in claim 5, including removing said
driving rod from said socket prior to inserting said sign post.
8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said impacting of said
leader includes driving said socket so that a portion of said
socket remains above the ground, and securing said sign post within
said socket to the portion of said socket remaining above the
ground after said sign post has been inserted into said socket.
9. The method of .[.driving a socket having a hollow interior into
the ground to provide a supporting anchor for a sign post or the
like, said method comprising.]. .Iadd.installing a post in the
ground comprising: providing a socket having a hollow interior,
.Iaddend.providing a solid member having at least a portion with
substantially the same cross sectional configuration as said hollow
interior of said socket, positioning said portion of said member
into one end of said socket with the remainder of said member
extending from said one end, securing said member while so
positioned to the socket, disposing the remainder of said member so
as to engage the surface of said ground, inserting a driving rod
.Iadd.having substantially an identical cross sectional
configuration as that of the hollow interior of said socket
.Iaddend.into said socket and into abutment with said member
.[.and.]. .Iadd.to substantially fill the interior of the socket,
.Iaddend.impacting said driving rod from outside said socket while
maintaining abutment of said rod with said member to thereby impact
said member from within said socket to drive said member and said
socket into the ground to a desired depth.Iadd., and inserting said
post into said socket and into abutment with said member.Iaddend..
.Iadd.
10. A method of installing a post in the ground, said post having a
predetermined cross sectional configuration, said method comprising
providing a socket having an elongated hollow interior cavity with
a cross sectional configuration substantially identical to the
post, closing one end of said socket to form a seat within said
socket, disposing said socket so that said one end engages the
surface of said ground, inserting a driving rod having
substantially an identical cross sectional configuration as that of
the interior of said socket into said socket and into abutment with
said seat to substantially fill the interior of the sockets,
impacting said driving rod from outside said socket while
maintaining abutment of said rod with said seat to thereby impact
said seat from within said socket to drive said socket into the
ground to a desired depth, and inserting said post into said socket
and into abutment with said seat. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the installation of channel post
supported street signs and more particularly to a socket or sleeve
and method for securely installing such channel sign posts in the
ground rapidly, efficiently and inexpensively.
Flange shaped sign posts or channel posts in the prior art are
installed in the ground by one of two methods. In the most popular
method the top of the post is impacted manually or mechanically to
drive the post to the required depth into the ground. Since such
posts have lengths of generally eight to ten feet or more, the
installation requires a worker assisted by at least a second worker
to climb above the post to impact the top of the post either with a
manually driven sledge or by the use of heavy hand-held equipment.
This method clearly involves safety hazards because of the climbing
involved and because at least one worker is substantially always
working above the positional level of his head. If mechanical
equipment is used to impact the top of the sign post, not only is
at least one additional worker still required, but initial
equipment costs and maintenance costs increase the expense of
installing the sign. In the second method, a length of circular
pipe having an inside diameter of approximately three and one-half
inches is sealed at the bottom with a V-shaped configuration by
swaging or the like, and the pipe is driven into the ground to a
required depth of approximately 24 inches. The channel post is then
inserted into the hollow of the pipe and a metal wedge is
thereafter hammered into engagement with the channel post and the
wall of the pipe to lock the post in position. This method requires
large forces to impact the top of the pipe to displace the ground
by the pipe, and also requires impacting of the wedge against the
post. Thus, large hand-held mechanical impacting equipment is
required which also necessitates the use of more than one worker
and substantial equipment maintenance costs.
In a search of the prior art, the following patents were located
relating to the impacting of a post, column or pipe into the
ground: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,665,994; 4,565,251; 4,315,551 and
2,902,832. In each case the post, column or pipe is struck on the
end remote from the end entering the ground. A less relevant patent
located during the search is U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,005 which relates
to a log splitter impacted on the end remote from the log entering
end. The aforesaid art confirms that the driving of a post or the
like into the ground by striking it at the upper end presents
inherent safety hazards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Consequently, it is a primary object of the present invention to
provide a socket adapted to be driven into the ground for receiving
a channel sign post to be installed in the ground, and a method for
installing the channel sign post in the ground.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a channel
sign posts installation system requiring less workers and
elimination of the climbing hazards inherent with prior art channel
sign post installation systems.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method
for installing channel sign posts in a safer manner and with a
reduced number of workers than prior art methods.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a
socket having a hollow interior conforming to the cross sectional
configuration of a channel sign post, the socket having a closed
end remote from the channel sign post receiving end, the closed end
having a member adapted to be impacted for guiding the socket into
the ground when the member is struck by a driving element
positioned into the socket through the channel post receiving
end.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a socket for receiving
a channel shaped sign post, the socket having a hollow cavity
including a cross sectional configuration substantially the same
size and shape as the post, the socket adapted to be forcibly
positioned within the ground and having a length sufficient to
support the sign when so positioned. The cavity of the socket
terminates at a ledge upon which the sign post is disposed when
supported within the ground, the ledge being the trailing edge of a
leader having substantially the same configuration as the sign post
channel. The socket is driven into the ground by inserting a
driving rod, preferably also having the same configuration as the
sign post channel, into the socket and impacting the driving rod
against the trailing edge of the leader, the driving rod extending
only a small amount above the upper end of the socket. Thus, the
socket is driven into the ground by impacting the leader from
within the socket rather than impacting the upper end as in the
prior art so that the impacting force is concentrated directly on
the ground displacing leader. This reduces the force required to
drive the socket into the ground compared to impacting on the top
of the socket and permits the socket to be fabricated from sheet
metal since upsetting of the top of the socket does not occur.
After the socket has been driven into the ground to the desired
length, the driving rod is removed and replaced with the sign post
which may thereafter be bolted to the ground anchored sleeve. The
leader preferably is a section of channel post and may include
tapered side wings precluding loosening and removal of the socket
from the ground.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as
other objects will become apparent from the following description
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sign having a channel shaped post
installed within a socket constructed and positioned within the
ground in accordance with the principles of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view partly broken away illustrating the
method of installing the socket within the ground;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the insertion of a
driving rod into the socket in preparation for driving the socket
into the ground, the driving rod being partly broken away for ease
of illustration;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line
4--4 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line
5--5 of FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a sign
post 10 having a sign 12 mounted to the upper end is secured within
a socket entrapped in the ground 16, the socket 14 being
constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
invention. The sign post 10 has a substantially U-shape or channel
shape cross sectional configuration and is generally known as a
channel post. The sign post is conventional and is constructed from
sheet metal of approximately 10 gauge thickness or the like, the
channel shape being for the purpose of providing sufficient
rigidity and load bearing capacity for bending and twisting forces.
As is well known, and as illustrated in the drawings, the channel
post 10 includes a central web disposed intermediate a pair of legs
having outwardly extending wings at the ends thereof.
As aforesaid, conventional methods of mounting the channel post in
the ground are either to impact the top of the post with a driving
force or to insert and wedge the post into the hollow of a circular
pipe driven into the ground by impacting the top thereof. The
present invention overcomes the disadvantages of these methods by
providing the socket 14 with an internal cross sectional
configuration substantially identical to the cross sectional
configuration of the channel post 10 so that the post is slidably
receivable within the socket and is accommodated therein snugly
with little or no play.
The socket 14 is metallic and, although it may be forged or
extruded from steel, it is preferably fabricated from a pair of
channel shaped members 18, 20, of substantially the same
configuration as the channel post 14, the members 18 and 20 being
spaced apart at the central web and leg portions and being
connected together adjacent the outer ends of each wing portion by
spacer members 22 so as to form a hollow internal cavity 24 in the
unconnected space between the members 18 and 20, as illustrated
best in FIG. 5. The members 18 and 20 may each be 20 gauge sheet
metal and preferably are welded to the spacer members 22. The
internal cavity 24 thus has a cross sectional configuration
substantially identical to the channel post 10.
Adjacent the bottom of the socket there is a small section of
channel post defining a leader 26 which has a portion received
within the cavity and a portion of approximately two to three
inches extending out thereof, the leader being secured to the
socket by welding or the like at the lower most edge of at least
one of the members 18, 20. The leader 26, which proceeds the socket
into the ground, as hereinafter described, thus has a leading edge
28 disposed externally of the socket and a trailing edge defining a
ledge 30 in the interior of the socket which closes the cavity at
the bottom thereof. The sign post 10 may thus be received snugly
within the cavity 24 when the socket is positioned in the ground 14
with the bottom edge of the sign post disposed on the ledge 30. The
length of the socket is dependent upon the required depth of the
sign post in the ground, the depth of course being dependent upon
the overall length of the sign post for providing sufficient
support thereto in the mounted position. A bolt 32 or the like may
secure the sign post in the socket, the bolt being received through
a hole 34 extending through the walls 18, 20 of the socket and
through a corresponding aligned hole conventionally formed in the
sign post 10. In order to drive the socket into the ground a
driving rod 36 having a cross sectional shape equivalent to the
sign post 10 is receivable within the cavity 24. The driving rod is
slightly longer than the length of the socket from the ledge 30 to
the upper edge of the socket, e.g., approximately five inches
longer, so that the driving rod extends out the top of the socket
by that amount when positioned within the cavity 24 and disposed on
the ledge 30. The driving rod may then be impacted with a sledge or
slide hammer 38 to drive the socket into the ground until the top
of the socket is disposed slightly above the ground surface so that
the bolt 32 my be inserted into the hole 34. Since the driving rod
impacts the leader 26 at the ledge 36, the impacting force applied
to the driving rod is concentrated at the leader and thus is
efficiently utilized at a location immediately to the location
where the ground is being displaced. Since the force is not applied
to the top of the socket, the socket is not deformed by being upset
or the like. Thus, there is no restriction to entry of the sign
post into the socket.
In order to minimize the length of the socket and still ensure that
the socket will be secured in the ground, a side wing 40 may be
attached, as by welding, to the exterior portion of each side of
the leader 26. The wings 40 preferably have a triangular shape with
tapered side edges 42 for minimizing frictional resistance with the
ground as the socket is being driven therein, yet the wings provide
large upper edges 44 against which the ground acts to anchor the
socket and-preclude extraction of the socket out of the ground
after it has been installed.
It should thus be clear that in accordance with the method of the
present invention the socket 14 is disposed initially on the
surface of the ground, the driving rod inserted in the cavity 24,
and the top of the driving rod impacted so as to impact the ledge
30 of the leader 26 to thereby drive the socket into the ground.
Once the socket has been driven to the required depth, the driving
rod is withdrawn and the sign post 10 is inserted therein, the sign
post having the sign 12 previously mounted thereon. Accordingly,
the present invention provides a socket for receiving a channel
post mounted sign and the method of installing the sign by driving
the socket into the ground by impacting a portion of the socket
adjacent the end first entering the ground.
Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest
themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be
understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred
embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration
only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All
such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the
invention are intended to be included within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *