Internal compression mount for hollow posts

Abstract

An internal compression mount for attaching hollow posts to a base surface. A substantially “I” shaped post mount is fixedly attached to a bottom plate. The bottom plate and post mount may be leveled on the base surface with shims and leveling bolts. Threaded shafts may be inserted through a top plate, through the post mount, through the bottom plate, the base surface and through a mounting plate. The threaded shafts receive nuts, which are tightened to produce a compressive force on the post mount between the top plate and the mounting plate below the base surface. The compressive force between the base of the post mount and the mounting plate grasps the base surface in a vice like manner and securely affixes the post mount to the base surface. A hollow post can then slide in place over the post mount.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A mounting system for mounting a hollow post on a base, said mounting system comprising: 
 a compression mount, said compression mount comprising a pair of sidewalls separated by a brace portion, said brace portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls and defining a cavity;    a plurality of shafts passing through said cavity in said compression mount;    wherein said mounting system is configured such that said plurality of shafts can be used to compress said compression mount against said base such that said hollow post can be installed over said compression mount to attach said hollow post on said base.    
     
     
         2 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , further comprising a top plate positioned on a top of said compression mount.  
     
     
         3 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom plate positioned on the bottom of said compression mount.  
     
     
         4 . The mounting system of  claim 3 , wherein said bottom plate comprises a groove for receiving said compression mount.  
     
     
         5 . The mounting system of  claim 3 , wherein said bottom plate comprises a plurality of adjustment bolt openings for receiving adjustment bolts to adjust the orientation of said mounting system.  
     
     
         6 . The mounting system of  claim 3 , wherein said bottom plate comprises a drain hole for allowing water to pass through said bottom plate.  
     
     
         7 . The mounting system of  claim 6 , wherein said bottom plate further comprises a seepage channel in communication with said drain hole.  
     
     
         8 . The mounting system of  claim 3 , wherein said bottom plate comprises a shim slot for receiving a shim to adjust the orientation of said mounting system.  
     
     
         9 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting plate for attachment to an underside of the base.  
     
     
         10 . The mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of shafts comprise threads, and wherein nuts are disposed on said threads such that when said nuts are tightened, a compressive force is applied to said compression mount.  
     
     
         11 . A mounting system for mounting a hollow post on a base, said mounting system comprising: 
 a compression mount;    at least one shaft passing through said compression mount; and    a bottom plate positioned on a bottom of said compression mount, said bottom plate having a groove configured for receiving said compression mount therein to prevent lateral movement of said compression mount with respect to said bottom plate;    wherein said bottom plate is configured to be positioned on said base and said at least one shaft is configured to compress said compression mount against said base such that said hollow post can be installed over said compression mount to attach said hollow post on said base.    
     
     
         12 . The mounting system of  claim 11 , further comprising a top plate positioned on a top of said compression mount.  
     
     
         13 . The mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein said bottom plate comprises a plurality of adjustment bolt openings for receiving adjustment bolts to adjust the orientation of said mounting system.  
     
     
         14 . The mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein said bottom plate comprises a drain hole for allowing water to pass through said bottom plate.  
     
     
         15 . The mounting system of  claim 14 , wherein said bottom plate further comprises a seepage channel in communication with said drain hole.  
     
     
         16 . The mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein said bottom plate comprises a shim slot for receiving a shim to adjust the orientation of said mounting system with respect to said base.  
     
     
         17 . The mounting system of  claim 11 , further comprising a mounting plate for attachment to an underside of the base.  
     
     
         18 . The mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one shaft comprise threads, and wherein a nut is disposed on said threads such that when said nut is tightened, a compressive force is applied to said compression mount.  
     
     
         19 . The mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein said compression mount comprises a pair of spaced apart planar walls.  
     
     
         20 . The mounting system of  claim 19 , wherein said compression mount further comprises a brace portion supporting said pair of spaced apart planar walls, said brace portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said pair of spaced apart planar walls.  
     
     
         21 . The mounting system of  claim 20 , wherein said brace portion defines a cavity for receiving said at least one shaft.  
     
     
         22 . A mounting system for mounting a hollow post on a base, said mounting system comprising: 
 a compression mount;    at least one shaft passing through said compression mount; and    a bottom plate positioned on a bottom of said compression mount, said bottom plate having at least one shim slot for receiving a shim to adjust the orientation of said bottom plate with respect to said base;    wherein said bottom plate is configured to be positioned on said base and said at least one shaft is configured to compress said compression mount against said base such that said hollow post can be installed over said compression mount to attach said hollow post on said base.    
     
     
         23 . The mounting system of  claim 22 , further comprising a top plate positioned on a top of said compression mount.  
     
     
         24 . The mounting system of  claim 22 , wherein said bottom plate comprises a plurality of adjustment bolt openings for receiving adjustment bolts to adjust the orientation of said mounting system with respect to said base.  
     
     
         25 . The mounting system of  claim 22 , wherein said bottom plate comprises a drain hole for allowing water to pass through said bottom plate.  
     
     
         26 . The mounting system of  claim 25 , wherein said bottom plate further comprises a seepage channel in communication with said drain hole.  
     
     
         27 . The mounting system of  claim 22 , further comprising a mounting plate for attachment to an underside of the base.  
     
     
         28 . The mounting system of  claim 22 , wherein said at least one shaft comprise threads, and wherein a nut is disposed on said threads such that when said nut is tightened, a compressive force is applied to said compression mount.  
     
     
         29 . The mounting system of  claim 22 , wherein said compression mount comprises a pair of spaced apart planar walls.  
     
     
         30 . The mounting system of  claim 29 , wherein said compression mount further comprises a brace portion supporting said pair of spaced apart planar walls, said brace portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said pair of spaced apart planar walls.  
     
     
         31 . The mounting system of  claim 30 , wherein said brace portion defines a cavity for receiving said at least one shaft.  
     
     
         32 . The mounting system of  claim 22 , further comprising a wedge threadably attached to said at least one shaft.  
     
     
         33 . A mounting system for mounting a hollow post on a base, said mounting system comprising: 
 a compression mount, said compression mount comprising a pair of sidewalls separated by a brace portion, said brace portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls and defining a cavity;    a plurality of shafts passing through said cavity in said compression mount;    a bottom plate positioned on a bottom of said compression mount;    a top plate positioned on a top of said compression mount; and    a mounting plate for attachment to an underside of the base;    wherein said bottom plate comprises a groove for receiving said compression mount to prevent said compression mount from moving laterally with respect to said bottom plate;    wherein said bottom plate further comprises a plurality of adjustment bolt openings for receiving adjustment bolts to adjust the orientation of said bottom plate with respect to said base;    wherein said bottom plate further comprises a plurality of shaft openings for receiving said plurality of shafts;    wherein said bottom plate further comprises at least one shim slot for receiving a shim to adjust the orientation of said bottom plate with respect to said base;    wherein said bottom plate further comprises a drain hole for allowing water to pass through said bottom plate;    wherein said bottom plate further comprises a seepage channel in communication with said drain hole;    wherein said plurality of shafts comprise threads, and wherein nuts are disposed on said threads such that when said nuts are tightened, a compressive force is applied to said compression mount;    wherein said plurality of shafts comprise two shafts;    wherein said sidewalls are spaced apart and define planar surfaces for contacting said hollow post;    wherein said mounting system is configured such that said bottom plate is adapted to be positioned on an upper side of said base, said mounting plate is adapted to be positioned on a lower side of said base, and said shafts are configured extend through said top plate, said compression mount, said bottom plate, said base and said mounting plate such that when said nuts are threadably tightened on said shafts said compression mount is compressed against said base such that said hollow post can be installed over said compression mount to attach said hollow post on said base.    
     
     
         34 . A method for mounting a hollow post on a base, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) placing a compression mount on a bottom plate;    (b) placing said bottom plate on said base;    (c) compressing said compression mount against said base;    (d) placing at least one shim under said bottom plate to adjust an orientation of said bottom plate with respect to said base; and    (e) sliding said hollow post over said compression mount.