Anchor for metal fence post

Abstract

A fence post anchor comprising a lower portion, first and second supporting arms, and first and second main arms, all made out of a single piece of material. The first and second supporting arms wrap around the front face of a metal fence post and ensure that the anchor will bend at a point above the supporting arms rather than at the base. The supporting arms can lie side by side in the same vertical plane or overlap and lock together with tabs and cut-outs, or they may form a notch. The main arms can be flat or rounded at their top edge, and they can include folded flanges that tuck in behind the front face of the fence post. The first and second main arms spread outward and provide resistance if the fence post is subject to upward pressure. A method of manufacturing the anchor of the present invention.

1 . A fence post anchor comprising: 
 a lower portion;    a first supporting arm;    a second supporting arm;    a first main arm; and    a second main arm,    wherein the fence post anchor is made of a single piece of material.    
   
   
       2 . The fence post anchor of  claim 1 , in combination with a metal fence post.  
   
   
       3 . The fence post anchor of  claim 2 , wherein the metal fence post comprises a front face, and the first and second supporting arms are wrapped around the front face of the metal fence post.  
   
   
       4 . The fence post anchor of  claim 3 , wherein the lower portion comprises a bottom end, and the first supporting arm is closer to the bottom end than the second supporting arm, such that the first and second supporting arms lie in the same vertical plane and do not overlap.  
   
   
       5 . The fence post anchor of  claim 4 , wherein the metal fence post further comprises a plurality of evenly spaced knobs on the front face of the metal fence post, and the first and second supporting arms fit between any two contiguous knobs.  
   
   
       6 . The fence post anchor of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second supporting arms do not extend horizontally beyond the knobs on the front face of the metal fence post.  
   
   
       7 . The fence post anchor of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second main arms comprise a top portion that extends horizontally beyond the front face of the metal fence post.  
   
   
       8 . The fence post anchor of  claim 7 , wherein the top portion comprises a top edge, and the top edge of the top portion of the first and second main arms is flat.  
   
   
       9 . The fence post anchor of  claim 7 , wherein the top portion comprises a top edge, and the top edge of the top portion of the first and second main arms is rounded.  
   
   
       10 . The fence post anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the first supporting arm comprises one or more tabs and the second supporting arm comprises one or more cut-outs.  
   
   
       11 . The fence post anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the metal fence post comprises a front face, and the first and second supporting arms are wrapped around the front face of the metal fence post.  
   
   
       12 . The fence post anchor of  claim 11 , wherein the lower portion comprises a bottom end, wherein the first and second supporting arms are equidistant from the bottom end, and wherein the second supporting arm lies directly on top of the first supporting arm.  
   
   
       13 . The fence post anchor of  claim 11 , wherein each tab of the first supporting arm is bent over the second supporting arm and through a cut-out of the second supporting arm.  
   
   
       14 . The fence post anchor of  claim 2 , wherein the metal fence post comprises a front face, wherein the first main arm comprises a first folded flange and the second main arm comprises a second folded flange, and wherein the first and second folded flanges are tucked in behind the front face of the metal fence post.  
   
   
       15 . The fence post anchor of  claim 2 , wherein the first supporting arm comprises a beveled edge and a downward extension, and wherein the second supporting arm comprises a beveled edge and a downward extension.  
   
   
       16 . The fence post anchor of  claim 15 , wherein the downward extensions of the first and second supporting arms form a notch.  
   
   
       17 . The fence post anchor of  claim 16 , wherein the metal fence post comprises a front face and a plurality of evenly spaced knobs on the front face of the metal fence post, and wherein one of the knobs fits into the notch.  
   
   
       18 . The fence post anchor of  claim 17 , wherein the knob that fits into the notch is the bottom-most knob on the metal fence post.  
   
   
       19 . The fence post anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the material is stainless steel.  
   
   
       20 . The fence post anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the material is hot rolled mild steel.  
   
   
       21 . The fence post anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the material is aluminum.  
   
   
       22 . The fence post anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the material is plastic.  
   
   
       23 . A method of anchoring a fence post in the ground using the fence post anchor of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       24 . A method of manufacturing the fence post anchor of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of: 
 cutting the material in a pattern that can be folded into the shape of the fence post anchor; and    folding the cut material into the shape of the fence post anchor.