Support for plants, fences and the like

Abstract

A support for plants or fences or the like has a lower portion configured for insertion into an underlying soil layer and an upper portion that telescopes within the lower portion. The upper portion has a reinforced end that is useful in transmitting impact force to an anvil member in the lower portion to drive it well into the soil layer. Subsequently, the upper portion is fixed in axial relation with the lower portion to obtain a support extending to a predetermined height above the soil layer.

1 . A support for insertion in underlying soil, comprising 
 an upper elongate tubular member having a tubular wall and inner and outer wall surfaces and opposing ends,    means for reinforcing said tubular wall on each of said opposing ends,    a lower elongate tubular member having a tubular wall and upper and lower ends, said upper end having an opening for receiving said upper elongate tubular member in telescoping relation,    an impact absorbing member on said lower member lower end for contact by one of said upper member opposing ends,    a ground entry member extending beyond said lower member lower end, and    adjustable means for releasably fixing said upper and lower elongate tubular members in predetermined axial relation.    
   
   
       2 . A support as in  claim 1 , wherein said means for reinforcing comprises, 
 at least three inwardly extending tubular wall portions on each of said opposing ends.    
   
   
       3 . A support as in  claim 1 , wherein said means for reinforcing comprises, 
 a plug fixed on each of said opposing ends.    
   
   
       4 . A support as in  claim 1 , wherein said ground entry member comprises, 
 a pair of opposing depending members on said lower end formed by opposing segmented openings therein, and    a compressed lower end so that said opposing depending members fill said opposing segmented openings to form a lower end wedge.    
   
   
       5 . A support as in  claim 4 , wherein said impact absorbing member comprises, 
 an anvil within said lower end.    
   
   
       6 . A support as in  claim 1 , wherein said impact absorbing member comprises, 
 an anvil within said lower end, and    wherein said ground entry member comprises,    at least three inwardly extending tubular wall portions on said lower end.    
   
   
       7 . A support as in  claim 1 , wherein said impact absorbing member comprises, 
 a solid of revolution,    said solid of revolution having radial recesses in the surface thereof, and    pressed portions of said tubular wall within said radial recesses.    
   
   
       8 . A support as in  claim 1 , wherein said ground entry member comprises, 
 a substantially cone shaped portion.    
   
   
       9 . A support as in  claim 8 , comprising 
 screw threads on said substantially cone shaped portion.    
   
   
       10 . A support as in  claim 1 , comprising 
 a continuous water passage extending through said impact absorbing member and said ground entry member.    
   
   
       11 . A support as in  claim 1 , wherein said lower end has at least one water escapement orifice adjacent said impact absorbing member.  
   
   
       12 . A support as in  claim 1 , wherein said ground entry member and said impact absorbing member comprise, 
 an integral lower member, and    a weldment attaching said impact absorbing member to said lower end.    
   
   
       13 . A support for insertion in an underlying soil surface, comprising 
 an upper stake having an upper end and a lower end,    a lower stake having a lower end, and an upper opening for receiving said upper stake in telescoping relation,    an impact portion on said upper stake lower end,    an impact absorbing portion on said lower stake lower end exposed to said upper stake impact portion,    a ground entry member adjacent to and extending below said impact absorbing portion, whereby impact imparted by said impact portion to said impact absorbing portion drives said ground entry member into the underlying soil surface, and    means for releasably fixing said upper and lower stakes in predetermined telescoped relation.    
   
   
       14 . A support as in  claim 13 , wherein said upper stake comprises, 
 a tubular member having a tubular wall, and wherein said impact portion comprises,    at least three inwardly extending tubular wall portions.    
   
   
       15 . A support as in  claim 13 , wherein said upper stake comprises, 
 a tubular member, and wherein said impact portion comprises,    a plug fixed within said tubular member lower end.    
   
   
       16 . A support as in  claim 13 , wherein said impact absorbing portion comprises, 
 an anvil within said upper opening.    
   
   
       17 . A support as in  claim 13 , wherein said lower stake has a tubular wall, and wherein said impact absorbing member comprises, 
 a solid of revolution,    said solid of revolution having radial recesses in the surface thereof, and    pressed portions of said tubular wall within said radial recesses.    
   
   
       18 . A support as in  claim 13 , wherein said ground entry member comprises, 
 a substantially cone shaped portion.    
   
   
       19 . A support as in  claim 18 , comprising 
 screw threads on said substantially cone shaped portion.    
   
   
       20 . A support as in  claim 13 , wherein said lower stake lower end has at least one water escapement orifice.  
   
   
       21 . A support for entry into underlying soil for plants, fences and the like, comprising 
 a ground entry member having a tubular body having a wall with an inside dimension and an open upper end,    an anvil member attached to said ground entry member at a lower end and being accessible through said open upper end,    an upper support member having an outer dimension for sliding fit within said ground entry member inside dimension,    a lower impact end on said upper support member for imparting impact force to said anvil member,    a lower end on said anvil member extending from said ground entry member having a shape to facilitate entry into the underlying soil resulting from said impact force, and    means for releasably fixing said upper support member in axial position within said ground entry member.    
   
   
       22 . A support as in  claim 21 , wherein said lower end on said anvil member has at least one water escapement orifice.  
   
   
       23 . A support as in  claim 21 , wherein a continuous water passage extends through said anvil member and said lower end thereon.  
   
   
       24 . A support as in  claim 21 , wherein said upper support member comprises, 
 a tubular body, and wherein said lower impact end thereon comprises,    at least three inwardly extending wall portions on said tubular body.    
   
   
       25 . A support as in  claim 21 , wherein said upper support member comprises, 
 a tubular body with an opposing upper end, and    at least three inwardly extending wall portions on said tubular body at both said lower impact end and said opposing upper end.    
   
   
       26 . A support as in  claim 21 , wherein said upper support member comprises, 
 a tubular body with an opposing upper end, and    a plug fixed in said tubular body at both said lower impact end and said opposing upper end.    
   
   
       27 . A support as in  claim 21 , wherein said upper support member comprises, 
 a tubular body, and wherein said lower impact end thereon comprises,    a plug fixed in said tubular body.    
   
   
       28 . A support as in  claim 21 , wherein said anvil member comprises, 
 a solid of revolution having radial recesses in the surface thereof, and    pressed portions of said tubular body wall within said radial recesses.    
   
   
       29 . A support as in  claim 21 , wherein said lower end on said anvil member comprises, 
 a substantially cone shaped portion.    
   
   
       30 . A support as in  claim 29 , comprising 
 screw threads on said substantially cone shaped portion, and    means for turning said ground entry member to advance said screw threads into the underlying soil.