Post Support

Abstract

The present invention is a post support for use in stabilizing a post during installation. The invention features a support body housing a rack-and-pinion system that incorporates an extendable arm, so that the support may be mounted upon the post and extended to interface with the walls of the installation hole. I an alternate embodiment, the extensible arm and support body are in threaded engagement and the arm is simply screwed out. Dual armed embodiments are also possible. Another embodiment features the support and arm interfacing each other with inclined planes which force the arm downward and outward with the force of gravity. With all embodiments, a bearing plate is present for contacting the wall of the installation hole at the terminal end of the arm. The support is ideally made of rigid plastic or other suitable material, allowing for a low cost and eventual sacrifice of the support as it is entombed in foundational materials for long term post support.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A post support comprising: 
 A support body having post mounting means;    A means of extension, mounted upon the support body.    At least one extendable arm operably connected to the means of extension in a manner to extend a divergent end of the arm away from the support body; and    Contact structure mounted upon the divergent end of the extendable arm.    
     
     
         2 . The post support of  claim 1 , further comprising a pinion gear, with the extension arm being an interfacing rack gear, as the means of extension.  
     
     
         3 . The post support of  claim 2 , further comprising an automatic actuation means.  
     
     
         4 . The post support of  claim 3 , wherein the automatic actuation means is a power tool interface built within the pinion gear.  
     
     
         5 . The post support of  claim 1 , further comprising a worm gear as the means of extension.  
     
     
         6 . The post support of  claim 5 , further comprising an automatic actuation means.  
     
     
         7 . The post support of  claim 6 , wherein the automatic actuation means is a power tool interface built within the worm gear.  
     
     
         8 . The post support of  claim 1 , the means of extension being a threaded interface between the extendable arm and the post mounting means.  
     
     
         9 . The post support of  claim 8 , further comprising two extendable arms, extending in opposite directions.  
     
     
         10 . The post support of  claim 1 , the means of extension being two inclined planes, one on the support body and the other on the extendable arm, the planes in a slidable relationship and inclined in a manner to force the arm away from the support body.  
     
     
         11 . The post support of  claim 10 , a first plane having perpendicular guides to position the other plane on the first plane.