Hollow Fence Post to Pipe Adapter

Abstract

A hollow post to pipe adapter device supports a hollow fence post on a pipe. The device has an outer peripheral surface that fits within the hollow fence post and a pipe aperture that receives the pipe. A rotator body locates the pipe aperture therein and is rotatably supported in relation to the peripheral surface. The pipe aperture is offset from the axis of rotation or the rotator body relative to the peripheral surface and the aperture is rotatable together with the rotator body about the axis so that the device is arranged for eccentrically locating the pipe in relation the outer peripheral surface in the hollow post.

1 . An adapter device arranged for mounting a hollow fence post on a pipe, the device comprising: 
 an outer peripheral surface surrounding a main axis, the outer peripheral surface having an outer shape and dimension arranged such that the device fits within the hollow fence post in contact with an inner surface of the hollow fence post and with the main axis lying concentrically within the hollow fence post;    a pipe collar defining a pipe aperture arranged to receive the pipe and extending therethrough along a pipe axis, the pipe collar having an inner diameter of a dimension which is arranged to fit the pipe therein coaxially with the pipe axis; and    a rotator body coupled to the peripheral surface for rotation of the rotator body about a rotator axis lying parallel to and offset radially outward in fixed relation to the main axis, the rotator body supporting the pipe collar thereon such that the pipe axis lies parallel to and offset radially outward from the rotator axis;    the pipe collar and the rotator body being rotatable together about the rotator axis so as to be arranged for eccentrically locating the pipe collar in relation the outer peripheral surface.    
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the pipe axis and the main axis are equidistant from the rotator axis such that the pipe collar is rotatable into a centered position in which the pipe axis and the main axis are coaxially aligned.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to claim wherein the pipe collar is rotatable from a first position which is substantially centered with respect to the main axis to a diametrically opposite second position which is spaced radially outwardly in relation to the main axis towards the outer peripheral surface.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the pipe aperture is round in cross section.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the outer peripheral surface mates non-rotatably with a hollow fence post of rectangular cross section.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 5  wherein the pipe collar is rotatable from a first position in which the pipe collar is substantially centered with respect to the main axis to a second position diametrically opposite the first position adjacent a corner of the outer peripheral surface.  
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a main body comprising a plate oriented substantially perpendicularly to the main axis which defines the outer peripheral surface about a periphery thereof and which includes an aperture therein which rotatably supports the rotator body therein.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 7  wherein the rotator body comprises a circular plate supported rotatably and coaxially within the aperture in the plate of the main body.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 8  wherein the rotator body is snap fit into the aperture in the main body.  
   
   
       10 . An adapter device in combination with a hollow fence post supported on a pipe, the device comprising: 
 an outer peripheral surface surrounding a main axis, the outer peripheral surface having an outer shape and dimension fitting within the hollow fence post in contact with an inner surface of the hollow fence post and with the main axis lying concentrically within the hollow fence post;    a pipe collar defining a pipe aperture extending therethrough along a pipe axis, the pipe collar having an inner diameter of a dimension fitting the pipe therein coaxially with the pipe axis; and    a rotator body coupled to the peripheral surface for rotation of the rotator body about a rotator axis lying parallel to and offset radially outward in fixed relation to the main axis, the rotator body supporting the pipe collar thereon such that the pipe axis lies parallel to and offset radially outward from the rotator axis;    the pipe collar and the rotator body being rotatable together about the rotator axis such that the pipe collar is arranged to be eccentrically located in relation the outer peripheral surface.    
   
   
       11 . The combination according to  claim 10  wherein the pipe axis and the main axis are equidistant from the rotator axis such that the pipe collar is rotatable into a centered position in which the pipe axis and the main axis are coaxially aligned.  
   
   
       12 . The combination according to  claim 10  wherein the pipe collar is rotatable from a first position which is substantially centered with respect to the main axis to a diametrically opposite second position which is spaced radially outwardly in relation to the main axis towards the outer peripheral surface.  
   
   
       13 . The combination according to  claim 10  wherein the pipe aperture is round in cross section.  
   
   
       14 . The combination according to  claim 10  wherein the hollow fence post has a rectangular cross section and the outer peripheral surface mates non-rotatably with the hollow fence post.  
   
   
       15 . The combination according to  claim 14  wherein the pipe collar is rotatable from a first position in which the pipe collar is substantially centered with respect to the main axis to a second position diametrically opposite the first position adjacent a corner of the outer peripheral surface.  
   
   
       16 . The combination according to  claim 10  wherein there is provided a main body comprising a plate oriented substantially perpendicularly to the main axis which defines the outer peripheral surface about a periphery thereof and which includes an aperture therein which rotatably supports the rotator body therein.  
   
   
       17 . The combination according to  claim 16  wherein the rotator body comprises a circular plate supported rotatably and coaxially within the aperture in the plate of the main body.  
   
   
       18 . The combination according to  claim 17  wherein the rotator body is snap fit into the aperture in the main body.  
   
   
       19 . In a hollow fence post supported on a pipe, an adapter device comprising: 
 an outer peripheral surface surrounding a main axis, the outer peripheral surface having an outer shape and dimension such that the device fits within the hollow fence post in contact with an inner surface of the hollow fence post and with the main axis lying concentrically within the hollow fence post;    a pipe collar defining a pipe aperture extending therethrough along a pipe axis, the pipe collar having an inner diameter of a dimension which closely fits the pipe therein coaxially with the pipe axis; and    a rotator body coupled to the peripheral surface for rotation of the rotator body about a rotator axis lying parallel to and offset radially outward in fixed relation to the main axis, the rotator body supporting the pipe collar thereon such that the pipe axis lies parallel to and offset radially outward from the rotator axis;    the pipe collar and the rotator body being rotatable together about the rotator axis for eccentrically locating the pipe collar in relation the outer peripheral surface.