Post installation systems

Abstract

Systems and methods relating to post or pole installation wherein a post-attachable member with outward projections is fastened to a post or pole prior to installation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of securing a fence post into the ground, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) preparing a hole for installation of a fence post;   b) placing a fence post securing device onto a fence post, the fence post comprising pressure-treated lumber, the fence post securing device comprising
 i) an exterior surface, 
 ii) an interior surface, 
 iii) at least one concrete reinforcing projection extending outwardly from the exterior surface, 
 iv) at least one fastener aperture that permits passage of a fastener through the exterior surface so as to embed a fastener into a fence post and also attach a fence post to the fence post securing device; 
   c) impaling a fastener into the fence post through the at least one fastener aperture so that the fastener is embedded within the fence post resulting in attachment of the fence post to the fence post securing device;   d) inserting at least that portion of the fence post with the attached fence post securing device into the prepared hole;   e) pouring concrete into the prepared hole;   f) allowing the concrete to set; and   g) allowing time to pass so that when the pressure-treated lumber of the fence post shrinks, a fastener embedded within the pressure-treated lumber deters loosening or wobbling of the fence post and fence post securing device within the set concrete.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fence post securing device comprises an installation detection member comprising a strip of material connected to the fence post securing device that projects upward from fence post securing device, further comprising the step of positioning the fence post having the attached fence post securing device into the prepared hole in such a way that the installation detection member will be visible above ground, even after the step of allowing the concrete to set, even though a bottom portion of the fence post and the fence post securing device will not be visible. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of cutting the installation detection member to a user-desired length. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus comprising:
 a) a fence post securing device comprising
 i) a sleeve member, 
 ii) said sleeve member comprising
 (1) at least one sidewall, 
 (2) an exterior surface, 
 (3) an interior surface, 
 (4) at least one concrete reinforcing bar extending outwardly from said exterior surface of said sleeve member, 
 (5) at least one fastener aperture that permits passage of a fastener through said at least one sidewall of said sleeve member and into a post adjacent said interior surface of said sleeve member; 
 
 iii) an installation detection member comprising a strip of material extending in a direction upward from said at least one sidewall so that when said post-attachable member is installed below ground, the presence of said post-attachable member may be verified by said strip of material visible above ground. 
   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said installation detection member comprises a frangible strip of material comprising an arrangement of spaced-apart grooves to assist a user in manually removing unneeded portions of said installation detection member. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said sleeve member comprises four sidewalls and said four sidewalls are structurally configured to form a square-shaped sleeve member. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said sleeve member comprises four sidewalls and said four sidewalls are structurally configured to form a rectangular-shaped sleeve member. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said sleeve member is dimensioned to fit onto a circular-shaped post. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said post-attachable member is dimensioned to fit onto a circular-shaped pole.