Wood, Plastic, and Metal Post Installation, Protection, and Replacement Device

Abstract

A device made of metal or strong plastic that fits the portion of a post that is below ground having an open upper end, a closed lower end, and surrounding side walls with portions of the walls that go up the side of post above the ground some distance less than the length of the post above the ground (see the accompanying diagrams in Document EZMZ Drawing of Invention—FIG. 1 - 12 ). The device is dimensioned such that the open upper end has dimensions for receiving the lower end of the post therein with some slightly more significant margin of adjustment in one of the X Y axis and some less significant margin in the other X Y axis. The device fits posts of various sizes with rectangular, cylindrical and triangular shapes. The portion of the side wall that extends up the sides of the post above the ground has an array of holes for fastening the post to the device with bolts or screws. The bottom of the device has an array of holes for drainage.

1 . A metal or plastic device for assembly line like ease of placement of new wood, metal, or plastic posts and the accompanying structures the posts support in a new construction. The device made of metal (for example: steel, iron, aluminum, titanium, other) or strong plastic (for example: ABS, Polycarbonate, PVC, polyurethane, polypropylene, 3-D printing plastics, other) of a thickness that maintains its rigidity and shape with dirt, rock, sand, or cement placed around it in the ground (0+ to 10+ feet deep) that fits the portion of a generally rectangular post that is below ground. The device has an open upper end, a closed lower end, and surrounding side walls with portions of the walls that go up the side of post above the ground some distance less than the length of the post above the ground (see the accompanying diagrams). The device is dimensioned such that the open upper end has dimensions for receiving the lower end of the post therein with some slightly more significant margin (0″+ to 24″ nominal plus the post width—e.g. 4″ square post could have a device 4″ to 28″ in length) of adjustment in one of the X Y axis for ease of placement and some less significant margin (0″+ to 2″ nominal plus the post width) in the other X Y axis for general ease of installation and fixation. Margins greater than these in both X Y dimensions are also considered within the scope of this invention, but generally less practical. The margin in the X Y axis (z being into the ground) enables allowance for ease of creation of the ready to install pre-fabricated post holes. The holes can be dug, the device put into place in the hole and back filled with cement, dirt, rock, sand or other material. The margin in the device X Y dimensions provides allowance for positioning the post that makes the pre-fabrication of the holes easier and faster while allowing for a final structure that is easier to put together in a more precise manner. To enable positioning of a structure, the portion of the side walls that extend up the post above the ground can be on one or two opposing sides when placing a fence, allowing the fence panel to fit within the device portion extending above the ground thus enabling repositioning of the structure. The portion extending above the ground can also be one to four sides for a supporting post applications (e.g. deck posts, pilings, other). Once in position the portion of the side wall that extends up the side of the post above the ground has an array (1 to many depending on the X Y dimensions) of holes for fastening the post to the device with bolts or screws creating excellent rigidity, strength, and stability. 
     
     
         2 . A device that enables ease of in-ground post replacement with like new fit, strength and stability. A metal or plastic device for easy replacement of a damaged or broken wood, plastic, or metal posts. The device is made of metal (for example: steel, iron, aluminum, titanium, other) or strong plastic (for example: ABS, Polycarbonate, PVC, polyurethane, polypropylene, 3-D printing plastics, other) of a thickness that maintains its rigidity and shape with dirt, rock, sand, or cement placed around it in the ground (0+ to 10+ feet deep) that fits the portion of a generally rectangular post that is below ground. The device has an open upper end, a closed lower end, and surrounding side walls with portions of the walls that go up the side of post above the ground some distance less than the length of the post above the ground (see the accompanying diagrams). The device is dimensioned such that the open upper end has dimensions for receiving the lower end of the post therein with some slightly more significant margin (0″+ to 24″ nominal plus the post width—e.g. a 4″ post could have a device 4″ to 28″ in length) of adjustment in one of the X Y axis and some less significant margin in the other X Y axis (0″+ to 2″ nominal plus the post width). Margins greater than these are also considered within the scope of this invention, but are generally less practical. The margin in the X Y axis (z being into the ground) enables allowance for ease of removal and more importantly ease of replacement and repositioning of the new post. This margin is significant in being able to fit the post back into its correct position within the existing structure that it supports such as between fence panels, under a deck, other. The invention allows for ease of post replacement to structures which have changed over time (e.g. settling, warping, etc.)—something that conventional post placement and current art does not allow for (e.g. no allowance for repositioning, or forced to reset post in new hole). To enable repositioning of a structure, the portion of the side walls that extend up the post above the ground can be on one or two opposing sides when placing a fence allowing the fence panel to fit within the device portion extending above the ground. This enables and facilitates repositioning of the structure. The device can also have one to four sides that extend up the post above the ground for a supporting post application (e.g. a deck post, piling, etc.). Once in position the portion of the side wall that extends up the side of the post above the ground has an array (1 to many depending on the device dimensions) of holes for fastening the post to the device with bolts or screws creating excellent rigidity and stability (as if the post were newly set in the hole). 
     
     
         3 . A metal or plastic device that provides novel protection for the lower end of wood, metal, or plastic posts from damage due to moisture induced rot, deformation, and/or oxidation while the post is positioned within a hole in the ground. The device is made of metal (for example: steel, iron, aluminum, titanium, other) or strong plastic (for example: ABS, Polycarbonate, PVC, polyurethane, polypropylene, 3-D printing plastics, other) of a thickness that maintains its rigidity and shape with dirt, rock, sand, or cement placed around it in the ground (0+ to 10+ feet deep). The device fits the portion of a generally rectangular post that is below ground. The device has an open upper end, a closed lower end, and surrounding side walls with portions of the walls that go up the side of post above the ground some distance less than the length of the post above the ground (see the accompanying diagrams previously mentioned). The open upper end is dimensioned for receiving the lower end of the post therein with some slightly more significant margin (0″+ to 24″ nominal plus the post width—example: post is 4″ wide, device could be 4″+24″ or 28″) of adjustment in one of the X Y axis (z being into the ground) and some less significant margin in the other X Y axis (0+ to 2″ nominal plus the post width). Margins greater than these are also considered within the scope of this invention, but generally less practical. The X Y margin provides protection for the post by generally providing a space of air around the post enabling the post to remain dry (with similar environmental exposure to the above ground portion of the post). This is superior to other protective post inventions which do not allow the significant air space, especially at ground level where most posts degrade and fail. The design and material of the device is such that an air barrier around the post can be achieved while still enabling the post to be rigidly positioned and fastened into the ground (with a strength as if there were no air space). The bottom of the device has an array (1 to many depending on the device dimensions) of holes for drainage to further protect the bottom of the post. 
     
     
         4 . A derivative claim of  claims 1 - 3  in which the metal or plastic device achieves those claims and has the same general dimensions of the device relative to the post described in those claims with the device having a rectangular, cylindrical, or triangular shape and used in application with any combination of a wood, metal, or plastic post having a rectangular, cylindrical, or triangular shape The part of the side wall of the device that extends above the ground up the post in the rectangular device is as claimed in  claims 1 - 3 . The device with the cylindrical configuration can extend above the ground with a full cylindrical configuration or a semi-cylindrical configuration allowing for a structure to pass through the portion of the device sidewall above the ground directly to the post. The device with a triangular configuration can extend above the ground with only one sidewall above the ground or all 3 sidewalls above the ground. 
     
     
         5 . A derivative claim of the device in  claims 1 - 3  of a metal or plastic (rectangular, cylindrical, or triangular) device as described here to be placed in a hole in the ground that is backfilled with cement, dirt, sand, or rock around the device with the device having adequate strength and rigidity to prevent deformation from the backfill where such device will be used to easily receive and fasten a wood, plastic, or metal (rectangular, cylindrical, or triangular) post providing comparable strength, rigidity, and stability to the post as if it were directly in cement or otherwise buried in the ground. 
     
     
         6 . A derivative claim of  claims 1 - 3  where the metal or plastic device with side walls that are at or extend above the ground the desired height has an array (1 to many depending on the device dimensions) of holes in those portions of the sidewalls at or above the ground level for bolts or screws that results in excellent rigidity, strength, and stability of the inserted post. 
     
     
         7 . A derivative claim of  claim 3  above, in which the metal or plastic device structure presented in this invention with portions of the sidewall that extend up the post some distance above the ground protect that part of the post above ground from damage due to lawn equipment and lawn care. 
     
     
         8 . A derivative of  claim 3  above, in which the metal or plastic device structure presented in this invention with the bottom portion of the device in the hole has a slat orientation (long rows of cut outs) rather than holes for drainage to prevent lack of drainage associated with plugged holes (holes are more likely to plug). 
     
     
         9 . A derivative claim of  claims 1 - 3 , in which the metal or plastic device presented in this invention is configured such that the outside of the part of the device in the ground is roughened or shaped with patterns that cause the surface to have greater surface area for improved adhesion/hold of the device to the cement, earth, rock, sand, other placed against it at the time of the hole preparation and backfill around the device.