Screw-in Post

Abstract

A fence post, fence pole, pole or other vertical member that can be set into soil simply by screwing it in. The invention can use a flat spaces on the post, an eye for a T-bar, a shaft for a powered auger, or any other way of gripping the post to screw it into the ground. The base of the post includes a tapered, threaded portion shaped like a large sheet metal screw.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A fence post that includes:
 an elongated shaft attached to a tapered foot, the tapered foot being threaded, wherein the fence post is set into soil by screwing it in.   
     
     
         2 . The fence post of  claim 1  further comprising a rectangular key at a proximal end of said shaft adapted to receive a bar. 
     
     
         3 . The fence post of  claim 1  wherein said shaft is cylindrical. 
     
     
         4 . The fence post of  claim 3  further comprising a pair of opposing flat areas on a proximal end of said shaft adapted to be gripped by a tool. 
     
     
         5 . The fence post of  claim 1  wherein the shaft has a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . The fence post of  claim 1  wherein said foot has course-pitched threads adapted for softer soils. 
     
     
         7 . The fence post of  claim 1  wherein said foot has fine-pitched threads adapted for harder soils or rock. 
     
     
         8 . The fence post of  claim 1  wherein the tapered foot has a diameter the same as the shaft. 
     
     
         9 . A post or pole adapted to be set into soil comprising an elongated shaft attached to a tapered threaded foot adapted to be screwed into the soil. 
     
     
         10 . The fence post of  claim 9  further comprising a rectangular key at a proximal end of said shaft adapted to receive a bar. 
     
     
         11 . The fence post of  claim 9  wherein said shaft is cylindrical. 
     
     
         12 . The fence post of  claim 11  further comprising a pair of opposing flat areas on a proximal end of said shaft adapted to be gripped by a tool. 
     
     
         13 . The fence post of  claim 9  wherein the shaft has a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . The fence post of  claim 9  wherein said foot has course-pitched threads adapted for softer soils. 
     
     
         15 . The fence post of  claim 9  wherein said foot has fine-pitched threads adapted for harder soils or rock. 
     
     
         16 . The fence post of  claim 9  wherein the tapered foot has a diameter the same as the shaft. 
     
     
         17 . A method of providing a screw-in fence post comprising:
 providing an elongated shaft with a keyhole in a proximal end;   providing a tapered foot on a distal end of the shaft, said tapered foot being threaded.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising providing a bar adapted to fit through said keyhole. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said tapered foot has a fine pitch threading. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said tapered foot has a course-pitch threading.