Fence post driving apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for driving a post into the earth has a frame with an upright member in which the upright member has a slot extending longitudinally on a surface thereof, a receptacle translatably positioned in the slot, a hammer member translatably positioned in the slot of a location above the receptacle, a sheave affixed to the frame in a position above the hammer member, and a line affixed to the hammer member and extending over the sheave. The receptacle has an interior adapted to receive an upper end of the post therein. The line has an end opposite the hammer member adapted to be manually pulled so as to lift the hammer member upwardly and to be released so as to cause the hammer member to contact the receptacle.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for driving a post, the apparatus comprising:
 a frame having an upright member, said upright member having a slot extending longitudinally along a surface thereof;   a receptacle translatably positioned in said slot, said receptacle having an interior adapted to receive an upper end of the post therein;   a hammer member translatably positioned in said slot in a location above said receptacle;   a sheave affixed to said frame in a position above said hammer member; and   a line affixed to said hammer member and extending over said sheave, said line having an end opposite said hammer member adapted to be manually pulled so as to lift said hammer member upwardly and to be released so as to cause said hammer member to contact said receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said frame comprising:
 a base, said upright member extending in transverse relation to said base; and   a support member affixed to an end of said upright member opposite said base, said sheave mounted to said support member.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , said base having an interior adapted to be attached to a tow hitch of a vehicle, said upright member affixed to an end of said base opposite the tow hitch. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first angle member having one end affixed to said base and an opposite end affixed to said upright member; and   a second angle member having one end affixed to said support member and an opposite end affixed to said upright member.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , said upright member comprising:
 a first tubular member affixed to said base and extending in transverse relation to said base; and   a second tubular member mounted in telescopic relation to said first tubular member so as to extend vertically upwardly relative to said first tubular member.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , said upright member further comprising:
 a pin engageable with said first and second tubular members so as to fix a position of said second tubular member with respect to said first tubular member.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , said slot being formed in said second tubular member, said support member affixed to a top of said second tubular member. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an impact surface affixed to a top of said receptacle, said hammer member being translatable so as to impact said impact surface.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , said impact surface having a top surface having an area greater than an area of a top surface of said receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said receptacle being open at a lower end thereof and closed at an upper end thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said line extending vertically upwardly between said sheave and said hammer member. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising:
 a vehicle having a tow hitch extending therefrom;   a frame being affixed to said tow hitch, said frame having an upright member, said upright member having a slot extending longitudinally on a surface thereof;   a receptacle translatably positioned in said slot, said receptacle having an interior adapted to receive an upper end of a post therein;   a hammer member translatably positioned in said slot in a location above said receptacle;   a sheave affixed to said frame in a position above said hammer member; and   a line affixed to said hammer member and extending over said sheave, said line having an end opposite said hammer member adapted to be manually pulled so as to lift said hammer member upwardly and to be released so as to cause said hammer member to contact said receptacle.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , said frame being removably affixed to said tow hitch. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , said frame comprising:
 a base, said upright member extending in transverse relation to said base; and   a support member affixed to an end of said upright member opposite said base, said sheave mounted to said support member.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , said base having an interior, said tow hitch received in said interior of said base, said upright member affixed to an end of said base opposite said tow hitch. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , said upright member comprising:
 a first tubular member affixed to said base at extending transverse relation to said base; and   a second tubular mounted in telescopic relation to said first tubular member so as to extend vertically upwardly relative to said first tubular member.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an impact surface affixed to a top of said receptacle, said hammer member being translatable so as to impact said impact surface.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , said receptacle being open at a lower end thereof and closed at an upper end thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , said line extending vertically upwardly between said sheave and said hammer member. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , said hammer member having a weight of greater than twenty-five pounds.