Fence post support systems and methods

Abstract

The disclosure includes a fence post support system comprising an elongate shell having an open upper end, a closed lower end that is opposite the open upper end, a hollow inner portion, and sidewalls that surround the hollow inner portion. The system can also include a plurality of drain openings extending through the closed lower end. Additionally, the system can include a first sidewall extending from a first portion of the elongate shell.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A fence post support system, comprising:
 an elongate shell having an open upper end, a closed lower end that is opposite the open upper end, a hollow inner portion, and sidewalls that surround the hollow inner portion, wherein when the fence post support system is installed into a hole in a ground the elongate shell is fully located under a ground surface, and wherein the elongate shell is sized and configured to provide an air gap between an inner perimeter of the elongate shell and an outer perimeter of the fence post to thereby prevent at least one of rotting, rusting, and deformation in the fence post once it is installed into the ground;   a plurality of drain openings extending through the closed lower end; and   a first sidewall extending from a first portion of the elongate shell, the first sidewall extending from the open upper end and extending away from the closed lower end, the first sidewall having a first bolt hole extending through the first sidewall, wherein when the fence post support system is installed into the ground the first bolt hole is located above the ground surface, and wherein the first sidewall forms a uniform continuous structure with the elongate shell.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second sidewall extending from a second portion of the elongate shell, the second sidewall extending from the open upper end and extending away from the closed lower end, the second sidewall having a second bolt hole extending through the second sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein an outer surface of the sidewalls defines a roughened surface arranged and configured to provide an increased surface area so that when filling material is poured around the outer surface of the sidewalls the increased surface area results in increased bond strength between the filling material and the surface area. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the air gap is less than or equal to ½ inch and greater than or equal to 1/16 inch. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a fence post slideably inserted into the elongate shell, the fence post having a first end that contacts the closed lower end, and a second end opposite the first end whereby the second end is vertically located above the first sidewall and the second sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 at least one of rock and sand disposed at a bottom of the hole under the ground surface such that the at least one of rock and sand is vertically located below the closed lower end, wherein the at least one of rock and sand is arranged and configured to allow liquid to drain through the plurality of drain openings into the at least one of rock and sand; and   filling material disposed in the hole under the ground surface and vertically located above the at least one of rock and sand, wherein the filling material surrounds the fence post support system and is arranged and configured to provide structural support for the fence post support system, and wherein the filling material comprises at least one of cement, rock, soil, and sand.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first bolt that extends through the first bolt hole whereby the first bolt is threadably coupled to a first side of the fence post;   a second bolt that extends through the second bolt hole whereby the second bolt is threadably coupled to a second side of the fence post that is opposite the first side;   a first array of bolt holes extending through the first sidewall, wherein the first array of bolt holes comprises the first bolt hole; and   a second array of bolt holes extending through the second sidewall, wherein the second array of bolt holes comprises the second bolt hole.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a cross-section of the sidewalls defines a rectangular-shape. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first portion is opposite the second portion, the system further comprising:
 a third sidewall extending from a third portion of the elongate shell, the third sidewall extending from the open upper end and extending away from the closed lower end, the third sidewall having a third bolt hole extending through the third sidewall; and   a fourth sidewall extending from a fourth portion of the elongate shell that is opposite the third portion, the fourth sidewall extending from the open upper end and extending away from the closed lower end, the fourth sidewall having a fourth bolt hole extending through the fourth sidewall,   wherein the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the third sidewall, and the fourth sidewall form a contiguous rectangular perimeter.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of drain openings comprises a plurality of circular-shaped drain openings. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each circular-shaped drain opening of the plurality of circular-shaped drain openings defines a diameter that is less than or equal to 1 inch and greater than or equal to 1/16 inch. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each circular-shaped drain opening of the plurality of circular-shaped drain openings is spaced by a distance that is less than or equal to 3 inches and greater than or equal to 1 inch. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of drain openings comprises a plurality of slat-shaped drain openings. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein when a fence post is slideably inserted into the elongate shell and the fence post support system is installed under the ground surface, the first sidewall and the second sidewall are arranged and configured to extend above the ground surface by a distance that protects the fence post from damage due to lawn equipment and lawn care. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first bolt hole defines a first diameter that is less than or equal to 1 inch and greater than or equal to 1/16 inch, and the second bolt hole defines a second diameter that is less than or equal to 1 inch and greater than or equal to 1/16 inch. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate shell defines a height that is less than or equal to  54  inches and greater than or equal to 12 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate shell defines a width that is less than or equal to 12 inches and greater than or equal to 3 and ⅝ inches. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate shell defines a length that is less than or equal to 6 inches and greater than or equal to  3  and ⅝ inches. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first sidewall extends from the first portion of the elongate shell by a distance that is less than or equal to 6 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the fence post support system is constructed of at least one of steel, iron, aluminum, and titanium, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, and polypropylene.