Anchoring system for securing a post

Abstract

An anchoring system for securing a post into the ground comprises an anchor plate for insertion into a hole in the ground. The anchor plate defines post receiver to receive a first end of the post and support the weight of the post and a laterally extending ground supporting body surrounding the post receiver. A plurality of struts is attachable to the post and mountable to the anchoring plate at positions distal to the post receiver. The orientation of the struts relative to the planes of the anchor plate and post provide lateral stability to resist lateral tilting forces as well as vertical uprooting forces. The struts also distribute forces farther out from the middle of the plate. The anchor plate is lightweight and all of its components of the anchoring system are detachable from the post and reusable.

1 . An anchoring system for securing a post into the ground comprising:
 an anchor plate for insertion into a hole in the ground, said anchor plate defining post receiver to receive a first end of the post and support the weight of the post;   a laterally extending ground supporting body surrounding the post receiver; and,   a plurality of struts attachable to the post and mountable to the anchoring plate at positions distal to the post receiver; wherein each of the struts is a hanger bolt having a thread at the first end to receive a nut for mounting to the anchor plate, and a tapered screw thread at the second end thereof for threaded attachment to the post.   
     
     
         2 . The anchoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the post receiver is a recess within the anchor plate having a base sized and positioned to receive the first end of the post, and said base defining an opening to receive a fastening means for securing the post to the post receiver. 
     
     
         3 . The anchoring system of  claim 1  wherein the anchor plate defines a plurality of indentations at positions distal to the post receiver, each one of said indentations being adapted to seat one of the plurality of struts. 
     
     
         4 . The anchoring system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of indentations is positioned equidistant from the post receiver and diagonally opposed to one another. 
     
     
         5 . The anchoring system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the indentations comprises a back wall and a front wall, and said back wall presents a seating surface to orient a corresponding one of said struts toward the post  12  at an angle between 30-70 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The anchoring system of  claim 5 , wherein each of the indentations defines an opening to receive one of the plurality of struts therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The anchoring system of  claim 7 , wherein the opening is located through the back wall each of the indentations. 
     
     
         8 . The anchoring system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the struts comprises a first end adapted for mounting within one of the indentations in the anchor plate and a second first end adapted for attachment to the post adjacent the first end thereof. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The anchoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor plate is downwardly angled adjacent its perimeter, to form at its perimeter a biting edge directed downward for contact with the ground beneath the anchor plate. 
     
     
         11 . A method of securing a post into the ground comprising the steps of:
 (a) Seating a first end of the post on a post receiver of an anchoring plate;   (b) Fastening the first end of the post to the anchor plate;   (c) Seating the first ends of a plurality of struts into a corresponding plurality of indentations in the anchor plate at positions distal to the post receiver;   (d) Attaching the second ends of the plurality of struts to the post at positions adjacent the first end thereof;   (e) Mounting the first ends of the plurality of struts to the anchor plate;   (f) Inserting the first end of the post having the anchor plate fixed thereto into a hole in the ground;   (g) Backfilling the ground onto the anchor plate inside the hole to bury the anchor plate while allowing the post to protrude above ground level; and,   (h) Tamping the ground around the post to pack the ground onto the anchor plate such that perimeter of the anchor plate forms a biting contact with the ground.