Fence bracing apparatus and method of using the same

Abstract

An improved bracket has fingers on either side that are connected to a bracket base by rivets. The fingers may slightly move and adjust for uneven ground and imperfections in the size of the fence posts. An improved method for attaching a fence post to the ground is also provided. A shallow hole may be dug where the fence post is desired. A T-Post may be driven into the ground a desired depth near a center of the shallow hole. A tapered sleeve may be driven on top of the T-Post extending above the shallow hole. A hole on the bottom of the fence post, having a similar interior surface to the exterior surface of the tapered sleeve, may be driven over the tapered sleeve. The bottom of the fence post may have partially screwed in screw(s) and washer(s) that are submerged when the shallow hole is filled with cement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable bracket for connecting a brace to a fence post, comprising:
 a bracket base having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end bent in the same direction and perpendicular to the bracket base to create a first bracket bend and a second bracket bend;   a first bracket finger attached to the first bracket bend by a first rivet; and   a second bracket finger attached to the second bracket bend by a second rivet.   
     
     
         2 . A tapered sleeve for connecting a fence post to a T-Post driven into the ground, comprising:
 a bottom hollow cylinder having a first diameter comprising a bottom portion of the tapered sleeve;   a middle hollow cylinder having a second diameter, smaller than the first diameter, comprising a middle portion of the tapered sleeve; and   a top hollow cylinder having a third diameter, smaller than the second diameter, comprising a top portion of the tapered sleeve.   
     
     
         3 . A smash bar extension arm for driving a fence post onto a tapered sleeve, comprising:
 a fence post catch having a flat surface configured to be laid on top of a fence post;   a fence post guide having a flat surface configured to run along a long side of a fence post; and   a hammer slide hookup configured to receive a smash bar slide the is configured to allow a smash bar to slide up and down the smash bar slide to drive the fence post onto the tapered sleeve.