Channel sign post socket and method of installing sign post

Abstract

A socket and method for anchoring a sign post in the ground securely without requiring the sign post to be drivingly impacted. The socket has a hollow cavity having a cross sectional configuration substantially the same as that of the post, the cavity terminating at a ledge. The ledge is an edge of a portion of a leader inserted into one end of the socket and having the remainder of the leader extending from that one end. The socket is driven into the ground by inserting a driving rod into the cavity and impacting the driving rod against the ledge formed by the leader until the socket is driven to the desired depth in the ground. The driving rod is then withdrawn and the sign post is inserted into the socket and secured to it.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimed herein is: 
     
       1. A socket for installing a sign post in the ground, said sign post having a substantially U-shape channel cross sectional configuration, said socket comprising a housing having wall means of finite length defining an elongated hollow cavity, said cavity having a U-shape cross sectional configuration substantially identical to that of said sign post for receiving said sign post snugly, a rigid leader having a U-shape cross sectional configuration substantially identical to said sign post, means for securing a portion of said leader including a free edge within said cavity to form a closure to said cavity at one end of said socket, the remaining portion of said leader extending out from said socket at said one end, said socket being adapted to be disposed in the ground with an end opposite said one end above the surface of the ground, whereby said sign post may be inserted into said socket through the end above the surface of the ground and abut said edge of said leader as a stop and may be secured to said socket adjacent said end disposed above the ground. 
     
     
       2. A socket as recited in claim 1, wherein said wall means comprises a pair of spaced apart walls having a cross sectional configuration substantially identical to said sign post, and means for securing lateral ends of said walls together in spaced apart relationship. 
     
     
       3. A socket as recited in claim 1, wherein said leader includes laterally extending wings on at least a part of said remaining portion for securely anchoring said socket within the ground. 
     
     
       4. A method for installing a sign post in the ground, said sign post having a .[.substantially U-shape.]. channel cross sectional configuration, .[.aid.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.method comprising: (a) providing a socket having an elongated hollow cavity with a cross sectional configuration substantially identical to the sign post;   (b) providing a rigid leader of finite length including first and second spaced apart distal edges and having a cross sectional configuration substantially identical to said sign post;   (c) securing said leader partly into said cavity adjacent one end of said socket with a first distal edge of said leader within said cavity to form a closure to said cavity at said one end while permitting the remainder of said leader including a second distal edge to extend from said one end;   (d) disposing said socket such that said second distal edge engages the surface of said ground;   (e) impacting said first distal edge of said leader from within said socket toward said ground to drive said leader together with said socket to a desired depth into said ground; and   (f) inserting said sign post into said socket.   
     
     
       5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said impacting of said leader comprises inserting a driving rod into said cavity until it abuts said leader, and impacting said driving rod from outside said socket while maintaining the rod in abutment with said leader. 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said inserting of said driving rod includes providing a driving rod having a cross sectional configuration substantially identical to said sign post. 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in claim 5, including removing said driving rod from said socket prior to inserting said sign post. 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said impacting of said leader includes driving said socket so that a portion of said socket remains above the ground, and securing said sign post within said socket to the portion of said socket remaining above the ground after said sign post has been inserted into said socket. 
     
     
       9. The method of .[.driving a socket having a hollow interior into the ground to provide a supporting anchor for a sign post or the like, said method comprising.]. .Iadd.installing a post in the ground comprising: providing a socket having a hollow interior, .Iaddend.providing a solid member having at least a portion with substantially the same cross sectional configuration as said hollow interior of said socket, positioning said portion of said member into one end of said socket with the remainder of said member extending from said one end, securing said member while so positioned to the socket, disposing the remainder of said member so as to engage the surface of said ground, inserting a driving rod .Iadd.having substantially an identical cross sectional configuration as that of the hollow interior of said socket .Iaddend.into said socket and into abutment with said member .[.and.]. .Iadd.to substantially fill the interior of the socket, .Iaddend.impacting said driving rod from outside said socket while maintaining abutment of said rod with said member to thereby impact said member from within said socket to drive said member and said socket into the ground to a desired depth.Iadd., and inserting said post into said socket and into abutment with said member.Iaddend.. .Iadd. 
     
     
       10.  A method of installing a post in the ground, said post having a predetermined cross sectional configuration, said method comprising providing a socket having an elongated hollow interior cavity with a cross sectional configuration substantially identical to the post, closing one end of said socket to form a seat within said socket, disposing said socket so that said one end engages the surface of said ground, inserting a driving rod having substantially an identical cross sectional configuration as that of the interior of said socket into said socket and into abutment with said seat to substantially fill the interior of the sockets, impacting said driving rod from outside said socket while maintaining abutment of said rod with said seat to thereby impact said seat from within said socket to drive said socket into the ground to a desired depth, and inserting said post into said socket and into abutment with said seat. .Iaddend.