Adjustable mounting for a post system

Abstract

An adjustable mounting for a post system for use in aligning and maintaining a post attached thereto to a desired vertical attitude to a ground surface. The adjustable mounting includes, as embodiments, a ball segment and seat combination that are movable with respect to one another, and in another embodiment involves a pair of interactive tapered washers, with the embodiments all including arrangements for clamping together the components that is a single bolt type fastener that is for maintaining the components of the adjustable mounting between a ground stake top surface, or ground surface, and a post bottom end or post insert base. The relative positioning of the seat to the ball segment and the tapered washers tapered surfaces to one another is to provide an off-set from a straight line axially through which adjustable mounting, that is transferred directly into a post, or a post insert with a post telescoped thereon, as an angle of that post to the vertical, which post can be used as a fences post, sign post, or the like, and may include an arrangement for mounting a container, such as a box or tube, cantilevered thereto that is intended for receiving delivered items, such as mail and/or newspapers.

I claim: 
     
       1. An adjustable mounting for a post system comprising, a ball segment and seat therefore, where said ball segment includes a body that is formed to have a hemispherical outer surface, has a center hole formed therethrough, and includes a means for mounting a bottom surface of said ball segment body onto a rigid surface; a bolt, as said means for mounting, that has a threaded top end and a means for mounting a lower end of said bolt to a rigid surface, which said means for mounting said bolt lower end provides a loose coupling to allow said bolt to pivot across said bolt lower end mounting; said seat includes a body wherein is formed a concave recess having a surface that is complementary to said ball segment surface, and includes a center hole, which said ball segment body and said seat center holes are counter sunk from a top surface of said seat through said ball segment body forming an inverted cone shaped opening with a flattened apex, to provide up to a twenty degree (20°) change in angle from a longitudinal center axis of said inverted cone shaped opening to accommodate said bolt threaded end fitted therethrough and through a washer means and is to receive a nut means turned thereover for clamping said ball segment and seat together; and means for mounting said seat body in a straight post. 
     
     
       2. An adjustable mounting for a post system as recited in claim 1, further including a means for increasing friction between the ball segment hemispherical surface and the seat concave surface. 
     
     
       3. An adjustable mounting for a post system as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for increasing friction is a gasket formed of a flexible slip resistant material. 
     
     
       4. An adjustable mounting for a post system as recited in claim 2, wherein the means for increasing friction is a scoring or grooving of the ball segment hemispherical surface. 
     
     
       5. An adjustable mounting for a post system as recited in claim 1, further including a straight post mount that is open longitudinally to receive a lower end of the straight post that is fitted thereover, and said straight post mount is arranged to receive the seat body secured across a bottom end thereof. 
     
     
       6. An adjustable mounting for a post system as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for coupling a post end is a post insert means that is a base wherein is formed the seat body and is secured across a bottom end of said post and means for securing said seat body across said post bottom end. 
     
     
       7. An adjustable mounting for a post system as recited in claim 1, wherein, as the means for mounting the bolt lower end to a rigid surface, the bolt end that is opposite to the bolt threaded end is flattened and includes a hole formed therethrough that is to receive a pin means fitted therein after said bolt flattened end has passed through a slot formed in a plate that is a top of a rigid surface to allow said bolt to pivot across said pin means mount. 
     
     
       8. An adjustable mounting for a post system as recited in claim 1, wherein, as the means for mounting the bolt lower end to a rigid surface, the bolt end that is opposite to the bolt threaded end is formed into a circle as an eyelet end to receive a pin means fitted therein after said eyelet end has passed through a plate that is a top of a rigid surface. 
     
     
       9. An adjustable mounting for a post system as recited in claim 1, wherein the straight post is hollow and the seat body for fitting across a lower end of said straight post includes a ridge that extends outwardly from around said seat body outer surface to fit snugly into a groove that has been formed around the inside of said post that is adjacent to said lower end of said post, as the means for mounting said seat body to said post. 
     
     
       10. An adjustable mounting for a post system as recited in claim 1, wherein the ball segment and seat are formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
       11. An adjustable mounting for a post system as recited in claim 1, wherein the side wall of the inverted cone shaped opening is at a ten degree (10°) angle from the longitudinal center axis of said inverted cone shaped opening. .Iadd. 
     
     
       12.  A support mounting system comprising: a support member having a hollow lower end and an opening in said lower end, wherein said lower end comprises end sidewalls terminating in a perimeter end face surrounding the opening;   a mounting insert configured for attachment to the support member within the lower end, said mounting insert including a concave side which faces the opening in the lower end of the support member; and   securing means for intercoupling the mounting insert to a rigid support surface such that the perimeter end face of the support member is held thereby against said rigid support surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. The support mounting system as defined in claim 12, wherein the mounting insert comprises a concavo-convex member. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. The support mounting system as defined in claim 12, wherein the support member comprises a hollow square tube. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. The support mounting system as defined in claim 12, wherein the support member and the mounting insert are made from a durable plastic material. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. The support mounting system as defined in claim 12, wherein the mounting insert includes a center hole formed therein and a second side opposite the concave side, the system further comprising a washer plate having a center hole, said washer plate being configured for placement upon the second side of the mounting insert such that the center hole of said plate is disposed in alignment with the center hole of the mounting insert, wherein the securing means extends through the holes and against the plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. The support mounting system as defined in claim 16, wherein the securing means comprises a bolt for securing to the support surface and extending through the center holes of the mounting insert and washer plate, and a nut member engaged with the bolt so as to reside against the washer plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. The support mounting system as defined in claim 12, wherein the mounting insert comprises a hemispherical concavo-concave member. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. The support mounting system as defined in claim 12, wherein the support member is hollow and includes main sidewalls having a port formed therein to permit access to the securing means, the system further comprising a plate removably secured to the support member so as to cover the port. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. The support mounting system as defined in claim 12, wherein the end sidewalls include an interior surface having at least one interior slot formed therein, and wherein the mounting insert includes at least one ridge configured for snap-in lockable engagement within said at   
     
     
        least one slot. .Iaddend..Iadd.21.  The support mounting system as defined in claim 12, wherein the mounting insert includes a plurality of radially-extending spaced apart ribs. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. A support mounting system comprising: a hollow tubular support member having a hollow lower end and an opening in said lower end, wherein said lower end comprises end sidewalls terminating in a perimeter end face surrounding the opening, wherein the support member is made from a durable plastic material;   a mounting insert comprising a concavo-convex member configured for attachment to the support member within the lower end, said mounting insert including a concave side facing the opening in the lower end of the support member, wherein the mounting insert is made from a durable plastic material and includes a center hole; and   a bolt configured for immovable attachment to a rigid support surface such that said bolt extends outwardly from said support surface, into the open end of the support member and through the center hole of the mounting insert; and   a nut member engageable with the bolt for securing the mounting insert with respect to the rigid support surface such that the perimeter end face of the support member is held thereby against said rigid support surface.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.23.  The support mounting system as defined in claim 22, wherein the support member comprises main sidewalls having a port formed therein to permit access to the nut member, the system further comprising a plate removably secured to the support member so as to cover the port. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. The support mounting system as defined in claim 22, wherein the end sidewalls include an interior surface having at least one interior slot formed therein, and wherein the mounting insert includes at least one ridge configured for lockable engagement within said at least one slot. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. The support mounting system as defined in claim 22, wherein the mounting insert includes a plurality of radially-extending spaced apart ribs. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. A support mounting system comprising: a support member having a hollow lower end and an opening in said lower end, wherein said lower end comprises end sidewalls terminating in a perimeter end face surrounding the opening;   a mounting insert configured for attachment to the support member within the lower end; and   securing means for intercoupling the mounting insert to a rigid support surface such that the perimeter end face of the support member is held   
     
     
        thereby against said rigid support surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.27.  The support mounting system as defined in claim 26, wherein the support member comprises an interior surface defining an interior width and having at least one inner slot formed therein, and wherein the mounting insert is wider than said interior width and includes at least one edge configured for snap-in lockable engagement into said at least one slot. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. The support mounting system as defined in claim 27: wherein the mounting insert includes a concave side which faces the opening in the lower end of the support member;   wherein the support member comprises a substantially square cross section; and   wherein the support member comprises a flexible, resilient plastic material adapted to flex radially outwardly responsive to insertion of the wider mounting insert thereinto. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. The support mounting system as defined in claim 27, wherein the interior surface of the support member comprises an interior circumference, and wherein the inner slot comprises a slot formed along the interior circumference of the support member. .Iaddend..Iadd.30. The support mounting system as defined in claim 27, wherein the support member comprises a flexible, resilient plastic material adapted to flex radially outwardly responsive to insertion of the   
     
     
        wider mounting insert thereinto. .Iaddend..Iadd.31.  The support mounting system as defined in claim 26, wherein the support member comprises a substantially rectangular cross section. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. The support mounting system as defined in claim 31, wherein the support member comprises a substantially square cross section. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. The support mounting system as defined in claim 26, wherein the mounting insert comprises at least one ridge that defines a perimeter of said 
     
     
        mounting insert. .Iaddend..Iadd.34.  The support mounting system as defined in claim 12, wherein the support member comprises an outdoor-mountable post configured and adapted for supporting outdoor lateral loads imposed when a structural member becomes fixedly attached to said post and extends outward and sideways from said post. .Iaddend..Iadd.35. The support mounting system as defined in claim 22, wherein the support member comprises an outdoor-mountable post configured and adapted for supporting outdoor lateral loads imposed when a structural member becomes fixedly attached to said post and extends outward and sideways from said post. .Iaddend..Iadd.36. The support mounting system as defined in claim 26, wherein the support member comprises an outdoor-mountable post configured and adapted for supporting outdoor lateral loads imposed when a structural member becomes fixedly attached to said post and extends outward and sideways from said post. .Iaddend.