Anchor for metal fence post

Abstract

A fence post anchor comprising a lower portion, first and second supporting arms, and first and second main arms, all made out of a single piece of material. The first and second supporting arms wrap around the front face of a metal fence post and ensure that the anchor will bend at a point above the supporting arms rather than at the base. The supporting arms can lie side by side in the same vertical plane or overlap and lock together with tabs and cut-outs, or they may form a notch. The main arms can be flat or rounded at their top edge, and they can include folded flanges that tuck in behind the front face of the fence post. The first and second main arms spread outward and provide resistance if the fence post is subject to upward pressure. A method of manufacturing the anchor of the present invention.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is an original nonprovisional application. It does not claim priority back to any previously filed patent application. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to the field of post anchors and, in particular, post anchors designed for use in connection with metal fence posts. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] A number of inventions have been patented that attempt to solve the problem of preventing a fence post from coming out of the ground. None of these inventions is as simple to install, easy to manufacture, and effective as the present invention. Some of these inventions cannot be used with contemporary metal fence posts, many of them require alteration of the fence post, and all of them consist of more than one part. The present invention, on the other hand, is designed specifically for use with modern metal fence posts, it does not require any al...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a fence post anchor that is made up of a lower portion, first and second supporting arms, and first and second main arms. These arms are made from a single piece of material and are designed to prevent the fence post from rising up out of the ground after it has been driven into the ground. The main arms are designed to provide resistance if the fence post is subject to upward pressure. The supporting arms ensure that if the fence post is pulled upward, the anchor will bend at a point above the supporting arms rather than at the base of the anchor, which would cause the anchor to dislodge from the fence post. The first and second supporting arms fit between any two contiguous knobs of the front face of the metal post and do not extend horizontally beyond the knobs. The top portion of the first and second main arms extends horizontally beyond the front face of the metal fence post, and the top edge of the top portion can be flat or rounded. The first and second supporting arms can be made with tabs and cut-outs, and the main arms can have folded flanges that are folded inward towards the metal post and tucked in behind the front face of the metal post. The invention can be made from various materials such as stainless steel, hot rolled mild steel, aluminum, and plastic."

Problems solved by technology

Some of these inventions cannot be used with contemporary metal fence posts, many of them require alteration of the fence post, and all of them consist of more than one part.

This device was designed to work with the older style of metal fence posts that do not have knobs on the front face of the post and would not likely work with today's fence posts.

This particular device was designed for use with wood fence posts and is not adapted to work with modem metal fence posts.

This particular anchor device was designed for use in a shipyard and cannot be installed on a fence post.

As is clear from the above discussion, although the concept of using flanges or flukes to oppose the upward pressure of a rod or stake is known in the art, no one has ever patented a fence post anchor that is designed to work with modem metal fence posts, that requires no alteration of the existing fence post, that provides resistance on both sides of the fence post by virtue of two extending arms, and that is made from a single piece of material.

Images