Levelling device

Abstract

A post levelling device or post setter (2) is provided with a body assembly (10) having a stem (12) from which support elements in the form of outwardly extending legs (14, 22, 24) extend to stably support the post setter above a post hole (6) in which a vertical post (4) is to be installed. The post setter (2) includes a universal joint connector (40) connecting the stem (12) to an alignment guide (60) for secure attachment to the post (4) and two independently moveable adjusters (26, 32) to independently adjust the vertical orientation of the post (4) when attached to the alignment guide (60) in two separate independent directions being in a side to side direction and in a back to front direction to finely adjust the post to a substantially vertical orientation above the post hole (6).

Description

[0001] Levelling Device

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present description relates to a levelling device for correctly aligning a lengthwise extending member in a predetermined orientation.

[0004] In one form the present description relates to a levelling device for correctly orienting an elongate member in a substantially vertical orientation or in a mutually orthogonal position with respect to another similar or dissimilar member.

[0005] In one form the present description relates to a levelling device in the form of an articulated post setter for use in correctly aligning a post or similar in a substantially vertically extending orientation prior to fixing the post in position permanently or permanently installing the member within a finished product.

[0006] In one form the present description relates to a method of correctly aligning an elongate member such as a post in a substantially vertical orientation prior to fixing the member permanently in place, such as for example, concreting a fence post in the ground or prior to fixedly installing a vertical support member in a product during a manufacturing process.

[0007] Although the present description is directed to specific embodiments as described herein, it is to be noted that the present description is not limited in scope to the described embodiments only, but rather, the scope of the description is more extensive so as to include other forms, variations, modifications or arrangements of the described embodiments and devices, and to include methods of using the various embodiments in applications other than the specifically described applications and / or methods.

[0008] Backa round

[0009] Often when constructing buildings or performing building works it is necessary to install a vertical post or column in a hole or cavity. Typical examples include fence posts, stumps, pylons or other load bearing vertical columns which are needed to be held securely vertically in a hole or cavity in the ground before being permanently fixed in place, such as by being concreted or cemented in place within the hole. Of necessity, the size of the hole must be significantly greater than the size of the post to allow sufficient room around the base of the post in the hole for enabling concreting of the base of the post to secure the post in place. This makes it difficult to hold the post vertically as the post needs to be held securely in the correct orientation prior to permanently fixing the post in place. Accordingly, it is difficult to correctly orient the post vertically when in the hole. Further, usually the ground in which the fence post or similar is to be installed is uneven, sloping or otherwise inclined making it even more difficult to correctly orient and maintain the post vertically during the process of permanently fixing of the post in the hole.

[0010] Previously available tools for assisting in installing posts vertically are not entirely successful for one or other reason due in part to being unable to accommodate the unevenness and changes in inclination of the ground surrounding the hole for receiving the post, and also in part due to the failure to provide adequate support for the post when adjustments are required to correctly orient the post vertically when in the empty hole prior to the introduction of a suitable fixing mixture, such as concrete. If the post is being held securely, adjustment of the orientation is difficult or may not be possible, and if the post is being held loosely allowing adjustment, there is a tendency for the post to move away from the correct vertical orientation either before or during the concreting or similar process of permanently fixing the post in the hole. Similarly, during manufacturing processes it is often necessary to accurately align elongate members with respect to other elongate members and / or other parts of a product when making the product. Accordingly, there is a need to address the above, and / or at least provide a useful alternative for allowing adjustability of correct orientation of elongate members whilst being secured against unwanted movement during the installation process of the elongate members. The presently described leveling device sets out to address such shortcomings.

[0011] According to one form of the present invention there is provided an adjustable levelling device for aligning an elongate member to extend in a predetermined orientation comprising a body having a support element for supporting the levelling device at a desired location in use an alignment guide for fixedly holding the elongate member so that the elongate member moves in accordance with corresponding movement of the alignment guide, a movable connector located intermediate the body and the alignment guide for allowing movement of the alignment guide with respect to the body to adjust the orientation of the elongate member at least one adjuster extending between the body and the alignment guide facilitating relative movement of the body and alignment guide the alignment guide being adjustably movable with respect to the body about the movable connector in response to corresponding movement of the adjuster to adjust the orientation of the elongate member to the predetermined orientation wherein the alignment guide is movable with respect to the body independently in a first direction and in a second direction in response to corresponding movement of the adjustor.

[0012] According to one form of the present invention there is provided an adjustable post setter for setting the orientation of a post to extend in a substantially vertical orientation comprising a body having at least one fixed support leg for supporting the post setter in a desired location for setting the orientation of the post in use an alignment guide for fixedly contacting the post at one or more locations of the post so that the post moves in accordance with corresponding movement of the alignment guide, a movable connector located intermediate the body and the alignment guide for allowing movement of the alignment guide with respect to the body to adjust the orientation of the post an adjuster extending between the body and the alignment guide for facilitating relative movement of the body and alignment guide the movable connector having a first part fixedly connected to the body and a second part fixedly connected to the alignment guide such that the first and second parts are relatively movable with respect to each other wherein the alignment guide is adjustably movable independently in a first direction with respect to the body about the first part of the movable connector in response to corresponding movement of the adjuster and the alignment guide is adjustably movable independently in a second direction with respect to the body about the second part of the movable connector in response to corresponding movement of the adjuster to adjust the orientation of the elongate member to the predetermined orientation wherein the first direction is a different direction from the second direction.

[0013] According to one form of the present invention there is provided a method of levelling an elongate member in a predetermined orientation using an adjustable levelling device having a body, an alignment guide, a movable connector and at least one adjuster the method comprising the steps of fixedly attaching the elongate member to the alignment guide locating the levelling device at a required location supporting the levelling device in the required location moving the at least one adjuster to change the position of the alignment guide with respect to the body about the movable connector to correctly orient the elongate member in the predetermined orientation wherein the levelling device is supported in the required location by a support element extending from the body in use of the levelling device the elongate member movable in accordance with corresponding movement of the alignment guide, the movable connector being located intermediate the body and the alignment guide for allowing movement of the alignment guide with respect to the body the adjuster extending between the body and the alignment guide for facilitating relative movement of the body and alignment guide wherein the alignment guide is adjustably movable with respect to the body about the movable connector in response to corresponding movement of the adjuster to adjust the orientation of the elongate member to the predetermined orientation the at least one adjustor for facilitating independent movement of the alignment guide with respect to the body in a first direction and in a second direction wherein the first direction is a substantially longitudinal movement, and the second direction is a substantially transverse movement. According to one form of the present invention there is provided a method of installing a post in the ground using an adjustable post setter for setting the orientation of the post to extend in a substantially vertical orientation when installing the post in the ground the post setter including a body, an alignment guide, a movable connector and at least one adjuster the method comprising the steps of fixedly attaching the post to the alignment guide locating the levelling device at a required location supporting the levelling device in the required location moving the at least one adjuster to change the position of the alignment guide with respect to the body about the movable connector to correctly orient the elongate member in the predetermined orientation the body having at least one fixed support leg for supporting the post setter in a desired location for setting the post in use the post being fixedly mounted to the alignment guide at one or more locations of the post so that the post moves in accordance with corresponding movement of the alignment guide, the movable connector located intermediate the body and the alignment guide for allowing movement of the alignment guide with respect to the body to adjust the position of the post the at least one adjuster including a first adjuster provided at a first location on the body and a second adjuster located at a second location on the body each adjuster extending between the body and the alignment guide for facilitating relative movement of the body and alignment guide the movable connector having a first part fixedly connected to the body and a second part fixedly connected to the alignment guide such that the first and second parts are relatively movable with respect to each other within the movable connector wherein the alignment guide is adjustably movable in a first direction with respect to the body about the first part of the movable connector in response to corresponding movement of the first adjuster at the first location and the alignment guide is adjustably movable in a second direction with respect to the body about the second part of the movable connector in response to corresponding movement of the second adjuster at the second location to adjust the orientation of the elongate member to the predetermined orientation wherein the first direction is a substantially longitudinal movement and the second direction is a substantially transverse movement.

[0014] Brief description of Embodiments

[0015] Although the description will be directed primarily to a levelling device, particularly a post setter for setting a vertical post, such as a fence post, it is to be noted that embodiments of the described product can be used in many various situations and have wider applications, such as for example, in correctly orienting any elongate element in a predetermined orientation in any manufacturing or construction process or similar, such as the production of rectangular building panels or similar requiring vertical orientation of elongate elements or mutually orthogonal orientation of various components in the manufactured product.

[0016] Although the elongate member can have any suitable form or be of any suitable type or size, typically the elongate member is a post, stump, pylon, column, or other load bearing elongate item used in the building and construction industries or any structural or decorative elongate member used in manufacturing processes that requires accurate placement. The elongate member can be load bearing or decorative. Preferably the post is a fence post, veranda post, or other supporting post or the like.

[0017] The post can be of any suitable shape, profile, cross-section or size. Forms of the post can be rectilinear or curvilinear, and include square, rectangular, circular, elliptical, polygonal or any other suitable cross sections. Further, the post can be made of any suitable material including wood, timber, treated timber, engineered timber, iron, steel, aluminium, or other metals, or alloys, concrete or other cementitious material including combinations of different materials. A preferred material is timber or steel, of the type and composition typically used in the building and construction industries.

[0018] Forms of the body of the levelling device include a body assembly having multiple components or parts fixedly connected to each other to form the body. In one form the body assembly includes a main body portion, typically in the form of an upstanding or upright stem, stanchion, bar, pillar, connecting piece or similar. In one form the stem which can be solid, or hollow is a short length of vertically extending tube. The tube can have any suitable or convenient shape, profile, type or size, typically being a square section (SHS) tube, a rectangular section (RHS) tube, a triangular section tube (THS), a circular section (CHS) or other similar hollow section. The stem is preferably made of metal. However, in some forms the stem can be a solid bar, shaft, or pier.

[0019] The body assembly further includes downwardly depending supporting elements, typically multiple downwardly depending supporting elements, preferably extending outwardly from the stem at different directions. In forms of the levelling device there is at least one fixed downwardly depending support element extending from the lower end in use of the stem. There can be one, two or more fixed support elements extending in the same or different directions. The support element can be of any suitable type or form for assisting in stably supporting the levelling device in use, typically over a post hole. One form of the support element is a support leg which in forms has a foot portion located at or towards the distal end thereof for contacting the ground to further assist in stably supporting the levelling device in use. Typically, the support leg extends obliquely from the base of the stem to provide a wide footprint for stabling supporting the levelling device above the post hole in use. The fixed support leg which is fixedly attached to the stem can either be of a fixed length or of a variable length, such as for example, being telescopically adjustable in length or being made of interchangeable lengths or sections selectively joined together to alter the length of the leg. The support leg can have any suitable or convenient form, shape, profile, size, length or type. Typically, the support leg is a cylindrical tube (CHS), a square section tube (SHS) or rectangular section tube (RHS). The foot can have any suitable or convenient form or shape or be of any type. Typically, the foot is planar more typically a plate, even more typically a curved or curvilinear plate including a circular plate, elliptical plate, heart shaped plate or similar planar item.

[0020] The body assembly further includes one, two, three or more movable support elements, typically pivotally movable support elements, extending downwardly from the lower end of the stem. In forms, joiners are used for attaching the movable support elements to the stem. Forms of the movable support elements are support legs, typically there are a pair of movable support legs movably attached to respective joiners to extend substantially outwardly radially from the stem in different directions, typically at about 120 degrees from one another. The levelling device can have any number of pivotal support legs, typically each being provided with enlarged feet of the same type, size and form as provided on the fixed leg or legs. More typically the movable support legs are hingedly attached allowing the legs to pivot between a folded configuration for transport and / or storage in which the movable legs are in substantially parallel relationship with the fixed leg or legs, and an in-use configuration for stably supporting the levelling device above the post hole in use in which the legs are deployed outwardly extending from the stem, typically in different directions. Preferably, the levelling device has three legs, one fixed leg and two movable legs, arranged in a triangular arrangement, preferably forming a tripod for stably supporting the levelling device and attached post above the post hole. Forms of the movable support legs have a fixed length or a variable length such as being telescopically extendable and retractable or made of interchangeable sections of varying lengths. The pivotal legs and feet extend obliquely from the stem in different directions to assist in stably supporting the levelling device above the hole in the ground into which the post is to be inserted by contacting the ground around the rim of the post hole.

[0021] Forms of the joiners include opposed angularly inclined brackets, one on either opposed side of the main body portion, typically one on one side of the RHS or SHS tube of the stem and the other on the opposite side of the RHS or SHS stem. In forms the brackets are planar or are twisted or deformed out of their respective planes to accommodate the splaying of the legs in different directions. The brackets can consist of a single planar plate or be a double bracket of two planar plates defining a receiver or space therebetween.

[0022] Although the movable legs can be pivotally connected to the respective brackets in any suitable or convenient manner, one form of pivotal connection is a pin, peg, shaft, axle, or similar.

[0023] Forms of the joiner or bracket are provided with a receiver, typically in the form of a void, cavity, space, gap or similar for receiving the proximal end of the support leg to restrict the unwanted movement of the support leg and to maintain the support leg in the extended deployed configuration in use of the levelling device to prevent collapsing of the device. Forms of the void or cavity include a socket, indenture, notch, pocket or similar, typically defined by the hollow tube from which the joiner is made, more typically, a RHS section corresponding in shape to the RHS section of the leg. It is to be noted that the receiver can have any suitable or convenient form for receiving the proximal end of the leg to selectively lock and release the leg as required during use of the levelling device.

[0024] In forms the bracket is provided with a stop, typically in combination with the socket or pocket, for limiting the amount of movement of the movable leg and to securely hold and maintain the leg in place within the socket against unwanted movement.

[0025] Forms of the joiner have a web located intermediate the two opposed brackets for strengthening the brackets and providing increased rigidity to the levelling device. The web, typically in the form of an insert, gusset or gusset plate, is centrally located between the two brackets and is fixed thereto and preferably also to the stem, such as by welding, thus providing structural strength and support for the levelling device. In one form the gusset is planar whilst in other forms the gusset is twisted, bent, inclined or the like.

[0026] A further form of joiner includes a planar member, typically more than a single planar member, more typically in the form of a plate or multiple plates or similar. In one form there are spaced apart planar members defining a space or cavity therebetween for receiving therein the proximal ends of the respective movable supporting legs. In one form there is a single fixed base plate to which the proximal end of the movable leg is pivotally connected and a pair of top plates in which the base plate is spaced apart from the pair of top plates for receiving the proximal ends of respective movable legs therein to secure the legs in position. Typically, the pair of top plates includes a fixed upper top plate and a contiguous movable lower top plate which is rotationally movable with respect to the fixed upper top plate to selectively adjust the position at which the movable supporting legs extend from the body of the levelling device. In one form the fixed upper top plate and rotationally movable lower top plate are provided with complementary fasteners for selectively locking the top plates with respect to each other to assist in disposing the movable legs in the correct direction of extension. In one form the fasteners include a detent or similar for locking the pair of top plates to each other in which the fixed upper top plate is provided with one part of the detent, typically a movable part. One form of detent includes complementary pins, pegs, rods, bars, shafts, or similar movably attached to the fixed upper top plate and correspondingly shaped and sized holes, apertures, openings, slots, grooves, channels or similar provided on the rotationally movable lower top plate for receiving therein the pins or similar. In one form the detent is an index plunger or spring loaded index plunger. Typically, there are two sets of detents, one on either side of the body or stem of the device, in the form of a right leg pin and a left leg pin, each having a ring pull for axially moving the respective pins. The proximal end of the supporting leg is fixedly connected to the movable lower top plate for corresponding movement therewith so that as the movable supporting leg is rotated with respect to the body the aperture of the movable lower top plate aligns with the pin of the fixed upper top plate to lock the leg in the extended position to stably support the levelling device.

[0027] Forms of the joiner have an adjuster, typically one part of an adjuster, more typically a fixed part of the adjuster. Although the adjuster can have any suitable or convenient form, one form of the adjuster, which is fixedly mounted on or connected to_the bracket, is in the form of a female portion, typically a void, more typically a bore, preferably an internally threaded bore for receiving therein a further part of the adjuster, typically a male portion, more typically a movable male part of the adjuster, even more typically the shank of a fastener, typically a screw, bolt or similar having a threaded lengthwise extending shank or shaft, or similarly externally threaded fastener for cooperatively engaging with the internally threaded bore. Preferably, the adjuster is in the form of a levelling screw. Preferred forms of the adjuster include a pair of independently operable levelling screws, preferably the adjusters work in orthogonal or mutually orthogonal directions to level the post, in which one levelling screw independently adjust the alignment guide in the back- and-forth direction and the other levelling screw independently adjusts the alignment guide in the side-to-side direction. Forms of the movable fastener have a handle or grip. In forms of the adjuster the movable part cooperatively engages with the fixed part to adjust the position of the guide with respect to the body to correctly align the post fixedly mounted on the guide. Forms of the handle of the movable levelling screw or similar include a grip, typically a hand or finger grip, for rotating the screw, such as a knob, head, of other enlarged part, preferably a knurled knob or hand wheel or other finger grip or similar. However, it is to be noted that the adjuster can have any suitable form or be of any suitable type. Although the movable connector can be of any suitable or convenient type extending between the fixed stem of the body assembly and the adjustable alignment guide, typical forms of the movable connector allow independent movement of the alignment guide in two different directions, typically independent movement in the two different directions, preferably two different directions which are mutually orthogonal to one another. Forms of the movable connector include a universal joint, a gimbal, a knuckle joint, a ball and socket joint, a cardan joint, a swivel joint, a rod and slot joint in which the rod extends through the slot, a double pivotal yolk joint in which the two parts are an inner yoke and an outer yoke in which the inner yoke is nested within the outer yoke so each yoke pivots about a separate axis to be each free to move independently of one another, or other similar flexible joint allowing independent movement of the alignment guide with respect to the body assembly in two different directions. Typically, the two directions are substantially perpendicular to each other, more typically one direction is a back-and-forth movement, and the other direction is a side-to-side movement. More typically, the universal joint permits two independent degrees of freedom of movement whilst the third degree of movement, such as the axially rotational movement about the lengthwise extending or central axis of the stem, is fixed to prevent rotation of the alignment guide.

[0028] In forms of the levelling device the post is mounted on the guide at any suitable or convenient location along the lengthwise extending direction of the post, typically at, towards or near to one end, more typically the lower end in use. In forms of the levelling device the centre of mass of the post and alignment guide is spaced apart from or offset from the lengthwise extending axis or central longitudinal axis of the body assembly, particularly of the upright stem. Preferably, the post is self-aligning or self-centring on the guide to bias the post towards adopting the vertical orientation, typically an approximate vertical orientation, when mounted to the guide to obtain an approximate orientation close to the vertical under the weight of the post so that usually minimum adjustments in the back to front (fore / aft) direction and in the side to side direction respectively are needed to adjust fully the position of the post to the required vertical correct orientation for installation. Preferably, the guide pivots about an axis of the movable connector to facilitate the self-centring bias motion of the guide and post combination. The alignment guide can have any suitable or convenient form depending upon the size, shape, profile or type of post being installed using the levelling device and / or also depending upon the form of the movable connector, particularly the universal joint employed as the movable connector. Forms of the alignment guide generally have a first part, typically a holder portion for contacting the post for use in securing and aligning the post with the alignment guide, and a second part, typically a linking portion for movably linking the alignment guide to the movable connector for allowing pivotal movement of the guide with respect to the body. Forms of the holder portion of the alignment guide are square, rectangular, rectilinear, curved, curvilinear or any other suitable shape, including any suitable polygonal shape such as pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal or similar. A preferred shape is of a flange arrangement having a pair of perpendicular opposed sides for contacting the corresponding perpendicularly opposed sides of a square section or rectangular section post. In one form the holder a pair of perpendicular plates arranged in a flange-like configuration.

[0029] Forms of the holder are provided with fixtures for fixedly mounting the post to the guide. The fixtures can be integral with the alignment guide, such as for example apertures, bores, perforations, holes, openings, slots, slits, or similar for receiving therethrough suitable fasteners for more or less temporarily mounting the post to the guide during use of the levelling device, or can be external fixtures for temporarily mounting the post to or within the holder, such as for example, using external clamps, grips, multigrips, vice grips, clasps, presses, vices, or similar clamping or holding tools for securing the post to the guide.

[0030] Forms of the movable link or movable linking portion extend from the rear of the guide, particularly the back side of the holder, more typically from the join of the perpendicular flange plates in a direction towards the movable connector at the top of the stem of the body assembly. Forms of the link include extensions in the form of arms, brackets, webs, plates, rods, fingers or similar projections. The links can be solid links or perforated links or provided with openings or hollow links.

[0031] Forms of the levelling device are provided with an optional lock for locking the alignment guide and the levelling device in position when the final orientation of the post has been determined by using the adjusters in the form of the pair of levelling screws of the stem, to prevent unwanted movement, typically unwanted rearwards movement of the post. In forms the movable connector, typically the inner yoke forming one form of universal joint of the movable connector, is provided with part of the optional lock. The optional lock can have any suitable or convenient form. One typical form of the lock is a locking screw similar to the pair of levelling screws provided for adjusting the position of the alignment guide. In one form the locking screw is a bolt, screw or similar male projection received within an internally threaded female part, typically a bore provided on the outer yoke for receiving therein the externally threaded shaft or shank of the screw or bolt which is optionally provided with a handle in the form of a knob or grip. In forms, the lock includes a second part provided on the link in the form of a bearing surface or stop surface, typically in the form of a boss, wall, stop, flange, ridge, bulge, plug or similar projection or protuberance provided on the link, typically the upper surface of the link, against which the distal end of the bolt of the locking screw bears against to prevent unwanted rearwards movement of the post.

[0032] Forms of the levelling device are provided with indicators or sensors for determining the orientation of the post when in the levelling device. Forms of the indicator or sensor in clue levels such as bubble spirit levels, markings such as in the form of a protractor or other indicia indicating the angle of inclination of the post from the true vertical orientation.

[0033] Brief description of the drawings

[0034] In order that the invention may be more easily understood, an embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, to illustrate forms of the embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] Figure 1 is a top perspective view of one form of a levelling device in accordance with the present description.

[0036] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment of Figure 1

[0037] Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of Figure 1 Figure 4 is a rear elevation view of the embodiment of Figure 1 Figure 5 is an underneath plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1 Figure 6 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of figure 1 Figure 7 is a top plan view of the embodiment of figure 1. Figure 8 is a cross sectional view along the line A to A of Figure 7

[0038] Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the detail within circle B of Figure 8

[0039] Figure 10 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of Figure 1 showing the adjustment movement about the vertical of one form of alignment guide

[0040] Figure 11 is a series of cross-sectional views along the line A to A showing selected spatial relationships of adjustment movements of the guide

[0041] Figure 12 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 1 having a post mounted on the alignment guide with the post extending into a post hole showing the articulation allowing the post to be levelled on sloping ground.

[0042] Figure 13 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 showing the legs in a folded configuration

[0043] Figure 14 is a series of perspective views of alternative embodiments of the movable connector of the post setter.

[0044] Figure 15 is top side perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the levelling device having a further form of the joiner for attaching the support legs to the body and allowing selective movement of the alignment guide with respect to the body.

[0045] Figure 16 is a side schematic view of one form of side prop for use with the various forms of the levelling device.

[0046] Figure 17 is a schematic perspective view of the levelling device and one form of side prop in use against a wall.

[0047] Figure 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view from above showing one form of attachment of the side prop of figure 16 attached to the levelling device.

[0048] Figure 19 is a schematic cross-sectional view from above showing another form of attachment of the side prop of figure 16 to the levelling device.

[0049] Figure 20 is a close-up perspective view of one form of the secure attachment of the side prop to the levelling device.

[0050] Detailed description An embodiment of the levelling device in the form of an articulated post setter in accordance with the present description will now be described in detail.

[0051] A levelling device, generally denoted as 2, includes a body assembly generally denoted as 10 upon which levelling device 2 is stably supported in use, a movable connector, generally denoted as 40, mounted to the top of body assembly 10, and an alignment guide, generally denoted as 60, movably connected to movable connector 40 allowing relative movement of alignment guide 60 with respect to body assembly 10 to correctly align a post 4 mounted on alignment guide 60 to adopt a predetermined substantially vertical orientation prior to installation within a post hole 6, such as for example, a fence post 4 of a fence or column of a building construction or similar.

[0052] Body assembly 10 includes a generally upwardly vertically extending main body support in the form of a short length of an upright stem 12 of a generally rectangular RHS section from which downwardly depends a single angularly inclined fixed supporting leg 14 also in the form of a RHS section, having an enlarged foot 16 of a generally planar circular shape at the distal end thereof to provide a firm foundation for levelling device 2. A first joiner in the form of a planar bracket 18 having an inner plate 18a and an outer plate 18b is welded to stem 12 to extend outwardly therefrom in one direction on one side of stem 12, and a second joiner in the form of a planar bracket 20 having an inner plate 20a and an outer plate 20b extends outwardly in another direction from stem 12 on the opposite side of levelling device 2. Inner plate 18a and outer plate 18b are arranged to extend in spaced apart substantially parallel relationship to one another to define a space there between in the form of a socket 19 or pocket for receiving the proximal end of a first movable supporting element. Inner plate 20a and outer plate 20b are arranged to extend in spaced apart substantially parallel relationship to one another to define a space there between in the form of a socket 21 or pocket for receiving the proximal end of a second movable supporting element. The first movable supporting element in one form is a movable leg 22 having circular foot 23 which leg 22 is pivotally connected to bracket 18 within socket 19 and the second movable supporting element is in one form a second movable leg 24 having a circular foot 25 which leg is pivotally connected to bracket 20 within socket 21. Legs 22, 24 are spring biased by suitable tension springs or similar (not shown) to be retained within respective sockets 19, 21 when at the at rest positions when the levelling device is being used. Legs 22, 24 are moved axially outwardly by pulling on the legs against the spring bias to release the proximal ends of the legs from sockets 19, 21 thereby allowing the legs to pivot to fold the legs into a storage or transport configuration in which both legs are substantially parallel to fixed leg 14 as shown more particularly in figure 13. Inner bracket plates 18a ,22a are provided with apertures for receiving respective one ends of the springs for biasing the legs into the sockets.

[0053] A generally triangular shaped planar web 26 is located intermediate brackets 18, 20 to assist in strengthening the connection of the legs to the stem. Web 26 is welded to bracket 18 along one side thereof and to bracket 20 along another side thereof with the apex of the triangular plate between the welded sides being welded to stem 12 as shown more particularly in figure 5.

[0054] Outer bracket plate 18b is provided with a first adjuster in the form of a first levelling screw 26 which includes a first part in the form of a threaded elongated nut 28, conduit, connector, coupling, socket, union or similar having an internally threaded bore for cooperatively receiving a second part of the adjuster, typically in the form of a correspondingly externally threaded fastener such as the shank or shaft of a bolt 30, screw or similar threaded fastener. The bolt has an enlarged head for gripping to rotate the bolt within the bore. The enlarged head is in the form of a finger grip or wheel 32, hand wheel, knurled knob or other for ease of gripping or grasping to rotate the bolt. The first adjuster in the form of levelling screw 26 is for adjusting the alignment guide and hence post 4 when in the guide in the backwards and forwards direction or back and forth direction or in the fore and aft directions.

[0055] Outer bracket plate 20b is provided with a second adjuster in the form of a second levelling screw 32 which includes a first part in the form of a threaded elongated nut 34, conduit, connector, coupling, socket, union, or similar having an internally threaded bore for cooperatively receiving a second part of the second adjuster, typically in the form of a correspondingly externally threaded fastener such as the shank or shaft of a bolt 36, screw or similar threaded fastener. The bolt has an enlarged head for gripping to rotate the bolt within the bore. The enlarged head is in the form of a finger wheel or grip 38, hand wheel, knurled knob or other for ease of gripping or grasping to rotate the bolt. The second adjuster in the form of a levelling screw 32 is for adjusting the alignment guide and hence post 4 when in the guide in the side-to-side directions.

[0056] Movable connector 40 will now be described in detail. Movable connector 40 which can have any suitable form or be of any suitable type is fixedly mounted to the top of stem 12 to extend substantially upwards in such a manner to prevent horizontal rotation about the central vertical axis and thus is fixed against rotation but is able to move in mutually orthogonal directions in back and forth, and in side to side directions as shown more particularly in figures 10 and 11.

[0057] In one from movable connector 40 includes a lower yoke 42 fixedly connected to the top of stem 12 in which yoke 42 includes a pair of spaced apart opposed sides extending upwardly through which pivot pin 44 extends therebetween and a horizontal web intermediate the pair of opposed sides also extending therebetween. An upper yolk 46 is pivotally located about pin 44 within the opposed sides of lower yoke 42 facilitating side to side movement of yolk 46 with respect to yolk 42. Upper yoke 46 includes a pair of opposed sides and a rear wall located intermediate the pair of opposed sides. Pivot pin 48 extends between the pair of opposed sides for facilitating back and forth movement of the alignment guide. Thus, lower yoke 42 permits side to side adjustment of guide 60 and upper yolk 46 permits back and forth adjustment of guide 60. Further, it is to be noted that movable connector 40 can have other forms and arrangements as shown more particularly in figure 14 which alternatives include a ball and socket joint, a ball and rod joint, a universal joint, a rod and slot universal joint, a swivel joint, a cardan joint or similar movable arrangements providing two degrees of freedom of movement in the side to side direction and in the back and forth direction. It is to be noted that not all possible alternatives of the universal joint or movable connector are illustrated in figure 14, but rather only some of the alternatives are illustrated therein.

[0058] A locking arrangement is provided at or towards the top of upper yolk 46 for locking alignment guide 60 against unwanted movement when the correct orientation of post 4 within the alignment guide is determined. In one form the locking arrangement engages part of the guide 60 to prevent further movement of guide 60 such as for example preventing unwanted rearwardly directed movement of guide 60. In one form the locking arrangement is a locking screw 50 or similar or other adjustable locking device. In one form locking screw 50 is in the form of a bolt 52 or similar fastener having an externally threaded shaft or shank received through the internal threads of a captured nut 54 fixed to the rear wall of upper yoke 46 and a finger or hand wheel or grip 58 at one end. Bolt 52 extends through nut 54 to such an extent that the distal end of the threaded shank of bolt 52 contacts part of the guide 60, namely a stop or bearing surface provided on a linking part of guide 60 to lock guide 60 to connector 40 thus preventing unwanted movement of guide 60 thereby maintaining post 4 in the correct adjusted vertical orientation.

[0059] Alignment guide 60 will now be described in detail. In one form alignment guide 60 includes a connection between movable connector 40 and guide 60 in the form of a link 62 or linkage portion in the form of a bifurcate extension having two opposed open sides 63a, 63b and a web 65 extending between the opposed sides along the top surface of link 62, and a holder in the form of a flange arrangement 64 comprising a pair of plates 64a, 64b arranged to extend perpendicularly to one another for receiving therein and thereon post 4. One end of link 62, namely the rear ends of the opposed open sides 63a, 63b of link 62, is pivotally connected to pivot pin 48 of upper yolk 46 for allowing movement of link 62 in a tilting movement of an up and down direction to tilt guide 60 in a corresponding direction and hence tilt plates 64 to adjust the back-and-forth adjustment of plates 64 in the forwards and rearwards directions. The other end of link 62 is fixedly connected to the respective outer faces of both of plates 64a, 64b, typically at or on either side of the junction between plates 64a, 64b, by the forward facing end of opposed side 63a being connected to flange plate 64a and the forward facing end of opposed side 63b being connected to flange plate 64b. Thus, in use adjustment of plates 64 in the forwards and rearwards directions of levelling device 2 is in response to corresponding rotational movement of levelling screw 26 and adjustment of plates 64 in the side-to-side directions about pivot pin 44 of lower yolk 42 is in response to corresponding rotational movement of levelling screw 32.

[0060] Link 62 is provided with a stop or bearing surface for cooperative engagement with locking screw 50, namely the distal end of bolt 52 to lock the position of guide 60. In one form the stop or bearing surface is in the form of an upstanding boss 66, ridge, flange or other reinforced projection or protuberance provided on the upper surface of link 62 for contact with the distal end of bolt 52. Boss 66 is reinforced by any suitable reinforcement, such as gusset 68 or similar. When locked, guide 60 is prevented from pivoting rearwardly under the influence of gravity and hence post 4 is retained in the desired orientation.

[0061] It is to be noted that although alignment guide 60 is described with a pair of orthogonal plates 64, the holder of the post can have any suitable or convenient form depending upon the shape and profile of the post being installed in the post hole and the size and length of the post. In forms the holder is square, rectangular, curved, cylindrical, curvilinear, or polygonal, including having a regular and uniform shape or an irregular shape, a simple shoe or a complex shape.

[0062] Further, it is to be noted that when post 4 is mounted on plates 64, the centre of mass of the guide and post is spaced from or offset to the centre line or central axis of stem 12 so that the combined weight of the guide and post causes the guide and post to pivot about pivot pin 48 of upper yolk 46 to adopt a position approximating the required correct orientation of the post thereby requiring only minor adjustment of levelling screw 26 and of levelling screw 32 to correctly orient post 4 on levelling device 2. The weightforce of the post is employed to hold the post-holder or articulating part against the adjustment screws. This is achieved by setting the centre of the universal-joint some distance laterally from the post's centre of mass.

[0063] In use of the levelling device of the present description, pivoting supporting legs 22, 24 are deployed obliquely to form a tripod with fixed leg 14 to engage the surface of the ground surrounding post hole 6 as illustrated in particular in figure 12. When levelling device 2 is stably supported on the ground surrounding post home 6, post 4 is mounted on plates 64 so that the lower end of the post extends part way into post hole 6 leaving sufficient clearance surrounding post 4 for securely embedding post 4 using a suitable concrete mixture. When in this approximately correct position levelling screw 26 is rotated two correctly orient post 4 in the correct front and rear position by fore and aft adjusting the position of the post. Similarly, levelling screw 32 is adjusted to sidewaysly or laterally adjust the orientation of post 4. When post 4 is in the correct orientation locking screw 50 is adjusted two lock guide 60 to prevent unwanted movement of post 4 thereby allowing concrete or similar securing material to be introduced into post hole 6 to secure post 4 without risking unwanted movement out of alignment of post 4 as the concrete is introduced into the hole and whilst the concrete is curing or setting. After some time when the concrete has set or cured and the post secured in place levelling device 2 can be removed by disengaging plates 64 from post 4, removing levelling device 2, and releasing the proximal ends of legs 22, 24 from the respective sockets 19, 21 and folding legs 22, 24 into the storage configuration.

[0064] Pivoting supporting legs 22, 24 can be positioned approximately 180 degrees apart to all the post to be positioned right next to a wall.

[0065] A modification of the joiner of levelling device 2 will now be described In detail with particular reference to figure 15. The joiner of the embodiment of figure 15 which is generally denoted as 100 is located intermediate support legs 22, 24 and alignment guide 60 adjacent body assembly 10. Joiner 100 includes a base plate 102 fixedly connected to the lower end of stem 32. The proximal ends of respective movable legs 22, 24 are pivotally connected to base plate 102 by a suitable connector 103 for allowing rotational movement of leg 22 about a substantially vertical axis substantially parallel to the lengthwise extending axis of stem 12 for allowing rotational movement of leg 22 about device 2 to allow leg 22 to adopt the required extended position to stably support device 2. A pair of top plates in the form of lower moveable top plate 104 and upper fixed top plate 106 are spaced apart from base plate 102 to define a space or gap therebetween for receiving therein the proximal end of leg 22. Fixed upper top plate 106 is provided with a first part of a detent in the form of axially moveable pin, peg, rod, shaft, bar or similar 108 for engaging a complementary shaped and sized hole, aperture, opening or bore 110 provided in movable lower top plate 104 to securely lock the two top plates 104, 106 to one another to retain leg 22 in the correct extended position.

[0066] In one form pin 108 is provided with a ring pull 112 located at the distal end thereof for grasping by hand of an operator or workman to lift pin 108 clear of lower movable top plate 104 to allow leg 22 and lower movable top plate 104 to rotate to the required position to enable aperture 110 to be aligned below pin 108 whereupon pin 108 can be released to be received within aperture 110 to lock upper top plate and lower top plate to each other to maintain leg 22 in the correct extended position. In one form pin 108 is mounted to upper top plate 106 by a captive nut or similar to retain pin 108. A similar arrangement is provided on the other side of device 2 being the left hand side, for pivotally mounting movable leg 24 to stem 12 as shown more particularly in figures 15 and 17. It is to be noted that forms of device 2 have a pair of detents or similar, one located on one side of device 2 so is to control extension of the movable extendable leg 22 on that side of device 2, such as the right hand side, and another detent or similar located on the opposite side of device 2, such as the left hand side for controlling movement and extension of leg 24 on the left hand side. Forms of device 2 can have two separate locking or detent assemblies, including two separate assemblies, one on either side of stem 12 or can have a single assembly, such as a single base plate extending partially circumferentially around stem 12 on both sides thereof and having two sets of pairs of top plates spaced apart from the single base plate.

[0067] With particular reference to figures 16 to 20 one form of an accessory or attachment for levelling device 2 will now be described in detail. The accessory is another form of the supporting element of device 2 in the form of a stay and is optionally for use with one or more of the existing supporting legs 22, 24 of device 2. One form of the stay is a brace, prop, stabilizer, strut or similar. Typically, the brace is a side prop, generally denoted as 80, for use with levelling device 2 against an existing wall or fence 8 in which there is little or no clearance for extending one or other supporting leg 22, 24 from body 10 to stabilise and / or support device 2 due to little or no clearance between the location of the post hole and the wall or fence such as shown in figure 17.

[0068] In one form side prop 80 is in the form of an elongated hollow square section tube 82 of a length suitable for extending at least between the proposed location of the post hole 6 over which device 2 is to be installed and the adjacent wall or fence 8 as shown more particularly in Figure 17. More typically, tube 82 is longer so as to have more universal application in a wide range of situations requiring the use of the side prop. Tube 82 is slidably received within holder 84 of clamp 86 having rotatable tube screw 88. Holder 84 is of a size and shape corresponding to the dimensions of tube 82 so as to be securely received therein. In one form holder 84 is a sleeve, channel, collar or similar. With tube 82 being located at the required position within holder 84, tube screw 88 is turned to contact the side of tube 82 to securely engage tube 82 to hold tube 82 within clamp 86 so that tube 82 extends the required amount. Clamp 84 is provided with a clamp body having a jaw arrangement in the form of two spaced apart jaws 90 for positively engaging with part of levelling device 2. It is to be noted that jaws 90 can have any suitable, desirable or convenient form for securely attaching side prop 80 to any suitable part of device 2. Although one form of jaws 90 is illustrated in figure 16 for engaging with body 10 or stem 12 of device 2, other forms of jaw 90 possible such as for example engaging with one or more support legs 22, 24 or with one or other of the fixed plates of device 2.

[0069] In one form jaws 90 are generally rectilinear having a compound or complex shape or arrangement including multiple straight edges, generally denoted collectively as 92 in figure 16. However it is to be noted that jaws 90 can be curvilinear or a combination of different shapes depending upon circumstances as to how the side prop is to be attached to levelling device 2 in use. Clamp 84 is provided with a clamp screw 94 for securely attaching the clamp to levelling device 2 and hence maintaining side prop 80 in position against the adjacent wall or fence in order to stabilise levelling device 2.

[0070] Many modifications of the above embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present description. For example, some alternative embodiments of the levelling device, particularly of the movable connector, are shown in Figure 14 where different levelling screw arrangements and different universal joints , gimbals, ball and socket joints and similar are illustrated.

[0071] Advantages of Embodiments

[0072] One or more embodiments of the present description have one or more of the following advantages.

[0073] Forms of the device eliminate the need for timber diagonals and other cross bracing to support and align the post before and during concreting.

[0074] Forms of the device eliminate the need for crushed rock or foot pads under the post when suspended above the hole thereby preventing or reducing water ingress into the post resulting in longer life as the base of the proximal end of the post is encased within concrete.

[0075] Forms of the device result in greater accuracy of alignment of the post due to fine precise independent tuning and adjustment of the adjusters to orient the post truly vertically.

[0076] Lower skilled people can use forms of the device to achieve accuracy of positioning and orientation of the post thereby reducing labour costs. Forms of the device allow for single person use to achieve accuracy as a second person is not required for holding and aligning the post prior to concreting the post into the post hole.

[0077] Forms of the device allow flexibility of work operations to change the order of work as and when required when installing multiple posts since all posts can be set up and aligned in multiple holes prior to being individually concreted within the respective post holes thereby allowing the use of batch operations to concrete the posts in the respective holes in streamlined work operations rather than having to concrete the individual posts separately or have a sufficient concrete supply on standby.

[0078] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0079] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An adjustable levelling device for aligning an elongate member to extend in a predetermined orientation comprising a body having a support element for supporting the levelling device at a desired location in use an alignment guide for fixedly holding the elongate member so that the elongate member moves in accordance with corresponding movement of the alignment guide, a movable connector located intermediate the body and the alignment guide for allowing movement of the alignment guide with respect to the body to adjust the orientation of the elongate member at least one adjuster extending between the body and the alignment guide facilitating relative movement of the body and alignment guide the alignment guide being adjustably movable with respect to the body about the movable connector in response to corresponding movement of the adjuster to adjust the orientation of the elongate member to the predetermined orientation wherein the alignment guide is movable with respect to the body independently in a first direction and in a second direction in response to corresponding movement of the adjustor.

2. An adjustable post setter for setting the orientation of a post to extend in a substantially vertical orientation comprising a body having at least one fixed support leg for supporting the post setter in a desired location for setting the orientation of the post in use an alignment guide for fixedly contacting the post at one or more locations of the post so that the post moves in accordance with corresponding movement of the alignment guide, a movable connector located intermediate the body and the alignment guide for allowing movement of the alignment guide with respect to the body to adjust the orientation of the postan adjuster extending between the body and the alignment guide for facilitating relative movement of the body and alignment guide the movable connector having a first part fixedly connected to the body and a second part fixedly connected to the alignment guide such that the first and second parts are relatively movable with respect to each other wherein the alignment guide is adjustably movable independently in a first direction with respect to the body about the first part of the movable connector in response to corresponding movement of the the adjuster and the alignment guide is adjustably movable independently in a second direction with respect to the body about the second part of the movable connector in response to corresponding movement of the the adjuster to adjust the orientation of the elongate member to the predetermined orientation wherein the first direction is a different direction from the second direction.

3. A device according to any preceding claim in which the elongate member is a post including a square, rectangular, circular, elliptical, polygonal or any other suitable cross sections wherein the post is made of any suitable material including wood, timber, treated timber, engineered timber, iron, steel, aluminium, or other metals, or alloys, concrete or other cementitious materials including combinations of two or more different materials.

4. A device according to any preceding claim in which the body is a body assembly including a main body portion, in the form of an upstanding or upright stem, stanchion, bar, pillar, pier, or connecting piece wherein the stem which can be solid or hollow is a short length of vertically extending tube being a square section (SHS) tube, a rectangular section (RHS) tube, a triangular section tube (THS), a circular section (CHS) or other similar hollow section.

5. A device according to any preceding claim in which the support element further includes at least one fixed downwardly depending support element extending from the lower end in use of the body and one, two, three or more movable support elements extending from the body in different directions from each other and from the direction of extension of the fixed supporting element.

6. A device according to any preceding claim in which the support element includes support legs each having a foot portion located at or towards the distal end thereof for contacting the ground to further assist in stably supporting the levelling device in use wherein the support legs extend obliquely from the body to provide a wide footprint for stabling supporting the levelling device above the post hole in use at about 120 degrees to one another to form a tripod.

7. A device according to any preceding claim in which the support leg is a variable length support leg in which the variable length leg is telescopically adjustable in length or is made of interchangeable sections selectively joined together to alter the length of the leg.

8. A device according to any preceding claim in which the joiners include opposed angularly inclined brackets located on different sides of the body wherein the brackets are planar or are twisted or deformed out of respective planes to accommodate the splaying of the legs in different directions, the bracket being either a single planar plate or the bracket is a double bracket of two planar plates defining a receiver or space therebetween.

9. A device according to any preceding claim in which ends of the pivoting legs are pivotally connected to the brackets within the receiver by a pin, peg, shaft, axle, or similar wherein the receiver is in the form of a void, cavity, space, gap or similar for receiving the proximal end of the support leg to restrict unwanted movement of the support leg and to maintain the support leg in the extended deployed configuration in use of the levelling device to prevent collapsing of the device.

10. A device according to any preceding claim in which the receiver is a socket, indenture, notch, pocket or similar, typically defined by the hollow tube from which the joiner is made.

11. A device according to any preceding claim in which the joiner comprises multiple plates in spaced apart substantially parallel spaced apart relationship for receiving therein the proximal ends of the respective supporting legs wherein the plates include a single fixed base plate to which the proximal end of the leg is pivotally connected and a pair of top plates being a fixed upper top plate and a contiguous movable lower top plate which is rotationally movable with respect to the fixed upper top plate to selectively adjust the position at which the supporting legs extend from the body of the levelling device.

12. A device according to any preceding claim further comprising complementary fasteners for selectively locking the upper and lower top plates to each other wherein the fasteners include a detent, index plunger, or similar for locking the pair of top plates to each other in which the fixed upper top plate is provided with a movable part in the form pins, pegs, shafts, or similar movably attached to the fixed upper top plate and the movable lower top plate is provided with correspondingly shaped and sized holes, apertures, openings, slots, grooves or similar for receiving therein the pins or similar.

13. A device according to any preceding claim in which there are two sets of detents, one on either side of the body or stem of the device, in the form of a right leg pin and a left leg pin, each having a ring pull for axially moving the respective pins.

14. A device according to any preceding claim in which the adjuster is fixedly mounted on or connected to_the bracket and includes an internally threaded bore for receiving therein a shank of a fastener for cooperatively engaging with the internally threaded bore to form of a levelling screw.

15. A device according to any preceding claim in which the adjuster includes a pair of levelling screws arranged in orthogonal or mutually orthogonal directions in which one levelling screw adjusts the alignment guide in the first direction being a back-and-forth direction and the other levelling screw adjusts the alignment guide in the second direction being a side-to-side direction, typically substantially perpendicular to each other.

16. A device according to any preceding claim in which the movable connector includes a universal joint, a gimbal, a knuckle joint, a ball and socket joint, a cardan joint, a swivel joint, a rod and slot joint in which the rod extends through the slot, a double pivotal yolk joint having an inner yoke and an outer yoke in which the inner yoke is nested within the outer yoke each yoke pivoting about a separate axis to be each free to move independently of one another.

17. A device according to any preceding claim in which the centre of mass of the combined post and alignment guide is spaced apart from or offset from the lengthwise extending axis or central longitudinal axis of the stem so that the post is self-aligning or self-centring on the guide to bias the post towards adopting an approximate vertical orientation.

18. A device according to any preceding claim in which the alignment guide comprises a holder portion for contacting the post for use in securing and aligning the post with the alignment guide, and a linking portion for movably linking the alignment guide to the movable connector for allowing pivotal movement of the guide with respect to the body the linking portion having a first end and a second end wherein the first end of the linking portion extends between the holder and the movable connector and is fixedly connected to the holder and the second end of the link is pivotally connected to the universal joint of the movable connector.

19. A device according to any preceding claim in which the movable linking portion extends from the back side of the holder in a direction towards the movable connector at the top of the stem of the body assembly wherein the linking portion includes extensions in the form of arms, brackets, webs, plates, rods, fingers or similar projections.

20. A device according to any preceding claim further comprising a lock for locking the alignment guide in position within the levelling device when the final orientation of the post has been determined to prevent unwanted rearwards movement of the post the lock having a first part mounted on the movable connector and a second part mounted on the guidewherein the first part of the lock is a locking screw comprising a threaded fastener combination of male and female portions attached to a part of the universal joint of the movable connector and the second part is in the form of a bearing surface or stop surface in the form of a wall, stop, flange, ridge, bulge, plug or similar projection or protuberance in which the male portion contacts the stop surface to prevent unwanted rearwards movement of the post.

21. A method of levelling an elongate member in a predetermined orientation using an adjustable levelling device having a body, an alignment guide, a movable connector and at least one adjuster the method comprising the steps of fixedly attaching the elongate member to the alignment guide locating the levelling device at a required location supporting the levelling device in the required location moving the at least one adjuster to change the position of the alignment guide with respect to the body about the movable connector to correctly orient the elongate member in the predetermined orientation wherein the levelling device is supported in the required location by a support element extending from the body in use of the levelling device the elongate member movable in accordance with corresponding movement of the alignment guide, the movable connector being located intermediate the body and the alignment guide for allowing movement of the alignment guide with respect to the body the adjuster extending between the body and the alignment guide for facilitating relative movement of the body and alignment guide wherein the alignment guide is adjustably movable with respect to the body about the movable connector in response to corresponding movement of the adjuster to adjust the orientation of the elongate member to the predetermined orientation the at least one adjustor for facilitating independent movement of the alignment guide with respect to the body in a first direction and in a second direction wherein the firstdirection is a substantially longitudinal movement, and the second direction is a substantially transverse movement.

22. A method of installing a post in the ground using an adjustable post setter for setting the orientation of the post to extend in a substantially vertical orientation when installing the post in the ground the post setter including a body, an alignment guide, a movable connector and at least one adjuster the method comprising the steps of fixedly attaching the post to the alignment guide locating the levelling device at a required location supporting the levelling device in the required location moving the at least one adjuster to change the position of the alignment guide with respect to the body about the movable connector to correctly orient the elongate member in the predetermined orientation the body having at least one fixed support leg for supporting the post setter in a desired location for setting the post in use the post being fixedly mounted to the alignment guide at one or more locations of the post so that the post moves in accordance with corresponding movement of the alignment guide, the movable connector located intermediate the body and the alignment guide for allowing movement of the alignment guide with respect to the body to adjust the position of the post the at least one adjuster including a first adjuster provided at a first location on the body and a second adjuster located at a second location on the body each adjuster extending between the body and the alignment guide for facilitating relative movement of the body and alignment guide the movable connector having a first part fixedly connected to the body and a second part fixedly connected to the alignment guide such that the first and second parts are relatively movable with respect to each other within the movable connectorwherein the alignment guide is adjustably movable in a first direction with respect to the body about the first part of the movable connector in response to corresponding movement of the first adjuster at the first location and the alignment guide is adjustably movable in a second direction with respect to the body about the second part of the movable connector in response to corresponding movement of the second adjuster at the second location to adjust the orientation of the elongate member to the predetermined orientation wherein the first direction is a substantially longitudinal movement and the second direction is a substantially transverse movement.

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