Sign Post System Using Slide Hammer for Quick Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional large signs for real estate marketing are cumbersome and labor-intensive to install, especially for professionals who need to fit them into vehicles without tools, and existing solutions are messy and impractical for daily use.
Innovation Solution
A sign post system featuring a lightweight, recyclable vinyl sign with a slide hammer and concealed stake assembly that allows for quick installation and removal, enabling a 3 to 7 foot tall sign to be set up in minutes, using a slide hammer that can be lifted 10 to 20 times to embed a spike, and allowing the sign to be easily transported and reused.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a large, tall sign is used to market a listing, then marketing visibility is improved, but the sign becomes difficult to transport in a vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The sign system is divided into separate components: a hollow sign post that can be disassembled into sections, allowing the sign to be broken down into manageable pieces for vehicle transport while maintaining the ability to assemble a tall, visible sign at the location
2Strength
If a conventional wood sign weighing up to 50 pounds is used, then the sign provides sufficient structural strength, but it becomes cumbersome and difficult to install without a truck and tools
Solution Approach 1:
The sign post material is changed from heavy conventional wood to lightweight vinyl, dramatically reducing the weight from 50 pounds to approximately 8-13 pounds while maintaining sufficient structural strength through the hollow tubular design and wall thickness optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The slide hammer assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as both the hammering tool for installing the post and as the anchoring mechanism itself, eliminating the need for separate installation tools and reducing the weight the installer must handle
3Reliability
If a 7 foot tall sign is installed using a shovel or post hole digger, then the sign can be securely installed, but the process becomes very labor intensive and messy
Solution Approach 1:
The slide hammer assembly is designed to be self-contained and self-operating, allowing a single person to install the sign post through simple lifting and dropping motions without requiring assistance from others or the use of complex tools like shovels or post hole diggers
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical system of shovels and post hole diggers is replaced with a slide hammer mechanism that uses controlled impact force to drive the post into the ground, significantly reducing the physical effort and time required for installation
4Weight of moving object
If a slide hammer assembly is designed to be lightweight (8-13 pounds), then it can be easily transported and handled, but it requires more repetitions (10-20 times) to install the post
Solution Approach 1:
The installation process uses periodic repetitive motion, where the lightweight hammer is lifted and dropped 10-20 times in sequence, with each strike progressively driving the post deeper into the ground. This periodic action allows the lightweight hammer to accumulate sufficient impact force over multiple cycles
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables fast, tool-free installation and removal of large signs by a single person, reducing labor and maintaining a clean vehicle, while providing durable, long-lasting, and recyclable signage that enhances marketing visibility and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a slide hammer that can be lifted 10 to 20 times to embed a spike
Data Source
AI summary
A sign post system includes an elongated slide spike, and an impact anvil mounted to the slide spike at a location intermediate the spike ends. An elongated slide hammer column assembly slides onto the slide spike to contact the impact anvil while using the slide spike as a guide to deliver a force to the slide spike to drive the slide spike into the ground. A hollow sign post structure is configured to slide over the slide spike and cover at least a portion of the slide spike above the impact anvil, the slide spike and sign post configured to support a sign structure after installation. In an exemplary embodiment, the system parts are fabricated of plastic materials.