POST BRACKET

Abstract

A post brackets for supporting a wooden post above the top surface of a concrete foundation and for securing the post to embedded anchors in the concrete foundation.

Claims

1. A post bracket for securing a post to a concrete foundation, the post bracket comprising: a first rigid longitudinal member and an opposing second longitudinal member, the first and second rigid longitudinal members each including a distal, sharpened concrete penetrating end and a proximal, post engaging end; a first lateral crossmember positioned between the first and second rigid longitudinal members in proximity to the distal sharpened concrete penetrating end, the first lateral crossmember generally having a length and a rectangular shaped cross-section, the length of the first lateral crossmember so dimensioned to space the first and second rigid longitudinal members at a distance approximately equal to the width of a post, the rectangular shaped cross-section so dimensioned as to ease an insertion of the post bracket into wet concrete; and a second lateral crossmember positioned between the first and second rigid longitudinal members and positioned proximal to the a first lateral crossmember, the length of the second lateral member being approximately equal to the length of the first lateral crossmember, the second lateral cross section configured to enable a first portion of the second lateral crossmember to be inserted into the quantity of wet concrete and a second portion of the second lateral crossmember to engage the bottom of the post to resist lateral forces.

2. The post bracket of claim 1, wherein the shape of the second lateral crossmember is configured to at least partially penetrate into the surface of the wet concrete.

3. The post bracket of claim 1, wherein the shape of the second lateral crossmember is configured to at least partially engage a bottom of the post.

4. The post bracket of claim 1, wherein the second lateral crossmember has a cross-section defining a first portion of the second lateral crossmember configured to at least partially penetrate into the surface of the wet concrete, and a second portion of the second lateral crossmember configured to engage with the bottom of the post.

5. The post bracket of claim 1, wherein the first and second rigid longitudinal members are spaced apart by the first and second lateral crossmembers to accommodate the receipt of a wooden fence post.

6. The post bracket of claim 1, wherein the first and second rigid longitudinal members are spaced apart by the first and second lateral crossmembers to accommodate the receipt of a post having an outer dimension of at least about 3.5 inches by about 3.5 inches.

7. The post bracket of claim 1, wherein the first and second rigid longitudinal members are spaced apart by the first and second lateral crossmembers to accommodate the receipt of a standard sized wooden post.

8. The post bracket of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second rigid longitudinal members defined a pair of throughbores configured to enable a fastener to pass therethrough and into the post, thereby enabling the post to be secured to the post bracket.

9. The post bracket of claim 1, wherein the length of the first and second rigid longitudinal members measures about 20 inches.

10. The post bracket of claim 1, wherein the first and second rigid longitudinal members are constructed of a galvanized steel material.

11. A post bracket for supporting a wooden post above a top surface of a concrete foundation, the post bracket comprising: a first rigid longitudinal member and an opposing second longitudinal member, the first and second rigid longitudinal members each including a distal, sharpened concrete penetrating end and a proximal, wooden post engaging end; a first lateral crossmember positioned between the first and second rigid longitudinal members in proximity to the distal sharpened concrete penetrating end, the first lateral crossmember generally having a length and a rectangular shaped cross-section, the length of the first lateral crossmember so dimensioned to space the first and second rigid longitudinal members at a distance approximately equal to the width of a wooden post, the rectangular shaped cross-section so dimensioned as to ease an insertion of the post bracket into wet concrete; and a second lateral crossmember positioned between the first and second rigid longitudinal members and positioned proximal to the a first lateral crossmember, the length of the second lateral member being approximately equal to the length of the first lateral crossmember, the second lateral cross section configured to enable a first portion of the second lateral crossmember to be inserted into the quantity of wet concrete and a second portion of the second lateral crossmember to engage the bottom of the wooden post to resist lateral forces.

12. The post bracket of claim 11, wherein the shape of the second lateral crossmember is configured to at least partially penetrate into the surface of the wet concrete.

13. The post bracket of claim 11, wherein the shape of the second lateral crossmember is configured to at least partially engage a bottom of the post.

14. The post bracket of claim 11, wherein the second lateral crossmember has a cross-section defining a first portion of the second lateral crossmember configured to at least partially penetrate into the surface of the wet concrete, and a second portion of the second lateral crossmember configured to engage with the bottom of the post.

15. The post bracket of claim 11, wherein the first and second rigid longitudinal members are spaced apart by the first and second lateral crossmembers to accommodate the receipt of a standard sized wooden fence post.

16. The post bracket of claim 11, wherein the first and second rigid longitudinal members are spaced apart by the first and second lateral crossmembers to accommodate the receipt of a wooden post having an outer dimension of at least about 3.5 inches by about 3.5 inches.

17. The post bracket of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second rigid longitudinal members defined a pair of throughbores configured to enable a fastener to pass therethrough and into the wooden post, thereby enabling the wooden post to be secured to the post bracket.

18. The post bracket of claim 11, wherein the length of the first and second rigid longitudinal members measures about 20 inches.

19. The post bracket of claim 11, wherein the first and second rigid longitudinal members are constructed of a galvanized steel material.

20. A post bracket for securing a post to a concrete foundation, the post bracket comprising: a first rigid longitudinal member and an opposing second longitudinal member constructed of a galvanized steel material, the first and second rigid longitudinal members each including a distal, sharpened concrete penetrating end and a proximal, post engaging end; a first lateral crossmember constructed of a galvanized steel material positioned between the first and second rigid longitudinal members in proximity to the distal sharpened concrete penetrating end, the first lateral crossmember generally having a length and a rectangular shaped cross-section, the length of the first lateral crossmember measuring at least about 3.5 inches, the rectangular shaped cross-section so dimensioned as to ease an insertion of the post bracket into wet concrete; and a second lateral crossmember constructed of a galvanized steel material positioned between the first and second rigid longitudinal members and positioned proximal to the a first lateral crossmember, the length of the second lateral member being approximately equal to the length of the first lateral crossmember, the second lateral cross section configured to enable a first portion of the second lateral crossmember to be inserted into the quantity of wet concrete and a second portion of the second lateral crossmember to engage the bottom of the post to resist lateral forces, wherein each of the first and second rigid longitudinal members defined a pair of throughbores configured to enable a fastener to pass therethrough and into the post, thereby enabling the post to be secured to the post bracket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The disclosure can be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the disclosure, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top view depicting a post bracket, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a left side view depicting the post bracket of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a front view depicting the post bracket of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a right side view depicting the post bracket of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a bottom view depicting the post bracket of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective depicting the post bracket of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view depicting a post bracket operably coupling a wooden post to a concrete foundation, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view depicting a post bracket operably coupling a wooden post to a concrete foundation, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view depicting a post bracket, according to an alternate embodiment of the disclosure.

[0021] While embodiments of the disclosure are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof shown by way of example in the drawings will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1-7, various views of a post bracket 100 are depicted in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. One embodiment of the post bracket 100 can include a first rigid longitudinal member 102A and a second rigid longitudinal member 102B. The first and second rigid longitudinal members 102A/B can each include a distal, sharpened concrete penetrating end 104A/B and a proximal, wooden post engaging end 106A/B.

[0023] In some embodiments, the post bracket 100 can further include a first lateral crossmember 108 positioned between the first and second rigid longitudinal members 102A/B in proximity to the distal sharpened concrete penetrating end 104A/B. The first lateral crossmember 108 can generally have a length and a rectangular shaped cross-section 110. For example, in one embodiment, the first lateral crossmember 108 can be constructed of a 3/16 inch bar stock, having a width of about 2 inches and a length of about 3.5 inches. In some embodiments, the length of the first lateral crossmember 108 can be so dimensioned to space the first and second rigid longitudinal members 102A/B at a distance approximately equal to that of the width of a wooden fence post. The rectangular shaped cross-section 110 can be so dimensioned as to ease an insertion of the post bracket into a quantity of wet concrete.

[0024] In some embodiments, the post bracket 100 can further include a second lateral crossmember 112 positioned between the first and second rigid longitudinal members 102A/B and positioned proximal to the first lateral crossmember 108. The second lateral crossmember 112 can generally have a length and a various cross-sections 114. For example, in one embodiment, the second lateral crossmember 112 can be constructed of a 3/16 inch t-bar stock, having a width of about 2 inches and a length of about 3.5 inches. In one embodiment, the length of the second lateral member 112 can be approximately equal to the length of the first lateral crossmember 108. In one embodiment, the cross-section 114 can be configured to enable a first portion 116A of the second lateral crossmember 112 to be inserted into the quantity of wet concrete and a second portion 116B of the second lateral crossmember 112 to reside on a surface of the quantity of wet concrete.

[0025] In one embodiment, the first and second rigid longitudinal members can be spaced apart by the first and second lateral crossmembers to accommodate the receipt of a post. In one embodiment, the post can be at least one of a nominal 4×4 inch post, nominal 6×6 inch wooden post, or the like; although other shapes and sizes and differing materials of posts, pillars and columns are also contemplated. In one embodiment, the length of the first and second lateral crossmembers can be approximately 3.5 inches.

[0026] In one embodiment, each of the first and second rigid longitudinal members can include a pair of throughbores 118A/B configured to enable a fastener (e.g., a bolt passing entirely through the first and second rigid longitudinal members or a pair of lag-bolts each passing through a single rigid longitudinal member and anchored into a wooden post, etc.) to pass therethrough and into a wooden post, thereby enabling the wooden post to be secured to the post bracket. For example, in one embodiment, the throughbores 118A/B can have a diameter of approximately ½ inch, ⅜ inch, etc.

[0027] In one embodiment, a length of the first and second rigid longitudinal members 102A/B can be about 20 inches (e.g., with about 9 inches of the post bracket 100 configured to be positioned within the concrete, and about 11 inches of the post bracket 100 configured to be positioned above the concrete); although other lengths of the first and second rigid longitudinal members 102A/B are also contemplated (e.g., the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6). In some embodiments, all members of the post bracket can be constructed of a galvanized steel material; although the use of other materials, including stainless steel, etc. is also contemplated.

[0028] Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.

[0029] Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.

[0030] Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.

[0031] Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.

[0032] For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.