Post socket

Abstract

A post socket includes a housing, a compressible sleeve within the housing, the sleeve being moveable between a first position in which the sleeve has a first internal width and a second position in which the sleeve has a second internal width, a linkage pivotably connected to the sleeve, and an actuator for actuating the linkage to move the sleeve from the first position to the second position to grip a post therein, the linkage including a linkage body connected to the actuator, the linkage further including at least one arm including a first end and a second end, the actuator being configured so that its actuation moves the linkage body to thereby move the first end and the second end of the at least one arm and thus move the sleeve from the first position to the second position.

Claims

1. A post socket comprising: a housing; a compressible sleeve within the housing, the compressible sleeve configured to receive at least a portion of a post therein, wherein the compressible sleeve is moveable between a first position in which the compressible sleeve has a first internal width and a second position in which the compressible sleeve has a second internal width which is less than the first internal width; a linkage pivotably connected to the compressible sleeve; and an actuator configured to actuate the linkage to move the compressible sleeve from the first position to the second position to grip and thus retain at least the portion of the post therein, wherein the linkage comprises: a linkage body connected to the actuator, and at least one arm comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the at least one arm is pivotably attached to the linkage body and the second end of the at least one arm is pivotably attached to the compressible sleeve, the actuator configured so that actuation of the actuator moves the linkage body to thereby move the first end and the second end of the at least one arm and thus move the compressible sleeve from the first position to the second position; wherein the compressible sleeve comprises a slot which extends at least partially along the compressible sleeve and is configured to at least partially close when the compressible sleeve is moved from the first position to the second position by the linkage; and wherein the compressible sleeve further comprises a first bracket positioned adjacent to a first side of the slot and a second bracket positioned adjacent to a second side of the slot, wherein the first bracket comprises a first linkage attachment point and the second bracket comprises a second linkage attachment point, wherein the first linkage attachment point and the second linkage attachment point are connected to the linkage.

2. The post socket of claim 1, wherein the slot extends at least partially along the compressible sleeve parallel to a longitudinal axis of the compressible sleeve.

3. The post socket of claim 1, wherein the first linkage attachment point comprises a first pin projecting therefrom, and the second linkage attachment point comprises a second pin projecting therefrom.

4. The post socket of claim 1, further comprising a housing engagement bracket positioned on an outer surface of the compressible sleeve, wherein the housing engagement bracket comprises a housing engagement surface configured to engage with an internal surface of the housing.

5. The post socket of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an upper surface comprising an actuator aperture configured to receive a tool for rotation of the actuator therethrough in use, and a post aperture configured to receive at least a portion of a post therethrough.

6. The post socket of claim 5, further comprising a spigot positioned adjacent to the actuator aperture on an internal surface of the upper surface, the spigot including a through-hole, wherein the through-hole is aligned with the actuator aperture.

7. The post socket of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the upper surface is removable and the removable portion of the upper surface comprises the actuator aperture.

8. The post socket of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured such that rotation of the actuator moves the linkage body linearly to thereby move the compressible sleeve between the first position and the second position.

9. The post socket of claim 1, further comprising a stop member protruding from the housing arranged to limit the movement of the linkage body such that further movement of the linkage body is restricted and the compressible sleeve cannot move beyond the first position.

10. The post socket of claim 1, further comprising at least one restraining arm configured to restrict the movement of the second end of the at least one arm such that the second end of the at least one arm remains a fixed distance from a point on the housing, the restraining arm including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the at least one restraining arm is pivotably attached to the second end of the at least one arm and the second end of the at least one restraining arm is pivotably attached to the housing.

11. The post socket of claim 1, wherein the linkage is positioned between the housing and the compressible sleeve.

12. The post socket of claim 1, wherein the compressible sleeve comprises a first part joined to a second part by a joint.

13. The post socket of claim 1, wherein the compressible sleeve comprises two semi-cylindrical halves such that the compressible sleeve has two slots opposite one another, both extending the entirety of a longitudinal axis of the compressible sleeve.

14. A post socket comprising: a housing; a compressible sleeve within the housing, the compressible sleeve configured to receive at least a portion of a post therein, wherein the compressible sleeve is moveable between a first position in which the compressible sleeve has a first internal width and a second position in which the compressible sleeve has a second internal width which is less than the first internal width; a linkage pivotably connected to the compressible sleeve; and an actuator configured to actuate the linkage to move the compressible sleeve from the first position to the second position to grip and thus retain at least a portion of a post therein; wherein the compressible sleeve comprises a slot which extends at least partially along the compressible sleeve parallel to a longitudinal axis of the compressible sleeve and is configured to at least partially close when the compressible sleeve is moved from the first position to the second position by the linkage, wherein the actuator is configured such that rotation of the actuator moves the linkage body linearly to thereby move the compressible sleeve between the first position and the second position; and wherein the compressible sleeve further comprises a first bracket positioned adjacent to a first side of the slot and a second bracket positioned adjacent to a second side of the slot, wherein the first bracket comprises a first linkage attachment point and the second bracket comprises a second linkage attachment point, wherein the first linkage attachment point and the second linkage attachment point are connected to the linkage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of aspects of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a post socket;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the post socket with the sleeve in the first position; and

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the post socket with the sleeve in the second position.

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative sleeve for use with a post socket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) Aspects of the present invention will be described with respect to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. Each drawing may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

(7) Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

(8) Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

(9) It is to be noticed that the term “comprising”, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the features listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising means A and B” should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to aspects of the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.

(10) Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term “connected”, used in the description, should not be interpreted as being restricted to direct connections only. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device A connected to a device B” should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or elements. “Connected” may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. For instance, wireless connectivity is contemplated.

(11) Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “an aspect” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in an aspect” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.

(12) Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Moreover, the description of any individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

(13) Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

(14) In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

(15) In the discussion of aspects of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

(16) The use of the term “at least one” may mean only one in certain circumstances. The use of the term “any” may mean “all” and/or “each” in certain circumstances.

(17) The principles of aspects of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features. It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching, aspects of the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

(18) FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a post socket 1. The post socket 1 comprises a substantially cylindrical sleeve 3 oriented, in use, with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical. The sleeve 3 is open at its upper end for accepting a post.

(19) The sleeve 3 includes a slot 5 which runs along its height from top to bottom, parallel to the longitudinal axis that is aligned with the bore of the generally cylindrical sleeve 3. The upper and lower rims of the sleeve 3 each include a lip 6 that extends away from the bore of the sleeve 3. Each lip 6 is positioned such that the angle between the axis of the bore of the sleeve 3 and an axis that is parallel to a surface of the lip 6 and intersects the axis of the bore of the sleeve 3 is approximately 45 degrees. The sleeve 3 is arranged within a housing 2 which is substantially cuboid in shape and comprises two halves 36, 43; the split being in a substantially vertical plane. The housing 2 further includes a substantially rectangular base plate 45 on which the two halves 36, 43 rest. Each half 36, 43 includes a plate 49 projecting outwardly from its lower end for attaching it to the base plate 45 via bolts passing through corresponding through-holes arranged in the projecting plates 49 and base plate 45.

(20) The sleeve 3 includes a housing attachment bracket 7 positioned on its outer surface opposite the slot 5. The bracket 7 provides a planar surface for locating the cylindrical outer surface of the sleeve 3 against the inner planar surface of one of the halves 43 to prevent rotation of the sleeve 3 about its longitudinal axis. The sleeve 3 and the housing attachment bracket 7 include corresponding through-holes 8 which allow the sleeve to be attached to the housing 2 with a bolt.

(21) The sleeve 3 is compressible around its longitudinal axis so as to at least partially close the slot 5 so as to grip a post when one is placed inside the sleeve, in use.

(22) The sleeve 3 may include a first part joined to a second part by a joint 12. Although FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates the joint 12 running vertically up the sleeve 3, exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, and the joint 12 may be oriented differently from that shown in FIG. 1.

(23) To enable the sleeve 3 to be compressed the device includes two linkage attachment brackets 9 and 11, one each positioned adjacent either side of the slot 5. Each linkage attachment bracket 9 and 11 is L-shaped and is attached to the sleeve 3 such that the two free ends of the L-shaped brackets 9 and 11 are in contact with the sleeve 3, and the corner of the brackets 9 and 11 are spaced from the sleeve 3. The first linkage attachment bracket 9 is positioned on a first side of the slot 5 and has an edge that is adjacent to, and runs parallel to, a first edge of the slot 5. The second linkage attachment bracket 11 is positioned on a second side of the slot 5 and has an edge that is adjacent to, and runs parallel to, the second edge of the slot 5. In this way planar surfaces adjacent the slot 5 are created which lie in the same plane. The attachment brackets 9 and 11 may also serve to reinforce the sleeve 3 in the region proximal to the slot 5.

(24) A first rectangular planar member 10 is attached to the planar surface of the first linkage attachment bracket 9 at a point approximately midway between the top and bottom of the sleeve 3. This rectangular planar member 10 is wider than the planar surface to which it is attached and includes a pin 13 projecting outwardly from a surface thereof away from the sleeve 3, in an axis that is normal to the planar surface of the attachment bracket 9.

(25) Second 14 and third 16 rectangular planar members are attached to the second linkage attachment bracket 11 on the other side of the slot 5. These second 14 and third 16 rectangular planar members are located at a third and two-thirds along the height of the sleeve with the second being uppermost. Each of the second and third rectangular planar members 14, 16 include a pin 15, 17 projecting outwardly from a surface thereof and away from the sleeve 3 in an axis that is normal to the planar surface of the attachment bracket 11 in a similar manner to the pin 13 on the first rectangular planar member 10.

(26) A linkage 19 is provided adjacent to the slot 5. The linkage 19 comprises a linkage body 21 that is formed of two substantially rectangular parallel plates 23, 25 which are slightly spaced apart. The two parallel plates 23, 25 each lie in a plane that is parallel to the planar surfaces of the first and second 9, 11 linkage attachment brackets. The linkage body also includes a threaded socket 27, in the form of a cylindrical member, positioned at its upper end. The socket 27 includes a threaded bore open at its upper end with its bore being vertical in use, i.e. lying along an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis/bore of the sleeve 3.

(27) The linkage 19 further comprises three substantially straight arms 29, 31, 33. The three arms 29, 31, 33 are generally obround in shape and each include two through-holes, one at each end. They are dimensioned such that one end of each arm is able to fit into the gap between the two plates 23, 25. Each of the three arms 29, 31, 33 are pivotably attached at a first end to the linkage body 21 via clevis pins passing through each of the two parallel plates 23, 25 and one of the through-holes. The clevis pins are secured with split pins. Two arms are located on one side of the linkage and one on the opposite side, each aligned with and pivotably connected to one of each of the pins 13, 15, 17 described above via the through-holes arranged at the other end of each arm. Split pins may be used to retain the pins and arms together. The arms 29, 31, 33 extend approximately horizontally and outwardly from the linkage body 21.

(28) The linkage 19 further comprises two similarly shaped obround restraining arms 35, 37 each including a through-hole at each end thereof. One restraining arm 35 is also pivotably connected to the pin 13 projecting from the first planar rectangular member 10, and one restraining arm 37 is also pivotably connected to the pin 17 projecting from the third planar rectangular member 16. The restraining arms 35, 37 are arranged such that their longer lengths are approximately vertical.

(29) The opposite end of each restraining arm 35, 37 is pivotably attached to the housing 36 via holes 66 provided therein and bolts 38a (only one shown). The bolts 38a are secured with a nut 38. In this way, the lower end of each restraining arm 35, 37 is fixed relative to the housing 36 in use.

(30) The linkage 19 also includes a planar stop plate 39 which includes two through-holes, one at each end thereof. The plate 39 is arranged such that each of the two through-holes are coaxial with the through-holes at the lower end of the restraining arms 35, 37 and received on the bolts 38a therein, such that the stop plate 39 is fixed to the housing 36.

(31) A stop pin 41 (also referred to as a “stop member”), in the form of a cylinder lying with its longitudinal axis substantially horizontal in use, is positioned on the stop plate 39 such that it projects towards the sleeve 3. Its function is explained below.

(32) The housing 2 also includes two halves 47, 70 which collectively form an upper plate (hereinafter, also referred to as an “upper surface”) which matches the size of the housing 2 so as to close it. The upper plate includes a hole cut out of it (also referred to as a “post aperture”) approximately the same diameter as the sleeve 3 before the sleeve 3 is compressed by the linkage so that in use it may accept a post therethrough. The upper plate is split into two approximately equal halves 47, 70, each half including half of the circular cut-out portion. One half 70 is fixed to one half 43 of the housing 2. The other half 47 is removable.

(33) The upper part 47 also includes an actuator aperture 51 in its surface. A cylindrical spigot 53 is positioned on a lower surface of the upper part 47 and includes a through-hole that is coaxial with the actuator aperture 51. The through-hole of the spigot 53 and the actuator aperture 51 each extend along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 3. A rotatable actuator 55 in the form of a bolt is arranged passing through the actuator aperture 51 and the through-hole of the spigot 53 and received by the threaded socket 27 of the linkage 19. The actuator's threads engage with the threads of the socket 27 such that the actuator 55 may be wound into and out of the socket 27. The actuator 55 may be completely removable from the device 1.

(34) The housing 2 also includes two handles 56 positioned on opposite sides thereof. The handles 56 allow for easier handling by a user, and may also act as anchor elements for increasing the force required to remove the post socket 1 after the post socket 1 has been buried in the ground.

(35) A drain hole 46 is provided in the base plate 45.

(36) FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the post socket 1 with the sleeve 3 in an uncompressed position. In this position, the rotatable actuator 55 has been unscrewed such that the rotatable actuator 55 is only in contact with the threaded socket 27 at the very top of the socket, or the rotatable actuator 55 may have been completely unscrewed/unwound and removed.

(37) In this position, the linkage body 21 is in its lowermost position, as indicated by arrow 57, and is prohibited from moving further downwards by the stop pin 41 abutting the underside of the linkage body 21 thus preventing the linkage body 21 from moving downwards relative to the housing 2.

(38) The threaded socket 27, at the upper end of the linkage body 21, is seen to be spaced from the spigot 53. The three arms 29, 31, 33 are consequently positioned horizontally, and the slot 5 is opened to its maximum. In this first position, the internal width of the sleeve 3 is larger than the external diameter of a post to be received therein, which means that the post may be removed from, or inserted into, the post socket.

(39) FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the post socket 1 with the sleeve 3 in a second position. To achieve this position, the rotatable actuator 55 has been screwed downwardly into the threaded socket 27. By this action, the threaded socket 27 at the upper end of, and with, the linkage body 21 has been pulled upwardly as indicated by arrow 59.

(40) However, the linkage body 21 is prohibited from moving further upwards as the upper end of the threaded socket 27 is abutting the lower end of the spigot 53. A gap is visible between the underside of the linkage body 21 and the stop pin 41. The stop plate 39 remains stationary relative to the housing 2. The two lowermost arms 31, 33 are connected at their outer ends thereof to the restraining arms 35, 37, which are in turn connected to the stationary stop plate 39. However, the upper ends of the restraining arms 35, 37 have moved upwardly with the linkage body 21. Accordingly, the restraining arms 35, 37 now lie inclined to the horizontal. This movement is transferred to the sides of the slot 5, to which the upper ends of the arms 31, 33 are connected, such that the width of the slot 5 has been reduced and the sleeve 3 has become compressed.

(41) The third arm 29 will likewise apply a compressional force on the slot due to its arrangement. With the sleeve 3 in this second position a post positioned therein will be gripped and thus retained within the post socket 1. The device 1 allows for a substantially even compressional force to be applied along the length of the post within the sleeve which thus prevents damaging the post or the application of point loading.

(42) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative sleeve 3 for use with the post socket 1 shown in the previous figures. The sleeve 3 is substantially cylindrical, and is oriented, in use, with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical. The sleeve 3 is open at its upper end for accepting a post. The sleeve 3 includes two slots 5 opposite one another which run along the height of the sleeve 3 from top to bottom, parallel to the longitudinal axis that is aligned with the bore of the generally cylindrical sleeve 3.