Device for forming post sleeves and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9546496-B2
Application number	US-201514933975-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2015
Priority date	Sep 12, 2011
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

A method of forming a post sleeve within a post hole in the ground to include a post receiving cavity to insertably receive and support a post is provided. The method includes positioning a post sleeve core within the post hole with the aid of an elongate installation member and depositing uncured material into the post hole to at least partially surround the post sleeve core while the post sleeve core is attached to the elongate installation member. The method further includes allowing the uncured material to harden around the post sleeve core to form at least a portion of the post-receiving cavity of the post sleeve and removing the post sleeve core from the hardened material to expose the post receiving cavity to receive and support the post. Other related methods of forming post sleeves are also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A post sleeve assembly for supporting a post in the ground, the post sleeve assembly comprising:
a post sleeve cap configured to form an upper portion of a post sleeve, the post sleeve cap including an upper post cavity extending completely through the post sleeve cap to receive the post therethrough, an exterior surface of the post sleeve cap having features configured to be engaged by concrete of a footing formed in the ground so as to lock the post sleeve cap in the concrete of the footing as the concrete cures;
an end cap configured to support a bottom end of the post, the end cap including a first end cap segment and a second end cap segment, the first end cap segment releasably coupled to the second end cap segment, the second end cap segment configured to be released from the first end cap segment and releasably coupled to the post sleeve cap over an upper end of the upper post cavity, and the end cap including a lower post cavity extending through the end cap and a drainage aperture formed in the second end cap segment; and
a post sleeve sock configured to be folded up within the upper post cavity prior to installation, the post sleeve sock being sized to receive and enclose a lower portion of the post when removed from the upper post cavity during installation, and the post sleeve sock comprising a material that is impervious to uncured concrete, and
wherein a first end of the post sleeve sock is coupled to the post sleeve cap over a lower end of the upper post cavity and a second end of the post sleeve sock opposite to the first end of the post sleeve sock is coupled to the first end cap segment of the end cap.

2. The post sleeve assembly of claim 1 wherein the first end cap segment is configured to be released from the second end cap segment and releasably coupled to the post sleeve cap over the lower end of the upper post cavity.

3. The post sleeve assembly of claim 1 wherein the second end cap segment is configured to be releasably coupled to the first end cap segment in a first orientation and to the post sleeve cap in a second orientation that is upside-down with respect to the first orientation.

4. The post sleeve assembly of claim 1 wherein the end cap includes a plurality of standoff knobs and is configured to support a bottom end of the post on the plurality of standoff knobs.

Assignees

• Knudsen N Eric

Inventors

• Knudsen N Eric

Classifications

• E04H12/22

  Sockets or holders for poles or posts {(for sports articles, e.g. floor sockets A63B71/023; for road signs E01F9/673)} · CPC title

• E04H12/2269 Primary

  in a socket · CPC title

• E04H17/263

  for erecting posts (pile driving E02D7/00) · CPC title

• E02D27/42

  Foundations for poles, masts or chimneys {(sockets or holders for poles or masts per se E04H12/22)} · CPC title

• E01F9/673

  for holding sign posts or the like · CPC title