Post leveling assembly and fence post assembly incorporating the same

Abstract

A post leveling assembly for indicating whether a fence or deck post is vertical or not is disclosed. The assembly includes a base, an arm pivotally mounted on the base and a marker disposed on the base. An assigned point on the arm lines up with the marker if the post is vertical and does not line up with the marker if the post is not vertical. In order for an installer to install a vertical post, the post is positioned initially in an approximately vertical position, the installer moves the post to the left or right until the assigned point on the arm aligns with the marker. The post is then permanently fixed into place.

1 . A fence post assembly comprising: 
 a core having two side walls that meet at a right angled corner;    a post leveling assembly mounted on the core; said post level assembly comprising: 
 a base secured to one of the side walls of the core;  
 an arm pivotally mounted on the base; said arm being freely pivotable in a single plane in response to changes in the orientation of the core during installation of the same;  
 an indicator on the arm;  
 a marker on the base; whereby alignment of the indicator on the arm with the marker on the base indicates that the core is vertical, and non-alignment of the indicator with the marker indicates that the core is not vertical; and  
   an elongated sleeve having a hollow bore therethrough, said sleeve being slidably received over said core once the core has been installed, such that said core extends upwardly through the bore of the sleeve and said post leveling assembly is positioned between said core and said sleeve.    
   
   
       2 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the post leveling assembly is permanently attached to the core.  
   
   
       3 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the post leveling assembly is attached to the core by one of an adhesive, screws and rivets.  
   
   
       4 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the core is manufactured from metal and the sleeve and post leveling assembly are manufactured from vinyl.  
   
   
       5 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the base includes a top edge, a bottom edge and front and back surfaces; and the base defines an aperture in the front surface proximate the top edge of the base; and wherein the arm is mounted onto the base by a pin that is received in the aperture.  
   
   
       6 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the aperture extends from the front surface of the base through to the back surface of the base.  
   
   
       7 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the indicator on the arm comprises a V-shaped lower end of the arm that terminates in an apex; and wherein the apex aligns with the marker when the core is vertical and does not align with the marker when the core is not vertical.  
   
   
       8 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 7 , wherein marker comprises a detent that projects from the front surface of the base.  
   
   
       9 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the detent includes a second apex and the apex of the arm aligns with the second apex of the detent when the core is vertical and the apex of the arm does not align with the second apex of the detent when the core is not vertical.  
   
   
       10 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the marker is selected from a group consisting of a groove, a ridge and a symbol.  
   
   
       11 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the arm is mounted on the base such that the arm is substantially parallel to the front surface thereof; and the arm pivots in a plane substantially parallel to the front surface of the base.  
   
   
       12 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the post leveling assembly is substantially L-shaped in cross-section and includes a first and second leg.  
   
   
       13 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the first leg of the post leveling assembly abuts a first one of the two side walls of the core and the second leg abuts a second one of the two side walls of the core.  
   
   
       14 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a second arm having a second indicator thereon; and wherein the arm is pivotally mounted onto the first leg of the base and the second arm is pivotally mounted onto the second leg of the base.  
   
   
       15 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising a second marker on the second leg of the base; whereby alignment of the second indicator with the second marker indicates that the core is vertical, and non-alignment of the second indicator with the second marker indicates that the core is not vertical.  
   
   
       16 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the second arm is mounted onto the second leg such that the second arm is substantially parallel to a front surface of the second leg and is mounted so as to pivot in a plane substantially parallel to the front surface of the second leg.  
   
   
       17 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting foot; and wherein the side walls of the core extend upwardly from an upper surface of the mounting foot and substantially at right angles thereto.  
   
   
       18 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one spacer engaged around the core such that the spacer is oriented substantially at right angles to the side walls of the core.  
   
   
       19 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 18 , wherein an outer peripheral wall of the spacer engages an interior surface of the sleeve.  
   
   
       20 . The fence post assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a cap that engages an upper end of the sleeve and thereby covers the upper end of the sleeve and the core