Post assembly

Abstract

A panel fence post assembly 20 for placement on an excavation retaining wall 22. An inverted U-shaped saddle 30 having a top portion 32 with a front leg 34 and a rear leg 36 each integrally connected to and extending from the top portion 32 with the rear leg 36 spaced from the front leg 34 to define an opening for receiving the retaining wall 22. The saddle 30 has a constant thickness through the legs 34, 36 and the top portion 32 thereof. A post member 44 extends upwardly from the top portion 32 of the U-shaped saddle 30. A plurality of guardrail channels 70 are disposed on the post member 44 and extend perpendicularly to the post member 44 for receiving and supporting guardrails. U-shaped reinforcing plates 40 extend about the top portion 32 and legs 34, 36 of the U-shaped saddle 30 for strength and support. Various parts can be bent from single sheet stock making the assembly more cost effective and easier to produce.

1 . A panel fence post assembly ( 20 ) for placement upon a retaining wall ( 22 ) having a top ( 24 ) extending between an inside surface ( 26 ) and an outside surface ( 28 ) comprising;
 an inverted U-shaped saddle ( 30 ) having a top portion ( 32 ) with a front leg ( 34 ) and a rear leg ( 36 ) each integrally connected to and extending from said top portion ( 32 ) and said rear leg ( 36 ) being spaced from said front leg ( 34 ) to define an opening for receiving the wall of a retaining wall ( 22 ),   said saddle ( 30 ) having a constant thickness through said legs ( 34 ,  36 ) and said top portion ( 32 ) thereof,   a post member ( 44 ) extending upwardly from said top portion ( 32 ) of said U-shaped saddle ( 30 ),   a plurality of guardrail channels ( 70 ) disposed on said post member ( 44 ) and extending perpendicularly to said post member ( 44 ) for receiving and supporting guardrails,   said assembly characterized by at least one U-shaped reinforcing plate ( 40 ) extending about said top portion ( 32 ) and said legs ( 34 ,  36 ) of said U-shaped saddle ( 30 ) for strength and support.   
   
   
       2 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  including a plurality of said U-shaped reinforcing plates ( 40 ) extending about said top portion ( 32 ) and said legs ( 34 ,  36 ) of said U-shaped saddle ( 30 ) for strength and support. 
   
   
       3 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 2  including a plurality of bolts ( 38 ) extending through said rear leg ( 36 ) for perpendicularly abutting the outside wall of the retaining wall ( 22 ) for clamping the retaining wall ( 22 ) between said bolts ( 38 ) and said front leg ( 34 ) of said U-shaped saddle ( 30 ). 
   
   
       4 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said plurality of said U-shaped reinforcing plates ( 40 ) are spaced from one another on either side of said plurality of bolts ( 38 ) for strength and support. 
   
   
       5 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said post member ( 44 ) includes a bottom post ( 46 ) and a top post ( 48 ). 
   
   
       6 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said bottom post ( 46 ) extends upwardly from said top portion ( 32 ) of said U-shaped saddle ( 30 ) defined by a hollow tube having a rectangular cross section and having a front wall ( 50 ) opposite from a rear wall ( 52 ) and having two side walls ( 54 ) each defining a bottom post hole ( 56 ). 
   
   
       7 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said front and rear walls ( 50 ,  52 ) of said bottom post ( 46 ) are spaced a post distance (p) and said legs ( 34 ,  36 ) of said U-shaped saddle ( 30 ) are spaced a saddle distance (s) that is greater than said post distance (p). 
   
   
       8 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said bottom post ( 46 ) extends upwardly from said top portion ( 32 ) of said U-shaped saddle ( 30 ) with said front and rear walls ( 50 ,  52 ) parallel to said legs ( 34 ,  36 ) of said U-shaped saddle ( 30 ) and said bottom post ( 46 ) disposed at a position on said top portion ( 32 ) offset from said front leg ( 34 ) and closer to said rear leg ( 36 ) so that the distance from said rear leg ( 36 ) to said rear wall ( 52 ) of said bottom post ( 46 ) is less than the distance from said front leg ( 34 ) to said front wall ( 50 ) of said bottom post ( 46 ). 
   
   
       9 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 8  including a rectangular strip ( 58 ) extending along said rear wall ( 52 ) for reinforcing the strength and stiffness of said bottom post ( 46 ) member ( 44 ). 
   
   
       10 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said top post ( 48 ) is defined by a hollow tube having a rectangular cross section and having a front side ( 60 ) opposite from a rear side ( 62 ) and having two sides ( 64 ) each defining a top post hole ( 66 ). 
   
   
       11 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said top post ( 48 ) has a larger cross section than said bottom post ( 46 ) for sliding said top post ( 48 ) downward and onto said bottom post ( 46 ) with said rear side ( 62 ) of said top post ( 48 ) in sliding engagement with said rear wall ( 52 ) of said bottom post ( 46 ) with said bottom post holes ( 56 ) aligned with said top post holes ( 66 ). 
   
   
       12 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 11  including a keeper pin ( 68 ) extending through said bottom post ( 46 ) and top post holes ( 56 ,  66 ) for preventing telescoping movement between said top post ( 48 ) and bottom post ( 46 ). 
   
   
       13 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 12  wherein each of said guardrail channels ( 70 ) are C-shaped and having a back ( 72 ) and a top surface ( 74 ) and a bottom surface ( 76 ) and spaced from one another and mounted on said rear side ( 62 ) of said top post ( 48 ) with said back ( 72 ) engaging said rear side ( 62 ) and extending perpendicularly to said top post ( 48 ) for receiving and supporting guardrails. 
   
   
       14 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said guardrail channels ( 70 ) each have an open slot and a rectangular periphery extending transversely of said channels to distal ends spaced from said sides ( 64 ) of said top post ( 48 ) for receiving standard building studs ( 78 ) perpendicular to said top post ( 48 ). 
   
   
       15 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 14  including a pair of rectangular reinforcing plates ( 82 ) disposed on said back ( 72 ) of said guardrail channel ( 70 ) and spaced from one another and from either side ( 64 ) of said top post ( 48 ). 
   
   
       16 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said top ( 24 ) of said guardrail channels ( 70 ) each define a pair of nail holes ( 80 ) spaced from one another on either side ( 64 ) of said top post ( 48 ) for receiving nails for securing a guardrail ( 78 ) in said guardrail channel ( 70 ). 
   
   
       17 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 16  including a rubber grip ( 42 ) covering the inside of said front leg ( 34 ) for preventing slipping on the retaining wall ( 22 ). 
   
   
       18 . A panel fence post assembly ( 20 ) for placement upon a retaining wall ( 22 ) having a top ( 24 ) edge and an inside wall and an outside wall comprising;
 an inverted U-shaped saddle ( 30 ) having a top portion ( 32 ) with a front leg ( 34 ) and a rear leg ( 36 ) each integrally connected to and extending from said top portion ( 32 ) and said rear leg ( 36 ) being spaced from said front leg ( 34 ) to define an opening for receiving the retaining wall ( 22 ) with said top portion ( 32 ) engaging the top ( 24 ) edge of the retaining wall ( 22 ) and said front leg ( 34 ) engaging the inside surface ( 26 ) of the retaining wall ( 22 ) and said rear leg ( 36 ) engaging the outside surface ( 28 ) of the trench box wall,   a post member ( 44 ) including a bottom post ( 46 ) and a top post ( 48 ),   said bottom post ( 46 ) defined by a hollow tube having a rectangular cross section and having a front wall ( 50 ) opposite from a rear wall ( 52 ) and having two side walls ( 54 ) each defining a bottom post hole ( 56 ),   said front and rear walls ( 50 ,  52 ) of said bottom post ( 46 ) being spaced a post distance (p) and said legs ( 34 ,  36 ) of said U-shaped saddle ( 30 ) are spaced a saddle distance (s) that is greater than said post distance (p),   said top post ( 48 ) being a hollow tube having a rectangular cross section and having a front side ( 60 ) opposite from a rear side ( 62 ) and having two sides ( 64 ) each defining a top post hole ( 66 ),   said top post ( 48 ) having a larger cross section than said bottom post ( 46 ) for sliding said top post ( 48 ) downward and onto said bottom post ( 46 ) with said front side ( 60 ) of said top post ( 48 ) in sliding engagement with said front wall ( 50 ) of said bottom post ( 46 ) and with said rear side ( 62 ) of said top post ( 48 ) in sliding engagement with said rear wall ( 52 ) of said bottom post ( 46 ) with said bottom post holes ( 56 ) aligned with said top post holes ( 66 ),   a keeper pin ( 68 ) extending through said bottom post ( 46 ) and top post holes ( 56 ,  66 ) for preventing telescoping movement between said top post ( 48 ) and bottom post ( 46 ),   a plurality of guardrail channels ( 70 ) each being C-shaped and having a back ( 72 ) and a top surface ( 74 ) and a bottom surface ( 76 ) and spaced from one another and mounted on said rear side ( 62 ) of said top post ( 48 ) with said back ( 72 ) engaging said rear side ( 62 ) and extending perpendicularly to said top post ( 48 ) for receiving and supporting guardrails,   said guardrail channels ( 70 ) each having an open slot and a rectangular periphery extending transversely of said channels to distal ends spaced from said sides ( 64 ) of said top post ( 48 ) for receiving standard building studs ( 78 ) perpendicular to said top post ( 48 ),   a plurality of bolts ( 38 ) extending through said rear leg ( 36 ) for perpendicularly abutting the outside wall of the retaining wall ( 22 ) for clamping the retaining wall ( 22 ) between said bolts ( 38 ) and said front leg ( 34 ) of said U-shaped saddle ( 30 ),   said saddle ( 30 ) having a constant thickness through said legs ( 34 ,  36 ) and said top portion ( 32 ) thereof,   said assembly characterized by said bottom post ( 46 ) extending upwardly from said top portion ( 32 ) of said U-shaped saddle ( 30 ) with said front and rear walls ( 50 ,  52 ) parallel to said legs ( 34 ,  36 ) of said U-shaped saddle ( 30 ) and said bottom post ( 46 ) disposed at a position on said top portion ( 32 ) offset from said front leg ( 34 ) and closer to said rear leg ( 36 ) so that the distance from said rear leg ( 36 ) to said rear wall ( 52 ) of said bottom post ( 46 ) is less than the distance from said front leg ( 34 ) to said front wall ( 50 ) of said bottom post ( 46 ),   a pair of U-shaped reinforcing plates ( 40 ) extending about said top portion ( 32 ) and said legs ( 34 ,  36 ) of said U-shaped saddle ( 30 ) and spaced from one another on either side of said plurality of bolts ( 38 ) for strength and support,   a rectangular strip ( 58 ) extending along said rear wall ( 52 ) for reinforcing the strength and stiffness of said bottom post ( 46 ) member ( 44 ),   a rubber grip ( 42 ) covering the inside of said front leg ( 34 ) for preventing slipping on the retaining wall ( 22 ),   a pair of rectangular reinforcing plates ( 82 ) disposed on said back ( 72 ) of said guardrail channel ( 70 ) and spaced from one another and from either side ( 64 ) of said top post ( 48 ), and   said top ( 24 ) of said guardrail channels ( 70 ) each defining a pair of nail holes ( 80 ) spaced from one another on either side ( 64 ) of said top post ( 48 ) for receiving nails for securing a guardrail ( 78 ) in said guardrail channel ( 70 ).