Anchor Post

Abstract

Provided herein are methods, devices and systems comprising an anchor post that has a shaft, at least one stabilising element attached to the anchor post configured to resist movement of the anchor post, and at least one alignment element.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An anchor post comprising:
 (a) a hollow shaft, the shaft having a first and second end;   (b) at least one stabilizing element attached to the anchor post configured to resist movement of the anchor post;   (c) at least a first convex or concave alignment element attached to the second end of the shaft, wherein the first convex or concave alignment element is configured to connect to a load post, wherein the load post comprises a second concave or convex alignment element, wherein the second convex or concave alignment element is configured to adjustably connect to the first convex or concave alignment element of the anchor post, and wherein the first and second convex or concave alignment elements each comprise at least one hole, slot, or aperture; and   (d) a steel tip, the tip being attached to the first end of the shaft.   
     
     
         22 . The anchor post of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one alignment element is configured to connect to at least one load post without inserting a substantial portion of the load post into the anchor post. 
     
     
         23 . The anchor post of  claim 21  comprising at least three stabilizing elements. 
     
     
         24 . The anchor post of  claim 23 , wherein each of the at least three stabilizing elements is attached to the shaft between about 1 millimeter and about 500 millimeters measured from the head of the anchor post. 
     
     
         25 . The anchor post of  claim 21  wherein the at least one stabilizing element is attached to the shaft between about 1 millimeter and about 500 millimeters measured from the tail of the anchor post. 
     
     
         26 . The anchor post of  claim 21  wherein the first alignment element further comprises a central aperture. 
     
     
         27 . The anchor post of  claim 21  wherein the tip comprises cast steel. 
     
     
         28 . The anchor post of  claim 27  wherein the tip comprises forged steel. 
     
     
         29 . The anchor post of  claim 21  wherein the tip comprises stainless steel. 
     
     
         30 . The anchor post of  claim 21  wherein the tip comprises recycled steel. 
     
     
         31 . The anchor post of  claim 21  wherein the tip comprises a cross configuration. 
     
     
         32 . The anchor post of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one alignment element is convex. 
     
     
         33 . The anchor post of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one alignment element is concave. 
     
     
         34 . The anchor post of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one alignment element is an adjustable joint. 
     
     
         35 . The anchor post of  claim 34 , wherein the adjustable joint is a hemispheric ball joint. 
     
     
         36 . The anchor posted of  claim 21 , wherein the shaft is configured to receive a drive rod. 
     
     
         37 . The anchor post of  claim 21  that is configured for installation into the ground with a hand-held bottom-driver device. 
     
     
         38 . The anchor post of  claim 21 , wherein the shaft is at least about 50 millimeters in diameter. 
     
     
         39 . An anchor post-load post foundation system comprising:
 (a) an anchor post that comprises a hollow shaft having a first and second end; at least one stabilizing element attached to the anchor post; at least a first convex or concave alignment element having at least one hole, slot, or aperture that is attached to the second end of the shaft; a steel tip attached to the to the first end of the shaft; and   (b) a load post having a second concave or convex alignment element, the second convex or concave alignment element comprising at least one hole, slot, or aperture, the first alignment element adjustably attachable to the second alignment element via a fastener through the at least one hole, slot, or aperture in the alignment elements.   
     
     
         40 . The anchor post of  claim 39 , wherein the first alignment element further comprises a central aperture. 
     
     
         41 . The anchor post of  claim 39 , wherein the anchor post is configured for installation into the ground at a drive-rate of at least about 20 millimeters of anchor post per second. 
     
     
         42 . The anchor post of  claim 39 , wherein the anchor post is configured for installation into the ground at a drive-rate of at least about 25 millimeters of anchor post per second. 
     
     
         43 . The anchor post of  claim 41 , wherein the ground material comprises chalk, gravel, limestone, sand, silt, clay, marl, ballast, soil, fractured sandstone, peat, ash, alluvium, glacial till, miscellaneous fill, or other suitable displaceable ground material, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         44 . A method of installing an anchor post into the ground comprising the steps of:
 1.) providing an anchor post having:
 (a) a hollow shaft, the shaft having a first and a second end; 
 (b) at least one stabilizing element attached to the anchor post configured to resist movement of the anchor post; 
 (c) at least a first convex or concave alignment element attached to the second end of the shaft, the first convex or concave alignment element is configured to connect to a load post, the load post comprises a second concave or convex alignment element, the second convex or concave alignment element is configured to connect to the anchor post, and wherein the first and second convex or concave alignment elements each comprise at least one hole, slot, or aperture; and 
 (d) a steel tip, the tip being attached to the first end of the shaft, 
   2.) providing a drive element through the central aperture in the first alignment element and into the hollow shaft, and   3.) driving the anchor post into the ground.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the first alignment element further comprises a central aperture. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein a hand-held device is used to drive the anchor post into the ground.