Collars for use in either driving posts into or removing posts from the ground, and related methods

Abstract

A collar is provided that can be used to either drive posts into the ground or remove posts from the ground. The collar includes a first portion defining a post opening adapted for coupling about a post, and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion includes a receiver adapted for receiving a tool for use in driving the post into the ground when the first portion is coupled about the post. The first portion defines an obtuse angle with respect to the second portion. The collar is configured to be positioned in a first orientation about a post when used to drive the post into the ground, and a second orientation, rotated approximately 180 degrees relative to the first orientation, when used to remove a post from the ground.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collar for use in driving posts into the ground or for use in removing posts from the ground, the collar comprising:
 a first portion defining a post opening adapted for coupling about a post;   a second portion coupled to the first portion, the second portion having a receiver adapted for receiving a tool for use in driving the post into the ground when the first portion is coupled about the post;   wherein the first portion defines an obtuse angle with respect to the second portion.   
     
     
         2 . The collar of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are integral. 
     
     
         3 . The collar of  claim 1 , wherein the post opening of the first portion includes a slot extending generally toward the second portion. 
     
     
         4 . The collar of  claim 3 , wherein the post opening of the first portion is adapted to couple about a T-shaped post, with the slot of the post opening adapted to couple about a rib extension of the T-shaped post. 
     
     
         5 . The collar of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion includes a side disposed generally opposite the slot of the post opening, the side adapted to engage a stud of the T-shaped post for use in coupling the first portion about the T-shaped post. 
     
     
         6 . The collar of  claim 3 , wherein the collar extends entirely around the opening of the first portion. 
     
     
         7 . The collar of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver of the second portion includes an opening adapted for receiving the tool for use in driving the post into the ground when the first portion is coupled about the post. 
     
     
         8 . The collar of  claim 7 , wherein the tool includes a jackhammer bit; and
 wherein the opening defined by the receiver of the second portion is adapted for coupling the jackhammer bit to the second portion for use in driving the post into the ground when the first portion is coupled about the post.   
     
     
         9 . The collar of  claim 8 , wherein the opening defined by the receiver extends through the second portion. 
     
     
         10 . The collar of  claim 9 , wherein the opening defined by the receiver is also adapted for receiving a tool for use in removing the post from the ground, when the first portion is coupled about the post. 
     
     
         11 . The collar of  claim 8 , wherein the receiver of the second portion includes a cylinder defining the opening; and
 wherein the opening does not extend through the second portion.   
     
     
         12 . The collar of  claim 8 , wherein the receiver of the second portion includes a mount extending away from the second portion, the opening including a through hole defined in the mount. 
     
     
         13 . The collar of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion couples about the post in a first orientation when the collar is used to drive the post into the ground; and
 wherein the first portion couples about the post in a second orientation, rotated approximately 180 degrees relative to the first orientation, when the collar is used to remove the post from the ground.   
     
     
         14 . The collar of  claim 13 , wherein the second portion is adapted for receiving a tool for use in removing the post from the ground when the first portion is coupled about the post in the second orientation; and
 wherein the tool is selected from the group consisting of a hook and a jack.   
     
     
         15 . The collar of  claim 1 , wherein the obtuse angle between the first and second portions is adapted so that, when the first portion is coupled about the post, an axis of the tool along which a force is applied for use in driving the post into the ground is offset from a longitudinal axis of the post. 
     
     
         16 . The collar of  claim 15 , wherein the obtuse angle between the first and second portions is adapted so that the axis of the tool, when received by the receiver of the second portion, and the longitudinal axis of the post are not parallel. 
     
     
         17 . The collar of  claim 15 , wherein the obtuse angle between the first and second portions is about 125 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly comprising the collar of  claim 1  and the tool; and
 wherein the tool includes a jackhammer bit. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method of using a collar to either drive a T-shaped post into the ground or remove a T-shaped post from the ground, the method comprising:
 when driving a T-shaped post into the ground:
 coupling the collar to the T-shaped post in a first orientation so that a post opening of a first portion of the collar extends about the T-shaped post and a slot portion of the post opening receives a rib extension of the T-shaped post, and so that a side of the first portion of the collar, disposed generally opposite the slot portion of the post opening, is adjacent a stud of the T-shaped post; and 
 applying a driving force to a second portion of the collar, for use in driving the T-shaped post into the ground, so that an axis of the driving force is offset from a longitudinal axis of the T-shaped post; and 
   when removing a T-shaped post from the ground:
 coupling the collar to the T-shaped post in a second orientation, rotated approximately 180 degrees from the first orientation, so that the post opening of the first portion of the collar extends about the T-shaped post and the slot portion of the post opening receives the rib extension of the T-shaped post, and so that the side of the first portion of the collar, disposed generally opposite the slot portion of the post opening, is adjacent a stud of the T-shaped post; and 
 applying an extracting force to the second portion of the collar, for use in removing the T-shaped post from the ground.