Post anchor

Abstract

A post anchor for a railing system or a fencing system. The post anchor has a base plate and a collar, where the collar extends from the base plate. The collar defines an interior capable of receiving a post. The post anchor can be unitarily formed. A drainage system can be included in the post anchor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A post anchor comprising:
 a base plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the base plate defining a set of apertures extending through the base plate from the lower surface to the upper surface; and   a collar that extends from the upper surface of the base plate, the collar comprising:
 a set of sides having an interior surface and an exterior surface, each of the set of sides abutting another of the set of sides at corners to define an abutment, wherein the interior surface of the set of sides defines a cavity configured to receive a post, a set of side wall apertures provided in at least one of the set of sides, the set of side wall apertures passing from the exterior surface to the interior surface to create a set of exterior surface openings and a set of interior surface openings, and wherein the set of exterior surface openings are lower than the interior surface openings such that the set of side wall apertures are at a predetermined angle with the at least one of the set of sides; and 
 a set of corner members located at the corners, wherein each of the set of corner members includes a face and a set of flared protrusions, wherein the face is offset from the abutment at the exterior surface such that the face of the corner member defines a separate plane from the set of sides, and wherein a first protrusion of the set of flared protrusions is located along a first side of the set of side at a corner and a second protrusion of the set of flared protrusions is located along a second side of the set of side at the corner. 
   
     
     
         2 . The post anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the set of side wall apertures further comprises a first set of side wall apertures in a first side wall of the set of sides, wherein the set of side wall apertures further comprises a second set of side wall apertures in a second side wall of the set of sides. 
     
     
         3 . The post anchor of  claim 2 , wherein the first set of side wall apertures includes a first number of apertures and the second set of side wall apertures includes a second number of apertures and wherein the first number of apertures is different from the second number of apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The post anchor of  claim 2 , wherein the exterior surface openings of the first set of side wall apertures are located at a first height above the base plate and the exterior surface openings of the second set of side wall apertures are located a second height above the base plate and wherein the first height is different from the second height. 
     
     
         5 . The post anchor of  claim 4 , wherein the first side wall of the set of sides and the second side wall of the set of sides are two of a pair of opposite sides. 
     
     
         6 . The post anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the set of side wall apertures includes at least three apertures along the at least one of the set of sides. 
     
     
         7 . The post anchor of  claim 6 , wherein the exterior surface openings of the set of side wall apertures are aligned in height along the at least one of the set of sides. 
     
     
         8 . The post anchor of  claim 1 , wherein exterior surface openings of the set of side wall apertures are aligned in height along the at least one of the set of sides. 
     
     
         9 . The post anchor of  claim 1 , further comprising a corner aperture provided in at least one of the corners and wherein the corner aperture extends from the face to the interior surface. 
     
     
         10 . The post anchor of  claim 9 , wherein the corner aperture includes an opening on the face at a first height and an opening on the interior surface at a second height and wherein the first height and the second height are the same. 
     
     
         11 . The post anchor  claim 9 , wherein the corner aperture comprises a set of corner apertures and each of the set of corner members includes a corner aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The post anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the post anchor comprises a polyamide or nylon and fiberglass. 
     
     
         13 . The post anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate and the collar are a unitary injection molded body. 
     
     
         14 . The post anchor of  claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of at least one of the set of sides comprises a recessed portion extending downwardly from the upper surface thereof and between respective corner members thereof to define a resting surface capable of receiving a portion of a railing and whereby the portion of the railing can be rested within the recessed portion of the upper surface of the at least one of the set of sides to facilitate mounting of the railing to a post located within the collar of the post anchor. 
     
     
         15 . A post anchor comprising:
 a base plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the base plate defining a set of apertures extending through the base plate from the lower surface to the upper surface; and   a collar that extends from the upper surface of the base plate, the collar comprising:
 a set of sides having an interior surface and an exterior surface, each of the set of sides abutting another of the set of sides at corners to define an abutment, wherein the interior surface of the set of sides defines a cavity configured to receive a post; 
 a set of corner members located at the corners, wherein each of the set of corner members includes a face and a set of flared protrusions, wherein the face is offset from the abutment at the exterior surface such that the face of the corner member defines a separate plane from the set of sides, and wherein a first protrusion of the set of flared protrusions is located along a first side of the set of side at a corner and a second protrusion of the set of flared protrusions is located along a second side of the set of side at the corner; and 
 a corner aperture provided at the corner and wherein the corner aperture extends from the face to the interior surface. 
   
     
     
         16 . The post anchor of  claim 15 , wherein the corner aperture includes an opening on the face at a first height and an opening on the interior surface at a second height and wherein the first height and the second height are the same. 
     
     
         17 . The post anchor  claim 15 , wherein the corner aperture comprises a set of corner apertures and a corner aperture is provided in at least two of the set of corner members. 
     
     
         18 . The post anchor of  claim 15 , wherein the post anchor comprises a polyamide or nylon and fiberglass. 
     
     
         19 . The post anchor of  claim 15 , wherein the base plate and the collar are a unitary injection molded body. 
     
     
         20 . The post anchor of  claim 15 , wherein an upper surface of at least one of the set of sides comprises a recessed portion extending downwardly from the upper surface thereof and between respective corner members thereof to define a resting surface capable of receiving a portion of a railing and whereby the portion of the railing can be rested within the recessed portion of the upper surface of the at least one of the set of sides to facilitate mounting of the railing to a post located within the collar of the post anchor.