Fence post retaining plate

{
  "publication_number": "US10287797B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Fence post retaining plate",
  "abstract": "A retention plate for a T-shaped fence post having securing protrusions formed thereon, a lower end of the fence post and the retention plate configured to be inserted into soil to position the fence post in a desired orientation. The retention plate comprises a plate body including central openings for receiving a plurality of the securing protrusions formed on the fence post. The plate body has a periphery with a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges. The plate body has a plurality of openings therein configured and arranged to increase a resistance to the plate being extracted from the soil.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A retention plate for a T-shaped fence post, the post having a region configured to be inserted into soil and having securing protrusions formed thereon, the retention plate comprising: a plate body including central openings aligned along a centerline of the plate body, the plate body having a periphery with a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges, the two side edges being parallel to one another, the plate body having a plurality of additional openings therein, other than the central openings, configured and arranged to increase a resistance to said plate from being extracted from the soil, at least two of the additional openings being arranged with one opening of the at least two additional openings positioned along each of the two side edges, the at least two additional openings being formed in the plate body between a line extending along one of the side edges and the centerline of the plate body, and the plate body being completely planar and having no portions with bends or protrusions.",
    "2. The retention plate according to claim 1, wherein the additional openings arranged along the side edges comprise recesses which are defined by at least two side walls, at least one of which side walls extends away from the centerline and towards the top edge at an acute angle relative to a line perpendicular to the centerline.",
    "3. The retention plate according to claim 2, wherein one side wall of each recess extends at the acute angle and another side wall of each recess extends at an angle no greater than perpendicular relative to the centerline of the plate body.",
    "4. The retention plate according to claim 3, wherein both side walls extend at an acute angle relative to the line perpendicular to the centerline.",
    "5. The retention plate according to claim 1, wherein some of the additional openings are contained wholly within the body of the plate and do not extend to the periphery of the plate.",
    "6. The retention plate according to claim 2, wherein the additional openings arranged along the side edges are U-shaped.",
    "7. The retention plate according to claim 2, wherein the additional openings arranged along the side edges are V-shaped.",
    "8. The retention plate according to claim 1, wherein some of the additional openings are contained wholly within the body of the plate and do not extend to the periphery of the plate, while other additional openings are arranged in the side edges of the plate body forming a plurality of recesses therein, the recesses being defined by at least two side walls, at least one of which extends away from the centerline and towards the top edge at an acute angle relative to a line perpendicular to the centerline, and towards the top edge.",
    "9. The retention plate according to claim 1, wherein the top edge and the bottom edge are non-linear.",
    "10. The retention plate according to claim 1, wherein the top edge and the bottom edge are complementarily shaped."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a retaining plate for a fence post.\n\nMetal T-shaped fence posts have long been provided with retaining and guiding plates that are secured to the post and help to guide the post into the ground and hold it in a desired orientation, typically holding the fence post in a vertical orientation. The guide plate is typically inserted below ground level such that a top edge of the guide plate will assist in resisting an upward movement of the fence post, thereby assisting in the retention of the fence post in a desired position and orientation.\n\nA number of different types of arrangements have been proposed to enhance the retention of the fence post in the inserted position, however, many of these proposed structures require that the plate be shaped in a non-planar manner or be specially fastened to the fence post, adding to the cost and difficulty of manufacturing of the fence post and installation and increasing shipping, handling and storage bulk and costs.\n\nIt would be an improvement in the art if there were provided an arrangement for enhancing the retention of fence posts in the inserted position without increasing manufacturing, shipping and handling costs and without requiring additional fastening arrangements.\n\nThe present invention provides a retention plate for a fence post that enhances the resistance against removal of the fence post without requiring any non-planar bends or protrusions of the retention plate which would add to the bulk or handling size of the retention plates.",
  "cpc": [
    "E04H 17/08",
    "E02D 5/80",
    "E04H 12/2215"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E02D 5/80",
    "E04H 12/22",
    "E04H 17/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "W SILVER Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Luis Garcia",
    "Bhupendra Kenjale"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-05-07",
  "publication_date": "2019-05-14",
  "grant_date": "2019-05-14",
  "priority_date": "2015-05-07",
  "application_number": "US-201514706669-A",
  "family_id": "57222403",
  "cited_by_count": 4,
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}