IP Library › Granted Patent US 12662841

Granted Patent B2

US 12662841 · App. 18/544,203 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Systems for installing an elongated stake to either a fence or a mailbox to provide sturdiness to either the fence or the mailbox, and methods of use thereof

Inventors: Chase McKean Tangney (Gig Harbor, WA); Wayne Hogan (Gig Harbor, WA)

E04H12/2292 E04H12/2253 E04H17/22 E04H12/347 E04H12/348 E04H17/08 E04H17/26

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12662841
App. No.: 18/544,203
Granted: Jun 23, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A system for providing sturdiness to a fence, that includes a stake that is configured to be inserted into the ground such that it is positioned parallel to a fence that is perpendicular to the ground and an insertion-assistance member that is configured to be removably attached to the stake. The insertion-assistance member includes a body, and a lip that extends in a direction that is perpendicular to the body such that a portion of the lip extends beyond the body in the direction that is perpendicular to the body. The lip is configured to receive force and then transmit the force to the stake to drive the stake into the ground. After driving the stake into the ground, the insertion-assistance member is configured to be removed from the stake and the stake is then secured to the fence to provide sturdiness to the fence.

Claims (54)

1 . A system for providing sturdiness to one or more fence posts, comprising:

an elongated stake having a pointed end to be inserted into the ground such that the elongated stake is positioned parallel to a fence post that is substantially perpendicular to the ground, wherein the elongated stake has a first shape;

an insertion-assistance member to be removably attached to the elongated stake, the insertion-assistance member including:

a hollow body to removably fit over an end of the elongated stake having the first shape, and

a lip formed of a solid material, the lip extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the hollow body such that a portion of the lip extends beyond the hollow body in the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the hollow body, wherein the lip is to receive force and then transmit the force to the elongated stake to drive the elongated stake into the ground,

and further wherein, after driving the elongated stake into the ground via the force received by the lip, the insertion-assistance member is to be removed from the elongated stake and the elongated stake is to then be secured to the fence post to provide sturdiness to the fence post,

the insertion-assistance member is to be removably attached to a different elongated stake, having a second shape that is distinct from the first shape, by removably fitting the hollow body of the insertion-assistance member over an end of the different elongated stake having the second shape, such that the lip of the insertion-assistance member is used to receive additional force and transmit the additional force to the different elongated stake to drive the different elongated stake into the ground to thereby provide sturdiness to a different fence post; and

the insertion-assistance member is to, after removably attaching to the elongated stake for a second time, enable removal of the elongated stake from the ground by application of a removal force to the lip of the insertion-assistance member.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the end of the elongated stake having the first shape, and over which the hollow body of the insertion-assistance member is removably fit, is a non-pointed end of the elongated stake.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the elongated stake includes at least one hole passing therethrough, and

the elongated stake is secured to the fence post by inserting a fastener through the hole and into a portion of the fence post.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the elongated stake includes two holes passing therethrough, and

the elongated stake is secured to the fence post by inserting a respective fastener through each respective hole of the two holes into a respective portion of the fence post.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the fasteners is selected from a group consisting of a slidable pin, a nail, a screw, or a rivet.

6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the fastener is removable.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the insertion-assistance member has at least one hole passing therethrough, and

the removably attaching of the insertion-assistance member to the elongated stake for the second time is by way of a fastener that is placed through the at least one hole of the insertion-assistance member and through at least one hole of the elongated stake.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein:

the insertion-assistance member has at least two holes passing therethrough, and

the removably attaching of the insertion-assistance member to the elongated stake for the second time is by way of two fasteners that are placed through the at least two holes of the insertion-assistance member and through at least two holes of the elongated stake.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein:

the elongated stake is secured to the fence post to provide sturdiness by way of the fastener, and

the fastener is to be removed from the elongated stake and the fence post for use with the removably attaching of the insertion-assistance member to the elongated stake for the second time.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the fence post is cylindrical, rectangular, triangular, or polygonal.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the elongated stake corresponds to the shape of the fence post.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a width of the insertion-assistance member is between 110% to 125% of a width of the elongated stake.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fence post is not secured to the ground using a composite material, and is instead secured to the ground only by way of the elongated stake.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a material of the elongated stake is the same as a material of the insertion-assistance member.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fence post is a rotted or failing fence post.

16 . A system for providing sturdiness to a mailbox post, comprising:

an elongated stake having a pointed end to be inserted into the ground such that the elongated stake is positioned parallel to a mailbox post that is substantially perpendicular to the ground, wherein the elongated stake has a first shape;

an insertion-assistance member to be removably attached to the elongated stake, the insertion-assistance member including:

a hollow body to removably fit over an end of the elongated stake having the first shape, and

a lip having a semi-circular shape and formed of a solid material, the lip extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the hollow body such that a portion of the lip extends beyond the hollow body in the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the hollow body, wherein the lip is to receive force and then transmit the force to the elongated stake to drive the elongated stake into the ground,

and further wherein, after driving the elongated stake into the ground via the force received by the lip, the insertion-assistance member is to be removed from the elongated stake and the elongated stake is to then be secured to the mailbox post to provide sturdiness to the mailbox post,

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the end of the elongated stake having the first shape, and over which the hollow body of the insertion-assistance member is removably fit, is a non-pointed end of the elongated stake.

18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein:

the elongated stake includes at least one hole passing therethrough, and

the elongated stake is secured to the mailbox post by inserting a fastener through the hole and into a portion of the mailbox post.

19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein:

the elongated stake includes two holes passing therethrough, and

the elongated stake is secured to the mailbox post by inserting a respective fastener through each respective hole of the two holes into a respective portion of the mailbox post.

20 . An insertion-assistance member used in a system for providing sturdiness to either a mailbox post or a fence post, comprising:

a hollow body to removably fit over an end of an elongated stake having a first shape, and a lip having a semi-circular shape and formed of a solid material, the lip extending a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the hollow body such that a portion of the lip extends beyond the body in the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the hollow body, wherein:

the lip is to receive force and then transmit the force to the elongated stake to drive the elongated stake into the ground, and

the elongated stake has a pointed end that is configured to be inserted into the ground such that the elongated stake is positioned parallel to the mailbox post or the fence post that is substantially perpendicular to the ground;

and further wherein, after driving the elongated stake into the ground via the force received by the lip, the insertion-assistance member is to be removed from the elongated stake and the elongated stake is configured to then be secured to the mailbox post or the fence post to provide sturdiness to the mailbox post or the fence post, and