Technical Field
This disclosure generally relates to fence structures, and more particularly to post caps.
Description of the Related Art
Post caps are known which consist of a single, one-piece structure or a multi-piece structure, such as, for example, two post cap halves that may be fastened together to form a post cap. Example post caps are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,327. Such post caps, however, may suffer from a variety of drawbacks including poor durability, lack of versatility and/or inefficient space utilization.
Embodiments of the post caps described herein include robust form factors that may be stacked in a particularly efficient manner and provide enhanced versatility with respect to visual design elements thereof and/or with respect to installation of the post caps.
One embodiment of a post cap assembly for covering an upper end of a post may be summarized as including a post cap body having an internal post cavity that is sized and shaped to receive the upper end of the post and having a topper receiving aperture extending at least partially through the post cap body; and an interchangeable topper positioned within the topper receiving aperture and projecting from the top side of the post cap body. The interchangeable topper may include a decorative topper element that is configured to engage the topper receiving aperture with a snap fit or interference fit. The interchangeable topper may include a decorative topper element and a fastener to couple the interchangeable topper to the post cap body. In such instances, a threaded nut may be concealed within the decorative topper element to receive the fastener. The interchangeable topper may include a decorative topper element having a skirt portion that is shaped to nest with the top side of the post cap body. The skirt portion of the decorative topper element may be configured to divert rain water away from the topper receiving aperture. In some instances, the post cap body may be a single, one-piece body and may comprise cast concrete or injection molded plastic. The top side of the post cap body may be inclined downwardly away from a central apex, and, when a plurality of the post cap bodies are stacked, the central apex of a lower one of adjacent stacked post cap bodies may extend within the internal post cavity of an upper one of the adjacent stacked post cap bodies. In some instances, the topper receiving aperture may extend completely through the post cap body between the internal post cavity and the top side of the post cap body.
The post cap assembly may further include a post attachment device having one or more resilient coupling features removably engaged with a respective portion of the post cap body. The post attachment device may be readily separable from the post cap body for attachment to the upper end of the post apart from the post cap body. The post cap body may include at least one cavity that is sized and shaped to receive the at least one resilient coupling feature of the post attachment device. The at least one resilient coupling feature of the post attachment device may comprise a resilient tab that is sized, shaped and positioned to snap into the at least one cavity of the post cap body when the post cap body is urged into engagement with the post attachment device. The post attachment device may include a generally planar body with an array of apertures formed therein to receive fasteners for securing the post attachment device to an end face of the upper end of the post. The resilient coupling feature(s) of the post attachment device may project or extend downwardly from the generally planar body. The post attachment device may be sized to be insertably received and press fit within the internal post cavity of the post cap body. Each resilient coupling feature may be a resilient tab that is sized, shaped and positioned to flex in response to contact with a sidewall of the post cap body during insertion of the post attachment device into the internal post cavity of the post cap body. Another embodiment of a post cap assembly for covering an upper end of a post may be summarized as consisting of: a single, unitary post cap body having an internal post cavity that is sized and shaped to receive the upper end of the post and having a topper receiving aperture extending at least partially through the post cap body; and an interchangeable topper positioned within the topper receiving aperture and projecting from the top side of the post cap body.
Another embodiment of a post cap for covering an upper end of a post may be summarized as including a single, unitary body having an internal post cavity that is sized and shaped to receive the upper end of the post and having a partially spherical projection extending from a top side thereof. An outer maximum diameter of the partially spherical projection may be less than a maximum transverse dimension of the internal post cavity by no more than 0.50 inch, and in some instances, by no more than 0.25 inch. The internal post cavity may include a post receiving shoulder and a nesting portion adjacent thereto. The nesting portion may be shaped to nest with the partially spherical projection of an adjacent post cap when the post cap is stacked thereon and to assist in centering the post cap on the adjacent post cap.
According to another embodiment, an arrangement of post caps may be summarized as including a plurality of stacked post caps, each post cap having a single, unitary body with an internal post cavity that is sized and shaped to receive an upper end of a post and having a partially spherical projection extending from a top side thereof; and a plurality of liners, each liner positioned between a pair of adjacent post caps. The liner may have a lower portion configured to conceal an upper surface of a lower one of the pair of adjacent post caps. The liner may also have an upper portion configured to surround the partially spherical projection of the lower one of the pair of adjacent post caps and to prevent direct contact between the pair of adjacent post caps. The arrangement of post caps may further include a plurality of post attachment devices, each post attachment device being removably coupled to a respective one of the plurality of stacked post caps and being separable from the respective post cap for attachment to an upper end of a post apart from the post cap.
According to yet another embodiment, an arrangement of post caps may be summarized as including a plurality of stacked post caps, each post cap having a single, unitary body with an internal post cavity that is sized and shaped to receive an upper end of a post and having a tapered projection extending from a top side thereof; and a plurality of liners, each liner positioned between a pair of adjacent post caps. The liner may have a lower portion configured to conceal an upper surface of a lower one of the pair of adjacent post caps. The liner may also have an upper portion configured to surround an apex of the tapered projection of the lower one of the pair of adjacent post caps and to prevent direct contact between the pair of adjacent post caps. The arrangement of post caps may further include a plurality of post attachment devices, each post attachment device being removably coupled to a respective one of the plurality of stacked post caps and being separable from the respective post cap for attachment to an upper end of a post apart from the post cap.
According to yet another embodiment, a post cap assembly for installing on an upper end of a post may be summarized as including a post cap body having an internal post cavity that is sized and shaped to receive the upper end of the post and a post attachment device having at least one resilient coupling feature removably engaged with an engagement portion of the post cap body within the internal post cavity, the post attachment device being separable from the post cap body for attachment to the upper end of the post apart from the post cap body. The engagement portion of the post cap body may be a cavity that is sized and shaped to receive the at least one resilient coupling feature of the post attachment device. The at least one resilient coupling feature of the post attachment device may comprise a resilient tab that is sized, shaped and positioned to snap into the engagement portion of the post cap body when the post cap body is urged into engagement with the post attachment device. The post attachment device may include a generally planar body with an array of apertures formed therein to receive fasteners for securing the post attachment device to an end face of the upper end of the post. The post attachment device may be sized to be insertably received and press fit within the internal post cavity of the post cap body. The at least one resilient coupling feature of the post attachment device may comprise a resilient tab that is sized, shaped and positioned to flex in response to contact with a sidewall of the post cap body during insertion of the post attachment device into the internal post cavity of the post cap body.
According to yet another, a method of adorning a post with a post cap may be summarized as including coupling an interchangeable decorative topper element to a post cap base; and positioning the post cap base over the post such that an upper end of the post is received within a post receiving cavity thereof. The method may further include replacing the interchangeable decorative topper element with another different interchangeable decorative topper element. Coupling the interchangeable decorative topper element to the post cap base may include press-fitting or snap-fitting the decorative topper element within a topper receiving aperture formed in the post cap base. Coupling the interchangeable decorative topper element to the post cap base may include securing the decorative topper element to the post cap base with a fastener from within the post receiving cavity such that the fastener is concealed from view when the post cap base is positioned over the post. The method may further include, prior to positioning the post cap base over the post, securing a post attachment device to an upper end of the post and urging the post cap into engagement with the post attachment device.
Other aspects and features of the post caps and related systems and methods will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art upon review of the drawings and detailed description.
In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed embodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures associated with fences, fence components and related accessories, such as post caps, have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments. In addition, well-known structures and techniques associated with casting or molding processes have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments.
Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense that is as “including, but not limited to.”
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
The post cap body 20 has an internal post cavity 22 that is sized and shaped to receive an upper end 24 of a post 26. The internal post cavity 22 may be generally rectangular, cylindrical or otherwise shaped to substantially reflect a corresponding shape of the upper end 24 of the post 26 on which the post cap assembly 10 may be installed. The internal post cavity 22 may include sidewalls with a slight draft to facilitate release of the post cap body 20 from a mold when utilizing a casting or molding process to form the post cap body 20. A terminal end or shoulder portion of the internal post cavity 22 may define a stop against which an end surface of the post 26 may abut upon installation.
The post cap body 20 further includes a topper receiving aperture 30 that extends at least partially through the post cap body 20 and is configured to receive the interchangeable topper 40 with the topper 40 projecting from a top side 32 of the post cap body 20. In some instances, the topper receiving aperture 30 may extend completely through the post cap body 20 between the internal post cavity 22 and the top side 32 of the post cap body 20. In other instances, the topper receiving aperture 30 may be a blind hole.
The interchangeable topper 40 may be configured to engage the topper receiving aperture 30 with a snap fit or interference fit. In some instances, the interchangeable topper 40 may include a decorative topper element 42 and a fastener 44 (
In some embodiments, the interchangeable topper 40 may include a decorative topper element 42 having a skirt portion that is shaped to nest with the top side 32 of the post cap body 20. The skirt portion of the decorative topper element 42 may be configured to divert rain water away from the topper receiving aperture 30. The interchangeable topper 40 may include decorative topper elements 42 having a variety of forms. Some example decorative topper elements 42, 42a, 42b, 42c (collectively 42) are shown in
In some embodiments, the post cap body 20 is a single, one-piece body. In other instances, the post cap body 20 may be a multi-piece assembly. The post cap body 20 may be formed of cast concrete or injection molded plastic or other suitable materials.
With reference to
With reference to
The internal post cavity 72 may include a post receiving shoulder 82 and a nesting portion 84 adjacent thereto. The nesting portion 84 may be shaped to nest with the partially spherical projection 80 of an adjacent post cap 60 when the post cap 60 is stacked thereon and to assist in centering the post cap 60 on the adjacent post cap 60.
With reference to
With reference to
As shown best in
In some embodiments, the post attachment device 200 is sized to be insertably received and press fit within the internal post cavity 172 of the post cap body 170. More particularly, the opposing resilient coupling features 220 may be urged inwardly by the sidewalls 188 of the post cap body 170 during insertion of the post attachment device 200 and then may spring back outwardly into the cavities 187 when reaching the position shown in
With reference to
To adorn posts 126 (e.g., fence posts) with such post caps 160, a user can simply pry out or otherwise remove the post attachment device 220 from within the internal post cavity 172, attach the post attachment device 220 to the upper end 124 of the post 126 with nails or other conventional fasteners 214 (
Although only several different shaped post caps 10, 60, 160 are shown in the accompanying drawings, it is appreciated that post caps may be formed to include a wide variety of different aesthetic shapes and may be provided in a wide variety of sizes to fit many different sized posts. In addition, although the post caps 10, 60 and 160 are show as including an internal post cavity having a generally rectangular cross-section, it is appreciated that in some embodiments post caps may be provided with an internal post cavity having other regular or non-regular shaped cross-sections, such as, for example, a circular cross-section for receiving cylindrical posts.
Moreover, aspects and features and the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. In addition, U.S. Provisional No. 61/868,026, filed Aug. 20, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes and aspects of the present invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ features, systems, and concepts disclosed in this application to provide yet further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20150053905 A1 | Feb 2015 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61868026 | Aug 2013 | US |