Patent Application
20240376745
The present invention relates generally to the field of fences. More specifically, the present invention relates to a post-hole stencil device that can be used as a ground stencil to mark fence posts in an evenly spaced and aligned manner. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
Marking fence post holes for fencing and other structures can be a difficult, frustrating, and time-consuming task. During said process, tape measures and plum lasers must be applied to accurately measure and mark post holes along a ground surface (or another surface). However, inaccurate and inefficient marking errors using tape measures and plum lasers can lead to poor construction and a lack of stability in the fence/post.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a fence post marking device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a post-hole stencil device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a post-hole stencil device that can be used to easily and quickly mark areas for fence post holes. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a post-hole stencil device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a post-hole stencil device that can be used to easily, quickly, and accurately mark areas for fence post holes wherein the device can be re-used. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a post-hole stencil device that can be used to accurately mark areas for fence post holes at pre-determined spacings/distances.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a post-hole stencil device. The device is comprised of a reusable stencil body that can be used to install fence posts at specific, pre-measured increments. The body is comprised of at least one removable area that can be cut or torn from the body to expose the ground surface under the body, such that said ground surface can be marked using spray paint in the shape of the fence post to be installed. In the preferred embodiment, the body has a plurality of removable areas that are evenly spaced apart, wherein said areas may be any fence post shape such as, but not limited to, square or circular. During use, the body can be staked to a ground surface and unrolled along a fence post path to be used as a marking stencil.
In this manner, the post-hole stencil device of the present invention accomplishes all the foregoing objectives and provides a device for fence post marking. More specifically, the device can be used to easily and quickly mark areas for fence post holes. Furthermore, the device can be reused as needed. In addition, the device allows a user to accurately mark areas for fence post holes at pre-determined spacings/distances.
The following presents a simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a post-hole stencil device comprised of a reusable stencil that can be used to install fence posts at specific, pre-measured increments. The body of the device is preferably square and is stored around a roll. The body is comprised of at least one removable area.
The removable area is preferably centered on the body and is attached to the body via at least one perforation, such that the area can be easily cut or torn from the body. The area functions as a representation of a fence post hole such that once the area is removed, a user can spray the ground surface where the area once was to mark the ground surface for receiving a fence post. The body preferably has multiple removable areas that are aligned and spaced a uniform distance from one another (such as, but not limited to, 8 inches on center) to allow fence post marking stencils to be created at uniform distances from one another.
In one embodiment, the first removable area may be a first shape and is comprised of at least one second removable area of a second shape positioned inside the first removable area. The second area is preferably attached to the first area via at least one perforation, such that the second area can be torn or cut from the first area. In this embodiment, the first area and second area may be different shapes, such as, but not limited to, square and circular to provide a user with multiple shapes for different fence post markings (which correspond with different fence post shapes).
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a body comprised of at least one removable area removably attached to the body via at least one perforation. Then, a portion of the body is unrolled from a roll the body is stored around, wherein said portion of the body is secured to a ground surface via at least one stake. Next, the body can be unrolled along the desired fence path while being pulled flat and secured to the ground surface using stakes as needed. Next, the removable area can be pulled or cut from the body to expose the ground surface, such that a user can use spray paint to paint the area of the ground surface exposed by the removal of the first removable area. Next, the stakes can be removed such that the body can be removed from the ground surface and rolled back around the roll. Finally, a user can dig the ground surface at the spray-paint-marked area to install a fence post.
Accordingly, the post-hole stencil device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a device for fence post marking that can be used to easily and quickly mark areas for fence post holes. In addition, the device allows a user to accurately mark areas for fence post holes at pre-determined spacings/distances. Furthermore, the device can be reused as needed. In this manner, the post-hole stencil device provides a new and convenient device for installing fence post holes.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved fence post marking device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a post-hole stencil device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a post-hole stencil device that can be used to easily and quickly mark areas for fence post holes. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a post-hole stencil device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a post-hole stencil device that can be used to easily, quickly, and accurately mark areas for fence post holes wherein the device can be re-used. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a post-hole stencil device that can be used to accurately mark areas for fence post holes at pre-determined spacings/distances.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a post-hole stencil device. The device can be used as a reusable stencil that can be used to install fence posts at specific, pre-measured increments. The body of the device is preferably square and is stored around a roll. The body is comprised of at least one removable area, preferably centered on the body and attached to the body via at least one perforation, such that the area can be easily cut or torn from the body. The area functions as a representation of a fence post hole, such that once the area is removed, a user can spray the ground surface where the area once was to mark the ground surface for receiving a fence post. The body preferably has multiple removable areas that are aligned and spaced a uniform distance from one another (such as, but not limited to, 8 inches on center). This allows fence post marking stencils to be created at uniform distances from one another.
In one embodiment of the device, the first removable area may be a first shape and is comprised of at least one second removable area of a second shape. The second removable area is positioned inside the first removable area and is preferably attached to the first area via at least one perforation, such that the second area can be torn or cut from the first area. In this embodiment, the first area and second area may be different shapes, such as, but not limited to, square and circular to provide a user with multiple shapes for different fence post markings (which correspond with different fence post shapes).
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a body comprised of at least one removable area removably attached to the body via at least one perforation. Then, a portion of the body is unrolled from a roll the body is stored around, wherein said portion of the body is secured to a ground surface via at least one stake. Next, the body can be unrolled along the desired fence path while being pulled flat and secured to the ground surface using stakes as needed. Next, the removable area can be pulled or cut from the body to expose the ground surface, such that a user can use spray paint to paint the area of the ground surface exposed by the removal of the first removable area. Next, the stakes can be removed, such that the body can be removed from the ground surface and rolled back around the roll. Finally, a user can dig the ground surface at the spray-paint-marked area to install a fence post.
Accordingly, the post-hole stencil device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a device for fence post marking that can be used to easily and quickly mark areas for fence post holes. In addition, the device allows a user to accurately mark areas for fence post holes at pre-determined spacings/distances. Furthermore, the device can be re-used as needed. In this manner, the post-hole stencil device provides a new and convenient device for installing fence post holes.
Referring initially to the drawings,
The body 120 is comprised of at least one removable area 130. The removable area 130 is preferably centered on the body 120 and is attached to the body 120 via at least one perforation 132. In this manner, the area 130 can be easily cut or torn from the body 110. The area 130 functions as a representation of a fence post hole. Once the area 130 is removed, a user can spray the ground surface 10 where the area 130 once was to mark the ground surface for receiving a fence post.
The area 130 may be any shape known in the art, such as, but not limited to, square or circular. The area 130 may also be any dimension, such that it has the dimensions of any fence post known in the art. The body 120 preferably has multiple removable areas 130 that are aligned and spaced a uniform distance 150 from one another (such as, but not limited to, 8 inches on center). In this manner, the device 100 ensures each removable area allows fence post marking stencils to be created at uniform distances from one another.
In one embodiment, the first removable area 130 may be a first shape. In this embodiment, the first removable area 130 may be comprised of at least one second removable area 140 of a second shape positioned inside the first removable area 130, as seen in
The device 100 may also be comprised of at least one ground stake 160. The stake 160 may be made from any material and is preferably a pointed stake that can be driven through the body 110 and into the ground to anchor the body 120 to the ground, as seen in
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using 200 the device 100, as seen in
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “post-hole stencil device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the post-hole stencil device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the post-hole stencil device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the post-hole stencil device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the post-hole stencil device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the post-hole stencil device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the post-hole stencil device 100 may be of any size, shape, and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/465,072, which was filed on May 9, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63465072 | May 2023 | US |
