Patent Application
20250019990
This is a device that will protect a wooden post wood that is sunk into the ground. This type of post is often used to support a deck but can also be used for fences, and mailboxes. A wooden post that is used outdoors is pressure treated but over time the exposure to water will cause rot at the junction where the post meets the ground where water will pool. The posts can be a variety of shapes, including square, rectangular, or circular, and sizes. For the purpose of this application, a standard 4×4 square post will be discussed.
This type of wood post is exposed to all types of inclement weather, including rain, snow, sleet and extremes in temperature and extremes in atmospheric conditions. Water, especially water that pools around the post is particularly destructive to any type of wood and all efforts to protect the components of the post are taken. Usually, pressure treated lumber is used to provide an initial safeguard against water but over time rot will develop. Rot will develop at the base of the sunken post at the ground level because of the pooling of water. If the pooling is not addressed, rot will develop and destroy the integrity of the post. This device is a sleeve that will envelope the post and protect it from damage from pooling water and damage from small hand-held lawn maintenance tools.
Each of the wooden posts are sunk into the ground and this device will provide a sleeve over a portion of the post that is sunk into the ground. The portion of the post above the ground will be completely covered by a rigid portion with a flexible material that will prevent water from entering the cavity between the sleeve and the post to prevent the pooling of water at the base of the post at the ground level. The device, with the post, will be sunk into the ground and will protect the area of the post a certain distance below the surface of the ground. Ventilation holes on the portion of the device above the ground will be provided to let any accumulated moisture that is captured in the interior cavity between the post and the device vent away from the post.
There are many prior art references that discuss devices that protect a fence post. However, none of these devices provide the same level of protection and all the prior art has different structures, which is not contemplated with this device.
A representative example of a post protector can be found at Keller, U.S. Pat. No. 8,875,469. The Keller device completely surrounds the post and does not provide a means to ventilate the area around the post where water will pool.
Another reference that protects the exposed surface of a fence post can be found at Nesbitt U.S. Patent Publication 2005/0005540. The Nesbitt reference protects only the portion above the ground from lawn maintenance tools and is not designed to be sunk into the ground. Another reference that protects a post above the ground can be found at Salcedo 2209/0126298. This reference also is not sunk into the ground and protects the post from lawn maintenance tools.
Another reference that is used to protect the post and is sunk can be found at Bizzarri, D788,329; this device will allow the intrusion of water into the cavity between the fence post and the post protector and will allow the water to pool.
The device will encapsulate a wooden post that will be sunk into the ground. This type of post can be found as support for decks, support for mailboxes and support for fences. This type of post is sunk into the ground a predetermined distance to provide support for a deck as an example or to support a mailbox or provide a support structure for a fence. Concrete may also be added as a filler to increase the strength of the device, especially to support a deck or to add support for a fence and prevent any lateral movement of the fence posts. However, the presence of concrete does not prevent rot at the ground level as water will pool around any flat surface and will begin to rot pressure treated lumber, which is used in most outdoor applications. This device will be slipped over the post prior to the post being driven into the ground.
The device is hollow at both ends. On the top surface will be an elastic material that will expand and move upward as the device is inserted onto the post. This upward movement will direct any water away from the post to prevent the pooling of water at the base of the post at the ground level. The elastic material may be a hard rubber or acrylic material and must be able to withstand all environmental conditions and all temperature extremes. Once installed, the device should never move.
Rot from moisture will occur where the post intersects the ground, usually dirt, either on the surface or slightly below the surface due to the accumulation of water in that area. The post that is encapsulated by this device will be sunk into the surface a pre-determined distance, and once installed, should never have to be removed. A flanged surface will remain above the ground level and the sleeve of the device will be sunk into the ground but leave the flanged surface above the surface.
A plurality of ventilation holes on the top one-third of the device or flanged surface will provide ventilation to prevent the pooling of water at the base of the sunken post.
Many deck and fence applications use this type of post and often concrete is poured around the post after it is sunk; the concrete will provide the weight bearing capacity of the finished product and will prevent the post from moving from side to side but will not prevent the presence of moisture from gathering on the ground where the post is sunk. This device will prevent water from pooling at the ground level and eliminate or substantially reduce the opportunity for the pooling of water in that area and also protect the post from damage that may be caused by small lawn maintenance tools.
The device 5 will surround a wooden post A which will be sunk into the ground to form the base to support a deck, or a fence or a mailbox; the type of post is not being claimed nor is any type or size of deck or fence or mailbox. While this application will highlight how the device will be used for a fence as depicted in
The device 5 will have a top surface with an opening that secures an elastic material, which may be an acrylic material or hard rubber to name a few, around the opening 10 for the device such as depicted in
On the flanged portion of the top section 20 a plurality of ventilation holes 30 around the perimeter of the flanged portion of the top section 20 are provided. The ventilation holes 30 will be positioned with an upward angle such as depicted in
Below the top surface 20 is a sleeve 25 that is integral to the top surface. The sleeve surrounds the wooden post A and is inserted into the ground as the fence post A is sunk. The sleeve 25 will be inserted to prevent moisture from accumulating around the area near the ground level and slightly below the ground level.
Around the inside of the top opening 10 elastic material 15 will be provided. This elastic material 15 will be flexible, yet durable, as the post is placed through the opening 10 of the device such as depicted in
While the embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, certain modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to modify the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.
