U.S. patent application number 09/820775 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-03 for rigid 4x4 fence post form.
Invention is credited to Buffkin, D. Glynn, Rice, William J..
Application Number | 20020139069 09/820775 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25231693 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020139069 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Buffkin, D. Glynn ; et
al. |
October 3, 2002 |
Rigid 4X4 fence post form
Abstract
The Rigid Polyethylene 4.times.4 Fence Post Form (Rigid Post
Form) is a rigid sleeve with a bottom, designed to fit over the end
of 4.times.4 wooden posts to allow for removal of a post after
cementing in place. The Rigid Post Form is held in place with two
stainless steel screws at the top of the sleeve. The Rigid Post
Form also provides protection of wooden posts from wood rot below
grade-level and damage from wood rot and lawn tools at grade-level.
The Rigid Post Form is easy to install and is cost effective.
Inventors: |
Buffkin, D. Glynn; (Melrose,
FL) ; Rice, William J.; (Keystone Heights,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
D. Glynn Buffkin
1616 SR 100
Melrose
FL
32666
US
|
Family ID: |
25231693 |
Appl. No.: |
09/820775 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/170 ;
52/169.13; 52/296; 52/298 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 12/2292
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/170 ;
52/169.13; 52/298; 52/296 |
International
Class: |
E02D 027/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A Rigid 4.times.4 Fence Post Form designed to install over the
bottom end of any type of 4.times.4 wooden fence posts to
facilitate removal and reinstallation of a post after inserting
into the ground and cementing in place, comprising: a one-piece
rectangular rigid sleeve with one open end (top) and one closed end
(bottom), said top end consisting of two screw holes through the
sleeve on opposite sides just below the top, said interior side of
the bottom consisting of four evenly spaced diagonal risers around
a centered drain hole through the bottom.
2. The Rigid 4.times.4 Fence Post Form of claim 1, protects wooden
fence posts from below grade-level and grade-level wood rot.
3. The Rigid 4.times.4 Fence Post Form of claim 1, protects wooden
posts at grade-level from lawn tool damage.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The Rigid 4.times.4 Fence Post Form (Rigid Post Form) is
associated with decorative fencing using standard 4.times.4 treated
or untreated wooden posts. The Rigid Post Form is placed over the
end of a wooden post to be inserted into the ground as a permanent
method to retrieve the post if it is damaged or the need arises to
take the fence down temporarily. The bottom of the post sits in the
Rigid Post Form above a centered one quarter-inch drain hole on
four evenly spaced one eight-inch by one-inch risers. The Rigid
Post Form is fastened to the post near the top with two stainless
steel screws. Once the post is cemented in place it can be removed
anytime from the Rigid Post Form by removing the stainless screws
and lifting the post out. The Rigid Post Form also prevents contact
of the wooden post with the cement used to hold it in place. This
protects the post from wood rot. In addition, the Rigid Post Form
is designed to allow water entering between the top of the form and
the wooden post to drain by gravity out a hole in the bottom.
[0002] In an online search of the USPTO database no other patents
were found similar to the Rigid Polyethylene 4.times.4 Fence Post
Form. However, Pat. No. 4,646,489 describes a method to repair a
fence post with a wood rotted bottom. Others patents were found
that describe methods to protect posts from wood rot damage and
damage from lawn tools. U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,762 describes a fence
post with a concrete reinforcing rod projecting downward and
cemented into to ground preventing the post form contacting soil
moisture, thus preventing wood rot. U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,834
outlines a method to prevent wood rot where upward extending fence
posts are maintained above grade by specially designed supports. In
U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,351 a method of shrink-wrapping posts
immediately above and below grade to prevent wood rot is described.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,134 outlines the benefits of installing a post
with a solid plastic base as a method to prevent wood rot. The
above patented methods and designs for preventing various kinds of
post damage all have their merits. However, none of these designs
perform the function of the Rigid Post Form nor do they have the
simplicity of use and low cost.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The Rigid Post Form is a rigid polyethylene sleeve with one
closed end designed for installation over the bottom of 4.times.4
decorative wooden posts. Once installed the post can be easily
removed from the Rigid Post Form to replace damaged posts or to
take the fence down. The installation of the Rigid Post Form is a
simple three-step process; slip it over the bottom of the post and
install two stainless steel screws to hold in place. The advantages
of the Rigid Post Form are: 1. It is more cost effective. 2. It is
very simple to install. 3. If something happens to an installed
post you can easily remove and re-install a new one. 4. It protects
the post at grade-level from lawn tools such as weed-eaters etc. 5.
It protects the post from wood rot at grade-level and below
grade-level.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0004] 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.
[0005] 2. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the invention.
[0006] 3. FIG. 3 is a section view of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The Rigid Post Form is a hard sleeve made of Polyethylene or
other suitable material. A mold with the prescribed dimensions
(FIG. 1) is filled with powered polyethylene resin, heated until
liquefied and then cooled, thus forming a rigid seamless sleeve.
The sleeve has one closed end and is designed to fit over the end
of a 4.times.4 wooden post for easy post retrieval if required. The
Rigid Post Form inserted over the end of the post is attached to
the post by two stainless steel screws. The bottom of post rests on
four equally spaced risers one eight-inch above a drain hole
centered in the bottom of the sleeve. The Rigid Post Form prevents
the post from contacting the cement used to hold it in place.
Continuous contact of a wooden post with moisture-laden concrete
with time causes the wood to rot. Water that may enter between the
top of the sleeve and the post due to storms or watering will
migrate by gravity to and out of the drain hole in the bottom of
the sleeve.
[0008] Other patents have inventions that are designed to protect
wooden posts from various kinds of damage above and below
grade-level. However, The Rigid Post Form is the only one designed
to provide an easy method of removing a post because of damage or
to temporarily take the fence down. The Rigid Post Form also
provides secondary benefits namely, protection from wood rot and
damage at grade-level from lawn tools. The Rigid Post Form is very
easy to install and is cost effective.
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