U.S. patent application number 10/866300 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-13 for mailbox post protector.
Invention is credited to Nesbitt, Daniel Frederick.
Application Number | 20050005540 10/866300 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33567631 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050005540 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nesbitt, Daniel Frederick |
January 13, 2005 |
Mailbox post protector
Abstract
A mailbox or wooden post protector made of a unitary,
resistantly-flexible plastic material, having four walls and an
opening within one of the walls for installation around the base of
the wooden post. A pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to one or
both edges at the opening to secure closed the opening after
installation.
Inventors: |
Nesbitt, Daniel Frederick;
(Cincinnati, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HASSE GUTTAG & NESBITT LLC
7550 CENTRAL PARK BLVD.
MASON
OH
45040
US
|
Family ID: |
33567631 |
Appl. No.: |
10/866300 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60481072 |
Jul 8, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/169.9 ;
52/831 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 12/2292
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/169.9 ;
052/720.1 |
International
Class: |
E04C 003/30 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A post protector comprising a resistantly flexible unitary
structure having a periphery defined by a plurality of walls
configured to surround a complementary periphery of a wooden post,
and having an opening along the periphery of the unitary structure
defined by a first wall edge and a second wall edge.
2. The post protector according to claim 1 wherein the unitary
structure comprises a thermoplastic material, the structure being
sufficiently flexible to permit separation of the first and second
edges and positioning of the post protector around the base of a
wooden post.
3. The post protector according to claim 2 wherein the
thermoplastic material is selected from Plexi-glass.TM., polyvinyl
chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyacrylic.
4. The post protector according to claim 2 wherein the first and
second edges confront when positioned around the base of the wooden
post.
5. The post protector according to claim 2 wherein the first and
second edges overlap when positioned around the base of the wooden
post.
6. The post protector according to claim 4 further comprising an
adhesive material affixed to a wall edge.
7. The post protector according to claim 6 wherein the adhesive
material comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
8. The post protector according to claim 6 wherein the adhesive
material is affixed to both the first and second wall edges.
9. The post protector according to claim 8 wherein the adhesive
material comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
10. The post protector according to claim 9 further comprising a
release film adhered to the pressure-sensitive adhesive prior to
positioning of the post protector around the base of a wooden
post.
11. The post protector according to claim 1 wherein the four walls
are upright.
12. The post protector according to claim 11 wherein two of the
four walls on opposite sides have mirror-image parallelograms where
none of the corners of the parallelogram are right angles.
13. A method of protecting the base of a mailbox or wooden post
from wear and abrasion, comprising the step of attaching around the
base of the post a post protector according to claim 1.
14. A method of protecting the base of a mailbox or wooden post
from wear and abrasion, comprising the steps of: providing a
resistant unitary structure having a periphery defined by four
walls configured to surround a complementary periphery of a wooden
post, and having an opening along the periphery of the unitary
structure defined by a first wall edge and a second wall edge;
separating the first wall edge from the second wall edge; passing
the separated wall edges around the base of the post; and bringing
together the first and second wall edges, to position the unitary
structure around the base of the post.
15. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of
securing the structure in place around the base by adhering the two
wall edges together.
16. The method according to claim 14 wherein the first and second
wall edges over-lap, and wherein the step of adhering comprises
adhering the confronting surfaces of first and second wall edges.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/481,072, filed Jul. 8,
2003.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The United States government has operated a postal service
since 1775 when the Continental Congress named Benjamin Franklin
the first Postmaster General. Rural free delivery service to
individual residences in the rural America first began in 1896, and
by 1908, much of America received its main daily by postal
delivery.
[0003] Presently, a significant proportion of the population
receives the U.S. mail in residential mail boxes positioned on or
near the resident's property and along the side of the road. There
are a variety of mail boxes in use, but the majority of them are
shoebox-sized or larger containers that are affixed to the top end
of an upright support, such as a wooden post. The bottom end of the
support is buried into the ground to secure the mailbox from
swaying and falling over.
[0004] Many residents position the mailbox in the lawn along side
the road. In the course of cutting the grass, the resident or a
lawn care professional will use a trimming device to trim grass
growing close to the base of the mailbox post that can not cut with
a lawn mower. A typical grass trimming device has an electric or
gasoline-operated motor that drives a spool hub at an opposite end
via an elongated shaft. The hub carries a length of flexible
trimming string, a portion of which projecting outwardly from hub
20. As the motor is operated, the hub rotates at great speed. The
outwardly-projecting section of line is swung in a circle about the
axis of the shaft, whereby it will contact and cut off grass or
other material in its path. Examples of such devices are shown in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,708,335; 3,006,421; 3,608,291; 4,200,978; and
4,584,771.
[0005] The flexible plastic string used in the grass trimmers is
designed and selected for durability. The string typically is made
of a flexible plastic with a high hardness that resists wear and
breaking when striking the earth, asphalt, concrete, stones and
other hard or sharp articles. Some grass trimming strings are
designed with star-shaped profiles that provide the outer surface
with edges that improve the cutting function.
[0006] The strength, durability and design of the flexible plastic
string also causes damage and wear along the base of wooden mailbox
posts when trimming grass close to the base. After repeated grass
cutting and trimmings, the periphery of the base of the wooden post
can experience significant wear. As many mailbox wooden posts are
made of pressure-treated wood, the wearing away of the outer wood
surface along the base exposes the wood in toward the interior
which tends to have less of the water-resistant chemicals. With
time, the wood along the worn base of the wooden post begins to
deteriorate rapidly with additional wear and water.
[0007] At the same time, lawn mowers housings often strike and
gouge the base of the wooden post in the operator's effort to cut
the grass as close as possible to the post.
[0008] Therefore, a need exists for a means for preventing the wear
of the base of wooden posts by grass trimmers and lawn mowers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention is a post protector comprising a resistantly
flexible unitary structure having a periphery defined by a
plurality of walls configured to surround a complementary periphery
of a wooden post, and having an opening along the periphery of the
unitary structure that defines first and second wall edges.
[0010] The invention also relates to a method of protecting the
base of a mailbox or wooden post from wear and abrasion, comprising
the steps of: providing a resistant unitary structure having a
periphery defined by four walls configured to surround a
complementary periphery of a wooden post, and having an opening
along the periphery of the unitary structure defined by a first
wall edge and a second wall edge; separating the first wall edge
from the second wall edge; passing the separated wall edges around
the base of the post; and bringing together the first and second
wall edges, to position the unitary structure around the base of
the post.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a post protector of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a post protector positioned around a wooden
post that is secured into the ground.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the post protector
of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 shows another alternative embodiment of the post
protector.
[0015] FIG. 5. shows an embodiment of the post protector for an
angled post.
[0016] FIG. 6 shows the post protector of FIG. 5 on an angled
post.
[0017] FIG. 7 shows a blank for forming the post protector of FIG.
5.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0018] A typical post protector 10 is shown in FIG. 1 comprising a
resistant unitary structure 12. The unitary structure is configured
with a periphery 14 formed by four upright walls 20, 22, 24, and
26, joined together at their sides, which define a top opening 34
and a bottom opening 36. The four walls are typically rectilinear
or square, and are typically of equal size to surround a
complementary periphery of a wooden post 60, shown in FIG. 2. An
opening 16 is provided along the periphery 14 of the unitary
structure 12 that defines first and second wall edges 30 and 32,
respectively. Typically, the opening 16 is positioned within a wall
20, separating the wall 20 into a first wall portion 40 and second
wall portion 42.
[0019] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the post protector is
positioned around the base of the wooden post 60 that is secured
into the ground 66. Grass 64 grows from the ground 66 near the base
62. The unitary structure 12 is configured wherein the first and
second edges 30, 32 confront when positioned around the base 62 of
the wooden post 60. In another embodiment, the first and second
edges 30, 32 can overlap, or have a slight separation. In
operation, when a grass trimmer (not shown) is used to trim the
length of blades of grass 64 along the base 62 of the wooden post
60, the post protector 10 receives the impact of the flexible
plastic trimming string (not shown) against the base 62.
[0020] The unitary protector typically has a wall height sufficient
to protect the base of the post when grass is trimmed by a string
trimmer. Typically the height of the unitary protector is between
about 8 cm and about 20 cm.
[0021] The opening 16, and the corresponding wall edges 30 and 32,
can be linear, or can be non-linear or curvilinear. FIG. 3 shows an
alternative embodiment wherein the first and second wall edges 30
and 32 that form the opening 16 are configured as complementary
beveled edges.
[0022] Further, an adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive,
can be affixed to either or both wall edges to adhesively join the
wall edges after the post protector is positioned around the base
of the wooden post. Prior to positioning of the post protector
around the base of a wooden post, a release film can be adhered to
the pressure-sensitive adhesive to prevent premature adhesion to
other surfaces or to the opposed confronting wall edge. A suitable
release film can use a silicon release coating well known in the
art. The release film can be manufactured from films, paper, or
other materials as is well known in the art. Preferably, the
release film is a polyethylene film having a thickness of from
about 0.012 mm (0.5 mil) to about 0.12 mm (5.0 mil).
[0023] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the post protector 10
has a first wall portion 40 or a second wall portion 42 that is
slightly elongated so that the first wall edge 30 and the second
wall edge 32 overlap, wherein one wall edge extends beyond and over
the other wall edge, typically by about 5 mm or more. The distal
edge of the over-lapping wall can be tapered, such as by machining,
to avoid having a sharp edge on the outer surface of the post
protector that might be snagged by a trimmer string or other
object.
[0024] The post protector can also be configured for securement
around the base of a wooden post that is oriented in the ground at
an angle, such as an angled post on an A-frame shaped swing set. In
such an embodiment of the post protector, shown in FIG. 5, two of
the four walls 22 and 26 on opposite sides have mirror-image
parallelograms where none of the corners of the parallelogram are
right angles. Typically, the acute angles 70 are substantially the
same as the angle of the angled post. FIG. 6 shows the post
protector 10 shown in FIG. 5 position around the base 62 of an
angled post 10 that is embedded into the ground 66 at an angle.
[0025] The unitary structure 12 typically comprises a thermoplastic
material, which can be a transparent, translucent or opaque, and
either clear or colored. Typically the thermoplastic is resilient
to retain its shape and to resist wear and impact, though is
sufficiently flexible permit the first and second edges to be
separate by hand and positioning around the base of the wooden
post, as shown in FIG. 2. The thermoplastic material can be
selected from methyl acrylate (available as Plexi-glass.TM.),
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, polypropylene, polystyrene
and polyacrylic.
[0026] The post protector can be made from a strip of plastic sheet
of the desired width and thickness, and cut to a length. The
corners formed between adjacent walls can be made by bending the
plastic strip 90 degrees. Typically the plastic strip material is
heated to a temperature proximate to the softening point of the
plastic, which sufficiently softens the material and allows the
material to be bent. The material can be bent around a heated wire,
or contacted with a stream of heated air, to melt or soften the
plastic material sufficiently for bending, but avoiding excessive
deterioration of the plastic material. Typically the strip of
plastic sheet is formed around a model or form of substantially the
same size as a typical wooden post. Typically the 90 degree bend
has a rounded inner surface, preferably having an internal radius
of at least about 2 mm.
[0027] A typical width of the plastic strip, representing the
height of the post protector, is between about 5 cm to about 20 cm.
The length of the plastic strip is sufficient to surround the
periphery of the base of the wooden post. Typical wooden posts are
have square cross sections of about 33/8 inch.times.33/8 inch (8.6
cm.times.8.6 cm), or of about 53/8 inch.times.53/8 inch (13.7
cm.times.13.7 cm).
[0028] The post protector can have a plurality of apertures formed
therein that can be disposed across the entire width and height.
Typically elongated aperatures are oriented vertically, and
preferably are of a width of about the thickness of the material,
or not more than about 5 mm. This prevents a trimming string from
striking the wooden post through the apertures.
[0029] The post protector shown in FIG. 5 can be formed from a
blank 50 that can be stamped or cut from a sheet of the
thermoplastic material. The acute angles 70 are configured to
conform to the angle of the post in the ground. After the blank 50
is formed, it can be folded at each of the fold line 52, as
described above.
[0030] The invention also relates to a method of protecting the
base of a mailbox or wooden post from wear and abrasion, comprising
the step of attaching around the base of the post a resistant
unitary structure described hereinabove.
[0031] In another embodiment, the invention relates to a method of
protecting the base of a mailbox or wooden post from wear and
abrasion, comprising the steps of: providing a resistant unitary
structure having a periphery defined by four walls configured to
surround a complementary periphery of a wooden post, and having an
opening along the periphery of the unitary structure defined by a
first wall edge and a second wall edge; separating the first wall
edge from the second wall edge; passing the separated wall edges
around the base of the post; bringing together the first and second
wall edges, to position the unitary structure around the base of
the post. The resistant unitary structure is attached by separating
by hand the opening along the periphery and positioning the
structure around the base. Typically, the thermoplastic structure
will have structural memory that returns to its original structure
once the manual separation of the wall edges has been released. The
method can further include the step of securing the structure in
place around the base. A preferred means of securing the structure
is an adhesive affixed to one or both confronting surfaces of first
and second wall edges, which preferably overlap one another.
* * * * *