Abstract:
A cover for surrounding the base of an upright element. The cover has a disc shaped body. The disc shaped body has a central opening in communication with a seam which allows for a user to surround the base of the upright element with the cover. The disc shaped body has a ridged surface featuring concentric circles of decreasing size as height increases. The underside of the disc shaped member has a plurality of supporting frames with a shape that is complementary to the ridges of the concentric circles.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/355,993 filed Jun. 17, 2010. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to the field of coverings for the base of objects extending from the ground. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Objects such as sign posts, and lamp posts are common upright elements which extend from the ground. The surface of the ground can vary from grass or dirt to concrete, sand, asphalt, and various other types of common ground surfaces. Often, unsightly growth of grass, weeds, and other vegetation in the area surrounding the base of the upright elements occur. Due to the proximity of the unwanted vegetation to the upright structure, it is difficult to eliminate the unsightly growth using conventional lawn cutting machinery. Thus it is beneficial to have a device which is aesthetically pleasing, and inhibits the growth of unwanted grass or weeds near or around the base of a post. Such a device may also be used to prevent the growth of unwanted grass or weeds at the base of a tree, such as in between the roots of the trees. The presence of unwanted growth at the base of a tree may often times be difficult to remove using conventional lawn cutting machinery since the growth may be dispersed between the roots of the trees. 
         [0004]    Upright elements such as posts may also be susceptible to undesirable water seepage into the area surrounding the post. Water seepage into the area between the post and the supporting environment can cause erosion, molding, or loosen the stability of the post. In regions with harsh winters, it is also desirable to protect the base of upright elements such as poles and trees from snow, slush, or salt. 
         [0005]    The present inventor has recognized the need for a covering around the base of upright elements to prevent unwanted growth of vegetation. 
         [0006]    The present inventor has recognized the need for a covering around the base of upright elements which can assist in diverting water away from the base of the upright element. 
         [0007]    The present inventor has recognized the need to prevent undesirable exposure to outdoor weather elements with a covering around the base of upright elements which maintains its shape in response to outdoor elements over time. 
         [0008]    The present inventor has recognized it would be desirable to protect the upright elements from damage caused by the mowing and trimming devices. Further the inventors have recognized that it would be desirable for reduce the area in need of mowing and other maintenance. The reduction may result in reduced fuel use and related emissions when devices that consume fuel are used to carry out that maintenance. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    A covering for the base of an upright element comprising a disc shaped body. The disc shaped body has a central opening in communication with a seam which allows for a user to surround the base of the upright element with the covering. The disc shaped body has a ridged or stepped surface featuring concentric circles of decreasing size as height increases from the periphery towards the center of the body. The underside of the disc shaped body comprises a plurality of supporting frames with a shape that is complementary to the steps formed by the concentric circles. 
         [0010]    Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective top view of an exemplary embodiment of the cover. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a tilted side view of an exemplary embodiment of the cover. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the underside of an exemplary embodiment of the cover. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a cover for an upright element such as a post. It will be understood that the cover can be used with upright elements that extend upward from a ground surface. The cover may be used with upright elements that meet the ground at an angle other than 90 degrees. The cover  10  comprises a disc shaped body  20  having a stepped surface  30  ( FIG. 2 ), with steps  30   a  which are the side walls of concentric circles. The concentric circles decrease in diameter as height of the cover increases. Because the surface of the body increases in height in a direction from the periphery to the center of the cover, the cover  10 , in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , has a generally frustoconical shape. The topmost step  31  extends into a circular region comprising the central portion  45 . 
         [0016]    The body  20  has a central opening  40  within the central portion  45 , through which an upright element can extend. The central opening  40  is in communication with a seam  50 . Seam  50  allows the cover  10  to be positioned around the base of the upright element by permitting the ends of the body to be moved apart from each other. The central opening as illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a circular opening. The central opening may also be other shapes, such as a rectangle or square, to accommodate upright elements of different cross sectional shapes and sizes. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the central opening  40  is a circular shape which is inscribed within a rectangular groove  42 . The rectangular groove  42  is disposed within a larger rectangular groove  41 . The rectangular groove is inscribed within a circular groove  43 . A user is able to change the shape of the central opening  40  from a circle to a rectangle  42  or a larger rectangle  41  or larger circle  43  by cutting along the groove lines of the desired shape. 
         [0017]    The cover can be made from a flexible, water resistant material, such as rubber or silicone. Other polymeric materials, natural or synthetic, or a combination thereof can also be used. In one embodiment, the cover is a rubber disk of 14 inches (35 cm) diameter, with ⅜ inch (0.94 cm) height at the outermost perimeter, rising to approximately 1.5 inches (3.75 cm) at the top. The top concentric circle may have a diameter of 5 inches (12.5 cm). In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the body  20  comprises five concentric circles. 
         [0018]    Because the cover is flexible, the user can flex or bend the cover as needed to open the seam to wrap the cover around the upright element so that the upright element will extend through the central opening  40 . The seam  50  can be connected once the cover  10  is disposed around an upright element. To connect the seam  50 , an adhesive, such as glue, can be used to join the opposing sides of the seam. The glue is water resistant and suitable for connecting the material, such as rubber, used for the cover. In other embodiment, at least one of the opposing sides of the seam may comprise a pre-applied adhesive layer protected by a covering. When the cover  10  is disposed in position around the base of the upright element, the user can peel off the protective covering to expose the adhesive edge. The opposing sides of the seam are then pressed together to join the seam. Various other methods to join the seam can be used. For example, the seam may be joined by a mechanical engagement, or one side of the seam can overlap with a portion of the opposite side. In one embodiment, the sides of the seams may be pressed together by using a mechanism for tying the opposite sides of the seams together. The mechanism can be a cable tie which engages with slots  51  on either side of the seam to receive the cable tie. The cable tie is then pulled tight to secure the seam. Any other method known to one skilled in the art can be used to join the opposite sides of the seams. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the cover  10 , with the stepped profile  30   a,  visible. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the stepped profile allows more efficient transfer of water away from the center of the cover. Water accumulating from the top of the cover  10 , is then dispersed evenly by the stepped profile when it is transferred to the ground. The edges of each step  30   a  is rounded to provide a smooth surface and to facilitate the flow of water, or other debris, from one step to the lower step, in a direction away from the upright element. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the underside of the cover  10 . As illustrated in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the cover  10  comprises a support system  59  on the underside of the cover  10 . The support system  59  comprises supporting frames  60  in contact with the underside of the stepped configuration of each of the steps  30   a.  Alternatively, the supporting frames can extend just short of the topmost step  31  which comprises the central portion  45 . Supporting frames  60  have ridges  60   a  arranged and shaped complementarily to the steps  30   a.  Each ridge, may extend for a length “L” equal to the length of a step  30   a.  The topmost ridge  61  may extend until the topmost step  31 , or it may terminate before the center portion  45 . In one embodiment, the supporting frames  60  extend from the rim or periphery of the disk-shaped body, and terminate before the center portion  45 . Alternately, the supporting frames can extend from the rim or periphery and terminate within the central portion just after the topmost step  31 . The topmost ridge  61  should be of a length not extending beyond the central opening or the central opening a user has selected by cutting along grooves  41 ,  42 ,  43 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates that four supporting frames  60  can be used to support the cover  10 . However, more or fewer supporting frames  60  can be used. Supporting frames  60  can be positioned in any orientation, and need not be evenly spaced apart about the central opening. An evenly spaced apart first set of supporting frames  60 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , are oriented at 90 degrees to a second set of support frames. However, the distance between supporting frames can be arranged as needed depending on the topography of the ground surface. The supporting frames  60  can be adjustable, or they may be secured to the bottom surface of the cover  10 . The supporting frames  60  may be molded as one unitary piece with the disc shaped body. 
         [0022]    In the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the disk-shaped body is circular. In other embodiments, any other shape can be used, such as a regular or irregular polygon, or any other arbitrary shape. Arbitrary shapes can be used for decorative purposes or to accommodate the nature of the landscaping topography. 
         [0023]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.