Device for preventing plant growth around posts

A device for preventing plant growth around a post, comprising an opaque sheet, an opening in the sheet, and a slit extending entirely from the opening to the perimetric edge. A fastener structure is arranged to fasten one of the edge portions to an other of the edge portions in a relationship wherein the edge portions overlap thereby effecting a slope of the sheet downwardly from the opening to the perimetric edge and wherein the opening is shaped to have a first shape when the edge portions are not overlapping and to have a second shape to conform to the post when the edge portions are fastened in the overlapping relationship.

The present invention is directed generally to the prevention of plant growth around posts and the like. Devices for such a purpose have typically included opaque discs which are laid on the ground around the post and which have a hole in the center for enveloping the post. A slit extends from the hole to the perimetric edge to provide a means for placing the disc so that the post is received in the hole.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,571,972 discloses a protective ground collar for trees, fence posts, and other upright elements to inhibit the growth of vegetation. The collar is formed of flexible sheet material a suitable material described as felt material impregnated with polyurethane resin. The collar is colored to simulate the appearance of grass. A main opening is formed therein from which a slit extends to the outer edge for facilitating the envelopment of a tree trunk or the like, the opening being of the same configuration but slightly smaller than the trunk. An underlying or cover flap is provided to preclude vegetation growth through the slit. A plurality of inner slits extending outwardly from the opening define a plurality of flexible fingers which are shown to bend upwardly to be disposed against the tree trunk or post to inhibit plant growth. If the collar is of laminated construction, the slits in the two sheets are disposed out of coincidence so that the fingers are staggered. There is also disclosed a collar about a square post, wherein the opening is also smaller than the post and fingerlike elements lie against the sides respectively of the post. In order to insure that the collar will snugly envelope the post, the fingers are secured thereto by friction tape.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,557 discloses a landscaping mat having a similar slit for positioning the mat about a tree trunk wherein the slit edges are stepped and connected by screws or spikes. The outer portion is tapered so that the upper surface inclines downwardly as it extends outwardly.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,500 discloses a tree skirt having a similar slit for positioning the skirt about a tree trunk wherein the slit edges are connected by a tongue-in-groove connection and by pegs which fit in holes. The tree skirt has a generally convex upper surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,104,525 discloses a fence post protecting collar comprising a three-walled upright member and a fourth upright wall connected thereto by a tongue-in-groove connection and wherein a fluid-blocking rubber seal is contiguously positioned medially of the post and collar.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,597 discloses a tree ring to prevent vegetation growth around the trunks of trees. The tree ring comprises a flexible sheet having an elastic inner peripheral edge which snugly fits around the tree trunk.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,676 discloses a tree protector for preventing insects from crawling up the trunk. The tree protector includes a trough portion and a sealant mastic in combination with adhesive tape.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,869 discloses a weed control plate with a central opening to receive a support to cover the ground around the root to prevent the propagation of weeds and a parting line between the opening and the outer periphery, with means for joining the parting line edges together. The plate has a conical surface which is curved convexly upward toward radially inward of the plate.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,528 discloses a tree protector in the shape of a cone (convex upper surface) and comprised of two plastic moldings fitted together loosely about a tree trunk.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,217 discloses a tree shoe having a hole for a plant stem and a slit between the hole and the shoe edge, wherein the shoe is made convex.

A PERM-A-MULCH mulchmat manufactured by Phoenix Recycled Products of Batesburg, S.C. has been provided for protecting and beautifying trees and posts. It comprises a flat disc composed of rubber with a hole in the center and a seam from the hole to the outer periphery and is stated to be such that weeds can't grow but water and nutrients can pass right through. See their published application 2008/0202023.

All of the above patents/published applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

In order to keep undesired plant growth from occurring around a post or the like, it is considered important to completely block the passage of sunlight to the ground around the post. If not completely blocked, light can enter along the slit as well as along the edge of the central hole, undesirably causing weeds or grass to grow in these areas. It is also considered desirable to prevent rain water from accumulating on the disc, undesirably making it look dirty and increasing the likelihood of undesired plant growth. The discs disclosed in the above patents/published applications are considered to not adequately block sunlight and/or not adequately prevent the accumulation of rain water thereon.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for completely blocking the passage of sunlight to the ground around a post or the like.

It is another object of the present invention to prevent the accumulation of rain water on the sunlight-blocking device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device which is rugged, reliable, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly.

In order to completely block the passage of sunlight to the ground around a post or the like while also preventing the accumulation of rain water, in accordance with the present invention, an opaque sheet having an opening for placing around the post and a slit from the opening to the perimetric edge is provided with a pair of overlapping and attachable edge portions defining the slit, wherein the opening is shaped to have a first shape when the edge portions are not overlapping and to have a second shape to conform to the post when the edge portions are fastened in the overlapping relationship, whereby the sheet is shaped to be inclined downwardly to the perimetric edge when the edge portions are fastened in the overlapping relationship. Preferably, an elastomeric material is provided along the edges of the opening or the portion of the sheet defining the opening is composed of elastomeric material in order to better conform the sheet to the post.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which the same reference numerals depict the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown at10a post or pole secured in the ground12. The post10may, for example, be a sign post or a mailbox post or a fence post. While the post is shown to have a square cross-section, it should be understood that its cross-sectional shape may be round or any other suitable shape, for example, a telephone pole. While the present invention is described with reference to a device for application to a square post, it should be understood that the principles thereof may be applied to such other shapes of posts. The post10is preferably of a type which is mass produced to provide a multitude of such posts all having standard or identical cross-sectional shapes and sizes. While the present invention is particularly suitable for providing a multitude of identical devices for application to a multitude of mass produced posts all having the same shape and size cross-sectionally so that the devices may in turn be mass produced, the present invention is not limited thereto but is also applicable to, for example, tree trunks. For the purposes of this specification and the claims, the term “post” is defined to include poles, tree trunks, highway sign or marker posts, and other structures planted or otherwise secured in and rising from the ground.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown generally at20a device for application about the post10to rest on and cover the adjacent ground12for preventing plant growth in an area around the post10. The device20includes a thin flexible membrane or disc or sheet22which is sized to extend over the area in which it is desired to prevent plant growth and which is circular or otherwise suitably shaped. In order to prevent sunlight from reaching the ground around the post10and thereby prevent plant growth, the sheet22is composed of an opaque material, and particular suitable materials therefore are described in greater detail hereinafter.

The sheet22has a central opening, illustrated at24, for receiving the post10therein. However, the opening24does not have to be located centrally of the sheet22, but can be otherwise suitably within the perimetric edge26of the sheet22. The opening24is shown inFIG. 1(with the device in an open condition and not secured around the post10) to approximate but does not exactly match the square shape of the post10for reasons that will become apparent hereinafter. In order to enable the sheet22to be provided around the post10, it is slitted thereby defining a slit, illustrated at28, extending entirely from the opening24to the perimetric edge26, whereby the portions of the sheet on opposite sides of the slit28can be temporarily pulled apart to allow entry of the post10along the slit28and into the opening24. While the slit28extends from a corner of the opening24, it should be understood that it can extend from anywhere along the perimeter of the opening24.

After the post10has been received within the opening24, it is considered desirable to close the slit28in a manner to prevent the passage of sunlight therethrough to the underlying ground12, which would undesirably allow plant/weed growth through the slit28. Referring toFIG. 5, in order to prevent the passage of sunlight through the slit28and at the same time effect a desirable dome or convex shape to the sheet22for water drainage, the elongate sheet portions30and32adjacent and along the length of the slit28are caused to overlap (30one on top of the other32) and are attached together by suitable fasteners such as, for example, strips34of Velcro material or other suitable hook and loop fastener material (i.e., a plurality of hooks in one piece of material which attach to a plurality of loops in another piece of material to detachably attach the two pieces of material together, as commonly known in the art) sewed or otherwise suitably attached to the sheet portions30and32respectively. The sheet22may be suitably bent, as illustrated at36, as needed so that portion32is suitably received under portion30in an aesthetic manner. As used herein and in the claims with reference to the sheet22, by “flexible” is meant that the sheet22has sufficient flexibility to allow the portions30and32to be brought into overlapping relationship for attachment and to allow the sheet to assume the dome or convex shape. The thin sheet22desirably has generally uniform thickness over its area.

An alternative manner of attaching the overlapping portions30and32is illustrated inFIG. 6. As illustrated therein, lower portion32has formed in the edge thereof a series of longitudinally-spaced trapezoidal-shaped cut-outs or grooves, illustrated at38, in which are respectively receivable a series of similarly longitudinally-spaced complementary trapezoidal-shaped projections or tongues40(commonly referred to as a “tongue-in-groove” connection. As seen, the trapezoidal shapes provide narrow throats to the grooves38to prevent dislocation of the tongues40therefrom. Such a tongue-in-groove connection allows the sheet22to be made in a single piece wherein the additional step of attaching Velcro strips or other attachment devices is desirably eliminated. If needed in such a tongue-in-groove connection or other connection to prevent the passage of sunlight between the tongues and grooves, the lower sheet portion32may be formed to have a lower sunlight-blocking flap or membrane, illustrated at42, which extends under and beyond the grooves38thereby extending under the entirety of the tongue-in-groove connection.

Referring toFIG. 4(FIGS. 3 and 4illustrating the device20secured about post10), the pulling of the portions30and32into the overlapping relationship illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6and lockingly attaching them together in such overlapping relationship is shown to have the desirable effect of giving the thin flexible sheet22a dome or convex shape wherein the sheet22slopes or inclines downwardly from the central opening24, radially thereabout, to the edge26to thereby desirably allow water drainage from the sheet22to thereby prevent water build-up on the sheet22which, if occurs, may undesirably detract from its aesthetic appearance and which may promote undesired plant growth.

The sheet22(including the opening24, the perimetric edge26, and slit28) is stamped or otherwise suitably cut-out or formed from a blank piece of flat material, as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2. Accordingly, when the slit portions30and32are thereafter brought into overlapping relationship for attaching around the post10, the size and shape of the opening24will be slightly altered. As previously discussed, it is considered important to closely conform the opening24to the post10to prevent the entrance to the underlying ground12of sunlight. The square cross-sectional shape of the post10is illustrated inFIG. 1. InFIG. 3, the opening24is illustrated to be square and conform to the square shape of the post10. Thus, the opening24is desirably stamped or formed to a suitable off-square or non-square shape, as seen inFIG. 1, so that, when the sheet22is formed with the portions30and32overlapping, the opening24becomes square-shaped and conforming to the square shape of the post10, as seen inFIG. 3. The shape and size of the opening24, as stamped or formed as seen inFIG. 1, may, for example, for a post having a square cross-section with widths of sides, illustrated at44, of about 3 inches, the lengths of sides46,48,50, and52may, for example, be about 3 9/16 inches, 3½ inches, 3½ inches, and 4 inches respectively. When the portions30and32are brought into overlapping relationship, it can be seen fromFIG. 1that the side52is brought into intersecting relationship with side46and extends beyond side46by about ½ inch, and a length of about 1/16 inch of the side46is resultingly “cut off” by the intersection of side52therewith thereby defining the opening24inFIG. 3as having the lengths of all sides46,48,50, and52being about 3 inches to tightly conform to the post10on all sides thereof. The size and shape of the opening to be stamped or formed in a flat blank can be selected, whether for a post having a square or round or other suitably-shaped cross-section to be received therein, using principles commonly known in the art to which the present invention pertains. Further, for example, the sheet22may have a diameter of about 18 inches, a thickness of about 1/32 inch, and overlapping portions30and32each having a width which tapers from about ⅜ inch at the opening24to about ¾ inch at the perimetric edge26. When secured about post10, the opening24may be at an height, illustrated at72, of, for example, about inch from the ground12. The examples provided herein are for the purposes of illustration and not for purposes of limitation.

For ease of manufacturing, the sheet22may be stamped or otherwise suitably formed as a single piece from a suitably resilient plastic (for example, recycled soda bottles) or from a suitably conformable rigid elastomeric or rubbery material. If made from a conformable elastomeric or rubbery material, the opening24may desirably be made slightly undersized to insure a tight conformable fit with the post10.

Referring toFIG. 7, in order to seal the opening24against the entrance of sunlight, an elastomeric or rubbery conforming material such as, for example, elongate bands54of elastomeric or rubbery material such as rubberized conformable cloth, is preferably sewn or otherwise suitably attached to the side edges46,48,50, and52of the sheet opening24. Over time, it is expected that heat may cause the rubbery material54to adhere to the post10thereby even further sealing against the entrance of sunlight.

While not shown inFIGS. 1 to 4for purposes of ease of illustration, it should be understood that the opening24as shown therein is preferably provided with such rubbery strips54or other suitably rubbery conforming lining of the sides of the opening24.

Referring toFIG. 8, there is shown a sunlight blocking device60in accordance with an alternative embodiment wherein it is made of two pieces, i.e., an inner piece62having the opening24and made of a more conformable material and a more rigid outer main body piece64. The inner piece62is suitably formed to have a circumferentially extending groove, illustrated at66, in its perimetric edge portion68for lockingly receiving the inner edge portion70of the outer piece64, whereby the portions68and70overlap to prevent entrance of sunlight. It should of course be understood that the inner and outer pieces62and64may be otherwise suitably attached to prevent the entrance of sunlight. While the inner piece62is formed so that the opening24is specifically shaped to conform to the shape of the post10whereby a different inner piece would be provided for each different size/type of post, the outer piece64(as well as the inner piece edge portion68) may desirably be universal, i.e., formed in a single size/shape to mate with any of a variety of inner pieces62so that the overall costs for providing the sunlight blocking devices60for a variety of different sizes/shapes of posts10may be desirably reduced.

In order to provide an aesthetically pleasing outdoors/grassy appearance, the visible upper surface of sheet22(as well as pieces62and64) is preferably painted or otherwise suitably colored to match the color of the surroundings, i.e., the color and/or texture of the ground or other surface on which the sheet22is placed. For example, the sheet upper surface may be colored green to match the color of surrounding grass.

It should be understood that, while the present invention has been described in detail herein, the invention can be embodied otherwise without departing from the principles thereof, and such other embodiments are meant to come within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.