Adjustable post or botanical collar apparatus and method

An adjustable collar apparatus and method to encircle a post or botanical item at its base, which collar apparatus comprises a plurality of at least three separate, identical, and flat sheet panel elements. Each panel element has a generally arcuate, involute inner edge, a generally arcuate outer edge and first and second side edges, and is characterized by a first slotted opening positioned toward the first side edges and a second slotted opening positioned toward the second side edge. The flat panel sheet elements are arranged in a side-edge, overlapping relationship, with the first opening of one flat panel sheet element aligned with the second opening of an adjacent flat panel sheet element to form a collar apparatus about a post or the base of a botanical item. Fasteners are inserted between the aligned openings of adjacent flat panel sheet elements to permit slidable adjustment of the flat panel sheet elements and to retain the flat panel sheet elements together. One arcuate edge of the flat panel sheet element has a short, upwardly extending rim to form a continuous, peripheral raised rim for the assembled collar apparatus. Each flat panel sheet element includes at least one hole for the insertion of a ground spike to fasten the flat panel sheet element to the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is often desirable to eliminate or reduce the growth of grass or weeds 
about the base of a post, such as a generally upright post, or about the 
base of a tree or shrub. The elimination of such grass or weeds about the 
base eliminates the need for trimming the grass or weeds about the base 
and avoids damage to the base of the post from lawn mowers, weed-cutting 
apparatuses and the like. The growth of grass or weeds about the base of 
the post or tree can be controlled by eliminating the sunlight through the 
employment of a covered area about the base of the post or tree. 
A tree- or post-collar apparatus and method which is inexpensive, easily 
assembled and used and is reusable and which may be adjusted to encircle 
the post or irregular tree-stem trunk, to eliminate the growth of grass or 
weeds about the base being covered by the post collar, and which can be 
expanded to accommodate tree-trunk growth, has been described in U.S. 
patent application No. 08/137,554, which is incorporated herein by 
reference. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,378, issued Aug. 22, 1989 describes a modular landscape 
system. The system provides for the masking of a ground surface to prevent 
unwanted growth, for watering plants from a single location and for 
containing decorative material about a plant by the use of a radial outer 
rim. 
It is now desired to provide for a collar apparatus which is adapted to 
contain gravel, mulch, bark, or other particulate or fibrous material in a 
confined, selected space about the encircled post, tree or shrub base for 
improved aesthetic appearance and more effective elimination of sunlight. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention concerns an improved collar apparatus for a post or botanical 
item and a method of encircling the post or botanical item with the collar 
apparatus. 
The collar apparatus of the invention comprises a means to encircle a post 
or botanical item at its base, which collar apparatus comprises a 
plurality of at least three separate, identical, flat panel sheet elements 
generally trapezoidal, each flat panel sheet element having a generally 
arcuate inner edge, such as an involute curve to form a circular inner 
opening, and a generally arcuate outer edge and first and second side 
edges. Each flat panel sheet element is characterized by a first slotted 
opening, positioned toward the first side edge and extending generally 
radially between the inner and outer arcuate edges, and a second slotted 
opening positioned toward the second side edge and extending generally 
parallel to the inner and outer arcuate edges in the form of a generally 
radial involute curve. 
In use, the flat panel sheet elements are arranged in a side edge, 
overlapping relationship, with the first opening of one flat panel sheet 
element generally aligned with the second opening of an adjacent flat 
panel sheet element to form a collar apparatus about a post or the base of 
a botanical item. A fastening means is inserted between the aligned 
openings of adjacent flat panel sheet elements to permit slidable 
adjustment of the flat panel sheet elements and to fasten the flat panel 
sheet elements together. The fastening of adjacent flat panel sheet 
elements is repeated with other flat panel sheet elements until all of the 
flat panel sheet elements have been assembled and fastened together except 
for one, creating an opening whereupon the assembled and fastened flat 
panel sheet elements can be positioned and adjusted to fit snugly about 
the base of a post or tree; and then fastening the fastening means through 
the one opening to form an assembled collar apparatus. 
Optionally and preferably, the outer or inner, or both, arcuate edge of the 
flat panel sheet element has a short, upwardly extending rim with the rim 
length starting slightly inwardly from each end of the outer arcuate edge 
so as to form, on assembly of the panel elements, a generally continuous 
peripheral rim with each end slightly overlapping the adjacent rim. After 
the collar apparatus is so assembled and positioned, gravel, mulch or 
other particulate or decorative material may be used to fill the collar 
apparatus, said material being held within the area defined by the short, 
upwardly extending rim on the outer, inner or both edges of the collar 
apparatus. The outer arcuate edge of the panel sheet element also has a 
short lip element extending outwardly from the bottom of the upwardly 
extending rim and at the same level as the flat panel sheet element. This 
lip element provides for further anchoring of the flat panel sheet element 
when dirt or rocks or other particulate material is placed on top of the 
lip element and around the outer perimeter to secure the lip element to 
the ground surface. 
Each flat panel sheet element includes at least one hole or other holder 
for the insertion of a ground spike means to fasten or hold the flat panel 
sheet element to the ground. If desired, the panel element may contain a 
plurality of openings, holes or slots to permit the watering of the base 
of the plant, tree or shrub with which the collar apparatus is used. 
In one embodiment, the collar apparatus means may be comprised of clear, 
moldable plastic for decorative purposes or, in a preferred embodiment, is 
comprised of an opaque, moldable plastic to prevent the penetration of 
sunlight through the collar apparatus into the ground to prevent or 
inhibit weed or grass growth. It has been found that a black plastic panel 
tends to accelerate springtime growth of botanical stems in use due to the 
absorption of heat into the root system. 
The invention will be described for the purposes of illustration only in 
connection with certain embodiments; however, it is recognized that 
various changes, modifications, additions and improvements may be made to 
the illustrated embodiments by those persons skilled in the art, all 
falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
As shown in the drawings, FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the trapezoidal, 
flat, panel sheet element 14 of the collar apparatus of the invention 10, 
with trapezoidal flat panel sheet area 15, arcuate involute curved inner 
edge 16, about 8" in length, arcuate outer edge 18, about 16" in length, 
and first 26 and second 24 side edges, the first side edge 26 being about 
71/2" in length, and the second side edge 24 being about 7" in length. The 
outer arcuate edge 18 has a short, upwardly extending rim 28, starting at 
one end at the first side edge 26, and at the other end inwardly from the 
second side edge 24 about 3", and extending upwardly about a minimum of 
1/2", e.g., 5/8". Each end of the upwardly extending rim 28 is tapered 
downwardly to provide for the overlapping of the rims to form a generally 
continuous peripheral rim for containing particulate matter. A small lip 
element 19 extends outwardly from the bottom of the upwardly extending 
ridge 28 to aid in securing the panel sheets 14 into the ground 
surrounding the outer perimeter of the assembled apparatus by means of 
backfilling particulate material onto the lip and securing the assembled 
sheet elements 14 to the ground. The flat panel sheet element 14 has a 
first slotted opening 30 positioned about 3" from the first side edge 26 
and extending radially between the inner 16 and outer 18 arcuate edges, 
beginning 3" from the inner arcuate edge and being about 11/2" in length, 
and a second slotted opening 32 positioned toward and near the second side 
edge 24 and extending about 31/2" in length, toward the inner 16 and outer 
18 arcuate edges, in the form of a radial curve. The flat panel sheet 14 
also has round holes 34 and 36, about 3/16" in diameter, and centrally 
positioned between the slot openings 30 and 32 for the insertion of one or 
more ground spikes 42 to fasten the flat panel sheet elements 14 to the 
ground 50. The holes 34 and 36 also provide for the passage of water into 
the root area. 
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the assembled collar apparatus 10 with 
the sheet elements 14 placed in a snug-fit, circular manner about the base 
of a tree 12 and fastened together with fasteners 40, and secured to the 
ground 50 with ground spikes 42, both indicated in dotted lines. Inner 
arcuate edge 16 is positioned close to the tree base, the inner arcuate 
edges 16 forming a circle 46 snug-fit around the tree base, while outer 
arcuate edges 18, with upwardly extending rims 28, form a circular pattern 
and border around the tree base 12. The lip element 19 is indicated in 
dotted lines around the perimeter of the assembled sheet panel elements 14 
with the ground 50 backfilled onto it to provide for further anchoring of 
the panels. 
FIG. 3 further depicts the collar apparatus of the invention 10 with the 
flat panel sheet elements 14 arranged around the base of a tree 12 in a 
snug-fit, circular manner and secured to each other by fasteners 40 and 
secured to the ground with ground spikes 42. The upwardly extending rims 
28 on the arcuate outer edges 18 are shown containing gravel 44 within the 
collar apparatus 10 around the tree 12. The lip element 19 is indicated in 
dotted lines around the perimeter of the assembled sheet panel elements 14 
with the ground 50 backfilled onto it to provide for further anchoring of 
the panels. 
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of the 
invention, showing a perspective view of the assembled collar apparatus 10 
with the sheet elements 14 placed in a snug-fit, circular manner about the 
base of a tree 12 and fastened together with fasteners 40, and secured to 
the ground 50 with ground spikes 42, both indicated in dotted lines. Inner 
arcuate edge 16, with an upwardly extending rim 29, similar to rim 28 to 
provide for additional containment of particulate matter, is positioned 
close to the tree base, the inner arcuate edges 16 forming a circle 46 
snug-fit around the tree base, while outer arcuate edges 18, with upwardly 
extending rims 28, form a circular pattern and border around the tree base 
12. The lip element 19 is indicated in dotted lines around the perimeter 
of the assembled sheet panel elements 14 with the ground 50 backfilled 
onto it to provide for further anchoring of the panels. 
In use, a plurality of the flat panel sheet elements 14 are aligned with 
the side edges one on top of the other, with the slots overlapping and 
secured together by fasteners 40 extending through slot openings 30 and 32 
on the respective sheets, with one panel being left unsecured. The 
plurality of connected sheet panel elements are then spread out and placed 
about the base of the tree or post that is to be protected. The flat sheet 
panels 14 are then slidably moved and adjusted respective to each other to 
form an inner circle 46, or other geometric shapes as desired depending on 
the number of panels used. The assembled, inner, arcuate edges of the 
panels form an open circle, which circle or other shape is snugly close or 
adjacent to the base of the post, tree or shrub, typically with the panels 
14 adapted to be spaced generally uniformly, and then a fastener 40 is 
inserted through the remaining slotted opening of the last overlapping 
panel 14, to finish the enclosure, all fasteners 40 being sealed by 
turning and snap-fitting through the openings, to secure the overlapping 
edges of the panels 14 together in the desired arrangement. The circular 
holes 34 and 36 on the flat panel sheet 14 may then be employed by means 
of inserting ground spikes 42 through the holes 34 and 36 to secure the 
collar apparatus 10 into the ground 50 surrounding the tree or post. 
The collar apparatus may be removed, when no longer required, by releasing 
or snapping out the fasteners 40 in one of the panels and reused by 
rearranging, subtracting or adding panels according to the desired use. 
When fewer flat panels are used, the geometric shape may be of a 
rectangular, square or even triangular shape. When disassembled, the flat 
panel sheets of the collar apparatus of the invention can be easily 
stacked one on top of the other for easy storage, and compact packaging of 
the collar apparatus for purchase by a user. 
The adjustable collar apparatus, as described and illustrated in the 
drawings, thereby provides for a simple, effective, easily packaged and 
stored, adjustable means and method to encircle a post, tree or shrub and 
to eliminate the need to trim grass or weeds along the protected and 
encircled area, and improved protection and aesthetic appearance by 
enabling the user to fill the post collar apparatus with gravel, mulch or 
other particulate matter.