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[0001]    This invention relates to a fence post protector and more particularly to a fence post protector which mounts at the base of the fence post.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A fence has both utility and decorative capabilities. That is to say, a fence can offer either a protective or utilitarian purpose, or provide an appropriate aesthetic appearance. In the best of circumstances, a fence may provide both protection and an appropriate aesthetic appearance.  
           [0003]    As protective manner, a fence may keep domestic animals contained. It may also serve as a defensive mechanism against wild animals, whether to contain the wild animals in a specific place, or to keep them out.  
           [0004]    However, a major problem with a fence is keeping the base of the fence post clear of vegetation. More particularly, it is desirable to avoid the growth of the vegetation around and at the base of the fence post. Such vegetation is difficult to cut or otherwise remove from the base of the fence post. Yet, this vegetation must be trimmed or otherwise removed, in order to have an aesthetically pleasing appearance with the fence.  
           [0005]    Even the power trimming devices used in lawn care do not overcome all of the difficulties of trimming vegetation around the base of the fence post. Power blades break on a fence post. Line trimmers cannot always get good access to cut the grass or other vegetation around the fence post.  
           [0006]    Such power trimmers also strike the base of the fence posts and cause damage thereto. If the damage becomes severe, the fence post must be replaced. Such replacement is expensive and time-consuming. Yet there is no satisfactory method to replace the power trimming devices.  
           [0007]    Furthermore, water may gather or accumulate around the base the fence post. Such a concentration of water can cause damage that the fence post at the base, just as the power trimmer does. Clearly, the water can also damage the foundation into which the fence posts set. Thus, it is desirable to prevent water from gathering at the base of the fence post.  
           [0008]    Additionally, trimming around the fence posts is a two-sided operation. One must trim first along one side of the fence, such as trimming outside of the fence and the post. Then the procedure must be repeated on the other side or inside of the fence and the post. Such difficulties are a major problem.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    Among the many objectives of this invention is the provision of an article adapted to fit around a fence post at ground level.  
           [0010]    A further objective of this invention is to provide an article adapted to cover an area around the base of a fence post.  
           [0011]    A still further objective of this invention is to provide an article adapted to prevent growth of vegetation around the base of a fence post.  
           [0012]    These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a fence post protector having a first substantially flat piece, and a second substantially flat piece, being combinable in order to form an opening therebetween, with the opening adapted to receive a fence post and a releasable fastener oppositely disposed from movably joined position. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 depicts a top perspective view of a fence post protector  100  of this invention in use with a fence post  110 .  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 depicts a top plan view of the hinged fence post protector  100  of this invention in closed position  102 .  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 depicts a top plan view of the hinged fence post protector  100  in open position  104 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 depicts a side view of a fence post protector  100 .  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 depicts a bottom plan view of the hinged fence post protector  100  in closed position  102 .  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 depicts a perspective application view  158  of two piece fence post protector  160  of this invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 depicts an exploded perspective view of two piece fence post protector  160 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 depicts a perspective, stacked view  156  of shaped piece  162  of this invention. 
     
    
       [0021]    Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears in more than one figure of the drawings, the same number is applied thereto.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    A fence post protector includes a first piece attached to a second piece. Between the first piece and the second piece is formed an aperture, which receives the fence post. Aperture, receiver or opening are sometimes used interchangeably herein. As the opening is formed by the two pieces of the fence post protector, the fence post protector fits around the fence post, the protector prohibits the growth of vegetation close to the fence post and avoids the problems, caused the vegetation which customarily grows therearound. In this fashion, the work of trimming around the fence post is eliminated or at least greatly reduced.  
         [0023]    Because the fence post protector has two pieces, it may be used or installed around an existing fence. Such a procedure provides a great advantage for the fence post protector. Additionally, the fence post protector may be used with a new fence in either two-piece fashion, or a one piece fashion.  
         [0024]    If the fence post protector is one-piece, it must be installed around a fence post either prior to positioning in the ground or prior to attaching the fence to the post. When the post is in the ground, the fence post protector is placed over the post. Then the protector, must slide over the post and be positioned adjacent to the ground.  
         [0025]    The fence post protector, by forming a tight seal around the base of the fence post, substantially eliminates the needed to trim vegetation growth around the post. The fence post protector deprives the vegetation of sunlight, thereby preventing its growth. Additionally, the fence post protector prevents rain and other moisture from settling around the fence post base. Such moisture at the base of the posts damages both the post and its foundation.  
         [0026]    The fence post protector also reduces or eliminates the manual labor needed to trim around the fence post base. The fence post protector makes it possible to use a lawn mower around the base of the post and avoid a manual trimming.  
         [0027]    From a top plan view of the fence post protector, the outer perimeter is preferably a generally elliptical shape. The elliptical shape has both desirable decorative and utilitarian functions. However the outer perimeter may be circular, square, rectangular, polygonal, irregular, or any other suitable shape.  
         [0028]    Also from a top plan view the fence post protector has a more limited shape, because it must fit tightly around the base of the fence post. Such a tight fit is required in order to minimize vegetation growth therearound.  
         [0029]    Due to the required tight fit, a desired material is a flexible, durable plastic. Such stable flexible plastics are well known in the art. The flexibility provides for the tight fit. A desired material also has resistant to damage from exposure to sunlight.  
         [0030]    A preferred fastener is a stake adapted to fit through apertures in the fence post protector. Even more preferred is a stake with a holding mechanism or ridges designed to hold the stake, and hence the fence post protector in position.  
         [0031]    Referring now to FIG. 1, hinged fence post protector  100  is situated around the base  108  of a fence post  110  on the ground  106 . The hinged fence post protector  100  includes a hinged first piece  120  and a hinged second piece  130 . At one end thereof, hinged first piece  120  and hinged second piece  130  are relatively movable and secured together with a hinge  132 .  
         [0032]    Hinge  132  may be snapped together as the fence post protector  100  is placed in position around the fence post  110 . The hinged first piece  120  and hinged second piece  130  include an outer apron  134 .  
         [0033]    Oppositely disposed from a hinge  132  is an outer locking clasp  138 . With outer locking clasp  138  securing hinged first piece  120  to hinged second piece  130  in an adjoining relationship due to the combination with hinge  132 , hinged fence post protector  100  becomes extremely useful.  
         [0034]    Inner locking clasps  140  are optional and may be positioned on the hinged fence post protector  100  and adjacent to fence post  110 . These inner locking clasps  140  reinforce the joinder of hinged first piece  120  to hinged second piece  130 . Both inner locking clasps  140  and outer locking clasp  138  may be the same or different, and be any suitable fastener. The preferred fastener is a snap fastener.  
         [0035]    Also if desired, a raised sleeve  150  may be centrally located in the hinged fence post protector  100  around fence post receiver  152 . Raised sleeve  150  provides for extra protection against the vegetation growing around fence post  110 . Fence post receiver  152  may have a shape adapted to a circumference of fence post  110 . Inner locking clasps  140 , if present, are adjacent to fence post receiver  152 .  
         [0036]    Adding FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 to the consideration, if desired, the optional anchor post  136  receives, therethrough, a fastener  154 , which in turn secures hinged fence post protector  100  to the ground  106 . Clearly, fastener  154  may act without anchor post  136 . In this fashion, vegetation is prevented from growing at the base of the fence post  102 . Thus, trimming around the fence post  110  becomes, at best, unnecessary or, at worst, greatly reduced.  
         [0037]    While FIG. 4 depicts the top  114  of hinged fence post protector  100  and FIG. 5 depicts the bottom  112  of hinged fence post protector  100 , the structure of anchor post  136  and raised sleeve  150  thus becomes clear. Anchor post  136  helps to securely position hinged fence post protector  100  on the ground  106 . Raised sleeve  150  adds to the protection of fence post  110 , from the growth of vegetation therearound.  
         [0038]    Referring now to FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8, a much more preferred version than hinged fence post protector  100  in the form of two-piece fence post protector  160  is depicted. Two-piece fence post protector  160  is formed from two of shaped piece  162 . Each shaped piece  162  is nestable with and substantially symmetrical to a second shaped piece  162 . When it is desired to form two-piece fence post protector  160 , two of shaped piece  162  may be placed side-by-side, and then one of shaped piece  162  is rotated 180 degrees so that fence post receiver  152  is formed therebetween.  
         [0039]    Shaped piece  162  generally depicts one-half of an ellipse. A central portion thereof includes raised lip  164  having a beveled sleeve in a half fence post shape  166 , which substantially covers about one-half of fence post  110 . Thus, when one shaped piece  162  is placed adjacent to a second shaped piece  162  to fence post receiver  152  is formed therebetween.  
         [0040]    Around the edge of shaped piece  162  is a downward lip  168 . On one side of shaped piece  162  is fastening flange  170 . Within fastening flange  170  is an upper screw aperture  172 . On shaped piece  162  and oppositely disposed from fastening flange  170  is lower flange  180 . Lower flange  180  forms a planar piece parallel to the main plane  182  of shaped piece  162 , with an appropriate plane lip  184  therebetween.  
         [0041]    Extending into main plane  182  is flange receiver  186 . Flange receiver  186  may receive fastening flange  170 . Within flange receiver  186  is a lower screw aperture  188 . As two of one shaped piece  162  are placed adjacent to each other with a fence post receiver  152  therebetween, the upper screw aperture  188  and lower screw aperture  172  line up. A threaded or ridged locking pin  190  is placed through both apertures in the ground  106  around the base  108  of fence post  110 .  
         [0042]    With the lower screw aperture  172  on a second of two-piece fence protector  160  fitting with the upper screw aperture  188  on a first of two-piece fence protector  160 , two piece fence protector  160  works well. As the apertures are aligned, a preferably plastic threaded screw  190  is forced therethrough and then into the ground  106 . The plastic screw  190  provides a holding mechanism for the hinged fence post protector  100 , and greatly simplified the installation thereof.  
         [0043]    Plastic screw  190  has ridges  192  thereon. Ridges  192  support screw  190  in the apertures, and make it difficult to remove plastic screw  190  therefrom. Also, ridges  192  add to a gripping function in the ground  106 . Thus, screw  190  secures both of two shaped piece  162 , on the ground  106 , while at the same time holding two-piece fence post protector  160  in a proper position.  
         [0044]    Hinged fence post protector  100  or two-piece fence post protector  160  may be made of any suitable material. The preferred material is opaque, in order to minimize vegetation growth around fence post  110 . Fence post receiver  152  may be preformed therein, or cut from hinged fence protector  100 , or two piece protector  160 , as desired. The most preferred material is opaque and stabilized against ultraviolet degradation. Any durable plastic material with these qualities is operable. Preferably, the plastic is colored green.  
         [0045]    This application—taken as a whole with the specification, claims, abstract, and drawings—provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure.  
         [0046]    Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this method and apparatus can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.

Summary:
A fence post protector has a first substantially flat piece, which combines with a second substantially flat piece in order to form an opening therebetween. The opening is adapted to receive a fence post therein, and at least reduce vegetation growth therearound, while at the same time, reducing natural and man made damage thereto.