Abstract:
A protective cover for a stanchion or post that includes an upper vessel that may be used as a planter, ashtray, or other purposes, thereby enhancing utility and/or decorative affect.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to post covers, bollards, and the like, and more particularly, to spacers enabling protective covers to fit differently sized stanchions, posts, and the like.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Stanchions or posts are commonly found in industrial and commercial settings to protect a building structure or fixed equipment from vehicular traffic. Guard posts or protective stanchions are commonly found in public parking lots and the like to protect drive-up windows and equipment, telephone booths, store entrances, and so forth.  
         [0003]     Existing guard posts and protective stanchions often comprise a steel post set in the ground or pavement with a portion of the post projecting a desired amount above the pavement surface, commonly on the order of about four feet or so. To enhance the durability of such a steel pipe stanchion, one may fill the steel pipe with concrete. This both closes the interior of the pipe to environmental deterioration and enhances the structural integrity and impact absorbing qualities of the stanchion.  
         [0004]     Further, existing stanchions are typically painted to preserve the exterior of the stanchion and resist deterioration by rusting or the like. Protective stanchions are also painted to provide a high visibility color.  
         [0005]     However, steps to enhance the durability of a protective stanchion such as painting are typically labor-intensive and require repetitive maintenance to repair chipped paint, worn surfaces, or discoloration over time.  
         [0006]     To address this maintenance problem, U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,583 provides a protective sleeve for upright posts and stanchions. The sleeve comprises an elongated body extending between two opposing ends and an interior cavity extending along the sleeve and through at least one of the two opposing ends. Further, the interior cavity has a cross-sectional shape adapted for slip fit engagement with the post. The post is inserted into the interior cavity and the sleeve force fit over the post. According to a preferred embodiment, the sleeve includes a decorative feature in the form of a smooth hemispherical top on the closed opposing end, as shown and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. D464,585. A textured version is shown and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. D426,898.  
         [0007]     Post sleeves have also been combined with other features. For example, U.S. Pat. No. D374,941 is directed to an ornamental design for a combined stanchion with sleeve and signage. In terms of installation, U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,276 describes the way in which trapped air is used to hold a sleeve onto an elongated member such as a vertical post or pillar. At least one spacer is provided circumferentially around the member, which is positioned proximate to the end over which the open end of the sleeve is placed for installation purposes. As the sleeve is subsequently urged over the member, air trapped between the end of the member including the spacer and the closed end of the sleeve is expelled past the spacer and out the open end of the sleeve between the outside wall of the member. With such a configuration, if one then attempts to pull the sleeve off the member, air movement past the spacer in the opposite direction is again very slow, preventing the sleeve from being pulled off the member without a substantial effort.  
         [0008]     One issue that remains with post sleeves of the type just described is that dedicated sleeves are provided for each diameter post or stanchion. This not only requires a larger inventory of differently sized products, but it also limits flexibility in that on occasion one might like to place a larger sleeve on a smaller diameter post.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     This invention resides in post covers, bollards, and the like, and in particular, provides a protective cover for a stanchion or post with liner/spacer that allows a larger diameter sleeve to fit over a smaller diameter post or stanchion. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     This invention relates to sleeves used to cover posts, stanchions, and the like. These are often found out-of-doors, to protect vehicles, and to provide other applications, features of this type often being referred to as “bollards.” In distinction with previous designs, the sleeves according to this invention include a liner/spacer that allows a larger diameter sleeve to fit over a smaller diameter post or stanchion.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention. A sleeve  102 , having a wall thickness t, defines an inner diameter D. A spacer,  104 , has an outer diameter D corresponding to the inner diameter of the sleeve, and an inner diameter d corresponding to the outer diameter d of a post of stanchion  106  to be covered. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes only the liner  104 , since the invention may be used with existing sleeves such as that depicted at  102 . However, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, particularly if the liner  104  is somehow bonded to the inside of the sleeve  102 , the invention includes the sleeve and liner in combination.  
         [0013]     Although a smooth sleeve with a hemispherical top is shown, the invention is not limited in this regard, and may be used with any type of sleeve, regardless of ornamentation. Additionally, although the outer diameter D of the liner  104  is shown to be identical to the inner diameter D of the sleeve  102 , the diameters need not be precisely the same. For example, it may be advantageous to make the outer diameter D of the liner  104  slightly less than the inner diameter D of the sleeve, to permit the liner to be more easily installed. The same holds true of the inner diameter d of the sleeve  104  and the outer diameter d of the post or stanchion to be covered  106 . That is, the inner diameter of d of the liner  104  may advantageously be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the post or stanchion to better facilitate installation. Furthermore, although an elongated liner  104  is shown to be substantially coextensive with the inner diameter of the sleeve and outer diameter of the post or stanchion, a shorter liner may be used and, indeed, multiple, spaced-apart liners may alternatively be utilized.  
         [0014]     The sleeve  102  may be constructed of any suitable material, such as a molded polymeric or otherwise, and the post  106  may be of any construction as well, including metal pipe, plastic pipe, and pipes with fillings such as concrete or other materials. The lengths L of the pipe  106 , as well as the lengths of the spacers and sleeves may be of any useful length, on the order of one foot to several feet, depending upon the application.  
         [0015]     The material used for the liner  104  may also vary in accordance with application. In the preferred embodiment, Styrofoam or another open- or closed-cell foam is used. Alternatively, however, rubber materials, fiber materials and injectable foams may be used. With respect to the latter, one or more apertures may be provided through the sleeve  102 , enabling a foam to be introduced on-site.  
         [0016]     The liner  104  is preferably provided in different sizes, such as in inch increments to suit different inside diameter sleeves and outside diameter posts. For example, the liner  104  may have an inside diameter of 2 to 10 inches, more or less, and an outside diameter of 3 to 12 inches, again, preferably in 1-inch increments.