Abstract:
The invention pertains to a fencepost cover. Particularly, the invention pertains to a one piece fencepost cover which includes a mechanism to prevent the upward movement of the fencepost cover relative to a fence post. The one-piece fence post cover is generally dome shaped and includes an aperture for receiving a fence post at the center of the dome. It further includes a locking region to prevent the upward movement of the fencepost cover relative to the fencepost. In one embodiment the locking region is a thinned zone around the perimeter of aperture with is deformed upwardly as the fencepost is pushed through the aperture. In a second embodiment, the perimeter of the aperture includes scallops which engage with the fencepost.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention pertains to a fencepost cover. Particularly, the invention pertains to a one piece fencepost cover which includes a mechanism to prevent the upward movement of the fencepost cover relative to a fence post. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    When a fencepost is installed, a hole is in dug in the ground and the fence post is placed in the hole. A cement foundation is then poured around the post to keep it in place. As a fence post ages, it tends to deteriorate at ground level. An accumulation of moisture in the wooden fence post causes the fence post to rot. Two techniques could be used to prevent this problem. First, a fence post cover could create a seal between the fence post cover and the fence post to prevent moisture from entering the space between the fence post cover and the ground. Alternatively, the evaporation of any moisture that does accumulate between the fence post cover and the ground can be encouraged. Both of these techniques are used to keep the fence post dry. In the past many fencepost covers have been designed to solve this problem. Many of these fencepost covers can be expensive, visually unappealing, difficult to install or do not prevent moisture accumulation or allow for the release of moisture between the fence post cover and the ground. Most include at least one connection joint that could reduce their sealing capabilities. These designs also do not encourage or allow for evaporation to occur. 
         [0003]    Additionally, it can be difficult to keep vegetation from growing around the base of the fencepost. This vegetation is unsightly and can cause further decay. In order to control the vegetation, often lawn care tools, such as trimmers, are used. If the lawn care tools come in contact with the wooden fence post, the post corners are often damaged and the surface of the post can be sliced or scratched. Since most wood fence posts are pressure treated or have received a protective coating to fight fungal spores and rot, the damage to the base of the post creates weakness in any environmental protective measures that were taken to protect the wood. 
         [0000]    Furthermore, many fence post designs allow for the fence post covers to be easily removed. It is possible that the fence post covers may be lost or stolen. Most one-piece fence post covers do not include any mechanism to ensure that they remain in position at the bottom of the fence post. 
         [0004]    The following disclosure pertains to a one-piece fencepost cover to protect the base of the wooden fence posts from moisture, vegetation growth and lawn care equipment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    One aspect of the invention pertains to a one piece fencepost cover comprising a body having an aperture sized to receive a fencepost, and located generally in the center of the body. The body includes a top portion of generally uniform thickness, sloping downwardly and outwardly from the aperture to an outer edge of the body to allow for drainage of water away from the aperture. The body further includes a locking region extending into the aperture from an inner edge of the top portion. The locking region is characterized by the thinning of the wall thickness from the inner edge of said top portion to the aperture to allow for deformation of said locking region upon insertion of said fence post cover on a fence post; said locking region further including a plurality of scallops directed inwardly about the aperture to engage the fencepost; and wherein said fencepost cover is a continuous monolithic structure. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment of the invention, the fencepost cover has an aperture with a plurality of sides and the locking region includes a plurality of edges, each corresponding with one of the plurality of sides of the aperture. Each edge of locking region includes a plurality of scallops. 
         [0000]    In yet another aspect of the invention, the locking region includes regions between adjacent scallops that are spaced from the fencepost. 
         [0007]    In a further aspect of the invention, the fencepost cover is made of a generally rigid material and said scallops are capable of engaging with and pressing into said fencepost. 
         [0008]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, the fencepost cover is made of an elastically deformable material. 
         [0009]    In another aspect of the invention, the fencepost cover further compromises a sidewall integrally connected and extending downwardly from the outer edge of said body. 
         [0010]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, the sidewall extends downwardly and radically outward from the outer edge of said body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a top view of a preferred fencepost cover; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts a cross section of the fencepost cover of  FIG. 1  in combination with the post and cement foundation; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts a top view of an alternative embodiment of the fencepost cover. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  shows the top view of a preferred one piece fencepost cover shown generally as reference number  2 . The fencepost cover includes an aperture  4  located generally in the center thereof and sized to receive a standard or custom sized fencepost. The fencepost cover  2  can be used with fenceposts that are secured in a cement foundation in the ground or fenceposts that are secured into the ground directly. The diameter of the fencepost cover can be varied to accommodate different fencepost designs and securement methods. In a preferred embodiment where the fence post is secured in a cement foundation, the diameter of the fence post cover is sufficient to hide the cement foundation. The fence post cover diameter can be slightly larger than a standard cement foundation to allow for some variance, for instance if the post is not placed in the exact center of the cement foundation. 
         [0016]    The fencepost cover  2  includes a body having top portion  28 . In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the top portion  28  is generally dome shaped, with the top of the dome located about the aperture  4 . This angled surface allows for moisture to roll off of the cover toward the ground and away from the fence post. Although this preferred embodiment includes a dome shaped cover, it can be appreciated that any surface angled downward from the fence post toward the ground would suffice. The fencepost cover  2  generally has a width of w  18 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0017]    The fencepost cover  2  may additionally include a sidewall  10  extending downwardly from an outer edge of the body of the fencepost cover. The sidewall  10  may be vertical, or angled downwardly and outwardly in the radial direction to allow multiple fencepost covers to be easily and compactly stacked during shipping and storage. The sidewall  10  is integrally connected to the top portion  28  of the body. The sidewall  10  includes a bottom edge  22  which contacts and engages with the ground when the fencepost cover is a place.  FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of the fencepost cover  2  in use. It is positioned over cement foundation  14  which secures fencepost  12  vertically in place. The ground is represented by line  20 . In this embodiment, the fencepost cover  2  is positioned such that the bottom edge  22  is on top of the ground  20 . In another embodiment, the bottom edge  22  of fencepost cover  2  can be slightly under ground level. 
         [0018]    It can also be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment, the fencepost cover would not include a sidewall. In this embodiment the top portion  28  would contact the ground directly. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the fencepost cover includes a locking region  24  extending from the inner edge of the top portion  28  into the aperture  4 . The locking region prevents upward migration of the fencepost cover relative to the fence post. The are several embodiments of the locking region  24  including a thinned locking region that additionally provides sealing, a rigid scallop locking region and a flexible scalloped locking region. These embodiments will be described below. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates the fencepost cover as circular in shape, however it can be appreciated that the fencepost cover could be any shape or size and could be customized to accommodate a client&#39;s preferences. In a preferred embodiment, the fencepost cover has an aperture  4  sized for a 4 inch by 4 inch fencepost and has a diameter of 10 inches. In another preferred embodiment, the fencepost cover has an aperture  4  sized for a 6 inch by 6 inch fence post and has a diameter of 12 inches 
         [0021]    In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the fencepost cover  2  is made from an elastically deformable material. It comprises a locking region  24  located about the perimeter of the aperture  4 . The locking region  24  includes a thinning of the width “w”  18  of the fencepost cover material. The width of the fencepost cover  2  is decreased from a distance of 0.5-5 cm radially from the aperture  4  to the aperture edge  6 , such that the sealing region may deform to accommodate the fence post. During installation, the fencepost cover is pushed onto the top and down the length of the fencepost, forcing the sealing region  24  to curve slightly upward. When the fencepost cover is a position at the bottom post the locking region  24  remains slightly upturned. This acts as a brake or lock to resist any upward forces and to help ensure the cover remains in the position. In this embodiment, the aperture  4  is sized to be smaller than the dimensions of the fencepost. Thus once installed, the locking region  24  deforms to accommodate the fencepost and creates a friction fit about the fencepost. This friction fit creates a seal which prevents moisture from entering the space between the fencepost cover and the ground. 
         [0022]    In an alternate embodiment, shown in  FIG. 3 , the locking region  24  includes scallops  30  around the perimeter of the aperture  4  for engaging with the fence post. This design helps to prevent the upward movement of the fence post cover  2  relative to the post or maintains the position of the fence post cover  2  on the post. The size of the scallops can be varied to change the degree of engagement with the fence post. For example, larger, stiffer scallops can be used to dig into a wooden fence post and create a tight fit between the fence post and the scallops  30  of the fence post cover  2 . Alternatively, smaller scallops could be used to create a looser engagement with the fence post. In this example, the scallops  30  engage with the post to maintain the position of the fence post cover; however the non-scalloped portions  32  of the aperture  4  perimeter are spaced from and do not engage with the fence post. This embodiment allows for any moisture in the ground or from rain to evaporate through the space between the scallops and helps to keep the base of the fence post as dry as possible to reduce the amount of decay. In a preferred embodiment, the fence post cover is black to absorb heat and help facilitate the evaporation of any moisture that may be under the fence post cover. 
         [0023]    The scalloped locking region  24  embodiment may be made of relatively rigid or elastically deformable material. When made from a rigid material, the aperture  4  is sized such that the scallops will contact and engage with the fence post, digging into the post slightly to prevent movement. Similar to the thinned locking region  24 , when made from an elastically deformable material, the aperture  4  is sized such that the scallops may deform slightly to accommodate the fence post. The scallops  30  may be formed to be of a smaller width than the rest of the fence post cover. They may also be thinned in a manner similar to the locking region  24  of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]    The top surface  6  of the fence posts cover  2  can be textured or smooth. Possible textures could include but are not limited to a river stone, cobblestone or tweed appearance. As an alternative, the finish could be smooth or have lines or circles for strengthening purposes. The textured finish would add to the visual appeal of the product and would also provide increased strength to protect against damage from lawn equipment. 
         [0025]    Preferably the fencepost cover is manufactured using injection molding, however vacuum forming or any other suitable method of manufacture could be used. The material has sufficient rigidity to protect against lawn care tools. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the material has enough elastic properties to provide a friction fit seal that can adapt to slight variations in the dimensions of a wooden fencepost. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , either a slightly deformable material or a rigid material could be used. Materials for manufacturing either embodiment could include but are not limited to polyethylene, polypropylene, a combination thereof or any other suitable material. It can be appreciated that the cover can be made from new or recycled materials. The addition of carbon black to the material provides the black colour, helps prevent breakdown of the fencepost cover over the lifetime of the fencepost and can help to encourage the evaporation of any moisture caught between the fence post and the ground. 
         [0026]    Installation of the fencepost cover is preferably done after the fence posts have been placed in the cement foundation and the cement has solidified. The fencepost  12  is pushed through aperture  4  until the fence post cover is located at the bottom of the fence post. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the sealing region  24  deforms slightly to create the friction fit about the post. The sealing region deforms upwardly to prevent upward movement of the fencepost cover relative to the fence post. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the scallops  30  engage with the fence post to prevent upward movement of the fence post cover relative to the fence post. In this embodiment, the scallops can deform to accommodate the fence post or may remain relatively rigid. 
         [0027]    In the preferred embodiment, the width of the plastic, shown as dimension w  18 , would be approximately 3 mm and the aperture  4  would be sized to cooperate with a 4″ by 4″, 5″ by 5″ or 6″ by 6″ fencepost. Although this represents the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that any size fence post and a variety of fence post cover thicknesses are possible. 
         [0028]    The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.