Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/058,082 filed on Mar. 1, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/128,935 filed on Mar. 5, 2015, which applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    1. The Field of the Present Disclosure 
         [0004]    The present disclosure relates generally to structures, and more particularly, but not necessarily entirely, to timber frame structures. 
         [0005]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0006]    Modern timber frame structures provide structural soundness as well an aesthetically pleasing look. Timber framing can be utilized for both interior framing of residential and commercial buildings and for outdoor-frame structures. More recently, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of outdoor timber frame structures constructed from heavy timbers, including pergolas, pavilions and patio covers. In its most basic form, an outdoor timber frame structure comprises one or more vertical support posts. Horizontal support beams may extend between pairs of the vertical support posts. The horizontal support beams may in turn support a desired roof or covering for providing shade and weather protection. Often times, these outdoor timber frame structures are sold as unassembled kits. These kits include pre-manufactured timber components that may be assembled onsite to form the structure. Timber frame kits have the advantage that they may be assembled easily and quickly without the need of professional help or heavy equipment in most cases. 
         [0007]    After installation, the timber posts utilized in the structures may be damaged through incidental collisions with objects. For example, a user may accidentally ram the side of a post with a lawn mower causing damage to the finish of the post and perhaps even causing a gouge in the post. It would therefore be an improvement to the prior art to provide an aesthetically pleasing protective barrier for posts utilized in timber frame structures. 
         [0008]    The prior art is thus characterized by several disadvantages that are addressed by the present disclosure. The present disclosure minimizes, and in some aspects eliminates, the above-mentioned failures, and other problems, by utilizing the methods and structural features described herein. 
         [0009]    The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the present disclosure without undue experimentation. The features and advantages of the present disclosure may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a protective wrap for a timber frame post according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the protective post wrap shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a strip component of the protective wrap shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a plate component of the protective wrap shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a corner component of the protective wrap shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the protective wrap shown in  FIG. 1  installed onto a post according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the protective wrap shown in  FIG. 1  installed onto a post according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a perspective and exploded view of a protective post wrap according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  depicts the method of installing the protective wrap of  FIG. 8  onto a post; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  depicts the protective wrap of  FIG. 8  installed onto a post; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  depicts an exploded view of a protective post wrap according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  depicts an assembled view of the protective wrap shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  depicts the protective wrap shown in  FIG. 11  installed onto a post; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  depicts the components of the protective wrap depicted in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  depicts an exploded view of a protective wrap according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  depicts the protective wrap shown in  FIG. 15  installed onto a post. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure claimed. 
         [0028]    In describing and claiming the present disclosure, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” “containing,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. As used herein, the term “post” refers to an elongated piece of wood cut from a tree that is used as a wooden support either in the horizontal or vertical direction. A post may be formed of timber or dimensional lumber. 
         [0029]    It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a protective metal wrap for a timber post according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0030]    It is further an objective of the present disclosure to provide a protective metal wrap for a timber frame post that self-adjusts in response to natural shrinkage of the timber post. 
         [0031]    It is further an objective of the present disclosure to provide a protective metal wrap with free-floating plates to allow the wrap to self adjust over the life of the timber post. 
         [0032]    It is further an objective of the present disclosure to provide a self-adjusting wrap for a wooden post that adjusts to the natural shrinkage of the wood. 
         [0033]    It is further an objective of the present disclosure to provide a self-adjusting wrap for a wooden post that comprises a plurality of plates and corner pieces, wherein the plurality of plates are free floating with respect to the corner pieces in at least one direction so that the wrap is able to adjust to the natural shrinkage of the wood. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is depicted a post wrap  100  for use on a wooden post according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As can be observed, the protective wrap  100  may have four sides  102 - 108  that extend between a top edge  110  and a bottom edge  112 . The sides  102 - 108  are arranged to form a generally cube-like shape having an open top and an open bottom. It will be appreciated that the open top and the open bottom accommodate a post. In an embodiment, the wrap  100  may have a generally rectangular cross section in a horizontal plane. 
         [0035]    In an embodiment, the wrap  100  comprises an outer surface  114  and an inner surface  116 . The inner surface  116  is configured and adapted to abuttingly engage the outer side walls of a wooden post as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The outer surface  114  of the wrap  100  is the exposed or visible side of the wrap  100 . The wrap  100  further comprises a plurality of bores  118  that extend between the outer surface  114  and the inner surface  116 . Each of the bores  118  is configured and adapted to receive a fastener  120 . Each of the sides  102 - 108  may have four bores  118 . In an embodiment, the fastener  120  is one of a screw, nail, lag bolt, spike, and pin that is able to secure the wrap  100  onto a wooden post. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is depicted an exploded view of the post wrap  100  depicted in  FIG. 1 . Each one of the sides  102 - 108  of the wrap  100  may comprise a plate  150 . In an embodiment, each plate  150  has a generally rectangular shape and is relatively thin. It will be appreciated that the plates  150  may have a wide variety of shapes other than rectangular. In an embodiment, the plates  150  may have a decorative cutout. A plurality of bores  152  is formed in the plate  150 . In an embodiment, four (4) bores  152  are formed in the plate  150 . In an embodiment, the bores  152  are elongated or slotted in the horizontal direction. 
         [0037]    The wrap  100  further comprises a plurality of corner pieces  154 . In an embodiment, the wrap  100  comprises eight (8) corner pieces, but it will be appreciated that the wrap  100  may include any number of corner pieces or none at all. In an embodiment, each corner piece  154  includes a 90-degree bend between a first portion  156  and a second portion  158 . Formed in the first portion  156  of the corner pieces  154  is a bore  160 . Formed in the second portion  158  of each of the corner pieces  154  is another bore  160 . In an embodiment, the bores are elongated or slotted in a horizontal direction. 
         [0038]    In an embodiment, the wrap  100  further comprises a pair of reinforcement strips  162  attached to each of the outer surfaces of each of the plates  150 . In an embodiment, the strips  162  are attached by welding. It will be appreciated that the strips  162  may be attached by fasteners or in another manner known to those having ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3-5 , there is depicted the reinforcement strip  162 , a plate  150 , and corner piece  154  where like reference numerals depict like components. It will be appreciated that the strip  162 , plate  150  and corner piece  154  may be formed by cutting them out from a flat piece of metal as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . The bores  152  and  160  may be formed by a drill and a bit. The corner piece  154  may be bent to a 90-degree angle by a press or other similar device. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is depicted the wrap  100  installed onto a wooden post  200 . To install the wrap  100 , two plates  150  are placed on adjacent sides of the post  200 . The bottom of the plates  150  may rest on the ground to ensure proper spacing. A top corner piece  154 A is then placed onto the corner  201  of the post  200  between the two plates  150 . The bores  160  in the corner piece  154 A (see  FIG. 2 ) are then aligned with the corresponding top bores  152  (see  FIG. 2 ) in the two plates  150 . Fasteners  120  are then installed through the aligned ones of the bores  160  and  152  to secure the plates  150  and the corner pieces  154 A and  154 B to the post  200 . A lower corner piece  154 B is then installed in a similar manner to the top corner piece  154 A. To complete the installation, the remaining plates  150  and corner pieces  154  are installed in a similar manner to complete the post wrap  100  around the entire post  200 . It will be appreciated that the plates  150  are disposed between the corner pieces  154  and the post  200 . 
         [0041]    It will be appreciated that due to the elongate or slotted configuration of the bores  152  in the plates  150  as shown in  FIG. 2 , that if and when the post  200  shrinks due to natural factures, the wrap  100  will automatically self adjust to the smaller size of the post  200 . In particular, as shown by the sets of arrows in  FIG. 7 , where like reference numerals depict like components, the dimensions of the post  200  may naturally shrink due to drying of the wood. The elongated bores  152  of the plates  150  (see  FIG. 2 ) allow the fasteners  120  and corner pieces  154  to move with the post  200  and independently of the plates  150  without causing loosening or damage. That is, the fasteners  120  and corner pieces  154  move inwardly with the shrinking wood of the post  200  while the plates  150  may stay relatively in the same position. This occurs because the plates  150  are free floating with respect to the corner pieces  154  in at least one direction (horizontal) due to the elongated or slotted nature of the bores  152  in the plates  150 . Further, this feature is enabled because a width of the plates  150  is narrower than a width of the post  200 . In an embodiment, the width of the plates  150  is at least one of 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 inches narrower than a width of the sides of post  200 . In the manner described above, the wrap  100  is self-adjusting over the life of the post  200  as the post  200  shrinks due to drying or expands due to moisture. It will be further appreciated that this self-adjusting feature of the wrap  100  eliminates the need to manually re-affix the wrap  100  after the dimensions of the post  200  change over time. 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is depicted a post wrap  300  for use on a wooden post according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As can be observed, the protective wrap  300  may have four sides  302 - 308  that extend between a top edge  310  and a bottom edge  312 . The sides  302 - 308  are arranged to form a generally cube-like shape having an open top and an open bottom. It will be appreciated that the open top and the open bottom accommodate a post. In an embodiment, the wrap  300  may have a generally rectangular cross section in a horizontal plane. In an embodiment, the wrap  300  comprises an outer surface  314  and an inner surface  316 . The inner surface  316  is configured and adapted to abuttingly engage the outer side walls of a wooden post as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The outer surface  314  of the wrap  300  is the exposed or visible side of the wrap  300 . 
         [0043]    The wrap  300  may include four plates  320 ,  322 ,  324 , and  326  and four corner pieces  328 ,  330 ,  332 , and  334 . Referring now to plate  320 , with the understanding that plates  322 - 326  are similarly configured, the plate  320  includes four elongated bores  340  arranged in a rectangular pattern. Referring now to corner piece  328 , with the understanding the other corner pieces  330 - 334  are similarly configured, corner piece  328  may include a first portion  328 A and a second portion  328 B that intersect at a corner  329  and at an angle. In an embodiment, the angle is about 90 degrees. The first portion  328 A may include a top bore  342  and a bottom bore  344 . The second portion  328 B may also include a top bore  346  and a bottom bore  348 . Each of the bores  342  and  344  of the first portion  328 A is configured to align with one of the elongated bores  340  on the plate  320 . Each of the bores  346  and  348  of the second portion  328 B is configured to align with one of the elongated bores  340  on the plate  326 . Fasteners may be utilized to secure the corner piece  328  and the plates  320  and  326  to a post  345  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . Because of the elongated bores  340 , the plates  320 - 326  are free floating with respect to the corner pieces  328 - 334  in at least the horizontal direction. In this manner, the post wrap  300  may self adjust to natural changes to the size of the post, including shrinking and expansions. 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11, 12, and 14 , there is depicted a post wrap  400  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wrap  400  may include a base member  402  having a plurality of bores  404 . The bores  404  may be utilized to secure the base member  402  to a support surface, such as a concrete or other hardened surface. The wrap  400  may further include a locking plate  406  configured so as not to block the bores  404 . The locking plate  406  may further include a plurality of tabs  408 . In an embodiment, the locking plate  409  may have a “cross” shape, where each of the arms of the “cross” form one of tabs  408 . 
         [0045]    Each of the locking plates  406  and the base member  402  may include a center bore  410  configured and adapted to receive a post  412  as perhaps best shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . The locking plate  406  may be slightly larger than the base member  402  such that the tabs  408  extend beyond the edges of the base member  402  when the center bores  410  of the locking plate  406  and the base member  402  are aligned. The wrap  400  may further include four side plates  414 . Each of the side plates  414  may include a slot  416  configured and dimensioned for receiving one of the tabs  408  of the locking plate  406 . The side plates  414  may further include a plurality of bores  418  for receiving fasteners  420 . 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11-13 , the wrap  400  may be installed onto a lower portion of a post  430 . First, the base member  402  may be secured to a support surface using fasteners. The post  412  may also be installed into the center bore  410  of the base member  402  such that the post  412  extends vertically. Then, the locking plate  406  may be installed onto the post  412  such that it rests on the base member  402 . A wooden post  430  may then be installed onto the post  412 . In this regard, a receiving bore (not shown) may be pre-drilled into the bottom surface of post  430 . Once the post  430  is in place, the side plates  414  are then placed on the sides of the post  430  such the tabs  408  of the locking plate  406  extend through their respective slots  416 . Then, fasteners  420  are installed into the bores  418  of the side plates  414  to secure the final assembly of the wrap  400 . 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIG. 15 , there is shown a post wrap  500  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wrap  500  may include plates  502 ,  504 ,  506 , and  508 . The wrap  500  further includes corner pieces  510 ,  512 ,  514 , and  516 . Referring to the plate  502 , with the understanding the plates  504 - 508  are similarly configured, the plate  502  may include elongated bores  520 . Referring to the corner piece  510 , with the understanding the corner pieces  512 ,  514 , and  516  are similarly configured, the corner piece  510  includes a first portion  510 A and a second portion  510 B that intersect to form a corner  524 . Formed in each of the first portion  510 A and the second portion  510 B is a bore  522 . Each of the bores  522  aligns with one of the elongated bores  520 . Referring to  FIG. 16 , the wrap  500  may be installed onto a post  550 . When installed, it will be appreciated that the plates may be free floating with respect to the corner pieces in at least one direction due to the elongated bores  520 . 
         [0048]    According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of installing a protective wrap onto a wooden post having a plurality of sides, said method comprises (i) positioning a first plate onto a first side of the post; (ii) positioning a second plate onto a second side of the post, wherein the first side and the second side are adjacent to each other on the post; (iii) installing a corner piece onto the post, said corner piece overlapping both the first plate and the second plate; (iv) installing a first fastener through a first bore in the corner piece and a first bore in the first plate; and (v) installing a second fastener through a second bore in the corner piece and a second bore in the second plate; (vi) wherein the first bore in the first plate and the second bore in the second plate are elongated such that the first plate and the second plate are free floating with respect to the corner piece in one direction. 
         [0049]    In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features of the present disclosure are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description of the Disclosure by this reference, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0050]    It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present disclosure. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present disclosure has been shown in the drawings and described above with particularity and detail, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.

Technology Category: 0