Post protectors

Abstract

A post protector shaped such that any grass or weed cutting mechanism is deflected away from the post thereby avoiding superficial or serious damage to the post. In the preferred embodiment the post protector incorporates an indented center section having specific geometries that resist the cutting mechanism from passing over the top portion or below the bottom portion of the protector. The protector is formed of two detachable halves for ease in installation or removal.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to removable post protectors that can be used for protecting posts, such as in mail box and fence assemblies, from mowers, trimmers, and cutters, and inhibiting grass and weed growth at the base of the post.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Many mail box posts are 4×4 wooded posts that are painted for protection. This paint deteriorates from natural sources such as rain, sun, and temperature changes. Additionally, lawn garden tools, such as lawn mowers and filament grass trimmers, can damage the paint and underlying wood base. This damage can create rot from the base wood being unprotected, and further, the removal of paint and the resulting damage is unsightly. Prior art for protecting these posts typically consist of sleeves which encircle or enclose the posts. Some of these sleeves have an outward flange at the base to limit weed and grass growth. The designs with outward flanges at the base leave a space between the sleeve and the po...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003]The instant invention is designed for protecting posts, such as in mail box and fence assemblies, from mowers, trimmers, and cutters, and inhibiting grass and weed growth at the base of the post. The instant post protector is formed as two halves that when joined together form an elongated column having an opening to receive and protect a post. Each half of the post protector consists of a body with flanges at its top and bottom which extend from the body inwardly toward the post. The bottom flange inhibits weed growth and along with the top flange stabilizes the column against the post. The elongated column and its base is wide enough to inhibit grass and weeds from growing close to the post. Further, in the preferred embodiment, a center section of the elongated column is shaped either with a concave or V-shaped vertical cross section that allows the cutting means of a trimmer to cut weeds or grass that have grown above the base of the column while at the same time resisting the cutting means from sliding down into the surrounding ground and damaging grass roots or cutting grass too short. It also resists the flexible trimmer blade from sliding up and over the protector and damaging the unprotected part of the post. Further, the horizontal cross-section of the protector can be either square or round.

Problems solved by technology

This paint deteriorates from natural sources such as rain, sun, and temperature changes.

Additionally, lawn garden tools, such as lawn mowers and filament grass trimmers, can damage the paint and underlying wood base.

This damage can create rot from the base wood being unprotected, and further, the removal of paint and the resulting damage is unsightly.

The designs with outward flanges at the base leave a space between the sleeve and the post and allow dead grass, leaves, bugs, weeds, and other debris to fill into the space and is unsightly and can create damage to the surrounding grass or root system if not removed.

This allows moisture and dirt to remain between the post and the walls of the sleeve via gravity or capillary action, which could cause damage and mold to grow on the post.

Another problem with these sleeves is the failure to provide drifting of the filament blades on grass and weed trimmers.

Maintaining grass cutting height with filamented blade trimmers is very difficult.

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