Grade-level rot-resistant shrink-wrapped wooden posts

• US 6,098,351 A
• Filed: 04/04/1996
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard E. Mills
• Original Assignee: Richard E. Mills
• Inventors: Mills, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Richard
• Application Number:
  US08/626,275
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 52/169.13, 52/169.14, 52/170, 52/736.4, 52/737.5, 52/297, 52/515, 52/517
• US Class Current: 52/169.14
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2292 Holders used for protection, repair or reinforcement of the post or pole E04H12/2276 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for decreasing the ground-level rot of wooden fence posts involves shrink-wrapping the portion of the fence post located immediately above and below grade-level with a shrink-wrappable coating or a polymeric sleeve, optionally with an appearance and/or durability enhancing collar. The posts so treated are suitable for installation in high quality wooden fencing and other applications where grade-level rot is a suspected problem.

Claims

1. A method for decreasing grade-level rot in wooden fence posts, said method comprising:

wrapping a shrink-wrappable thermoplastic polymer sheeting material around a wooden fence post;

heating said shrink-wrappable thermoplastic sheeting to adhere said sheeting to itself, whereby said sheeting shrinks to form a shrink-wrapped polymer integument in direct contact with said fence post such that the entire inner surface of said integument is in an abutting relationship with said post;

disposing a first end of said shrink-wrapped fence post in a fence post hole such that said shrink-wrapped thermoplastic polymer integument extends from said first end of said fence post to a point above grade level.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said wooden fence post comprises a fence post of untreated wood.

3. A grade-level rot-resistant wooden post comprising a wooden post having an above grade-level portion merging with a below grade level portion, and a shrink-wrapped polymer integument extending from the bottom of said below grade level portion of said post to beyond a point of merger between said below grade-level portion and said above grade-level portion, the entire inner surface of said shrink-wrapped polymer integument in an abutting relationship with said wooden post, said shrink-wrapped polymer integument prepared by wrapping a shrink-wrappable thermoplastic polymer sheeting around said post and heating to shrink said shrink-wrappable thermoplastic polymer sheeting and to adhere said sheeting to itself.

4. The grade-level rot-resistant post of claim 3 wherein said wooden post comprises untreated wood.

5. A grade-level rot-resistant wooden post comprising a wooden post having an above grade-level portion merging with a below grade level portion, and a shrink-wrapped polymer integument extending from the bottom of said below grade level portion of said post to beyond a point of merger between said below grade-level portion and said above grade-level portion, said shrink-wrapped polymer integument prepared by inserting said post into a shrinkable oriented extruded plastic sleeve and heating said sleeve such that said plastic sleeve shrinks onto said post whereby the entire inner surface of said integument is in an abutting relationship with the wood of said wooden post.

6. The grade-level rot-resistant wooden post of claim 5 wherein said wood comprises untreated wood.

7. A method for decreasing grade-level rot in wooden fence posts, said method consisting of:

wrapping a shrink-wrappable thermoplastic polymer sheeting material around a wooden fence post;

heating said shrink-wrappable thermoplastic sheeting to adhere said sheeting to itself, whereby said sheeting shrinks to form a shrink-wrapped polymer integument in direct contact with said fence post;

disposing a first end of said shrink-wrapped fence post in a fence post hole such that said shrink-wrapped thermoplastic polymer integument extends from said first end of said fence post to a point above grade level.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the wood of said wooden fence post is untreated wood.

9. A grade-level rot-resistant wooden post assembly consisting of a wooden post having an above grade-level portion merging with a below grade level portion, and a shrink-wrapped polymer integument extending from the bottom of said below grade level portion of said post to beyond a point of merger between said below grade-level portion and said above grade-level portion, said shrink-wrapped polymer integument directly abutting the wood of said wooden post, said shrink-wrapped polymer integument prepared by wrapping a shrink-wrappable thermoplastic polymer sheeting around said post and heating to shrink said shrink-wrappable thermoplastic polymer sheeting and to adhere said sheeting to itself.

10. The grade-level rot-resistant post of claim 9 wherein the wood of said wooden post is untreated wood.

11. A grade-level rot-resistant wooden post consisting of a wooden post having an above grade-level portion merging with a below grade level portion, and a shrink-wrapped polymer integument extending from the bottom of said below grade level portion of said post to beyond a point of merger between said below grade-level portion and said above grade-level portion, said shrink-wrapped polymer integument prepared by inserting said post into a shrinkable oriented seamless extruded plastic sleeve and heating said sleeve such that said plastic sleeve shrinks onto said post whereby said integument directly abuts the wood of said wooden post.

12. The grade-level rot-resistant wooden post of claim 11 wherein said wood is untreated wood.

13. A method for decreasing ground level rot in wooden posts set into the ground, said method comprising:

selecting a shrinkable, oriented thermoplastic sheet material;

wrapping said thermoplastic sheet material around the portion of a wooden post such that the thermoplastic sheeting material will extend above grade level when said post is set into the ground, and said thermoplastic sheeting material overlaps with itself;

shrink wrapping said thermoplastic sheeting material by applying heat to shrink said thermoplastic sheet material onto said post and to seal overlapping portions of said thermoplastic sheet directly to itself;

wherein following shrink wrapping, said thermoplastic sheet material is in a direct abutting relationship to the wood of said post.