Columnar jack concealing device and method

Abstract

The present invention provides a device for concealing and covering a jack for columnar supports and a method of concealing a jack using a jack concealing kit with a columnar support. The device comprises a strap member, a skirt sized and shaped for covering the jack, and a band member for attaching the skirt to the strap member. The strap member is sized and shaped for folding over and enclosing the band member and a portion of the skirt. A further embodiment provides a jack concealing kit for columnar supports. The kit comprises a jack for supporting the columnar support, an adjustable strap member, an adjustable shield member, and an adjustable clamp member. The adjustable clamp member can attach the adjustable shield member with the adjustable strap member to the columnar support. The adjustable shield member can conceal and shield the jack and the adjustable strap member can enclose the adjustable clamp member. Further embodiments of the invention provide adjustable shield members, a stiff skirt, that are constructed of a malleable material that can attach to itself and can be secured to the columnar support for concealing the jack.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In combination, a jack concealing structure for a columnar support of a structure comprising: 
 an adjustable jack;    a stiff skirt circumferentially adjustable about itself relative to the columnar support for concealing the adjustable jack; and    securement means for securing the stiff skirt to the columnar support for concealing the adjustable jack,    the adjustable jack for supporting and securing the columnar support.    
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the stiff skirt is constructed of a malleable material.  
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the stiff skirt is constructed of copper.  
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the stiff skirt has a tab structure and an edge folded over upon itself for receiving the tab structure for circumferentially adjusting the stiff skirt about itself.  
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the stiff skirt is circumferentially adjusted about itself using a nail, a screw, a machine screw and nut, or solder.  
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the stiff skirt has a tab structure and an edge folded over upon itself for receiving the tab structure for circumferentially adjusting the stiff skirt about itself and about the columnar support.  
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein the stiff skirt is circumferentially adjusted about itself and the columnar support using a nail, a screw, a machine screw and nut, or solder.  
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the stiff skirt is soldered for circumferentially adjusting the stiff skirt about itself and for subsequent slidable placement around and over the columnar support.  
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the securement means is selected from the group consisting of nails, screws, machine screw and nut, and solder.  
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the stiff skirt has a square shape.  
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the stiff skirt has a circular shape.  
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11 , further comprising an adjustable clamp member for temporarily holding the stiff skirt in circumferential adjustment about itself in preparation for adjustment and securement to the columnar support.  
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the adjustable clamp is selected from the group consisting of an alligator clip and strap, a screw band clamp, a rope, and a synthetic clamp.  
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the stiff skirt is welded for circumferentially adjusting the stiff skirt about itself and for subsequent slidable placement around and over the columnar support.  
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the stiff skirt is secured to an upper portion of the columnar support.  
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the stiff skirt is secured to a lower portion of the columnar support.  
     
     
         17 . A jack concealing kit for a columnar support comprising: 
 a jack for supporting the columnar support; and    an adjustable shield member for adjustment about itself, for conforming to the columnar support, and for concealing and shielding the jack.    
     
     
         18 . The jack concealing kit of  claim 17 , wherein the adjustable shield member is a stiff skirt having a tab structure and an edge folded over upon itself for receiving the tab structure for circumferentially adjusting the stiff skirt about itself and about the columnar support.  
     
     
         19 . The jack concealing kit of  claim 17 , wherein the adjustable shield member is soldered to itself to form a sleeve for slidable placement along the columnar support for concealing the jack.  
     
     
         20 . The jack concealing kit of  claim 17 , further comprising securement means for attaching the adjustable shield member to the columnar support.  
     
     
         21 . The jack concealing kit of  claim 20 , wherein the securement means is selected from the group consisting of nails, screws, machine screw and nut, and solder.  
     
     
         22 . The jack concealing kit of  claim 17 , further comprising an adjustable clamp member for temporarily holding the adjustable shield member in circumferential adjustment about itself in preparation for adjustment and securement to the columnar support.  
     
     
         23 . The jack concealing kit of  claim 22 , wherein the adjustable clamp is selected from the group consisting of an alligator clip and strap, a screw band clamp, a rope, and a synthetic clamp.  
     
     
         24 . The jack concealing kit of  claim 17 , wherein the adjustable shield member has a square shape or a circular shape.  
     
     
         25 . In combination, a jack concealing structure comprising: 
 a columnar support of a structure;    an adjustable jack; and    a stiff skirt circumferentially adjustable about itself relative to the columnar support for concealing the adjustable jack,    the adjustable jack for supporting and securing the columnar support to the structure.    
     
     
         26 . The combination of  claim 25 , further comprising securement means for securing the stiff skirt to the columnar support for concealing the adjustable jack.  
     
     
         27 . The combination of  claim 26 , wherein the securement means is selected from the group consisting of nails, screws, machine screw and nut, and solder.  
     
     
         28 . The combination of  claim 26 , further comprising an adjustable clamp member for temporarily holding the stiff skirt in circumferential adjustment about itself in preparation for adjustment and securement to the columnar support.  
     
     
         29 . The combination of  claim 28 , wherein the adjustable clamp is selected from the group consisting of an alligator clip and strap, a screw band clamp, a rope, and a synthetic clamp.  
     
     
         30 . The combination of  claim 25 , wherein the stiff skirt is soldered to itself for forming a sleeve for slidable placement over and around the columnar support for concealing the adjustable jack.  
     
     
         31 . The combination of  claim 25 , wherein the stiff skirt is secured to an upper portion of the columnar support.  
     
     
         32 . The combination of  claim 25 , wherein the stiff skirt is secured to a lower portion of the columnar support.  
     
     
         33 . A jack concealing apparatus for a jack supporting a columnar support of a structure comprising: 
 a stiff skirt constructed of a malleable material, the stiff skirt being circumferentially adjustable about itself relative to the columnar support for concealing the jack.    
     
     
         34 . The jack concealing apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising securement means for securing the stiff skirt to the columnar support for concealing the jack.  
     
     
         35 . The jack concealing apparatus of  claim 34 , further comprising an adjustable clamp member for temporarily holding the stiff skirt in circumferential adjustment about itself in preparation for adjustment and securement to the columnar support.  
     
     
         36 . The jack concealing apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the stiff skirt is soldered to itself for forming a sleeve for slidable placement over and around the columnar support for concealing the jack.  
     
     
         37 . A jack concealing device for concealing a jack supporting a columnar support of a structure comprising: 
 a stiff skirt constructed of a malleable material and sized for wrapping about itself and for concealing the jack supporting the columnar support;    a tie-down strap for temporarily clasping the stiff skirt about itself and the columnar support; and    securement means for securing the stiff skirt to the columnar support.    
     
     
         38 . The jack concealing device of  claim 37 , wherein the stiff skirt has a circular shape.  
     
     
         39 . The jack concealing device of  claim 37 , wherein the tie-down strap is an alligator clip and strap.  
     
     
         40 . The jack concealing device of  claim 37 , wherein the tie-down strap is a screw band clamp.  
     
     
         41 . The jack concealing device of  claim 37 , wherein the stiff skirt is secured to an upper portion of the columnar support.  
     
     
         42 . The jack concealing device of  claim 37 , wherein the stiff skirt is secured to a lower portion of the columnar support.  
     
     
         43 . The jack concealing device of  claim 37 , wherein securement means is selected from the group consisting of nails, screws, machine screw and nut, and solder.  
     
     
         44 . A jack concealing device for a columnar support of a structure comprising: 
 a jack for supporting and securing the columnar support to the structure;    a stiff skirt constructed of a malleable material and sized for wrapping about itself and for concealing the jack;    securement means for securing the stiff skirt to the columnar support; and    a flexible skirt constructed of a fabric-type material and sized for wrapping about the columnar support for concealing the securement means.    
     
     
         45 . The jack concealing device of  claim 44 , wherein the stiff skirt has a square shape and has a tab structure and an edge folded over upon itself for receiving the tab structure for wrapping the stiff skirt about itself.  
     
     
         46 . The jack concealing device of  claim 44 , wherein securement means is selected from the group consisting of nails, screws, machine screw and nut, and solder.  
     
     
         47 . The jack concealing device of  claim 44 , wherein the stiff skirt is secured to an upper portion of the columnar support.  
     
     
         48 . The jack concealing device of  claim 44 , wherein the stiff skirt is secured to a lower portion of the columnar support.  
     
     
         49 . A method of installing a jack concealing device comprising the acts of: 
 providing a jack, a columnar support, and the jack concealing device;    installing and securing the jack to the columnar support;    wrapping the jack concealing device around the jack and the columnar support;    wrapping the jack concealing device about itself;    wrapping a tie-down strap around the wrapped jack concealing device; and    adjusting and securing the wrapped tie-down strap for securing the wrapped jack concealing device to the columnar support.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , further including securing the wrapped jack concealing device to the columnar support with securement means.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , further including removing the wrapped tie-down strap from secured jack concealing device.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , further including removing the secured jack concealing device for adjusting the jack and the columnar support.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein wrapping the jack concealing device about itself includes inserting a tab structure into an opposing folded edge for securing the wrapped jack concealing device about itself without the use of the tie-down strap.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , further including bending an edge of the jack concealing device upon itself for creating the folded edge and bending the jack concealing device to conform to the shape of the columnar support and for creating the tab structure.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein wrapping the jack concealing device about itself includes conforming the jack concealing device to the shape of the columnar support.  
     
     
         56 . A method of installing a jack concealing device comprising the acts of: 
 providing a jack, a columnar support, and the jack concealing device;    wrapping and securing the jack concealing device about itself;    sliding the secured jack concealing device over the columnar support;    installing and securing the jack to the columnar support; and    sliding the secured jack concealing device over the jack.    
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further including securing the secured jack concealing device to the columnar support with securement means.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further including removing the securement means for adjusting the jack and the columnar support.  
     
     
         59 . A method of compensating for columnar shrinkage comprising the acts of: 
 providing a jack supporting a columnar support;    providing a jack concealing device wrapped around the jack and secured to the columnar support for concealing the jack;    removing the jack concealing device for exposing the jack;    adjusting the jack and the columnar support; and    re-wrapping and re-securing the jack concealing device about the jack and to the columnar support.    
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein removing the jack concealing device includes removing securement means from the jack concealing device and the columnar support.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein removing the jack concealing device includes sliding the jack concealing device over the columnar support for exposing the jack thereunder.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein removing the jack concealing device includes unwrapping the jack concealing device from itself for exposing the jack thereunder.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein unwrapping the jack concealing device includes removing a tab structure from a folded edge.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein unwrapping the jack concealing device includes removing overlapping opposing edges.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein unwrapping the jack concealing device includes removing securement means attaching the jack concealing device to itself.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 59 , further including removing a flexible skirt wrapped around the jack concealing device before removing the jack concealing device.