Post cap

Abstract

A one piece, injection molded, post cap for covering the upper end of wooden posts, poles, and pilings. The cap is made in discrete, sizes and shapes and having internal structure to allow installation of each size over a range of diameters or dimensions of posts. The caps are decorative and the internal structure assures the caps remain in a desired vertical uniform position relative to the post so a row of posts has an attractive appearance. The internal structure comprises tiered rows of collars or fingers which are expanded or forced upward at their internal edge or ends so as to engage the post and resist removal of the cap. The caps may be provided in common shapes and sizes so as to fit over posts having cross sections which are round, square, oval, or oblong.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A post cap comprising: 
 a post cap head portion having a periphery generally conforming with an upper end cross section of said post;    a vertical wall depending from said periphery having an outer side wall and an inner side wall, and ending in a lower edge,    an inner structure comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed gripping rings, spaced along said inner side wall and having an inner edge;    said gripping rings being of such construction that said inner edge is expansible so as to forcefully engage the upper portion of a post sidewall when said post cap is urged downward over the upper end of said post;    whereby said post cap is held in a vertical position relative to said post upper end;    whereby said post cap is held tightly to said post so as to deter removal; and    whereby said post cap protects said post upper end from damage by exposure to the weather.    
     
     
         2 . The post cap of  claim 1 , wherein said post is round in cross section and said post cap head portion is in the general form of a hemisphere, said vertical wall being cylindrical in form.  
     
     
         3 . The post cap of  claim 2 , wherein said gripping rings are radially slit to form gripping ring portions, said gripping ring portions engaging said post.  
     
     
         4 . The post cap of  claim 2 , wherein said gripping ring comprise spaced gripping fingers, said gripping fingers engaging said post.  
     
     
         5 . The post cap of  claim 4 , wherein said gripping fingers are mutually vertically offset.  
     
     
         6 . The post cap of  claim 4 , wherein said gripping fingers are vertically aligned.  
     
     
         7 . The post cap of  claim 1 , wherein said post is square in cross section and said post cap head portion is in the general form of a pyramid, said depending vertical wall being tubular in form and having a square cross section.  
     
     
         8 . The post cap of  claim 7 , wherein said gripping rings are in the form of squares, said squares conforming to said depending vertical wall and engaging said post along corresponding flat surfaces thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The post cap of  claim 8 , wherein said squares are slit at each of four corners of said square to form gripping flaps engaging said post.  
     
     
         10 . The post cap of  claim 8 , wherein said squares comprise gripping spaced fingers having inner edges engaging said post.  
     
     
         11 . The post cap of  claim 1 , wherein said post has opposing curved sides and opposing flat sides in cross section and said post cap head portion is in the general form of an oblong hemisphere, said depending vertical wall being oblong in form.  
     
     
         12 . The post cap of  claim 11 , wherein said gripping rings are horizontally disposed and vertically spaced along said depending oblong wall.  
     
     
         13 . The post cap of  claim 12 , wherein said gripping rings are comprised of spaced gripping fingers having inner edges engaged with said post.  
     
     
         14 . The post cap of  claim 1 , wherein said cap is a one piece integral structure.  
     
     
         15 . The post cap of  claim 1 , wherein said cap is injection molded plastic.