Post connection cover

Abstract

A protective cover for shielding a connector used for joining a building structural support post and a foundation footing disposed in the ground consisting of a shell which completely surrounds the connector and externally seals and protects the connector from the environment, back fill earth, and/or other grading materials The upper portion of the cover has a port for receiving the post and the lower portion is arranged to closely communicate with the foundation either by resting on top of the footing or by fitting over it as a cap. The cover may be formed either as a complete closed unit or as a wrap for existing installations.

1 . In a post connector adapted to connect a building structural support post and a foundation footing disposed in the ground, a protective cover for said connector comprising a shell arranged to completely surround said connector, said shell having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion having a port for receiving said post, said port of substantially the same size and shape as said post, and wherein said lower portion is arranged to communicate with said foundation footing to substantially externally seal said connector.  
   
   
       2 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein said lower portion is arranged to fit over said foundation footing.  
   
   
       3 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein said lower portion is arranged to fit on top of said foundation footing.  
   
   
       4 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein said upper portion is conical in shape.  
   
   
       5 . The cover of  claim 2  wherein said lower portion is cylindrical in shape.  
   
   
       6 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein said port is rectangular in shape.  
   
   
       7 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein said shell comprises a unitary molded structure.  
   
   
       8 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein said shell comprises a flexible sheet formable into a closed unit whereby said cover may be positioned over existing installations.  
   
   
       9 . In a post connector adapted to connect a building structural support post and a foundation footing disposed in the ground, the method of protecting said connector, post, and foundation footing comprising the steps of: 
 A. providing a cover consisting of a shell having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion having a port for receiving said post; and    B. placing said cover over said post through said port and connecting said lower portion with said foundation footing.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said shell lower portion is placed over said footing.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said shell lower portion is placed on top of said footing.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said shell is composed of a sheet of flexible material and further including the step of placing said sheet aside said post and wrapping said sheet about said post to form a closed unit.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said shell lower portion is placed over said footing.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said shell lower portion is placed on top of said footing.