Structure and bolt protection apparatus

Abstract

One aspect of the invention is a bolt protection apparatus for use with a bolt inserted into an opening in a piece of lumber. The bolt protection apparatus comprises a first means for preventing at least a portion of the bolt from contacting the sidewall of the opening. The bolt protection apparatus further comprises a second means for assisting in fixing the position of a portion of the first means in the opening.

1 . A bolt protection apparatus for use with a bolt inserted into an opening in a piece of lumber, the bolt protector comprising: 
 a first means for surrounding and preventing at least one portion of the bolt from contacting the sidewall of the opening; and    a second means for assisting in fixing the position of at least a portion of the first means in the opening when the first means surrounds the at least one portion of the bolt and is inserted in the opening.    
     
     
         2 . The bolt protection apparatus of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the second means is a separate piece from the first means and is in contact with the first means.    
     
     
         3 . The bolt protection apparatus of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the second means is integrally formed with the first means.    
     
     
         4 . The bolt protection apparatus of  claim 3 , 
 wherein the first means comprises a tubular structure; and    wherein the second means comprises a washer-like structure substantially perpendicular to the tubular structure and integrally formed therewith.    
     
     
         5 . The bolt protection apparatus of  claim 3 , 
 wherein the first means comprises a tubular structure; and    wherein the second means comprises a plurality of fins integrally formed on the tubular structure.    
     
     
         6 . The bolt protection apparatus of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the first means and second means are constructed from a material that resists corrosion when in contact with the piece of lumber and retards corrosion of the bolt, wherein the bolt is metal.    
     
     
         7 . The bolt protection apparatus of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the first means and second means are constructed from a material that resists corrosion when in contact with the piece of lumber and retards corrosion of the bolt, wherein the bolt is steel.    
     
     
         8 . The bolt protection apparatus of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the first means is constructed from a plastic material.    
     
     
         9 . The bolt protection apparatus of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the first means is substantially rigid.    
     
     
         10 . The bolt protection apparatus of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the first means is flexible.    
     
     
         11 . The bolt protection apparatus of  claim 4 , 
 wherein the first means is constructed from a plastic material and is substantially rigid.    
     
     
         12 . The bolt protection apparatus of  claim 11 , 
 wherein the first means further performs the function of retarding corrosion of the bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.    
     
     
         13 . A method for building a structure, comprising: 
 attaching a plurality of bolts to a building foundation such that a first end of each bolt protrudes from the foundation;    surrounding a portion of a first bolt comprising one of the plurality of bolts with a protective sleeve; and    disposing a piece of lumber and the first bolt relative to one another such that at least a portion of the first bolt and at least a portion of the protective sleeve pass through an opening in the piece of lumber and wherein the protective sleeve prevents at least a portion of the first bolt from contacting the sidewall of the opening.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13   wherein the foundation is a pier and beam foundation.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13   wherein the foundation is a slab foundation.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 placing a first washer over the first end of the first bolt after it has passed through the opening.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 attaching a nut to the first end of the first bolt.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , 
 wherein the first washer prevents the nut from contacting the piece of lumber.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 placing a second washer on top of the first washer;    attaching a nut to the first end of the first bolt; and    wherein the first washer prevents the second washer from contacting the piece of lumber.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , 
 wherein the piece of lumber comprises chemicals corrosive to steel.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , 
 wherein the piece of lumber comprises chemicals corrosive to steel.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , 
 wherein the piece of lumber comprises chemicals corrosive to steel.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , 
 wherein the protective sleeve comprises a generally tubular structure which prevents any portion of the first bolt from contacting the sidewall of the opening.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , 
 wherein the protective sleeve further comprises a washer-like structure substantially perpendicular to the tubular structure and integrally formed therewith.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , 
 wherein the protective sleeve further comprises a plurality of fins integrally formed on the tubular structure.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , 
 wherein the tubular structure comprises a plurality of tubular segments.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the protective sleeve is constructed from a plastic material.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 placing a first washer over the first end of the first bolt after it has passed through the opening.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 attaching a nut to the first end of the first bolt.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , 
 wherein the first washer prevents the nut from contacting the piece of lumber.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising: 
 placing a second washer on top of the first washer;    attaching a nut to the first end of the first bolt; and    wherein the first washer prevents the second washer from contacting the piece of lumber.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.  
     
     
         36 . A building structure, comprising: 
 a foundation;    a first bolt attached to the foundation with a first end protruding from the foundation;    a protective sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the first bolt;    a piece of lumber having an opening therein, wherein the piece of lumber is disposed relative to the first bolt such that at least a portion of the first bolt and at least a portion of the protective sleeve pass through an opening in the piece of lumber and wherein the protective sleeve prevents at least a portion of the first bolt from contacting the sidewall of the opening.    
     
     
         37 . The building structure of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 a first washer placed over the first end of the first bolt after it has passed through the opening.    
     
     
         38 . The building structure of  claim 37 , further comprising: 
 a nut attached to the first end of the first bolt.    
     
     
         39 . The building structure of  claim 38 , 
 wherein the first washer prevents the nut from contacting the piece of lumber.    
     
     
         40 . The building structure of  claim 37 , further comprising: 
 a second washer placed on top of the first washer;    a nut attached to the first end of the first bolt; and    wherein the first washer prevents the second washer from contacting the piece of lumber.    
     
     
         41 . The building structure of  claim 36 , 
 wherein the piece of lumber comprises chemicals corrosive to steel.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , 
 wherein the piece of lumber comprises chemicals corrosive to steel.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , 
 wherein the piece of lumber comprises chemicals corrosive to steel.    
     
     
         44 . The building structure of  claim 36 , 
 wherein the protective sleeve comprises a generally tubular structure which prevents any portion of the first bolt from contacting the sidewall of the opening.    
     
     
         45 . The building structure of  claim 44 , 
 wherein the protective sleeve further comprises a washer-like structure substantially perpendicular to the tubular structure and integrally formed therewith.    
     
     
         46 . The building structure of  claim 44 , 
 wherein the protective sleeve further comprises a plurality of fins integrally formed on the tubular structure.    
     
     
         47 . The building structure of  claim 44 , 
 wherein the tubular structure comprises a plurality of tubular segments.    
     
     
         48 . The building structure of  claim 45 , wherein the protective sleeve is constructed from a plastic material.  
     
     
         49 . The building structure of  claim 48 , wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.  
     
     
         50 . The building structure of  claim 36 , wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.  
     
     
         51 . The building structure of  claim 44 , wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.  
     
     
         52 . The building structure of  claim 44 , further comprising: 
 a first washer placed over the first end of the first bolt after it has passed through the opening.    
     
     
         53 . The building structure of  claim 52 , further comprising: 
 a nut attached to the first end of the first bolt.    
     
     
         54 . The building structure of  claim 53 , 
 wherein the first washer prevents the nut from contacting the piece of lumber.    
     
     
         55 . The building structure of  claim 52 , further comprising: 
 a second washer placed on top of the first washer;    a nut attached to the first end of the first bolt; and    wherein the first washer prevents the second washer from contacting the piece of lumber.    
     
     
         56 . The building structure of  claim 52 , wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.  
     
     
         57 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 an object;    a first bolt having a first end;    a protective sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the first bolt;    a piece of lumber attached to the object, wherein the piece of lumber is attached to the object using the first bolt wherein the piece of lumber is disposed relative to the first bolt such that at least a portion of the first bolt and at least a portion of the protective sleeve pass through an opening in the piece of lumber and wherein the protective sleeve prevents at least a portion of the first bolt from contacting the sidewall of the opening.    
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , 
 wherein the object comprises a second piece of lumber.    
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , 
 wherein the object comprises a building foundation.    
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , 
 wherein the protective sleeve comprises a generally tubular structure which prevents any portion of the first bolt from contacting the sidewall of the opening.    
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , 
 wherein the protective sleeve further comprises a washer-like structure substantially perpendicular to the tubular structure and integrally formed therewith.    
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , 
 wherein the protective sleeve further comprises a plurality of fins integrally formed on the tubular structure.    
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , 
 wherein the tubular structure comprises a plurality of tubular segments.    
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the protective sleeve is constructed from a plastic material.  
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.  
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.  
     
     
         67 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.  
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , further comprising: 
 a first washer placed over the first end of the first bolt after it has passed through the opening.    
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , further comprising: 
 a nut attached to the first end of the first bolt.    
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , 
 wherein the first washer prevents the nut from contacting the piece of lumber.    
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , further comprising: 
 a second washer placed on top of the first washer;    a nut attached to the first end of the first bolt; and    wherein the first washer prevents the second washer from contacting the piece of lumber.    
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , wherein the protective sleeve retards corrosion of the first bolt by chemicals in the piece of lumber.