Self-adjusting metal wrap for wooden posts

Abstract

A wrap for protecting a terminal end of a wooden post. The wrap comprises a plurality of plates that are secured around the wooden posts using a plurality of angled corner pieces. The plates are free floating with respect to the corner pieces such that the wrap self adjusts when the post dimensions decrease in size due to natural shrinkage of the wood. The components of the wrap may be made from metal. The wrap protects the post from damage due to incidental collisions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for protecting a terminal end of a wooden post, said apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of plates, each of the plates having an inner post engaging surface and an outer surface, each of the plates further having a first bore and a second bore;   a plurality of corner pieces, each of the corner pieces having a first portion and a second portion defining an angle therebetween; and   the first and second portions of each of the corner pieces having a bore;   wherein the bore in the first portion of each corner piece is configured and adapted to come into alignment with the first bore of a plate;   wherein the bore in the second portion of each corner piece is configured and adapted to come into alignment with the second bore of a plate.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first bore and the second bore in each of the plurality of plates is elongated. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of plates comprises four ( 4 ) plates. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of corner pieces comprises at least four (4) corner pieces. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of corner pieces comprises eight (8) corner pieces. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners for securing the plates and corner pieces to the post. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one reinforcing strip secured to a face of each of the plates. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plates and corner pieces are formed of metal. 
     
     
         9 . A wooden structure comprising:
 a post having four sides and four corners;   a protective wrap installed onto said post, the protective wrap comprising four plates and a plurality of corner pieces;   wherein each side of the post has one of the plates installed thereon;   wherein each corner of the post has one of the plurality of corner pieces installed thereon such that the plates are positioned between the post and the corner pieces; and   a plurality of fasteners for securing the corner pieces to the post;   wherein each of the plates is free floating with respect to the corner pieces in a first direction.   
     
     
         10 . The wooden structure of  claim 9 , wherein the post is one of a timber post and dimensional lumber. 
     
     
         11 . The wooden structure of  claim 9 , wherein the plates are constrained from moving with respect to the corner pieces in a second direction. 
     
     
         12 . The wooden structure of  claim 11 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The wooden structure of  claim 9 , wherein the plates have a plurality of elongated bores formed therein, wherein said fasteners extend through said elongated bores and into the post. 
     
     
         14 . The wooden structure of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plates comprises a decorative cutout. 
     
     
         15 . The wooden structure of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plates comprises a reinforcing strip. 
     
     
         16 . The wooden structure of  claim 9 , wherein the corner pieces and the plates are discrete components. 
     
     
         17 . The wooden structure of  claim 9 , wherein the protective wrap is formed of metal. 
     
     
         18 . A method of installing a protective wrap onto a wooden post having a plurality of sides, said method comprising:
 positioning a first plate onto a first side of the post;   positioning a second plate onto a second side of the post, wherein the first side and the second side are adjacent to each other on the post;   installing a corner piece onto the post, said corner piece overlapping both the first plate and the second plate;   installing a first fastener through a first bore in the corner piece and a first bore in the first plate; and   installing a second fastener through a second bore in the corner piece and a second bore in the second plate;   wherein the first bore in the first plate and the second bore in the second plate are elongated such that the first plate and the second plate are free floating with respect to the corner piece in one direction.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising installing a third and fourth plates onto a third and fourth sides, respectively, of the post. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising installing additional corner pieces onto the post to secure the third and fourth plates onto the post.