Method, apparatus and materials for preserving wood

Abstract

Methods and devices for protecting fence posts include placing or forming a sleeve around a lower portion of the post at ground level. The sleeve can be formed by applying a liquid plastic material around the post, and then thermally or chemically converting the liquid plastic material to a solid state, whereby the solid sleeve resists abrasion caused by the high-speed line of a string trimmer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a post having a below-ground portion and an above-ground portion, comprising:
 applying a plastic coating circumferentially around the post at an area of the post that during trimming is in contact with a high-speed rotating line;   the plastic coating, when solidified, forming a hard, plastic protective sleeve bonded permanently to the post.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying a plastic coating comprises one of a group consisting of spraying, dipping and painting a liquid thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoplastic material is a thermoplastic polyester selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene (HDPE) low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene, polyester, acrylic, e.g., Lucite, cellulosic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, acetyls, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and mixtures and variants thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material is a thermoplastic nylon. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying a plastic coating comprises one of a group consisting of spraying, dipping and painting a liquid thermosetting material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the liquid thermosetting material is selected from the group consisting of phenolic resin, urea-melamine, polyester and epoxy resin. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic protective sleeve has a thickness of between one and three millimeters, and has a combination of hardness, fracture toughness and tensile strength sufficient to resist abrasion from the high-speed rotating line. 
     
     
         8 . A post comprising:
 an elongated wooden member having a first, above ground portion, and a second, below ground portion which is capable of being secured in a post hole to hold the elongated member vertically upwardly, the first and second portions being separated at a ground level; and   a hard, plastic protective sleeve bonded to the elongated member, and circumscribing the post at an area at and extending upwardly above the ground level for a length of the first portion.   
     
     
         9 . The post of  claim 8 , wherein the hard, plastic protective sleeve extends the full length of the second and covers a bottom of the second portion. 
     
     
         10 . The post of  claim 8 , wherein the hard, plastic protective sleeve is made of a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene, polyester, acrylic, e.g., Lucite, cellulosic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, acetyls, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and mixtures and variants thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The post of  claim 8 , wherein the hard, plastic protective sleeve is made of a thermosetting material selected from the group consisting off phenolic resin, urea-melamine, polyester and epoxy resin, and mixtures and variants thereof. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for protecting a post having an upper end, a lower end adapted to mount in the ground up to a ground level, comprising:
 a sleeve capable of being mounted circumferential around the post at or near the ground level;   the sleeve being made of a material capable of resisting abrasion caused by a high-speed line of a string trimmer.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the sleeve is made of a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin, chemically setting resin, metal and ceramic materials. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the sleeve comprises two complementary, pre-formed parts, and listening means for affixing the two parts onto the post. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the two complementary parts together form one of a circular, square and D-shaped cross section when assembled together. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the two complementary parts are formed by one of injection molding and 3-D printing. 
     
     
         17 . A method of forming a protective sleeve for a post, comprising the steps of:
 collecting plastic material;   heating the plastic material until it becomes liquefied;   applying the liquefied material around the post at around a ground level of the post;   curing the liquefied material until hardened.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the collecting step includes collecting solid waste plastic material and placing the collected waste plastic material in a heating chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of applying includes one of spraying, dipping, brushing and rolling the liquefied plastic material on the post. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the curing includes cooling the liquefied plastic material.