Protective cover for a post

Abstract

A protective cover for an end of an exposed post to reduce injuries. The cover has a base defining a bore configured to receive the end of the post. The top is configured to engage the end of the post when the end of the post is within the bore. A plate is disposed in the top for providing rigidity.

1 . A protective cover for an end of a post comprising:
 a base having a wall defining a bore configured to receive the end of the post; and   a top integral with the base configured to engage the end of the post when the end of the post is within the bore; and   a plate disposed within the top for providing rigidity to the top.   
     
     
         2 . The protective cover of  claim 1  wherein the base comprises a first material and the top comprises a second material, the first material being more flexible than the second material. 
     
     
         3 . The protective cover of  claim 2  wherein at least one of the first material and the second material is a plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The protective cover of  claim 3  wherein at least one of the first material and second material is a silicone. 
     
     
         5 . The protective cover of  claim 1  wherein the first material is a first plastic and the second material is a plastic, the first plastic being more flexible than the second plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The protective cover of  claim 5  wherein the first plastic is a first silicone and the second plastic is a second silicone. 
     
     
         7 . The protective cover of  claim 6  wherein the first silicone has a hardness in the range of 44°-55° Shore A and the second silicone has a hardness in the range of 25°-35° Shore A. 
     
     
         8 . The protective cover of  claim 1  wherein the plate is made of metal. 
     
     
         9 . The protective cover of  claim 1  wherein the plate is made of aluminum. 
     
     
         10 . The protective cover of  claim 1  wherein the plate is disk shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The protective cover of  claim 10  wherein the plate is made of metal. 
     
     
         12 . The protective cover of  claim 11  wherein the top comprises a silicone having a hardness in the range of 44°-55° Shore A. 
     
     
         13 . The protective cover of  claim 11  wherein the plate is made of aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . The protective cover of  claim 1  wherein the top includes a top surface, an outer rim and a flange surrounding the top surface and interconnecting the top surface and the rim, the flange extending outwardly at an angle from the top surface. 
     
     
         15 . The protective cover of  claim 1  wherein the base and top are molded together and the plate is molded within the top. 
     
     
         16 . The protective cover of  claim 1  further including a plurality of grommets interconnecting the base and the top. 
     
     
         17 . A protective cover for an end of a post comprising:
 a base constructed of a first silicone, the base defining a bore configured to receive the end of the post;   a top integral with the base and constructed of a second silicone, the top configured to engage the end of the post when the end of the post is within the bore, the first silicone being more flexible than the first silicone; and   a metal plate disposed in the top for providing rigidity to the top when the end of the post is received by the bore.   
     
     
         18 . The protective cover of  claim 17  wherein the first silicone has a hardness in the range of 44°-55° Shore A and the second silicone has a hardness in the range of 25°-35° Shore A. 
     
     
         19 . The protective cover of  claim 17  wherein the plate is made of aluminum and is disk shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The protective cover of  claim 17  wherein the base and top are molded together and the plate is molded within the top.