Fence Board Protector

Abstract

A fence board protector is provided. The fence board protector comprises two panels telescopically secured to one another, with the first panel slidably receiving the second panel on its rear side. Each panel has a substantially rectangular cross section configured to attach to the bottom of a fence board, protecting it from damage caused by grass trimmers and other lawn maintenance equipment. A fastener is disposed on the lateral sides of each of the panels, securing them to the fence board. The first panel has a larger width than the second panel, which nests within the first for compact storage. In some embodiments, a ratcheting system allows incremental extension and retraction. The protector clips on one side of a single fence board, preventing intrusion on a neighboring side of a fence.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A fence board protector, comprising:
 a first panel telescopically secured to a second panel, wherein the second panel is slidably received within a hollow interior of the first panel;   wherein the first and second panel are each configured to attach to a bottom portion of a fence board;   a fastener disposed on a first lateral side of the first panel and an opposing second lateral side of the second panel, wherein each fastener is positioned to secure the fence board protector to the fence board;   wherein the first panel has a larger width than the second panel, wherein the width is measure between the first and second lateral sides;   wherein the second panel is sized to nest within the first panel in a retracted configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The fence board protector of  claim 1 , wherein each fastener comprises a tab configured to wrap around a side of the fence board to secure the fence board protector to the fence board. 
     
     
         3 . The fence board protector of  claim 2 , further comprising a secondary fastener configured to further secure the fence board protector to the fence board, wherein the secondary fastener is a nail driven through the tab into the fence board. 
     
     
         4 . The fence board protector of  claim 2 , wherein the tabs comprise teeth that allow the panels to securely attach to the fence board. 
     
     
         5 . The fence board protector of  claim 2 , wherein the tab is a bend-retentive tab configured to retain a shape once bent into a bent configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The fence board protector of  claim 1 , further comprising a track disposed along an interior side of the interior volume and wherein a rail is disposed on an exterior side of the second panel, wherein the track is configured to receive the rail at the first lateral side for sliding engagement between the first and second panels. 
     
     
         7 . The fence board protector of  claim 6 , wherein the track and rail are parallel to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The fence board protector of  claim 6 , wherein the track terminates from at least 0.25 inches from the second lateral side of the first panel. 
     
     
         9 . The fence board protector of  claim 6 , wherein the track comprises a ratcheting system that allows the second panel to extend and retract in 0.25-inch increments. 
     
     
         10 . The fence board protector of  claim 6 , wherein the track includes a pair of tracks disposed on an upper half and lower half of the first panel. 
     
     
         11 . The fence board protector of  claim 9 , wherein the pair of tracks and rails are disposed on the same side of the first and second panels, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The fence board protector of  claim 1 , wherein the first panel comprises a width between 3-6 inches and the second panel comprises a width between 2-4 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The fence board protector of  claim 1 , wherein the fence board protector is configured to clip onto one side of a single fence board independently from an adjacent fence board. 
     
     
         14 . The fence board protector of  claim 1 , wherein the fence board protector does not extend to an opposing face of the fence board. 
     
     
         15 . The fence board protector of  claim 1 , wherein a pair fence board protectors are used on a single fence board, wherein a second fence board protector of the pair is rotated 180 degrees about a horizontal axis and secured to an opposing side of the fence board and wherein the fasteners do not overlap one another. 
     
     
         16 . The fence board protector of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panel comprise a substantially rectangular cross section. 
     
     
         17 . The fence board protector of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fasteners are disposed on a same axis from each other in an upright configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The fence board protector of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second fastener extend outward from each other in opposing directions halfway along a length of each lateral side thereof.