Pole protector
AssigneeOsmose Wood Preserving, Inc.
InventorMichael J. Fayle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In order to protect a pole from low-speed impacts, an inner shell of impact-absorbing material is wrapped about the pole and an outer shell of a tough material is wrapped about the inner shell for protecting the inner shell from damage while intactly resisting the low-speed impacts.
Claims20
A method of providing protection about a wood pole, the method comprising the steps of (a) wrapping about the pole an inner shell having a height and composed of a material which is selected for absorbing impacts thereby circumscribing the pole with the inner shell, (b) circumscribing the inner shell over substantially the height of the inner shell with an outer shell having a height which is substantially equal to said inner shell height and which outer shell is composed of a material which is selected to protect the inner shell from damage while the outer shell intactly resists the impacts, (c) selecting the inner shell to be wrapable about the pole separately of the outer shell, and (d) selecting the inner shell material to be a closed-cell foam material.
A protector for a wood pole comprising means for absorbing impacts with a wood pole, said impact-absorbing means including an inner shell which has a height and which is adapted for circumscribing the pole and which is composed of impact-absorbing material, the pole protector further comprising means for protecting said inner shell from damage during the impacts while intactly resisting the impacts, said protecting and impact resisting means including an outer shell which has a height substantially equal to said inner shell height and which is adapted for circumscribing said inner shell over substantially said inner shell height, and said inner shell material is a closed-cell foam material, wherein said inner shell material has a compression deflection in the range of about 20 to 30 percent when about 2 to 5 psi of force is applied thereto, and wherein said outer shell material has a strength of at least about 800 psi.
In combination with a pole composed of wood, a protector for the pole comprising means for absorbing impacts with the pole, said impact-absorbing means including an inner shell which has a height and which circumscribes the pole and which is composed of impact-absorbing material, the pole protector further comprising means for protecting said inner shell from damage during the impacts and for intactly resisting the impacts, said protecting and impact resisting means including an outer shell having a height which is substantially equal to said inner shell height, said outer shell circumscribing said inner shell over substantially said inner shell height, and wherein said inner shell material is a closed-cell foam material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.