Mailbox post protector

Abstract

A mailbox or wooden post protector made of a unitary, resistantly-flexible plastic material, having four walls and an opening within one of the walls for installation around the base of the wooden post. The plastic sheet material is typically polycarbonate, which can better withstand deterioration, cracking and fracture even at low temperatures over several years, compared to conventional plastics, and has a thickness of about 5 mil to about 40 mil, and more typically from about 15 mil to about 30 mil, and can be formed by folding adjacent walls along a transverse crease lines. The polycarbonate sheets can be transparent, translucent or opaque, and can be made clear or in a variety of colors.

1 . A post protector for placement about the base portion of a wooden post positioned in the ground, the post protector comprising a single, resilient, rectilinear sheet of material consisting essentially of polycarbonate, having a width, a length, and a thickness from about 0.005 inches to about 0.040 inches, and having four spaced-apart pivot joints, defined by fold lines formed transverse to the length, to form five consecutive, adjacent walls including a first wall and a fifth wall, wherein adjacent walls are foldable to a right angle wherein a portion of the first wall overlaps a portion of the fifth wall  
   
   
       2 . The post protector according to  claim 1  wherein the second, third and fourth walls have the same length.  
   
   
       3 . The post protector according to  claim 1  wherein having a thickness of about 0.015 inches to about 0.030 inches.  
   
   
       4 . The post protector according to  claim 1  further comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive material affixed to at least one of the first and second walls.  
   
   
       5 . The post protector according to  claim 3  wherein the polycarbonate sheet is clear.  
   
   
       6 . The post protector according to  claim 5  wherein the polycarbonate sheet is colorless.  
   
   
       7 . The post protector according to  claim 5  wherein the polycarbonate sheet has a color selected from the group consisting of brown, black white and green.  
   
   
       8 . The post protector according to  claim 3  wherein the polycarbonate sheet is opaque.  
   
   
       9 . The post protector according to  claim 9  wherein the polycarbonate sheet has a color from the group consisting of brown, black white and green.  
   
   
       10 . The post protector according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the inner surface or the outer surface of the polycarbonate sheet has a matte finish.  
   
   
       11 . The post protector according to  claim 10  wherein the inner surface of the polycarbonate sheet has a matte finish.  
   
   
       12 . The post protector according to  claim 1  wherein each corner is defined by at least two, closely-spaced fold lines.  
   
   
       13 . A method of forming a post protector, comprising the steps of: 
 1) providing a sheet of rectilinear polycarbonate material having a length, a width and a thickness of between about 0.005 inches and about 0.040 inches;    2) forming a plurality of spaced-apart crease lines on a first surface of the sheet transverse to the length and across the entire width of the sheet; and    3) folding the sheet along the plurality of formed creases to form a plurality of joints that separate a plurality of distinct walls.    
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the at least four creases are formed without cutting or etching of the surface of the sheet material.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the folded post protector is folded at the joints so that the plurality of walls lie substantially flat, to permit securing the post protector in the substantially flat orientation for packaging and shipment.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the thickness is between about 0.015 inches and about 0.030 inches.  
   
   
       17 . A method of protecting the base of a wooden mailbox post from damage from lawn care equipment, comprising the steps of: 
 1) providing a post protector formed as a resistant rectilinear sheet of polycarbonate material having a width, a length, and a thickness from about 5 mil up to about 40 mil, and having four spaced apart fold lines formed transverse to the length to form five consecutive walls including a first wall and a fifth wall;    2) placing the post protector around the base of the wooden mailbox post having a rectilinear cross section, so that the plurality of fold lines align with corresponding edges of the wooden post, wherein the first wall overlaps a portion of the fifth wall; and    3) securing the first wall to the fifth wall.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising securing the first wall to the wooden post.