Ground-covering apparatus

Abstract

Ground-covering apparatus, e.g., for covering a ground surface around fixtures and fences and/or for protecting a lower portions of fixtures.

1 . A post guard for use in protecting posts of varying sizes, wherein the post guard comprises four post guard portions, wherein each post guard portion is configured to cover at least a portion of a corner of a post, wherein the four post guard portions are configured to be positioned together to define an opening for a post to extend therethrough, and further wherein each post guard portion of the four post guard portions comprises:
 a vertical member extending from a lower edge to an upper edge, wherein the vertical member comprises a first section and a second section, wherein the first and second sections comprise a post contacting surface extending from a first side edge of the first section to a second side edge of the second section defining a portion of the opening, wherein the first section is perpendicular to the second section thereby forming a corner corresponding to a corner of the post; and   a flanged member comprises a ground contacting surface and extends from the lower edge of the vertical member to a distal edge between a first edge of the flanged member corresponding to the first side edge of the first section and a second edge of the flanged member corresponding to the second side edge of the second section,   wherein each post guard portion further comprises a first vertical interface region of the first section proximate the first side edge thereof and a second vertical interface region of the second section proximate the second side edge thereof, wherein each post guard portion further comprises a first flange interface region of the flanged member proximate the first edge thereof and a second flange interface region of the flanged member proximate the second edge thereof, wherein the first interface regions of each post guard portion of the four post guard portions interface with the second interface regions of a different post guard portion of the four post guard portions when the four post guard portions are positioned together, wherein the four post guard portions are positionable together in a configuration between a closed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the four post guard portions are positioned together such that the first interface regions are completely interfaced with the second interface regions when in the first closed configuration, wherein the four post guard portions are positioned together such that the first interface regions are located further away from the second interface regions when in the second expanded configuration than when in the first closed configuration, and wherein the first interface regions at least partially contact the second interface regions when in the expanded configuration.   
   
   
       2 . The post guard of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical member is perpendicular to the flanged member. 
   
   
       3 . The post guard of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical member forms an obtuse angle with the flanged member. 
   
   
       4 . The post guard of  claim 1 , wherein each flanged member of the four post guard portions defines a length from the distal edge to the lower edge of the vertical member, wherein each vertical member of the four post guard portions defines a length from the lower edge to the upper edge, and wherein the length of each flanged member and the length of each vertical member are substantially the same. 
   
   
       5 . The post guard of  claim 1 , wherein each flanged member of the four post guard portions defines a length from the distal edge to the lower edge of the vertical member, wherein each vertical member of the four post guard portions defines a length from the lower edge to the upper edge, and wherein the length of each vertical member is shorter than the length of each flanged member. 
   
   
       6 . The post guard of  claim 1 , wherein each vertical member of the four post guard portions defines an aperture for a fastener to extend therethrough. 
   
   
       7 . The post guard of  claim 1 , wherein the interface regions comprise half-lap joints. 
   
   
       8 . The post guard of  claim 1 , wherein each post guard portion comprises a polymer. 
   
   
       9 . A ground-covering apparatus portion for use with one or more additional ground-covering apparatus portions in covering a ground surface around fixtures of varying sizes, wherein the ground-covering apparatus portion comprises:
 a vertical member extending from a lower edge to an upper edge, wherein the vertical member comprises a first section and a second section, wherein the first and second sections comprise a fixture-contacting surface extending from a first side edge of the first section to a second side edge of the second section, wherein the first section is perpendicular to the second section thereby forming a corner corresponding to a corner of a fixture, and wherein the vertical member further comprises a first vertical interface region of the first section proximate the first side edge thereof and a second vertical interface region of the second section proximate the second side edge thereof; and   a flanged member comprising a ground contacting surface, a distal edge, a first edge corresponding to the first side edge of the first section, and a second edge corresponding to the second side edge of the second section, and wherein the flanged member further comprises a first flange interface region proximate the first edge thereof and a second flange interface region proximate the second edge thereof,   wherein the first interface regions of the ground-covering apparatus portion are interfaceable with the second interface regions of one of the one or more additional ground-covering apparatus portions and the second interface regions of the ground-covering apparatus portion are interfaceable with the first interface regions of one of the one or more additional ground-covering apparatus portions.   
   
   
       10 . The ground-covering apparatus portion of  claim 9 , wherein the vertical member is perpendicular to the flanged member. 
   
   
       11 . The ground-covering apparatus portion of  claim 9 , wherein the first section of the vertical member defines a length from the first side edge to the second section of the vertical member, wherein the second section of the vertical member defines a length from the second side edge to the first section of the vertical member, and wherein the length of the first section is longer than the length of the second section. 
   
   
       12 . The ground-covering apparatus portion of  claim 9 , wherein the flanged member defines a length from the distal edge to the lower edge of the vertical member, wherein the vertical member defines a length from the lower edge to the upper edge, and wherein the length of the flanged member and the length of the vertical member are substantially the same. 
   
   
       13 . The ground-covering apparatus portion of  claim 9 , wherein the flanged member defines a length from the distal edge to the lower edge of the vertical member, wherein the vertical member defines a length from the lower edge to the upper edge, and wherein the length of the vertical member is shorter than the length of the flanged member. 
   
   
       14 . The ground-covering apparatus portion of  claim 9 , wherein the ground-covering apparatus portion is configured to be used with one or more additional ground-covering apparatus portions in covering a ground surface around a gravestone. 
   
   
       15 . The ground-covering apparatus portion of  claim 9 , wherein the interface regions comprise half-lap joints. 
   
   
       16 . The ground-covering apparatus portion of  claim 9 , wherein the ground-covering apparatus portion comprises a polymer. 
   
   
       17 . A U-channel post guard for use in covering a ground surface around a U-channel post, wherein the U-channel post comprises a channel side and non-channel side opposite the channel side and defines a channel on the channel side extending along a length of the U-channel post, wherein the U-channel post guard comprises:
 a first portion configured to contact the channel side of the U-channel post; and   a second portion configured to contact the non-channel side of the U-channel post, wherein the first and second portions are configured to be positioned together to define an opening for the U-channel post to extend therethrough, and further wherein each of the first and the second portions comprises:
 a vertical member extending from a lower edge to an upper edge and comprising a post contacting surface extending from a first side edge to a second side edge defining a portion of the opening, and 
 a flanged member coupled to the lower edge of the vertical member, wherein the flanged member comprises a ground contacting surface, a distal edge, a first flange interface region corresponding to the first side edge of the vertical member, and a second flange interface region corresponding to the second side edge of the vertical member, 
   wherein the first interface region of the first portion interfaces with the second interface region of the second portion and the second interface region of the first portion interfaces with the first interface region of the second portion when the first and second portions are positioned together, and further wherein the first and the second portions are positionable together such that the vertical member of the first portion is located within the longitudinal channel of the U-channel post.   
   
   
       18 . The U-channel post guard of  claim 17 , wherein each vertical member of the first and second portions defines an aperture for a fastener to extend therethrough. 
   
   
       19 . The U-channel post guard of  claim 18 , where the aperture comprises a slot. 
   
   
       20 . The U-channel post guard of  claim 17 , wherein the interface regions comprise half-lap joints.