Covering

Abstract

A new and improved foam-padded cover is disclosed that would surround a standard-size lally column. The cover of the present invention comes in a wide variety of colors and is designed to prevent damage to cars, doors, or anything that may come in contact with a column that would be used with the cover of the present invention. The cover of the present invention would preferably be approximately 8 feet in height and about 11½ inches in width when completely unrolled.

Description

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention concerns that of a new and improved foam-padded cover that would surround a standard-size lally column.

II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,713, issued to Goodrich, discloses a device and method for protecting the end of a wooden utility pole set in the ground.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No 4,244,156, issued to Watts, Jr., discloses a tubular plastic shell with an overlapped longitudinal seam and longitudinally extending interior pockets that form exterior ribs, encircles a wooden pole or piling in an area to be protected.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 3,104,875, issued to Doyle, discloses a invention which broadly relates to safety devices and more particularly relates to protective padding for posts and the like.

III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention concerns that of a new and improved foam-padded cover that would surround a standard-size lally column. The cover of the present invention comes in a wide variety of colors and is designed to prevent damage to cars, doors, or anything that may come in contact with a column that would be used with the cover of the present invention. The cover of the present invention would preferably be approximately 8 feet in height and about 11½ inches in width when completely unrolled.

[0006] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of a cover for a standard-size lally column in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the cover for a standard-size lally column that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0007] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the cover for a standard-size lally column in detail, it is to be understood that the cover for a standard-size lally column is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The cover for a standard-size lally column is capable of other embodiments and being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0008] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present cover for a standard-size lally column. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regard as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cover for a standard-size lally column which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a cover for a standard-size lally column which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a cover for a standard-size lally column which is of durable and reliable construction.

[0012] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cover for a standard-size lally column which is economically affordable and available for relevant purchasing government entities.

[0013] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and appended claims.

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a top view of the present invention.

[0015] FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the present invention in use on columns.

V. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] FIG. 1 is a top view of the present invention. Cover 2 can be seen in a flat, laid-out manner. Cover 2 is approximately 8 feet long and about 11½ inches in width, but can vary or deviate from this figure to appropriately be used with a wide variety of potential columns. Cover 2 would have two sides, a first side and a second side, and would have two edges, a first edge and a second edge. Cover 2 would have a specific thickness of at least one-half (½) inch and would be comprised of a dense foam material.

[0017] Cover 2 also has a strip of miniature hooks 4 and a strip of miniature loops 6, which run lengthwise on the present invention. The strip of miniature hooks 4 would run along the first edge on the first side of cover 2, while the strip of miniature loops 6 would run along the second edge on the second side of cover 2. Once cover 2 would be appropriately attached to a lally column, strips 4 and 6 can be attached to one another so that cover 2 would effectively be attached to the column.

[0018] In various alternative embodiments, other types of fastening means can be used in lieu of Velcro strips 4 and 6. Tape is one alternative that could be used to fasten the two edges of cover 2 to each other. In the alternative, other types of fasteners could be used, such as a regular sized hook/loop system.

[0019] FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the present invention in use on columns. Other types of columns, in addition to lally columns, could also be used with cover 2 of the present invention.

[0020] The present invention could be used in a wide variety of situations. First, the present invention would be ideal for covering columns in rooms within a house. With this type of use, the cover 2 would protect a lally column from direct human or object contact and protect the surface of the lally column from getting any scratches.

[0021] In addition, the present invention would be ideal for use with posts in baseball dugouts and other potentially hazardous locations. Used in garages, it would help to protect vehicle doors from getting dents or damaged, which typically happens at times with garages that have lally columns. The present invention would be easy to install and would provide a good aesthetic look for a relatively low amount of money. The present invention would be an ideal replacement for carpet, which is frequently used to cover posts or other extending objects.

Claims

1. An apparatus for protecting the surface of a lally column comprising:

(a) a cover having a length and a width, the cover having two sides, a first side and a second side, the cover having two edges, a first edge and a second edge, the cover having a thickness of at least one-half (½) inch, the cover being fabricated from a dense foam material, whereby the cover would be wrapped around a lally column, and

(b) fastener means for removably attaching the first edge of the cover to the second edge of the cover once the cover has been wrapped around a lally column.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the length of the cover would be approximately eight feet, and further wherein the width of the cover would be approximately eleven and one-half inches.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the fastener means would further comprise:

(a) a strip of miniature hooks running lengthwise along the first edge on the first side of the cover for the entire length of the cover,

(b) a strip of miniature loops running lengthwise along the second edge on the second side of the cover for the entire length of the cover,

(c) whereby a user would removably attach the strip of miniature hooks to the strip of miniature loops once the cover had been wrapped around a lally column.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the fastener means would further comprise:

(d) a first strip of tape running lengthwise along the first edge on the first side of the cover for the entire length of the cover,

(e) a second strip of tape running lengthwise along the second edge on the second side of the cover for the entire length of the cover,

(f) whereby a user would removably attach the first strip of tape to the second strip of tape once the cover had been wrapped around a lally column

5. An apparatus for providing safety and for individuals and external objects comprising:

(a) a cover having a length and a width, the cover having two sides, a first side and a second side, the cover having two edges, a first edge and a second edge, the cover having a thickness of at least one-half (½) inch, the cover being fabricated from a dense foam material, whereby the cover would be wrapped around a lally column, and

(b) fastener means for removably attaching the first edge of the cover to the second edge of the cover once the cover has been wrapped around a lally column.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the length of the cover would be approximately eight feet, and further wherein the width of the cover would be approximately eleven and one-half inches.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the fastener means would further comprise:

(g) a strip of miniature hooks running lengthwise along the first edge on the first side of the cover for the entire length of the cover,

(h) a strip of miniature loops running lengthwise along the second edge on the second side of the cover for the entire length of the cover,

(i) whereby a user would removably attach the strip of miniature hooks to the strip of miniature loops once the cover had been wrapped around a lally column.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the fastener means would further comprise:

(a) a first strip of tape running lengthwise along the first edge on the first side of the cover for the entire length of the cover,

(b) a second strip of tape running lengthwise along the second edge on the second side of the cover for the entire length of the cover,

(c) whereby a user would removably attach the first strip of tape to the second strip of tape once the cover had been wrapped around a lally column.