When wishing to protect a porous body, the most common approach is to select an appropriate liquid protective agent an apply it to the surface of the porous body by hand.

For example, if one wished to protect a wooden fence post from the effects of the environment, one would normally paint it with a water proofing agent. However, most liquid preservatives will wear off over time and thus must be reapplied periodically. As a result, such a method of protecting a porous body can become time consuming and labour intensive.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for infusing a porous body with a liquid protective agent, the apparatus comprising a container for the agent and a duct which, in use of the apparatus, has one end connected to the container and the other end received in a passage in the body such that the agent can pass from the container into the body via the duct.

The container may comprise an opening, located in use of the apparatus at the top of the container, to allow the liquid agent to be poured into the container, the apparatus further comprising a removable lid (for example one which snap fits on to the container) for said opening, the lid when in place allowing air flow into the container. In this case, preferably the inner surface of the lid is adapted to resist removal from the container except in a particular orientation relative to the container.

The apparatus may further comprise means for attaching the apparatus to the body. Such means may comprise a portion on the side of the container adapted to receive a fastener.

The end of the duct connected to the container may be connected to or near to the bottom of the container.

The container may include an outlet portion projecting from the container to which the end of the duct connected to the container is snap fitted or held by friction.

The container may be of frusto-conical shape.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of infusing a porous body with a liquid agent comprising providing an apparatus comprising a container and a duct, the duct having one end coupled to the container and the other end received in a passage in the porous body, and supplying the container with the liquid agent, the agent passing from the container into the body via the duct.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-section of an apparatus for infusing a porous body with a liquid protective agent, as installed on a wooden post; FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-section of a container that forms part of the apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a side view of the container of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section of the container of FIG. 2 and 3 stacked in series with containers of the same type; FIG. 5 is a bottom-up view of a lid for use with the container of FIG. 2 and 3; FIG. 6 is a cross-section along line A of the lid of FIG. 5 ; FIG. 7 is a side view of the duct that forms part of the apparatus of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-section of an alternative a container that forms part of an apparatus for infusing a porous body with a liquid protective agent;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the container of FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a rear view of the container of FIG. 8; FIG. 11 is a top-down view of the container of FIG. 8 ; FIG. 12 is bottom-up view of a lid for use with the container of FIG. 8; and FIG. 13 is a cross-section along line A of the lid of FIG. 11.

In the drawings various features or stages of an apparatus and method for infusing a porous body with a liquid protective agent are generally shown.

Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus 1 for infusing a porous body with a liquid protective agent (not shown) is attached to a wooden post 2, the apparatus comprising a container 3 for holding the liquid protective agent and a duct 4 having one end connected to the container 3 and the other end received in a passage in the wooden post 2. The container 3 is open topped and is provided with a removable lid 5, in order to allow the container 3 to be filled or refilled while protecting its contents from rain, debris and tampering. The apparatus 1 is secured to the post 2 by means of a portion 6 on the side of the container adapted to receive a screw or other fastener 7.

As shown in FIG. 1, the duct 4 may be made from a relatively rigid material and secured to the container 3 by snap fitting one end of the duct onto an outlet portion 8 projecting from the base of the container. The other end of the duct is shaped and dimensioned so as to form a tight fit in the passage in the post 2, so as to prevent liquid exiting the duct 4 from flowing back up and out of the passage.

Alternatively, the duct 4 may instead be made from a relatively flexible material. In this case, one end of the duct preferably has an internal diameter equal to or smaller than the external diameter of the outlet portion 8 projecting from the base of the container, such that when this end of the duct is forced over the outlet portion, it is retained by friction.

The other end of the duct preferably has an external diameter equal to or larger than the internal diameter of the passage in the post, such that a tight fit is again created so as to prevent liquid either forcing the duct out of the passage or flowing around the duct and thus up and out of the passage.

Referring in particular to FIG. 1, 2 and 3, the container 3 is of frusto-conical shape and is provided with a flanged rim 9 by which the container lid 5 is retained. The outlet portion is provided with external ridges 10 in order to better secure the duct 4 thereto.

Preferably the container 3 has an internal volume of about 30 to 40 ml. Preferably the container 3 is about 4.5cm long (dimension W), excluding the outlet portion 8,0.25cm of which is taken up by the rim 9 (dimension V), has an internal diameter of about 2.7cm at the base (dimension Z) and 3.7cm at the top (dimension Y), and has an external diameter of about 4.2cm at the top (dimension X).

Referring to FIG. 4, the frusto-conical shape of the container 3 allows a number of such containers to be conveniently stacked for easy transport and distribution.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 the lid 5 comprises means for resisting removal of the lid 5 from the container 3 consisting of a pair of opposing lugs 11 projecting inwards from the rim of the lid 5. In order to place the lid 5 on the container 3 the lugs 11 are lined up with a pair of notches (not shown) in the flanged rim 9 of the container 3 and the lid 5 snapped into place. The lid 5 is then rotated relative to the container 3 such the lugs 11 lie beneath the flanged rim 9, the lugs 11 and rim 9 thereby cooperating to hold the lid 5 in place. Removal of the lid 5 is effected by reversing the above process. The lid 5 and container 3 are externally marked in order to provide assistance in correctly lining up the lid and container.

Referring to FIG. 1 and 7, where a relatively rigid construction is desired, the duct 4 is preferably a pipe with a diameter of about 7mm with a single bend, the acute angle of which is 135 degrees (angle S), the pipe having a length of about 2. 5cm from the bend to the end of the pipe to which the container 3 is attached (dimension T) and a length of about 9.0cm from the bend to the end of the pipe received in the porous body (dimension

(dimension U).

The container and lid are both preferably made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Where a relatively rigid duct is desired, this can likewise be made of PVC. Where instead a relatively flexible duct is desired, this can take the form of a flexible tube made from PVC.

Referring to FIG. 8,9 and 10, in an alternative embodiment, the container 12 is again of frusto-conical shape (so as to allow easy stacking), and is provided with a flanged rim 13 for retaining a lid, an outlet portion 14 projecting from the base of the container to which the end of a duct (not shown) can be attached, and a portion 15 on the side of the container adapted to receive a screw or other fastener (not shown).

The portion 15 adapted to receive a fastener comprises a hood 16 that projects from the side wall of the container and surrounds an opening 17 in the container wall through which a fastener can be passed. The opening is inclined downwards in the normal orientation of the container when in use, thereby increasing the amount of downward force needed to pull the container away from the object to which it is fixed. Preferably, the obtuse angle formed between the central axis of the opening and the central axis of the outlet portion is 109.5 degrees.

The dimensions of the container are preferably as follows: length-6.16cm (of which 0.25cm is taken up by the flanged rim and 1.63cm is taken up by the outlet portion) ; wall thickness-0.21 Scm; thickness of end of outlet portion-0. 1 15cm ; diameter of container at base-3.04cm; diameter of container at top (excluding flange)-4cm; diameter of container at top (including flange)-4.216cm; external diameter of end of outlet portion- 0.63cm; distance hood projects outwards beyond edge of flanged rim-0. 5cm.

Referring to FIG. 11,12 and 13, the flanged rim 13 is provided with three notches 18 positioned at equal intervals around the rim. Likewise, the lid 19 for use with the container is provided with three inwardly projecting lugs 20 positioned at equal intervals around the rim of the lid. Thus the lid is placed on, and removed from, the container in

a similar manner to that described in relation to the previous embodiment, with the lugs interacting with the flanged rim to resist removal of the lid from the container except when aligned with the notches in the rim.

Preferably the notches each extend around 18 degrees of the rim of the container, while the lugs each extend around 17.3 degrees of the rim of the lid. Preferably the lugs extend inward from the rim of the lid by 0.1cm and are 0.2cm thick, with the lid having a 0.26 cm gap between the lugs and the inner face of the top of the lid.