Fences – Panel – Angle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-21
2001-09-25
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Fences
Panel
Angle
C256S024000, C256S067000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293523
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to fencing and retaining wall systems and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for creating fences, retaining walls, and related structures which are capable of having fully adjustable angles between the sections.
Traditionally, retaining walls and walls for bins and fences have been limited to strait line runs or runs with a 90° relation between wall sections. Providing for angles between wall sections which are not exactly 90 or 180° between sections and yet also structurally strong has been difficult. Heretofore, provision of said angles required much time and effort on the part of the installation crew. The art of the present invention alleviates this time and effort by providing a system and method which allows the installation crew to install a wall for a fence, bin or retaining structure which is easily capable of angular adjustment in the running plane of the wall.
Typically, retaining walls, bins and fences are formed from a plurality of posts between which are attached one or more planks. Traditionally, planks are nailed or screwed to the flat face of the post, thus limiting plank angles to inline (180°) or orthogonal (90°) since a square post typically has four right angle corners. Since most posts are of rectangular cross section, typically the walled structure is limited to a rectangular form. Deviations from a rectangular form have been possible, but not without much additional work on the part of the installation crew. That is, traditionally special angles or cuts were required on the post or the plank or the plank was toenailed into place. The present invention utilizes a post having one or more uniquely shaped primary slots into which each plank fits. The unique shape of the slot provides for easy angular movement and installation of the plank without sacrificing the strength of the constructed wall.
Prior to the art of the present invention, the installer of a fence, bin or retaining structure needed specialty tools and further had to cut planks and posts with special angles in order to create a structure with angles other than 90° or 180° between sections. This limited the post and plank materials to wood or other materials which could typically be cut with hand tools. Furthermore, It slowed installation and required installers with special skills. Moreover, strength of the finished product was often compromised due to the structural interface and due to the materials used. Very strong materials such as pultruded fiberglass or metallic structures were typically not used for posts, planks, or sections due to the difficulty of cutting, angling, and attaching the posts, planks and sections. The art of the present invention provides a uniquely slotted post and uniquely structured plank which allow an installer to move the plank and related section through a range of continuous positive and negative angle relative to the post onto which it is attached. In a preferred embodiment the range is typically ±25° from the 90° mating with the post.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an angle adjustable retaining wall and fencing system and apparatus which allows an installer to create a retaining wall, bin, fence, or related structure which may be placed with continuous adjustable angles between wall sections and not limited to only 90° or 180° between the wall sections of the structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an angle adjustable retaining wall and fencing system and apparatus which is capable of installation with a minimum of specialty tools.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an angle adjustable retaining wall and fencing system and apparatus which does not require skilled labor to install.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an angle adjustable retaining wall and fencing system and apparatus which is structurally stronger than conventional systems.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an angle adjustable retaining wall and fencing system and apparatus which is capable of manufacture from pultruded fiberglass or other high strength structural materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To accomplish the foregoing and other objects of this invention there is provided an angle adjustable retaining wall and fencing system and apparatus therefore. The system and apparatus provide for the construction of retaining walls, fencing systems, bins, and other structures by uniquely connecting one or more specially formed wall sections with one or more specially formed posts. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least one post having at least one primary slot and one or more planks mounted within said primary slot. Each plank has one or more end holes with moveable pins mounted within said holes for securing of said plank within said primary slot. A wall section is formed from one or more planks. Moreover, each post may have more than one primary slot.
It is important to note that the preferred embodiment provides for continuous angular movement of the one or more planks within a fixed angle range around a vertically placed post. That is, if the post were considered a cylinder with two ends and an outer surface, the end of the plank not attached to the post would rotate quasi tangentially to the outer surface of the cylinder and maintain a substantially fixed distance from each of said two ends. The post could be of any cross sectional shape between said two ends with the same general description of plank and post interaction. Such cross sections are represented by any polygonal shape including but not limited to circular, square, elliptical, and hexagonal.
In preferred and alternative embodiments, the primary slot runs substantially parallel with the end to end axis of the post and also much of the length of said post. The slot is of uniform cross section when viewed as a slice taken perpendicularly with and across the axis of the post. Thus, a description of said primary slot geometry in relation to said cross section provides the required slot description for utilization of the present art. The cross section of the uniquely shaped primary slot is first comprised of an opening in the outer surface of said post which is typically only slightly larger than the thickness of an insertable plank, said opening thereby forming a slot face. Said primary slot cross section further comprises two or more side walls which intersect each edge of said slot face and are angled outward from the inserted plank, thus forming an internal slot cross section which is wider than that of said slot face. This allows for movement of the plank end in the slot in a direction which is orthogonal to the plane of the wall and the post axis. This allows the plank end opposite the slot to rotate as described. The back wall connects the side walls in such a manner as to provide for the desired angular movement of said plank. That is, the width and compound radius structure of the back wall serve as a limit on the movement of the edges of the plank end within the primary slot.
An alternative embodiment incorporates a subslot within the back wall for fixed positioning of the plank without adjustment. That is, a plank fits within the subslot so that angular movement of the plank is prohibited. Typically the subslot is placed in order to ensure a straight or inline (180°) positioning of the plank and wall section but may be placed at any location on the back wall. When desired, the positioning of the plank end holes and thereby the moveable pins within them is such that the plank end fits firmly within the subslot.
In order to secure said plank to said post, one or more pins are placed within holes near an end of said plank before said end is installed into said post. Each of said pins are slidable within their respective holes in said plank in order to allow for the angular movement of said plank. The holes are typically perpendicular to the length axis of the plank. Portions of each of said
Browne Lynne H.
Cottingham John R.
Klug Kevin L.
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