Fences – Rail – Connection
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-13
2004-01-20
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3679)
Fences
Rail
Connection
C256S065010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06679481
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of fencing, and in particular to fencing where the fence posts are tubes and where the cross-members may also be tubes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The prior art is replete with improvements in the art of fencing, and in particular in improvements of the various elements which make up a fence. The problems which are, of course, faced normally by a fencing practitioner require that fencing components be inexpensively obtained, inexpensively transported, efficiently installed, and durable and stable over extended periods of time when exposed to all environmental conditions. With respect to fence posts in particular, it is desirable that the posts themselves be relatively lightweight for transportation, and be relatively easily insertable into the ground, for example by having a pointed lower end, so that the requisite post hole digging is kept to a minimum, while maximizing the stability of the post. Often, where the posts are made of wood, the wood has to be treated to delay the onset of moisture induced rot.
Prior art is also replete with attempts to ease the mounting or hanging of cross-members which extend between fence posts.
The most relevant piece of prior art of which applicant is aware is U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,960 which issued to Bright on Nov. 25, 1975 for his rail and post fencing. Bright discloses the use of pre-formed fencing sections that may be positioned in end-to-end relation, each section being secured to an adjacent section to construct the fence. Each fence section includes a pair of end posts, intermediate posts between the end posts, and a plurality of fence rails. The posts and the rails are all tubular. The tubular rails extend through corresponding apertures in the intermediate posts, the ends of the rails inserting into blind apertures in each end post. Each end of each rail is formed with apertures for receiving an elongated locking rod so that, with the ends of the rails inserted into the blind apertures in the end posts, and with the apertures in the ends of the rails coaxially aligned, the locking rod may be inserted through the apertures in the ends of the rails to lock the rails to the end posts. With the ends of the rails inserted through the blind apertures in the end posts, the apertures in the ends of the rails are aligned coaxially with the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the end post.
Bright teaches that without anything more than the locking rod and the rail apertures, the assembly of the end post locking structure is extremely difficult because it is not possible to closely control the alignment or position of the innermost end of the locking rod as it is inserted into the end post. In particular, Bright advises that the longer the end post, the more difficult is the assembly. Consequently, Bright provides a plurality of locking rod spacers which are wedged or frictionally secured to and within the end posts, the spacers each preferably taking the form of a flat body having a substantially centrally positioned aperture formed therein. Bright teaches that it is preferred to employ one spacer for each rail end positioned adjacent each railed receiving end post aperture. The locking rod is inserted from the top of the end post, through the rail apertures and also through the apertures in the spacers, a major function of the spacers being to align and position the rod centrally and axially of the end posts during insertion of the locking rod. Bright teaches that the use of the spacers substantially eliminates the problem of “finding” the several rail apertures as the distance between the rail apertures and the upper end of the end post increases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In summary, the fencing system of the present invention includes elongate posts and cross-members. The posts are hollow tubular posts having cylindrical cavities along their length and apertures formed in side walls thereof. The apertures are for accepting in mating engagement therein the cross-members when the cross-members extend between adjacent posts in a parallel array of the posts. The cross-members each have a hole in at least one end thereof although usually in both ends, the hole holes extending laterally through the end or ends of the cross-members. A rod is inserted or insertable into the cylindrical cavity of at least one of the posts for mating into each hole of each of the cross-members when the cross-members are mated into the apertures. Each hole of each of the cross-members is sized to accept the rod in journalled relation therethrough. Thus, a single rod may releasably lock a plurality of cross-members mounted to a single post. Each hole in the cross members is spaced inwardly from the ends of the cross member so as to be positioned adjacent to the inner radial surface of the post, when the cross member is fully inserted within the post. The locking rod may then be guided by the inner surface of the post to engage each hole in the cross member of a fence panel.
The fence posts may include posts, characterized for ease of reference as first posts, having a fist spaced apart array of a . The apertures are spaced apart along a length of the fist posts. The first array of ale s are longitudinally spaced from one another relative to respective longitudinal axes of the first posts. Each longitudinal axis may be an axis of symmetry of the first posts. The first posts may be corner or end posts.
The first posts may also be intermediate posts where a first and second spaced apart array of apertures are diametrically aligned so that a single parallel co-planar set of the cross-members may be journalled through both the first and second arrays of apertures in each of the intermediate posts.
The posts may also be used in an embodiment where at least one pair of the posts are coupled in adjacent parallel relation to one another by at least one coupler. The coupler may include a pair of post-engaging members mounted to a common rigid member, the post-engaging members adapted to mate with adjacent first ends of the pair of posts. In one embodiment not intended to be limiting the post-engaging members may be collars, sized to snugly journal into or over the first ends of the pair of posts. Where it is desirable to provide cross or “T” fencing, a coupler having three post-engaging members coupled in adjacent parallel relation to one another may be employed. End posts of a parallel run of fence panels are engaged within the outside pair of post-engaging members and an end post of a cross or “T” fence panel is retained within the center post-engaging member.
In a preferred embodiment, again not intended to be limiting, each first end of the first ends of the pair of posts has a hole in a side wall thereof and the collars each have a radially spaced-apart array of holes radially spaced around axes of symmetry of the collars. Thus, when the collars are mounted to the first ends of the pair of posts so that the axes of symmetry of the collars are co-axial with axes of symmetry of the posts, the hole in each first end may be selectively aligned with a hole in each radially spaced-apart array of holes around each collar. A locking member may then be fastened through the aligned holes to releasably lock the pair of posts in desired positions relative to one another so as to releasably lock a first array of apertures in a first adjacent post of the pair of posts in desired angular relation relative to a second array of apertures on a second adjacent post of the pair of posts.
The coupler may advantageously be a pair of couplers mountable to opposite ends of the pair of posts so as to maintain the pair of posts in their parallel adjacent relation
REFERENCES:
patent: 2242427 (1941-05-01), Heanue
patent: 3462126 (1969-08-01), Demanega
patent: 3787033 (1974-01-01), Snyder et al.
patent: 3921960 (1975-11-01), Bright
patent: 4072294 (1978-02-01), Densen
patent: 4149701 (1979-04-01), Densen
patent: 4477059 (1984-10-01), Willis
patent: 4682761 (1987-07-01), Hanneken
patent: 4691897 (1987-09-01), Frush
patent: 5354037 (1994-10-01), V
McNalley Albey Clarence
McNalley Timothy Clifford
Browne Lynne H.
Edwards Antony C.
Flandro Ryan M.
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