Fences – Panel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-26
2001-11-06
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Fences
Panel
C052S592100, C052S589100, C052S795100, C052S588100, C256S062000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311955
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fencing and particularly to fencing employing components formed of durable plastic (e.g., polyvinyl chloride) material.
The prior art includes fencing systems that utilize sleeve or covering structures for cladding associated wood fence posts and rails. See, e.g., Teasdale U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,126 and Miller U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,942. Various configurations of the cladding components are shown in those patents. It is seen that in each, the entire outer circumference of the posts and rails is covered by the wrap.
It is also known to form tongue and groove fence uprights of hollow tubular plastic, and to provide interlocking fence panels serving to conceal points of attachment. Lancer, Sr. U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,289 discloses fence panels which are interlocked in an overlapping shingle-like fashion along a fence line. The end structure of one panel overlays, and thus conceals, the fastener securing an adjacent panel to the horizontal rails. Edgeman U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,090 discloses a plastic fencing system utilizing post and rail structures formed of hollow extruded plastic tubes, as well as hollow tubular plastic uprights (“pickets”).
FIG. 6
of that patent shows a hollow picket with a tongue and groove configuration which allows the pickets to be interlocked with each other, as seen in FIG.
2
. The pickets or uprights are secured within slots extending along inner faces of upper and lower rails. Center rails and brackets may also be installed.
Parth U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,201 discloses, similar to the Lancer, Sr. patent, fence panels that interlock with each other within a framework constructed of tubular posts and upper and lower rails. By virtue of the play provided in the interlocking end structures (see
FIGS. 3 and 4
of that patent), the overall length of the panels assemblies can be laterally adjusted to account for variations in post-to-post distances.
Known systems employing plastic components, as described above, hold out the prospect of increased durability and reduced maintenance as compared to all-wood fencing. However, the known systems have certain drawbacks in terms of their design. For example, the cladding of the Teasdale and Miller patents does not, unless it is oversized, allow for temperature induced expansions of the wood posts and rails. As a result, bulging or detachment of the cladding may occur. Oversizing of the cladding to avoid this problem is generally undesirable from a structural standpoint, and also because it results in greater material usage and costs. In addition, since the entire circumference of the fence posts and rails are covered with the cladding, it is not possible, once the cladding is installed, to attach the rails to the posts, and the uprights to the rails, with pass-through fasteners such as nails or screws, without driving the fasteners through the cladding layer. Driving a fastener through the cladding material creates a point of fixation restricting relative movement of the cladding and underlying wood. This can result in bulging, warping, tearing and/or cracking of the cladding due to disparate temperature induced expansions/contractions of the wood and plastic material. Separate through-holes can be provided, but this requires an additional manufacturing step. In the fencing system of the Teasdale pates, complicated members are provided as integral parts of the sleeve structures, to allow for connection of wall-forming panels without the need for pass-through fasteners. While potentially avoiding the aforementioned expansion/contraction problems, such complicated structures drive costs higher, due to increased material requirements and/or additional manufacturing steps.
A fencing system rendering more cost-effective the use of plastic components to improve the durability, and decrease the maintenance, of conventional wood fencing would be highly desirable. Equally desirable would be a fencing system utilizing plastic components allowing construction of a hybrid wood/plastic fence having an attractive appearance more closely resembling an all-wood fence.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a cost-effective fencing system that employs resilient plastic components to improve the durability, and decrease the maintenance, of conventional wood fencing.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a fencing system, as aforesaid, which is attractive in appearance and more closely resembles a natural wood fence.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a hybrid fencing system which avoids damage to plastic components due to temperature induced expansions and contractions of the wood and plastic parts.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a fencing system that is easily assembled in a manner similar to an all-wood fence, and which effectively conceals points of attachment of the component parts.
These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by a fencing system for constructing a hybrid fence. The system includes a plurality of elongated wood posts intended to be secured in upright spaced positions along a fence line. A plurality of elongated wood rails are provided for tying together the plurality of wood posts along the fence line. A plurality of uprights are provided to be secured to the rails, in side-by-side relation to each other, to form a fence wall structure.
A plurality of elongated resilient partial post-wrap components have a partial tubular profile generally matching a profile of a corresponding one of the wood posts, and spaced longitudinally extending free edges defining a first longitudinal gap therebetween. Each partial post-wrap component accommodates therein a corresponding one of the posts. A post accommodated in a corresponding partial post-wrap component is, along a substantial portion of its length, substantially covered by the partial post-wrap component, except for a strip of the post corresponding to the longitudinal gap, which remains uncovered by the partial post-wrap component.
A plurality of elongated resilient partial rail-wrap components are provided, having a partial tubular profile generally matching a profile of a corresponding one of the wood rails. The partial rail-wrap components have spaced longitudinally extending free edges defining a second longitudinal gap therebetween. Each partial rail-wrap component accommodates therein a corresponding one of the rails. A rail accommodated in a corresponding partial rail-wrap component is, along a substantial portion of its length, substantially covered by the partial rail-wrap component, except for a strip of the rail corresponding to the second longitudinal gap, which remains uncovered by the partial rail-wrap component. The first longitudinal gap in the partial post-wrap component provides an area within which a plurality of rails can be attached to the post without penetration of the partial post-wrap component by a fastener. The second longitudinal gap in the partial rail-wrap component provides an area within which a plurality of the uprights can be attached to the rails without penetration of the partial rail-wrap component by a fastener. In an assembled state of the hybrid fence, the strips of the wood posts and wood rails left exposed by the first and partial rail-wrap components are generally concealed from view by the uprights.
In a second aspect the present invention is embodied in a generally tubular tongue and groove board substitute. The board substitute has a profile defining, along a first edge, a tongue structure, and along a second opposite edge a corresponding groove structure for receiving a tongue structure of an adjacent like board substitute, to thereby form a tongue and groove interlock. The tongue structure comprises a lengthwise extending tab through which fasteners may be passed, to effect an attachment of the uprights to a supporting structure concealed within the tongue and groove interlock.
REFERENCES:
patent: 123487 (1872-0
Fiume Michael A.
McGarry Benjamin L.
Mowery Jack T.
Associated Materials Incorporated
Banner & Witcoff , Ltd.
Browne Lynne H.
Garcia Ernesto
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