Fences – Rail – Connection
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-12
2001-01-30
Kim, Harry C. (Department: 3629)
Fences
Rail
Connection
C256S026000, C256S073000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179274
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a support post system, and, particularly, to a support post system for use in construction of fences and walls for various purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Post-supported fences and walls have been used in numerous settings for hundreds of years. In such fences or walls, substantially horizontal rails are supported by substantially vertical posts. Generally, the supporting posts of such fences are buried into the ground.
The posts for early post-supported fences and walls were fabricated largely if not entirely from wood. Unfortunately, wood is adversely affected by environmental conditions over a relatively short period of time, especially when buried in the ground. Recently, therefore, wooden posts have been replaced in many instances by concrete or metallic posts better suited to withstand the extremes of temperature and moisture required of an outdoor system.
In the past it also has been very difficult to construct post-supported fences and walls and to replace damaged rails in post-supported fences or walls. In many cases it was necessary to remove the post adjacent a damaged rail from the ground to repair or replace the damaged rail. In an attempt to facilitate the construction of fences and walls and to facilitate the repair thereof, a number of modular fencing systems have been proposed.
Nonetheless, the modular systems currently available suffer from a number of significant drawbacks. For example, such systems are often difficult to assemble. Moreover, it is often difficult to lay out such modular systems in a desired geometric arrangement. Still further, many such modular systems are not sturdy enough for use in many settings.
It is, therefore, desirable to develop a support post and support post system that minimizes or eliminates these and other drawbacks associated with current posts and support post systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides generally a support post system comprising a support member having at least one recess in a surface of the support member for receiving and seating a rail member. The support member further comprises at least one attachment member which extends outwardly substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support member. The attachment member extends through the recess and preferably beyond the surface of the support member. In one embodiment, the attachment member passes through a corresponding passage in the rail member when the rail member is seated in the recess. The rail may be seated in the recess without the attachment member passing through the rail member, however. The support post system further comprises a finish plate for placement over the rail member after the rail member is seated in the recess. The finish plate has a passage formed therein to allow passage of the attachment member therethrough. The support post system also comprises means for removably securing the finish plate to the attachment means.
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Bartony Hare & Edson
Kim Harry C.
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