US20070181865A1 - Pickets for use in modular fence systems - Google Patents
Pickets for use in modular fence systems Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070181865A1 US20070181865A1 US11/349,818 US34981806A US2007181865A1 US 20070181865 A1 US20070181865 A1 US 20070181865A1 US 34981806 A US34981806 A US 34981806A US 2007181865 A1 US2007181865 A1 US 2007181865A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fence
- pickets
- picket
- rear face
- pair
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H17/00—Fencing, e.g. fences, enclosures, corrals
- E04H17/14—Fences constructed of rigid elements, e.g. with additional wire fillings or with posts
- E04H17/1413—Post-and-rail fences, e.g. without vertical cross-members
- E04H17/1417—Post-and-rail fences, e.g. without vertical cross-members with vertical cross-members
- E04H17/1426—Picket fences
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H17/00—Fencing, e.g. fences, enclosures, corrals
- E04H17/14—Fences constructed of rigid elements, e.g. with additional wire fillings or with posts
- E04H17/16—Fences constructed of rigid elements, e.g. with additional wire fillings or with posts using prefabricated panel-like elements, e.g. wired frames
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to modular fence systems utilizing extruded plastic resin members and, more particularly, to a plank or picket member arranged to interlockably engage adjacent other ones of such picket members to form a solid panel portion of the fence system.
- Modular fence systems utilizing various types of extruded plastic components have enjoyed significant increases in popularity among homeowners and businesses during the past several years. These fences have generally been favorably accepted by users as being more attractive and weather resistant than traditional wood fencing.
- a significant disadvantage associated with this and other prior art plastic fence systems is the inescaable eventual sagging of the bottom rail which supports the entire weight of the vertically positioned pickets that form the privacy panel between adjacent posts. Attempts at solving this unsightly problem, which also adversely affects the structural integrity of the fence, have taken different forms. Some attempted solutions utilize a metal insert positioned in the open channel of the bottom rail to help support the weight of the pickets.
- the Forbis reference cited above teaches the use of plank projections protruding outwardly near the ends of each plank or picket to engage channel projections formed in the open channels of the upper and lower fence rails in an attempt to more evenly distribute the weight of the pickets between the top and bottom rails. Without exception, all of the prior art attempts at solving the sagging rail problem are cumbersome and require additional costly materials and labor in their implementation.
- the weight of a panel of joined together vertical fence pickets bears only at the ends of the bottom rail at its two points of attachment to adjacent posts. This is accomplished by providing double tongue and groove structures along the left and right edges of each of the fence pickets to facilitate interlocking engagement between adjoining pickets that prevents sliding vertical movement therebetween.
- FIG. 1 is a top end plan view of a fence picket constructed in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a bottom end plan view of the fence picket of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a pictorial diagram of portions of two of the fence pickets of FIGS. 1 and 2 , illustrating their positions prior to being moved into side-by-side interlocking engagement with each other.
- FIG. 4 is a pictorial diagram illustrating the interlocked positions of the two fence pickets of FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 5 illustrates the details of the interlocking connection of the the two fence pickets of FIG. 4 .
- FIGS. 1 and 2 there are shown top and bottom end views, respectively of a fence picket 10 , in accordance with the present invention.
- Fence picket 10 of chosen length, may be fabricated from any of the many commercially available plastic resin materials using extrusion molding processes well known in the plastics industry.
- Fence picket 10 has a first face wall 12 , an opposing second face wall 14 , and a generally hollow interior therebetween.
- a plurality of internal web walls 16 are disposed between face walls 12 , 14 to provide structural support thereof in accordance with accepted plastic molding techniques.
- indentations or grooves 18 in face walls 12 , 14 that extend the entire length of the picket 10 are provided at the midway point in the width thereof to enhance the aesthetic appearance of fence picket 10 .
- Picket 10 has preferred cross-sectional dimensions of one inch by eight inches, but, observed from a distance, the indentations 18 produce the appearance of two four-inch wide pickets.
- the left edge of picket 10 is formed to include a pair of elongate hollow protrusions or tongues 30 , 32 that extend the entire length of picket 10 .
- Tongue 30 is formed proximate face wall 12
- tongue 32 is formed proximate face wall 14
- Tongues 30 , 32 are arc-shaped at their distal ends.
- An internal web wall 33 spans each of the tongues 30 , 32 at inner ends thereof in order to provide structural support therefor.
- the elongate space between tongues 30 , 32 forms a central groove 34 midway between face walls 12 , 14 .
- An arcuate wall 35 serves to terminate groove 34 at its inner end.
- the right edge of picket 10 is formed to include a single elongate, hollow protrusion or tongue 40 that also extends the entire length of picket 10 and is positioned midway between face walls 12 , 14 .
- Tongue 40 is arc-shaped at its distal end, which extends beyond the right edges of face walls 12 , 14 .
- An internal web wall 41 spans tongue 40 at an inner end thereof for purposes of structural support.
- the elongate spaces on either side of tongue 40 form a pair of grooves 42 , 44 proximate face walls 12 , 14 , respectively.
- Arcuate walls 46 , 48 serve as the inner termini of grooves 42 , 44 , respectively.
- the double tongue and groove structure of the fence pickets 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention results in a considerable increase in the surface area of frictional contact between the joined fence pickets 10 . This results in a much more secure connection that prevents longitudinal sliding movement between any of the joined fence pickets 10 .
- the resulting panel formed by a plurality of joined fence pickets 10 bears only at the points of attachment to posts of a conventional bottom rail into which the panel is inserted. Undesirable sagging of the bottom rail, as routinely occurs in prior art fence systems, is thus prevented.
Abstract
A modular fence system that eliminates the pervasive problem of a sagging bottom rail due to the cumulative weight of the pickets bearing downwardly thereon and that does so without additional labor or material costs. A double tongue and groove structure along the vertical edges of each of the fence pickets facilitates interlocking engagement between adjoining pickets that prevents sliding vertical movement therebetween. Thus, the weight of a panel of joined together vertical fence pickets bears only at the ends of the bottom rail, into which the panel of pickets is positioned, at its two points of attachment to adjacent posts.
Description
- This application is related to the subject matter of a design application entitled FENCE PICKET filed on the same date by the same inventor, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This invention relates generally to modular fence systems utilizing extruded plastic resin members and, more particularly, to a plank or picket member arranged to interlockably engage adjacent other ones of such picket members to form a solid panel portion of the fence system.
- Modular fence systems utilizing various types of extruded plastic components have enjoyed significant increases in popularity among homeowners and businesses during the past several years. These fences have generally been favorably accepted by users as being more attractive and weather resistant than traditional wood fencing.
- Representative of such prior art plastic fence systems is that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,987 to Forbis, which utilizes spaced apart posts, top and bottom rail members horizontally supported parallel to each other between a pair of adjacent posts, and a plurality of fence planks or pickets vertically positioned against one another within open channels of the top and bottom rail members to thereby form a solid privacy panel between each pair of fence posts.
- A significant disadvantage associated with this and other prior art plastic fence systems is the inescaable eventual sagging of the bottom rail which supports the entire weight of the vertically positioned pickets that form the privacy panel between adjacent posts. Attempts at solving this unsightly problem, which also adversely affects the structural integrity of the fence, have taken different forms. Some attempted solutions utilize a metal insert positioned in the open channel of the bottom rail to help support the weight of the pickets. The Forbis reference cited above teaches the use of plank projections protruding outwardly near the ends of each plank or picket to engage channel projections formed in the open channels of the upper and lower fence rails in an attempt to more evenly distribute the weight of the pickets between the top and bottom rails. Without exception, all of the prior art attempts at solving the sagging rail problem are cumbersome and require additional costly materials and labor in their implementation.
- It would therefore be advantageous to provide a modular fence system that eliminates the pervasive problem in the prior art of a sagging bottom rail due to the collective weight of the pickets bearing downwardly thereon and that does so without additional labor or material costs.
- In accordance with the illustrated preferred embodiment of the present invention, the weight of a panel of joined together vertical fence pickets bears only at the ends of the bottom rail at its two points of attachment to adjacent posts. This is accomplished by providing double tongue and groove structures along the left and right edges of each of the fence pickets to facilitate interlocking engagement between adjoining pickets that prevents sliding vertical movement therebetween.
-
FIG. 1 is a top end plan view of a fence picket constructed in accordance with the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a bottom end plan view of the fence picket ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a pictorial diagram of portions of two of the fence pickets ofFIGS. 1 and 2 , illustrating their positions prior to being moved into side-by-side interlocking engagement with each other. -
FIG. 4 is a pictorial diagram illustrating the interlocked positions of the two fence pickets ofFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 5 illustrates the details of the interlocking connection of the the two fence pickets ofFIG. 4 . - Referring now to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , there are shown top and bottom end views, respectively of afence picket 10, in accordance with the present invention.Fence picket 10, of chosen length, may be fabricated from any of the many commercially available plastic resin materials using extrusion molding processes well known in the plastics industry.Fence picket 10 has afirst face wall 12, an opposingsecond face wall 14, and a generally hollow interior therebetween. A plurality ofinternal web walls 16 are disposed betweenface walls grooves 18 inface walls picket 10 are provided at the midway point in the width thereof to enhance the aesthetic appearance offence picket 10.Picket 10 has preferred cross-sectional dimensions of one inch by eight inches, but, observed from a distance, theindentations 18 produce the appearance of two four-inch wide pickets. - Referring additionally to
FIGS. 3-5 , it may be seen that the left edge ofpicket 10 is formed to include a pair of elongate hollow protrusions ortongues picket 10.Tongue 30 is formedproximate face wall 12, whiletongue 32 is formedproximate face wall 14.Tongues internal web wall 33 spans each of thetongues tongues central groove 34 midway betweenface walls arcuate wall 35 serves to terminategroove 34 at its inner end. It may also be seen that the right edge ofpicket 10 is formed to include a single elongate, hollow protrusion ortongue 40 that also extends the entire length ofpicket 10 and is positioned midway betweenface walls Tongue 40 is arc-shaped at its distal end, which extends beyond the right edges offace walls internal web wall 41 spanstongue 40 at an inner end thereof for purposes of structural support. The elongate spaces on either side oftongue 40 form a pair ofgrooves proximate face walls Arcuate walls grooves - In order to assemble a plurality of
fence pickets 10 to form a solid privacy panel for use in a fence system utilizing top and bottom rails supported between two posts, they are first aligned as illustrated inFIG. 3 . Adjacent ones offence pickets 10 are then brought together such thattongue 40 of the left one of thepickets 10 is inserted intogroove 34 of the right one of thepickets 10, as illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5 . The frictional engagement betweentongues grooves fence pickets 10 in the joined, interlocked position shown inFIG. 4 . In contrast to the single tongue and groove arrangement of prior art fence pickets, the double tongue and groove structure of thefence pickets 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention results in a considerable increase in the surface area of frictional contact between the joinedfence pickets 10. This results in a much more secure connection that prevents longitudinal sliding movement between any of the joinedfence pickets 10. As previously stated, the resulting panel formed by a plurality of joinedfence pickets 10 bears only at the points of attachment to posts of a conventional bottom rail into which the panel is inserted. Undesirable sagging of the bottom rail, as routinely occurs in prior art fence systems, is thus prevented. - It is to be understood that the structural arrangements described herein are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and alternative arrangements.
Claims (9)
1. A fence picket having a desired length, the fence picket comprising:
a front face wall;
an opposing rear face wall spaced a desired distance behind said front face wall and parallel thereto;
a left edge of said fence picket, between said front and rear face walls, being formed to provide a pair of elongate outwardly projecting tongues extending the entire length of said fence picket, a space between said pair of tongues forming a single central groove midway between said front and rear face walls; and
a right edge of said fence picket, between said front and rear face walls, being formed to include a single elongate outwardly projecting tongue midway between said front and rear face walls and extending the entire length of said fence picket, elongate spaces on either side of said single tongue forming a pair of grooves, one of which is proximate said front face wall and the other of which is proximate said rear face wall.
2. A fence picket as in claims 1, wherein the space between said front and rear face walls is substantially void.
3. A fence picket as in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of internal web walls between said front and rear face walls.
4. A fence picket as in claim 1 , wherein said front and rear face walls include an elongate groove formed therein, said groove extending lengthwise along said fence picket.
5. A fence picket as in claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of tongues formed in said left edge of said fence picket is arc-shaped at a distal end thereof.
6. A fence picket as in claim 5 , further comprising an arcuate wall forming an inner terminus of said single central groove between said pair of tongues.
7. A fence picket as in claim 1 , wherein said single tongue formed in said right edge of said fence picket is arc-shaped at a distal end thereof.
8. A fence picket as in claim 7 , further comprising an arcuate wall forming an inner terminus of each of said pair of grooves on either side of said single tongue.
9. A method for assembling a plurality of fence pickets in side by side relationship to form a fence panel, comprising:
providing a plurality of pickets of desired length, each of the pickets having a front face wall and an opposing rear face wall spaced a desired distance behind said front face wall and parallel thereto, a left edge of each of said fence pickets, between said front and rear face walls, being formed to provide a pair of elongate outwardly projecting tongues extending the entire length of said picket, a space between said pair of tongues forming a single central groove midway between said front and rear face walls, a right edge of each of said fence pickets, between said front and rear face walls, being formed to include a single elongate outwardly projecting tongue midway between said front and rear face walls and extending the entire length of said fence picket, elongate spaces on either side of said single tongue forming a pair of grooves, one of which is proximate said front face wall and the other of which is proximate said rear face wall;
aligning said plurality of fence pickets in side by side relationship, with said right edge of one of said plurality of fence pickets abutting said left edge of an adjacent one of said plurality of fence pickets; and
inserting said single tongue on said right edge of said one of said plurality of fence pickets into said single groove between said pair of tongues on said left side of said adjacent one of said plurality of fence pickets to thereby effect interlocking engagement of said single tongue and said pair of grooves on said right edge of said one of said plurality of fence pickets with said single groove and said pair of tongues on said left side of said adjacent one of said plurality of fence pickets.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/349,818 US20070181865A1 (en) | 2006-02-07 | 2006-02-07 | Pickets for use in modular fence systems |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/349,818 US20070181865A1 (en) | 2006-02-07 | 2006-02-07 | Pickets for use in modular fence systems |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/685,639 Continuation US8312017B2 (en) | 2005-02-03 | 2010-01-11 | Recommender system for identifying a new set of media items responsive to an input set of media items and knowledge base metrics |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070181865A1 true US20070181865A1 (en) | 2007-08-09 |
Family
ID=38333135
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/349,818 Abandoned US20070181865A1 (en) | 2006-02-07 | 2006-02-07 | Pickets for use in modular fence systems |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20070181865A1 (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ITMI20102087A1 (en) * | 2010-11-10 | 2012-05-11 | Olivio Pivato | ENCLOSURE WALL WITH PLASTIC ELEMENTS |
US20130328001A1 (en) * | 2008-10-20 | 2013-12-12 | Vision Extrusions Limited | Fence system |
US10161161B2 (en) * | 2015-06-12 | 2018-12-25 | Jihong Yin | Enclosing wallboard firm-connection device |
WO2019241840A1 (en) * | 2018-06-19 | 2019-12-26 | Uberrimae Pty Ltd | Fencing system |
USD896986S1 (en) * | 2019-04-02 | 2020-09-22 | BODO Plastics Company LTD | Fence panel |
USD896987S1 (en) * | 2019-04-02 | 2020-09-22 | BODO Plastics Company LTD | Fence panel |
GB2588079A (en) * | 2019-08-06 | 2021-04-21 | Genwork Ltd | Fence |
US11268284B2 (en) | 2017-11-14 | 2022-03-08 | Vision Extrusions Group Limited | Railing system |
US11499337B2 (en) * | 2017-11-14 | 2022-11-15 | Vision Extrusions Group Limited | Fence panel system |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US753791A (en) * | 1903-08-25 | 1904-03-01 | Elisha J Fulghum | Method of making floor-boards. |
US6202987B1 (en) * | 1997-02-19 | 2001-03-20 | Kroy Building Products, Inc. | Fence system |
US20030041545A1 (en) * | 2001-06-27 | 2003-03-06 | Stanchfield Oliver O. | High friction joint, and interlocking joints for forming a generally planar surface, and method of assembling the same |
US20040051093A1 (en) * | 2002-09-16 | 2004-03-18 | Norman Manning | Extruded fence post and modular fence assembly |
-
2006
- 2006-02-07 US US11/349,818 patent/US20070181865A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US753791A (en) * | 1903-08-25 | 1904-03-01 | Elisha J Fulghum | Method of making floor-boards. |
US6202987B1 (en) * | 1997-02-19 | 2001-03-20 | Kroy Building Products, Inc. | Fence system |
US20030041545A1 (en) * | 2001-06-27 | 2003-03-06 | Stanchfield Oliver O. | High friction joint, and interlocking joints for forming a generally planar surface, and method of assembling the same |
US20040051093A1 (en) * | 2002-09-16 | 2004-03-18 | Norman Manning | Extruded fence post and modular fence assembly |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20130328001A1 (en) * | 2008-10-20 | 2013-12-12 | Vision Extrusions Limited | Fence system |
US10851560B2 (en) | 2008-10-20 | 2020-12-01 | Vision Extrusions Ltd. | Fence system |
USD858798S1 (en) | 2009-06-18 | 2019-09-03 | Vision Extrusions Ltd. | Fence |
USD890953S1 (en) | 2009-06-18 | 2020-07-21 | Vision Extrustions Ltd. | Fence |
ITMI20102087A1 (en) * | 2010-11-10 | 2012-05-11 | Olivio Pivato | ENCLOSURE WALL WITH PLASTIC ELEMENTS |
US10161161B2 (en) * | 2015-06-12 | 2018-12-25 | Jihong Yin | Enclosing wallboard firm-connection device |
US11268284B2 (en) | 2017-11-14 | 2022-03-08 | Vision Extrusions Group Limited | Railing system |
US11499337B2 (en) * | 2017-11-14 | 2022-11-15 | Vision Extrusions Group Limited | Fence panel system |
WO2019241840A1 (en) * | 2018-06-19 | 2019-12-26 | Uberrimae Pty Ltd | Fencing system |
USD896986S1 (en) * | 2019-04-02 | 2020-09-22 | BODO Plastics Company LTD | Fence panel |
USD896987S1 (en) * | 2019-04-02 | 2020-09-22 | BODO Plastics Company LTD | Fence panel |
GB2588079A (en) * | 2019-08-06 | 2021-04-21 | Genwork Ltd | Fence |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FENCE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC., COLORADO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HEIN, PAUL R.;REEL/FRAME:019427/0970 Effective date: 20070607 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |