Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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mTTLE OF THE INVENTION
Cap for chain link fence.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cap which is
adapted to be inserted at the open extremity of a tubular
slat that extends through openings of the lattice work of
a chain link fence formed of interconnected wires.
BACRGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A chain link fence consists conventionally of
metallic wires, covered or not with plastic material,
that extend vertically in a zig-zag manner and are
interconnected to one another to form loops or
openings. Some of these fences are covered with
elongated slats which are slid, either vertically or
obliquely, in a woven manner, through the rhomboidal-like
openings of the lattice work of the fence. One such
fence may be found described in U.S. patent no. 5,482,256
issued January 9, 1996 to Caron.
OBJECTS AND STATEM.um pF THE INVENTION
The present invention is concerned with
providing a cap which is mounted at one end of a pair of
tubular slats to ensure that the slats are securely
engaged to the fence.
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The present invention therefore relates to such
a cap which comprises a top portion and a pair of leg
portions integrally formed with and depending from the
top portion; each leg portion is so shaped as to be
insertable into the tubular slat at one open end thereof.
Each leg portion has means tightly engaging the slat
whereby connection of the cap to a pair of two adjacent
slats secures these slats to the fence.
In one preferred form of the invention, each
leg portion has a resilient finger which is adapted to be
flexed inwardly to slide along the inside wall of the
tubular slat and outwardly to extend through a side
opening provided adjacent the open end of the slat.
In another form of the invention, the cap is
made of plastics material; however, the material is
severable at least in the area of the connection of the
leg portion to the top portion so that a cap with a
single leg portion may be used if required at certain
locations of the fence.
Other objects and further scope of
applicability of the present invention will become
apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
It should be understood, however, that this detailed
description, while indicating preferred embodiments of
the invention, is given by way of illustration only,
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since various changes and modifications within the spirit
and scope of the invention will become apparent to those
skilled in the art.
Figure 1 is an elevation of part of a fence
provided with slats and equipped with caps made in
accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is an elevational cross-sectional view
showing the engagement of one cap to a pair of slats;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along
lines 3-3 of figure 2;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along
lines 4-4 of figure 2; and
Figure 5 is an exploded view showing the cap in
relation to the extremities of a pair of slats.
Referring to figure 1, there is shown a part of
a chain link fence, generally denoted 10, which is formed
of interconnected wires 12 that define an open lattice
work of rhomboidal openings through which extends a
series of elongated slats 14 extending between front and
rear runs 12a and 12b of the wires in a woven fashion.
As can be seen from figure 5, each slat 14 defines a
hollow tubular body, the upper extremity of which defines
an open end 16. Adjacent this open end, opposite side
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openings 18 and 20 are displayed, the function of which
will be described further hereinbelow.
As illustrated in figures 1 to 4, a cap,
generally denoted 22, is provided for each pair of slats
14. Each cap 22 comprises a triangular shaped top
portion 24, from the base of which downwardly extends a
pair of leg portions 26 and 28. The width of each leg
portion 26, 28 is such as to be able to penetrate into
the open end 16 of the tubular slat. Each leg portion
has a larger reinforcing flange 26a, 28a, and an integral
finger-like extension 26b, 28b which is capable of being
flexed in and out of a corresponding recessed area 30,
32. The cap is entirely made of plastics material so
that depending on the thickness of the fingers' lower
areas 34, 36 connecting them to their corresponding
flanges 26a, 28a, the hinge movement of the fingers will
be more or less flexible.
Referring to figure 5, as the cap 22 is
inserted into the open ends 16 of two adjacent slats 14,
the opposite facing upper edges 38 and 40 of the fingers
26b and 28b will contact and slide along the inside wall
of the tubular slats, the fingers being flexed inwardly
into their corresponding recessed areas 30 and 32. As
the fingers 26b and 28b reach their corresponding side
openings 18 and 20 of the slats, they flex outwardly,
slightly protruding outside the side openings (as can be
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seen in figure 2) and thus providing some securement to
the connection of the slats to the cap.
The plastics material used for the cap is
preferably one which is severable, at least in the area
of the connection of the leg portions to the top portion
so that, in certain cases where the post of a fence or
the connecting bar of the fence post makes it impossible
to have a slat in the immediate proximity of the post or
bar. In such cases, one leg portion is cut off so that
the cap with its remaining leg portion may engage a
single slat.
Although the invention has been described above
with respect with one specific form, it will be evident
to a person skilled in the art that it may be modified
and refined in various ways. It is evident that, if
slats extend obliquely to the fence, the cap may still be
used to secure them in place. It is therefore wished to
have it understood that the present invention should not
be limited in scope, except by the terms of the following
claims.
