Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~03633Z
lllis invention relates to a method of building a fence struc-
ture and, more particularly, to the method of building a fence structure
of a substantially identical appearance on both sides thereof.
Wood or board fences are in widespread use today. These
usually comprise a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally extending ~-
boards secured to one face or side of the fence for securing the usual -
upright fence slats or pickets together. As a result, one side of the
fence is substantially unencumbered, and of a relatively attractive
appearance, whereas the other face or side is unsightly. The upright
fence elements or slats are usually secured to the hori~ontally extending
boards by nails or the like; normal weather conditions generally cause
the nails to rust, and the rust or corrosion of the nails frequently
stains or otherwise mars the appearance of the attractive side. In addi- ;
tion, the horizontally extending boards provide a "ladder" type structure
on one side of the fence which small children may climb, which not only
enables them to scale the fence, but also frequently results in mishaps
which cause personal in~ury to the child.
The present invention contemplates a novel method of building
a fence structure which is particularly designed and constructed for over-
coming the foregoing disadvantages. The resulting fence i~ of a substan-
tially identical attractive appearance on both sides, and is assembled or
secured together in a manner which eliminates the need for nails, and the
like. The fence structure provided by the method of an aspect of the
present invention comprises a plurality of fence sections secured together
in side-by-side or end-to-end relationship for providing a fence of sub-
stantially any desired length and for substantially any surface contour of
- the area being fenced. Each fence section comprises a fence panel or mod-
~-t ule attached between a pair of end posts. Each fence panel or module com-
prises a plurality of fence elements or fence boards which are suspended
Oll a pair of elongated rod members which extend transversely through the
fence boards and into the end posts. The rod elements, therefore, are
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entirely encased within the various fence elements described above, thus
reducing or substantially eliminating any staining or other
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103633Z
marring of the attractive faces of the fence structure. ~ach fence panel
or module suspended between a pair of end posts i8 slightly different from
the adjacent fence panel or module on the opposite sides of these fence
posts and is secured to its fence posts through holes which are offset
from the holes provided in the end posts for the adjacent fence modules
or panels.
The connecting rod means used in the method of an aspect of the
present invention eliminates the need for horizontally extending board ;
members are used in present day fences of this type, and thus eliminates
the "ladder" type construction and the inherent disadvantages thereof.
The novel fence structure is of a simple and economical construction and
involves a method of assembly which is also simple and economical.
; More particularly, the present invention in one of its broad
- aspects involves the selection of a plurality of identically sized fence
boards and a plurality of substantially identically sized fence posts.
j A first fence panel is assembled by arranging a predetermined number of
fence boards in aligned side-by-side relation, passing a pair of spaced
. parallel rods through aligned holes in the fence boards so that the rod
ends project outwardly from the sides of each first panel. The rods in
each first panel are spaced apart a predetermined distance froQ each
other and at predetermined distances from a reference end of the boards
` on the first panel, for example, the bottom ends of the boards. A second
fence panel is assembled by arranging an identical predetermined number
of fence boards in aligned side-by-side relation passing a pair of spaced
parallel rods through aligned holes in this predetermined number of fence
boards so that the rod ends project outwardly from the sides of each --
second panel. The rods in the second panel are spaced apart from each
other the same predetermined distance as described above in connection
with the first panel. However, the rods are spaced from the reference
end of the boards Or the second panel at different distances with res-
pect to the spacing on the first panel. The fence posts are provided
with two pairs of holes, the pairs being offset from each other. The
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holes of eacll pair are spaced apa~t a distance equal to the predetermined
distance between the rods. Thus, when erecting a fence using the method ~-
of an aspect of the present inven1:1On, a first fence po~t is inserted in
the ground at the desired level, one fence panel, such as the first fence
panel, is attached to the fence post by inserting the rods in one pair
of holes in the fence post. A second post is inserted in the ground at
the opposite end of this first section and attached thereto in substan~
tially the same manner. For the purpose of attaching a second fence sec-
,
tion to the opposite side of the second post, a second fence panel is
installed or attached to this second fence post by in~erting the rod endsin the other pair of holes which are not occupied by the rods of the
first section, and so forth until a fence of the desired length is
achieved,
Thus, by an aspect of this invention, a method is provided for
constructing a board-type fence without nails and bolts from a plurality
of sulstantially identically sized fence boards and a plurality of sub-
stantially identically sized fence posts which comprises: assembling a
plurality of first fence panels, each first panel being assembled by
arranging a predetermined number of fence boards in aligned edge-bo_edcle s
relation; passing a pair of spaced parallel rods through aligned holes
in the predetermined number of fence boards so that- the rod ends project
outwardly from the sides of each first panel, the rods in each first
- panel being spaced a predetermined distance from each other and at pre-
determined distances from a reference end of the first panel; assembling
a plurality of second fence panels, each secord panel being assembled by
arranging a predetermined number of fence boards in a]igned side-to-side _
relation; passing a pair of spaced parallel rods through aligned holes
in the predetermined number of fence boards so that the rod ends project-
outwardly from the sides of each second panel, the rods in each second
panel being spaced a predetermined distance from each other equal to the
predetermined distance of spacing with respect to the first panel, the
rods in the second panel being spaced at predetermined distances from a
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1~3633Z
reference end of the second panel which are respectively different from
the predetermined distances of the rods of the first panel from the
reference end of the first panel; erecting a fir~t fence post with one
end thereof in the ground; attaching a first fence panel to the first
fence post b~ inserting the rod ends at one end of the first panel into
and through a first pair of spaced holes in the first fence post; erec- .
ting a second fence post with one end thereof in the ground at the oppo-
site end of the first panel from the first fence post and attaching the
second fence post to the first fence panel by inserting the rod ends at
the opposite end of the fence panel into and through a flrst pair of
spaced holes in the second fence post; attaching a second fence panel
through the second fence pOfit on the opposite side thereof from tl-e first
fence panel by inserting the rod ends into and through a second pair of
spaced holes in the second fence post, the second pair of holes in the
second fence post being offset with respect to the first pair of holes
thereof; erecting a third fence post at the opposite end of the second :
panel from the second fence post and attaching the third fence post by
inserting the rod ends at the opposite end of the second panel into and
through a pair of spaced holes in the third fence post; and repeating the
operation by alternating first and second fence panel~ on opposite sides
of each intermediate fence post with the rod ends of each first fence
panel being inserted into and through a pair of holes in the intermediate
fence post offset from a pair of holes provided for the rod ends of the
second fence panel.
By a further aspect of the present invention, a method is pro-
vided for constructing a board-type fence without nails and bolts frcm a .
plurality of substantially identically sized boards having a predetermined
length, width and thickness, each board being further defined as having a
pair of elongated flat side surfaces parallel to each other and separated
from each other in accordance with the thickness of the b3ard, a pair of .
narrow elongated side edges parallel to each other and separated from each .
other in accordance with the width of the board, and a pair of ends separa-
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ted from each other in accordance with the length o~ the koard; which comr
prises selecting a first gr~up of the boards, drilling a first hole in each
board of the first group across the width of the boRrd at right angles to ?
the side edges thereof and at a first predetermined distance from a pre-
selected end thereof, drilling a second hole in each board of the first
: group across the width of the board at right angles to the side edges there-
of and at a second predetermined distance fram the first hole; selecting a
second group of the boards, drilling a .first hole in each board of the
second group across the width of the board at right angles to the side
edges thereof and at a third predetermined distance from a preselected end
thereof, the third predetermined distance being une~ual to the .first pre-
determined distance, drilling a seoond hole in each board of the second
group across the width of the board at right angles to the side edges there-
of and at a fourth predetermined distance from the first hole of the board
of the second group, the fourth predetermined distance being substan~;~lly
equal to the second predetermined distance; selecting a plurality of sub,
stantially identically sized fence posts having a length greater than the
length of the boards, having a width greater than the thickness of the
; boards, and having one end adapted to be received a predesigned distance
20 within the ground; drilling a first hole through each fence post at right
: angles to the width thereof and at a fifth predetermined distance f D the
one end of the fence post, the fifth predetermined distance being slightly
greater than the sum of the first predetermined distance and the distance
that the one end of the fence post wdll be below the surface of the ground,
drilling a second hole through the fence post parallel to the first hole
:~ therethrough and at a sixth predetermined distance from the one end of the
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. fence post, the sixth predetermined distance being slightly greater than
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the sum of the third predetermined distance and the distance that the one
i end of the fence post will be belcw the surface of the ground, drilling a
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third hole through the fence post parallel to the first hole therethroughand spaced from the first hole a distance equal to the seccnd predetermined
distance, drilling a fourth hole through the fence post parallel to the
; second hole therethrough and spaced fra~ the second hole a distance equal
to the second predetermined distance; all of the above holes bsLng of sub-
stantially the same diameter; Impaling a predetermined number of drilled
boards from the first group there of on a pair of elongated rods passing
through the aligned first holes and aligned second holes thereof, the
predetermlned number of impaled and drilled boards from the first group
being disposed in close fitting edge-to-edge relation and forming a fence
section with rod ends projecting out fram the oEposite ends of the fence
section, repeating the impaling step with successive predetermined numbers
of drilled boards from the first group to provide a plurality of fence
sections of the first group; impaling a p~redetermIned number of drilled
koards fram the seaond group thereof on a pair of elongated rods passing
through aligned first holes and aligned second holes thereof, the prede-
termined number of impaled and drilled boards from the second group being
disposed in clo æ fitting edge-to-edge relation and forming a fence section
with rod;ends projecting out fra~ the opposite ends of the fence section,
repeating ~the last im~aling step with successive predetermined numbers of
drilled koards from the second group to provide a plurality of fence sec-
tions of the second group; placing a first fence post in the ground with
the one end thereof the predesigned distance bPlow the surface of the
ground; connecting a fence section of the first group to the first fence
post by inserting the rod ends at one end of the fence section into and
- through the first and third holes in the first fence post; placing a second
fence post in the ground with the one end thereof the predesigned distance
... .
below the surface of the ground, the second fence post being spaced fram ~-
the first fence post and positioned at the oFposite end of the last
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103633Z
mentioned fence section; connecting the second ence post to the last men-
tioned fence section by inserting the rod ends at the opFosite end of the
fence section into and through the first and third holes of the ~eoond
fence post; connecting a fence section of the second group to the seoond
fence post on the opposite side thereof from the fence section of the first
group by inserting the rod ends at one end of the fence section of the
seoond group into and through the second and fourth holes of the seco~d
fence post; placing a third fence post in the ground with the one end there-
of the predesigned distance below the surace of the ground, the third
fence post being spaced from the seoond fence post and positioned at the
opposite end of the last mentioned fence section; connecting the third
fence post to the last mentioned fence section by inserting the rod ends
at the opposite end of the fence section into and through the second and
fourth holes of the third fence post; repaating the steps of aonnecting
alternate fence sections of the first and second groups between spaced
fence posts until a fence of the desired length is achieved.
E~ a variant of the present invention, the boards are impaled on ;
the rods by creating a jig arrangement having a pair of elongated parallel
opPnings spaced a rt a distance e~ual to the second predetQnmined distance;
inserting an elongated rod into each opaning of the jig arrangement; and
sliding a predetermined number of koards onto the rods with the rods
being received in the holes of the koards.
In the acco~Fanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side view of a fence board provided with holes for
the purFose of assenkling a fence panel corresponding to a first mDdular
construction used in the method of an aspect of this invention;
Figure 2 is an edge view of the fence bcard shown in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a side view of a fence board provided with a disposi-
tion of holes for constructing a panel made in accordance with the second
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mDdul æ constructian used in the method o.~ an aspect of the present in-
vention;
Figure 4 is a plan view of a jig æ rangement for assembling a
fence panel representing the first nDdul æ construction;
Figure 5 is a side view of the first panel assembly or ~odular
: construction;
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103633Z
Figure 6 is a side view of the second fence panel or modular con-
struction;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a fence post; and
- ~igure 8 is a view which illustrates the erection of a fence using the ~-
. method of an aspect of the present invention. ~:
Referring to the drawing~ in detail, Figures 1 and 2 show a fence
board 10 which is defined as having a pair of elongated flat side surfaces
12 and 14 which are parallel to each other and separated from each other -
in accordance with the thickness of the board, a pair of narrow elongated ~ ~ -
side edges 16 and 18 parallel to each other and separated from each other
in accordance with the width of the board and a pair of ends 20 and 22
;~ separated from each other in accordance with the length of the board.
.,,
~he upper end 22 can be tapered or pointed as desired. Ihe board 10 is
further provided with two holes 24 and 26. ~hese holes 24 and 26 extend
across the width of the board perpendicular to the side edges and are
; spaced apart in parallel relation at a predetermined distance from each
other for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.
Figure 3 shows a similar board lOa, whose outer configuration is -
substantially identical to the board 10 and, therefore, the various surfaces
and portions thereof shall be numbered in the same manner. ~he board
lOa, however, is provided with two holes 28 and 30 which are differently
... .
;~ positioned on the board lOa from the holes 24 and 26. The holes 28 and 30
extend across the width of the board lOa perpendicular to the side edges
thereof and are separated from each other at a predetermlned distance
- which is substantially identical to the predetermined distance between the
holes 24 and 26. However, the lower hole 28 is spaced farther away from
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1~)3633Z
the end 20 than is the hole 24 spaced from the end 20 in the board 10. As will
hereinafter appear, the board 10 is used to for~ the first board vanel or mod-
ule ~hereas the boqrd lOa is used to form the second board panel or module.
Figure 4 shows a jig a~range~ent for making the panels or modules
used in th~ method of an aspect of the present invention. Shown here is
a Jig element 32 having a pair of
openings 34 and 36 therein. ~he holes 34 and 36 are preferably somewhat
larger than the holes 24, 26, 28 and 30. A pair of elongated rods 38 and
40 are inserted in the openings 34 and 36, respectively. A preselected
number of boards 10 are slipped over the rods 38 so that the ends of the ~-
i rods are received within the openings 24 and 26, respectively. ~he boards
10 are urged towards the jig member 32 until they are in a tight-fitting
side-to-side relation. ~he diameter of the rods 38 and 40 are preferably
substantially e~ual to the diameter of the openings 24 and 26 so as to
make a reasonably tight fit. After the predetermined number (for the
; sake of illustration only, this number is ten) have been inserted or impaled
on the rods 38 and 40, the ends of the rods 34 and 36 are removed from
the jig 32 and the resulting panel or module is produced as shown in Figure
5. ~he ends of the rods 38 and 40 project outwardly from the panel structure -
of Figure 5.
In order to produce the panel structure of Figure 6, a plurality of
boards lOa are inserted or impaled on another set of rods 38 and 40 which
are mounted in the jig structure of Figure 4. After the predetermined
number of boards lOa have been inserted over the rods 38 and 40, the ends
are removed from the holes 34 and 36 and the resulting panel construction
of Figure 6 obtains.
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~03633Z
~he remaining element of the ultimate fence construction is the
fence post 42 shown in Figure 7. 'rhis fence post is preferably rectan- ~ -
gular in shape and is longer than the length of the boards 10 or lOa. Irhe
fence post is provided with four holes 44, 46, 48 and 50, which extend all
the way through the post 42 substantially parallel to each other in a sur- -
face 5~, which is preferably somewhat wider than the thickness of the -
boards. ~he holes 44 and 48 are spaced from each other at a distance ` ; ~equal to the distance between the rods 38 and 40 and are designed to ~ ~
receive the rods 38 and 40 of the module shown in Figure 5. ~he holes
46 and 50 are likewise separated from each other a distance equal to the
spacing between the rods 38 and 40 and are designed to receive the ends
of the rods 38 and 40 of the panel or module shown in Figure 6.
~urning now to a consideration of Figure 8, a ffrst fence post 42a is
inserted in a hole previously dug in the ground 54. Care must be taken to
see that the hole is not so deep that the opening 44 would be too close to
the gralnd so as to prevent attachment of the fence panel, At this point,
,
a fence panel such as shown in Figure 5 is placed adjacent the right-hand
` side of the post 42 and the ends of the rods 38 and 40 are inserted into the ~
holes 44 and 48. It may be necessary to bang on the boards 10 or on the ~ -
rods 38 and 40 to insure a tigm fit of the fence section against the fence
post 42a. At this time, a second fence post 42b is inserted into a hole in
the ground 54 convenien~ly dug adjacent the right-hand end of the fence - ;
section. Again, the right-hand end of the rod 38 and the right-hand end
of the rod 40 are inserted in the openings 44 and 48 of the post 42b and
'
the latter may be banged with a sledge hammer to insure a proper fit.
~he holes in the ground for the posts 42a and 42b can now be filled in with
mortar or dirt as desired, or this operation can be performed after the
fence has been completely erected.
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After the post 42b has been secured against the fence section attached
between the posts 42a and 42b, a fence section such as shown in Figure 6
is brought up adjacent the right-hand side of the post 42b and the rod ends
38 and 40 are now inserted in the holes 46 and 50. Again, a sledge ham-
mer may be desirable to assist in banging the boards and/or rods to pro-
vide a snug fit. After the second fence section has been attached to the
right-hand portion of the post 42b, a third fence post 42c is inserted in a
hole in the ground 54 adjacent the right-hand end of the fence section and,
again, the fence post 42c is attached to the second fence section by inserting
the rod ends thereof into the holes 46 and 50 of the fence post 42c. ~fter
the third fence post 42c has been firmly secured against the second fence
section, a third fence section (only part of which is shown in Figure 8) can
now be installed against the right-hand portion of the fence post 42c; this
fence section, however, will correspond with the module shown in Figure
5. I~hus, the modules of Figures 5 and 6 are alternated between spaced
pairs of fence posts.
When providing a right-angle corner for the fence, two fence posts 42
can be driven adjacent each other so that the holes are in alignment with
the fence section to be attached. ~lternatively, a fence post such as post
42 can be prov~ded where one set of holes such as 46 and 50 would be at
right angles to the other set of holes 44 and 48 so as to permit the erection
of a corner for the fenoe using a single fence post.
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