Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 INTERLOCKING PRIVACY FENCE
2 Field of the invention
3 This invention relates to prefabricated panels that are
4 assembled to form a decorative privacy fence.
Backcrround of the Invention
6 There are numerous examples of prefabricated fence
7 sections that can be assembled to form a continuous structure.
8 Earlier prefabricated fences were assembled from individual
9 sections made of wood. Usually, each section had a separate
fence post at each end for anchoring in the ground. Other
11 fence sections were made with pilings or panels attached to
12 supporting frame members and the frame members were assembled
13 to pre-set fence posts
14 More recently, wood has been replaced with man-made
materials such as aluminum, steel, polymers, pressed board,
16 fiberglass, etc. These materials offer advantages in
17 uniformity of shape, ease of assembly, upkeep, and longevity.
18 One such prefabricated fence is disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
19 6, 772, 998.
Included in the broad field of prefabricated fencing,
21 lattice screens are well known for decorative use, as well as,
22 for providing a barrier. One advantage of this structure is
23 the lessened wind resistance. The lattice is usually mass
24 produced of a series of small thin longitudinal pieces laid
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1 over a series of small thin lateral pieces at a ninety degree
2 angle and fastened together leaving interstices of varying
3 sizes. Again, the traditional wooden construction has given
4 way to plastics and other synthetic materials. Examples of
such structure is found in U.S. Patent No. 6,398,193, U.S.
6 Patent No. 6,308,487 and U.S. Patent No. 6,286,284.
Usually, the prior art fence sections are anchored to each
8 other and in the ground by fence posts that are designed for
9 joining in straight lines or right angles. For example, some
posts have bores extending through the posts at right angles to
11 each other allowing the panel supports to be aligned or
12 oriented normal to each other. Any other angular relationship
13 may require some modification of the posts or the panel
14 sections or both.
Prior art fences are semi-permanent in that placement of
16 the fence posts usually results in a post fixed in a filled
17 hole in the ground. Adjustment the fence line then requires
of
18 substantial labor of digging new fence post holes and filling
19 the old ones.
Tisbo et al, U.S. Patent No. 4,357,OOOdiscloses an
21 improved ornamenta l integrally moldedplastic fence section.
22 The fence section generally includes a pair of substantially
23 parallel stringers with a plurality pickets formed integral
of
24 with the stringers. Each stringer has a plurality of identical
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1 spaced ears formed integral with one end. Each of the ears has
2 a rod aperture extending therethrough. The rod apertures in
3 the ears on one end of a stringer are aligned with rod
4 apertures in ears on the other stringer. A slot is formed in
each ear extending from the exterior of the respective ear to
6 the respective aperture. Each slot in each ear on one end of
7 the section is aligned with the other slots in the other ears
8 on that end of the section. A second plurality of supports is
9 formed integral with the other end of each of the stringers. A
cylindrical rod is formed integral with the supports on the end
11 of the stringer. Each rod has a diameter slightly less than
12 the diameter of the rod aperture to fit snugly into the
13 respective aligned rod apertures in the ears. The cylindrical
14 rods fit into the ears and the supports pass through the slots
to lock adjacent sections to each other by rotating the section
16 relative to each other after each rod has been positioned in
17 its respective rod apertures.
18 Emmie, U.S. Patent No. 4,130,272discloses a picket fence
19 comprising a plurality of parallel and laterally spaced metal
pickets which are interconnected by a plurality of parallel
21 pairs of stringers. The stringers are made from a metal
22 material and have opposite ends shaped in a tubular
23 configuration which are received in mating recesses on
24 adjacent, parallel pickets such that the pickets are rotatable
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1 about the tubular configurations of the stringers whereby the
2 pickets and their associated stringers are movable with respect
3 to each other in such a manner that the pickets may be disposed
4 along a curved path.
S Harden, U.S. Patent No. 4, 911, 339discloses a hay enclosure
6 including two end sections and two sections along each side.
? Diagonally opposite side sections are equal in length, although
8 the two sections on each side have different lengths. The
9 enclosure is pivotally movable to a second position wherein two
triangular-in-shape enclosures are formed having an area
11 smaller than the rectangular enclosure area. Adjacent sections
12 are pivotally interconnected by vertically spaced apart hinges,
13 with the upper hinge including a downwardly extending pin
14 received in a sleeve, and the lower hinge including a pair of
abutting vertically aligned sleeves in which a movable pin is
16 received.
17 Reppert, U.S. Patent No. 5,445,362discloses a fence
18 assembly including modules of two-foot width. The modules are
19 easily assembled in four-module sections to achieve whatever
cumulative length of fencing is desired. A module is joined to
21 an adjacent module by insertion of a clip into vertical,
22 T-shaped slots formed in an adjacent module. Sections are
23 anchored in the ground by pipes having downwardly projecting
24 stakes. These pipe and stake assemblies are located concealed
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1 within the first and fourth module of each section. Upper and
2 lower horizontal reinforcing members are attached along the
3 sections. Resilient expanding anchors are used to connect the
4 pipes, extensions, and horizontal members, there being
S alignable bores formed therein which receive these anchors. In
6 one embodiment, intended for use on flat terrain, the lower
.7 reinforcing member is extended through and concealed in
8 longitudinal bores extending through each module. Only one
9 horizontal member is external to and visible from the finished
fence of the first embodiment, which has as an important object
11 to present an attractive, uncluttered appearance.
12 Niemiec, U.S. Patent No. 3,711,066discloses an integral
13 plastic fence section having an expansive main body with a
14 plurality of stake members projecting downwardly from a lower
edge and adapted to be driven into the ground. The opposite
16 side edges of the section have hinge members that releasably
17 snap together and that cooperate with each other to provide for
18 rotational movement of adjacent interconnected fence sections
19 about the hinge axis to provide for a variety of alignments.
Bermudez, U.S. Patent No. 4,073,478discloses an improved
21 fence structure composed of aligned and interconnected fence
22 sections, which are of two types,and which are arranged
in
23 staggered relation. In assembly, the fence sections of
the
24 first type, which have downwardlyextending end posts, are
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1 received in malelfemale relation in recesses provided in a
2 support surface along a fence line and, thereafter, the fence
3 sections of the second type are connected to the installed
4 fence sections of the first type.
Pettit et al, U.S. Patent No. 6,637,728 and
6 D463, 036discloses a plastic fence section including a series of
7 connected hollow chambers with at least upper and lower
8 horizontal chambers extending the length of the fence section
9 for receiving reinforcing members. The fence section is made
of plastic material. The hollow chambers are separated by
11 pinch off regions. The fence section provides a visual block
12 and has a similar appearance on either side of the fence
13 section. The fence section has a post edge and a panel joining
14 edge. The panel joining edge is adapted to engage and overlap
with a second fence panel section.
16 Simpson et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,078,367discloses a
17 panel system comprising a plurality of posts and at least one
18 panel for securing between a pair of adjacent posts, in which
19 each post is formed from plastic material and has a channel in
at least one edge to receive an edge portion of a panel, and
21 each panel is formed from plastics material and comprises a
22 plurality of sub-panels and a frame formed from a plurality of
23 side members having similar cross-section secured together at
24 corners of the frame. The plurality of sub-panels secured
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1 within the frame wherein each panel frame side member is formed
2 with a channel open to one edge of the side member to receive
3 edge portions of the sub-panels making up the panel.
4 Lappen, U.S. Publication No. 2004/0140461discloses
S flexible fence and gate systems, which are flexible to
6 alterations, have common parts, are easy to assembly, durable,
7 and have long service life. The frame can be made of
8 pre-coated galvanized steel parts. The panel is held in a
9 U-shaped slotted rectangular fence frame formed by a parallel
pair of L-shaped retainer angles mounted back-to-back or
11 face-to-face on the stringers to accommodate a wide choice of
12 panel styles, materials and thicknesses without adding any new
13 components. Another feature provides a panel insert which can
14 be sandwiched between two panels to further suppress noise.
Another feature relates to adjustable post angle adapters.
16 Another feature relates to a gate width opening adjustment
17 member using a sliding rail at the far end.
18 Stusser, U.S. Publication No. 2002/0020834discloses a
19 durable, low-maintenance and easy to install fence
incorporating a combination of materials that includes at least
21 two posts, a casement structure maintained between the two
22 posts, a lattice structure supported within the casement
23 structure, and a shield structure supported within the casement
24 structure. The posts and casement structure are made of
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I weather treated wood and the lattice and shield structures are
2 made of a synthetic material such as vinyl. Both the lattice
3 and shield structures are supported within the casement
4 structure by a plurality of wood supports.
Cuzzocrea, U.S. Publication No. 2003/0107031discloses a
6 modular-grid fence system that comprises integral connectors on
7 each end that allows each respective grid to be connected to
8 each other grid and form a fence. The connectors also provide
9 that the modular-grid fence system may be utilized in angles
from near zero degrees, to an in-line angle of 180 degrees.
11 This connecting feature provides that the modular-grid fence
12 system may be used to augment and provide additional
13 restriction to an existing fence, or be used as a freestanding
14 fence .
What is needed in the art is a fencing system that
16 provides secure privacy, adaptability in layout, and ease of
17 changing the fence line.
18
19
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1 SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
2 Disclosed is an interlocking privacy fence formed from a
3 series of molded panels with simulated paneling and lattice in
4 relief bounded on each lateral side by a leg. The bottom of
S the legs are formed as a sharpened spade for insertion into the
6 ground to fix the fence in place. The bottom of the legs are
7 formed as a sharpened spade for insertion into the ground to
8 fix the fence in place.
9 Each of the legs have brackets for coupled to pintles placed
on a leg to be adjoined. Each bracket includes an aperture
11 therethrough for receiving a prong of a pintle. In assembly,
12 the brackets of different panels are aligned with the pintles
13 of other panels, and the pintles are inserted through the
14 apertures such that each leg is interlocked. Therefore, an
object of this invention is to provide a fence that provides a
16 visual barrier to screen the interior from view.
17 Another object of this invention is to provide identical
18 panels with integral brackets on each end disposed to interlock
19 with each other such that a series of panels can be engaged by
the brackets.
21 A further object of this invention is to provide fence
22 posts cooperating with the interlocking brackets to link the
23 panels together.
24 Yet another object of this invention is to provide the
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1 brackets with complementary shape permitting the panels to be
2 assembled in an infinite angular array.
3 A still further object of this invention is to provide
4 legs at each end of each panel extending below the lower margin
for ground clearance and shaped to easily penetrate the
6 supporting surface.
Z
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1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
2 Fig. 1 is a perspective of the interlocking privacy fence
3 of this invention showing an enclosure;
4 Fig. 2 is a front perspective in positive relief of a
panel of the interlocking privacy fence of this invention;
6 Fig. 3 is a back perspective in negative relief of a panel
7 of the interlocking privacy fence of this invention;
8 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a pintle;
9 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a bracket used to receive
a pintle; and
11 Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the pintle of Fiure 4
12 interlocked with the bracket of Figure 5.
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1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
2 The interlocking privacy fence 10, shown in Figure 1, is
3 composed of four panels 11, 12, 13 and 14, though the number of
4 panels is a matter of choice. As shown, each panel is oriented
at a perpendicular angle to the other two panels at each end.
6 Each of the panels has the same components which are given the
7 same reference numbers for simplicity.
8 Panel 11 has a plate 15 formed synthetic materials in any
9 conventional method including molding, casting, fabricating and
assembly, etc. The plate 15 is formed with a leg 16 at one end
11 and a leg 17 at the other end. The plate 15, as shown, has a
12 simulated vertical siding 20 with vertical siding in the bottom
13 portion and a simulated lattice 21 with longitudinal pieces 22
14 and vertical pieces 23 forming openings 24 in the top portion.
The vertical siding is spaced apart providing an open slot for
16 air circulation. The siding is oriented at an angle to prevent
17 a direct view of the interior of the enclosed area. A frame
18 rail 25 extends between the leg 16 and the leg 17 at the top of
19 the panel. An intermediate frame 26 rail extends between the
posts at the boundary between the vertical siding and the
21 lattice. Another frame rail 27 extends between the legs at the
22 bottom of the panel. This design may be reversed or other
23 designs may substituted therefore. The siding 20 and the
be
24 lattice 21 may be imperforate, if desired.
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1 The legs 16, 17 extend above and below the plate 15. The
2 spade 28 of the leg 16 penetrates the ground or other surface
3 and supports the weight of the panel 11 along with the spade 29
4 of leg 17. The space 30 between the ground and the bottom
frame rail 27, along with the openings in the vertical siding
6 and lattice, allow air to circulate through the interlocking
7 privacy fence 10.
8 The panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 are molded as a sheet with a
9 three dimensional form presenting the front, positive, side of
the vertical paneling lattice and legs in relief, in Fig. 2,
I1 with a back, negative, side shown in Fig. 3. The top end of
12 leg 16 and leg 17 each with an end cap 18 and 19. The end caps
13 18, 19 close the interior of the legs and add rigidity to the
14 panel .
The outer surface of leg 16 is formed with three brackets
16 31 projecting outwardly, in Fig. 3. The brackets
as shown 31
17 each have a top wall 32, a bottom
wall 33 and a
sidewall 34
18 connecting the top and bottom lls. The top wall has an
wa
19 aperture 35 and the bottom wall has an aperture 36 aligned
therewith. The sidewalls 34 havea groove 37 extending from
21 the edge of the bracket partiallyaround the sidewall.
22 The leg 17 has three pintles38 spaced vertically apart
23 along the leg, s shown in Fig. Each pintle has a top prong
a 2.
24 39, and a bottom prong 40 extendingin opposite directions from
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1 a shaft 41 attached to the leg.
2 The brackets 31 and pintles 37 are evenly spaced along the
3 length of each leg in a manner that each bracket 31 is
4 positioned opposite a pintle 37. This results in alignment of
the brackets and pintles when separate panels are joined, as
6 shown in Figure 1. The prongs 39 and 40 are longer than the
7 distance between the top wall and bottom wall of the brackets
8 permitting the angular insertion of the prongs into the
9 apertures.
To assemble the interlocking privacy fence 10, a leg 16 of
11 one panel 11 is juxtaposed with a leg 17 of another panel 12.
12 The shaft 41 of the pintles 38 are inserted in the grooves 37
13 of the brackets 31 and the prongs 39 and 40 are passed through
14 the apertures of the brackets 31 interlocking the separate
panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 together.
16 The legs 16 and 17 extend below the bottom rail 27 and are
17 sharpened into a blade 42. Because of the three dimensional
18 relief of the panels, the spades 28 have sidewalk 43, 44
19 connected by a front wall 45. The three sided spade 28 is
driven into the ground or other surface and anchors the fence
21 to the ground. In this manner the fence may be erected with
22 the panels at any angle from each other for aesthetics, as well
23 as stability, and to form various shaped enclosures.
24
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I Figure 4 illustrates pintle 38 having a top prong 39,
2 bottom prong 40 extending in opposite directions from a shaft
3 41 extending from the leg 17. In the preferred embodiment,
4 each prong is cylindrical providing for ease positioning
exceeding 180 degrees of position rotation. Figure 5
6 illustrates bracket 31 having a top wall 32, a bottom wall 33
7 and a sidewall 34 connecting the top and bottom walls. The top
8 wall has an aperture 35 and the bottom wall has an aperture 36
9 aligned therewith. The sidewalls 34 have a groove 37 extending
from the edge of the bracket partially around the sidewall. As
11 shown in Figures 4-6, the shaft 41 of the pintles 38 is
12 available for insertion along groove 37 of bracket 31 wherein
13 prongs 39 and 40'are passed inside of sidewalls 32 and 33 and
14 into the apertures 35 and 36. The brackets 31 interlocking the
pintles 41 and thus the separate panels together. Groove 37
16 allows for positional rotation of the pintle permitting the
17 panels to be located at any position necessary to accomplish
18 the privacy needs of the consumer.
19 While a number of embodiments of the present invention are
described, it is understood that various modifications may be
21 made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
22 invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the
23 invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrated
24 embodiment but only by the scope of the appended claims.
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