Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PANEL AND KIT FOR CONSTRUCTING FENCE
This invention relates to fences, barriers, panels for constructing fences
and barriers, kits for constructing a fence panel or barrier, and connecting
devices for connecting fence panels to posts.
A variety of fence constructions and barrier constructions are known in
the fencing art including picket-type fences that include fence posts,
horizontal
rails extending between the posts and a series of vertical pickets or bars
that
are mounted on the rails. Picket-type fences are often used for security or
ornamental purposes. A variety of materials have been used to construct
picket-type fences including wood, steel, iron and aluminum. The assembly of
such fences often requires several tools, some of these tools being used to
install various fastening devices that couple the pickets, rails and posts. In
the
case of a metal fence, particularly a fence made of steel or iron, the
components can be welded to one another. However these known methods of
fence construction can often lead to premature rusting. Indeed the known
fasteners for fences and welds can rust before other fence components.
Furthermore welded joints generally provided little, if any flexibility in the
fence
construction.
Custom fabricated fences made of iron and steel are well known and
have been used for many years. However with such welded fences, there are
known difficulties including those already mentioned. It can be difficult for
the
metal components to be fitted together due to the problem of making field
measurements and the metal components have no built-in adjustability feature.
It can also be difficult to fully grind and polish the welds in order to
provide a
pleasing, finished appearance. Furthermore, the heavy, relatively large
components used to construct many metal fences can be costly to transport
because of their bulk and weight.
Aluminum fence constructions are also known in the fencing art, but it
can be hard to construct an aluminum fence by welding the components
together. Because of these difficulties, aluminum fences often employ
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components that are mechanically fastened together but the use of such
fasteners can result in fences that do not have a pleasing appearance because
the fasteners are often visible. Such modern fence systems can also cause
problems if the fence line is not straight or the fences need to be installed
on a
slope or uneven terrain.
U.S. Patent No. 5,454,548 issued October 3, 1995 to R.S. Moore
describes a fence construction wherein tubular members are joined at right
angles to form a fence or barrier. A series of poles or bars having a square
cross section are inserted through pre-punched holes formed along horizontally
extending fence rails. Both the pickets and rails can be hollow tubes made of
iron or aluminum. The ends of the horizontal rails can be supported by means
of brackets which secure the rails to either posts or walls. Elongate coupling
bars can be used to secure the vertical poles or pickets in the rail openings
through which they extend.
More recent U.S. Patent No. 7,025,335 issued April 11, 2006 to A.Q. Zhu
describes a modular picket fence wherein horizontal rails are connected to
vertical posts by means of U-shaped brackets. The rails are formed with a
series of spaced apart apertures through which the vertical pickets extend. A
locking member is assembled inside each end portion of each picket and this
member has spring biased stoppers that extend through transverse apertures in
an end section of the picket and also extend into the adjacent horizontal rail
when the end portion of the picket is inserted into the rail.
In view of the known difficulties with existing fence constructions, there is
a need for an improved fence or barrier panel, an improved kit for
constructing a
fence panel or a barrier panel, and improved connecting devices for connecting
fence panels to fence posts.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a kit for
constructing a fence panel or barrier panel includes a lower rail and an upper
rail with these rails being formed with bar-connecting holes distributed along
their lengths. These rails are adapted to extend horizontally in an assembled
fence with the lower rail extending parallel to the upper rail. The kit
further
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includes first bar sections for mounting between and connecting the upper and
lower rails so as to form a fence panel. Each bar section in use extends
between an aligned pair of the holes in the upper and lower rails. There are
also provided second bar sections each connectable to a respective one of the
first bar sections to form a bar and mountable on the upper rail so as to
extend
upwardly from a respective one of the bar connecting holes in the upper rail.
Also upper connecting devices are provided for joining upper ends of the first
bar sections to the upper rail and to the second bar sections. Lower
connecting
devices are provided to join lower ends of the first bar sections to the lower
rail
by means of bar connecting holes formed therein. When the fence or barrier
panel is constructed, the first and second bar sections extend substantially
perpendicular to the upper and lower rails.
In an exemplary version of this kit, each of the upper connecting devices
includes a threaded axial passage in an upper end section of its respective
first
bar section and a threaded end section of the second bar section connectable
to its respective first bar section by being threaded into the axial passage.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a kit for constructing
and mounting a fence panel for a fence having a plurality of posts includes
elongate rails adapted for mounting horizontally between adjacent posts so
that
upper and lower rails can extend substantially from one post to an adjacent
post
when the fence is erected. The kit includes a plurality of bars adapted for
mounting between and joining the upper and lower rails in order to construct
the
fence panel. The bars in each panel include two end bars located at opposite
ends of the fence panel. A plurality of connectors for attaching the end bars
to
adjacent posts of the fence are provided. Each connector includes a collar
section with a bar-receiving hole whereby when one of the end bars is inserted
through the bar-receiving hole of the respective connector, the connector is
at
least initially free to pivot about and along the one end bar for connecting
and
adjustment purposes. Each connector further includes an end section spaced
from the collar section and adapted for fixedly joining the connector to an
adjacent post.
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In an exemplary version of this kit, each kit comprises an assembly that
includes a collar pin, a separate elongate sleeve member having an axial
passageway formed therein, and a threaded adapter providing the end section
which can be joined to the post. The collar pin provides an elongate shaft
section adapted for insertion in the axial passageway. The collar section is
connected to one end of this shaft section.
According to still another embodiment of the invention a fence panel for
constructing a fence includes an elongate upper fence rail and an elongate
lower fence rail extending substantially parallel to the upper fence rail.
These
two rails have a number of bar-connecting holes formed therein and distributed
along their lengths. First bar sections extend between and connect the upper
and lower fence rails with each first bar section extending from one of the
holes
in the lower fence rail to one of the holes in the upper fence rail. Separate
second bar sections are each connected to a respective one of the first bar
sections to form an elongate bar. Each second bar section extends upwardly
from a respective one of the holes in the upper fence rail. The second bar
sections are mounted on the upper fence rail. The panel also includes means
for connecting bottom ends of the first bar sections to the lower fence rail
using
the bar-connecting holes in this rail.
According to an exemplary form of this panel, each of the first and
second bar sections has a threaded end section and each first bar section is
threadably connected to its respective second bar section by means of their
threaded end sections at the upper rail.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, a connecting device
for connecting a fence panel to a post is provided. The panel has a series of
picket members and horizontal rails connecting the picket members together.
The connecting device comprises a collar pin having an elongate shaft section
and a collar section secured to an end of the shaft section. The collar
section
has an aperture for receiving snuggly one of the picket members. The
connecting device further includes an elongate connecting member formed with
a central passageway and adapted to receive the shaft section in the
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passageway. This connecting member has a first thread mechanism for
securing the shaft section in the central passageway. There is also an adapter
for securing one end of the connecting member to a fence post, this adapter
having a second thread mechanism for securing the connecting member to the
5 adapter.
In an exemplary form of this connecting device the first thread
mechanism comprises a screw member and a threaded screw hole in a side of
the connecting member for receiving the screw member.
These and other aspects of the disclosed fence kits, fence panels and
fence connectors will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction
with
the accompanying drawings. So that those having ordinary skill in the art to
which the present disclosure pertains will more readily understand how to make
and use the subject invention, exemplary embodiments thereof will be
described in detail herein below with reference to the drawings.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a section of fence constructed in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2a is a detail sectional view taken along the line II - II of Figure 1
showing one bar or picket and how it is attached to upper and lower rails;
Figure 2b is a cross sectional detail view of a lower rail showing in detail
how a lower end of a fence bar can be connected thereto;
Figure 3a is a detail elevational view showing how one solid bar section
can be joined to another solid bar section and a rail;
Figure 3b is a detail vertical cross-section showing how a hollow bar
section can be joined to another hollow bar section and a tubular rail;
Figure 4 is a plan view of a connecting device for connecting a fence
panel to a post which is shown in horizontal cross section with one half of
the
connecting device being shown in axial horizontal cross section for purposes
of
illustration;
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Figure 5 is a top view, partly in horizontal cross section, of a collar pin
for
use in the connecting device of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a collar pin of Figure 5, this view
showing the end connectible to the picket or bar;
Figure 7 is a side view of an elongate connecting member which forms
another portion of the connecting device of Figure 4, this view showing one
half
of the connecting member in axial cross section;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the connecting member of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a side view of one form of an adapter which is a third
component of the connecting device of Figure 4, one half of the adapter being
shown in axial cross section;
Figure 10 is an end view of the adapter of Figure 9;
Figure 11 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the picket
connecting device with the connecting sleeve shown in axial cross-section;
Figure 12 is an exploded view of a further embodiment of the picket
connecting device with the connecting sleeve shown in axial cross-section;
Figure 13 is a side elevation showing an alternate method of joining the
connecting device to a post and to a bar or picket;
Figure 14 is a cross sectional elevation of another embodiment of fence
picket or fence bar which is shown attached to upper and lower rails shown in
transverse cross section;
Figure 15 is a perspective view of one of the clips used in the picket of
Figure 14;
Figure 16 is a front view of two fence sections wherein the posts and the
two fence panels are mounted at different heights;
Figure 17 is a plan view showing four panel sections connected to three
fence posts with each panel section extending at an obtuse angle in a
horizontal plane to the adjacent panel or panels;
Figure 18 is a plan view of two fence panels constructed in accordance
with the invention attached to a single post with the panels extending in the
same vertical plane which is offset from the post;
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Figure 19 is another plan view showing four fence panel sections and
four fence posts with adjacent panel sections extending perpendicular to one
another; and
Figure 20 is a schematic top view of a gate employing a fence panel
constructed in accordance with the invention and a post to which the panel is
pivotally attached.
Figure 1 illustrates a section of a fence 10 with two vertical posts 12
which are mounted in the usual manner in the ground 14. The posts can be
made of a variety of known materials and can be solid or hollow. In an
exemplary version of the fence, the posts can be made of the same material as
the other major components of the fence which include a plurality of fence
bars
or pickets 16 and horizontal upper and lower rails 18 and 20. The assembled
bars and upper and lower rails together form a fence panel indicated generally
by reference 22. If the posts are made of metal, they are preferably hollow
tubes in order to reduce the weight of the post and reduce their cost. In a
manner known per se, the top of each post can be covered with a suitable
decorative top 24, if desired. It will be understood that the length and
height of
the fence can vary depending upon the particular requirements of the site. The
number of posts and fence panels can vary widely from just a few to a large
number.
An exemplary material for the construction of the main fence
components, including the post, the rails and the bars is aluminum or aluminum
alloy but it is also possible to construct these components of steel,
stainless
steel or iron, if desired.
A fence in accordance with the present disclosure can be constructed
from a kit of the various fence components. Although such a kit can include
the
posts 12, it is also possible for the posts to be purchased or obtained
separately. Kits according to the invention can be in various forms and can,
for
example, comprise the components required to construct one or more of the
fence panels 22. In addition to the fence panel components, the kit can also
include connecting devices 26 for connecting the fence panel to an adjacent
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post. A kit for constructing a fence panel can include a plurality of the
lower
rails 20 and a plurality of the upper rails 18 which may or may not be
identical in
their construction. By making the upper and lower rails identical one is able
to
manufacture these rails using the same equipment including, for example, an
extrusion die when these rails are made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The
rails can be substantially rectangular in transverse cross section as
illustrated in
Figures 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b and they can be either substantially solid except
for
bar-connecting holes distributed along their length or hollow. The rails
themselves can be standard rectangular-shaped, solid profiles that are readily
available.
With respect to the rails shown in Figures 2a, 2b and 3a, the illustrated
upper and lower rails are of identical construction in this embodiment. Each
of
these rails has two relatively short vertical sides 28 and 30, a bottom 32 and
a
top 34. The bottom and the top can be substantially flat except for bar-
receiving
holes 36. The length of the rails can vary depending on the fence requirements
but usually they will be provided in standard lengths.
In a first embodiment of the bar or picket 16 for the fence, each bar or
picket includes a first bar section 42 and a second bar section 44 each of
which
is connectable to a respective one of the first bar sections. In the bar 16
illustrated in Figures 2a, 2b and 3a, these sections are made of solid metal
such
as solid aluminum alloy but it is also possible to make these sections from
hollow metal tubes as shown by Figure 3b, particularly a bar with a larger
transverse cross section. Each first bar section 42 is sized and constructed
for
mounting between and connecting the upper and lower rails of its respective
panel. Thus the attachment of a series of parallel first bar sections to upper
and
lower rails effectively forms a fence panel having a substantially rectangular
shape. Each first bar section when assembled to its rails extends between an
aligned pair of the holes 36 in the upper and lower rails so that the bar
sections
can be connected to the rails in the manner described below. When connected
to the rails they are parallel and properly spaced.
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When each second bar section 44 is attached to its respective first bar
section, they effectively form a bar or picket. In some versions of the fence
an
additional bar section can also be added to each bar or picket below the lower
rail. Each second bar section is mountable on a respective one of the upper
rails so as to extend upwardly from a respective one of the bar connecting
holes
36 in the upper rail.
A fence panel kit can also include upper connecting devices for
connecting upper ends of the first bar sections to their respective upper
rails
and to the second bar sections as well as lower connecting devices for joining
the lower ends of the first bar sections to their respective rails by means of
the
bar connecting holes formed therein. In the bar or picket of Figures 2a and
3a,
the upper connecting devices each include a threaded axial passage 52 in an
upper end section of its respective first bar section and a threaded integral
end
section 54 of the second bar section. Thus the second bar section can be
connected to its respective first bar section by threading the end section 54
into
the axial passage 52.
Each bar or picket 16 can also include a third bar section 60, if desired.
Thus the kit for constructing a fence panel can include a plurality of third
bar
sections for mounting to the lower rail or rails 20 with the third bar
sections
extending downwardly from the bar connecting holes 36 in their lower rail.
When the third bar sections, which can again be solid or hollow, are used, the
aforementioned lower connecting devices can comprise threaded integral end
sections 62 of the third bar sections together with threaded axial passages 64
formed in lower end sections of the first bar sections. As shown in Figure 2a,
the threaded end section of a third bar section can be threaded into a
respective one of the threaded axial passages 64 to mount the respective third
bar section to its lower rail.
As indicated, it is possible to construct a fence panel with a kit according
to the present invention without the use of third bar sections. In this
alternative
version, the lower connecting devices are bolts 70 where each bolt 70 extends
through one of the bar connecting holes 36 in the lower rail. Thus, when the
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fence or barrier panel is assembled, each bolt extends into the threaded axial
passage 64 in the lower end section of a respective one of the first bar
sections.
If desired the head of the bolt 70 can fit wholly or partially into an annular
recess
72 formed around the bottom end of its respective hole 36. In this way the
bolts
5 are less visible particularly when viewing the fence from normal eye level.
If desired the upper end of the second bar section can be tapered to form
a point at 75. This is a well known feature of picket fences and makes it more
difficult for a possible intruder to climb over the fence. If desired, a
decorative
annular disk 76 can be mounted on the second bar section, for example, near
10 the centre of its length.
Figure 3b illustrates an alternate construction for the threaded
connectors that can be used to connect the first bar section to the second bar
section and the third bar section to the first bar section. In this embodiment
only the adjacent end sections of two bar sections are shown and it will be
seen
that the bar sections are made of hollow metal tubes 43, 45. The open end of
the tube 45 has mounted therein a female insert 47 in which is formed a
threaded passage 49. The female insert can be pressure fitted, welded or
otherwise attached in the end of the tube. Similarly inserted into the upper
end
of the tube 43 is a further female insert 51. This insert is formed with an
axial
passage 53 which is threaded. The two female inserts can be connected
together by means of a screw 55 which can have a slot or recess formed in one
end to allow a tool to thread the screw into one of the female inserts.
Although
the hollow bar sections can be attached to a solid rail, such as the rail 18
shown
in Figure 3a, it is also possible for the rail to be a hollow rail 57 with bar-
connecting holes distributed along its length. In an exemplary illustrated
embodiment, there is a smaller bar connecting hole 59 formed in the top side
of
the rail and a substantially larger hole 61 formed in the opposite side of the
rail.
The hole 61 can have a diameter just slightly larger than the diameter of the
tube 43 so that the upper end of the tube can be inserted into the rail. The
diameter of the upper hole 59 can be slightly larger than the diameter of the
screw 55 so that the screw can pass through this smaller hole. Thus when the
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two tubes 43, 45 are connected by the screw 55, the bottom end 63 of the tube
45 will rest on the top of the rail 57.
Figure 14 illustrates an alternate form of bar or picket construction for
use in a picket fence panel. This version of picket is indicated generally at
80.
In this fence bar or picket the sections that make up the bar are hollow or
substantially hollow but, for purposes of this disclosure such pickets are
still
considered bars of a fence panel. Each bar has a first bar section 42' which
can have a generally uniform external diameter indicated at D. Each first bar
section extends between and is connected to a hollow upper rail 82 and a
similar hollow lower rail 84. Although these two rails can be of identical
construction they are oriented differently as will be explained hereinafter.
The
rails in an exemplary embodiment are constructed of extruded aluminum or
aluminum alloy and they have two opposing short sides at 85 and 86, a top side
88 and a bottom side 90. The rails can be made from standard rectangular-
shaped tubes that are readily available rather than special extrusions. Again
each of these rails is formed with a series of spaced apart bar-connecting
holes
but the holes 92 on one side have a slightly larger diameter than holes 94 on
the opposite side of the rail. The wider holes 92 are positioned on the bottom
of
the upper rail when the fence is erected while the wider holes 92 are on the
top
of the lower rail 84. The diameter of the holes 92 is only slightly greater
than
the diameter D of the first bar sections 42. Thus end sections of the first
bar
sections can be inserted into both the upper and lower rails as shown in
Figure
14. The second bar sections 44' are similar to the second bar sections 44
shown in Figure 2a except for the differences noted herein. In particular at
least
a substantial portion, for example the lower half of each second bar section
is
hollow, thus forming an axial passage 98. A central section 100 of the second
bar section 44' can have an external diameter equal to D, that is, the same as
the external diameter of the first bar section. However a bottom end section
102 has a slightly reduced external diameter corresponding closely to the
internal diameter of the first bar section. Thus this bottom end section is
insertable into the top end of the first bar section as shown in Figure 14.
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Prior to mounting the second bar section on the upper rail a flexible clip
104 is inserted into the axial passage 98. The clip as illustrated is in the
form of
an elongate U-shaped member made of a suitably flexible metal or plastic.
When the second bar section is upright with the clip therein, two parallel
legs
106 of the clip extend downwardly and near each of their bottom ends is an
engagement member or bump 108. Although there are two engagement
members shown, the clip can have only one engagement member or the clip
could be formed with several legs and several engagement members. The
engagement members project into respective side apertures 110 formed in the
bottom end section 102 and thus hold the clip in its working position. In
order to
insert the second bar section into its respective first bar section it is
first
necessary to push inwardly on the engagement members so that they will not
interfere with the insertion of the bottom portion of the second bar section
into
the hole 94 and into the upper end of the first bar section. Additional side
apertures 112 are formed in the upper end section of the first bar section and
when the second bar section is fully inserted into the hole in the upper rail
the
two engagement members 108 will extend outwardly into these apertures,
thereby holding the two bar sections in locking engagement. It may be
necessary to rotate the second bar section about its central axis in order to
position the engagement members so that they are aligned with the apertures
112.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is equally possible
to arrange the clip 104 in the passage 114 formed in the first bar section and
then have the legs of a clip extend upwardly to the two engagement members
108 which will then project through the side apertures of the bar sections
when
the second bar section is fully inserted. To facilitate this bar construction,
the
external diameter of the first bar section can be less than the diameter of
the
second bar section or at least the bottom portion of the second bar section.
In a similar manner a third bar section 60' can be connected to the
bottom end of the first bar section using a further flexible clip 115. Thus in
this
embodiment the clip 115 provides a lower connecting device for joining the
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lower end of the first bar section 42' to the lower rail 84 by means of the
bar-
connecting holes 92, 94 formed in the lower rail. The third bar section 60'
can
be hollow so as to form an axial through passage 118 in which the clip can be
inserted prior to mounting the third bar section. A main, lower portion of the
third bar section can have a diameter equal to the diameter D of the first bar
section. However an upper end section 120 has a reduced diameter to permit
this upper end section to be inserted into the bottom end of the first bar
section.
Engagement members 108 formed on the clip 115 will project through side
apertures 122 and 124 formed in the third bar section and in the first bar
section
respectively. Not only does the clip 115 attach the third bar section to the
first
bar section so that they are in locking engagement but it also acts to secure
these two bar sections to the lower rail.
The reduced diameter end sections of the first and third bar sections can
be readily formed using a known swaging process. The side apertures such as
apertures 110, 112 for the clip engagement members need not necessarily be
located within the upper or the lower rail. Although this location is
desirable if
access to the engagement members after assembly of the fence panel is not
desired, for example to prevent theft or vandalism, it is equally possible to
locate the side apertures so that they are outside the rail after assembly of
each
bar or picket and their connection to the rail. Thus for example the side
apertures could be located at positions 130 and 132 indicated in Figure 14 if
access and easy disassembly is desirable for the fence.
Turning now to the connecting devices 26 that can be used to attach
each fence panel to its respective posts, one form of connecting device 26 is
illustrated by Figures 4 to 10. This connecting device includes a collar pin
134
shown separately in Figures 5 and 6 and an elongate connecting member or
sleeve 136 shown separately in Figures 7 and 8. The collar pin has an
elongate shaft sectionl38 and a collar section 140 at one end of the shaft
section. If desired the collar pin can be formed or machined from a single
metal
piece. The shaft section has a circular cross section and a central axis
indicated at A. The width of the collar section can be wider than the diameter
of
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14
the shaft section or it can be the same diameter (see Figures 11 and 12).
Extending through the collar section is a circular aperture 142 for receiving
snuggly one of the pickets or bar 16, 80. Formed in one side of or in the end
of
the collar section is a threaded hole 144 sized to receive a suitable socket
screw or set screw which can be of standard construction and well known in the
fastening art. The set screw is used to fixedly secure the connector to the
end
picket or end bar after the fence panel has been properly positioned relative
to
its fence post. Alternate constructions for the collar pin are possible and it
can
be made in different shapes. Instead of a single integral part, it can be made
of
two separate pieces welded together, e.g. a collar part of cylindrical shape
and
a pin welded thereto.
Turning now to the construction of the connecting member or connecting
sleeve 136, this member has a central axial passageway 146 extending its
entire length. By means of this passageway, the connecting member is
adapted to receive the shaft section 138 which can extend into a first portion
148 of the connecting member. Only an end portion 150 of the passageway is
threaded in one exemplary embodiment with the remaining portion 148 being
unthreaded. The diameter of the passageway 148 is slightly greater than the
diameter of the shaft section 138. An exemplary embodiment of the connecting
member is formed with two threaded screw holes 152, 154, each of these being
provided near a respective end of the connecting member. Each of these
screw holes is provided to accommodate a socket screw or set screw 155 used
to secure in place either the collar pin 134 or an adapter. The screw 155
extending into the unthreaded portion 148 fixedly secures the collar pin in
position when the fence panel has been mounted between its post and is in its
proper position. An adapter 160 secures one end of the connecting member
136 to a fence post 12. The adapter has external threads, referred to herein
as
second thread means 162, for securing the connecting member 136 to the
adapter. In other words the internal threads of the connecting member 136
engage the external threads 162 of the second thread means. The adapter has
an axial passage 164 that extends through the adapter. The adapter has a first
CA 02680727 2009-09-25
portion 166 which is wider than a second portion 168, on which the second
thread means 162 are formed. The illustrated adapter has a wider end 170
which has a curved contour matching that of the post 12 to which the adapter
is
to be attached. If a threaded fastener is to be used to connect the adapter to
5 the post the axial passage 164 is threaded.
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate two possible variations of the connecting
device for connecting a fence panel to a post. Both the connector assemblies
of these figures are shown in exploded views with the three main components
separated. The connector of Figure 11 is indicated generally by reference 170
10 and the portion of the post to which the connector is being attached is
indicated
at 172. This connecting device has a collar pin 174 which includes an elongate
shaft section 176 and a collar section 178, these two sections being
integrally
connected together in the exemplary embodiment. A substantial portion of the
shaft section 176 is not threaded and has a cylindrical exterior 180. The
15 remaining portion of the shaft section has threads 182. Like the embodiment
of
Figures 5 and 6, the collar section has an aperture 183 for receiving snuggly
one of the picket members. The connecting device further includes an elongate
connecting member or sleeve 184 which again is formed with a central
passageway 186 which is adapted to receive the shaft section 176. A major
portion of the passageway has suitable threads 188 which can co-operate with
the threads 182 in order to adjustably secure the shaft section in the
passageway 186. Thus it will be seen that the overall length of the connector
170 can be adjusted by threading the collar pin further into the member 184 or
threading it in the reverse direction to project the collar pin further out of
the
member 184. Once the collar pin has been properly adjusted in its position
relative to the connecting member 184, it can be secured in this position by
means of a set screw or socket screw 190. This screw is threaded into a
threaded hole 192 formed near one end of the member 184. The set screw can
engage the unthreaded portion of shaft section 176 and thereby can prevent
rotation of the sleeve 184 and disengagement of the adapter.
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16
The connecting device also has an adapter 194 for securing one end of
the connecting member to the post 172. The adapter has thread means 196 for
securing the connecting member 184 to the adapter, these threads being sized
to engage the threads 188. The adapter 194 also has an axial passage
extending the length of the adapter, this passage having a relatively wide
section 198, and a relatively narrow section 200 with a tapered shoulder being
formed between these two sections. The adapter can be connected to the post
by means of a rivet nut 202 which itself is of standard construction and a
suitable bolt 204 with its tapered head located in the passageway of the
adapter. A hole is formed in the side of the post to receive the rivet nut. An
exemplary form of the collar pin 174 is provided with a set screw 206 which
can
be used to secure the collar pin in its correct position on the fence bar or
picket.
The illustrated set screw extends through a small axial passage formed in the
end of the collar pin. This passage can also be formed in one side of the
collar
pin so long as it opens into the aperture 183.
The variation shown in Figure 12 is a connecting device 210 that
includes a non-threaded collar pin 212 which can be similar in its
construction to
the collar pin 134 of Figure 5 except that its collar section 214 has the same
diameter as its shaft section 216. This connecting device 210 has a non-
threaded connecting member or sleeve 218 with two threaded screw holes 220,
222. Engaged in these screw holes are two set screws 224 and 226. The set
screw 226 can be used to secure the collar pin in the non threaded axial
passage 230. Again the position of the collar pin is adjustable in the axial
direction relative to the connecting sleeve. This connecting device 210 also
has
an adapter 232 which is relatively inexpensive to make as it is formed with no
threads. The axial passageway formed in this adapter is similar to that in the
adapter 194 and this adapter can be attached by a rivet nut 202 and bolt 204.
The adapter has first and second portions with the first portion 234 being
wider
than a second portion 236 in a radial direction relative to the axial passage.
Extending about the circumference of the second portion and midway along its
length is a groove 240 which is adapted to receive the end of the set screw
224
CA 02680727 2009-09-25
17
when the portion 236 is inserted into the passage 230. Thus the set screw is
used to connect the adapter to the sleeve member.
Figure 13 illustrates an alternate method of connecting a connecting
device 260 to a post and also illustrates how this type of connecting device
can
be used to attach a gate so that it can pivot about a vertical axis. Shown in
the
figure are a fence post 172 and a gate picket or bar 262, only a portion of
which
is shown. This connecting device has a collar pin 174 which can be the same
in its construction as that shown in Figure 11. The gate bar 262 extends
through the aperture 183 formed in the collar pin. However the gate bar is
free
to rotate in the aperture in order to permit the gate to swing about a
vertical axis
which is defined by the bar 262. In order to support the gate in the vertical
direction on the collar pin there is provided a stopper sleeve 264 which
engages
the top of the collar pin as shown. The sleeve is held in its position on the
bar
by means of a set screw 266. The connector 260 also has a connecting
member or sleeve 184 which can be constructed as shown in Figure 11 with
threads which engage the threads on the collar pin 174. The connecting device
also has an adapter 270 which has features in common with the adapter 194 or
can be made in an identical manner (optional). The adapter 270 has external
threads 196 that can engage the threads within the connecting member 184 in
order to attach same to the adapter. With a gate connection, it is preferable
to
have the threads 191 connect the sleeve 184 rather than rely on a set screw
holding the sleeve member in place. The illustrated adapter 270 has an axial
passage 272 which is threaded. The adapter is connected to the post by
means of a standard bolt 274 which extends through the post and is threaded
into the adapter. In the exemplary construction shown, the bolt 274 also
connects a further adapter 276 to the post. Thus a single bolt can be used to
connect two adapters on opposite sides of the post 172. The adapter 276 can
be used to connect a fence panel (not shown) by means of a picket or bar at
the
adjacent end of the fence panel.
Figure 16 illustrates the capability of the fence constructed with the kit
and connectors described herein to extend over uneven ground. It will be
CA 02680727 2009-09-25
18
appreciated that the height position of each fence panel 22 is adjustable with
respect to its respective post 12. The figure illustrates three posts 12
mounted
on uneven ground 280. Because the panels 22 are movable initially because of
the adjustability of their connecting devices 26 it is possible for the
installer to lift
each panel to a desired height. When the panel is in its correct position, the
aforementioned set screws 206 can then be used to secure each of the collar
pins 174 to their respective end pickets. Thus panel height adjustment is easy
to carry out and the construction of the pickets or bars together with that of
the
connectors allows some flexibility of the fence even on sloped terrain.
Figures 17 to 19 illustrate how fences constructed with the kits and
connectors described herein can be erected in various plan configurations. In
the fence construction of Figure 17 there are three posts 12 and located on
opposite sides of each post are two fence panels 22. In this fence layout
adjacent panels extend at a large obtuse angle to one another. As shown the
connectors for the panels simply extend outwardly from opposite sides of each
post. It will be seen that the angle between adjacent panels (as seen in plan
view) can readily be varied depending on the requirements for the particular
fence.
Figure 18 illustrates another advantage of the present fence
construction. This figure shows two fence panels 22 connected to a single post
12. The two panels are aligned with one another in a straight line. However,
the post 12 to which they are mounted can be offset from the aligned panels as
shown. This can be advantageous in some fence constructions, particularly
where the desired line of the fence differs from the line along which the
posts
can be installed in the ground or other supporting surface. Such fence
constructions are possible because the collar pins of the connectors can
initially
be rotated about their respective pickets or bars and because the adapters,
such as the adapter 194 shown in Figure 11, can be attached to their
respective
posts at the job site at any position about the circumference of the posts.
Figure 19 illustrates another possible fence configuration wherein the
fence panels 22 extend perpendicular to the adjacent panels. Again there are
CA 02680727 2009-09-25
19
two panels 22 connected to three of the illustrated posts 12. The four panels
are individually identified as panels 22a to 22d. The panels 22b and 22c are
connected to each other by a post and connectors 26 that extend at an angle of
135 to their respective panels and that extend from opposite sides of the
post.
However in the case of the connectors that join the panels 22a and 22b to
their
common post 12, the connectors extend at right angles to one another. In the
case of the connectors that join the panels 22c and 22d together, the
connectors 26' extend from opposite sides of the post 12 and lie in the same
plane, a plane defined by the panel 22d.
Figure 20 illustrates how a gate can be provided in a fence made with
the fence kits and connectors described herein. The fence gate is indicated
generally at 290 and it is attached to a single post 12 mounted in the ground.
The gate is attached by means of two or more connectors 26. In order to allow
pivotal movement of the gate, no set screws are used to secure the collar pins
174 to the picket or bar that extends through these collar pins. The gate can
be
prevented from moving upwardly or downwardly relative to its connecting
devices 26 by means of fixed sleeves 264 attached to the bar that forms the
pivot axis (see one of these sleeves illustrated in Figure 13). Because the
gate
can assert a significant force pulling away from the post to which it is
attached
(as compared to a regular fence panel which is secured at each of its ends),
an
exemplary form of gate connector has an externally threaded collar pin (such
as
a collar pin 174 of Figure 11), the use of which eliminates any longitudinal
movement of the pin relative to its connecting member 184.
While the present invention has been illustrated and described as
embodied in various exemplary embodiments, e.g. embodiments having
particularly utility in the construction of fences, it is to be understood
that the
present invention is not limited to the details shown herein, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in
the forms and details of the disclosed kits, connectors and fences and their
operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way
from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, those of
CA 02680727 2009-09-25
ordinary skill in this art will readily adapt the present disclosure to
various other
applications without departing from the spirit or scope of the present
invention.
