Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02820331 2013-06-17
DO-IT-YOURSELF FENCE
[0001] This application claims priority based on United States Patent
Application
13/527,130 entitled "DO-IT-YOURSELF FENCE" filed June 19, 2012, which is
herein
incorporated by reference.
Technical Field
[0002] The current invention deals with fencing, and more particularly,
with
fencing that is constructed such that it can be stored and transported in a
dismantled
packaged condition, and when on site, can be quickly and easily snapped
together
without tools and erected to form a barrier. The fencing can be utilized in
multiple
sections, wherein each section is self-contained in a portable container.
Background of the Invention
[0003] Fences have historically been used for multiple purposes,
including
keeping animals and/or people within a confined area, or in the alternative,
keeping
animals and/or people outside of an area. Historically, fences have tended to
be
permanent structures, but with the mobility of the current generation, the
need has arisen
for non-permanent fencing structures to temporarily define a space, whether
that be for
construction and/or entertainment. One of the problems encountered is that the
current
fencing on the market usually requires trucks and/or other heavy-duty
equipment to
transport the fence units from one location to another. The current fencing
available also
requires tools to assemble or disassemble.
[0004] Prior art known to the inventor pertinent to the present invention
include:
U.S. Patent 4,266,757 granted to Kirkwood on May 12, 1981, which discloses a
corner fence clip, which in conjunction with a fence post, allows the random
placement
of rails, in that the attachment for the posts may be placed at any one of
selected angles
and the rails are snapped therein.
U.S. Patent 4,951,925 granted August 28, 1990 to Schultz et al, discloses a
fence
connector assembly wherein rail shapes are threaded into a post and the rails
are then
snapped into position over the post member.
U.S. Patent 4,986,513 granted to Schultz eta! January 26, 1991, further
including
locking rails.
CA 02820331 2013-06-17
2
U.S. Publication US2010/004466 published February 25, 2010 to Walmsley
discloses a fence assembly, wherein the pales are snap-fit into the rails at
predetermined
locations.
U.S. Publication US2011/0017968 published January 27, 2011 to Christoffer et
al
discloses a preassembled sectional safety rail for use in construction,
wherein the rails are
secured to a base plate by telescopically inserting vertical posts into the
vertical ends of
the rails.
U.S. Publication US2011/0073823 published March 31, 2011 to Mitrovik,
wherein the various elements are threadingly secured together to complete a
fence
structure.
U.S. Publication US2012/0061636 published March 15, 2012 to Williams SR
et al discloses a system for strengthening vinyl fences, wherein a kit is
provided
including U-shaped channel member which are inserted into the top and bottom
sections
of the preexisting railings.
Summary of the Invention
[0005] With the above-noted history and the problems in mind, it is the
desire of
the current invention to provide lightweight, portable effective fencing, such
that the user
can quickly and easily transport the fencing units to the desired location and
quickly erect
a fencing structure of any desired length or configuration.
[0006] It is further a desire of the present invention to provide a novel
fencing
structure, such that the erection and/or dismantling of the fence can be
completed without
the use of tools.
[0007] Still another desirable aspect of the current invention is the
fact that the
fencing structure is very stable and solid in appearance, and yet is quickly
and easily
dismantled and transported to another location, whether for storage or use.
[0008] A further feature of the present invention is that each fencing
unit is
prepackaged and portable.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled do-it-yourself
fence
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
CA 02820331 2013-06-17
3
[0010] Figure 2 is a sectional view of the fence taken along lines 2-2 of
Figure 1.
[0011] Figure 3 is a detailed view of the intersection of two panels as
shown in
Figure 1.
[0012] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of portions of Figure 1.
[0013] Figure 5 is a sectional view of the fence taken along lines 5-5 of
Figure 1.
[0014] Figure 6 is a sectional view of the fence taken along lines 6-6 of
Figure 1.
[0015] Figure 7 is a sectional view of the fence taken along lines 7-7 of
Figure 1.
[0016] Figure 8 is a sectional view of the fence taken along lines 8-8 of
Figure 1.
[0017] Figure 9 is an isometric view of the portable cart for
transporting the
inventive fence.
[0018] Figure 10 is an isometric view of the portable cart which has
attached
thereto a container for containing the fence.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0019] Referring now to the Figures 1-8, the isometric view of the fence
kit 10
(Figure 1) includes a left post 30 and a right post 28. For top and bottom
rails 42, 44,
two rail connectors 38, see Figure 4, as well as two footings 12-12, pickets
18 and tube
clips 26.
[0020] The left post 30 has an F-shape in profile and includes a vertical
member
34. The vertical member 34 may be a 3ft long 1 inch x 1 inch x 0.65 inch
rectangular
steel tubing. A top horizontal member 38 and mid-height member 38 are welded
to the
right side of the first end of vertical member 34. The horizontal member 38
may be 8
inches long 1 inch x 1 inch x 0.165 inch rectangular steel tubing. The mid-
height
member 38 is located approximately 12 inches from the bottom end. A flat metal
piece
36A is welded to the top side of horizontal member 38 in such a way that the
metal piece
36A overhangs about 3-1/2 inches toward the vertical member 34. A frame
connector
pin or rail connector 32 is welded to the bottom side of the overhanging
portion of metal
piece 36A. The frame connector pin 32 may be a 3/4-inch long stub made of 3/4-
inch
hot rolled steel.
[0021] The right post 28 is a mirror image of the left post 30, with two
exceptions, in that the flat metal piece 36 equivalent to the flat metal piece
36A has a
CA 02820331 2013-06-17
4
length of only 8 inches and does not form an overhang such that two facing
elements may
be conveniently joined together, right to left.
[0022] A rail connector 40 (see Figure 6) includes a horizontal member 38
and
flat metal piece 36 welded to the top side of horizontal member 38. The flat
metal piece
may be an 8 inch x 1/4 inch x 1 inch flat piece of metal. A 1/2 inch diameter
hole 39 is
drilled 4 inches from each end of the horizontal member 38. A tube clip 26
with a button
pin 27 is disposed inside of each end of the horizontal member in a manner
that allows
the button pin 27 to pop out through the hole 39.
[0023] The top and bottom rails 42, 44 should be 47 inches x 2 inches x
1, 0.65
inch rectangular tubes having 1/2-inch diameter hole 43 drilled in one of the
2-inch sides
4 inches from each end of the rails. Hole 43 seizes the button pin 27. Hook
and loop
squares 22 having the size of 1 inch x 1 inch are affixed to the non-drilled
side of the top
and bottom rails 42, 44 about 8 inches apart to secure the slats 18 to the top
and bottom
rails. It is to be noted that only one portion of the hook/loop combination is
shown in
Figure 4.
[0024] The footing includes a flat base 46 formed of a 24 inch long 1/4
inch x 2
inch flat metal plate having two rods 48 above and perpendicular in the center
of the base
one inch apart. The rods are 6 inches long hot rolled 3/4-inch steel bar and
are formed to
removably fit into the second end of vertical members 34. Pickets 18 may
include a
wood slat 20 approximately 38 inches long and 4 inches wide with a Roman top
at one
end or other design of choice. One 2 inch plastic table clip 24 is glued to
the wood slat
20 about 3 inches from the top and another one about 6 inches from the bottom,
such that
the clips may be clipped on the top and bottom rails 42, 44 over the hook and
loop
squares 22. It is to be understood that the post 28, 30 and the pickets 18 may
be made
larger to accommodate the customer's needs. In addition, different types of
slats may be
used, such as vinyl, wood, wrought iron, cedar slats or fence wire to give
different looks
other than the picket fence look, as shown. Instead of rectangular tubing,
round tubing
may be used.
[0025] As seen in Figure 9, a cart is shown having a horizontal platform
50 and a
vertical handle 52, and further including wheels 54, wherein said cart is
designed to be
secured to a container by straps 56, as shown in Figure 10, to hold, transport
and store a
fencing section 10.
CA 02820331 2013-06-17
[0026] As best seen in Figure 10, the handle 52 extends above the
container 58
and allows easy transport of the fence sections secured within the container.
[0027] The do-it-yourself fence kit may address the needs of the rental
industry,
such as party rentals, fence rental companies and wedding and event planners.
It is too
be understood that it may be modified into gates, railing or balusters and may
be used to
form dog kennels, chicken coops and the like.
[0028] Although a preferred embodiment has been disclosed for purposes of
illustration, it should be understood that various changes and modifications
and
substitutions could be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from
the
spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow:
What is claimed is:
