Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
HORIZONTAL FENCING SYSTEM
Technical Field
[001] The present application relates to horizontal fencing systems and
methods of installing the fencing
systems.
Background
[002] Horizontal fences are generally built using post that hold horizontal
planks in place. Existing
horizontal fencing systems comprises many different parts, each part for a
unique function within the system.
For example, some systems for building horizontal fences include different
types of posts for different
functions: one style for end posts; one style for center posts; one style for
corner posts; and another for gate
posts. The multitude of part required can make it confusing to determine the
parts required when designing a
fence and can be expensive to manufacture, as a different mold is required for
each component. Examples of
existing horizontal fencing systems are: HOFT Solutions and Slipfencerm.
Summary
[003] The system disclosed herein uses one h-shaped post and a u-channel piece
as the two main
components. These two multi-functional components are used separately or in
combination to create line
posts, end posts, corner posts, gate posts, gates, locking brace, and spacers
for semi-private horizontal fences.
[004] In one aspect, there is provided a fence post for use in a horizontal
fencing system, the fence post
being a single piece having an elongated square shape with a square horizontal
cross-section with two solid
opposing sides and two opposing sides have a channel centered thereon, each
channel having a flange at an
outer edge on each side of the respective channel, each flange extending from
a solid opposing side of the
fence post toward the center of the respective channel, the two channels
separated at the center of the fence
post by a center barrier.
[005] In another aspect, there is provided horizontal fencing system
comprising: one or more single-piece
fence posts, each having an elongated shape with a square horizontal cross-
section with two solid opposing
sides and two opposing sides have a channel centered thereon, each channel
having a flange at an outer edge
on each side of the respective channel, each flange extending from a solid
opposing side of the fence post
toward the center of the respective channel, the two channels separated at the
center of the post by a center
barrier; and one or more u-shaped elongated bars sized to fit in one of the
channels of the fence post inside
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the flanges, the u-shaped elongated bars each having a shape the same as the
channels with a rear face and
two side faces, the rear face being less than the width of the channel.
[006] In another aspect, there is provided a method for constructing a
horizontal fence using the system
described herein, comprising: cutting slots into the side faces of a first u-
shaped elongated bar, the slots being
at a distance less than the length of the channel from each end of the first u-
shaped elongated bar; securing
one of the fence posts to a surface; sliding one end of a fence board having a
width less than the distance
between the flanges of the channels into one of the channels of the fence post
and the other end of the fence
board into a corresponding channel of another fence post or into a second
elongated u-shaped bar mounted to
a vertical surface; repeating the sliding step until the fence has reached a
desired height; and sliding the slots
of first u-shaped elongated bar over the flanges of one of the one or more
fence post.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[007] Figure 1 is a line drawing of a fence post for horizontal fencing in
accordance with one example
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[008] Figure 2 is a line drawing of a u-channel for use with the fence post in
accordance with one example
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[009] Figure 3 is a line drawing of the top of the corner of a fence
constructed accordance with one example
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0010] Figure 4 is a line drawing of a stopper in accordance with one example
embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0011] Figure 5 is a line drawing of a base plate in accordance with one
example embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0012] Figure 6 is a line drawing of a fence post installed on a base plate in
accordance with one example
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0013] Figure 7 is a line drawing of a fence post installed on a base plate a
fence post installed on a base
plate in accordance with one example embodiment of the present disclosure with
an encasement partially
installed at a bottom end.
[0014] Figure 8 is a line drawing of a fence post installed on a base plate a
fence post installed on a base
plate in accordance with one example embodiment of the present disclosurewith
an encasement installed at a
bottom end.
[0015] Figure 9 is a line drawing of a top corner of a horizontal fence in
accordance with one example
embodiment of the present disclosure.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-08-28
[0016] Figure 10 is a line drawing of a semi-private horizontal fence in
accordance with one example
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0017] Figure 11 is a line drawing of a private horizontal fence in accordance
with one example embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0018] Figure 12 is a line drawing of a gate in accordance with one example
embodiment of the present
disclosure.
Detailed description
[0019] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain
illustrative aspects are described
herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings.
These aspects are indicative
of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be practiced.
Other advantages and novel
features will become apparent from the following detailed description when
considered in conjunction with
the drawings.
[0020] A horizontal fencing system 500 (see Figure 3) according to the present
application comprises a fence
post 100 and a u-shaped elongated bar 200. Embodiments of each component and
the system will be
described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0021] Referring to Figure 1, a fence post 100 for use in a horizontal fencing
system 500 (see Figure 3) will
be described. The fence post 100 has an elongated square shape with two solid
opposing sides 102 and two
opposing sides 104 have a channel 110 centered thereon. Each channel 104 has a
flange 120 at an outer edge
on each side of the respective channel. The two channels 104 are separated at
the center of the post 100 by a
center barrier 150. The fence post 100 can be made of any suitable material.
In some embodiments, the
fence post 100 is made from aluminum by way of an extrusion process. Other
possible materials include, but
are not limited to steel and polymers, such as PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). Other
manufacturing processes are
also possible.
[0022] The fence post can be any height depending on the desired fence height.
Most fences are between 6
and 10 feet in height depending on use and bylaws. The fence post can be any
suitable width. In one
embodiment the sides 102 and 104 are 3 inches wide.
100231 The distance between the flanges 120 accommodates a fence board 300
(shown in Figure 3). For
example, for fence boards that are linch in wide, the distance between ends of
the flanges is at least 1 inch.
For boards that are 0.9 inches wide, the distance between the flanges is at
least 0.9 inches. In one
embodiment, the flanges extend .4 inches from the outer edges of the sides of
the channels 110.
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[0024] In an embodiment, the fence post 100 comprises semi-circular or
circular protrusions 140 at the inside
of each corner, extending toward the center of the fence post 100. These semi-
circular or circular protrusions
140 can be used to attach the fence post 100 to a base plate 600 (shown in
Figure 6). The semi-circular or
circular protrusions 140 also add structural stability to the fence post 100.
[0025] In some embodiments, the fence post 100 has a uniform horizontal cross-
section for the entire length
of the fence post. This is beneficial for production, as longer lengths of
posts can be produced and
subsequently cut to the desired length.
[0026] In some embodiments of the fence post, two lines 106 are marked on an
exterior face of each solid
opposing side 102. The two lines 106 are centered on each of the solid
opposing sides and extend the length
of the post. The distance between the two lines being equal to or slightly
less than the width of the channel.
These lines can be used as a guide when installing the u-shaped elongated bar
200 when building the
horizontal fencing system 500. In some embodiments the two lines 106 are
etched into the fence post 100. In
other embodiments, the two lines are painted onto the fence post.
[0027] Referring to Figure 3, the horizontal fencing system 500 will now be
described. The system
comprises one of more fence post 100 and one or more u-shaped elongated bars
200 (shown in more detail in
Figure 2.) The u-shaped elongated bar 200 is sized to fit in one of the
channels 110 of the fence post 100
inside the flanges 120. The u-shaped elongated bars 200 each having a rear
face and two side faces, the rear
face being slightly less than the width of the channel. The embodiment shown
in Figure 3 demonstrates the
fence post used as a corner post, with fence boards 300 in one channel 110, a
u-shaped bar 200 inserted
vertically in the other channel 110, and a second u-shaped bar 200 attached
vertically to one of the solid sides
102 of the fence post. The second u-shaped bar has fence boards 300 inserted
into it.
[0028] In some embodiments, the system 500 comprises at least two fence posts.
As will be discussed
below, a fence can be built using two fence posts or alternatively, a fence
can be built with one fence post
100 at one end and a u-shaped elongated bar 200 on a vertical surface, such as
a side of a building on the
other end. Thus, some systems include only one fence post.
[0029] Referring to Figure 4, some embodiments of the system 500, a stopper
400. The stopper can be placed
at a bottom end of the channel 110 of the fence post 100 to stop the lowest
fence board 300 at a desired
height when the fencing system 500 is constructed. The stopper 400 comprises
two adjacent rectangular sides
410 and 440 at 90 degrees to each other and having a width slightly less than
the width of the channel, with
one side 440 being connectable to a center wall 150 of the channel 110 and the
other side 410 being slightly
less in length to a distance from an inside of the flanges 120 to the center
wall 150 of the channel 110. In
some embodiments, on or both of the sides 410 and 440 of the stopper 400 have
slots or holes 412,414
suitable for inserting a bolt or screw. The slots 412, 414 can be used to
attach the stopper to the center wall
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-08-28
150 of the channel 110. The stopper 400 can be made of any suitable material.
In some embodiments, the
stopper is made from metal, such as, but not limited to aluminum or steel. In
some embodiments, the stopper
is made from a polymer, such as but not limited to PVC.
[0030] Referring to Figure 5, in some embodiments, the system further
comprises a base plate 600
connectable to one end of the fence post 100. The base plate 600 can be used
to attach the fence post 100 to
a surface, such as but not limited to a deck or floor. In some embodiments,
the base plate 600 is square and
with sides longer than the width of the fence post 100. In some embodiments
the base plate has pegs 610,
configured to fit into the semi-circular or circular protrusions 140 of the
fence post 100. In some
embodiments, the base plate 600 comprising four pegs 610, one for each corner
of the fence post 100. IN
some embodiments, the pegs 610 are centered on the base plate 600. In some
embodiments, the base plate
600 has holes 620 though the base plate for to accommodate fasteners 640
(shown in Figure 6) for attaching
the base plate to a surface. In some embodiments, there are four holes 620. In
some embodiments, the holes
620 are located at corners of the base plate 600. Figure 7 shows a fence post
100 attached to a base plate 600
with a stopper 400 in place at the bottom end of the fence post.
[0031] Referring to Figures 7 and 8, the bottom end of the fence post 100, in
some embodiments, can be
covered with a decorative casement 700. In some embodiments, the encasement
700 comprises two
symmetrical parts 710 and 720 that wrap around the fence post 100 and connect
together.
[0032] A method for constructing a horizontal fence using the system described
above will now be
described. Slots 240 are cut into the side faces 220 of a first u-shaped
elongated bar 200. The slots 240 are at
a distance slightly less than the length of the channel 110 from each end of
the first u-shaped elongated bar
200. The slots are sized to slide over the flanges 120 and serve to stabilize
the fence when constructed. The
flanges 120 in conjunction with the slots 240 serve to lock the distance
between fence posts 100 so that the
same distance between fence posts is maintained under external forces, such as
but not limited to wind and
frost pressure. Furthermore, the slots allow the u-shaped bar 200 bar to move
up and down to accommodate
expansion and contraction of the fence boards 300. In some embodiments, the
slots 240 extend the entire
length of the side faces 220, such that when in place, the first u-shaped
elongated bar 200 covers a top edge
of a fence board (see Figure 9).
[0033] To construct the fence, one of the fence posts 100 is secured to a
surface. In some embodiments, the
surface is the ground, and the fence post is inserted into the ground. In some
embodiments, the surface is the
ground, and the fence post is secured to the ground using concrete poured into
a hole. In some embodiments,
the surface is a base plate 600.
[0034] Once the fence post(s) are in place one end of a fence board 300 having
a width slightly less than the
width of the channel 110 is slid into the channel of the fence post 100 and
the other end of the fence board
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-08-28
300 into a corresponding channel of another fence post or into a second
elongated u-shaped bar mounted to a
vertical surface. This step of sliding fence boards into place is repeated
until the fence has reached a desired
height. Any fence board having a depth less than the distance between the
flanges of a channel can be used.
Examples of materials that the fence boards can be made of include, but are
not limited to, pressure treated
wood, cedar, polymers. The most common width of PCV fence boards is .875
inches. In a preferred
embodiment of the fence posts, the flanges are .9 inches apart to accommodate
the .875-inch PVC boards.
[0035] To complete the fence, first u-shaped elongated bar is placed at the
top of the fence by sliding the
slots 240 sliding over the flanges 120.
[0036] In some embodiments the second elongated u-shaped bar 200 is attached
to one of the solid sides 102
of another fence post. This creates a comer post.
[0037] In some embodiments, the second u-shaped elongated bar 200 is inserted
into one of the channels 110
of the fence post This creates an end post.
[0038] In some embodiments, the method further comprises cutting a third
elongated u-shaped elongated bar
into equal pieces and inserting a piece of the third u-shaped elongated bar in
the channel of each fence post or
second u-shaped elongated bar between each fence board. This creates a semi-
private fence 1100 which is
shown in Figure 10.
[0039] An example of a private fence 1200 constructed using the horizontal
fencing system 300 described
herein is shown in Figure 11.
[0040] Referring to Figure 12, the components of the horizontal fencing system
500 can be used to create a
gate 1300. In some embodiments a gate panel 1310 is constructs from two fence
posts 100 with u-shaped
elongated bars 200 in one channel 110 of each post. Fence boards 300 are
inserted into the other channels of
the two fence posts and the panel is topped with another u-shaped elongated
bar 200 with slots 240 cut into it.
Hinges 1320 are attached to one fence post 100 and a gate latch 1330 is
attached to the opposing fence post
100. The gate panel 1310 can be mounted to any vertical surface, including but
not limited to another fence
post. A mating latch can be mounted on an opposing vertical surface to enable
the gate panel to be secured
in a closed position. In some embodiments, a diagonal gate brace is installed
diagonally to one side of the
panel and from one bottom corner of the panel to an opposing top comer. This
provides additional strength
to the gate.
[0041] What has been described above includes examples of the disclosed
architecture. It is, of course, not
possible to describe every conceivable combination of components and/or
methodologies, but one of
ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and
permutations are possible.
Accordingly, the novel architecture is intended to embrace all such
alterations, modifications and variations.
Furthermore, to the extent that the term "includes" is used in either the
detailed description or the claims,
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-08-28
such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term
"comprising" as "comprising" is
interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
[0042] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present
invention have been presented for
purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the present
invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and
variations are possible in
light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described
in order to best explain
the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to
thereby enable others skilled in the art
to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various
modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated.
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