Patent ID: 7025335
Filing Date: 2006-04-11
Classification: E04H,F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A modular picket fence, comprising: a. at least two spaced apart vertical posts being adaptable to be secured to a support surface; b. at least two spaced apart upper and lower hollow horizontal rails, each horizontal rail having, an enclosed upper surface with a plurality of spaced apart apertures and an enclosed lower surface with a plurality of spaced apart apertures, a respective aperture in an upper surface aligned with a respective aperture in a lower surface; c. means for attaching said at least two horizontal rails to said at least two vertical posts such that the apertures on said at least two horizontal rails are aligned; d. a plurality of spaced apart vertical pickets having a hollow interior and secured, in mutually parallel relationship to each other to said at least two horizontal rails, each said vertical picket having two opposite end portions respectively inserted into said aligned apertures of said at least two horizontal rails, each said end portion of each said vertical picket having two oppositely disposed and aligned transverse apertures each aperture having a locking tongue extending into the aperture; e. means for locking said each end portion of said each vertical picket to one of said at least two horizontal rails when said end portion is inserted into a respective aligned set of corresponding apertures of said respective one of said at least two horizontal rails, said locking means each comprising a one-piece generally U-shaped spring clip having a bent middle portion and two opposite end portions each having an outwardly protruding stopper, each stopper having a ramp side having an opening which receives the locking tongue and a right-angle each side, said spring clip respectively inserted into said each end portion of said each vertical picket with said opposite stoppers of said spring clip secured to the vertical picket by the locking tongue received within the opening in the ramp side and each ramp side respectively protruding through said two oppositely disposed and aligned transverse apertures of each said end portion of each said vertical picket; f. wherein when said each end portion of each said vertical picket is inserted into one of said corresponding aligned sets of apertures of said respective one of said horizontal rails, said stoppers of said spring clip are inserted in said each end portion of each said vertical picket and extend through said transverse apertures of said each end portion of each said vertical picket such that for the upper horizontal rail the locking tongue engages the opening in the ramp side of the stopper so that the ramp side of the stopper rests upon the interior of the lower surface and the right angle side is compressed against the interior wall of the vertical picket and for the lower horizontal rail the locking tongue engages the opening in the ramp side of the stopper so that the ramp side of the stopper rests underneath the interior of the upper surface and the right angle side is compressed against the interior wall of the vertical picket such that vertical movement of each said vertical picket relative to said respective one of said horizontal rails is prevented.