Patent ID: 6708955
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: E04H

Abstract:
A fence assembly comprising:a plastic garden-lattice having a front side and a rear side, the garden-lattice comprising a plurality of flat plastic slats, each slat having a width, a thickness, a front side and a rear side, the slats being crossed in a lattice arrangement defining a plurality of lattice apertures separated by the width of the slats, the apertures each having a generally rectangular shape; and a plastic lattice insert comprising a generally rectangular face-plate having sufficient width to overlap at least two opposing edges of one of said plurality of lattice apertures; and opposing flexible mounting arms for attaching the face-plate to the garden-lattice, the mounting arms being unitarily constructed with the face-plate and extending rearwardly from the face-plate, each mounting arm having a barb at a distal end of the mounting arm opposite the face-plate for securing the lattice insert within said lattice aperture, said barb being tapered for insertion into said lattice aperture and having an abutment surface parallel to the face-plate for locking the lattice insert within said lattice aperture; wherein when the mounting arms of the lattice insert are inserted into said lattice aperture from the front side of the garden-lattice, the mounting arms flex radially outward, using the flexible nature of the arms, to abut said opposing edges of said aperture and to engage said barbs with the rear side of the garden-lattice in a locking relationship, the face-plate abutting the front side of at least two opposing slats of the garden-lattice, and the abutment surface of said barbs abutting the rear side of said opposing slats; wherein the lattice insert provides means for alteration of the characteristics of the garden-lattice with regards to color, privacy, and shelter from the elements.