Patent ID: 6202987
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: E04H,Y10T

Abstract:
A fence system comprising:a rail configured to be supported in a laterally extending orientation for holding a plurality of elongate fence planks in an upwardly-extending position, said rail having an elongate top side and an elongate bottom side, said rail further including an elongate open channel formed in the bottom side of the rail such that said elongate open channel includes an elongate channel-entrance that extends lengthwise along a majority length of the bottom side of the rail, the rail further including spaced apart channel-sidewalls extending inwardly from the elongate channel-entrance in the bottom side of the rail in a direction toward the top side of the rail to thereby define the elongate open channel therebetween;said plurality of fence planks having free ends configured and dimensioned to extend through the elongate channel-entrance of the open channel and reside slidably within said open channel to thereby enable the fence planks to be slidable toward and away from each other along the open channel when their free ends are positioned through the channel-entrance and into the open channel, and wherein each fence plank further comprises a front wall and a rear wall; andat least one channel-projection formed as part of at least one of the channel-sidewalls of the rail, said channel-projection extending outwardly from a surface of the channel-sidewall into engagement with the fence planks when said fence planks are placed into the open channel, for increased support of the fence planks;wherein the at least one channel-projection comprises at least one elongate ledge extending from one of the channel-sidewall surfaces, said ledge extending lengthwise along a majority length of said channel-sidewall such that the engagement of said ledge with the fence planks operates to prevent the front walls or rear walls of the fence planks disposed in engagement with said elongate ledge from contacting the surface of said channel-sidewall when said fence planks are placed through the elongate channel-entrance and into the open channel, such that the fence planks are slidable toward and away from each other along the open channel in engagement with said elongate ledge.