Abstract:
A fencing system. Components may be joined in various combinations to create a limitless number of different configurations or arrangements. Stakes, posts, and chains may be attached to one another in multiple combinations. The posts are removably interchangeably inserted onto stakes set in the ground, thereby allowing each post to be rotated to any desired position. The stakes are first driven into the ground and the posts are then inserted into or onto a post-holder in the stake to provide support and stability for the fencing system. Chains are removably suspended between two selected posts. The chain may have post attachment collars with through bores, which are aligned, and the posts inserted therethrough into the post holding structure. Clamps attached below a lowermost post attachment collar suspend the chains to the posts.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 10/797,410, filed on Mar. 10, 2004, which is currently pending, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a customizable decorative fencing system, and, more particularly, to a decorative fencing system that includes multiple components and may be arranged in a potentially infinite number of combinations and permutations so as to be used as a decorative accent fence for a carriage house, yard or walk, or a combination thereof. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The related art fails to specifically address either the problem or the solution arrived upon by the applicant. Fencing systems are known in the industry, as is the use of sectional fence structures to create various configurations for fencing systems. 
         [0006]    None of these related attempts offer the solution proposed by the applicant. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a customizable fencing system, having several components that may be arranged in a substantially limitless number of configurations or combinations. 
         [0008]    The present invention may also provide a fencing system that may be used as a small or low fence, or a decorative accent for a carriage house, yard or walk, or a combination thereof. 
         [0009]    The present invention may also provide a decorative fencing system that allows a user to purchase and use only those elements necessary to create the design or shape of his or her choosing. 
         [0010]    The present invention may also provide a fencing system that is easy to assemble, disassemble, customize and revise, and reassemble. 
         [0011]    The present invention may also provide a fencing system that may be either permanently or temporarily affixed to the ground. 
         [0012]    The present invention may also provide a fencing system which includes all the elements necessary to create a fence. 
         [0013]    The present invention provides a fencing system which may include a variety of interchangeable decorative elements. 
         [0014]    The present invention provides a decorative fencing system in which the individual components may be manufactured from a variety of materials or can be provided with a variety of finishes. 
         [0015]    The present invention comprises a customizable fencing system designed to be used as a small fence or decorative accent for a carriage house, yard, or walk, or a combination thereof. The fencing system includes several different components that may be joined in various combinations so as to create a limitless number of different configurations or arrangements. Post sections can include open d-rings clamped thereon, with one distal end of a chain suspended on an open d-ring of one selected post, and another distal end of the chain suspended on an open d-ring of an adjacent post. Alternatively, the chains can be provided with post attachment collars at each respective distal end, each post attachment collar having a bore provided therethrough with a diameter larger than the diameter of each post, so that the ends of the posts can be inserted through the bores of the post attachment collars. Removable clamp rings can be attached to the posts below the post attachment collars to hold the post attachment collars in position. When a pair of adjacent chain ends are to be attached to one post, the bores of the two respective post attachment collars bores are aligned, and the post inserted therethrough. The post sections are removably, interchangeably secured to the ground by means of stakes that are driven into the ground. In one embodiment, the post is slidably, removably, interchangeably inserted into a sleeve in the stake to thereby provide support and stability for the fencing system. Each stake sleeve has a diameter larger than the diameter of each post, so the posts removably, interchangeably insert into each stake sleeve and are removably, frictionally held in place therein. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the stake includes a projecting portion, which can removably, interchangeably insert into a sleeve provided in a lower distal end of each post. A diameter of the sleeve in each post is larger than a diameter of each stake projecting portion. The projecting portions removably, interchangeably insert into sleeves of selected posts, and are removably, frictionally held in place therein. The posts can be placed at different distances apart, varying the taughtness of the suspended chains, and also can be placed so as to define a variety of angles between any two adjacent posts. The posts and stakes can be inserted together, assembled, e.g., in one desired pattern, then disassembled and reassembled in another desired pattern, without moving the stakes. Alternatively, if desired, during disassembly, one or more of the stakes can be withdrawn from the ground and moved to different locations prior to reassembling the fence in another desired pattern. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the detailed explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of one embodiment of a base unit of a fencing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of another embodiment of a base unit of a fencing system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is an exploded front elevational view of one embodiment of a post and stake of the fencing system of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are exploded front elevational views of another embodiment of a post and stake of the fencing system of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is an exploded part view of one embodiment of a chain that is suspended between posts, used in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an exploded part view of another embodiment of a chain that is suspended between posts, used in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  depicts perspective views illustrating various configurations of the fence system of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    Referring to the drawings and, in particular, to  FIGS. 1-7 , the fencing system of the present invention, referred to generally by reference numeral  10 , is illustrated. 
         [0025]    The fencing system  10  includes a plurality of posts  20 , which are removably, interchangeably staked into the ground, as explained in greater detail below. Each post has a uniform diameter d 1 . As embodied in  FIG. 1 , each post  20  includes a projecting open d-ring  23  proximate an upper end of the post. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, as broadly depicted in  FIG. 1 , one distal end  16  of chain  16  is suspended from open d-ring  23  on one post  20  and an opposite distal end of the chain  16  is suspended from an open d-ring  23  on the next successive post  20 . The tautness or slackness of chain  16  is determined by the distance the two adjacent posts  20  are fixed apart in the ground. 
         [0027]    In another embodiment, as broadly depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , a post attachment collar  17  is provided on each respective distal end of chain  16 . Each post attachment collar  17  is generally cylindrical, and has a bore  18  extending therethrough. The bore  18  has a diameter d 2 , which is slightly larger than the diameter d 1  of each post  20 , so that each post attachment collar  17  can slide onto any selected post  20 , to slidably, pivotally attach thereto. As depicted in  FIG. 2 , when a post attachment collar is attached to each post  20 , it is supported and held in place by a detachable clamp  22 , attached to the post  20  below the post attachment collar  17 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , when two chains  16  are attached to one post  20 , the bores  18  in two post attachment collars  17  are aligned, and the post  20  is inserted therethrough. The detachable clamp  22  is then attached beneath the lowermost post attachment collar  17  to hold the aligned post attachment collars  17 , in place on the respective post. 
         [0028]    The posts  20  of the fencing system  10  are secured to the ground by means of one or more stakes  40 . The stakes  40  are designed to be driven into the ground and receive the posts  20  to thereby support the posts  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the stakes  40  are wedge shaped or include a plurality of fins so as to facilitate their insertion into the ground, although a variety of alternative designs are possible. For example, the shape of the stakes  40  is designed with the idea that the stakes will be held in place in the ground. If the user prefers to dig a hole for the stakes  40 , the stakes  40  could be provided in any shape or size. The only requirement is that the stakes are configured to receive and retain the posts  20 . 
         [0029]    In one preferred embodiment, as broadly embodied in  FIG. 3 , the stakes  40  receive and retain lower distal ends  20   a  of the posts  20  by removably, interchangeably receiving the lower distal end  20   a  of one post  20  in a stake sleeve  42 , essentially a cylindrical recess or cavity provided within the body of the stake  40  and having an internal diameter d 3  slightly larger than the diameter d 1  of the post  20 , such that the post  20  will be received within and be interchangeably, removably, frictionally retained by the stake sleeve  42 . 
         [0030]    Ideally, the stake sleeve  42  should be of sufficient length so as to securely receive the post  20 , and the length of the portion of the stake  40  that is inserted into the ground should be sufficient to prevent the post  20  from toppling over when the decorative fencing system  10  is assembled. In the above-described embodiment, the length of the portion of the stake  40  that is inserted into the ground preferably is approximately 10 inches, although longer stakes  40  also would function, and shorter ones may serve effectively provided the weight of the structural components and posts  20  is not too great, and the ground is firm enough to retain the stake  40  therein. Furthermore, the weight of the post  20  serves to force the post  20  into the stake sleeve  42  and prevent the post from sliding out. 
         [0031]    In another preferred embodiment, as broadly embodied in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the lower distal end  20   a  of end post  20  is hollow and has an internal diameter d 4  slightly larger than a diameter d 5  of a projecting portion  43  on stake  40 , so that projecting portion  43  of stake  40  will be received within and be frictionally, interchangeably, removably retained by the lower distal end  20   a  of post  20 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 5 and 6  depict a pattern of large oval links  16   a  connected by a series of smaller circular links  16   b . Chain  16 , however, is not limited to this configuration, but have any embodiment of links, as desired by the user, and as well known in the art. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 4A-4B  depict installation of a decorative ball cap  52  on an upper distal end  20   b  of post  20 . Ball cap  52  has a projecting portion  52   a  which inserts into an aperture in upper distal end  20   b  of post  20 . 
         [0034]    In the preferred embodiment, the components of the fencing system  10  are manufactured from tubular steel, both square and round stock. A powder coat finish may be provided on some or all of the elements. For example, a separate color or finish or a different material, such as bronze colored cast iron, may be used for decorative accents such as decorative a ball caps  52 . All the steel components ideally are welded in assembly, and the decorative accents may be held in place by force fit, adhesive, welding, some combination thereof or by other means known in the art. 
         [0035]    Alternative manufacturing variations also are contemplated, including manufacturing individual components out of solid iron or steel pieces, welding and finishing by powder coating or painting. The components may be produced as individual cast iron pieces and finished with various paint techniques to create different appearances. 
         [0036]    It should be appreciated that the design of the individual structural components shown in the Figures is just one possible design for the fencing system  10  of the present invention. A variety of different designs and decorative accents  48  are contemplated. The only limitation is that the design of the system  10  must be embodied and tied together by the posts  20  and chains  16 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the posts  20  can be set in the ground to define a variety of angles with respect to one another, in order to provide a wide variety of configurations. 
         [0038]    Due to the above-discussed configuration of fencing system components, the process of assembling the fencing system  10  is simple and easy to alter, in order to obtain a variety of customizable patterns. In the first preferred embodiment, stakes  40  are driven into the ground, and selected posts  20  are removably interchangeably inserted into stake sleeves  42  of selected sakes  40 . In another preferred embodiment, selected projecting sections  43  of selected stakes  40  are inserted into sleeves in the lower distal end  20   a  of selected posts  20 . The assembly step forms one selected fence configuration. Next, in one embodiment, the distal ends section  15   a  and  15   b  of selected chains  16  are suspended on open d-rings  23  of selected posts  20 . Subsequently, the chains  16  may be removed from the open d-rings  23 , and the posts may be removed from the stakes. The posts may then be re-inserted into or onto different selected stakes  40 , or else one or more of the stakes  40  may be withdrawn from the ground, moved into different positions and reinserted into the ground posts. The chains  16  are re-suspended from selected posts, defining a different selected fence configuration. 
         [0039]    In another embodiment, bores  18  of post collars  17  of adjacent chains  16  are aligned, and a post  20  is inserted therethrough, into a stake  40 . A detachable clamp ring  22  is attached below the lowermost post collar  17 , to hold the post collars  17 , and their respective chains  16 , in position on the post  20 . The same step is repeated on the adjacent post. In the case of an end post, with only a single distal end of a single chain  16  attachment, the post collar  17  is aligned with a selected stake  40 , and a selected post  20  is inserted therethrough into the stakes. These steps, including removal of chains  16  from posts  20 , removal of posts  20  from stakes  40 , followed by reattachment of posts  20  to stakes  40 , and reattachment of chains  16  to posts  20 , are repeated until the desired fence configuration is achieved, either without moving any stakes  40 , or removing and replacing selected stakes  40  in different locations, allowing for a potentially infinite number of combinations and angles between the structural components. Moreover, since each of the components may be purchased separately, the fencing system  10  may be as large or as small as the user desires. 
         [0040]    Having thus described the invention with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.