Fence rail connector

An integrally formed backless U-shaped rail-supporting bracket for use in constructing fences, which can be nailed to a fence post with three nails, thus eliminating the need to make a hole in the post or nail the rails to the post. The depth of the bracket is sufficient to hold rails inserted at an angle without mitering up to 20.degree. and with approximate angle mitering for more than 20.degree..

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
This invention is not disclosed in any co-pending application for a patent 
or any issued patent. 
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,581,461 to Lee discloses a bracket with a back which 
supports both the bracket and rail. 
U.S. Pat. No. 841,771 to Hamilton likewise discloses a bracket with a back 
which supports both the bracket and the rail. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,386 to Hart discloses a third type of bracket in which 
the back supports both the bracket and the rail. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,428 to Gilb discloses a fourth type of bracket in which 
the back supports both the bracket and the rail. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The use of brackets to support rails in fences is not new, one advantage of 
devices such as the present invention being new, one advantage of devices 
such as the present invention being to the post is eliminated. 
The present invention improves upon and differs from others in that it does 
not have a back piece thus making it easier and more economical to 
manufacture from a single strip of metal. 
Another advantage is that it is secured to the fence post by means of three 
nails, so that it is quite firmly affixed. 
A further advantage is that it is deep enough to hold a rail inserted at an 
angle of up to 20.degree. without mitering, and a rail inserted at an 
angle of up to 20.degree. with approximate angle mitering. 
A further advantage is that it provides a means for lock-tight clamping of 
the rails whether inserted at an angle or not. 
It is further constructed so that in the absence of the clamp the rails may 
be removed with ease.

STRUCTURE OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT 
The fence post, 1, is composed of wood or some other material into which a 
nail may be driven. 
The rail-supporting bracket is composed of a single strip of metal of 
sufficient width to support a rail, 2, at an angle of 20.degree. without 
mitering, or an angle of greater than 20.degree. with approximate angle 
mitering. It is bent into a right angle U-shape consisting of a base, 3, 
and two uniform upwardly extending parallel walls, 4, of greater height 
than the distance between them. The upper horizontal edge of each wall, 5, 
is curved inwardly to form a complete cylinder, 6, running from front to 
back of sufficient diameter to permit a nail, 7, to be driven through it 
and into the fence post. 
At the center of the base, 3, the metal forms a semicylindrical curve, 8, 
downwardly extending from front to back parallel to the upper horizontal 
edges of the walls and of sufficient vertical depth to allow a nail to be 
driven along it below the level of the base, 3. 
Through each of the walls, 4, there are two holes, 9, placed inversely 
opposite each other both horizontally and vertically through which nails, 
10, may be driven into but not through the rail, 2, to form a fixed lock 
clamp. 
Although the present invention has been described with reference to a 
particular embodiment thereof, it should be understood that those skilled 
in the art may make many other modifications and embodiments thereof which 
will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this invention.