Fence cap system

A fence cap system, comprising a cover, a cap claw, a securing screw, wherein the cover includes an upper portion that is pyramid-shaped with an apex and a base, the apex including a cover hole designed to receive the securing screw, wherein the cap claw includes a center portion that includes a claw hole designed to receive the securing screw, and wherein the securing screw secures the cap claw to the cover when it is received through the cover hole and the claw hole.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a fence cap system and, more specifically, a fence cap system capable of installing onto the top of fence posts over a range of different fence post sizes.

BACKGROUND

When wooden posts are installed in the ground to support a fence, play center, mailboxes, or the like, the post may have a range of sizes to accommodate various things to be supported. Irrespective of the fence post size, the top portion of the fence post or the end grain may be exposed to the elements and acts as a straw, sucking in the surrounding moisture. This moisture will create rot and open the grain of the fence post to cracking. What is needed is to efficiently protect the top of fence posts over a range of different fence post sizes.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a fence cap system is provided, the fence cap system including a cover, a cap claw, a securing screw, wherein the cover includes an upper portion that is pyramid-shaped with an apex and a base, the apex including a cover hole designed to receive the securing screw, wherein the cap claw includes a center portion that includes a claw hole designed to receive the securing screw, and wherein the securing screw secures the cap claw to the cover when it is received through the cover hole and the claw hole.

In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a fence cap system is provided, the method of manufacturing including providing a cover, providing a cap claw, providing a securing screw, wherein the cover includes an upper portion that is pyramid-shaped with an apex and a base, the apex including a cover hole designed to receive the securing screw, wherein the cap claw includes a center portion that includes a claw hole designed to receive the securing screw, and wherein the securing screw secures the cap claw to the cover when it is received through the cover hole and the claw hole.

Still, other aspects, features, and advantages of this disclosure may be readily apparent from the following detailed description, as illustrates by the example embodiments. This disclosure may also be capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details may be modified in various respects. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative and not as restrictive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As mentioned above, this application relates to a fence cap system and, more specifically, to a fence cap system capable of installation onto the top of fence posts having a range of sizes.

FIG.1is a top perspective view100of a fence cap system102installed on a fence post104according to the embodiments disclosed herein. The fence cap system102may be installed on a top portion106of the fence post104to protect the top portion106of the fence post104from the weather and the surrounding environment in general.

The fence cap system102of one size includes a cap length108, a cap width110, and a cap height112that may fit the top portion106of the fence post104over a range of fence post sizes that include a post length114and a post width116. In one exemplary embodiment, a fence cap system102with a cap length108of four and five-eighths inches (4⅝″), a cap width110of four and five-eighths inches (4⅝″), and a cap height112of one and three-quarters inches (1¾″) may be installed on fence posts104whose dimensions range from a post length114of three and three-eighths inches (3⅜″) and a post width116of three and three-eighths inches (3⅜″) to a post length114of four and three-sixteenths inches (4 3/16″) and a post width of four and three-sixteenths inches (4 3/16″).

Similarly, a fence cap system102with a cap length108of six and one-half inches (6½″), a cap width110of six and one-half inches (6½″), and a cap height112of two inches (2″) may be installed on fence posts104whose dimensions range from a post length114of five and one-half inches (5½″) and a post width116of five and one half inches (5½″) to a post length114of six inches (6″) and a post width116of six inches (6″).

FIG.2is an exploded view200of the fence cap system102according to the embodiments disclosed herein. The fence cap system102may include a cover202, a cap claw204, and a securing screw206.

The cover202may include an upper portion208and a lower portion210. The upper portion208may be generally pyramid-shaped with an apex212and a base228. The apex212may include a cover hole214designed to receive the securing screw206.

The lower portion210may extend downward from the base228of the upper portion208and may be generally square-shaped to match or envelope any shape of the top portion106of the fence post104.

The cover202may be formed from any rigid material known to one of ordinary skill in the art that is water-resistant, including G90 galvanized steel.

The cap claw204allows the cover202of one size to be effectively coupled to fence posts104over a range of sizes. The cap claw204is shaped and sized to fit under and follow the shape and size of the cover202.

The cap claw204may include a center portion216with a claw hole218designed to receive the securing screw206. The center portion216of the cap claw204may be aligned with the apex212of the upper portion208such that the securing screw206may be received through both the cover hole214and the claw hole218. The securing screw206may secure the cap claw204to the cover202once it has been received through the cover hole214and the claw hole218.

A pair of arms220extend downward from opposite sides of the center portion216. Each of the pair of arms220extends downward from the apex212of the upper portion208to the bottom226of the lower portion210. The pair of arms220are each shaped to generally follow the shape of the upper portion208and the lower portion210.

A fin222extends from an end224of each of the pair of arms220. The fin222is forked shaped with at least three prongs230that face toward the center portion216. The pair of arms220are designed to be flexible about the center portion216, which may vary a distance232between the fin222extending from each of the pair of arms220.

FIG.3is a close-up view300of an embodiment of the fin222extending from each of the pair of arms220included within the fence cap system102according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

The fin222is forked shaped with two outer prongs302and one center prong304. The two outer prongs302are parallel to one another, with each having a first length306that is longer than a second length308of the center prong304. Moreover, the center prong304extends outward at an angle Ø310relative to the two outer prongs302.

Specifically, the center prong304extends at a negative Ø310such that it extends downward312away from the two outer prongs302and the center portion216of the cap claw204.

In one embodiment, the center prong304extends at a negative 30-degree angle relative to the two outer prongs302.

FIG.4is a front view400along line A-A′ inFIG.1of the fence cap system102positioned on the top portion106of the fence post104according to the embodiments disclosed herein. In preparation for installation, the fence cap system102is positioned above the top portion106of the fence post104with the securing screw206centered on the top portion106. In this position, the fin222extending from each of the pair of arms220is generally lined up with opposing edges402of the fence post104.

FIG.5is a front view500along line A-A′ inFIG.1of the fence cap system102installed onto the top portion106of a fence post104of a first size according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

As the fence cap system102is pushed downward502towards the top portion106of the fence post104, the two outer prongs302of the fin222extending from each of the pair of arms220comes into contact and interact with the edges402of the fence post104. The interaction between the two outer prongs302and the edges402results in the fin222extending from each of the pair of arms220bending upward504towards the center portion216of the cap claw204. As the fin222extending from each of the pair of arms220is bent, the center prong304of the fin222comes into contact with and penetrates into opposite sides506of the fence post104. The fence cap system102may continue downward502until the edges402of the fence post104come into contact with the pair of arms220. The two outer prongs302and the center prongs304force the fence cap system102to center itself on the fence post104as it is being installed over the top portion106of the fence post104.

FIG.6is a front view600along line A-A′ inFIG.1of the fence cap system102installed onto the top portion106of a fence post104of a second size according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

The second size being greater than the first size discussed inFIG.5, the fin222extending from each of the pair of arms220is bent further upward504until the edges402of the fence post104come into contact with the pair of arms220. The center prong304comes into greater contact with and penetrates further into the opposite sides506of the fence post104. Moreover, the pair of arms220flex further about the center portion216to accommodate the greater second size of the fence post104.

The combination of the two outer prongs302and the center prong304on the fin222extending from each of the pair of arms220secures the fence cap system102to the fence post104.

The foregoing description discloses only exemplary embodiments. Modifications of the above-disclosed assemblies and methods that fall within this disclosure's scope will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

This disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to the particular assemblies and/or methods disclosed, but, to the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the claims.