FENCE POST ASSEMBLY

A fence assembly that permits assembly a series of main posts and secondary members for constructing a fence having a desired shape and functionality. The main post has a front and rear connector for receiving a secondary member such as a cap, a corner member, an angle member, or a gate member. The main post may define a filler receptacle for receiving infill. The main post or secondary members may define a channel for serving as a screw guide or for receiving an accessory. In use, fence installation includes installing a main post in the ground and slidably engaging a secondary member with the main post. Infill may be located within a filler receptacle defined by the main post. Additional secondary members and/or main posts may be slidably affixed together to allow a user to assemble main posts and secondary members for constructing a fence in a desired configuration.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to fences and fence posts. More particularly-, the invention relates to fence posts and secondary members having compatible engaging surfaces for facilitating on-site construction in a desired configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of fences is widespread. Fences are available in various materials and configurations to meet the needs of consumers. For example, common fence types for residential or light commercial use include chain link fence and picket fence. However, variations of these types or configurations of fences are available to provide aesthetic alternatives for consumers. Some fence variants provide fence panels that are assembled off-site and transported to the installation site. Other fence variants require multiple workers to construct and erect fence components and fence panels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The fence system of the invention is a versatile fence assembly that facilitates allowing a user to assemble a series of main posts and secondary members for constructing a fence having a desired shape and having a desired functionality. In one embodiment, various fence components, such as posts, angle members, corner members, caps and gate members, may be slidably engaged with one another is a user desired configuration.

The fence of the invention has a main post having a height, a front member, a rear member, a first end, a second end, and a center member. The front member has an outside, an inside, and a terminal end. The rear member has an outside, an inside, and a terminal end. The center member has a first side and a second side. The center member connects the front member and the rear member.

A front connector is provided at the terminal end of the front member and a rear connector is provided at the terminal end of the rear member. The front connector and the rear connector receive a secondary member.

In one embodiment, a filler receptacle is defined by the main post on one of the first side and the second side of the center member. Infill may be received in the filler receptacle.

In one embodiment, one of the outside of the front member and the outside of the rear member defines a channel, wherein the channel serves as a screw guide for securing the infill to the main post. In one embodiment, the channel is provided with retaining members for forming an accessory track for receiving an accessory.

The secondary member may be one of a cap, a corner member, an angle member, and a gate member. In one embodiment, the secondary member defines a channel wherein the channel serves as a screw guide for securing infill to the secondary member. In one embodiment, the channel is provided with retaining members for forming an accessory track for receiving an accessory.

In one embodiment, the cap is received by the front connector of the main post and by the rear connector of the main post for covering a filler receptacle.

In one embodiment, the corner member may be received by the front connector of the main post and by the rear connector of the main post facilitating a right angle bend in the fence. In one embodiment, the corner member defines a first corner post connector and a second corner post connector wherein the first corner member connector of the corner member and the front connector of the main post each define a shape such that each can receive components having a complementary shape compatible with each, and the second corner member connector of the corner member and the rear connector of the main post each define a same shape such that each can receive components having a complementary shape compatible with each.

In one embodiment, the angle member is received in the front connector and the rear connector for facilitating an angled bend in the fence, the angle member defining a first angle member connector and a second angle member connector. In one embodiment, the angled bend facilitated by the angle member is between 1 and 89 degrees. The angled be provided in various forms, preferably between 15 and 75 degrees, more preferably between 30 and 60 degrees, and more preferably approximately 45 degrees to allow a user to construct a fence having a desired configuration. In one embodiment, the first angle member connector of the angle member and the front connector of the main post each define a shape such that each can receive components having a complementary shape compatible with each, and the second angle member connector of the angle member and the rear connector of the main post each define a same shape such that each can receive complimentary shaped components compatible with each.

In practice, construction of the fence includes the steps of installing a main post in a ground surface, slidably engaging a secondary member with a front connector at a terminal end of a front member of the main post and with a rear connector of the main post at a terminal end of a rear member.

In one embodiment, infill is located within a filler receptacle defined by the main post on one of the first side and the second side of a center member of the main post.

In one embodiment, a screw is passed through the one of the front member and the rear member of the main post for securing the infill within the filler receptacle.

In one embodiment, one of the front member and the rear member of the main post define a channel, wherein a screw is passed through the channel, wherein the channel serves as a screw guide for securing the infill to the main post. In one embodiment, the channel is provided with retaining members for receiving an accessory.

In one embodiment, the secondary member is selected from a group consisting of a cap, a corner member, an angle member, and a gate member.

Inn one embodiment, the secondary member defines connectors, wherein the connectors of the secondary member and the front connector of the front member of the main post each define a shape such that each can receive components having a complementary shape compatible with each, and the secondary member defines connectors, wherein the connectors of the secondary member and the rear connector of the rear member of the main post each define a shape such that each can receive components having a complementary shape compatible with each, wherein the compatibility of the connectors of the secondary member, the front connector of the main post and the rear connector of the main post allow a user to assemble a series of main posts and secondary members for constructing a fence having a desired shape and having a desired functionality.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIG.1, shown is a fence post assembly designated generally10.

Fence post assembly10includes main post12and a plurality of infill members14, such as horizontal slats16or other infill members14such as panels, horizontal slats, vertical slats, or other types of infill.

Referring now toFIGS.1and2, shown is main post12having a height. Main post12has a front member20having an outside22and an inside24, Main post12includes rear member26having an outside28and an inside30. Main post12has first end32and second end34. Main post12additionally has center member36having a first side38and a second side39. Center member36is for connecting front member20and rear member26.

First front connector40is located on front member20at first end32of main post12. Second front connector42is located on front member20at second end34of main post12. First rear connector44is located on front member20at front end32of main post12. Second rear connector46is located on rear member26at second end34of main post12.

Outside22of front member20defines first channel50and second channel52for, e.g., receiving accessories and for serving as a screw guide.

Secondary member80is adapted to be received on first front connector40of front member20and first rear connector44of rear member26or on second front connector42of front member20and second rear connector46of rear member26for facilitating efficient installation of secondary member80for configuring fence assembly10in a desired configuration.

Secondary member80is preferably selected from a group consisting of cap90(FIG.3,6), corner post100(FIG.4, angle post130(FIG.5,6) and gate post170(FIG.7).

Cap90is adapted for installation on one of first end32and second end34of main post12. Cap90has an end92adapted to connect to first front connector40or second front connector42of front member20of main post12. Cap90has another end94adapted to connect to first rear connector44or second rear connector46of rear member26of main post12. Cap90is for covering first filler receptacle60or second filler receptacle70for providing an attractive appearance to fence post assembly10, at an end of assembled fence10where one of first filler receptacle60or second filler receptacle70may be exposed.

Corner post100is adapted for installation on one of first end32and second end39of main post12. Corner post100has arm102adapted to be affixed to one of first end32and second end34of main post12. Arm102has first feature104adapted to connect to first front connector40or second front connector42of front member20and adapted to connect to first rear connector44or second rear connector46of rear member26. Arm102has second feature106adapted to connect to first front connector40or second front connector42of front member20and adapted to connect to first rear connector44or second rear connector46of rear member26. Corner post100further has first side108, mating side110, and second side112. Mating side110defines inside surface114and mating side protrusion116for engaging with one of channels50,52of main post12. First side108has inside surface118and first terminal end120. Second side112has inside surface122and second terminal end124. Filler receiving area126is defined by inside surface118of first side108, inside surface114of mating side110, and inside surface122of second side112. First terminal end120defines first corner post connector128. Second terminal end124defines second corner post connector130. First corner post connector128and second corner post connector130have a complementary shape for slidable connection with first front connector40, first rear connector44, second front connector42, and second rear connector46of main post12.

Angle post130is adapted for installation on one of first end32and second end34of main post12. Angle post130has an attachment member132having a first end134adapted to connect to first front connector40, second front connector42, first i-ear connector44or second rear connector46of main post12. Angle post130has a second end136adapted to connect to first front connector40, second front connector42, first rear connector44or second rear connector46of main post12. Attachment member132communicates with interior angle member134. Interior angle member134defines an angle alpha with respect to attachment member132. Internal angle member134has an inside surface135. In one embodiment, angle alpha is 45 degrees. Angle alpha may be of a different value, e.g., 30 degrees or 60 degrees, 45 degrees or any size between 1 and 90 degrees. Opposite angle alpha is extension member138. First side member140and second side member142extend outwardly from interior angle member134. First side member140defines an inside surface144, a terminal end146, and a channel148. Second side member142defines an inside surface150, a terminal end152and a channel154.

Inside144of first side member140, inside135of internal angle segment134and inside150of second side142define filler receiving area160. First terminal end146defines first angle post connector162. Second terminal end152defines second angle post connector164. First angle post connector162and second angle post connector164have a complementary shape for being slidably received by first front connector40, first rear connector44, second front connector42, and second rear connector46of main post12.

Gate post170is adapted for installation on one of first end32and second end34of main post12. Gate post170has an attachment member172having a first end174adapted to connect to first front connector40, first rear connector44, second front connector42, and second rear connector46of main post12. Gate post170has a second end176adapted to connect to connect to first front connector40, first rear connector44, second front connector42, and second rear connector46of main post12. Hinge member178is affixed to attachment member172.

Gate180(FIG.8) has a top member182, a bottom member184, a hinge side vertical member186and a latch side vertical member188.

Hinge side vertical member186is provided with gate hinge members190for being rotationally received in hinge members178of gate post170. Latch side vertical member188may be provided with latch192. Infill member, e.g., horizontal slats14may be located between the hinge side vertical member186and the latch side vertical member188.

In one embodiment, channels are provided with retaining members190,192(seeFIG.9) for forming an accessory track196.

Preferably, a plurality of accessories200(FIGS.10A-10H) are made available for a user to customize fence12by locating accessory foot234of an accessory in accessory track196. Example accessories are shown inFIGS.10A to10G. Example accessories include a cover238, (FIG.10H), flower pot hanger or hook248(FIG.10A), hand rail bracket249(FIG.10B), barm arm or barb wire arm252(FIG.10C) for security, light253(FIG.10D), tubular bracket254(FIG.10E), planter box256(FIG.10F), and sign or frame258(FIG.10G).

Accessory foot234may be held in place with a friction fit or by locating a fastener or clamp into or adjacent to accessory foot234.

Although particular embodiments have been described herein, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto and that many modifications and additions thereto may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, various combinations of the features of the following dependent claims can be made with the features of the independent claims without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a ranger having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%.