Abstract:
A flexible elongated cap for topping a fence panel. The elongated cap comprises a durable casing surrounding a foam core wherein the casing defines a channel for receiving the upper end of the fence panel. The side walls of the channel are angled inward to provide a clamping affect over the upper end of the fence panel. The cap is aesthetically shaped and is flexible to allow for adaptation to a variety of fence panel shapes.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    The present non-provisional patent application is a continuation of U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 09/730,669 filed on Dec. 6, 2000. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to building construction products and more specifically to an elongated cap for a fence panel.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Perimeter and accent fencing is extremely popular in residential home construction. Homes and apartments, as well as a variety of other buildings, often incorporate fencing into their design to create boundaries for foliage displays, pool and garden areas, and pet zones. Additionally, fences are commonly utilized to provide privacy and security by minimizing visual and physical unauthorized access.  
           [0004]    Wood products traditionally have been the primary source of materials for use in fence and deck construction. However, wood products are becoming increasingly scarce due to the harvesting of trees at ever faster rates and the rather limited rate at which timber resources can be replenished. Also, environmental concerns and regulations directed to conservation or preservation of forests tend to restrict the availability of wood products. With the diminishing availability of timber resources, wood products are becoming increasingly expensive. There is, therefore, a substantial need for long-lasting substitute construction materials that can lessen the need to harvest timber resources.  
           [0005]    One potential approach to addressing the above need is to provide substitute fence and decking products made of plastic, rather than wood. Plastic fence products provide a long-lasting alternative to wood. In addition, plastic fence products alleviate the need for costly painting and repainting. A variety of plastic building products are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,603 describes a three-layer synthetic construction material made from recycled waste thermoplastic synthetic resin material and cellulose fiber aggregate. This material includes face surfaces consisting essentially of re-hardened fused and rolled thermoplastic synthetic resin material bits, and an intervening core material consisting essentially of a compressed non-homogenous mixture of cellulose aggregate material bits and re-hardened fused thermoplastic synthetic resin material bits. Such plastic material can be used to create fencing elements.  
           [0006]    Some of the essential elements of deck and fence construction are the railing and post members. The space or section between two posts, the panel, must be substantially solid when a fence is intended to provide privacy and security. Therefore, panel members need to provide an effective screen. The traditional fencepost and rail assembly incorporating spindle-type panel members is undesirable. However, a panel formed from a series of strategically placed boards provides an effective barrier.  
           [0007]    Modular boards can easily be employed to construct such a panel, resulting in a long-lasting fence with all of the benefits described above for these substitute building materials. As a result of the manufacturing process, however, one feature of modular boards is a hollow interior. This affords a beneficially lightweight plank, but also creates an open end that requires covering. When modular boards are employed as cross-supports or railings, the open ends may be secured against a post. When utilized as planks in a vertical panel, a separate capping device is necessary. Known caps can be effective if planks are adequately spaced to allow for individual coverage and if the panels have a flat upper edge. However, where a more solid panel or an aesthetically arced panel is desired, such caps are disadvantageous. Furthermore, attachment of individual caps is time consuming and labor intensive.  
           [0008]    A need yet remains in the art for an elongated cap that can adequately cover any fence panel regardless of board spacing or panel arc, that has an aesthetically pleasing appearance, and that can be installed quickly and easily. It is to the provision of such a cap that the present invention is primarily directed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    Briefly described, in a first preferred form the present invention both overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a device, by providing an elongated cap for a fence panel.  
           [0010]    Generally, the present device is an elongated cap comprising a foam core surrounded by a durable casing. In a preferred form, the elongated cap is flexible to allow for adaptation to a variety of fence panel shapes. In a preferred form, the cap is aesthetically shaped and defines a substantially rectangular channel to allow the cap to be secured to the upper edge of a fence panel. Within the scope of the present device, it should be understood that the cap could define a different shape or style, depending on the shape of the corresponding panel members and the users preference. Preferably, channel walls are slightly angled toward each other to assist in effectively gripping corresponding boards, thus allowing the cap to remain secure along the fence panel.  
           [0011]    An object of the present invention is to provide an elongated cap for a fence panel.  
           [0012]    A further object is to provide an elongated cap which securely covers a fence panel, is strong and sturdy, and is weather-resistant.  
           [0013]    Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible, elongated cap to fit a vertically or horizontally arcuate fence panel.  
           [0014]    A further object of the invention is to provide an elongated cap that can be easily installed and removed.  
           [0015]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a fence cap that does not require the use of screws/nails and that is aesthetically pleasing.  
           [0016]    Still a further object of the invention is to provide an elongated cap having the strength to withstand external forces, yet remain flexible and lightweight.  
           [0017]    These objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0018]    The present invention will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the elongated cap according to a preferred form of the invention, where the cap is shown positioned on a board A.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the elongated cap of FIG. 1, where the cap is shown secured on a substantially flat fence panel.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the elongated cap of FIG. 1, where the cap is shown secured on a substantially arcuate fence panel. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]    In describing the preferred and alternate embodiments of the present invention, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected.  
         [0023]    Referring now in detail to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, FIGS.  1 - 3  show an elongated cap  10  according to a preferred form of the invention. The cap  10  preferably comprises a casing  20 , a channel  30  and a foam core  40 .  
         [0024]    In the preferred form, the elongated cap  10  is a one-piece modular extrusion wherein the casing  20  is molded plastic surrounding a foam core  40 . However, one skilled in the art will recognize that alternative materials may be used such as, for exemplary purposes only, rubber or glass fiber. Preferably, the casing  20  is formed by a peripheral wall  22  defining an interior cavity  24 . The peripheral wall  22  generally has a top exterior wall  26 , two side exterior walls  28   a  and  28   b,  and channel walls  30   a,    30   b  and  30   c.  In the preferred form, the peripheral wall  22  is preferably of sufficient density and thickness to provide strength and durability yet remain lightweight and flexible. Although the thickness of the peripheral wall  22  may vary, the preferred thickness is 0.010 to 0.100 inches. The casing  20  surrounds the foam core  40 , shaping the three-dimensional cap  10  into the desired cross-sectional design.  
         [0025]    The channel  30  has an upper wall  30   c  and two side walls  30   a  and  30   b  thereby defining comers  36   a  and  36   b.  The channel  30  is substantially rectangular shaped and dimensioned to snugly receive a plurality of boards A. Preferably, the upper wall  32  is substantially flat to buttress the end of the boards A. To further secure the boards A within the channel  30 , sidewalls  30   a  and  30   b  preferably extend from upper wall  30   c  at an angle slightly less than ninety degrees. As such, when the boards A are slid into the channel  30 , the sidewalls  30   a  and  30   b  are urged inward onto the board A thereby acting as a claw or clamp to secure cap  10  thereto.  
         [0026]    The foam core  40  fills the interior cavity  24  of the elongated cap  10  thereby providing lightweight and flexible support for the peripheral wall  22 . The foam core  40  is preferably formed from 0.6 density foam, thus resulting in a formable yet flexible core. The flexibility of the foam core  40  allows the elongated cap  10  to be adapted to fit a variety of fence panel shapes.  
         [0027]    In use, the elongated cap  10  is preferably positioned with the upper wall  30   c  of the channel  30  substantially flush with an upright board A. The channel  30 , however, may be formed with a sufficient depth to allow for secure positioning of the elongated cap  10  without the upper wall  30   c  being substantially flush with an upright board A. The pre-formed length of elongated cap  10  is preferably trimmed to fit between two upright fence posts, as desired. As best seen in FIG. 2, the elongated cap  10  may be utilized substantially along a straight line wherein the boards A of a fence panel are substantially coplanar and wherein the ends of the boards A are substantially parallel. The elongated cap  10  may also be utilized at a fixed or variable angle wherein the boards of a fence panel may be of substantially equivalent length, but advance on a slope. As best seen in FIG. 3, the elongated cap  10  may be utilized on a substantially arcuate fence wherein the boards A of a fence panel are not coplanar. Elongated cap  10  can also be utilized to cover boards that were either manufactured or cut with slight imperfections to provide a level decorative covering.  
         [0028]    In an alternative form, adhesive may be utilized within the channel  30  to provide a more permanent method of securing the elongated cap  10  to a fence panel.  
         [0029]    In an alternative form, the elongated cap  10  could be formed with a plurality of fastening apertures to allow a screw, bolt, nail, or other fastening device to extend through at least one of the two side exterior walls  28   a  and  28   b,  and through at least one of the respective side walls  30   a  and  30   b  of channel  30 , and attach to the board A.  
         [0030]    Although a preferred shape of elongated cap  10  is shown in the figures, it is contemplated that the elongated cap  10  could be of varied shapes to complement a variety of fence styles and user preferences.  
         [0031]    Having thus described the preferred and alternative forms of the present invention, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the within disclosure is exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made therein within the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.