Abstract:
A durable, low-maintenance and easy to install fence incorporating a combination of materials that includes at least two posts, a casement structure maintained between the two posts, a lattice structure supported within the casement structure, and a shield structure supported within the casement structure. The posts and casement structure are made of weather treated wood and the lattice and shield structures are made of a synthetic material such as vinyl. Both the lattice and shield structures are supported within the casement structure by a plurality of wood supports.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/215,167 filed Jun. 29, 2000, Attorney Reference No. STUS-1-1001. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to the design and construction of a low-maintenance fence.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Fence design has evolved over the years to include a wide variety of types of fences, ranging from basic stonewalls to chain-link fences to wood fences to synthetic fences. Each type of material used for fence construction, as well as the particular method of construction, offers unique advantages and disadvantages. Stonewalls offer durability and depth, but are difficult labor intensive to create, difficult to maintain at a height, and lack the aesthetically pleasing appearance of other types of fences. Chain-link fences are durable and relatively easy to install, but lack privacy protection. Wood fences offer variable height and privacy and are relatively easy to install, but require high maintenance, including constant wood restoration and painting or restaining approximately every two to four years. Synthetic fences, such as those made out of plastics, ceramic, or other material, offer varying degrees of durability and distinct aesthetic appearance, but are often difficult to install and expensive.  
           [0004]    Thus, there is a need for a low-maintenance fence that incorporates privacy and ease of installation advantages associated with wood fences with durability and low-maintenance advantages of synthetic fences.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention relates to the design and construction of a fence incorporating a combination of materials in a manner to produce a fence that is durable, easy to install, and requires minimal maintenance. The fence of the present invention includes at least two posts, a casement structure maintained between the two posts, a lattice structure supported within the casement structure, and a shield structure supported within the casement structure.  
           [0006]    In an alternative embodiment, the posts and casement structure are made of weather treated wood and the lattice and shield structures are made of a synthetic material such as vinyl.  
           [0007]    In an alternative embodiment, both the lattice and shield structures are supported within the casement structure by a plurality of wood supports. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a view of a low-maintenance fence in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a photographic perspective view of the back side of the low-maintenance fence of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a photographic perspective view of the front side of the low-maintenance fence showing post caps.  
         [0012]    FIGS.  4 - 5  are photographic perspective views of the front side of the low-maintenance fence. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a durable, low-maintenance fence that is easy to install and provides privacy protection. The present invention offers significant advantages in the design, construction and maintenance of fences.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 shows a section of a fence  10  according to the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, fence section  10  comprises two posts  20  supported in a vertical position in ground  70  by cement foundations  22 . Posts  20  are preferably 4″×4″ wood cedar beams made of 50 year guaranteed treated outdoor wood. The top of posts  20  are capped by post caps  60 , preferably made of anodized aluminum. The structure of fence section  10  is supported between posts  20  by a number of support members, specifically top horizontal support  24 , middle horizontal support  26 , bottom horizontal support  28 , and vertical end supports  30 . Each of these supports is preferably 2″×4″ wood cedar boards made of 50 year guaranteed treated outdoor wood. Supports  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30  are connected to and maintained in placed relative to posts  20  by connection means, preferably nails or screws (not shown).  
         [0015]    Fence section  10  further comprises a lattice section  40  and a shield section  50 . Lattice section  40  comprises a lattice network  42 , preferably made of durable, low-maintenance vinyl, supported within the lattice section between top horizontal support  24 , middle horizontal support  26 , and vertical end supports  30  by stops  44 , located on either side of lattice network  42 . Stops  44  are preferably 1″×1″ cedar boards made of 50 year guaranteed treated outdoor wood. Lattice network  42  is held in place and supported within stops  44  on either side by connection means, preferably nails or screws (not shown). Stops  44  are held in place along top horizontal support  24 , middle horizontal support  26 , and vertical end supports  30  preferably by similar connection means.  
         [0016]    Shield section  50  is supported on the top and bottom by middle horizontal support  26  and bottom horizontal support  28 , respectively. In addition, shield section  50  comprises inner vertical end supports  52 , vertical center support  54 , and center horizontal shield supports  56 . These supports are preferably 2″×2″ cedar boards made of 50 year guaranteed treated outdoor wood. These supports are held in place and maintained relative to middle horizontal support  26  and bottom horizontal support  28  by connection means, preferably nails or screws (not shown). Shield section  50  further includes vertical siding  58 , preferably made of durable, low-maintenance vinyl, supported within the shield section between middle horizontal support  26 , bottom horizontal support  28 , and vertical end supports  52  by “J” channels  60  affixed to top inner shield supports  62  and bottom inner shield supports  64 . Top and bottom inner shield supports  62  and  64  are preferably 1″×1″ cedar boards made of 50 year guaranteed treated outdoor wood. Vertical siding  58  is held in place and supported within the shield section by connection to top inner shield supports  62  and bottom inner shield supports  64  via “J” channels  60  using a connection means, preferably nails or screws (not shown). Top and bottom inner shield supports  62  and  64  are held in place along middle horizontal support  26  and bottom horizontal support  28 , respectively, preferably by similar connection means.  
         [0017]    With reference to FIGS.  1 - 3 , Construction of fence section  10  is preferably accomplished as follows. Support members  24 ,  26 , and  28  are connected to vertical end supports  30 , preferably by means of screws, to form a casement. Vertical end supports  52 , vertical center support  54 , and center horizontal shield supports  56  are connected to vertical end supports  30 , between support members  26  and  28 , and between vertical end supports  52  and vertical center support  54 , respectively. Top and bottom inner shield supports  62  and  64  are connected to middle horizontal support  26  and bottom horizontal support  28 , respectively, preferably by screws. “J” channels  60  are installed by affixing them to the top and bottom inner shield supports by similar connection means. “J” channels should be installed with mittered corners to add durability, improve appearance, and to minimize water leakage. Vertical siding is preferably screwed in to the top and bottom inner shield supports via “J” channels. Preferably a sealant, such as clear silicone caulking, is applied around the outside perimeter of the “J” channels. Lattice section  40  is constructed by placing lattice network  42  between top horizontal support  24 , middle horizontal support  26 , and vertical end supports  30 , then connecting stops  44 , located on either side of lattice network  42 , to the supports, preferably using screws. Posts  20  are preferably set in approximately two-foot deep holes in ground  70 , and cement foundation  22  is poured into the holes. The casement is connected to posts  20 , preferably by screws or nails. Post caps  60  are mounted on top of posts  20 , and are held in place preferably by screws or friction fit.  
         [0018]    The above disclosure related to a section of fence  10 . In total, a fence may include many sections similarly constructed, together with passage gates or other deviations, as desired. Such fence sections would preferably be connected to each other through connection means such as screws or nails.  
         [0019]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while cedar has been identified as the preferable wood for use in the fence, other durable, weather-treated materials may be used. Likewise, while vinyl has been identified as the preferable material for the lattice section and vertical siding, other similarly durable, low-maintenance materials may be used. In addition, construction of the fence may be accomplished in a different order than set forth specifically above. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.  
         [0020]    The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: