Patent Publication Number: US-2022235574-A1

Title: Fence Picket Alignment Tool and Method of Use

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit to U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/140,913, filed 2021 Jan. 24. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT (IF APPLICABLE) 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX (IF APPLICABLE) 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a typical fence construction setting, a builder may have trouble aligning the heights of each among a plurality of pickets  706  with one another. Merely trusting one&#39;s own eye when nailing said plurality of pickets  706  into one or more cross members  704 , may lead to a fence with said plurality of pickets  706  being misaligned. Historically, this can be overcome by: installing a first picket  800  and a last picket  802 , tying a string  804  between said first picket  800  and said last picket  802 , and using said string  804  as a reference point to align a top edge  806  of each subsequent picket while building a fence segment  700 . 
     Trouble arises with this method, however, because said string  804  is prone to sagging (as illustrated), reliant on the correct installation of said first picket  800  and said last picket  802 , often stretches and flaps about in the wind, and can be improperly installed. 
     Accordingly, aligning said plurality of pickets  706  manually or using said string  804  can lead to badly aligned and sloppy workmanship when building said fence segment  700 . An alignment tool  100  can be used to overcome these failures so as to simplify and improve the construction of said fence segment  700 . 
     No prior art is known to the Applicant. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An alignment tool for aligning and installing a plurality of pickets on a fence segment. Said alignment tool comprises a body portion, and a picket level indicator. One or more upper guides and a lower guide assembly can be separated by a guide gap. Said guide gap is at least as wide as a first cross member height of a first cross member of said fence segment. Said alignment tool is configured to selectively attach and slide along said first cross member of said fence segment and position said picket level indicator at a selected height relative to said first cross member. Said one or more upper guides and said lower guide assembly are configured to slide a forward direction and a reverse direction on said first cross member. Said alignment tool is selectively attached to said first cross member by: adjusting said guide gap between said one or more upper guides and said lower guide assembly to be substantially equal to said first cross member height of said first cross member, and squeezing said first cross member with said one or more upper guides on a cross member top edge and said lower guide assembly on a cross member bottom edge. a portion of said one or more upper guides and said lower guide assembly comprises a wheel configured to roll across a surface. Said one or more upper guides comprises a first upper wheel, and a second upper wheel. said alignment tool ( 100 ) is configured for aligning and installing said plurality of pickets on said fence segment by: selectively attaching to said first cross member of said fence segment, extending upward with said body portion from said one or more upper guides, extending outward from said body portion without said picket level indicator and defining a top edge of said plurality of pickets using a leveler lower edge of said picket level indicator at said selected height. Said lower guide assembly comprises a spring pressure configured to press a wheel portion of said lower guide assembly upward when released. Said spring pressure is configured to press said wheel portion into said cross member bottom edge of said first cross member. Said one or more upper guides is configured to support a mass of said alignment tool on said first cross member and allow said alignment tool to selectively slide among the length of said first cross member between two or more posts in said forward direction and said reverse direction. Said alignment tool is configured to selectively and slideably attach to a portion of said first cross member and hold said picket level indicator at said selected height above said first cross member. 
     Said alignment tool for aligning and installing said plurality of pickets on said fence segment. Said alignment tool comprises said body portion, and said picket level indicator. Said one or more upper guides and said lower guide assembly can be separated by said guide gap. Said guide gap is at least as wide as said first cross member height of said first cross member of said fence segment. Said alignment tool is configured to selectively attach and slide along said first cross member of said fence segment and position said picket level indicator at said selected height relative to said first cross member. Said one or more upper guides and said lower guide assembly are configured to slide said forward direction and said reverse direction on said first cross member. Said alignment tool is selectively attached to said first cross member by: adjusting said guide gap between said one or more upper guides and said lower guide assembly to be substantially equal to said first cross member height of said first cross member, and squeezing said first cross member with said one or more upper guides on said cross member top edge and said lower guide assembly on said cross member bottom edge. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective overview of an alignment tool  100 . 
         FIG. 2  illustrates said alignment tool  100  without one or more front plates  106 . 
         FIGS. 3A, and 3B  illustrate a perspective overview of a body portion  102  from a front and rear view, respectively. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates said body portion  102  and a picket level indicator  104  in an exploded perspective overview. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective rear view of said alignment tool  100 . 
         FIGS. 6A, and 6B  illustrate an exploded perspective overview of said alignment tool  100  from a front and rear perspective, respectively. 
         FIGS. 7A, and 7B  illustrate a perspective overview of a fence segment  700  in a complete and incomplete configuration. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective overview of said fence segment  700  during construction without said alignment tool  100 . 
         FIGS. 9A, and 9B  illustrate a perspective overview of said alignment tool  100  with and without said one or more front plates  106  installed. 
         FIGS. 10A, and 10B  illustrate an elevated front side view of said alignment tool  100  attaching to and attached to a first cross member  704   a  of said fence segment  700 . 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an elevated front view of said alignment tool  100  with two sliders  1100  replacing one or more upper guides  200 . 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective overview of said alignment tool  100  with a new picket  1200  installed on said fence segment  700 . 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an elevated side and front view of said alignment tool  100 . 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an elevated side of said alignment tool  100  without said one or more front plates  106 . 
         FIGS. 15A, and 15B  illustrate a perspective overview of a lower guide assembly  202  in a sprung configuration  1500  and an unsprung configuration  1502 .  FIGS. 15C and 15D  illustrate an elevated side view of said lower guide assembly  202  in said sprung configuration  1500  and said unsprung configuration  1502 , respectively. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates an elevated side view of said alignment tool  100  with a modified said lower guide assembly  202  and indicator level apertures  302 . 
         FIGS. 17A, and 17B  illustrate an elevated side view of said fence segment  700  on an uneven surface and a detailed view of said alignment tool  100  in use where one or more cross members  704  are not level. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particular examples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve the designers&#39; specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from one implementation to another. It will also be appreciated that such development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective overview of an alignment tool  100 . 
     Said alignment tool  100  can comprise a body portion  102 , and a picket level indicator  104 . In one embodiment, said alignment tool  100  can comprise one or more front plates  106  (which can comprise a first front plate  106   a , and a second front plate  106   b ), as illustrated. In one embodiment, portions of said body portion  102 , said picket level indicator  104  and said one or more front plates  106  are selectively bound together using one or more fasteners  108 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates said alignment tool  100  without said one or more front plates  106 . 
     In one embodiment, said alignment tool  100  can be operational without said one or more front plates  106 , as discussed herein. 
     In one embodiment, said alignment tool  100  can comprise one or more upper guides  200  and a lower guide assembly  202 . In one embodiment, a portion of said one or more upper guides  200  and said lower guide assembly  202  can comprise a wheel configured to roll across a surface. In another embodiment, said lower guide assembly  202  and said one or more upper guides  200  can comprise non-rolling elements configured to slide over a surface. 
     In one embodiment, said one or more upper guides  200  can comprise a first upper wheel  200   a , and a second upper wheel  200   b.    
       FIGS. 3A, and 3B  illustrate a perspective overview of said body portion  102  from a front and rear view, respectively. 
     In one embodiment, said body portion  102  can comprise a plurality of apertures  300  which can comprise indicator level apertures  302 , plate spacer apertures  304 , and wheel axel apertures  306 . 
     Said body portion  102  can comprise a front side  310 , a back side  312 , a first side edge  314 , a second side edge  316 , a top edge  318 , and a bottom edge  320 . 
     In one embodiment, said indicator level apertures  302  can comprise a plurality of apertures proximate to said first side edge  314  and said top edge  318 . 
     In one embodiment, said wheel axel apertures  306  can comprise upper wheel apertures  322  configured to connect to said one or more upper guides  200 ; and said wheel axel apertures  306  can further comprise lower wheel apertures  324  configured to connect to said lower guide assembly  202 . 
     In one embodiment, said alignment tool  100  can comprise a handle  326 , which can comprise an aperture in a portion of said body portion  102 , such as proximate to said top edge  318 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates said body portion  102  and said picket level indicator  104  in an exploded perspective overview. 
     In one embodiment, said picket level indicator  104  can be selectively attached to said body portion  102  by aligning a portion of one or more level apertures  400  with a portion of said indicator level apertures  302  and attaching a level fastener  404 . 
     In one embodiment, said indicator level apertures  302  can extend along a portion of said first side edge  314  across an indicator height range  402 . Whereby, attaching said picket level indicator  104  to said body portion  102  can be accomplished within said indicator height range  402  by selecting a relevant portion of said indicator level apertures  302  when aligning said one or more level apertures  400 . 
     Similarly, a portion of said lower wheel apertures  324  can be selected when attaching said lower guide assembly  202  so as to alter its relative height, as discussed below. 
     In one embodiment, said level fastener  404  can comprise a quick release pin comprising a bearing and a release setting, as is known in the art. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective rear view of said alignment tool  100 . 
       FIGS. 6A, and 6B  illustrate an exploded perspective overview of said alignment tool  100  from a front and rear perspective, respectively. 
       FIGS. 7A, and 7B  illustrate a perspective overview of a fence segment  700  in a complete and incomplete configuration. 
     In one embodiment, said fence segment  700  can comprise two or more posts  702  (which can comprise a first post  702   a , and a second post  702   b ), one or more cross members  704  (which can comprise a first cross member  704   a , a second cross member  704   b , and a third cross member  704   c ), and a plurality of pickets  706 . 
     As is known in the art, said fence segment  700  can be constructed by: securing said two or more posts  702  into the ground in a substantially vertical alignment; attaching said one or more cross members  704  between said two or more posts  702  at various heights, as illustrated; and attaching said plurality of pickets  706  to portions of said one or more cross members  704 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective overview of said fence segment  700  during construction without said alignment tool  100 . 
     In a typical fence construction setting, a builder may have trouble aligning the heights of each among said plurality of pickets  706  with one another. Merely trusting one&#39;s own eye when nailing said plurality of pickets  706  into said one or more cross members  704 , may lead to a fence with said plurality of pickets  706  being misaligned. Historically, this can be overcome by: installing a first picket  800  and a last picket  802 , tying a string  804  between said first picket  800  and said last picket  802 , and using said string  804  as a reference point to align a top edge  806  of each subsequent picket while building said fence segment  700 . 
     Trouble arises with this method, however, because said string  804  is prone to sagging (as illustrated), reliant on the correct installation of said first picket  800  and said last picket  802 , often stretches and flaps about in the wind, may fall off of said first picket  800 , and can be improperly installed. 
     Accordingly, aligning said plurality of pickets  706  manually or using said string  804  can lead to badly aligned and sloppy workmanship when building said fence segment  700 . Said alignment tool  100  can be used to overcome these failures so as to simplify and improve the construction of said fence segment  700 . 
       FIGS. 9A, and 9B  illustrate a perspective overview of said alignment tool  100  with and without said one or more front plates  106  installed. 
     In one embodiment, said alignment tool  100  can be selectively attached to said first cross member  704   a  by: adjusting a guide gap  900  between said one or more upper guides  200  and said lower guide assembly  202  to be substantially equal to a first cross member height  902  of said first cross member  704   a , and squeezing said first cross member  704   a  with said one or more upper guides  200  on a cross member top edge  904  and said lower guide assembly  202  on a cross member bottom edge  906 . 
     Wherein, said alignment tool  100  can be configured to selectively attach to said first cross member  704   a  of said fence segment  700 , extend upward with said body portion  102 , extend outward without said picket level indicator  104  and define said top edge  806  of said plurality of pickets  706  using a leveler lower edge  908  of said picket level indicator  104 . 
     In one embodiment, said picket level indicator  104  can comprise a level length  910 . Said level length  910  can be long enough to install more than one of said plurality of pickets  706  without needing to move said alignment tool  100 . For example, as illustrated, said level length  910  is longer than the width of three of said plurality of pickets  706 . Accordingly, a workman can set up said alignment tool  100  and install several of said plurality of pickets  706  without needing to adjust said alignment tool  100 . In one embodiment, said level length  910  can comprise one foot. 
     In one embodiment, said picket level indicator  104  can comprise a weight being sufficiently heavy to resist movement when nudged by said plurality of pickets  706  during installation. For example,  104 /can be approximately one pound. 
       FIGS. 10A, and 10B  illustrate an elevated front side view of said alignment tool  100  attaching to and attached to said first cross member  704   a  of said fence segment  700 . 
     In one embodiment, said lower guide assembly  202  can comprise a spring pressure  1000  configured to press a wheel portion  1002  of said lower guide assembly  202  upward when released. In one embodiment, said spring pressure  1000  can press said wheel portion  1002  into said cross member bottom edge  906  of said first cross member  704   a , as illustrated. 
     In one embodiment, said one or more upper guides  200  can support a mass of said alignment tool  100  on said first cross member  704   a  and allow said alignment tool  100  to selectively slide among the length of said first cross member  704   a  between said two or more posts  702  in a forward direction  1006  and a reverse direction  1008 . 
     Accordingly, said alignment tool  100  can be configured to selectively and slideably attach to a portion of said first cross member  704   a  and hold said picket level indicator  104  at a selected height  1004  above said first cross member  704   a.    
     In one embodiment, said picket level indicator  104  can pivot around an axis created by said level fastener  404  with said picket level indicator  104  attached to said body portion  102 . Accordingly, said picket level indicator  104  can rotate in a level adjustment angle  1010 . Said alignment tool  100  can be adjusted to match an existing picket  1012  by resting a distal end of said picket level indicator  104  on a most recently installed picket and allowing said picket level indicator  104  to rotate within said level adjustment angle  1010 , as illustrated. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an elevated front view of said alignment tool  100  with two sliders  1100  replacing said one or more upper guides  200 . 
     In one embodiment, said one or more upper guides  200  can be replaced with said two sliders  1100  rather than said first upper wheel  200   a  and said lower guide assembly  202 . Wherein, said alignment tool  100  can slide said forward direction  1006  and said reverse direction  1008  on said two sliders  1100 . 
     In one embodiment, said two sliders  1100  can comprise polyurethane or other material comprising a low coefficient of friction. 
     In another embodiment, said alignment tool  100  could be clamped on said first cross member  704   a . This approach has been explored by the Applicant, but slideably attached systems are better adapted to a quick installation of said fence segment  700 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective overview of said alignment tool  100  with a new picket  1200  installed on said fence segment  700 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an elevated side and front view of said alignment tool  100 . 
     In one embodiment, said body portion  102  and said one or more front plates  106  can be attached to one another by a portion of said one or more fasteners  108 , and can be held apart from one another by one or more spacers  1300  (which can comprise a first spacers  1300   a , and a second spacers  1300   b ). 
       FIG. 14  illustrates an elevated side of said alignment tool  100  without said one or more front plates  106 . 
       FIGS. 15A, and 15B  illustrate a perspective overview of said lower guide assembly  202  in a sprung configuration  1500  and an unsprung configuration  1502 .  FIGS. 15C and 15D  illustrate an elevated side view of said lower guide assembly  202  in said sprung configuration  1500  and said unsprung configuration  1502 , respectively. 
     In one embodiment, said lower guide assembly  202  can be configured to rotate about a rotating axis  1504  within a rotary range of positions  1506 . In one embodiment, said lower guide assembly  202  can be attached to said body portion  102  with a rotating axel  1508  being centered around said rotating axis  1504 , and a spring fastener  1512  being a radius  1510  away from said rotating axel  1508 . Wherein, said spring fastener  1512  and said rotating axel  1508  can attach to said body portion  102  using a portion of said one or more fasteners  108 . In one embodiment, a spring mechanism can be contained within a portion of said lower guide assembly  202  applying said spring pressure  1000  on said spring fastener  1512  so as to press said wheel portion  1002  up and into said cross member bottom edge  906 , as discussed above. 
     Spring mechanisms are well known in the art. Spring loaded wheel assemblies can acquired at a typical hardware store and can possibly apply said spring pressure  1000 , as is known in the art. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates an elevated side view of said alignment tool  100  with a modified said lower guide assembly  202  and said indicator level apertures  302 . 
     In one embodiment, said indicator level apertures  302  can comprise an elongated vertical aperture  1600 , as illustrated. Wherein, said level fastener  404  can comprise a butterfly fastener assembly  1602  being adapted to tighten within said elongated vertical aperture  1600  at a desired height. Wherein, said picket level indicator  104  can continue to rotate about said level adjustment angle  1010 , as discussed above. Further, said body portion  102  can comprise a height indicator  1604  to clarify an installation height above said first cross member  704   a.    
     In one embodiment, said lower guide assembly  202  can comprise an external spring  1606  being attached to a portion of said body portion  102  at a first end  1608  and a portion of said lower guide assembly  202  at a second end  1610 . Said lower guide assembly  202  can comprise a lever body  1612  being rotatably attached to said body portion  102  at said rotating axel  1508  with said wheel portion  1002  being pulled with said spring pressure  1000  in a substantially upward direction. 
       FIGS. 17A, and 17B  illustrate an elevated side view of said fence segment  700  on an uneven surface and a detailed view of said alignment tool  100  in use where said one or more cross members  704  are not level. 
     In one embodiment, said fence segment  700  can be installed on a non-horizontal ground surface, wherein, said two or more posts  702  are at different elevations relative to one another. Further wherein, said one or more cross members  704  are not horizontal and said plurality of pickets  706  will be installed a different levels so a to match a ground angle  1700  of a ground surface  1702 . 
     Wherein, since said alignment tool  100  is configured to extend said picket level indicator  104  out at a substantially parallel plane with said one or more cross members  704 , said top edge  806  of each among said plurality of pickets  706  will substantially follow said ground angle  1700 . 
     The following is a listing of the parts referred to above and in the figures: 
     said alignment tool  100 ,
 
said body portion  102 ,
 
said picket level indicator  104 ,
 
said one or more front plates  106 ,
 
said first front plate  106   a,  
 
said second front plate  106   b,  
 
said one or more fasteners  108 ,
 
said one or more upper guides  200 ,
 
said first upper wheel  200   a,  
 
said second upper wheel  200   b,  
 
said lower guide assembly  202 ,
 
said plurality of apertures  300 ,
 
said indicator level apertures  302 ,
 
said plate spacer apertures  304 ,
 
said wheel axel apertures  306 ,
 
said front side  310 ,
 
said back side  312 ,
 
said first side edge  314 ,
 
said second side edge  316 ,
 
said top edge  318 ,
 
said bottom edge  320 ,
 
said upper wheel apertures  322 ,
 
said lower wheel apertures  324 ,
 
said handle  326 ,
 
said one or more level apertures  400 ,
 
said indicator height range  402 ,
 
said level fastener  404 ,
 
said fence segment  700 ,
 
said two or more posts  702 ,
 
said first post  702   a,  
 
said second post  702   b,  
 
said one or more cross members  704 ,
 
said first cross member  704   a,  
 
said second cross member  704   b,  
 
said third cross member  704   c,  
 
said plurality of pickets  706 ,
 
said first picket  800 ,
 
said last picket  802 ,
 
said string  804 ,
 
said top edge  806 ,
 
said guide gap  900 ,
 
said first cross member height  902 ,
 
said cross member top edge  904 ,
 
said cross member bottom edge  906 ,
 
said leveler lower edge  908 ,
 
said level length  910 ,
 
said spring pressure  1000 ,
 
said wheel portion  1002 ,
 
said selected height  1004 ,
 
said forward direction  1006 ,
 
said reverse direction  1008 ,
 
said level adjustment angle  1010 ,
 
said existing picket  1012 ,
 
said two sliders  1100 ,
 
said new picket  1200 ,
 
said one or more spacers  1300 ,
 
said first spacers  1300   a,  
 
said second spacers  1300   b,  
 
said sprung configuration  1500 ,
 
said unsprung configuration  1502 ,
 
said rotating axis  1504 ,
 
said rotary range of positions  1506 ,
 
said rotating axel  1508 ,
 
said radius  1510 ,
 
said spring fastener  1512 ,
 
said elongated vertical aperture  1600 ,
 
said butterfly fastener assembly  1602 ,
 
said height indicator  1604 ,
 
said external spring  1606 ,
 
said first end  1608 ,
 
said second end  1610 ,
 
said lever body  1612 ,
 
said ground angle  1700  and
 
said ground surface  1702 .
 
     The following paragraphs summarize the original claims and can be read as a preferred embodiment for the current application. 
     Said alignment tool  100  for aligning and installing said plurality of pickets  706  on said fence segment  700 . Said alignment tool  100  comprises said body portion  102 , and said picket level indicator  104 . Said one or more upper guides  200  and said lower guide assembly  202  can be separated by said guide gap  900 . Said guide gap  900  can be at least as wide as said first cross member height  902  of said first cross member  704   a  of said fence segment  700 . Said alignment tool  100  can be configured to selectively attach and slide along said first cross member  704   a  of said fence segment  700  and position said picket level indicator  104  at said selected height  1004  relative to said first cross member  704   a . Said one or more upper guides  200  and said lower guide assembly  202  can be configured to slide said forward direction  1006  and said reverse direction  1008  on said first cross member  704   a . Said alignment tool  100  can be selectively attached to said first cross member  704   a  by: adjusting said guide gap  900  between said one or more upper guides  200  and said lower guide assembly  202  to be substantially equal to said first cross member height  902  of said first cross member  704   a , and squeezing said first cross member  704   a  with said one or more upper guides  200  on said cross member top edge  904  and said lower guide assembly  202  on said cross member bottom edge  906 . a portion of said one or more upper guides  200  and said lower guide assembly  202  comprises a wheel configured to roll across a surface. Said one or more upper guides  200  comprises said first upper wheel  200   a , and said second upper wheel  200   b . said alignment tool ( 100 ) can be configured for aligning and installing said plurality of pickets  706  on said fence segment  700  by: selectively attaching to said first cross member  704   a  of said fence segment  700 , extending upward with said body portion  102  from said one or more upper guides  200 , extending outward from said body portion  102  without said picket level indicator  104  and defining said top edge  806  of said plurality of pickets  706  using said leveler lower edge  908  of said picket level indicator  104  at said selected height  1004 . Said lower guide assembly  202  comprises said spring pressure  1000  configured to press said wheel portion  1002  of said lower guide assembly  202  upward when released. Said spring pressure  1000  can be configured to press said wheel portion  1002  into said cross member bottom edge  906  of said first cross member  704   a . Said one or more upper guides  200  can be configured to support a mass of said alignment tool  100  on said first cross member  704   a  and allow said alignment tool  100  to selectively slide among the length of said first cross member  704   a  between said two or more posts  702  in said forward direction  1006  and said reverse direction  1008 . Said alignment tool  100  can be configured to selectively and slideably attach to a portion of said first cross member  704   a  and hold said picket level indicator  104  at said selected height  1004  above said first cross member  704   a.    
     Said alignment tool  100  for aligning and installing said plurality of pickets  706  on said fence segment  700 . Said alignment tool  100  comprises said body portion  102 , and said picket level indicator  104 . Said one or more upper guides  200  and said lower guide assembly  202  can be separated by said guide gap  900 . Said guide gap  900  can be at least as wide as said first cross member height  902  of said first cross member  704   a  of said fence segment  700 . Said alignment tool  100  can be configured to selectively attach and slide along said first cross member  704   a  of said fence segment  700  and position said picket level indicator  104  at said selected height  1004  relative to said first cross member  704   a . Said one or more upper guides  200  and said lower guide assembly  202  can be configured to slide said forward direction  1006  and said reverse direction  1008  on said first cross member  704   a . Said alignment tool  100  can be selectively attached to said first cross member  704   a  by: adjusting said guide gap  900  between said one or more upper guides  200  and said lower guide assembly  202  to be substantially equal to said first cross member height  902  of said first cross member  704   a , and squeezing said first cross member  704   a  with said one or more upper guides  200  on said cross member top edge  904  and said lower guide assembly  202  on said cross member bottom edge  906 . 
     Said lower guide assembly  202  and said one or more upper guides  200  comprises said two sliders  1100 . Said two sliders  1100  can be configured to slide said forward direction  1006  and said reverse direction  1008  on said two sliders  1100  over said first cross member  704   a.    
     a portion of said one or more upper guides  200  and said lower guide assembly  202  comprises a wheel configured to roll across a surface. 
     Said one or more upper guides  200  comprises said first upper wheel  200   a , and said second upper wheel  200   b.    
     Said picket level indicator  104  can be selectively attached to said body portion  102  by aligning a portion of said one or more level apertures  400  with a portion of said indicator level apertures  302  and attaching said one or more fasteners  108 . Said body portion  102  comprises said plurality of apertures  300  which comprises said indicator level apertures  302 , said plate spacer apertures  304 , and said wheel axel apertures  306 . Said body portion  102  comprises said front side  310 , said back side  312 , said first side edge  314 , said second side edge  316 , said top edge  318 , and said bottom edge  320 . Said indicator level apertures  302  comprises a plurality of apertures proximate to said first side edge  314  and said top edge  318 . Said wheel axel apertures  306  comprises said upper wheel apertures  322  configured to connect to said one or more upper guides  200 . Said wheel axel apertures  306  can be configured to further comprise said lower wheel apertures  324  configured to connect to said lower guide assembly  202 . Said alignment tool  100  comprises said handle  326 , which comprises an aperture in a portion of said body portion  102 , such as proximate to said top edge  318 . 
     Said alignment tool  100  can be configured for aligning and installing said plurality of pickets  706  on said fence segment  700  by: selectively attaching to said first cross member  704   a  of said fence segment  700 , extending upward with said body portion  102  from said one or more upper guides  200 , extending outward from said body portion  102  without said picket level indicator  104  and defining said top edge  806  of said plurality of pickets  706  using said leveler lower edge  908  of said picket level indicator  104  at said selected height  1004 . 
     Said lower guide assembly  202  comprises said spring pressure  1000  configured to press said wheel portion  1002  of said lower guide assembly  202  upward when released. Said spring pressure  1000  can be configured to press said wheel portion  1002  into said cross member bottom edge  906  of said first cross member  704   a.    
     Said lower guide assembly  202  can be configured to rotate about said rotating axis  1504  within said rotary range of positions  1506 . Said lower guide assembly  202  can be attached to said body portion  102  with said rotating axel  1508  being centered around said rotating axis  1504 , and said spring fastener  1512  being said radius  1510  away from said rotating axel  1508 . Said spring fastener  1512  and said rotating axel  1508  can be configured to attach to said body portion  102  using a portion of said one or more fasteners  108 . a spring mechanism can be contained within a portion of said lower guide assembly  202  applying said spring pressure  1000  on said spring fastener  1512  so as to press said wheel portion  1002  up and into said cross member bottom edge  906 . 
     Said one or more upper guides  200  can be configured to support a mass of said alignment tool  100  on said first cross member  704   a  and allow said alignment tool  100  to selectively slide among the length of said first cross member  704   a  between said two or more posts  702  in said forward direction  1006  and said reverse direction  1008 . Said alignment tool  100  can be configured to selectively and slideably attach to a portion of said first cross member  704   a  and hold said picket level indicator  104  at said selected height  1004  above said first cross member  704   a.    
     Said body portion  102  and said one or more front plates  106  can be attached to one another by a portion of said one or more fasteners  108 , and can be held apart from one another by said one or more spacers  1300 . 
     Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methods are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as being separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may be omitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the method is being implemented in. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”