Patent Publication Number: US-6698725-B1

Title: Slotted fence post cap

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to fences and in particular, to a slotted cap for corner or support posts of chain link or “Cyclone” (trademark) or “Hurricane” (trademark) fences. In a preferred embodiment the slotted fence post cap is characterized by a cylindrical cap wall which is topped by an inverted cone and mounted on a fence post or posts of the fence. A horizontal adjusting slot extends through the cap wall, typically about 180 degrees around one side thereof, and a fixed nipple extends from the cap wall on the opposite side of the adjusting slot. The horizontal top rail of a fixed fence segment is fitted in the fixed nipple. A bolt which extends from an adjustable nipple is seated in the adjusting slot, and the adjustable nipple receives the horizontal top rail of an adjustable fence segment. By sliding and tightening the bolt in the adjusting slot, a selected angle of the adjustable fence segment with respect to the fixed fence segment can be achieved in construction of the fence. A second adjustable nipple can be fitted to the adjusting slot to facilitate angular positioning of two adjustable fence segments and a fixed fence segment with respect to each other, as desired. In another embodiment, an adjusting slot is provided in each side of the cap wall, and each receives at least one adjusting nipple. In still another embodiment, multiple adjustable nipples can be fitted to multiple slots intermittently provided in the horizontal plane of the cap wall with or without a fixed nipple or nipples extending from the cap wall, to facilitate extending fence lines or segments in varying angular relationship with respect to each other and/or one or more fixed fence segments from a common corner post. 
     Conventional fence post caps are characterized by one or more extending nipples or receptacles for receiving the respective horizontal top rails of two or more fence lines or segments extending from the corner posts. These nipples typically extend in fixed relationship from the cap, normally at a ninety-degree angle with respect to each other in order to define the usually right-angle fence configuration at the comer post. However, on many occasions the area to be fenced is irregular in shape and various angles other than ninety degrees must be defined at the corner posts in order to accommodate the respective fence segments or runs. This facility requires the use of fence post caps having fixed projecting nipples at specified angles which are not always those angles necessary or required to precisely define the land area being fenced. While the conventional fixed nipple configuration of comer fence post caps generally proximates desired angles, frequently the fencing must be slightly curved or otherwise adjusted to accommodate the land area in question. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various types of fence couplings have been long known in the prior art. Typical of these couplings is a “Coupling for Railings”, detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 699,509, dated May 6, 1902, to Finnegan. The patent details a coupling for connecting hand rail segments of a hand rail for stairs, which coupling includes threaded T-fittings and end fittings that are joined at the railing intersections. U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,907, dated Apr. 24, 1979, to Thumauer, details a “Stanchion Connector Assembly” which is adapted to provide an anchor for the terminal end of a ramp rail. The stanchion includes a curved slotted ball attached to a vertical member and a ramp rail attached to a ball receptacle which is attached to the opposite curved face of the ball to facilitate adjustment of the ramp rail. U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,232, dated Aug. 30, 1988, to Francis, details a “Hinge Joint For Tubular Rail and Post Members”. The hinge joint includes a segmented fitting having a curved end for attachment to the congruent surface of a vertical pipe member, and the opposite end of the segmented fitting is slotted and curved to receive a correspondingly-slotted and curved horizontal pipe member for attaching the horizontal pipe member to the vertical pipe member. U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,169, dated Aug. 20, 1996, to Russell, details a “Fence Assembly With Swivel Bracket”. The fence assembly includes vertical posts and horizontal rails connected to each other by adjustable connecting members. Each connecting member is characterized by a fitting fixedly attached to the vertical post, and the fitting has a hollow interior with a removable top cap to facilitate inserting an end of the rail into the fitting. The rail is pivotally bolted to the fitting before replacing the top cap. U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,447, dated Jul. 28, 1998, to Fonti, et al., details a “Connector for Structural Apparatus” which is characterized by a split ring for bolting to a vertical post and a saddle adapted to fit on one segment of the split ring and receive a horizontal rail to mount the rail on the post. 
     An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved fence post cap for fence posts, which fence post cap facilitates selected angular positioning of at least one fence segment or line of a fence with respect to another fence segment or line of the fence. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a fence post cap which is mounted on corner or support posts of a fence and facilitates fencing of a land area that has an irregular shape. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved fence post cap for fence support posts, which fence post cap is characterized by an adjusting slot extending through a cylindrical cap wall parallel to the bottom edge of the cap wall for accommodating at least one adjustable nipple; and at least one fixed nipple extending from the opposite side of the cap wall, wherein the horizontal top rail of an adjustable fence segment is mounted in the adjustable nipple or nipples, respectively, and the horizontal top rail of a fixed fence segment is mounted in the fixed nipple to facilitate positioning the adjustable fence segment or segments in a selected angular relationship with respect to each other and the fixed fence segment in construction of a chain link or cyclone fence. 
     A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved, slotted fence post cap for capping the corner post in fences such as chain link fences, which cap includes multiple intermittent slots for each receiving an adjustable nipple and extending two or more fence runs or legs in selected angular relationship with respect to each other. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved, slotted fence post cap for capping the corner post in fences such as chain link fences, which cap includes a fixed nipple extending from one side of the cylindrical cap for receiving the horizontal top rail of a fixed fence segment and multiple intermittent slots provided in spaced-apart relationship to each other in the cap for each receiving an adjustable nipple and extending one or more fence runs or legs in selected angular relationship with respect to each other and the fixed fence segment. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a slotted fence post cap for capping a post of a fence such as a chain link fence, which cap includes at least one adjustable nipple fitted to each of two horizontal adjusting slots provided in respective sides of the cylindrical cap wall to facilitate adjustment of the adjustable nipples and attached adjustable legs or segment runs of the fence at a selected angular relationship with respect to each other. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other objects of the invention are provided in a new and improved, slotted fence post cap for capping fence support posts and comer posts in particular, which slotted fence post cap is characterized in a first preferred embodiment by an adjusting slot provided in a cylindrical cap wall and extending substantially parallel to the bottom opening of the cap wall for accommodating at least one adjustable nipple, and a fixed nipple extending from the cap wall opposite the adjusting slot. The adjustable and fixed nipples facilitate the installation of a pair of fence segments or runs at a selected angular relationship with respect to each other. In another embodiment, a pair of adjusting slots are provided in the cap in diametrically-opposed relationship to each other and a pair of fence segments can be fitted to the respective adjusting slots for angular adjustment with respect to each other. In still another embodiment, at least one fixed nipple is provided on the fence cap for attachment to the horizontal top rail of a fixed fence segment and multiple intermittent slots with respective adjustable nipples are provided on the fence cap for attachment to the top rails of respective adjustable fence segments and installing the adjustable fence segments at selected angles with respect to each other and the fixed fence segment. In yet another embodiment, multiple adjustable nipples can be fitted to multiple slots intermittently provided in the horizontal plane of the adjustable cap, around the circumference thereof to facilitate extending fence lines or segments in varying angular relationship with respect to each other from a common corner post. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the slotted fence post cap of this invention, with a fixed nipple and an adjustable nipple component positioned at a substantially 180 degree angle with respect to each other, and fixed and adjustable fence segments of a chain link fence fitted to the fixed nipple and adjustable, nipple, respectively; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slotted fence post cap illustrated in FIG. 1, with the adjustable fence segment positioned at a 90 degree angle with respect to the fixed fence segment; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the slotted fence post cap illustrated in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken along section line  4 — 4  of the slotted fence post cap illustrated in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken along section line  5 — 5  of the slotted fence post cap illustrated in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 5A is a partial sectional view, taken along section line  5 — 5  of the slotted fence post cap illustrated in FIG. 4, illustrating a third nipple adjustably engaging the slotted fence post cap in another embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded, perspective view of the slotted fence post cap illustrated in FIG. 3, more particularly illustrating mounting of the adjustable nipple into position in a horizontal adjustment slot by means of a bolt; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the slotted fence post cap, having a single fixed nipple and wherein multiple horizontal intermittent slots are provided for attaching multiple adjustable nipples to the cap; 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view, taken along line  8 — 8  of the slotted fence post cap illustrated in FIG. 7, more particularly illustrating multiple alternative positions of the adjustable nipple with respect to the fixed nipple on the fence post cap; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a slotted fence post cap, fitted with a single fixed nipple, and a pair of adjustable nipples located in a common horizontal adjusting slot provided in the cap wall; 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view, taken along section line  10 — 10  of the slotted fence post cap illustrated in FIG. 9, more particularly illustrating still another embodiment of the fence post cap wherein a pair of fixed nipples is provided on the cap in diameticaly-opposed relationship and a pair of adjustable nipples is fitted in respective opposing adjusting slots in the cap; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the slotted fence post cap, having a single fixed nipple and two adjustable nipples mounted in respective intermittent slots provided in horizontal spaced-apart relationship in the cap wall; and 
     FIG. 12 is a sectional view, taken along section line  12 — 12  of the slotted fence post cap illustrated in FIG. 11, more particularly illustrating another embodiment of the fence post cap wherein three adjustable nipples are mounted in respective intermittent slots provided in horizontal spaced-apart relationship in the cap wall. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring initially to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, a first preferred embodiment of the slotted fence post cap of this invention is generally illustrated by reference numeral  1  and includes a rounded, cylindrical cap wall  2 , topped by a cone  3  and having an elongated adjusting slot  4  of selected length, typically extending about 180 degrees around the cap wall  2 , and is horizontally disposed when the slotted fence post cap  1  is mounted on the upper end of a vertical fence post  19 , as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The slotted fence post cap  1  is characterized by a typically cylindrical fixed nipple  7  that extends in perpendicular relationship with respect to the cap wall  2  and is typically fixed to or molded integrally with the cap wall  2 , as desired. The fixed nipple  7  is characterized by a fixed nipple bore  8 , illustrated in FIG. 5, designed to receive a smaller-diameter, horizontal top rail  20  component of a fixed segment  23  of a chain link or cyclone fence  21 , as further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. An adjustable nipple  10  is characterized by curved adjustable nipple face  11  that corresponds to the curvature of the cap wall  2  and fits against the cap wall  2  at the adjusting slot  4  as further illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. The adjustable nipple  10  is further characterized by an adjustable nipple bore  12  that communicates with the wall slot  4  by means of a bolt opening  13  in a rear wall  13   a  of the adjustable nipple  10  to accommodate the threaded shank  16  of a nipple mount bolt  14 , as illustrated in FIG.  5 . The bolt head  15  of the nipple mount bolt  14  is retained in a slot recess  4   a  which is provided in the cap wall  2  in the interior of the slotted fence post cap  1 . The bolt head  15  is typically coextensive with the adjusting slot  4 , to facilitate adjustable mounting of the adjustable nipple  10  on the cap wall  2  by means of a nut  17 , typically using a socket (not illustrated) inserted into the adjustable nipple bore  12  and engaging the nut  17 . Accordingly, it will be appreciated from a consideration of FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings that while the fixed nipple  7  is fixed in position with respect to the cap wall  2 , the adjustable nipple  10  can be slidably adjusted along the length of the adjusting slot  4  by loosening the nut  17  on the threaded shank  16 . Accordingly, the adjustable nipple  10  can be positioned as illustrated in FIG. 1 to facilitate positioning the adjustable fence segment  24  in aligned, 180-degree relationship with respect to the fixed fence segment  23 . Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 2 the adjustable nipple  10  of the slotted fence post cap  1  can be adjusted to the position such that the adjustable fence segment  24  and the fixed fence segment  23  are disposed at a substantially 90-degree relationship with respect to each other. It will be further appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 5 that the adjustable nipple  10  can be positioned at any point along the adjusting slot  4  and the nut  17  tightened on the threaded shank  16  to define any desired selected angle between the respective fixed fence segment  23  and adjustable fence segment  24 , depending upon the required configuration of the fence  21 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  4 ,  5  and  5 A of the drawings, the facility for adjusting the adjustable nipple  10  into substantially any position along the entire length of the adjusting slot  4  is illustrated. For example, while the adjustable nipple  10  can be positioned as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 wherein the fixed fence segment  23  and adjustable fence segment  24  of the fence  21  are aligned in a substantially 180-degree relationship, the adjustable nipple  10  can equally well be adjusted into either one of the two positions illustrated in phantom in FIG. 5 or at any position in between, to configure the respective fixed fence segment  23  and adjustable fence segment  24  in a 90-degree angle, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, or a 180-degree angle or any angle in between with respect to each other. As illustrated in phantom in FIG. 5A, a third nipple  10  may adjustably engage the cap wall  2  in the same manner as the second nipple  10  heretofore described with respect to FIG.  5 . Accordingly, the second nipple  10  (shown in solid lines) and the third nipple  10  (shown in phantom) may be adjustably mounted in a common adjusting slot  4 . An adjustable fence segment  24  (FIG. 1) may thus be attached to the second and third nipples  10  and positioned at selected angular positions with respect to each other. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, in yet another embodiment of the invention, multiple, aligned intermittent slots  6 , separated by slot dividers  5 , are provided in the cap wall  2 , and each can receive the nipple mount bolt  14  of an adjustable nipple  10 , as illustrated in FIG.  8 . It will be appreciated that the desired number of intermittent slots  6  and the size of the respective slot dividers  5  may be varied to facilitate a selected adjustment of multiple adjustable nipples  10  at respective ones of the intermittent slots  6 , as desired. 
     Referring next to FIG. 10 of the drawings, in yet another embodiment of the invention, a pair of adjustable nipples  10  (one of which is illustrated in phantom) can be joined to respective, diametrically-opposed adjusting slots  4  and, along with a fixed nipple  7 , and used to extend respective adjustable fence segments  24  (FIG. 1) in selected directions and at selected angles with respect to each other and with respect to a fixed fence segment  23  (FIG. 1) from a common fence post  19  (illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  2 ). Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 10 a pair of fixed nipples  7  can be provided, typically in oppositely-disposed relationship on the cap wall  2  of the slotted fence cap  1  with one or two (or more) adjustable nipples  10  located in the oppositely-disposed adjusting slots  4  provided in the cap wall  2 . These adjustable nipples  10  are, like the embodiments earlier described, easily adjustable along the entire lengths of the adjusting slots  4  to facilitate positioning of the respective adjustable fence segments  24  in selected angular relationship with respect to each other and the fixed fence segments or runs  23 , secured by the respective fixed nipples  7  at the horizontal top rails  20  of the fixed fence segments  23 . 
     Referring to FIG. 11 of the drawings, in similar manner, intermittent slots  6  of selected length and separated by a selected number of slot dividers  5  of selected width can be provided in the cap wall  2  of the slotted fence cap  1 , in addition to the fixed nipple  7 . Under such circumstances, one or more adjustable nipples  10  can be secured to respective intermittent slots  6  to extend the rails  20  of the respective adjustable fence segments  24  in selected angular relationship with respect to each other and with respect to a fixed fence segment  23  (FIG.  1 ), the horizontal top rail  20  of which is mounted in the fixed nipple  7  as heretofore described. 
     Referring next to FIG. 12 of the drawings, multiple intermittent slots  6 , separated by slot dividers  5 , are provided in the cap wall  2  in spaced-apart relationship to each other around the circumference of the cap wall  2 . Three adjustable nipples  10  can be fitted to respective intermittent slots  6  in equiangular relationship with respect to each other to facilitate positioning of the rails  20  of the respective adjustable fence segments  24 , illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, into equiangular relationship from a common fence post  19  (also illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  2 ). 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the slotted fence post cap  1  of this invention is versatile and can be utilized on substantially any fencing  21  that requires use of fence post caps for mounting fence rails to fence posts. The slotted fence post cap  1  can thus be positioned on the fence post  19  to extend the rails  20  of an adjustable fence segment  24  in alignment as illustrated in FIG. 1 or in a ninety-degree relationship as illustrated in FIG. 2 with respect to a fixed fence segment  23 , using an adjustable nipple  10  and a fixed nipple  7 . Furthermore, the adjusting slot  4  can be singular or multiple and oppositely-disposed, and the intermittent slots  6  any selected number and spacing as described above to define fencing  21  with fixed fence segments  23  and adjustable fence segments  24  disposed in any selected angular relationship depending upon the shape of the property to be fenced. 
     It is understood that any desired number of the fixed nipples  7  can extend from the cap wall  2  in combination with any desired number of the adjustable nipples  10  which utilize either the elongated adjusting slot  4  or intermittent slots  6 , described above. Referring again to FIG. 10 of the drawings, it is understood that the diametrically-opposed fixed nipples  7  can be omitted from the cap wall  2  and two or more adjustable nipples  10  mounted in the remaining respective adjusting slots  4 , as illustrated, to facilitate angular adjustment of respective adjustable fences segments  24  (FIG.  1 ), attached to the adjustable nipples  10 , with respect to each other. Further in the alternative, the fixed nipples  7  in FIG. 10 can be replaced by a pair of intermittent slots  6  (FIG. 8) which, in combination with the adjusting slots  4 , facilitate attachment of a selected number of the adjusting nipples  10  to the cap wall  2 . Still further in the alternative, one of the adjusting slots  4  can be provided in the cap wall  2  in combination with a selected number of the intermittent slots  6  to facilitate attachment of a selected number of adjustable nipples  10  to the cap wall  2 , with the adjusting slot  4  provided on one side of the cap wall  2  and a selected number of the intermittent slots  6  provided in spaced-apart relationship to each other on the opposite side of the cap wall  2 . 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the slotted fence post cap  1  is particularly well-suited to use in that fencing known as chain link fencing or “Hurricane” (trademark) fencing where the fence post caps that attach to the respective fence posts are generally shaped of aluminum with the fixed nipple or nipples typically cast in place. Accordingly, the slotted fence post cap  1  can be constructed by casting one or more adjusting slots  4  either in continuous or oppositely-disposed relationship, or the intermittent slots  6  with slot dividers  5  according to techniques that are well known to those skilled in the art, since the adjustable nipples  10  are quite easily constructed with a curvature that matches the cap wall  2 . 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.