Patent Publication Number: US-6341764-B1

Title: Fence system

Description:
This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/130,448, filed Apr. 20, 1999 and 60/155,368, filed Nov. 19, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates in general to fence systems. More specifically, but without restriction to the particular use which is shown and described, this invention relates to an improved ornamental fence system incorporating pivotal pickets which are easily assembled to the rails. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The manufacture and assembly of ornamental and security fence systems has been gradually improved upon in the prior art. However, there still remains a need for improved picket fence systems that are mountable on level grades or on inclines, where the pickets need to pivot relative to the rails. Moreover, there is always a need for picket fence systems that are easily installed with minimal parts and tooling. For example, Van Dorn, U.S. Pat. No. 189,543 discloses an early picket fence system having pickets which are installed through openings in the rails and then rotated 90 degrees to lock the picket to the rail. Leone, U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,885 teaches an improvement of the rotating and locking pickets disclosed in Van Dorn. Both of these fence systems, however, are rigid structures and thus are not desirable to install on inclines or non-level grades. Other fence systems are known that provide pickets which pivot relative to the rails. For instance, Attaway, U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,909, Horgan, U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,644, Sabel, U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,982, and Zen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,249 disclose pickets that are pivotal relative to the rails through the use of hinges and pins. These known picket fence systems, however, require significant tooling and are not readily and easily installed. Thus, there remains a need in the art for improved fence systems that are easier to assemble, result in greater flexibility in installation and are mountable on either level grades or inclines depending on the desired application. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to overcome the known disadvantages of existing picket fence systems. It is a further object to provide a picket fence system that is easily mountable on an incline or a level grade. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a picket fence system that may be easily installed with minimal tooling and parts. 
     Briefly, in summary, the present invention comprises a plurality of anchoring posts, a plurality of rails pivotally mounted to the plurality of posts, and a plurality of pickets pivotally mounted to the plurality of rails. To permit pivotal movement of the pickets relative to the rails, a unique grommet is used to mount the pickets to the rails. This unique grommet for fence systems comprises the snap-fitting of two C-shaped grommet pieces, each having a pivot pin, into a pair of opposing holes formed in the square tube pickets. The grommet, which defines a flange, a groove, and an anti-reverse lug, is then installed into an aperture formed in the rail. The picket is rotated 90 degrees with the top wall of the rail passing through the groove. The picket is locked in position via the flange and anti-reverse lug which prevent both vertical movement and reverse rotation of the picket. As installed, the grommet and accompanying rail are pivotally connected to the picket, thereby permitting pivotal movement of the picket relative to the rail. The assembly of the inventive picket fence system is accomplished with minimal, if any, tooling. 
     The full range of objects, aspects and advantages of the invention are only appreciated by a full reading of this specification and a full understanding of the invention. Therefore, to complete this specification, a detailed description of the invention and the preferred embodiment follows, after a brief description of the drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in relation to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the following figures have the following general nature: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the fence system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the post of the invention of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the picket of the invention of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rail of the invention of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the rail of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is an end view of the rail of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged assembly view of the picket and rail assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is an assembled view of the invention of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is an assembled view of the invention of FIG. 8 after the picket has been rotated 90 degrees. 
     FIG. 10 is an assembled view of the invention of FIG. 9 illustrating the pivotal movement of the rail relative to the picket. 
     FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the grommet of the invention of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 12 is a plan view of the grommet of FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of the grommet of FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 14 is an end view of the grommet of FIG.  11 . 
     In the accompanying drawings, like reference numbers are used throughout the various figures for identical structures. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the picket fence assembly  10  of the present invention. The fence assembly  10  includes generally a plurality of spaced-apart vertical posts  12 , a plurality of horizontal rails  14  pivotally mounted to the posts, and a plurality of vertical pickets  16  pivotally mounted to the rails. As illustrated in FIGS. 7-10, the pickets  16  are preferably mounted to the rails  14  through the use of grommets  18  which hold the pickets to the rails and permit pivotal movement of the pickets relative to the rails. 
     As depicted in FIG. 2, the posts  12  are made from conventional square tubing having a uniform cross-section. The size, thickness, length and material of the posts may vary depending on the desired application. 
     With respect to the rails  14 , two rails  14  are preferred and are positioned near the top and bottom of the fence system. The rails  14  are identical, each having a generally U-shaped cross-section, as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. That is, in cross-section, each rail has opposing side walls  20 , a top wall  22 , and an opening  24  at the bottom. At each end of the rail, on the side walls are holes  28  which permit the mounting of the rails  14  to the posts  12 . A tab  30  may also be formed on the top wall  22  at one or both ends of the rail to further assist in the mounting of the rail to the post. The bottom of the side walls  20  is rounded at  26  to eliminate sharp edges on the rail. The top wall  22  further defines a plurality of apertures or openings  32  which are spaced equidistant along the length of the rail. The apertures  32  are generally S-shaped and receive the grommets  18 , as depicted in FIG.  8 . The shape of the apertures permit the grommets to be rotated and locked onto the rails. Note that other shapes of apertures  32  may be used provided the grommets are secured to the rails. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the pickets  16  are made from conventional square tubing having a uniform cross-section. Again, the size, thickness, length, and material of the pickets may vary depending on the desired application. Each picket  16  includes a pair of holes  34  which extend through opposing walls of the picket to receive the pivot pin  42  of the grommet  18 , more fully discussed below. Significantly, through the use of the rail-mounted grommet, accompanying grommet pivot pin, and the holes  34 , each picket is permitted to pivot about the hole  34  and thus relative to the grommet and rail. As a result of this pivotal movement, the inventive picket fence system may be used on level grades or inclines. 
     Referring to FIGS. 7-14, there is depicted various views of the grommet  18  of the present invention. The grommet  18  may be made from glass-filled nylon or other suitable material. As depicted and preferred, the grommet  18  defines identical grommet halves, which when installed, are snap-fitted or press-fitted to each other. Each grommet half is generally C-shaped and defines an integral dowel  38  and a bore  40 . As installed, the dowel  38  of a first grommet half is aligned with and inserted into the bore  40  of a second grommet half. Likewise, the dowel  38  of the second grommet half is aligned with and inserted into the bore  40  of the first grommet half. The resulting assembly is the one-piece grommet  18  depicted in FIGS. 8-10. The grommet further defines a pivot pin  42  which is centrally located on the grommet body and protrudes outward from the grommet. As shown in FIGS. 7-8, the grommet  18  defines a pair of opposing pivot pins  42  which are inserted into the opposing holes  34  located in the pickets  16 . The pivot pins  42  permit the pivotal movement of the grommet and accompanying rail relative to the picket. 
     Returning to FIGS. 11-14, each grommet half also defines a downwardly extending radial boss  44  and a flange  46  which extends radially outward from the boss  44 . A groove  48  is formed between the flange  46  and the bottom surface  50  of the grommet. The flange  46  defines a chamfer  52  and a contact surface  54 . As preferred, an anti-reverse lug  56  protrudes outward from the bottom surface  50  of the grommet. The anti-reverse lug  56  prevents the reverse rotation of the grommet after the grommet is seated in the aperture on the rail. Note that the lug  56  may be positioned at other locations on the grommet and through friction forces between the lug and the rail, for example, still prevent reverse rotation of the grommet. Furthermore, other means of preventing reverse rotation of the grommet may be used and still be considered within the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, to assemble the fence system of the present invention, the pivot pins  42  of the grommet  18  halves are inserted into the associated holes  34  of the pickets  16 . The grommet halves are then either snap-fitted or press fitted together. As assembled, the resulting one-piece grommet  18  pivots about the holes  34  of the picket  16 . Typically, two grommets are assembled onto each picket as illustrated in the figures. Referring to FIG. 8, after the grommets are installed, the picket and accompanying grommets are lowered into the S-shaped apertures  32  in the rails  14 . The grommets are lowered until the boss  44  and flange  46  pass through the apertures  32  and the bottom surface  50  of the grommet contacts the top wall  22  of the rail  14 . Referring to FIG. 9, the picket is then rotated 90 degrees clockwise, as indicated by direction line  60  with the flange of the grommet passing below the top wall  22  of the rail. As the grommet completes its 90 degree rotation, the anti-reverse lug travels over the S-shaped aperture  32  and snaps into the aperture at  58 . Advantageously, the flange  46 , now located below the top wall  22  of the rail, prevents vertical movement of the picket and the anti-reverse lug  56  now snap-fitted into the aperture at  58  prevents the reverse rotation of the grommet after it is assembled. As exemplified by FIG. 10, the mounted rails seated on the grommet  18  may be pivoted relative to the pickets. The rails are pivotal relative to the pickets because the pivot pins of the grommet are perpendicular to the side walls  20  of the rails. While a large pivot range of the rail relative to the picket is achievable by the present invention, it is preferred that the pivot range be approximately 50 degrees, or 25 degrees above and below a horizontal plane. 
     The preferred embodiments of the invention are now described as to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the same. Variations of the preferred embodiment are possible without being outside the scope of the present invention. Therefore, to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter regarded as the invention, the following claims conclude the specification.