Patent Abstract:
A fence jig is provided for assisting construction of privacy fences. The fence jig includes an elongated board that is the length of a fence post. Attached to that board is a post guide that fits on the fence post. First, second, and third flanges are attached to the board with dimensions that place gaps between the flanges where fence connectors should be located when the post guide rests on a fence post. The fence jig also provides reference edges and power saw cutting guides for accurately cutting fence panels.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/950,465, which was filed Mar. 10, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter relates to installing fencing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fence installation jig. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many home improvement projects a home owner can undertake to update and beautify their homes. One (1) of the most popular and useful is fencing. A fence can enhances the aesthetic beauty of a home and its landscaping, serve as a boundary for children and pets, act as a deterrent for trespassers, and help maintain good relationships with neighbors. 
     Modern fencing takes many forms. Picket fences, chain link fences, wood fences, and vinyl fences are all widely available. Modern fencing provides home owners with a variety of styles, quality construction, and years of services with little or no maintenance. However, actually constructing a fence tends to be time consuming and is very labor intensive. For example, vinyl fences are usually constructed of vinyl fence panels that are attacked to fence posts. In the prior art constructing a vinyl fence required one to carefully measure and then re-measure a cut before actually making that cut. A mistake was costly both in time and materials. Additionally, in the prior art it was often difficult to determine accurate locations where vinyl fence connectors needed to be located when attaching each panel. Wood privacy fences had similar problems. 
     In view of the foregoing there exists a need for a device that makes construction of vinyl and privacy fencing easier, faster, and simpler. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principles of the present invention provide for a jig that makes construction of privacy fencing such as those made of vinyl and wood easier, faster, and simpler. 
     A fence jig that is in accord with the present invention includes an elongated board having a planar fence face and a planar post face opposite the fence face. A rip edge extends between the fence face and the post face and an outer edge is located opposite the rip edge. The board further includes a top edge and a bottom edge. The fence jig also includes a post guide that attached to the board top edge and which perpendicularly projects out the said post face to form an under face. A first flange is attached to the fence face. The first flange has a first flange board face in contact with the fence face, a first flange fence face opposite the first flange board face, a top edge above the first flange board face and the first flange fence face, a first flange rip edge on the left of the first flange board face; a first bracket upper edge opposite the top edge, and the thickness of a stringer of a fence being constructed. 
     The fence jig also includes a second flange attached to the fence face, the second flange having a second flange board face in contact with the fence face, a second flange fence face opposite the second flange board face, a first bracket lower edge above the second flange board face and the second flange fence face, a second flange rip edge to the left of the second flange board face; a second bracket upper edge opposite the first bracket lower edge, and the thickness of a stringer of a fence being constructed. 
     The Fence Jig also includes a third flange attached to the fence face. The third flange having a third flange board face in contact with the fence face, a third flange fence face opposite the third flange board face, a second bracket lower edge above the third flange board face and the third flange fence face, a third flange rip edge to the left of the third flange board face; and a second flange bottom edge opposite the second bracket lower edge, and the thickness of a stringer of a fence being constructed. 
     In practice, the post guide is placed on top of a fence post with the post face in contact with that fence post. Then the first bracket upper edge is located where the top of a “U”-shaped bracket should go. 
     In addition, the fence jig can include a first spacer that attached to the post face and to the under face to form a first reference edge, a second spacer attached to the post face to form second reference edge, and a third spacer attached to the post face to form a third reference edge such that the first reference edge, the second reference edge, and the third reference edge are coplanar. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are identified with like symbols and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a Fence Jig  10  that is in accord with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the fence jig  10 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the fence jig  10 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the fence jig  10 ; 
         FIG. 5 a    is an isometric view of the fence jig  10  on a fence post  100  as used for locating a first “U”-shaped bracket  125  and a second “U”-shaped bracket  130 ; 
         FIG. 5 b    is an isometric view from an opposite perspective of  FIG. 5 a    of a fence jig  10  on a fence post  100 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a fence jig  10  on a fence panel  105  as used for preparing for a width trimming cut; and, 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the fence jig  10  on a fence panel  105  as used for preparing a height trimming cut. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  fence jig 
               16  threaded fastener 
               20  board 
               22  post face 
               24  fence face 
               26  outer edge 
               28  rip edge 
               29  bottom edge 
               30  post guide 
               32  top face 
               34  under face 
               40  first flange 
               42  first flange board face 
               43  first flange fence face 
               44  top edge 
               46  first bracket upper edge 
               48  first flange rip edge 
               50  second flange 
               52  second flange board face 
               53  second flange fence face 
               54  first bracket lower edge 
               56  second bracket upper edge 
               58  second flange rip edge 
               60  third flange 
               62  third flange board face 
               63  third flange fence face 
               66  second bracket lower edge 
               68  third flange rip edge 
               69  third flange bottom edge 
               70  first spacer 
               76  first reference edge 
               80  second spacer 
               86  second reference edge 
               90  third spacer 
               96  third reference edge 
               100  post 
               105  fence panel 
               110  stringer 
               115  picket 
               120  panel fastener 
               125  first “U”-shaped bracket 
               130  second “U”-shaped bracket 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted within  FIGS. 1-7 . However, the invention is not limited to what is specifically illustrated and described. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention. Any such work around also falls with the scope of this invention. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. In addition, unless otherwise denoted all directional signals such as up, down, left, right, inside, outside are taken relative to the illustration shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 5   a - 7 , the present invention describes a fence jig  10  which aids in the installation of a privacy fence. That fence is fabricated from vinyl (or wood) fence panels  105  which are guided into place by the fence jig  10  when attaching a first “U”-shaped bracket  125  and a similar second “U”-shaped bracket  130  to a previously erected fence post  100 . The fence jig  10  also acts as a guide when adjusting the width and/or height of the fence panels  105 . 
     Referring now specifically to  FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b   , each fence panel  105  is usually provided as a pre-fabricated structure that typically measures sixty eight inches (68 in.) in length and sixty eight inches (68 in.) in height. Each fence panel  105  is composed of twelve ( 12 ) individual pickets  115  that are attached together on both sides by two (2) stringers  110 . To install the fence panel  105  the stringers  110  are attached to pre-installed fence posts  100  using panel fasteners  120  that are inserted into an upper first “U”-shaped bracket  125  and into a lower second “U”-shaped bracket  130 . The fence posts  100  are preferably seventy two inches (72 in.) in height and will usually have some portion buried underground as required to meet applicable local building codes. 
       FIG. 1  presents a front elevation view,  FIG. 2  presents a side elevation view,  FIG. 3  presents a rear elevation view, and  FIG. 4  presents an isometric view of the fence jig  10 . The fence jig  10  includes a board  20  and a top post guide  30 . The board  20  is the central part of the fence jig  10  to which other pieces are attached. The board  20  and the post guide  30  are preferably composed of wood or vinyl. Other materials, such as composite materials, other thermoplastics, and metal, may also be used. The board  20  is both flat and straight with straight edges. The board  20  is typically about seventy two inches (72 in.) long to correspond to the height of a fence post  100 . The face showing in  FIG. 1  is designated as the post face  22 . The post face  22  is the face which is placed against a fence post  100  when the fence jig  10  is being used to attach fence panels  120 . The face opposite the post face  22  is the fence face  24 ; specifically reference  FIG. 3 . The long edge on the left side of the board  20  as seen in  FIG. 1  is the rip edge  28 . The rip edge  28  acts as a guide for a power saw that is used to make cuts to a fence panel  105  when making width adjustments to fit the fence panel  105  to a fence post  100 . The long edge opposite the outside edge  26  is the rip edge  28 . The short edge at a bottom of the board  20  is the bottom edge  29 . 
     The post guide  30  is a square piece that projects over the front of the board  20  (best shown in  FIG. 5 a   ). The post guide  30  is attached to the top of the board  20 , preferably by adhesive and at least one (1) threaded fastener  16 . The face of the post guide  30  in contact with the board  20  is the under face  34  while the upper face is the top face  32 . 
     Referring again primarily to  FIGS. 1-4 , attached to the fence face  24  are a first flange  40 , a second flange  50 , and a third flange  60 . Attachment is preferably made using adhesive and threaded fasteners  16 ; see  FIG. 3 . The first flange  40 , the second flange  50 , and the third flange  60  are preferably made of the same material as the board  20 . In any event they have the same thickness as the stringers  110 . The surface of the first flange  40  in direct contact with the fence face  24  is the first flange board face  42 . The opposite surface of the first flange  40  is the first flange fence face  43 . In use the first flange fence face  43  is placed against a fence panel  105  when using the fence jig  10 . The narrow edge of the first flange  40  closest to the post guide  30  is the top edge  44 . The narrow edge of the first flange  40  opposite that is the first bracket upper edge  46 . The first bracket upper edge  46  contacts the top of the first “U”-shaped bracket  125  when fastening a first “U”-shaped bracket  125  to a fence post  100 . The left side long edge of the first flange  40  is the first flange rip edge  48  (see  FIG. 2 ). This first flange rip edge  48 , along with corresponding edges on the second flange  50  and the third flange  60 , acts as a guide for a power saw when making height adjustment cuts to fence panels  105  to make them properly fit between fence posts  100 . The first flange  40  is attached to the board  20  at a location which places the first “U”-shaped bracket  125  at the correct height on the fence post  100  to engage the top stringers  110  of fence panels  105  when the post guide  20  is on top of a fence post  100  and the first bracket upper edge  46  is adjacent the upper surface of a first “U”-shaped bracket  125 . 
     The second flange  50  has similar faces and long edges as the first flange  40 . Specifically, a second flange board face  52 , a second flange fence face  53 , and a second flange rip edge  58 . The third flange  60  is also configured similarly with a third flange board face  62 , a third flange fence face  63 , and a third flange rip edge  68 . The upper narrow edge of the second flange  50  is the first bracket lower edge  54 . The narrow edge of the second flange  50  is the second bracket upper edge  56 . The length of the second flange  50  corresponds to the distance between the upper stringer  110  and the lower stringer  110  on the fence panel  105 . The upper narrow edge of the third flange  60  is the second bracket lower edge  66 . The edge opposite the second bracket lower edge  66  is the third flange bottom edge  69 . The third flange  60  is attached to the bottom of the board  20 . The length of the third flange  60  corresponds to the distance between a lower stringer  110  on a fence panel  105  and grade level. 
     Disposed on the post face  22  are a first spacer  70 , a second spacer  80 , and a third spacer  90 . Each of the spacers  70 ,  80 ,  90  is about three inches (3 in.) high and two inches (2 in.) wide. The first spacer  70 , the second spacer  80 , and the third spacer  90  are attached to the board  20 , preferably by adhesive and threaded fasteners  16 . The upper surface of the first spacer  70  is attached to the under face  34  of the post guide  30 . The left edge of the first spacer  70  is a first reference edge  76 . The second spacer  80  is attached to the board  20  approximately two inches (2 in.) below the first spacer  70 . The left edge of the second spacer  80  is a second reference edge  86 . The third spacer  90  is attached to the board  20  approximately forty-one inches (41 in.) below the second spacer  80 . The left edge of the third spacer  90  is a third reference edge  96 . The first reference edge  76 , the second reference edge  86 , and the third reference edge  96  are coplanar and are used to align the rip edge  28  of the board  20  with the correct lateral location for a first “U”-shaped bracket  125  and a second “U”-shaped bracket  130  when the under face  34  of the post guide  30  is placed on top of a fence post  100  and the reference edges  76 ,  86 , and  96  are in contact with fence post  100 . 
     Refer now to  FIG. 5 a    for an isometric view of the fence jig  10  on a fence post  100 , to  FIG. 5 b    for an isometric view of the fence jig  10  from another perspective, and to  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 5 a    the fence jig  10  is shown in use locating a first “U”-shaped bracket  125  at the correct location. The top guide  30  is placed on the top of the fence post  100  with the first spacer  70 , second spacer  80 , and the third spacer  90  flush against the fence post  100 . When so arranged the first “U”-shaped bracket  125  is set in place by locating it on the inner face of the rip edge  28  between the first bracket upper edge  46  and the first bracket lower edge  54 . The first “U”-shaped bracket  125  is then attached to the fence post  100  using one or more fasteners  120 . A second “U”-shaped bracket  130  is then located on the fence post  100  by placing the second “U”-shaped bracket&#39;s “U”-shape against the inner face of the rip edge  28  between the second bracket upper edge  56  and the second bracket lower edge  66 . The second “U”-shaped bracket  130  is then attached to the fence post  100  using one or more fasteners  120 . Another first “U”-shaped bracket  125  and another second “U”-shaped bracket  130  can be located and attached to the opposite side of the post by moving the fence jig  10  to the opposite side and then repeating the process. 
     Refer now to  FIG. 6  for an isometric view of the fence jig  10  used on a fence panel  105  and to  FIG. 4  for details of the fence jig  10 . During the installation of the fence the standard length of the fence panel  105  may exceed the distance between adjacent fence posts  100 . In that case the fence panel  105  needs to be cut to fit. The fence jig  10  can assist this cutting. To do so the fence panel  105  is positioned on a stable horizontal work surface with the excess length overhanging the supports. The fence jig  10  is placed on the fence panel  105  with the fence face  24  in contact with the fence panel  105 . The upper stringer  110  is between the first flange  40  and the second flange  50  and the lower stringer  110  is located between the second flange  50  and the third flange  60 . The first flange board face  42 , the second flange board face  52 , and the third flange board face  62  are in the same plane as the exposed faces of the stringers  110  with the first flange rip edge  48 , second flange rip edge  58  and third flange rip edge  68  aligned with the desired cut line on the fence panel  105 . A saw is then run along the fence panel  105  using the rip edge  28  as a guide. The result is a clean, straight cut across the length of the fence panel  105 . In practice the fence jig  10  may be clamped to the fence panel  105  to keep the fence jig  10  in place. 
     Refer now to  FIG. 7  for an isometric view of the fence jig  10  on a fence panel  105  being used to adjust the height of a fence panel  105 . In some applications the height of a fence panel  105  may need to be adjusted by cutting. The fence jig  10  assists this cutting. To do so the fence panel  105  is positioned on a stable horizontal work surface with the excess height overhanging the supports. The fence jig  10  is placed longitudinally on the fence panel  105  with the fence face  24  in contact with the fence panel  105 . The fence jig  10  is then aligned with the desired cut line to allow the saw to cut the fence panel by being moved along the first flange rip edge  48 , the second flange rip edge  58 , and the third flange rip edge  68 . In practice the fence jig  10  should be clamped to the fence panel  105  during cutting. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4