Patent Abstract:
A drill template for correctly positioning fastener holes on a side wall of a fence post. The drill template comprises a base that includes an alignment mechanism to enable an installer to correctly place the base adjacent a side wall of the fence post. The base of the template includes a plurality of fastener-positioning indicators thereon, each of which is useful to identify a position for drilling a single fastener hole in the side wall of the fence post. The template also includes a slider that is movable along the base to select which of the plurality of fastener-positioning indicators to use. The slider includes a plurality of apertures that are alignable with the fastener-positioning indicators. Preferably, the fastener positioning indicators are holes that are defined in the base. The installer sequentially inserts a drill bit through each one of the aligned apertures and indicator holes and drills the fastener holes in the post.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    This invention generally relates to fencing systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a template for fence post brackets. Specifically, the invention relates to a drill template that includes a base with an alignment mechanism for correctly positioning the base adjacent a side wall of a fence post and which includes a plurality of fastener-positioning indicators to identify positions for drilling the fastener holes in the side wall. 
         [0003]    2. Background Information 
         [0004]    One of the problems that vinyl fencing system installers face is related to correctly positioning fence rails on fence posts. Rail mounting brackets may be installed at the wrong height from the post-mounting surface because of variations in fence post heights and inaccurate measurement by the installer. These errors tend to result in aesthetically displeasing fences with posts sticking above the rails to different degrees. 
         [0005]    There is therefore a need in the art for a reliable way to position railing brackets so that the brackets are installed at predictable, predetermined heights on the posts. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The device of the present invention comprises a drill template for correctly positioning fastener holes for brackets on a side wall of a fence post. The drill template comprises a base that includes an alignment mechanism to enable an installer to correctly place the base adjacent a side wall of the fence post. The base of the template includes a plurality of fastener-positioning indicators thereon, each of which is useful to identify a position for drilling a single fastener hole in the side wall of the fence post. The template also includes a slider that is movable along the base to select which of the plurality of fastener-positioning indicators to use. The slider includes a plurality of apertures that are alignable with the fastener positioning indicators. Preferably, the fastener positioning indicators are holes that are defined in the base. The installer sequentially inserts a drill bit through each one of the aligned apertures and indicator holes and drills the fastener holes in the post. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a fence system installed using the drill template of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a fence post and the drill template of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective rear view of a slider used on the drill template; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective rear view of the slider; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective front view of the slider; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the slider; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the drill template engaged with the fence post and in position for use; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a first end of the drill template and post as highlighted in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a second end of the drill template and post as highlighted in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a partial cross-sectional top view of the drill template and fence post taken through line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the drill template and post showing the slider positioned intermediate the first and second indicator holes; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of the drill template and post taken through line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 8 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the post showing the fastener holes that have been positioned with the use of the drill template of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a fence system  10  comprising a pair of adjacent fence posts  12 , horizontal fence rails  14 ,  16  and vertical balusters  18 . Posts  12  are vertically mounted in a suitable manner in or on a horizontal surface  20  and a mounting bracket  22  preferably surrounds the base of post  12  and includes a profiled trim section. Fence rails  14 ,  16  are connected to posts  12  using railing brackets  24 . The present invention is directed to a device and method for correctly positioning fastener holes  104  ( FIG. 13 ) on the side walls  26  of post  12  that are used to receive fasteners (not shown) and thereby secure the railing brackets  24  to post  12 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-12  there is shown a drill template device  30  in accordance with the present invention. Drill template  30  is used to locate and position appropriate locations for drilling fastener holes  104  on side walls  26  of post  12 . Drill template  30  comprises a base  32  having a pair of movable sliders  34 ,  36  engaged therewith. Base  32  is an elongated planar member having a front surface  32   a , a back surface  32   b  ( FIG. 12 ), a first end  32   c  and a second end  32   d . A handle  38  is provided on front surface  32   a  preferably in a region midway between first and second ends  32   c ,  32   d . Handle  38  is used by the installer to hold and manipulate drill template  30 . 
         [0023]    In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, and as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 9 , second end  32   d  of base  32  is provided with a mechanism for correctly aligning template  10  on post  12 . The alignment mechanism preferably comprises a substantially L-shaped spacer  40  that extends outwardly from second end  32   d  of base  32  and is secured thereto by a bolt  82 . Spacer  40  is provided to position drill template  30  in a specific location on post  12 . Spacer  40  includes a first leg  41  ( FIG. 9 ) that extends substantially horizontally away from the front surface  32   a  of base  32  and a second leg  43  that extends downwardly from first leg  41  and terminates in a terminal end  45 . Second leg  43  is oriented to be generally parallel to front surface  32   a  of base  32 . Terminal end  45  of spacer  40  is positionable on surface  20  during use. The interior surfaces of first and second legs  41 ,  43  preferably are contoured to space base  32  a distance away from the trim of mounting bracket  22  so that inner surface  41   a  of first leg  41  of spacer  40  clears the upper surface  22   a  of the trim on mounting bracket  22 . Furthermore, the complementary profile of spacer  40  conforms to mounting bracket  22  and allows back surface  32   b  of base  32  to abut side wall  26  of post  12 . It will be understood however that the spacer  40  does not need to have a complementary shape to the profile of the trim on bracket  22  in order to template  30  to function properly. Second leg  43  of spacer  40  needs only to be spaced a sufficient distance away from rear surface  32   b  of base  32  to clear the trim on bracket  22  so that terminal end  45  of base  32  may rest flat on surface  20 . 
         [0024]    In accordance with another specific feature of the present invention, base  32  includes a plurality of fastener-indicators for positioning the rail mounting brackets. The fastener positioning indicators comprise a plurality of sets of pre-drilled indicator holes that mark the possible positions for drilling fastener holes  104  in post  12 . The first set  70  ( FIG. 2 ) of pre-drilled indicator holes in base  32  are proximate first end  32   c . A second set (unnumbered) of pre-drilled indicator holes in base  32  are provided proximate second end  32   d  thereof and behind slider  36 . A third set  72  of pre-drilled indicator holes are positioned adjacent first set  70  and are shown in  FIGS. 8 and 11 . Each of the first, second and third sets of indicator holes includes two pairs of spaced apart and aligned indicator holes. These indicator holes are provided to aid in marking the positions on post  12  where fastener holes  104  ( FIG. 13 ) may be drilled, as will be hereinafter described. 
         [0025]    In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, base is provided with a plurality of stops that are used to position and lock sliders  34 ,  36  in specific places on base  32 . A first stop  76  ( FIG. 2 ) extends outwardly away from front surface  32   a  of base  32  and intermediate first end  32   c  and first set of indicator holes  70 . A second stop  78  ( FIG. 8 ) extends outwardly from front surface  32   a  of base  32  adjacent third set of indicator holes  72  and intermediate third set  72  and handle  38 . A third stop  80  ( FIG. 9 ) extends outwardly away from front surface  32   a  of base  32  adjacent the second set of indicator holes (not shown) and intermediate the second set of indicator holes and handle  38 . 
         [0026]    Drill template  30  further includes the first and second sliders  34 ,  36  that are interlockingly engaged with base  32 . Sliders  34 ,  36  are shown in detail in  FIGS. 3-6 . The following description will be directed toward slider  34 , but it will be understood that slider  36  is substantially identical thereto. Slider  34  includes a planar plate  42  that has a front surface  42   b  and a rear surface  42   a . Plate  42  has a width “W” ( FIG. 6 ) that is greater than that of base  32 . A set of four flanges  44  extend outwardly away from back surface  42   b  of plate  42  and at right angles thereto. Flanges  44  extend outwardly away from the rear surface  42   a  in two spaced apart and aligned pairs, namely  44   a ,  44   b  and  44   c ,  44   d . The interior surfaces of the flanges  44  of each pair are separated by a distance “Y” which is substantially equal to the width of post  12 . Thus, when drill template  30  is engaged with post  12 , flanges  44  frictionally retain slider  34  on post  12 , and thereby retain drill template  30  on post  12 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  11  and  12 , slider  34  further includes a housing  46  that extends outwardly from plate  42 . Housing  46  has a front surface  46   a  and a back surface  46   b  ( FIG. 12 ) with front surface  46   a  beings substantially parallel to the front surface  42   a  of plate  42  and spaced a distance outwardly away therefrom. A set of four cylindrical bosses  58  extend rearwardly from back surface  46   b  of housing and terminate a distance inwardly from rear surface  42   a  of plate  42  ( FIG. 3 ). A bushing  59  is engaged in the bore of each boss  58  and extends forwardly to terminate flush with front surface  46   a  of housing  46  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). Each bushing includes an aperture  51  therein. 
         [0028]    Housing  46  also has a first end  48  and a second end  50 . First end  48  includes an upper clip  52  and second end  50  includes a lower clip  54  that project outwardly away therefrom and substantially at right angles thereto. Each clip  52 ,  54  includes a pair of spaced-apart fingers  53  that are separated from each other by a generally U-shaped groove  55 . A small shoulder  57  is provided on either side of groove  55 . Groove  55  is sized to one of the stops  76 ,  78  therein and shoulders  57  substantially prevent the one of the stops  76 ,  78  from accidentally disengaging therefrom. Clips  52 ,  54  are spaced a distance “D” ( FIG. 6 ) away from front surface  42   b  of plate  42  such that a gap  56  is created between clips  52 ,  54  and front surface  42   b  of plate  42 . A slot  57  is provided in each of first and second ends  48 ,  50  and said gaps  56  and slots  57  are complementary sized and shaped to receive base  32  therethrough as shown in  FIG. 12 . When base  32  is received through slot  57 , an inner surface of clips  52 ,  54  abut front surface  32   a  of base  32 . Plate  42  further includes a generally U-shaped recess  61  ( FIGS. 3-5 ) therein, in a region rearwardly of each of clips  52  and  54 . Recess  61  is provided to allow one of the stops  76 ,  78  on base  32  to project forwardly through plate  42  and engage the one of the clips  52 ,  54 . When base  32  is received through slot  57 , front surface  32   a  of base  32  engages bosses  59  as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0029]    The drill template  30  of the present invention is used in the following manner. The installer positions terminal end  45  in abutting contact with surface  20  and moves drill template  30  rearwardly until back surface  42   a  of plates  42  abut side wall  26  of post  12  and flanges  44  frictionally engage sides  26   a  ( FIG. 9 ). At this point, slider  36  is interlocking engaged with stop  80  and apertures  51  in bushings  59  are aligned with the second set of indicator holes (not shown). The installer must then select the most appropriate position for slider  34  by selecting whether to position slider  34  over first set  70  of indicator holes in base  32  or over third set  72  of indicator holes therein. If the first set  70  is selected, then slider  34  is moved upwardly ( FIG. 11 ) until clip  52  interlocks with stop  76 . If the third set  72  is selected, then slider  34  is moved downwardly until clip  54  interlocks with stop  78 . In either event, when slider  34  is interlocked with one of stops  76 ,  78 , the apertures  51  therein are aligned with the indicator holes in the appropriate one of the first and second set  70 ,  72  thereof. The first set  70  of indicator holes will be selected for a tall post  12  and the third set  72  of indicator holes will be selected for a shorter post. The position of the slider  36  is a standard height from the surface  20  upon which post  12  is mounted. 
         [0030]    Once the sliders  34  and  36  are correctly positioned for the job at hand, the installer takes a drill  100 , inserts a drill bit  102  thereof through a first one of the aligned apertures  51  and indicator holes, such as indicator holes  70  ( FIG. 12 ), activates drill  100  and drills a first one of fastener holes  104  into side wall  26  of post  12 . He then inserts drill bit  102  into a second one of the aligned apertures  51  and indicator holes  70  and drills a second fastener hole  104 . These steps are repeated until all fastener holes  104  have been made in side wall  26 . When both the upper and lower sets of fastener holes  104  have been drilled into side wall  26 , drill template  30  is removed from engagement with post  12 . The installer will insert fasteners (not shown) through brackets  24  and into fastener holes  104  to secure mounting brackets  24  to post  12 . 
         [0031]    It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the template may utilize only one slider that is movable between the first and second ends of the base to select any one of the various sets of indicator holes instead of using two sliders to accomplish this purpose. 
         [0032]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
         [0033]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8