Abstract:
An improved method and apparatus for a fence system that is adjustable and rackable to accommodate uneven surfaces. The picket fence system can be adjusted into a selected position and releasably secured, or portions can be changed to modify the appearance of the fence. One embodiment of the invention provides rackable fencing in panel to allow for easily moving selected fences in racks.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the invention 
       [0001]    The field of the invention relates to improvements in fencing, and more particularly relates to improved apparatus and method of a picket fence system that allows the function and uses of the system to be selectively adjustable and rackable to meet varying conditions of uneven surfaces and uses. The present invention is particularly suitable for use and replacement of current fencing systems and other outdoor structures constructed from wooden materials. 
       2. Description of the Prior Art 
       [0002]    Picket fencing is commonly used in private locations to provide security by barring entry to the enclosed locations, to provide privacy, or to improve the aesthetic appearance of the area. Most current picket fence system has a fixed structural design and construction. The fence remains permanently in essentially the same condition of appearance and use after it is installed in the desired location. Expensive and time consuming maintenance is often required to preserve the original condition of the fence. Any substantial change in the function, use or appearance of the fence usually requires laborious activity such as reconstruction or painting. These fence constructions are not adaptable for performing changeable functions or adjustable to provide the fence with flexibility of selected conditions. 
         [0003]    Further, the arrangement and appearance of the current picket fencing are particularly static or difficult to change when the fence is constructed of wooden materials and the like, a type of fencing that is becoming increasingly more prevalent. The construction of wooden fence typically requires heavily laborious activities, such as by assembling each picket to the fence rails. Moreover, major changes or replacement in construction or design of the wooden fence would require costly changes to remove the old structures and to create the different parts of a fence. The cost of storing or inventorying the number of different component parts having different functions or appearances is also very substantial. 
         [0004]    The color and appearance of these wooden fence or outdoor structures are not weather resistance and difficult to change. Wooden materials are susceptible to degradation in sunlight due to the effect of ultraviolet rays. Some of disadvantages also arise with these wooden fences and outdoor structures, such as fence rails or pickets that are constantly exposed to weather resulting in cracks or splits. Substantial costs would also be involved in attempting to repair or replace theses fences or outdoor structures. 
         [0005]    A need exists in the art for a picket fence system that is adjustable and rackable to overcome the above problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus of construction and use for a picket fence system that allows the fence to be readily adapted to any pitch or degree of surface terrain to vary the use or appearance of the fence. 
         [0007]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fence would perform a dynamic function that allows the fence to be adjustable in uneven surface areas, but still provides privacy or barring entry to an area. With this invention the fence system is readily adapted for additional features or functions and can be changed or adjusted easily for a different appearance or use. 
         [0008]    In another preferred embodiment, the fence incorporating this invention can be adapted or adjusted selectively to adapt to changes in weather, to vary viewing or privacy conditions, to enhance security, to accommodate changes in surface terrain, and to permit other desired adjustments or changes. The adjustable components of the fence can be releasably locked into fence posts after the desired adjustment is made. 
         [0009]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the improved picket fence system provides a readily assembled picket fence in panels for facilitating the construction of the fence. The fence further includes an attachment feature that allows other components such as support structures to be easily attached. 
         [0010]    In another preferred embodiment, the present invention further provides apparatus and methods to readily change the appearance of the fence to suit particular needs or desires. The pickets, railing or post components can be varied after installation by changing the color, texture or other appearance at a low-cost and efficient manner. By utilizing metal materials for manufacturing the pickets, fence rails and posts, the fence can be changed from the traditional wooden fencing to wood texture and embossing colors on the metal fencing. Changes in the appearance of the fence can be done to accommodate the changes in weathers, to match or coordinate with the colors of other structures such as adjacent houses, to improve visibility or safety, or to suit other needs or desires of the user. 
         [0011]    In another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for a picket fencing system that is capable of adjustment to vary the conditions of use. When used as a fence, the system includes fence rails and posts for supporting a portion of the fence and movable fence pickets. Supporting structure supports the fence pickets on the rails and allows them to be selectively adjusted to a plurality of positions. 
         [0012]    In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for altering or modifying the appearance of the pickets, fence rails and posts. Each of the fence pickets includes a support structure connected to the fence rails to construct fence panels. These separate fence panels having a selected appearance or color are rackable with locking elements to be releasably locked into the fence posts. The fence panels in accordance with this invention further can define a method which is readily assembled for the construction of fencing. 
         [0013]    Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a description of the several embodiments as set forth in the following description and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a portion of a fence according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment for a support structure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a sectional top view of an embodiment for a support structure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a back elevational view of a portion of the fence shown in  FIG. 4  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the fence in  FIG. 4   
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a bracket for an adjustable structure which be used to form a fence panel in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the bracket shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a fence rail used to form the fence panel shown in  FIG. 1 , in an assembled state with the bracket of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the assembled fence rail, bracket and fence post shown in  FIG. 8 , showing the fence rail in a tilted relationship to the bracket. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a picket, prior to its assembly into a fence rail. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a perspective elevational view of the pickets that may be used to form the fence panel shown in  FIG. 1   
           [0025]      FIG. 12A-12E  is an example method for assembling a bracket having multiple examples bracket-post attachments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front elevational view of a portion of a fence  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention. The fence  10  includes vertical supporting fence posts  30  and top and fence pickets  20 . End caps are placed on the upper ends of the supporting fence posts  30 . In the preferred embodiments these components of the fence  10  are hollow and can be constructed from recyclable metal materials such as galvanized steel, galvannealed steel, galvalume steel, aluminum, and stainless steel. The metal members can be wood textures or embossing, and the like. 
         [0027]    Referred in  FIGS. 1-4 , the fence  10  includes a series of fence pickets  20  positioned between the top and bottom fence rails  60 . The illustrated fence pickets  20  are vertical but the members can be arranged horizontally, diagonally or in other positions that may be desired. The fence pickets  20  can be selectively and readily adjusted to change the use, function, or appearance of the fence  10  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate an embodiment of a support structure  50  associated with each of the fence pickets  20 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , the top end of this support structure  50  is provided with an openable top portion  40  which can be used for a fastening member to pass through. The support structure  50  can be made of rubber or any materials that is suitable. The fastening member includes a threaded fastener which is secured by a friction fit, screwed or other suitable means to an aperture provided on each of the fence picket  20 . Grooves or retaining surfaces can be provided to engage with the fence rails and assist in securing this fastening member in the rails to support the fence pickets as seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
         [0029]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a bracket  70  comprising a brace section that is preferably characterized by a U-shaped cross section. The opposed side walls of the brace section are preferably disposed in spaced and parallel relationship. The height of the each side wall preferably approaches, but is slightly less than, the height of the fence rails  20 . This sizing permits the bracket  70  to be fully received within the rail channel, with side walls of the bracket  70  and the rails  20  in contact, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0030]    Referred to  FIGS. 6-9 , the bracket  70  may be welded, bolted, screwed, riveted, or otherwise attached to a portion of the fence post  30  in any suitable manner. An opening  80  defined by the opposed side walls of the brace section may be used for the connection component to pass through the aperture of the opening  80  and the fence rails  60 . Connection component may be screwed, riveted, or otherwise attached to a portion of fence rail  60  located inside the bracket  70  in any suitable manner. 
         [0031]    Referred to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the fence rail  60  is inserted into the bracket  70  such that the side walls of the brace section contact the rail, and such that the fence rail  60  traverses the rail channel in transverse relationship thereto. The bracket  70  is then mechanically secured to the rail  60 , preferably at one or more connections formed between the side walls of the brace section through the opening  80 . The connection may be formed by a fastener such as bolt or screw. 
         [0032]    Referred to  FIG. 9 , after assembly with the bracket  70 , the rail  60  may selectively tilted around the rectilinear connection component, with the connection component functioning as a hinge. The upper fence rail which is secured to the bracket  70 , is accordingly tillable with respect to the lower fence rail within an angular adjustment range. This angular adjustment range extends on only a single side of a transverse plane orthogonal to the upper fence rail. 
         [0033]    Once the fence rail  60  is positioned in the desired location through the rotation about the vertical axis, the connection component can be advanced on the threaded portion against the rail  60  to lock the fence rail  60  in the selected position. If it is later desired to move the fence rail  60  into a different selective position, the connection component can be unthreaded to release the fence rail  60  and permit the rail to once again rotate. In this manner, the fence  10  can be adjusted into a variety of orientations between the upper fence rail and the lower fence rail to adapt changes of terrain. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 10-11  illustrate the fence pickets  20  in assembled state with the fence rails  60  for illustrative purposes. As seen in  FIG. 10 , each fence picket  20  is movably supported on the fence rails  60  by the support structures  50 . The illustrated fence includes two fence rails but it will be appreciated that additional rails can be provided on the fence  10 . The fence rail  60  can be provided with a metal tube runner which provides a channel through which components such as electrical wiring, air lines or the like can be extended to communicate between the inside hollow portions of the rails. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 12A-12E  illustrate bracket  70  which can be attached at the upper and lower portion of the post  30 . The illustrated bracket  70  can be arranged for multiple connections stylist designs, such as two-way inline connection, two-way L shaped connection, three-way connection, and four-way connection. The bracket  70  can be selectively and readily adjusted to change the use, function, or appearance of the fence  10  as shown in  FIGS. 12A-12E . 
         [0036]    The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to persons who are skilled in the art. As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 
         [0037]    Having illustrated and described the principles of the present invention in a preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. Any and all such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.