Patent ID: 7857292

Claim:
A sealed fence comprising: an elongated tubular post comprising a tubular member having an entirely hollow cavity and at least one aperture in a wall of the post, said aperture defining a generally concave polygonal profile of a predetermined dimension defined by a horizontal slot with a pair of vertical slots extending from the horizontal slot such that the horizontal slot extends past each of the vertical slots at both ends of the horizontal slot; a plurality of pickets; a plurality of rail members comprising elongated channel members each having a generally concave polygonal cross-section defined by an elongated horizontal wall and a pair of generally parallel elongated flanges each extending generally perpendicular from the elongated horizontal wall such that the horizontal wall extends past each of the flange members at both ends of the wall, and a portion remote from the horizontal wall portion that is open to define a channel between the flanges, at least one of said rail members having an opening in its elongated horizontal wall for receiving said pickets; wherein said generally concave polygonal cross-section of the rail corresponds substantially to the generally concave polygonal profile of the aperture in a snug fit such that there is no significant gap between the outer periphery of the rail and the inner periphery of the aperture to allow access to the interior of the fence post by insects; each rail member having an end portion defining notched portion in the elongated flanges that butts up against the outer surface of said wall of said post to seat the rail against the post in a final assembly position; and further wherein the wall of the post supports the weight of the rail members and the pickets.