Patent ID: 8794598

Claim:
A fence comprising: at least two spaced-apart substantially upright fence posts anchored into the ground or other fixed structure; a stack of at least two boards extending between each pair of adjacent fence posts, each board having a cross-sectional profile defined by a base surface and a top surface between which two opposed first and second side surfaces extend, and wherein the cross-sectional profile is symmetrical about a center line extending from the top surface to the base surface between the side surfaces and each board extending in a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the upright fence posts and being supported at each end by a respective fence post, and each board being engaged in an overlapping relationship with adjacent upper and lower hoards of the stack via a tongue and groove interlocking arrangement; and at least one pair of spaced-apart retaining components provided on each fence post, each pair of retaining components being aligned to form a series of cavities, each cavity being shaped to receive and retain a respective end of a board of the stack to thereby support the respective end of the board at the fence post, and wherein each pair of retaining components comprises retaining components having a mirrored opposing profile to the other retaining component of the pair on inner surfaces along their length to provide a series of cavities that are symmetrical about a vertical center line extending between the pair of retaining components and each opposing profile comprising a series of engaging, formations along the length of the retaining component and wherein each engaging formation in the series of engaging formations comprises a seat surface that is engaged with a respective portion of the base surface of a board of the stack adjacent either its first or second side and a clamping portion extending upwardly from the seat surface that is engaged with a respective first or second side surface of the same board of the stack such that each pair of retaining components sandwiches respective ends of the stack of boards in that one retaining component of each pair engages with the first side surface of each board and a portion of the base surface of each board adjacent the first side and the other retaining component of the pair engages with the second side surface of each board and a portion of the base surface of each board adjacent the second side.