Patent ID: 8403303

Claim:
A fence system, comprising: a first rail comprising: a first surface extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first rail and having one or more apertures; and a second surface and a third surface each extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first rail and opposing one another such that the first, second, and third surfaces of the first rail form a channel, the second surface of the first rail having a first lip and the third surface of the first rail having a second lip, the first lip and the second lip extending into the channel formed by the first, second, and third surfaces of the first rail; and one or more pickets each inserted through a corresponding one of the one or more apertures of the first surface of the first rail, each of the one or more pickets having a first connection region located substantially in the channel formed by the first, second, and third surfaces of the first rail, at least a portion of each of first and second opposing surfaces of each picket being deformed toward each other such that at least a portion of the first connection region is narrower, along a first axis extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first rail, than an adjacent portion of the picket and is wider, along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, than the adjacent portion of the picket, the at least a portion of the first connection region being adapted to substantially prevent the first connection region from passing through the corresponding aperture in the first surface of the first rail or between the opening defined by the first and second lips of the first rail.