Patent ID: 7125002

Claim:
A fence rail mounting clip for attaching an end of an elongated fence rail to a fence post, the fence rail having opposing end walls connected together by opposing side walls, the end walls and side walls defining a longitudinal axial bore therebetween; and wherein said fence rail mounting dip comprises: a bracket having a rear surface and a front surface; a peripheral wall extending outwardly from the front surface of the bracket; whereby the peripheral wall and front surface of the bracket define a fence rail receptacle which is adapted to receive the end of the rail therein; a first rail support extending outwardly away from the front surface of the bracket and from within the rail receptacle; the first rail support being separated from the peripheral wall by a gap; and wherein the first rail support is adapted to extend into the rail bore when the rail's end walls and side walls are received within the gap; and wherein the peripheral wall includes an outermost edge spaced a first distance from the front surface of the bracket, and the first rail support includes an outermost edge spaced a second distance from the front surface of the bracket and the second distance is larger than the first distance; and wherein the first rail support comprises: an elongated rib extending outwardly away from the front surface of the bracket, the rib having an outer wall; and a first flange extending outwardly from the outer wall and toward the peripheral wall, and wherein the first flange is adapted to engage one of the side and end walls of the rail; and wherein the first flange extends outwardly from the rib along the entire length thereof and wherein the first flange terminates in a ridge and at least a portion of the ridge is tapered.