Patent ID: 8763303

Claim:
A top rail adapted for use in a modular tree guard system, the top rail comprising: a bottom-side groove extending lengthwise along a bottom portion of the top rail, the bottom-side groove having a width dimensioned to contain a top portion of a first side panel of the modular tree guard system; a top-side groove extending lengthwise along substantially all of a top portion of the top rail; and lips overhanging at least a portion of the top-side groove and extending lengthwise along the top rail, a first gap region being defined between the lips for accessing, from above the top rail through the first gap region, a fastener member positioned within the top-side groove and restrained by a bottom surface of the lips, the first gap region having a first width, the first width being less than a dimension of the fastener member; wherein: the lips are absent or reduced along at least a portion of the top rail to define a second gap region having a second width greater than the first width to facilitate introducing the fastener member into the top-side groove through the second gap region; and the top-side groove and the lips are formed such that the fastener can be introduced into the top-side groove from above the top rail through the second gap region and moved along the top-side groove beneath the bottom surface of the lips defining the first gap region for use in securing a top-rail accessory placed at a desired location on a top surface of the lips.