Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/591,874 entitled “Fence Post Cap Assembly” which was filed on Nov. 3, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention: 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a fence post cap assembly designed for easy replacement when a post cap is damaged or broken. The fence post cap assembly of the present invention allows for easy installation or reinstallation of post cap without reassembly of the chain links and horizontal top rail or fence post. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art: 
         [0005]    A wide variety of fencing structures have been used to separate or enclose areas of industrial, commercial, residential and other real estate properties. Common examples of fences include stockade, chain link, wire, and split rail fences. Fencing products may be fabricated from many different materials such as metals, wood, plastic and combination or composites thereof. Conventional fence post caps are either cast metal pieces or fabricated metal pieces. 
         [0006]    One of the biggest problems with fence post caps is that they are continuously being damaged by vandalism or even just long term wear and tear. Under conventional methods, if a fence post cap is damaged or broken, the entire or a significant amount of the fence must be disassembled including removal of the horizontal top rail and the chain links. Once a conventional post cap is damaged or destroyed, the top rail and the chain link must be first disassembled to remove the broken cap and then reassembled to insert the new cap and to erect the fence. 
         [0007]    The present invention provides for a fence post cap assembly that allows for easy installation without having to disassemble the entire fence including the top rail and chain links. The present invention provides for a plurality of embodiments which potentially could become the industry standards for fence post caps. The present invention can provide a viable and improved cap assembly which can replace conventional caps and once installed, the cap assembly of the present invention, if damaged, can be easily replaced and reinstalled faster than conventional post caps. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a fence post cap assembly is provided, the assembly comprises a first cap member designed to attach onto a fence post; a second cap member having a circumference larger than the first cap member, the second cap member is designed to fit over the first cap member, the second cap member having at least two apertures; and a loop member having a rounded portion leading to two arms with opposing ends, during an installed position, each of the ends are designed to fit within the apertures of the second cap member while the second cap member is placed over the first cap member thereby locking the loop member and the second cap member onto the first cap member. For purposes of this invention, the term “loop cap” is also called an “eye cap”. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the second cap member has an underside, the underside has grooves which are designed to hold the arms of the loop member during the installed position. In still another embodiment, the arms of the loop member are angled to fit in between the underside of the second cap member and an outer side of the first cap member in the installed position. In yet another embodiment, the assembly of the present invention further comprising at least one vertical and at least one horizontal fence post. For purposes of this invention, the horizontal fence post is also the horizontal top rail. 
         [0010]    In still yet another embodiment, the first cap member is situated upon an upper portion of the vertical fence post, the horizontal fence post is situated within the rounded portion of the loop member, the arms and opposing ends of the loop member are inserted into the apertures of the second cap member, the second cap member is attached and locked onto the first cap member. In a further embodiment, the loop member further comprises an extended portion, which is designed to receive barb wire. 
         [0011]    In still a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a fence post cap assembly comprising: a cap member designed to attach onto a fence post; a loop member having a rounded portion leading to two opposing arms; and a device for securing the loop member to the cap member during an installed position. 
         [0012]    In yet a further embodiment, the loop member further comprises an extended portion which is designed to receive barb wire. In still yet a further embodiment, the securing device is selected from a group consisting of screws, pins, rods, and pegs. 
         [0013]    In still yet a further embodiment, the assembly further comprising at least one vertical and at least one horizontal fence post, the cap member is situated upon an upper portion of the vertical fence post, the horizontal fence post is situated within the rounded portion of the loop member, the arms of the loop member is secured onto the extended members of the cap member during an installed position. In another further embodiment, the cap member has a top surface which has at least two extended members, and the loop member is attached to the extended members. 
         [0014]    In still another further embodiment, the present invention provides for a fence post cap assembly comprising: a cap member designed to attach onto a fence post, the cap member having a top surface with an aperture and extended member; and a loop member having a rounded portion leading to two opposing arms, a first arm being hingedly attached to the extended member, the second arm capable of being inserted into the aperture of the top surface of the cap member. 
         [0015]    In yet another further embodiment, the assembly further comprising a device for hingedly attaching the first arm of the loop member to the extended member of the cap member. In still yet another further embodiment, the attaching device is selected from a group consisting of screws, pins, rods, and pegs. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, the assembly further comprising at least one vertical and at least one horizontal fence post. In still another embodiment, the cap member is situated upon an upper portion of the vertical fence post, the horizontal fence post is situated within the rounded portion of the loop member, the second arm of the loop member is inserted into the aperture of the cap member thereby securing the loop member to the cap member during an installed position. 
         [0017]    In yet another embodiment, the second arm of the loop member having an extended end. In still yet another embodiment, the extended end of the second arm is situated in between an underside of the cap member and an outer side of the vertical fence post. In a further embodiment, the loop member is hinged backwards to allow insertion of the horizontal fence post and then hinged forward to allow the second arm to be inserted into the aperture during installation of the assembly to the vertical and horizontal fence posts. 
         [0018]    In a further embodiment, the present invention provides for a fence post cap assembly comprising: a first cap member comprising a topside surface and at least one side wall, the side wall has exterior and interior surfaces; a second cap member comprising a topside surface with an opposing underside surface and at least one side wall, the topside surface of the second cap member has a circumference larger than the topside surface of the first cap member, the side wall of the second cap has exterior and interior surfaces, the second cap member is adapted to be fit over the first cap member, and the second cap member has at least two apertures on said topside surface; and a loop member having a generally rounded portion leading to two arms with two indentations and two terminal ends, during an installed position, each of the arms is adapted to be fit within each of the apertures of the second cap member while the second cap member is placed over the first cap member thereby locking the loop member and the second cap member onto the first cap member, at least a portion of the indentations of the arms of the loop member are situated between the topside surface of the first cap member and the underside surface of the second cap member during the installed position. 
         [0019]    In still a further embodiment, the present invention also provides for a fence post cap assembly comprising: a first cap member comprising a topside surface and at least one side wall; a second cap member comprising a topside surface with an opposing underside surface and at least one side wall forming an internal cavity, the second cap member has at least one aperture, the second cap member has a size larger than the first cap member that allows the first cap member to fit within the internal cavity of the second cap member; and a loop member has a fence post receiving portion leading to at least one arm with at least one indentation and at least two terminal end, during an installed position, the arm is inserted within the aperture of the second cap member while the second cap member is placed over the first cap member to thereby lock the first cap member within the internal cavity of the second cap member, at least a portion of the indentation of the arm of the loop member are situated between the topside surface of the first cap member and the underside surface of the second cap member during the installed position. 
         [0020]    In yet a further embodiment, the present invention also relates to a fence post cap locking apparatus comprising: a first cap member comprising a generally circular topside surface and at least one generally cylindrical side wall forming an internal cavity; a second cap member comprising a generally circular topside surface with an opposing underside surface and at least one generally cylindrical side wall forming an internal cavity, the second cap member has at least two apertures leading from the topside surface into the internal cavity of the second cap member, the topside surface of the second cap member has a diameter larger than the topside surface of the first cap member that allows the first cap member to fit within the internal cavity of the second cap member; and a loop member has a generally rounded portion leading to at least two arms with at least two indentations and at least two terminal ends, during an installed position, each of the arms is inserted within each of the apertures of the second cap member while the second cap member is placed over the first cap member to thereby lock the first cap member within the internal cavity of the second cap member, at least a portion of the terminal end of each of the arms of the loop member is situated between the exterior surface of the side wall of the first cap member and the interior surface of the side wall of the second cap member during the installed position. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a fence post cap assembly comprising: a cap member adapted to be attached onto a fence post, the cap member has at least two extended members; a loop member having a generally rounded portion leading to two opposing arms; and a device for securing the loop member to the extended members of the cap member during an installed position. 
         [0022]    In still another embodiment, the loop member further comprises an extended portion, the extended portion is designed to receive barb wire. In yet another embodiment, the securing device is selected from a group consisting of screws, pins, rods, and pegs. In still yet another embodiment, the assembly further comprising at least one vertical and at least one horizontal fence post, the cap member is situated upon an upper portion of the vertical fence post, the horizontal fence post is situated within the rounded portion of the loop member, the arms of the loop member is secured onto the extended members of the cap member during an installed position. 
         [0023]    In a further embodiment, each of the two arms of the loop member is attached to each of the extended portions of the cap member during the installed position. In yet a further embodiment, the securing device locks each of the two arms of the loop member to each of the extended portions of the cap member during the installed position. 
         [0024]    In still a further embodiment, the cap member comprises cylindrical side walls and a generally circular topside surface. In still yet a further embodiment, the extended portions of the cap member are situated on the sidewalls of the cap member. In another further embodiment, the extended portions of the cap member are situated on the topside surface of the cap member. In yet another further embodiment, the present invention provides for fence post cap assembly comprising: a cap member having cylindrical side walls and a generally circular topside surface, the cap member is adapted to be attach onto a fence post; a loop member having a generally rounded portion leading to two opposing arms; and a device for securing the loop member to the cap member during an installed position. For installation, the broken cap or loop member is disassembled from the horizontal and vertical fence post without removing the links from the posts. The new cap member is attached to the vertical fence post and the loop member is placed over the horizontal fence post and the loop member is then secured to the cap member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one of the embodiments of the fence post assemblies of the present invention in an uninstalled position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a perspective of view of  FIG. 1  in an installed position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of  FIG. 2  as it relates with a vertical and horizontal posts and chain link fence; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of  FIG. 2  with an extended portion attached to the loop member for receiving barb wire; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of  FIG. 7  in an installed position; 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of  FIG. 7  as it relates with a vertical ad horizontal posts and chain link fence; 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of  FIG. 7  with an extended portion attached to the loop member for receiving barb wire; 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention with a hinging loop member in an installed position; 
           [0037]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of  FIG. 11  in an uninstalled position; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of  FIG. 11  as it relates with a vertical ad horizontal posts and chain link fence. 
       
    
    
       [0039]    Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessary to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , the present invention provides for a fence post cap assembly  10 . The assembly  10  comprises a first cap member  1  designed to attach onto a fence post; a second cap member  2  having a circumference larger than the first cap member  1 , and the second cap member  2  is designed to fit over the first cap member  1 . The second cap member  2  has at least two apertures,  3   a  and  3   b.  The assembly  10  further comprises a loop member  4  having a rounded portion  5  leading to two arms  6  with opposing ends,  6   a  and  6   b  respectively. During an installed position, each of the ends,  6   a  and  6   b,  are designed to fit within the apertures,  3   a  and  3   b,  of the second cap member  2  while the second cap member  2  is placed over the first cap member  1  to thereby lock the loop member  4  and the second cap member  2  onto the first cap member  1 . In another embodiment, the second cap member  2  has an underside, the underside has grooves  11  which are designed to hold the arms  6  of the loop member  4  during the installed position. In still another embodiment, the arms  6  of the loop member  4  are angled to fit in between the underside of the second cap member  2  and an outer side of the first cap member  1  in the installed position. 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  shows a horizontal fence post  7  placed within the rounded portion  5  of the loop member and a vertical post  8  having a top portion  8   a  attached to the first cap member  1 . A chain link fence  9  is then attached to the horizontal post  7  and the vertical post  8 .  FIG. 5  depicts the loop member  4  further comprises an extended portion  13  which is designed to receive barb wire (not shown). 
         [0043]      FIGS. 6-9  relates to another embodiment of the present invention which provides for fence post cap assembly  20  comprising: a cap member  21  designed to attach onto a fence post; a loop member  24  having a rounded portion  25  leading to two opposing arms,  26   a  and  26   b,  respectively; and a device  22  for securing the loop member  24  to the cap member  21  during an installed position. In other embodiments, the opposing arms  26   a  and  26   b  are either directly attached to the side of the cap member  21  or on the side wall of the cap member  21 . 
         [0044]    In another further embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7-8 , the cap member  21  has a top surface  21   c  which has at least two extended members,  21   a  and  21   b  respectively, and the loop member  24  has opposing arms  26   a  and  26   b  which are attached to the extended members,  21   a  and  21   b.  The securing device  22  is selected from a group consisting of screws, pins, rods, and pegs. The securing device is designed to secure and lock the loop member  24  onto the cap member  21  during installation. 
         [0045]      FIG. 9  illustrates the assembly  20  which further comprises at least one vertical fence post  28  and at least one horizontal fence post  27 , and the cap member  21  is situated upon an upper portion  28   a  of the vertical fence post  28 . The horizontal fence post  27  is situated within the rounded portion  25  of the loop member  24 , and the arms,  26   a  and  26   b,  of the loop member  24  is secured onto the extended members  21   a  and  21   b  of the cap member  21  during an installed position. A chain link fence  29  is attached to the horizontal post  27  and the vertical post  28 .  FIG. 10  shows the loop member  24  which further comprises an extended portion  23  which is designed to receive barb wire (not shown). 
         [0046]      FIGS. 11-13  relates to another embodiment of the present invention. The present invention provides for a fence post cap assembly  30  comprising: a cap member  31  designed to attach onto a fence post, the cap member  31  having a top surface  31   a  with an aperture  41  and extended member  42 ; and a loop member  34  having a rounded portion  35  leading to two opposing arms,  36   a  and  36   b  respectively. A first arm  36   a  is hingedly attached to the extended member  42  of the top surface  31   a  of the cap member  31 , and the second arm  36   b  capable of being inserted into the aperture  41  of the top surface  31   a  of the cap member  31 . The assembly  30  further comprises a device  46  for hingedly attaching the first arm  36   a  of the loop member  34  to the extended member  42  of the cap member  31 . In still yet another further embodiment, the attaching device  46  is selected from a group consisting of screws, pins, rods, and pegs. 
         [0047]      FIG. 13  shows the assembly  30  further comprises at least one vertical fence post  38  and at least one horizontal fence post  37 . In still another embodiment, the cap member  31  is situated upon an upper portion  38   a  of the vertical fence post  38 , and the horizontal fence post  37  is situated within the rounded portion  35  of the loop member  31 . The second arm  36   b  of the loop member  31  is inserted into the aperture  41  of the cap member  31  to thereby secure the loop member  34  to the cap member  31  during an installed position. The second arm  36   b  of the loop member  31  has an extended end  49 . The extended end  49  of the second arm  36   b  is situated in between an underside of the cap member  31  and an outer side of the vertical fence post  38 . In a further embodiment, the loop member  34  is hinged backwards to allow insertion of the horizontal fence post  37  and then hinged forward to allow the second arm  36   b  to be inserted into the aperture  41  during installation of the assembly to the vertical and horizontal fence posts. 
         [0048]    Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the attendant claims attached hereto, this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically disclosed herein.

Technology Category: e