US3698692A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular fence construction
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-04-26
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Granted: 1972-10-17
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Expires: 1991-04-26
Abstract
Abstract A channel member is C-shaped in cross section and has a length, width and thickness bearing a predetermined relation with respect to the width and depth of the elongated slot on one face of the channel. The slot width and depth is such that the channel can be used both as fence post and as a fence rail with the post and rail in interlocking relation. Various orientations of the vertical fence posts provide L-shaped and T-shaped corners, and by arranging the horizontal rails so that the slots face in suitable directions a variety of rail patterns can be formed. Spacers between adjacent rails afford an open, or corral-type, of fence and, if desired, the channel members can also be used to form a trim cap along the top of the fence.
Inventors
- 👤 Clinton A Burrows Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:02
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H17/00; E04H17/14; E04H17/16; E04H17/168
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
342 words
A modular fence construction comprising: a. a plurality of pairs of vertical channel-shaped post members; 1. each of said post members extending between opposite ends and having a predetermined length, each of said post members also including a front side having an elongated end to end slot formed therein, a back side, and a pair of opposite side edges, the transverse width of said slot being in excess of the thickness of said post member measured between said front side and said back side by an amount rendering said slot capable of selectively receiving either of said ends in snug relation; 2. each of said pairs of post members including a first one of said post members and a second one of said post members, said first one and said second one of said post members being oriented to face toward each other in mirror symmetry with said slots in register and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to said predetermined length of each of said post members; 3. each of said plurality of pairs of post members being arranged in a substantially continuous configuration with the intermediate of said pairs of post members each having one of said post members in back to back relation with respect to the adjacent one of said post members in the contiguous one of said pairs of post members; and, b. a plurality of horizontal, channel-shaped rail members spanning the distance between said registering slots in each of said facing pairs of vertical post members to form a fence panel, each of said rail members extending between opposite ends and having a length equal to said predetermined length of said vertical post members, each of said rail members also including a front side having an elongated end to end slot formed therein, a back side, and a pair of opposite side edges, the dimensions of said front side, said slot, said back side and said side edges of each of said rail members being equal to the corresponding dimensions of each of said post members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
342 words
A modular fence construction comprising: a. a plurality of pairs of vertical channel-shaped post members; 1. each of said post members extending between opposite ends and having a predetermined length, each of said post members also including a front side having an elongated end to end slot formed therein, a back side, and a pair of opposite side edges, the transverse width of said slot being in excess of the thickness of said post member measured between said front side and said back side by an amount rendering said slot capable of selectively receiving either of said ends in snug relation; 2. each of said pairs of post members including a first one of said post members and a second one of said post members, said first one and said second one of said post members being oriented to face toward each other in mirror symmetry with said slots in register and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to said predetermined length of each of said post members; 3. each of said plurality of pairs of post members being arranged in a substantially continuous configuration with the intermediate of said pairs of post members each having one of said post members in back to back relation with respect to the adjacent one of said post members in the contiguous one of said pairs of post members; and, b. a plurality of horizontal, channel-shaped rail members spanning the distance between said registering slots in each of said facing pairs of vertical post members to form a fence panel, each of said rail members extending between opposite ends and having a length equal to said predetermined length of said vertical post members, each of said rail members also including a front side having an elongated end to end slot formed therein, a back side, and a pair of opposite side edges, the dimensions of said front side, said slot, said back side and said side edges of each of said rail members being equal to the corresponding dimensions of each of said post members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
each of said pairs of post members including a first one of said post members and a second one of said post members, said first one and said second one of said post members being oriented to face toward each other in mirror symmetry with said slots in register and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to said predetermined length of each of said post members;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
each of said pairs of post members including a first one of said post members and a second one of said post members, said first one and said second one of said post members being oriented to face toward each other in mirror symmetry with said slots in register and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to said predetermined length of each of said post members;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein each of said vertical post members is installed with one of said ends in the ground a distance such that the height of the above-ground portion of said post member is substantially a whole multiple of the width of one of said rail members measured between said opposite side edges of said rail member and wherein each of said pairs of vertical post members is oriented with said slots in facing relation to receive said ends of said horizontal rail members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein one of said vertical post members at one end of a first one of said fence panels is arranged in back to back relation with another of said post members at the adjacent end of a second one of said fence panels contiguous to and in linear alignment with said first one of said fence panels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
173 words
each of said plurality of pairs of post members being arranged in a substantially continuous configuration with the intermediate of said pairs of post members each having one of said post members in back to back relation with respect to the adjacent one of said post members in the contiguous one of said pairs of post members; and, b. a plurality of horizontal, channel-shaped rail members spanning the distance between said registering slots in each of said facing pairs of vertical post members to form a fence panel, each of said rail members extending between opposite ends and having a length equal to said predetermined length of said vertical post members, each of said rail members also including a front side having an elongated end to end slot formed therein, a back side, and a pair of opposite side edges, the dimensions of said front side, said slot, said back side and said side edges of each of said rail members being equal to the corresponding dimensions of each of said post members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
173 words
each of said plurality of pairs of post members being arranged in a substantially continuous configuration with the intermediate of said pairs of post members each having one of said post members in back to back relation with respect to the adjacent one of said post members in the contiguous one of said pairs of post members; and, b. a plurality of horizontal, channel-shaped rail members spanning the distance between said registering slots in each of said facing pairs of vertical post members to form a fence panel, each of said rail members extending between opposite ends and having a length equal to said predetermined length of said vertical post members, each of said rail members also including a front side having an elongated end to end slot formed therein, a back side, and a pair of opposite side edges, the dimensions of said front side, said slot, said back side and said side edges of each of said rail members being equal to the corresponding dimensions of each of said post members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein one of said vertical post members at one end of a first one of said fence panels is arranged in a predetermined angular relation with respect to another of said post members located at the adjacent end of a second one of said fence panels contiguous to said first one of said fence panels and in angular orientation with respect thereto corresponding to said predetermined angular relation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A modular fence construction as in claim 4 wherein said predetermined angular relation of said one of said post members and said another of said post members and said angular orientation of said first one of said fence panels with respect to said second one of said fence panels, is 90*.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein all of said horizontal rail members in at least one of said fence panels are arranged so that said elongated slots face in the same direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein said horizontal rail members in at least one of said fence panels are arranged with said elongated slots in adjacent rails facing in alternating opposite directions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein adjacent ones of said horizontal rail members are spaced apart to afford a plurality of horizontal spaced openings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein one of said rail members is arranged in horizontal attitude with said slotted front side facing downwardly in register with the subjacent horizontal side edge of the underlying one of said horizontal rail members to form a horizontal cap member covering said underlying rail member, said ends of said horizontal cap member also overlying the subjacent upper ends of the adjacent pair of vertical post members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |