Patent US4477059A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4477059A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fence
Assignee: TAPLEY ANDREA A
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Filing: 1982-06-30
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Granted: 1984-10-16
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Expires: 2002-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A fence formed of hollow fiberglass posts and rails. The posts have apertures formed therethrough transverse to their lengths for receiving the rails. Two hollow rails extend into an aperture from opposite sides of a post with their ends located in the aperture. A hollow connecting member is located within the two hollow rails for connecting together the ends of the two hollow rails. The hollow connecting member has a slit formed through its wall along its length and is compressed such that it may be located within the two hollow rails. The hollow connecting member when located within the two hollow rails expands outward against the walls of the two hollow rails.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth R. Willis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:47
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H17/00; E04H17/14; E04H17/1413; E04H17/1447; E04H17/1465; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/55
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A fence comprising: a post having an aperture formed therethrough transverse to its length, two hollow rails extending into said aperture from opposite sides of said post with their ends located in said aperture, and a hollow connecting member located within said two hollow rails for connecting together said two ends of said two hollow rails, said connecting member having a slit formed through its wall along its length such that said connecting member may be compressed to be located within said two hollow rails, said connecting member when located within said two hollow rails expanding outward against the walls of said two hollow rails.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A fence comprising: a post having an aperture formed therethrough transverse to its length, two hollow rails extending into said aperture from opposite sides of said post with their ends located in said aperture, and a hollow connecting member located within said two hollow rails for connecting together said two ends of said two hollow rails, said connecting member having a slit formed through its wall along its length such that said connecting member may be compressed to be located within said two hollow rails, said connecting member when located within said two hollow rails expanding outward against the walls of said two hollow rails.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fence of claim 1, wherein: at least one end of said connecting member forms an acute angle relative to the length of said slit.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of installing a fence of the type having a post with an aperture formed therethrough transverse to its length, comprising the steps of: providing two hollow rails having ends adapted to fit into the aperture from opposite sides of the post, inserting an end of one of said rails through the aperture of the post, locating a connecting member within said two hollow rails for connecting together the two ends of said two hollow rails, moving the post to a position relative to said two rails such that the two ends of said two connecting rails are located within said aperture of said post, and locating an end of said post into an aperture formed in the earth.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of installing a fence of the type having a post with an aperture formed therethrough transverse to its length, comprising the steps of: providing two hollow rails having ends adapted to fit into the aperture from opposite sides of the post, inserting an end of one of said rails through the aperture of the post, locating a connecting member within said two hollow rails for connecting together the two ends of said two hollow rails, moving the post to a position relative to said two rails such that the two ends of said two connecting rails are located within said aperture of said post, and locating an end of said post into an aperture formed in the earth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 3, wherein: said connecting member being hollow and having a slit formed through its wall along its length such that said connecting member may be compressed to be located within said two hollow rails, said connecting member when located within said two hollow rails, expanding outward against the walls of said two hollow rails.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4, wherein: at least one end of said connecting member forms an acute angle relative to the length of said slit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 3, wherein: said two hollow rails are cylindrical in shape and generally have the same diameters, said connecting member being cylindrical in shape and having an outside diameter greater than that of said two cylindrical shaped rails, said connecting member being hollow and having a slit formed through its wall along its length such that said connecting member may be compressed to be located within said two hollow rails, said connecting member when located within said two hollow rails, expanding outward against the walls of said two hollow rails.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6, wherein: at least one end of said connecting member forms an acute angle relative to the length of said slit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
150 words
A fence, comprising: a plurality of spaced apart hollow posts supported in the earth, each of said plurality of posts being round in cross-section and formed of fiberglass, each post having at least one hole formed therethrough, a rail extending through said holes formed through said posts, said rail comprising a plurality of hollow rail members round in cross-section and formed of fiberglass, adjacent hollow rail members of said rail being secured together by a connecting member located within the ends of said adjacent hollow rail members, each of said connecting members being hollow, each of said connecting members having a slit formed through its wall along its length such that each of said connecting members may be compressed to be located within adjacent hollow rail members, each of said connecting members when located within adjacent hollow rail members expanding outward against the walls of said adjacent hollow rail members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
150 words
A fence, comprising: a plurality of spaced apart hollow posts supported in the earth, each of said plurality of posts being round in cross-section and formed of fiberglass, each post having at least one hole formed therethrough, a rail extending through said holes formed through said posts, said rail comprising a plurality of hollow rail members round in cross-section and formed of fiberglass, adjacent hollow rail members of said rail being secured together by a connecting member located within the ends of said adjacent hollow rail members, each of said connecting members being hollow, each of said connecting members having a slit formed through its wall along its length such that each of said connecting members may be compressed to be located within adjacent hollow rail members, each of said connecting members when located within adjacent hollow rail members expanding outward against the walls of said adjacent hollow rail members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
142 words
A fence comprising: a post having an aperture formed therethrough transverse to its length, two hollow rails extending into said aperture from opposite sides of said post with their ends located in said aperture, and a connecting member located within said two hollow rails for connecting together said two ends of said two hollow rails, said two hollow rails being cylindrical in shape and generally having the same diameters, said connecting member being cylindrical in shape and having an outside diameter greater than that of said two cylindrical shaped rails, said connecting member being hollow and having a slit formed through its wall along its length such that said connecting member may be compressed to be located within said two hollow rails, said connecting member when located within said two hollow rails expanding outward against the walls of said two hollow rails.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
142 words
A fence comprising: a post having an aperture formed therethrough transverse to its length, two hollow rails extending into said aperture from opposite sides of said post with their ends located in said aperture, and a connecting member located within said two hollow rails for connecting together said two ends of said two hollow rails, said two hollow rails being cylindrical in shape and generally having the same diameters, said connecting member being cylindrical in shape and having an outside diameter greater than that of said two cylindrical shaped rails, said connecting member being hollow and having a slit formed through its wall along its length such that said connecting member may be compressed to be located within said two hollow rails, said connecting member when located within said two hollow rails expanding outward against the walls of said two hollow rails.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fence of claim 9, wherein: at least one end of said connecting member forms an acute angle relative to the length of said slit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
179 words
A fence, comprising: a plurality of spaced apart hollow posts supported in the earth, each of said plurality of posts being round in cross-section and formed of fiberglass, each post having at least one hole formed therethrough, a rail extending through said holes formed through said posts, said rail comprising a plurality of hollow rail members round in cross-section and formed of fiberglass, adjacent hollow rail members of said rail being secured together by a connecting member located within the ends of said adjacent hollow rail members, said hollow rail members being cylindrical in shape and generally having the same diameters, said connecting members being cylindrical in shape and having outside diameters greater than that of said hollow rail members, each of said connecting members being hollow and having a slit formed through its wall along its length such that each of said connecting members may be compressed to be located within adjacent hollow rail members, each of said connecting members when located within adjacent hollow rail members expanding outward against the walls of said adjacent hollow rail members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
179 words
A fence, comprising: a plurality of spaced apart hollow posts supported in the earth, each of said plurality of posts being round in cross-section and formed of fiberglass, each post having at least one hole formed therethrough, a rail extending through said holes formed through said posts, said rail comprising a plurality of hollow rail members round in cross-section and formed of fiberglass, adjacent hollow rail members of said rail being secured together by a connecting member located within the ends of said adjacent hollow rail members, said hollow rail members being cylindrical in shape and generally having the same diameters, said connecting members being cylindrical in shape and having outside diameters greater than that of said hollow rail members, each of said connecting members being hollow and having a slit formed through its wall along its length such that each of said connecting members may be compressed to be located within adjacent hollow rail members, each of said connecting members when located within adjacent hollow rail members expanding outward against the walls of said adjacent hollow rail members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-16 | 1988-04-16 | 1988-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-16 | 1992-04-16 | 1992-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-16 | 1996-04-16 | 1996-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |