← Back to Patent Explorer
US4540160A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Rail fence

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-03-28
•
Granted: 1985-09-10
•
Expires: 2004-03-28
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A fence construction which utilizes a plurality of constituent rail and post members configured to facilitate assembly and erection of a fence. The rail and post members are formed from a plastic material to provide a virtually maintenance free fence structure which is relatively imperishable.

Inventors

  • 👤 James K. Zanavich
  • 👤 Alfred M. Smith

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 18:50
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H17/00; E04H17/14; E04H17/1413; E04H17/006; E04H17/1447; E04H17/1465

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 210 words
A fence structure comprising: a post means having an elongate configuration with an interior space extending substantially along the length of said post means, said post means having at least one rail mounting alcove formed within a side wall portion of said post means, said post means having a threaded bottom mounting end portion, said post means being formed of a plastic material to have a predetermined rigidity and tactility and tensile strength, said post means having a predetermined exterior surface characteristic; a post mounting spike comprising a downwardly projecting spike means, an intermediate disc and a upwardly projecting member having means with internal threads for matingly receiving the threaded bottom mounting end portion of said post means, said post mounting spike being formed of a plastic material to have a predetermined rigidity and tactility and tensile strength; A rail means having an elongate configuration with an interior space extending substantially along the length of said rail means, said rail means having a mounting end member at each end thereof each configured for being receivably mounted within a respective rail mounting alcove, said rail means being formed of a plastic material to have a predetermined rigidity and tactility and tensile strength, said rail means having a moulded-in exterior surface characteristic.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 210 words
A fence structure comprising: a post means having an elongate configuration with an interior space extending substantially along the length of said post means, said post means having at least one rail mounting alcove formed within a side wall portion of said post means, said post means having a threaded bottom mounting end portion, said post means being formed of a plastic material to have a predetermined rigidity and tactility and tensile strength, said post means having a predetermined exterior surface characteristic; a post mounting spike comprising a downwardly projecting spike means, an intermediate disc and a upwardly projecting member having means with internal threads for matingly receiving the threaded bottom mounting end portion of said post means, said post mounting spike being formed of a plastic material to have a predetermined rigidity and tactility and tensile strength; A rail means having an elongate configuration with an interior space extending substantially along the length of said rail means, said rail means having a mounting end member at each end thereof each configured for being receivably mounted within a respective rail mounting alcove, said rail means being formed of a plastic material to have a predetermined rigidity and tactility and tensile strength, said rail means having a moulded-in exterior surface characteristic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
A fence structure as in claim 1, wherein: the post means is generally tubular shaped.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
A fence structure as in claim 1, wherein: the rail means is generally tubular shaped.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
A fence structure as in claim 1, wherein: the post means has an elongate rectangular beam shape, and the rail means has an elongate rectangular beam shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
A fence structure as in claim 1, wherein: the rail means has an elongate split rail shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 136 words
A fence structure as in claim 1, wherein: the post means has an elongate substantially square beam configuration being open at a top end and having a round threaded bottom end member, said post means has a selected coloration and indentations moulded-in the exterior surface thereof to simulate the appearance of an aged wood posed, said post means including a contoured cap member for being placed atop said post means to close the opening at the top of said post means, and the rail means as an elongate substantially square beam shaped body portion, said mounting end member comprising an outwardly projecting substantially rectangular shaped peg being of smaller dimension than said body portion, said rail means has a selected coloration and indentations moulded-in the exterior surface thereof substantially similar to that of said post means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 128 words
A fence structure in claim 1, wherein: the post means has an elongate tubular configuration being open at a top end, said post means has a predetermined moulded-in coloration and surface characteristics to substantially simulate a wood material, said post means includes a contoured cap member mountable atop said post means over the opening at the top of said post means; and the rail means has an elongate substantially tubular shaped body portion, said mounting end member comprises a discrete cap means affixable at the end of said body portion and having a round peg outwardly projecting portion dimensioned for being insertable within one of said rail mounting alcoves, said rail means and cap means have a predetermined moulded-in-coloration and surface characteristic to substantially simulate a wood material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 355 words
A post and rail structure having particular utility for erecting a fence structure on a parcel of land with the fence structure being exposed to climatic and soil environmental conditions, comprising: a post member formed from a plastic like material to have a predetermined rigidity and elasticity, said post member having an upper post section and a ground support member, said ground support member being configured for being mountable within a portion of the parcel of land for supporting said upper post section generally in a vertical disposition upwardly from the parcel of land, said upper post section having rail support means, said post member having a predetermined integrally formed configuration and exterior surface finish, said upper post section comprises a generally square shaped hollow elongate beam being open at a top end and having an external threaded male portion at a bottom end, said ground support member comprises a spike like portion configured for being insertable into the soil and having a grass prevention disc configured for abuting a portion of the soil surface about said upper post section and having an upper nut section with an opening having internal thread members for matingly receiving said threaded male portion of said upper post section whereby said post member being vertically mountable, said upper post section and said nut section having a moulded-in surface finish simulative of a stained/painted wood surface; and a rail member formed from a plastic material to have a predetermined rigidity and elasticity, said rail member having an elongate body section and two rail mounting end caps each affixable at a respective end of said body section and being configured for being receivably mountable to said rail support means, said rail member having a predetermined integrally formed configuration and exterior surface finish, said body section having a generally square hollow beam shape being open at both ends, said rail mounting end caps each comprising a square plug section dimensioned for being inserted within a respective open end of said body section and an intermediate section and a square peg section dimensioned for being mountingly received by a respective rail support means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 355 words
A post and rail structure having particular utility for erecting a fence structure on a parcel of land with the fence structure being exposed to climatic and soil environmental conditions, comprising: a post member formed from a plastic like material to have a predetermined rigidity and elasticity, said post member having an upper post section and a ground support member, said ground support member being configured for being mountable within a portion of the parcel of land for supporting said upper post section generally in a vertical disposition upwardly from the parcel of land, said upper post section having rail support means, said post member having a predetermined integrally formed configuration and exterior surface finish, said upper post section comprises a generally square shaped hollow elongate beam being open at a top end and having an external threaded male portion at a bottom end, said ground support member comprises a spike like portion configured for being insertable into the soil and having a grass prevention disc configured for abuting a portion of the soil surface about said upper post section and having an upper nut section with an opening having internal thread members for matingly receiving said threaded male portion of said upper post section whereby said post member being vertically mountable, said upper post section and said nut section having a moulded-in surface finish simulative of a stained/painted wood surface; and a rail member formed from a plastic material to have a predetermined rigidity and elasticity, said rail member having an elongate body section and two rail mounting end caps each affixable at a respective end of said body section and being configured for being receivably mountable to said rail support means, said rail member having a predetermined integrally formed configuration and exterior surface finish, said body section having a generally square hollow beam shape being open at both ends, said rail mounting end caps each comprising a square plug section dimensioned for being inserted within a respective open end of said body section and an intermediate section and a square peg section dimensioned for being mountingly received by a respective rail support means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 37 words
A post and rail structure as in claim 8, with accessory members including: a cap means configured to be affixed atop said upper post section; a coupling means for joining two separate rail members; a driveway post.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3107900A Cited
US3720401A Cited
US3700213A Cited
US4124198A Cited
GB2068499A Cited
US4324388A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-09-09 1989-03-11 1989-09-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-09-09 1993-03-11 1993-09-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-09-09 1997-03-11 1997-09-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag