Patent US5660376A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5660376A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cap and mounting for a fence system
Assignee: Kroy Building Products Inc
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Filing: 1996-06-26
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Granted: 1997-08-26
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Expires: 2016-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A cap and mounting for a fencing system that includes a number of straight plastic tubes that are cut appropriately into posts, cross members and pickets as the fence members and are for connection together to form a picket fence, with embodiments of cap arrangements for fitting over an open top end of each post and picket that includes a connectorless coupling for each cap for locking the cap onto each post and picket by urging a lower cap end into the post or picket, whereby ends of a lock bar are urged into the post or picket inner side walls, securing the cap thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald R. West
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:09
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H17/00; E04H17/14; E04H17/1413; E04H17/1417; E04H17/1426; E04H17/143; E04H17/006; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/71; Y10T403/7176
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A fencing system comprising: a plurality of vertical first fence members and horizontal support second fence members, said first and second fence members being formed from sections of plastic tubes with means for connecting and locking each of the first fence members onto said horizontal support second fence members; a cap means for fitting onto an open top end of each of said vertical first fence members; and means for locking said cap means onto said open top end of said first fence member, said locking means including a strap means that is a flat thin rectangular section of a stiff material that has a greater length than the distance between interior walls of said first fence member and a pier means that is secured to extend downwardly from a flat bottom surface of said cap means, said pier means including a straight longitudinal slot means arranged along at least one side surface of said pier means for retaining said strap means fitted therein such that said strap means extends across said pier means, wherein said pier means is arranged to fit into said open top end of said first fence member where opposite ends of said strap means engage opposing interior wall surfaces of said first fence members when said cap means is fitted thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
A fencing system comprising: a plurality of vertical first fence members and horizontal support second fence members, said first and second fence members being formed from sections of plastic tubes with means for connecting and locking each of the first fence members onto said horizontal support second fence members; a cap means for fitting onto an open top end of each of said vertical first fence members; and means for locking said cap means onto said open top end of said first fence member, said locking means including a strap means that is a flat thin rectangular section of a stiff material that has a greater length than the distance between interior walls of said first fence member and a pier means that is secured to extend downwardly from a flat bottom surface of said cap means, said pier means including a straight longitudinal slot means arranged along at least one side surface of said pier means for retaining said strap means fitted therein such that said strap means extends across said pier means, wherein said pier means is arranged to fit into said open top end of said first fence member where opposite ends of said strap means engage opposing interior wall surfaces of said first fence members when said cap means is fitted thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fencing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the cap means includes a top portion having a decorative top shape that is formed by straight inwardly sloping sides that terminate in an apex.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A fencing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the section of the stiff material is a thin section of a spring steel material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A fencing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the pier means includes a pair of parallel plates that extend at right angles from the flat bottom surface of the cap means and have said slot means in the form of opposing parallel slots formed on the side surfaces of said parallel plates for receiving said strap means slid therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
A fencing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the pier means includes a center pier fitted between two parallel side piers that extend at right angles from the flat bottom surface of the cap means, said center pier includes a T-shaped post formed to receive and fit through an opening formed in the strap means and each of said side piers includes said slot means and means on a surface thereof for receiving and maintaining a portion of said strap means fitted thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
A fencing system as recited in claim 5, wherein the means on the surface for receiving and maintaining said strap means portion is a sloping section that is stepped downwardly onto a flat section formed on said surface of said side pier and further including a side edge section that extends downwardly from an inner edge of said side pier flat section to receive an edge of said strap means fitted thereunder.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-25 | 2001-02-24 | 2001-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-25 | 2005-02-24 | 2005-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-25 | 2009-02-24 | 2009-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |