Patent Application
20240141684
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to decorative topper system configured within the top portion of a fence-gate system.
Fence structures will often not have the aesthetic enhancement that is often desired. Further, fence structures may often also not have the structural enhancement to provide support for the various members of the fence. The various members can include the gate posts and the vertical pickets that pass vertically through each portion of the fence.
The gate posts and vertical pickets may not have the aesthetic appeal that the owners of the fence structure would desire. Further, the top portion of the fence can often have a unaesthetic appeal. The unaesthetic appeal can be that a portion of the gate posts extend over the fence on both ends, without a structure to meet the top end of the gate posts. The vertical picket members will also only have a top mid-rail covering and bottom rail cover. No structure will be positioned above the vertical pickets, which can lead to an unaesthetic viewing of the fence structure.
The structural enhancement of the mid-rail covering over the vertical pickets can be lacking. There can be no structural support for the mid-rail other than with the vertical pickets. The top portion of the gate posts will also lack the structural enhancement as there will be an open area between the top portions of the gate posts at both ends.
Accordingly, a fence structure is needed that will provide structural enhancement. The additional enhancement should provide additional structural support for the mid-rail of the fence, the gate posts, and the entire fence structure. In addition, the fence structure also needs an aesthetic enhancement throughout the fence structure. An additional structure can provide additional aesthetic appeal without the open space between both ends of the top portions of the gate posts. An aesthetic enhancement is also needed for the mid-rail and the vertical pickets within the fence structure as well. Overall, an additional structure is needed to provide structural and aesthetic enhancement for the fence structure.
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide system. The system includes a top rail configured at an initial position. The system also includes one or more plugs positioned underneath the top rail. The one or more plugs and top rail are positioned within a same connected device. The one or more plugs include spring clips to enable the top rail and one or more plugs to be connected to a top portion of a fence. The mid-rail is positioned at the top portion of the fence. The mid-rail is configured to receive the one or more plugs.
The system includes one or more external clips to secure the one or more plugs and top rail onto the mid-rail.
The system also includes a decorative panel positioned between the top rail and the one or more plugs.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a system includes a first rail configured at a first position. The system also includes a decorative panel positioned underneath the first rail, wherein the decorative panel is configured to be connected to the first rail. The system also includes a plurality of plugs configured underneath the decorative panel and first rail. The plurality of plugs are connected to the decorative panel and first rail. The plurality of plugs enable the first rail and decorative panel to be connected to a second rail. The second rail is positioned underneath the plurality of plugs. The second rail is configured with a plurality of holes. The plurality of holes enable the plurality of plugs to connect the first rail and decorative screen panel to the second rail. The second rail is positioned over one or more vertical pickets.
The system also includes the one or more spring clips positioned around the plurality of plugs to enable the plurality of plugs to be connected to the second rail.
The system also includes one or more external clips to secure the press plugs and decorative panel onto the second rail.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method includes configuring a top rail at an initial position. The method also includes positioning one or more plugs underneath the top rail. The one or more plugs and top rail are positioned within a same connected device. The one or more plugs include spring clips to enable the top rail and one or more plugs to be connected to a top portion of a fence. The method also includes configuring a mid-rail at the top portion of the fence. The mid-rail is configured to receive the one or more plugs.
The method also includes configuring external connectors or clips around the top rail and the mid-rail to secure the connection between the top rail and mid-rail.
The method also includes positioning a decorative panel between the one or more plugs and top rail.
These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
A decorative topper system can include a top rail that is initial separate from a decorative panel. The decorative panel can include locking shim parts on the top portion of the decorative panel. The top rail can use the locking shim parts to connect to the decorative panel. The top rail and decorative panel can be interconnected as part of the same structure, or decorative topper system. The decorative topper system can be used to provide a decoration on a top portion of a fence. The decorative topper system can also provide structural enhancement and support for the fence structure.
The bottom portion of the decorative panel will include press plugs. Spring clips will be positioned around each of the press plugs. The press plugs and spring clips can be used to connect the entire decorative topper system to the fence structure. The press plugs can connect openings in a top portion of the fence.
The top portion of the fence includes a mid-rail. The mid-rail will include picket openings. The picket openings will enable the fence to receive the decorative topper system. The picket openings will enable the press plugs to be positioned within the mid-rail. The spring clips will also assist the press plugs in being positioned in the picket openings within the mid-rail. As a result the decorative topper system will be placed within and on the mid-rail or top portion of the fence.
An external foam connector can secure the top rail onto the decorative panel. The external foam connector can be positioned around both the top rail and the decorative panel to ensure that the top rail and decorative panel remain interconnected. An external clip will be positioned around the decorative panel and mid-rail. As a result, the decorative panel will remain secured on the mid-rail.
The decorative topper system can provide structural enhancement of the fence structure. The gate posts will provide structural support for the decorative topper system. The mid-rail will also provide structural support for the decorative topper system. The entire decorative topper system will receive structural support from the gate posts and mid-rail of the fence structure. In addition, the decorative topper system will provide aesthetic enhancement for the fence structure. The fence structure will have an increased aesthetic appeal due to the aesthetic enhancement at the top of the fence structure by the decorative topper system.
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In summary, the components of the decorative topper system can be first connected together. After the components of the decorative topper system have been connected together, the decorative topper system can be placed at a top portion of a fence. The decorative topper system can be positioned securing within the gate posts and on top of the fence structure. The decorative topper system can provide structural enhancement and aesthetic enhancement for the fence structure.
A top rail can initially be separated from a decorative panel. The decorative panel can include a plurality of locking shim parts. The top rail can be placed onto the locking shim parts to connect to the decorative panel. Underneath the decorative panel, press plugs can be positioned. The press plugs will be connected to the bottom portion of the decorative panel. When the top rail has been connected to the locking shim parts, the top rail is connected to the decorative panel. The decorative topper system is then interconnected with the top rail, decorative panel, and press plugs. The press plugs can include spring clips positioned around the press plugs.
The decorative topper system will be placed at the top portion of the fence structure. The top portion of the fence structure will include a mid-rail. The mid-rail will be positioned between the gate posts at both ends of the fence structure. The mid-rail will also be positioned above the vertical pickets of the fence structure. The mid-rail will also include picket holes at the top portion of the fence. The picket holes are designed to enable the mid-rail to receive the decorative topper system.
The press plugs can be positioned within the picket holes. The spring clips positioned around the press plugs will enable the press plugs to be secured within the picket holes. When the press plugs are secured within the picket holes, the entire decorative topper system is secured onto the top portion of the fence. The top rail, decorative panel, and press plugs are secured within and onto the mid-rail of the fence structure.
The mid-rail will provide structural support for the components of the decorative topper system. The gate posts will also provide structural support for the decorative topper system. The spring clips and press plugs also ensure that the decorative topper system will remain secured within the fence structure. An external clip and foam connector can also ensure the decorative topper system remains secured onto the fence structure. The external foam connector enables the top rail to remain secured onto the decorative panel. The external clip ensures that the decorative panel remains secured onto the mid-rail. As such, the external foam connector ensures that the components remain interconnected. Further, the external clip ensures that the components of the decorative topper system remain interconnected with the mid-rail of the fence structure. The decorative topper system, when secured within the fence structure, will provide a structural and aesthetic enhancement for the fence structure.
The present invention, in various embodiments, configurations, and aspects, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, sub-combinations, and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the present invention after understanding the present disclosure.
The present invention, in various embodiments, configurations, and aspects, includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments, configurations, or aspects hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and/or reducing cost of implementation.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. It is understood that various embodiments described herein may be utilized in combination with any other embodiment described, without departing from the scope contained herein. Further, the foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed.
Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosure. Certain exemplary embodiments may be identified by use of an open-ended list that includes wording to indicate that the list items are representative of the embodiments.
