BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to fencing systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a template for fence post brackets. Specifically, the invention relates to a drill template that includes a base with an alignment mechanism for correctly positioning the base adjacent a side wall of a fence post and which includes a plurality of fastener-positioning indicators to identify positions for drilling the fastener holes in the side wall.
2. Background Information
One of the problems that vinyl fencing system installers face is related to correctly positioning fence rails on fence posts. Rail mounting brackets may be installed at the wrong height from the post-mounting surface because of variations in fence post heights and inaccurate measurement by the installer. These errors tend to result in aesthetically displeasing fences with posts sticking above the rails to different degrees.
There is therefore a need in the art for a reliable way to position railing brackets so that the brackets are installed at predictable, predetermined heights on the posts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The device of the present invention comprises a drill template for correctly positioning fastener holes for brackets on a side wall of a fence post. The drill template comprises a base that includes an alignment mechanism to enable an installer to correctly place the base adjacent a side wall of the fence post. The base of the template includes a plurality of fastener-positioning indicators thereon, each of which is useful to identify a position for drilling a single fastener hole in the side wall of the fence post. The template also includes a slider that is movable along the base to select which of the plurality of fastener-positioning indicators to use. The slider includes a plurality of apertures that are alignable with the fastener positioning indicators. Preferably, the fastener positioning indicators are holes that are defined in the base. The installer sequentially inserts a drill bit through each one of the aligned apertures and indicator holes and drills the fastener holes in the post.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a fence system installed using the drill template of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a fence post and the drill template of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective rear view of a slider used on the drill template;
FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of the slider;
FIG. 5 is a perspective front view of the slider;
FIG. 6 is a top view of the slider;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the drill template engaged with the fence post and in position for use;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a first end of the drill template and post as highlighted in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second end of the drill template and post as highlighted in FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional top view of the drill template and fence post taken through line 10-10 of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a front view of the drill template and post showing the slider positioned intermediate the first and second indicator holes;
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of the drill template and post taken through line 12-12 of FIG. 8; and
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the post showing the fastener holes that have been positioned with the use of the drill template of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a fence system 10 comprising a pair of adjacent fence posts 12, horizontal fence rails 14, 16 and vertical balusters 18. Posts 12 are vertically mounted in a suitable manner in or on a horizontal surface 20 and a mounting bracket 22 preferably surrounds the base of post 12 and includes a profiled trim section. Fence rails 14, 16 are connected to posts 12 using railing brackets 24. The present invention is directed to a device and method for correctly positioning fastener holes 104 (FIG. 13) on the side walls 26 of post 12 that are used to receive fasteners (not shown) and thereby secure the railing brackets 24 to post 12.
Referring to FIGS. 2-12 there is shown a drill template device 30 in accordance with the present invention. Drill template 30 is used to locate and position appropriate locations for drilling fastener holes 104 on side walls 26 of post 12. Drill template 30 comprises a base 32 having a pair of movable sliders 34, 36 engaged therewith. Base 32 is an elongated planar member having a front surface 32a, a back surface 32b (FIG. 12), a first end 32c and a second end 32d. A handle 38 is provided on front surface 32a preferably in a region midway between first and second ends 32c, 32d. Handle 38 is used by the installer to hold and manipulate drill template 30.
In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, second end 32d of base 32 is provided with a mechanism for correctly aligning template 10 on post 12. The alignment mechanism preferably comprises a substantially L-shaped spacer 40 that extends outwardly from second end 32d of base 32 and is secured thereto by a bolt 82. Spacer 40 is provided to position drill template 30 in a specific location on post 12. Spacer 40 includes a first leg 41 (FIG. 9) that extends substantially horizontally away from the front surface 32a of base 32 and a second leg 43 that extends downwardly from first leg 41 and terminates in a terminal end 45. Second leg 43 is oriented to be generally parallel to front surface 32a of base 32. Terminal end 45 of spacer 40 is positionable on surface 20 during use. The interior surfaces of first and second legs 41, 43 preferably are contoured to space base 32 a distance away from the trim of mounting bracket 22 so that inner surface 41a of first leg 41 of spacer 40 clears the upper surface 22a of the trim on mounting bracket 22. Furthermore, the complementary profile of spacer 40 conforms to mounting bracket 22 and allows back surface 32b of base 32 to abut side wall 26 of post 12. It will be understood however that the spacer 40 does not need to have a complementary shape to the profile of the trim on bracket 22 in order to template 30 to function properly. Second leg 43 of spacer 40 needs only to be spaced a sufficient distance away from rear surface 32b of base 32 to clear the trim on bracket 22 so that terminal end 45 of base 32 may rest flat on surface 20.
In accordance with another specific feature of the present invention, base 32 includes a plurality of fastener-indicators for positioning the rail mounting brackets. The fastener positioning indicators comprise a plurality of sets of pre-drilled indicator holes that mark the possible positions for drilling fastener holes 104 in post 12. The first set 70 (FIG. 2) of pre-drilled indicator holes in base 32 are proximate first end 32c. A second set (unnumbered) of pre-drilled indicator holes in base 32 are provided proximate second end 32d thereof and behind slider 36. A third set 72 of pre-drilled indicator holes are positioned adjacent first set 70 and are shown in FIGS. 8 and 11. Each of the first, second and third sets of indicator holes includes two pairs of spaced apart and aligned indicator holes. These indicator holes are provided to aid in marking the positions on post 12 where fastener holes 104 (FIG. 13) may be drilled, as will be hereinafter described.
In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, base is provided with a plurality of stops that are used to position and lock sliders 34, 36 in specific places on base 32. A first stop 76 (FIG. 2) extends outwardly away from front surface 32a of base 32 and intermediate first end 32c and first set of indicator holes 70. A second stop 78 (FIG. 8) extends outwardly from front surface 32a of base 32 adjacent third set of indicator holes 72 and intermediate third set 72 and handle 38. A third stop 80 (FIG. 9) extends outwardly away from front surface 32a of base 32 adjacent the second set of indicator holes (not shown) and intermediate the second set of indicator holes and handle 38.
Drill template 30 further includes the first and second sliders 34, 36 that are interlockingly engaged with base 32. Sliders 34, 36 are shown in detail in FIGS. 3-6. The following description will be directed toward slider 34, but it will be understood that slider 36 is substantially identical thereto. Slider 34 includes a planar plate 42 that has a front surface 42b and a rear surface 42a. Plate 42 has a width “W” (FIG. 6) that is greater than that of base 32. A set of four flanges 44 extend outwardly away from back surface 42b of plate 42 and at right angles thereto. Flanges 44 extend outwardly away from the rear surface 42a in two spaced apart and aligned pairs, namely 44a, 44b and 44c, 44d. The interior surfaces of the flanges 44 of each pair are separated by a distance “Y” which is substantially equal to the width of post 12. Thus, when drill template 30 is engaged with post 12, flanges 44 frictionally retain slider 34 on post 12, and thereby retain drill template 30 on post 12.
Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, 11 and 12, slider 34 further includes a housing 46 that extends outwardly from plate 42. Housing 46 has a front surface 46a and a back surface 46b (FIG. 12) with front surface 46a beings substantially parallel to the front surface 42a of plate 42 and spaced a distance outwardly away therefrom. A set of four cylindrical bosses 58 extend rearwardly from back surface 46b of housing and terminate a distance inwardly from rear surface 42a of plate 42 (FIG. 3). A bushing 59 is engaged in the bore of each boss 58 and extends forwardly to terminate flush with front surface 46a of housing 46 (FIGS. 4 and 5). Each bushing includes an aperture 51 therein.
Housing 46 also has a first end 48 and a second end 50. First end 48 includes an upper clip 52 and second end 50 includes a lower clip 54 that project outwardly away therefrom and substantially at right angles thereto. Each clip 52, 54 includes a pair of spaced-apart fingers 53 that are separated from each other by a generally U-shaped groove 55. A small shoulder 57 is provided on either side of groove 55. Groove 55 is sized to one of the stops 76, 78 therein and shoulders 57 substantially prevent the one of the stops 76, 78 from accidentally disengaging therefrom. Clips 52, 54 are spaced a distance “D” (FIG. 6) away from front surface 42b of plate 42 such that a gap 56 is created between clips 52, 54 and front surface 42b of plate 42. A slot 57 is provided in each of first and second ends 48, 50 and said gaps 56 and slots 57 are complementary sized and shaped to receive base 32 therethrough as shown in FIG. 12. When base 32 is received through slot 57, an inner surface of clips 52, 54 abut front surface 32a of base 32. Plate 42 further includes a generally U-shaped recess 61 (FIGS. 3-5) therein, in a region rearwardly of each of clips 52 and 54. Recess 61 is provided to allow one of the stops 76, 78 on base 32 to project forwardly through plate 42 and engage the one of the clips 52, 54. When base 32 is received through slot 57, front surface 32a of base 32 engages bosses 59 as shown in FIG. 12.
The drill template 30 of the present invention is used in the following manner. The installer positions terminal end 45 in abutting contact with surface 20 and moves drill template 30 rearwardly until back surface 42a of plates 42 abut side wall 26 of post 12 and flanges 44 frictionally engage sides 26a (FIG. 9). At this point, slider 36 is interlocking engaged with stop 80 and apertures 51 in bushings 59 are aligned with the second set of indicator holes (not shown). The installer must then select the most appropriate position for slider 34 by selecting whether to position slider 34 over first set 70 of indicator holes in base 32 or over third set 72 of indicator holes therein. If the first set 70 is selected, then slider 34 is moved upwardly (FIG. 11) until clip 52 interlocks with stop 76. If the third set 72 is selected, then slider 34 is moved downwardly until clip 54 interlocks with stop 78. In either event, when slider 34 is interlocked with one of stops 76, 78, the apertures 51 therein are aligned with the indicator holes in the appropriate one of the first and second set 70, 72 thereof. The first set 70 of indicator holes will be selected for a tall post 12 and the third set 72 of indicator holes will be selected for a shorter post. The position of the slider 36 is a standard height from the surface 20 upon which post 12 is mounted.
Once the sliders 34 and 36 are correctly positioned for the job at hand, the installer takes a drill 100, inserts a drill bit 102 thereof through a first one of the aligned apertures 51 and indicator holes, such as indicator holes 70 (FIG. 12), activates drill 100 and drills a first one of fastener holes 104 into side wall 26 of post 12. He then inserts drill bit 102 into a second one of the aligned apertures 51 and indicator holes 70 and drills a second fastener hole 104. These steps are repeated until all fastener holes 104 have been made in side wall 26. When both the upper and lower sets of fastener holes 104 have been drilled into side wall 26, drill template 30 is removed from engagement with post 12. The installer will insert fasteners (not shown) through brackets 24 and into fastener holes 104 to secure mounting brackets 24 to post 12.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the template may utilize only one slider that is movable between the first and second ends of the base to select any one of the various sets of indicator holes instead of using two sliders to accomplish this purpose.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
Patent Application
20080298911
