Patent Application
20240093529
The disclosure relates to fence bracket kits and more particularly pertains to a new fence bracket kit for aligning and attaching posts and rails for the construction of a fence.
The prior art relates to fence bracket kits, systems, and devices which facilitate the construction of a fence. The prior art discloses a variety of means for facilitating the construction of a fence via the use of brackets. However, the prior art does not disclose a bracket kit, the pieces of which incorporate a first bracket which partially surrounds a post and aligns a pair of rails leading to the post by supporting the pair of rails from below and aligning them with a pair of front portions, a second bracket which abuts a corner of a corner post and angles another pair of rails leading to the corner post at a right angle by supporting the other pair of rails from below and aligning them with a second pair of front portions, and two end brackets which are placed at the end of a rail at the end of the fence, and wherein each of these brackets further provides bendable mounting tabs for mounting a solar power lamp or the like for illumination near the fence.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a sidewall bracket fits around a sidewall post and aligns a pair of sidewall rails such that a pair of sidewall portions of a fence are aligned. A corner bracket fits against a corner of a corner post and aligns a pair of corner rails perpendicular to each other, thereby facilitating the perpendicular alignment of a first corner portion and a second corner portion of the fence. A first end bracket and a second end bracket couple to an end rail at the end of a fence. Each of the sidewall bracket, the corner bracket, the first end bracket, and the second end bracket are configured for mounting a light emitter. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
The sidewall bracket 12 also includes a pair of sidewall wing members 16, each of which is coupled to and extends perpendicularly from an associated side portion 18 of the pair of side portions 18 of the central member 14 away from the channel 22. Each sidewall wing member 16 is L-shaped. Each sidewall wing member 16 has a bottom portion 36 extending from the bottom end 30 of the associated side portion 18 of the central member 14 and a front portion 38 extending perpendicularly from the bottom portion 36 of the sidewall wing member 16 and aligning with the front portion 20 of the central member 14. Each of the bottom portion 36 of each sidewall wing member 16 and the front portion 38 of each sidewall wing member 16 is planar and rectangular. Each sidewall wing member 16 is configured for aligning an associated sidewall rail 40 of a pair of sidewall rails 40 such that each of a pair of sides 42 of the associated sidewall rail 40 abuts an associated one of each of the bottom portion 36 of the sidewall wing member 16 and the front portion 38 of the sidewall wing member 16 and an end 44 of the associated sidewall rail 40 abuts the associated side portion 18 of the central member 14. The pair of sidewall wing members 16 is thereby configured for aligning the pair of sidewall rails 40 with each other to facilitate aligning two adjacent sidewall portions 48 of a fence 46 during construction of the fence 46.
A pair of front central holes 50 extends through the front portion 20 of the central member 14 and is aligned parallel with the bottom end 32 of the front portion 20 of the central member 14. Each front central hole 50 is configured for facilitating coupling the central member 14 to the sidewall post 24 by receiving an associated threaded fastener 52 of a plurality of threaded fasteners 52 therethrough. A pair of first side holes 54 extends through a first side portion 56 of the pair of side portions 18 of the central member 14. One of the pair of first side holes 54 is positioned closer to the top end 28 of the first side portion 56 of the central member 14 and closer to the front portion 20 of the central member 14 than another of the pair of first side holes 54. Each first side hole 54 is configured for facilitating coupling the central member 14 to the sidewall post 24 by receiving an associated threaded fastener 52 of the plurality of threaded fasteners 52 therethrough. A pair of second side holes 58 extends through a second side portion 6018 of the pair of side portions 18 of the central member 14. One of the pair of second side holes 58 is positioned closer to the top end 28 of the second side portion 6018 of the central member 14 and closer to the front portion 20 of the central member 14 than another of the pair of second side holes 58. Each second side hole 58 is configured for facilitating coupling the central member 14 to the sidewall post 24 by receiving an associated threaded fastener 52 of the plurality of threaded fasteners 52 therethrough.
A pair of first sidewall wing holes 62 extends through the bottom portion 36 of a first sidewall wing member 64 of the pair of sidewall wing members 16 and is aligned perpendicular to the front portion 38 of the first sidewall wing member 64. Each first sidewall wing hole 62 is configured for facilitating coupling the central member 14 to the associated sidewall rail 40 by receiving an associated threaded fastener 52 of the plurality of threaded fasteners 52 therethrough. A pair of second sidewall wing holes 66 extends through the bottom portion 36 of a second sidewall wing member 68 of the pair of sidewall wing members 16 and is aligned perpendicular to the front portion 38 of the second sidewall wing member 68. Each second sidewall wing hole 66 is configured for facilitating coupling the central member 14 to the associated sidewall rail 40 by receiving an associated threaded fastener 52 of the plurality of threaded fasteners 52 therethrough.
Each of a pair of sidewall mounting tabs 70 has a bulb portion 72 and a neck portion 74, wherein the neck portion 74 couples the bulb portion 72 to the front portion 20 of the central member 14. Each sidewall mounting tab 70 is bendably movable between an undeployed position 76 and a deployed position 78 and is coplanar with the front portion 20 of the central member 14 when in the undeployed position 76. The bulb portion 72 of each sidewall mounting tab 70 is positioned between the neck portion 74 and the top end of the front portion 20 of the central member 14 when each sidewall mounting tab 70 is in the undeployed position 76. Each sidewall mounting tab 70 extends away from the channel 22 when in the deployed position 78 and is configured for inserting into an associated mounting hole of a pair of mounting holes of a light emitter 80, thereby securing the light emitter 80 to the sidewall bracket 12, when in the deployed position 78.
A corner bracket 82 includes an L-shaped corner member 84 that has a pair of corner portions 86. A first corner portion 88 of the pair of corner portions 86 extends perpendicularly from a second corner portion 90 of the pair of corner portions 86. The first corner portion 88 of the corner member 84 is equal in size and shape to the second corner portion 90. Each corner portion 86 is planar and rectangular. The corner member 84 is configured for abutting a corner 94 of a corner post 92 such that each corner portion 86 abuts an associated side 96 of a plurality of sides 96 of the corner post 92. The first corner portion 88 has a top end 98 and a bottom end 100, and the second corner portion 90 has a top end 102 extending perpendicularly from the top end 98 of the first corner portion 88 and a bottom end 104 extending perpendicularly from the bottom end 100 of the first corner portion 88.
The corner bracket 82 also includes a pair of L-shaped corner wing members 106, each of which extends perpendicularly from an associated corner portion 86 of the pair of corner portions 86. A first corner wing member 108 of the pair of corner wing members 106 has a bottom portion 110 extending perpendicularly from the bottom end 100 of the first corner portion 88 and a front portion 112 extending perpendicularly from the bottom portion 110 of the first corner wing member 108 and aligning with the second corner portion 90. The front portion 112 of the first corner wing member 108 has a top end 114 facing away from the bottom portion 110 of the first corner wing member 108. A second corner wing member 116 of the pair of corner wing members 106 has a bottom portion 118 extending perpendicularly from the bottom end 104 of the second corner portion 90 and a front portion 120 extending perpendicularly from the bottom portion 118 of the second corner wing member 116 and aligning with the first corner portion 88. The front portion 120 of the second corner wing member 116 has a top end 122 facing away from the bottom portion 118 of the second corner wing member 116.
The first corner wing member 108 is configured for aligning a first corner rail 126 of a pair of corner rails 124 such that each of a pair of sides 126 of the first corner rail 126 abuts an associated one of each of the bottom portion 110 of the first corner wing member 108 and the front portion 112 of the first corner wing member 108 and an end 130 of the first corner rail 126 abuts the first corner portion 88. The second corner wing member 116 is configured for aligning a second corner rail 132 of a pair of corner rails 124 such that each of a pair of sides 134 of the second corner rail 132 abuts an associated one of each of the bottom portion 118 of the second corner wing member 116 and the front portion 120 of the second corner wing member 116 and an end 136 of the second corner rail 132 abuts the second corner portion 90. The pair of corner wing members 106 is configured for angling the second corner rail 132 perpendicular to the first corner rail 126 to facilitate angling a second corner portion 140 of the fence 46 perpendicular to a first corner portion 138 of the fence 46 during construction of the fence 46.
A plurality of first corner holes 142 extends through the first corner portion 88. The plurality of first corner holes 142 is positioned to define a first rectangle 144 that is concentric with the first corner portion 88. Each first corner hole 142 is configured for facilitating coupling the corner member 84 to the corner post 92 by receiving an associated threaded fastener 52 of the plurality of threaded fasteners 52 therethrough. A plurality of second corner holes 146 extends through the second corner portion 90. The plurality of second corner holes 146 is positioned to define a second rectangle 148 that is concentric with the second corner portion 90. Each second corner hole 146 is configured for facilitating coupling the corner member 84 to the corner post 92 by receiving an associated threaded fastener 52 of the plurality of threaded fasteners 52 therethrough. A pair of first corner wing holes 150 extends through the bottom portion 110 of the first corner wing member 108 and is aligned perpendicular to the front portion 112 of the first corner wing member 108. Each first corner wing hole 150 is configured for facilitating coupling the corner member 84 to the first corner rail 126 by receiving an associated threaded fastener 52 of the plurality of threaded fasteners 52 therethrough. A pair of second corner wing holes 152 extends through the bottom portion 118 of the second corner wing member 116 and is aligned perpendicular to the front portion 120 of the second corner wing member 116. Each second corner wing hole 152 is configured for facilitating coupling the corner member 84 to the second corner rail 132 by receiving an associated threaded fastener 52 of the plurality of threaded fasteners 52 therethrough.
Each of a pair of corner mounting tabs 154 has a bulb portion 156 and a neck portion 158, wherein the neck portion 158 of each corner mounting tab 154 couples the bulb portion 156 of each corner mounting tab 154 to the front portion of an associated corner wing member 106. Each corner mounting tab 154 is bendably movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position and is coplanar with the front portion of the associated corner wing member 106 when in the undeployed position. The bulb portion 156 of each corner mounting tab 154 is positioned between the neck portion 158 and the top end of the front portion of the associated corner wing member 106 when each corner mounting tab 154 is in the undeployed position. Each corner mounting tab 154 extends away from the associated corner wing member 106 when in the deployed position and is configured for inserting into an associated mounting hole of the pair of mounting holes of the light emitter 80, thereby securing the light emitter 80 to the sidewall bracket, when in the deployed position.
A first end bracket 160 includes a first base portion 162, a first front flange 164, and a first side flange 166. The first base portion 162 is planar and square and has a front edge 168 and a side edge 170 adjacent to the front edge 162 of the first base portion 162. A first front flange 164 is planar and rectangular and extends from the front edge 162 of the first base portion 162. The first front flange 164 has a top end 172 facing away from the first base portion 162. A first side flange 166 is planar and rectangular and extends from the side edge 170 of the first base portion 162. The first end bracket 160 is configured for aligning an end rail 174 such that each of a pair of sides 176 of the end rail 174 abuts an associated one of each of the first base portion 162 and the first front flange 164 and a first end 178 of the end rail 174 abuts the first side flange 166.
A pair of first front holes 182 extends through the first front flange 164. One of the pair of first front holes 182 is positioned farther from the first base portion 162 and closer to the first side flange 166 than another of the pair of first front holes 182. Each first front hole 182 is configured for facilitating coupling the first end bracket 160 to the end rail 174 by receiving an associated threaded fastener 52 of the plurality of threaded fasteners 52 therethrough. A pair of first side holes 184 extends through the first side flange 166. One of the pair of first side holes 184 is positioned farther from the first base portion 162 and farther from the first front flange 164 than another of the pair of first side holes 184. Each first side hole 184 is configured for facilitating coupling the first end bracket 160 to the first end of an end rail 174 by receiving an associated threaded fastener 52 of the plurality of threaded fasteners 52 therethrough.
Each of a pair of first end mounting tabs 186 has a bulb portion 188 and a neck portion 190, wherein the neck portion 190 of each first end mounting tab 186 couples the bulb portion 188 of each first end mounting tab 186 to the first front flange 164. Each first end mounting tab 186 is bendably movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position and is coplanar with the first front flange 164 when in the undeployed position. The bulb portion 188 of each first end mounting tab 186 is positioned between the neck portion 190 and the top end 172 of the first front flange 164 when each first end mounting tab 186 is in the undeployed position. Each first end mounting tab 186 extends away from the first front flange 164 when in the deployed position and is configured for inserting into an associated mounting hole of the pair of mounting holes of the light emitter 80, thereby securing the light emitter 80 to the first end bracket 160, when in the deployed position.
A second end bracket 192 includes a second base portion 194, a second front flange 196, and a second side flange 198. A second base portion 194 is planar and square and has a front edge and a side edge adjacent to the front edge of the second base portion 194. A second front flange 196 is planar and rectangular and extends from the front edge of the second base portion 194. The second front flange 196 has a top end facing away from the second base portion 194. A second side flange 198 is planar and rectangular and extends from the side edge of the second base portion 194. The second end bracket 192 is configured for aligning the end rail 174 such that each of the pair of sides 176 of the end rail 174 abuts an associated one of each of the second base portion 194 and the second front flange 196 and a second end 180 of the end rail 174 abuts the second side flange 198.
A pair of second front holes 200 extends through the second front flange 196. One of the pair of second front holes 200 is positioned farther from the second base portion 194 and closer to the second side flange 198 than another of the pair of second front holes 200. Each second front hole 200 is configured for facilitating coupling the second end bracket 192 to the end rail 174 by receiving an associated threaded fastener 52 of the plurality of threaded fasteners 52 therethrough. A pair of second side holes 202 extends through the second side flange 198. One of the pair of second side holes 202 is positioned farther from the second base portion 194 and farther from the second front flange 196 than another of the pair of second side holes 202. Each second side hole 202 is configured for facilitating coupling the second end bracket 192 to the second end of an end rail 174 by receiving an associated threaded fastener 52 of the plurality of threaded fasteners 52 therethrough.
Each of a pair of second end mounting tabs 204 has a bult portion 206 and a neck portion 208, wherein the neck portion 208 of each second end mounting tab 204 couples the bult portion 206 of each second end mounting tab 204 to the second front flange 196. Each second end mounting tab 204 is bendably movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position and is coplanar with the second front flange 196 when in the undeployed position. The bult portion 206 of each second end mounting tab 204 is positioned between the neck portion 208 and the top end of the second front flange 196 when each second end mounting tab 204 is in the undeployed position. Each second end mounting tab 204 extends away from the second front flange 196 when in the deployed position and is configured for inserting into an associated mounting hole of the pair of mounting holes of the light emitter 80, thereby securing the light emitter 80 to the second end bracket 192, when in the deployed position.
In use, the sidewall post 24 is received into the channel 22 of the sidewall bracket 12 and coupled to the sidewall bracket 12 via the plurality of threaded fasteners 52. Then each sidewall rail 40 is aligned in abutment with an associated sidewall wing member 16 and coupled to the associated sidewall wing member 16 via the plurality of threaded fasteners 52, thereby facilitating the alignment of the two adjacent sidewall portions 48 of the fence 46. The corner post 92 is positioned in abutment with the corner bracket 82 and coupled to the corner bracket 82 via the plurality of threaded fasteners 52. Then each corner rail 124 is aligned in abutment with an associated corner wing member 106 and coupled to the associated corner wing member 106 via the plurality of threaded fasteners 52, thereby facilitating the positioning of the first corner portion 138 of the fence 46 perpendicular to the second corner portion 140 of the fence 46. One of the first end bracket 160 or the second end bracket 192 is coupled to the first end 178 or the second end 180 respectively of the end rail 174 such that the light emitter 80 can be mounted on the first end bracket 160 or the second end bracket 192 and face laterally away from the end rail 174.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
