Patent Application
20170254110
1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to fence slat and a fence slat locking system for a fence. More specifically, the fence slat and fence slat locking system described herein may be used to construct a fence with substantial rigidity, weather resistance, and durability. The resulting fence is attractive, customizable, and carries a substantially lower cost than conventional fences.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fences have been constructed to divide one section of land from another, protect animals, corral animals, and maintain physical boundaries since the concept of private property originated. Many types of fences have been constructed in that time including hedge fences (fences made from living plants—cactus, shrubs, trees, turf, and etc.); wood fences; metal fences; stone fences, concrete fences, or hybrid fences made from two or more of the foregoing types of materials. Examples of hybrid fences include barbwire fences which string metal wire between wooden braces and along one or more steel poles designed to hold the metal wire in place at a certain height. Another example includes a stake fence in which wooden stakes are driven into the ground that are wrapped one to another with metal wire.
More recently, various manmade materials have been used to construct fences. For example, temporary fences have been manufactured from various plastics. Construction sites, ski runs, and even roadways typically use a plastic mesh fencing that that is stretched between one or more poles as a barricade to prevent people or animals from accessing a certain area. Other plastics have been used to construct fences such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which are more commonly referred to as “vinyl” fences.
Vinyl fences are typically used in applications where the attractiveness of the fence is a concern because they are considered to be more attractive than many other types of fences at a substantially lower cost than those other types of fences. For example, many homeowners choose to build vinyl fences in residential applications to separate one home from another. Corrals that house fine animals may be built using vinyl fencing configured in a horse fence configuration, for example, in an effort to impress buyers or improve the perceived value of the animals. Other applications for vinyl fences include privacy fencing, pool fencing, and pet fencing.
Vinyl fencing, however, has a number of drawbacks. First, because vinyl fencing is typically subject to substantial heat and substantial cold in some geographic locations, vinyl fences have a tendency to expand when heated and contract when cooled. This daily expansion and contraction of vinyl fences as the fence slats are exposed to sun can be detrimental to the structural rigidity of the fence because PVC, the plastic from which vinyl is made, tends to have a relatively low memory compared to metal or wood fences, for example. The term “low memory” describes a situation in which the PVC that forms the vinyl fencing does not necessarily return to its original position and condition when it is heated and cooled. Over time, repeated heating and cooling causes additional play between fence slats, sagging between vertical support posts, and brittleness in the fencing materials. The corresponding structural rigidity of the fence is similarly compromised, allowing the fence to bend and move substantially. Not only does repeated heating and cooling make vinyl fences susceptible to damage caused by physical impacts (e.g. children throwing a ball at the fence) or weather, but also results in decreased attractiveness of the fence as sags begin to develop. Since vinyl fences are typically installed for aesthetic reasons, the decreased attractiveness of the fence over time is undesirable.
Second, a typical vinyl fence relies on plastic slats as structural components that increase the structural rigidity of a vinyl fence. Vinyl fence slats are typically disposed parallel to vertical support posts and are enclosed on both ends by horizontal beams. Tension between the slats on either side of a vertical support post is transferred into opposing forces that push on the vertical support post in opposing directions, which in turn provides structural rigidity to the fence. As the fence slats expand and contract as they are heated and cooled by the sun each day, the slats lose the tension between them, reducing the forces applied to the vertical support posts, and therefore reducing the structural rigidity of the fence.
Third, typical vinyl fences are not customizable on opposing sides of the vinyl fences. While manufacturers make vertical support posts, horizontal beams, and fence slats in various colors, both sides of the vinyl fence are constructed using the same color because conventional vinyl fence slats maintain the same color on both sides of a conventional vinyl fence slat. Since vinyl fences typically mark property boundaries, and color preferences between neighbors may be different, neighbors may often be unable to agree on a color for the vinyl fence.
Accordingly, it is one object of this disclosure to provide a fence slat locking system that maintains the structural rigidity of a fence over time. Another object of this disclosure is to provide a fence slat that locks together with one or more other fence slats to increase the structural rigidity of a fence.
Finally, it is another object of this disclosure to provide a fence slat locking system that is customizable on different sides of the fence.
Disclosed herein is a fence slat. The fence slat includes a fence slat locking mechanism disposed on a first side of the fence slat. The fence slat further includes a fence slat locking mechanism disposed on a second side of the fence slat. Also disclosed herein is a fence slat locking system which includes a first fence slat, a second fence slat, a third fence slat, and a fourth fence slat. In the fence slat locking system, the second fence slat interlocks with the third fence slat. Each of the first fence slat, the second fence slat, the third fence slat, and the fourth fence slat may experience lateral tension when disposed between a first fence post and a second fence post.
The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of fence slat and fence slat locking system.
In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific techniques and embodiments are set forth, such as particular techniques and configurations, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the device disclosed herein. While the techniques and embodiments will primarily be described in context with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the techniques and embodiments may also be practiced in other similar devices.
Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. It is further noted that elements disclosed with respect to particular embodiments are not restricted to only those embodiments in which they are described. For example, an element described in reference to one embodiment or figure, may be alternatively included in another embodiment or figure regardless of whether or not those elements are shown or described in another embodiment or figure. In other words, elements in the figures may be interchangeable between various embodiments disclosed herein, whether shown or not.
Fence slat 100 includes a first bend 105 and a second bend 110 which create a first locking surface 115 and a second locking surface 120. First bend 105, second bend 110, first locking surface 115, and second locking surface 120 are referred to as first fence slat locking mechanism 150a. First fence slat locking mechanism 150a is created by creating first bend 105 in fence slat 100. Fence slat 100 is bent along an entire length of fence slat 100 such that first locking surface 115 is substantially perpendicular to a face 125 of fence slat 100. First bend 105 is ideally a 90° bend (relative to face 125 of fence slat 100) and is generally within 10° of 90° in ideal implementations. However, as will be discussed below, first bend 105 may be implemented as a bend between about 30° and about 150° in order to facilitate the locking of fence slat 100 with another fence slat.
In first fence slat locking mechanism 150a, first locking surface 115 is ideally perpendicular to face 125 of fence slat 100 and is typically between 0.25 and 3 inches in length, depending on the particular implementation of fence slat 100. A length of first locking surface 115 is defined as being the surface of fence slat 100 disposed between first bend 105 and second bend 110. Second bend 110 is also ideally a 90° bend (relative to first bend 105) and is generally within 10° of 90° in ideal implementations. However, as will be discussed below, second bend 110 may implemented as a bend between about 30° and about 150° in order to facilitate the locking of fence slat 100 with another fence slat. Second bend 110 defines a second locking surface 120 that is substantially perpendicular to first locking surface 115 and substantially parallel with face 125 of fence slat 100. A width of second locking surface 120 may be less than half of the width of fence slat 100 across face 125 of fence slat 100. In other words, if the width of fence slat 100 measures 8 inches from third bend 130 (which will be discussed below) to first bend 105, the length of second locking surface 120 is less than 4 inches.
Fence slat 100 includes a third bend 130 and a fourth bend 140 which create a third locking surface 135 and a fourth locking surface 145. Third bend 130, fourth bend 140, third locking surface 135, and fourth locking surface 145 are referred to as second fence slat locking mechanism 150b. Second fence slat locking mechanism 150b is disposed on a side of fence slat 100 that is opposite of first fence slat locking mechanism 150a (i.e., first fence slat locking mechanism 150a is disposed on a first side of fence slat 100 while second fence slat locking mechanism 150b is disposed on a second side of fence slat 100 opposite of the first side of fence slat 100). Second fence slat locking mechanism 150b is created by creating third bend 130 in fence slat 100. Fence slat 100 is bent along an entire length of fence slat 100 such that the third locking surface 135 is substantially perpendicular to a face 125 of fence slat 100. Third bend 130 is ideally a 90° bend (relative to face 125 of fence slat 100) and is generally within 10° of 90° in ideal implementations. However, as will be discussed below, third bend 130 may be implemented as a bend between about 30° and about 150° in order to facilitate the locking of fence slat 100 with another fence slat.
In second fence slat locking mechanism 150b, third locking surface 135 is ideally perpendicular to face 125 of fence slat 100 and is typically between 0.25 and 3 inches in length, depending on the particular implementation of fence slat 100. A width of third locking surface 135 is defined as being the surface of fence slat 100 disposed between third bend 130 and fourth bend 140. Fourth bend 140 is also ideally a 90° bend and is generally within 10° of 90° in ideal implementations. However, as will be discussed below, fourth bend 140 may be implemented as a bend between about 30° and about 150° in order to facilitate the locking of fence slat 100 with another fence slat. Fourth bend 140 defines a fourth locking surface 145 that is substantially perpendicular to third locking surface 135 and substantially parallel with face 125 of fence slat 100. A width of fourth locking surface 145 may be less than half of the width of fence slat 100 across face 125 of fence slat 100. In other words, if the width of fence slat 100 measures 8 inches from third bend 130 to first bend 105, the length of fourth locking surface 145 is less than 4 inches.
Each of first bend 105, second bend 110, third bend 130, and fourth bend 140 may be implemented along substantially the entire length of fence slat 100. In other words, if a length of fence slat 100 is measured as 6 feet from a top of fence slat 100 to a bottom of fence slat 100, first bend 105, second bend 110, third bend 130, and fourth bend 140 may also be 6 feet in length from the top of fence slat 100 to the bottom of fence slat 100. The exemplary widths and lengths of fence slat 100 described above are not limiting and are merely disclosed for the purposes of explanation, description, and example. Different slats, including those that incorporate different aesthetic designs, for example, may be implemented with any dimensions of length and width.
Fence slat locking system 200 further includes a first fence slat 215, which is similar in description and implementation to fence slat 100, shown in
Once first fence slat 215 is attached to fence post 205, a second fence slat 225 may be installed in fence slat locking system 200. Second fence slat 225 is also similar in description and implementation to fence slat 100, shown in
Accordingly
As mentioned above, fence locking system 400 includes fourth fence slat 420 which further includes seventh locking surface 450 and eighth locking surface 460. In fence locking system 400, seventh locking surface 450 abuts fifth locking surface 445 such that seventh locking surface 450 may be held to fifth locking surface 445 of second fence slat 410. In this manner, four fence slats may be arranged together in a locking manner.
Accordingly,
In this manner, additional fence slats may be installed in a section of fence using the techniques described herein. For example, once first fence slat 405, second fence slat 410, third fence slat 415, and fourth fence slat 420 have been interlocked in four fence slat interlocking system 465 (and third fence slat 415 and fourth fence slat 420 have been interlocked in two fence locking mechanism 470), additional fence slats may be successively added to create a plurality of four fence slat interlocking systems 465. As additional fence slats are successively added and additional four fence slat interlocking systems 465 are created, lateral tension is applied between various fence slats. This lateral tension applied between the various fence slats pushes abutting fence slats against each other, creating rigidity for a section of fence between fence posts. For example, first fence slat 405 may abut third fence slat 415 and receive lateral tension from third fence slat 415 and one or more other fence slats in a fence that are interlocked using the techniques described herein. Accordingly, four fence slat interlocking systems 465 enhance the rigidity of a section of fence using the techniques described herein over conventional fences.
Finally, fence slat locking system 400 may be customizable to suit a particular homeowner's aesthetic desires. In one embodiment, for example, first fence slat 405 and third fence slat 415 may share a common color scheme while second fence slat 410 and fourth fence slat 420 may share a common color scheme that is different from the color scheme shared by first fence slat 405 and third fence slat 415. More simply put, fence slats on opposite sides of fence slat locking system 400 may be differently colored. Thus, in a fence built between two adjacent properties, one property owner may enjoy one color fence while his neighbor may enjoy another color fence. To clarify, every slat in fence slat locking system 400 may be a different color. It is not required that every slat on one side of the fence maintain a particular color. This ability to customize the aesthetic design of the fence is desirable because different adjacent property owners may have different aesthetic tastes that are more easily satisfied by fence locking system 400 than conventional fences.
Both bottom horizontal cross member 525 and top horizontal cross member 520 may be constructed using polyvinyl chloride plastic and include a channel or groove of appropriate dimension to receive a top or bottom of the plurality of fence slats 515 such that at least a portion of each fence slat in the plurality of fence slats 515 are disposed within the channel or groove of bottom horizontal cross member 525 and top horizontal cross member 520. In practice, bottom horizontal cross member 525 may be installed between first fence post 505 and second fence post 510 before the plurality of fence slats 515 are inserted into the channel or groove of bottom horizontal cross member 525. Each of the plurality of fence slats 515 may be installed and interlocked described using the techniques described herein. Once the plurality of fence slats 515 are installed in an interlocking fashion, top horizontal cross member 520 may be installed by inserting the plurality of fence slats 515 into the channel or groove of top horizontal cross member 520 while simultaneously inserting top horizontal cross member 520 into an aperture of first fence post 505 or second fence post 510. Top horizontal cross member 520 may then be slid across the top of the plurality of fence slats 515 into a corresponding aperture of first fence post 505 or second fence post 510. Fence 500 may therefore be completed.
The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the invention to the precise forms or embodiments disclosed. Modifications and adaptations will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed embodiments. For example, components described herein may be removed and other components added without departing from the scope or spirit of the embodiments disclosed herein or the appended claims.
Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
