FENCING SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF ASSEMBLY THEREOF

Abstract

A fencing system and a method of assembly thereof are provided. The fencing system comprises a first post and a panel. The first post comprises a first end, a second end, and an elongated body extending from the first end to the second end. A first groove is defined in a first side of the elongated body. The panel is configured to be mechanically coupled to the first post. The panel comprises a first side, a second side, and a planer body. The first side comprises a first protrusion configured to engage the first groove. The second side comprises a second protrusion configured to engage a second groove of a second post. The planar body extends from the first side to the second side.

Description

FIELD OF USE

The present disclosure relates to a fencing system and a method of assembly thereof.

BACKGROUND

Fences can be used for decorative or utility purposes. Installing and manufacturing fences can present challenges.

SUMMARY

In one aspect according to the present disclosure, a fencing system comprising a first post and a panel is provided. The first post comprises a first end, a second end, and an elongated body extending from the first end to the second end. A first groove is defined in a first side of the elongated body. The panel is configured to be mechanically coupled to the first post. The panel comprises a first side, a second side, and a planer body. The first side comprises a first protrusion configured to engage the first groove. The second side comprises a second protrusion configured to engage a second groove of a second post. The planar body extends from the first side to the second side.

In another aspect according to the present disclosure, a method for assembly of the fencing system is provided. The method comprises engaging the first protrusion of the panel with the first groove of the first post, thereby mechanically coupling the panel to the first post.

It will be understood that the inventions disclosed and described in this specification are not limited to the aspects summarized in this Summary. The reader will appreciate the foregoing details, as well as others, upon considering the following detailed description of various non-limiting and non-exhaustive aspects according to this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the examples, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent, and the examples will be better understood, by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example fencing system according to the present disclosure, which comprises two posts;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the fencing system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the fencing system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of a portion of an example fencing system according to the present disclosure that comprises a gasket;

FIG. 6 is an example gasket for a fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIGS. 7A-7N are front views of various examples of panels for a fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIGS. 8A-8P are various examples of assembled fencing systems according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 9A is a top view of an example of a post for a fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 9B is a front view of the post of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10A is a top view of an example of a post for a fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 10B is a front view of the post of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11A is a top view of an example of a post for a fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 11B is a front view of the post of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 12A is a top view of an example of a post for a fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 12B is a front view of the post of FIG. 12A;

FIG. 13A is a top view of an example of a post for a fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 13B is a front view of the post of FIG. 13A;

FIG. 14A is a top view of an example of a post for a fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 14B is a front view of the post of FIG. 14A;

FIG. 15A is a top view of an example of a post for a fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 15B is a front view of the post of FIG. 15A;

FIG. 16A is a top view of an example of a post for a fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 16B is a front view of the post of FIG. 16A;

FIG. 17A is a top view of an example of a post for a fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 17B is a front view of the post of FIG. 17A;

FIG. 18A is a top view of an example of a post for a fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 18B is a front view of the post of FIG. 18A;

FIG. 19A is a top view of an example of a post for a fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 19B is a front view of the post of FIG. 19A;

FIG. 20A is a front view an example of a panel for a fencing system according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 20B is a detailed side view of area 20B in FIG. 20A; and

FIG. 20C is a detailed side view of area 20C in FIG. 20A

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate certain non-limiting embodiments, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the appended claims in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS

Conventional fencing systems can present installation challenges. The present disclosure providing a fencing system that can be quicker to install, easier to install and/or require less tools to install.

For example, referring to FIG. 1, a fencing system 100 is provided. The fencing system comprises a first post 102, and a panel 112. The first post 102 comprises a first end 104, a second end 106, and an elongated body 108 extending from the first end 104 to the second end 106. A longitudinal axis, a₁, is defined between the first end 104 and the second end 106.

The first post 102 can be configured to attach to a single panel or at least two panels. For example, the first post 102 can comprise a single groove as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, 9A-9B, 14A-14B, and 17A-18B, or the first post 102 can have multiple grooves as illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10B, 11A-11B, 12A-12B, 13A-13B, 15A-15B, 16A-16B, 18A-18B, and 19A-19B. Each groove can be configured to receive at least a portion of a panel. The first post 102 can comprise at least two grooves, such as, for example, at least three grooves, at least four grooves, at least five grooves, at least six grooves, at least seven groves, or at least eight grooves. The location of the groove and the number of grooves can be determined based on the desired configuration of the first post 102. For example, the first post 102 can be an end post, a middle post, a corner post, or a combination thereof. In examples where the first post 102 is an end post, the groove or grooves may be present on a single side of the first post 102. In examples where the first post 102 is a middle post, the groove or grooves may be present on at least two opposing sides of the first post 102, such that the first post 102 can attach to two panels and be positioned intermediate the two panels. In examples where the first post 102 is a corner post, the groove or grooves may be present on at least two perpendicular sides of the first post 102, such that the first post 102 can attach to two panels that are positioned substantially perpendicular to one another.

For example, referring to FIG. 1, the first post 102 can comprise four grooves 110, 120, 122, and 124, which are all distinct grooves. The first post 102 is illustrated as a corner post. The grooves 110 and 120 can be defined in a first side 102d of the elongated body 108. The grooves 122 and 124 can be defined in a third side 102f of the elongated body 104. The groove 110 and the groove 120 are defined along different portions of the longitudinal axis, a₁. The groove 122 and the groove 124 are defined along different portions of the longitudinal axis, a₁. The groove 110 and the groove 122 can be substantially parallel to each other and the groove 120 and the groove 124 can be substantially parallel to each other.

The grooves 110, 120, 122, and 124 can be the same type or different. For purposes of clarity, the grooves 110, 120, 122, and 124 will be discussed in terms of groove 110 herein, but it is understand each of grooves 120, 122, and/or 124 can be configured substantially the same as groove 110.

The groove 110 can extend along the first side 102d of the elongated body 104 and does not extend to the first end 104 of the first post 102 and the second end 106 of the first post 102 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, 14A-14B, 15A-15B, 16A-16B, 17A-17B, 18A-18B, and 19A-19B. In certain examples, the groove 110 can extend from the first end 104 at least partially through the first side 102d of the elongated body 104 towards the second end 106 of the first post 102 as illustrated in FIGS. 9A-9B, 10A-10B, and 11A-11B. In various examples, the groove 110 can extend along the first side 102d of the elongate body 104 from the first end 104 to the second end 106 as illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10B. The groove 110 can extend from the first side 102d of the elongated body 104 to a second side 102e of the elongated body 104 opposite the first side 102d as illustrated in FIGS. 15A-15B, 17A-17B, and 18A-18B.

The first post 102 can comprise various cross-sectional shapes when cut along a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, a₁, such as, for example, circular (e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13B), triangular (not shown), rectangular (e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, 9A-9B, 11A-11B, 12A-13B, 14A-14B, 15A-15B, 16A-16B, and 17A-17B), or other shape (e.g., an H-shape as illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10B, a C-shape as illustrated in FIGS. 18A-18B, an L-shape as illustrated in FIGS. 19A-19B). The first post 102 can be solid (e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 9A-9B, 10A-10B, 16A-16B, 17A-17B, 18A-18B, and 19A-19B) or the first post 102 can be tubular (e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, 11A-11B, 12A-12B, 13A-13B, 14A-14B, and 15A-15B).

The first post 102 can be mounted in various manners. For example, the first post 102 can engage a soft surface (e.g., penetrate into dirt) and/or the first post 102 can be configured to mount to a solid surface (e.g., concrete, decking) through use of a mechanical fastener. In various examples, the first post 102 may be freestanding.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the panel 112 comprises a first side 112a, a second side 112b, and a planar body 118 extending from the first side 112a to the second side 112b. The panel 112 can be configured to engage a single post or at least two post. For example, the first side 112a of the panel 112 can comprise a protrusion 126 configured to engage the groove 110 such that the panel 112 can be mechanically coupled to the first post 112 and the second side 112b of the panel 112 can comprise a protrusion 126 configured to engage a second groove of a second post (e.g., second groove 210 of second post 202 in FIG. 2). The panel 112 can be various shapes, such as, for example, a rectangle, a square, a rhombus, a trapezoid, a parallelogram, a kite, or a combination thereof.

The planar body 118 can be substantially flat and smooth. In various examples, such as, for example, FIG. 20A-C, the planar body 118 may comprise ribs 150a or ribs 150b.

Referring yet again to FIG. 1, the groove 110 can receive the protrusion 126 and the panel 112 can be mechanically coupled to the first post 102 by a friction fit without fasteners, with fasteners, or with a friction fit and fasteners. In various examples, the panel 112 can be configured to be mechanically coupled to the first post 102 by a friction fit between the protrusion 126 and the groove 110.

Referring to FIG. 5, the fencing system 100 can optionally comprise a gasket 114 configured to engage the groove 110 and the protrusion 126. The panel 112 can be configured to be coupled to the first post 102 by a friction fit between the protrusion 126, the gasket 114, and the groove 110.

In certain examples, the fencing system 100 can comprise an adhesive. For example, the panel 112 can be adhesively coupled to the first post 102 by positioning the adhesive intermediate the protrusion 126 and the groove 110 and engaging the protrusion 126 with the groove 110.

The panel 112 can be configured in various manners with varying protrusions, cuts, and shapes as desired. The number of the protrusions and shapes of the protrusions can be selected based on the configuration of the first post 102 and/or desired aesthetics of the fencing system. For example, various configurations of the panel 112 are illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7N. In various examples, referring to FIGS. 7A-7C, the protrusion 126 can extend from a third side 112c of the panel 112 to a fourth side 112d of the panel 112.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the panel 112 comprises four protrusions, 126, 128, 130, and 132, which are all distinct protrusions. The first side 112a of the panel 112 can comprise protrusions 126 and 130 and the second side 112b of the panel 112 can comprise protrusions 128 and 132. A gap can be defined intermediate the protrusions 126 and 130 and a gap can be defined intermediate the protrusions 128 and 132. Each protrusion 126, 128, 130, and 132 can be configured to engage a respective groove.

Referring to FIGS. 7B, 7C, 7I, and 7J, the panel 112 can optionally comprise stakes 134 extending from the fourth side 112d of the panel 112. The stakes 134 can be configured to engage a soft surface (e.g., penetrate into dirt) and/or the stakes 134 can be configured to mount to a solid surface (e.g., concrete, decking). In various examples, the stakes 134 may not be present and the panel 112 can engage the soft surface.

The fencing system 100 can be configured in various formations as desired. As illustrated in FIG. 1, there is one post and one panel. The fencing system 100 can comprise at least two panels, at least three panels, at least four panels, or at least five panels. The fencing system 100 can comprise at least two posts, at least three posts, at least four posts, or at least five posts. The number and types of posts and panels in the fencing system 100 can be selected based on the desired size and configured of the fencing system.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a fencing system 200 is provided that comprises two posts, first post 102 and a second post 202 comprising a first end 204, a second end 206, and an elongated body 208 extending from the first end 204 to the second end 206. The second post 202 can comprise four grooves 210, 220, 222, and 224, which are all distinct grooves. The second post 202 is illustrated as a middle post. The grooves 210 and 220 can be defined in a first side 202d of the elongated body 208. The grooves 222 and 224 can be defined in a second side 202e of the elongated body 104. The grooves 210, 220, 222, and 224 can be configured substantially the same as groove 110.

In various non-limiting embodiments, the fencing system 100 can comprise various materials, such as, for example, a metal, a metal alloy, a polymer, and/or a composite material. In various examples, the metal or metal alloy can comprise at least one of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, iron, and an iron alloy (e.g., steel, stainless steel). The composite material can comprise, for example, fiberglass, wood and plastic composite, and/or a carbon fiber composite material. The polymer can comprise polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The fencing system 100 can be manufactured by various processes, such as, for example, at least one of machining, casting, molding, and additive manufacturing.

The present disclosure provides a method of assembly of the fencing system 100. Referring to FIG. 2, the protrusions 126 and 130 of the panel 112 can be engaged with the grooves 110 and 120 of the first post 102, respectively, thereby mechanically coupling the panel 112 to the first post 102. The protrusions 128 and 132 of the panel 112 can be engaged with the grooves 210 and 220 of the second post 202, respectively, thereby mechanically coupling the panel 112 to the second post 202. The coupling procedures may be repeated based on the number of posts and panels in the fencing system.

Various aspects of the invention include, but are not limited to, the aspects listed in the following numbered clauses.

Clause 1. A fencing system comprising: a first post comprising: a first end; a second end; and an elongated body extending from the first end to the second end, wherein a first groove is defined in a first side of the elongated body; and a panel configured to be mechanically coupled to the first post, the panel comprising: a first side comprising a first protrusion configured to engage the first groove; a second side comprising a second protrusion configured to engage a second groove of a second post; and a planar body extending from the first side to the second side.

Clause 2. The fencing system of clause 1, wherein the panel is configured to be mechanically coupled to the first post by a friction fit between the first protrusion and the first groove.

Clause 3. The fencing system of any of clauses 1-2, further comprising a gasket configured to engage the first groove and the first protrusion, and wherein the panel is configured to be coupled to the first post by a friction fit between the first protrusion, the gasket, and the first groove.

Clause 4. The fencing system of any of clauses 1-3, further comprising an adhesive, wherein the panel is configured to be adhesively coupled to the first post by positioning the adhesive intermediate the first protrusion and the first groove and engaging the first protrusion with the first groove.

Clause 5. The fencing system of any of clauses 1-4, wherein the first groove extends from the first end at least partially through the first side of the elongated body towards the second end of the first post.

Clause 6. The fencing system of any of clauses 1-5, wherein the first groove extends from the first end to the second end.

Clause 7. The fencing system of any of clauses 1-3, wherein the first groove extends along the first side of the elongated body and does not extend to the first end of the first post and the second end of the first post.

Clause 8. The fencing system of any of clauses 1-7, wherein the first groove extends from the first side of the elongated body to a second side of the elongated body opposite the first side.

Clause 9. The fencing system of any of clauses 1-8, wherein a second groove is defined in a second side of the elongated body.

Clause 10. The fencing system of any of clauses 1-5 and 7-9, wherein a second groove is defined in the first side of the elongated body, wherein the second groove and the first groove are different.

Clause 11. The fencing system of clause 10, wherein the first groove and the second groove are substantially parallel to each other.

Clause 12. The fencing system of clause 10, wherein a longitudinal axis is defined between the first end and the second end and the first groove and the second groove are defined along different portions of the longitudinal axis.

Clause 13. The fencing system of any of clauses 1-12, wherein the first protrusion extends from a third side of the panel to a fourth side of the panel.

Clause 14. The fencing system of any of clauses 1-12, wherein the first side of the panel further comprises a third protrusion, wherein a gap is defined intermediate the third protrusion and the first protrusion.

Clause 15. The fencing system of any of clauses 1-14, wherein the first post is tubular.

Clause 16. The fencing system of any of clauses 1-15, wherein the first post is solid.

Clause 17. The fencing system of any of clauses 1-16, wherein a longitudinal axis is defined between the first end and the second end, and the first post comprises a cross-sectional shape cut along a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis that is rectangular, circular, C-shaped, L-Shaped, or H-shaped.

Clause 18. The fencing system of any of clauses 1-17, wherein the panel further comprises a stake extending from a third side of the panel.

Clause 19. The fencing system of claim 1 further comprising: the second post comprising: a first end; a second end; and a second elongated body extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the second groove is defined in a first side of the second elongated body.

Clause 20. A method of assembly of the fencing system of any of clauses 1-19, the method comprising: engaging the first protrusion of the panel with the first groove of the first post, thereby mechanically coupling the panel to the first post.

Various examples are described and illustrated herein to provide an overall understanding of the structure, function, and use of the disclosed apparatus and methods. The various examples described and illustrated herein are non-limiting and non-exhaustive. Thus, the invention is not limited by the description of the various non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples disclosed herein. Rather, the invention is defined solely by the claims. The features and characteristics illustrated and/or described in connection with various examples may be combined with the features and characteristics of other examples. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. As such, the claims may be amended to recite any features or characteristics expressly or inherently described in, or otherwise expressly or inherently supported by, the present disclosure. Further, Applicant reserves the right to amend the claims to affirmatively disclaim features or characteristics that may be present in the prior art. The various non-limiting embodiments disclosed and described in the present disclosure can comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the features and characteristics as variously described herein.

Any references herein to “various examples”, “some examples”, “one example”, “an example”, or like phrases mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one example. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various examples,” “in some examples,” “in one example,” “in an example,” or like phrases in the specification do not necessarily refer to the same example. Furthermore, the particular described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more examples. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one example may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features, structures, or characteristics of one or more other examples without limitation. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present examples.

In the present disclosure, unless otherwise indicated, all numerical parameters are to be understood as being prefaced and modified in all instances by the term “about,” in which the numerical parameters possess the inherent variability characteristic of the underlying measurement techniques used to determine the numerical value of the parameter. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter described herein should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

Also, any numerical range recited herein includes all sub-ranges subsumed within the recited range. For example, a range of “1 to 10” includes all sub-ranges between (and including) the recited minimum value of 1 and the recited maximum value of 10, that is, having a minimum value equal to or greater than 1 and a maximum value equal to or less than 10. Any maximum numerical limitation recited in this specification is intended to include all lower numerical limitations subsumed therein, and any minimum numerical limitation recited in the present disclosure is intended to include all higher numerical limitations subsumed therein. Accordingly, Applicant reserves the right to amend the present disclosure, including the claims, to expressly recite any sub-range subsumed within the ranges expressly recited. All such ranges are inherently described in the present disclosure.

The grammatical articles “a,” “an,” and “the,” as used herein, are intended to include “at least one” or “one or more,” unless otherwise indicated, even if “at least one” or “one or more” is expressly used in certain instances. Thus, the foregoing grammatical articles are used herein to refer to one or more than one (i.e., to “at least one”) of the particular identified elements. Further, the use of a singular noun includes the plural, and the use of a plural noun includes the singular, unless the context of the usage requires otherwise.

As used herein, “intermediate” means that the referenced element is disposed between two elements but is not necessarily in contact with those elements. Accordingly, unless stated otherwise herein, an element that is “intermediate” a first element and a second clement may or may not be adjacent to or in contact with the first and/or second elements, and other elements may be disposed between the intermediate clement and the first and/or second elements.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein described fasteners, fastening systems, structures, methods, operations/actions, and objects, and the discussion accompanying them, are used as examples for the sake of conceptual clarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated. Consequently, as used herein, the specific examples/embodiments set forth and the accompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their more general classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended to be representative of its class and the non-inclusion of specific components, devices, apparatus, operations/actions, and objects should not be taken as limiting. While the present disclosure provides descriptions of various specific aspects for the purpose of illustrating various aspects of the present disclosure and/or its potential applications, it is understood that variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention or inventions described herein should be understood to be at least as broad as they are claimed and not as more narrowly defined by particular illustrative aspects provided herein.

Claims

1. A fencing system comprising: a first post comprising: a first end;a second end; andan elongated body extending from the first end to the second end, wherein a first groove is defined in a first side of the elongated body; anda panel configured to be mechanically coupled to the first post, the panel comprising: a first side comprising a first protrusion configured to engage the first groove;a second side comprising a second protrusion configured to engage a second groove of a second post;anda planar body extending from the first side to the second side.

2. The fencing system of claim 1, wherein the panel is configured to be mechanically coupled to the first post by a friction fit between the first protrusion and the first groove.

3. The fencing system of claim 1, further comprising a gasket configured to engage the first groove and the first protrusion, and wherein the panel is configured to be coupled to the first post by a friction fit between the first protrusion, the gasket, and the first groove.

4. The fencing system of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive, wherein the panel is configured to be adhesively coupled to the first post by positioning the adhesive intermediate the first protrusion and the first groove and engaging the first protrusion with the first groove.

5. The fencing system of claim 1, wherein the first groove extends from the first end at least partially through the first side of the elongated body towards the second end of the first post.

6. The fencing system of claim 1, wherein the first groove extends from the first end to the second end.

7. The fencing system of claim 1, wherein the first groove extends along the first side of the elongated body and does not extend to the first end of the first post and the second end of the first post.

8. The fencing system of claim 1, wherein the first groove extends from the first side of the elongated body to a second side of the elongated body opposite the first side.

9. The fencing system of claim 1, wherein a second groove is defined in a second side of the elongated body.

10. The fencing system of claim 1, wherein a second groove is defined in the first side of the elongated body, wherein the second groove and the first groove are different.

11. The fencing system of claim 10, wherein the first groove and the second groove are substantially parallel to each other.

12. The fencing system of claim 10, wherein a longitudinal axis is defined between the first end and the second end and the first groove and the second groove are defined along different portions of the longitudinal axis.

13. The fencing system of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion extends from a third side of the panel to a fourth side of the panel.

14. The fencing system of claim 1, wherein the first side of the panel further comprises a third protrusion, wherein a gap is defined intermediate the third protrusion and the first protrusion.

15. The fencing system of claim 1, wherein the first post is tubular.

16. The fencing system of claim 1, wherein the first post is solid.

17. The fencing system of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis is defined between the first end and the second end, and the first post comprises a cross-sectional shape cut along a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis that is rectangular, circular, C-shaped, L-Shaped, or H-shaped.

18. The fencing system of claim 1, wherein the panel further comprises a stake extending from a third side of the panel.

19. The fencing system of claim 1 further comprising: the second post comprising: a first end;a second end; anda second elongated body extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the second groove is defined in a first side of the second elongated body.

20. A method of assembly of the fencing system of claim 1, the method comprising: engaging the first protrusion of the panel with the first groove of the first post, thereby mechanically coupling the panel to the first post.