METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FIXING AND CONSTRUCTING FENCES

Abstract

An overall device is provided for supporting one or more pickets of a fence in alignment at the same height, in a horizontal plane in order to replace a damaged fence picket or in order to assemble a new fence unit. The overall device may be comprised of a first rail; a first device fixed to the first rail at a first location; and a second device fixed to the first rail at a second location spaced apart from the first location. The first device may include means for temporarily attaching the first device to a horizontal rail of a fence. The second device may include means for temporarily attaching the second device to the horizontal rail of the fence while the first device is temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to methods and apparatus concerning fixing and constructing fences, railings, and other assemblies typically involving horizontal and vertical members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various devices and methods known for fixing and constructing fences, railings and other assemblies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In at least one embodiment, an overall device is provided for supporting one or more pickets of a fence in alignment at the same height, in a horizontal plane in order to replace a damaged fence picket or in order to assemble a new fence unit.

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus is provided which may include an overall device which is comprised of a first rail; a first device fixed to the first rail at a first location; and a second device fixed to the first rail at a second location spaced apart from the first location.

The first device may include means for temporarily attaching the first device to a horizontal rail of a fence. The second device may include means for temporarily attaching the second device to the horizontal rail of the fence while the first device is temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence.

The means for temporarily attaching the first device to the horizontal rail of the fence and the means for temporarily attaching the second device to the horizontal rail of the fence while the first device is temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence, together may cause the first rail to be temporarily suspended from the horizontal rail of the fence.

The means for temporarily attaching the first device to the horizontal rail of the fence and the means for temporarily attaching the second device to the horizontal rail of the fence while the first device is temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence, together may cause the first rail to be temporarily suspended from the horizontal rail of the fence, substantially parallel to the horizontal rail of the fence.

The apparatus may include the fence.

The first device may be comprised of a U-shaped member which is configured to be temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence; and the second device may be comprised of a U-shaped member which is configured to be temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence, while the U-shaped member of the first device is temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence.

The first device may include a first bolt which is inserted through a first plate fixed to the rail of the overall device and through a second plate fixed to the U-shaped member of the first device; and the second device may include a second bolt which is inserted through a third plate fixed to the rail of the overall device and through a fourth plate fixed to the U-shaped member of the first device. There may be a first distance between the first plate and the second plate which can be adjusted by moving the second plate along the first bolt; and there may be a second distance between the third plate and the fourth plate which can be adjusted by moving the fourth plate along the second bolt.

The first device may include first and second nuts through which the first bolt is inserted and the second plate may be between the first and second nuts and the first and second nuts may be configured to set the first distance of the second plate from the first plate. The second device may include third and fourth nuts through which the second bolt is inserted and wherein the fourth plate is between the third and fourth nuts and the third and fourth nuts may be configured to set the second distance of the fourth plate from the third plate.

In at least one embodiment, a method is provided comprising attaching an overall device to a horizontal rail of a fence, wherein the overall device may be configured as previously specified.

In at least one embodiment, in a repair operation, the method may further include aligning the first rail of the overall device with first ends of a plurality of pickets of the fence; thereafter removing a damaged picket of the plurality of pickets from a location of the fence; thereafter inserting a new picket at the location of the fence in a manner which allows the new picket to rest on the first rail; fixing the new picket to the fence at the location of the fence; and thereafter detaching the overall device from the horizontal rail of the fence.

In at least one embodiment, in an assembly operation, the method may include resting a plurality of pickets on the first rail of the overall device, so that the plurality of pickets are spaced apart and parallel to each other; thereafter, fixing the plurality of pickets to the fence at a plurality of corresponding spaced locations; and thereafter, detaching the overall device from the horizontal rail of the fence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front, top, left perspective view of an apparatus for use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus in a first state;

FIG. 2 shows a front, top, left perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the apparatus in a second state;

FIG. 3 shows a front, top, and left perspective view of a close-up of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a left side view of a device for use with the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 shows a right side view of the device of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front, top, left perspective view of an apparatus 1 for use in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the apparatus 1 in a first state. FIG. 2 shows a front, top, left perspective view of the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, with the apparatus 1 in a second state. FIG. 3 shows a front, top, and left perspective view of a close-up of a portion of the apparatus 1. FIG. 4 shows a left side view of a device 46 for use with the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows a right side view of the device 46 of FIG. 4. The apparatus 1 includes a fence 2, and a device 40. The device 40 may be called an overall device and includes rail 42 and devices 44 and 46. Devices 44 and 46 may be called first and second devices, respectively.

The fence 2 may be, or may be replaced by any type of known fence. The fence 2 may include a plurality of pickets or vertical bars or members, including pickets 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32. The fence 2 may further include a plurality of rails or horizontal bars or members, including rails 34, 36, and 38. The fence 2 may further include a plurality of posts, such as posts 4 and 6.

Each picket, of pickets 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 is shown inserted through one opening in rail 34, one opening in rail 36, and one opening in rail 38 in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, picket 30 is shown inserted in opening 34b, 36b, and 38b in FIGS. 1 and 2; and picket 32 is shown inserted in opening 34a, 36a, and 38a in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, all of the pickets 8-32 are inserted so that an end of each picket contacts and sits on a rail 42 of the device 40. The rail 42, in at least one embodiment, keeps the pickets 8-32 aligned with each other so that all of the pickets 8-32 are at the same height in FIG. 1. While the weight of the pickets 8-32 is supported by the rail 42, the pickets 8-32 can be fixed to the rails 34, 36, and 38, such as by nails, screws, or in any other known manner, such as by locking strips or wire rods such as shown in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 14/505,901 and 14/855,457, both titled “Method and Apparatus for Construction When Vertical and Horizontal Members are Used”, which are both incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Thus the rail 42 of the device 40 maintains the pickets 8-32 in an even and aligned state, while the pickets 8-32 are being attached to rails 34-36.

In FIG. 1, the rails 34, 36, and 38 have first ends which are inserted into openings 6a, 6b, and 6c, respectively, of the post 6. The first ends of the rails 34, 36, and 38 may be fixed to the post 6, such as by nails, screws, or in any known manner. Similarly, or identically, the rails 34, 36, and 38 have second ends, which are opposite the first ends, which are inserted into openings 2a, 2b, and 2c, respectively, of the post 2. The second ends of the rails 34, 36, and 38 may be fixed to the post 2, such as by nails, screws, or in any known manner. The rails 34, 36, and 38 may also be fixed to posts 2 and 6 using brackets not shown.

The device 40 includes devices 44 and 46, in addition to rail 42. The devices 44 and 46 may be similar and/or identical, in at least one embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the device 46 includes member or plates 46a and 46b, nut 46c, bolt 46d, nut 46e, member or plate 46f, member or plate 46g, member or plate 46h, member or plate 46i, and nut 46j. Similarly or identically, the device 44 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes member or plates 44a and 44b, nut 44c, bolt 44d, nut 44e, member or plate 44f, member or plate 44g, member or plate 44h, and member or plate 44i, and a corresponding nut, not shown, similar or identical to nut 46j for the device 44. The nuts 46c, 46e, and 46j may be or may be replaced by wing nuts. The bolt 46d includes a bolt head 47a and a bolt body portion 47b. The bolt body portion 47b, in at least one embodiment has outer threads. Similarly or identically, the bolt 44d includes a bolt head not shown corresponding to bolt head 47a and a bolt body portion, where the bolt 44d is identified in FIG. 1. The bolt body portion of bolt 44d, in at least one embodiment, has outer threads.

The rail 42 may be welded or otherwise fixed to member or plate 46b as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. Similarly, the rail 42 may be welded or otherwise fixed to member or plate 44b as shown in FIG. 1. The members 46g, 46h, and 46i, form a U-shaped member or plate which can be temporarily attached to the rail 38 as shown in FIG. 1. Similarly, the members 44g, 44h, and 44i, form a U-shaped member or plate which can be temporarily attached to the rail 38 as also shown in FIG. 1. With the U-shaped member (including plates 46g-l) and the U-shaped member (including plates 44g-l) attached as in FIG. 1, the rail 42 of the device 40 sits under the rail 38 so that pickets 8-32 contact and rest on the rail 42.

The spacing between the plate or member 46h and the plate or member 42a of rail 42 can be adjusted by adjusting the locations of nuts 46e and 46j. Typically the location of nut 46c will be situated to press against plate 46a to hold the plate 46a tightly against bold head 47a. The nuts 46e and 46j can be rotated on the outer threads of the bolt body portion 47b to adjust the vertical spacing between the plate 46h and the plate 42a, so that the height of the pickets 8-32 can be adjusted.

The spacing between the plate or member 44h and the plate or member 42a of the rail 42 can be adjusted by adjusting the locations of nuts 44e and a nut, not shown, which would be identical to nut 46j, but for device 44. Usually spacing between the plates 46h and 42a will be equal to the spacing between the plates 44h and 42a, so that the rail 42 will be parallel to the rail 38 from which it is suspended.

In operation, a picket, such as picket 22, shown in FIG. 2, may be slid upward in the direction D1. The picket 22 may be thereafter removed, such as when the picket 22 is damaged. The picket 22 may be replaced with another picket, which is not damaged and which may be identical to the other pickets, such as picket 24. The new picket may be slid into the openings 34c, 36c, and 38c, until one end of the new picket rests on the rail 42. The new picket may thereafter be fixed to rails 34, 36, and 38 so that the first end resting on the rail 42 is even with first ends of all of the other pickets of 8-32 (not including removed damaged picket) and so that second ends of all the inserted pickets opposite the first ends, are also even in a straight line.

After all pickets of 8-32 (not including damaged picket 22) and the new picket are attached, the U-shaped member (including 46g, 46h, and 46i) can be taken off of rail 38 and the U-shaped member (including 44g, 44h, and 44i) can be also taken off of rail 38.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the posts 6 and 2 are shown inserted into holes in a ground surface 50. The ground surface 50 may be comprised of dirt, concrete, or some other known material, or some combination thereof.

The pickets 8-32, the rails or railings 34, 36, and 38, and the posts 2 and 6 may be made entirely or partially out of any known fence materials, such as wood, aluminum, or vinyl. The rail 42 of the device 40, the plates 46f, 46g, 46h, 46i, 46b, and 46a, and the plates 44f, 44g, 44h, 44i, 44b, and 44a may be made out of rigid metal such as aluminum or any other rigid material such as a rigid metal or wood material. The bolts 46d and 44d may be made out of rigid metal and the nuts 46e, 46j, and 46c, and corresponding nuts 44e, a nut not shown corresponding to nut 46j but for device 44, and nut 44c, may be made out of a rigid metal.

In at least one embodiment, the overall device 40 is provided for supporting one or more pickets 8-32 of a fence in alignment at the same height, in a horizontal plane, through use of rail or railing 42 in order to replace a damaged fence picket or in order to assemble a new fence unit.

In at least one embodiment, in a repair operation, a method is provided which may include temporarily attaching the overall device 40 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thereafter aligning the first rail 42 of the overall device 40 with first ends of a plurality of pickets 8-32 of the fence; thereafter removing a damaged picket, such as picket 22 shown in FIG. 2 of the plurality of pickets 8-32 from a location of the fence (the fence including posts 4 and 6, and rails 34, 36, and 38); thereafter inserting a new picket, not shown, at the location of the fence, where the old picket 22 was, in a manner which allows the new picket to rest on the first rail 42 of the overall device 40; fixing the new picket, not shown, but similar or identical to any of pickets 8-32, to the fence, such as to rails 34, 36, and 38, at the location of the fence; and thereafter detaching the overall device 40, and devices 44 and 46 from the horizontal rail 38 of the fence.

In at least one embodiment, in an assembly operation, the method may include resting a plurality of pickets, such as 8-32 on the first rail 42 of the overall device 40, so that the plurality of pickets 8-32 are spaced apart and parallel to each other, as in FIG. 1, thereafter, fixing the plurality of pickets, such as 8-32 to the fence, at a plurality of corresponding spaced locations as shown in FIG. 1; and thereafter, detaching the overall device 40, and devices 44 and 46, from the horizontal rail 38 of the fence.

The fence posts 2 and 6 may be any type of fence posts, such as eight foot long, and four inch by four inch cross section (width by depth) fence posts. The rails 34, 36, and 38 may be any type of fence rails, such as eight foot long and two inch by one inch cross section (width by depth) rails. The pickets may be any type of fence pickets, such as five feet long and one inch by one inch cross section (width by depth) pickets.

One or more embodiments of the present invention can be used in any existing fencing, railing or other system, typically involving horizontal and vertical members.

Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: an overall device which is comprised of: a first rail;a first device fixed to the first rail at a first location;a second device fixed to the first rail at a second location spaced apart from the first location;wherein the first device includes means for temporarily attaching the first device to a horizontal rail of a fence;wherein the second device includes means for temporarily attaching the second device to the horizontal rail of the fence while the first device is temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence; andwherein the means for temporarily attaching the first device to the horizontal rail of the fence and the means for temporarily attaching the second device to the horizontal rail of the fence while the first device is temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence, together cause the first rail to be temporarily suspended beneath the horizontal rail of the fence.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for temporarily attaching the first device to the horizontal rail of the fence and the means for temporarily attaching the second device to the horizontal rail of the fence while the first device is temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence, together cause the first rail to be temporarily suspended from the horizontal rail of the fence, substantially parallel to the horizontal rail of the fence.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the fence.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first device is comprised of a U-shaped member which is configured to be temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence;and the second device is comprised of a U-shaped member which is configured to be temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence, while the U-shaped member of the first device is temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first device includes a first bolt which is inserted through a first plate fixed to the rail of the overall device and through a second plate fixed to the U-shaped member of the first device;wherein the second device includes a second bolt which is inserted through a third plate fixed to the rail of the overall device and through a fourth plate fixed to the U-shaped member of the first device;wherein a first distance between the first plate and the second plate can be adjusted by moving the second plate along the first bolt; andwherein a second distance between the third plate and the fourth plate can be adjusted by moving the fourth plate along the second bolt.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first device includes first and second nuts through which the first bolt is inserted and wherein the second plate is between the first and second nuts and the first and second nuts are configured to set the first distance of the second plate from the first plate;and wherein the second device includes third and fourth nuts through which the second bolt is inserted and wherein the fourth plate is between the third and fourth nuts and the third and fourth nuts are configured to set the second distance of the fourth plate from the third plate.

7-14. (canceled)

15. An apparatus for constructing a fence comprising: an alignment rail; anda first device attached to the alignment rail and having a first attachment member disposed a first distance from the alignment rail, the first attachment member defining a channel that opens in a direction toward the alignment rail and is configured to receive a horizontal rail of the fence therein such that when the horizontal rail of the fence is received within the channel, the alignment rail is temporarily suspended beneath the horizontal rail.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a second device attached to the alignment rail at a location offset from the first attachment member along the length of the alignment rail, and wherein the second device includes a second attachment member that is disposed a second distance from the alignment rail and that defines a channel that opens in a direction toward the alignment rail which is configured to receive the horizontal rail of the fence therein.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first and second distances are substantially equal.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the alignment rail defines a planar surface which faces an opening of the first attachment member.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first attachment member is adjustably attached to the alignment rail via an adjustment member extending between the alignment rail and first attachment member.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the adjustment member is a threaded shaft.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first attachment member includes a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion that extends between the first and second portions, and each of the intermediate portion and first and second portions partially define the channel.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first and second portions intersect the intermediate portion so as to extend downwardly therefrom and so that when the horizontal rail of the fence is received within the channel, the intermediate portion rests on a top surface of the horizontal rail and the first and second portions extend along opposite sides of the horizontal rail so as to restrict movement of the first attachment member relative to the horizontal rail.

23. A method of constructing a fence comprising: placing a first attachment member of a first device of a fence construction apparatus onto a horizontal rail of a fence such that the horizontal rail of the fence is received within a channel defined by the first attachment member and such that an alignment rail of the fence construction apparatus which is attached to the first device is suspended beneath the horizontal rail;contacting the alignment rail with a bottom end of a first picket; andattaching the first picket to the horizontal rail of the fence.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising placing a second attachment member of a second device of the fence construction apparatus onto the horizontal rail of a fence such that the horizontal rail of the fence is received within a channel defined by the second attachment member, the second device being attached to the alignment rail offset from the first device.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising passing the bottom end of the first picket through an opening in the horizontal rail of the fence.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising: contacting the alignment rail with a bottom end of a second picket offset from the first picket so that the bottom end of the second picket is aligned with the bottom end of the first picket, andattaching the second picket to the horizontal rail of the fence.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising adjusting a distance between the first attachment member and alignment rail.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein adjusting includes rotating a nut coupled to a threaded shaft attaching the alignment rail and first attachment member.