Patent Application
20120080574
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for constructing a fence stringer, deck rail or the like and especially to a method and apparatus in which one person can align a stringer between posts for a fence or deck during construction of a fence or rail.
It is necessary to attach horizontal stringers or rails to vertical posts which are generally widely spaced apart. These stringers have to be leveled before they are attached to the posts and this generally requires two people to hold the stringer in place while the stringer is being leveled. The stringer can be attached to the post with an attaching bracket or by nailing each end of the stringer to the post. Normally, one person holds one end of a stringer in position on one post while a second person holds the other end of the stringer. A bubble level is used to level the stringer between the posts. The stringer is moved by hand until level at which time each end of the stringer can be attached to their respective posts. This requires two people and makes it inconvenient and difficult for a single person to build a fence or railing without the help of a second person.
The present invention is directed towards a method and apparatus for one person to attach and level a stringer or rail between a pair of posts in the building of a fence, deck or the like.
In the past, it has been common to provide brackets for attaching stringers or rails between upright posts. Generally, this involves attaching a metal bracket to a fence or deck post and then attaching each end of a stringer to the bracket. These brackets are generally attached to the post with screws or nails and the end of a fence stringer placed therein and attached thereto with a nail or threaded fastener. This type of stringer-to-post bracket can be seen in the DeSouza U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,214 for a Rail Fence Bracket and in the Morris U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,950 for a Timber Joining Device. The Spruill U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,751 is for a Rail and Fence Bracket Apparatus while the Preta U.S. Pat. No. 6,802,496 is for a Fence Bracket System and Fence System Using the Fence Bracket System. The Erwin U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,192 shows a Rail-to-Post Mounting Bracket while the Platt U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,224 is for a Fence Rail Clip. The West U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,671 is for a Rail Attachment Bracket with a Snap-on Cover while the Dye U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,866 is for a handrail assembly for the installation of a wooden handrail between two upright supporting posts. The two Platt U.S. Pat. No. 7,125,002 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,855 are each for a fence rail mounting clip for connecting a hollow fence rail to a vertical post.
In the Lewis U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,903 an Apparatus for Temporarily Supporting One End of a Cross Piece during the Construction of a Deck or Fence Rail is disclosed. In this bracket, a C-shaped frame is similar to a C-clamp and has a threaded portion for driving the clamp against one side of the fence post while the other side supports a crosspiece member which is supported on a ledge or which may be clamped to the post. This clamping member is used to enable a person to attached crosspieces to adjacent posts during the construction of deck rails and fences by supporting one end of a rail with the other end being positioned and attached to a spaced post.
The present invention teaches a method for one person to attach a fence stringer or deck rail between a pair of posts and supports the fence stringer between two posts while leveling the stringer. The leveled stringer can then be attached to each post. The present bracket aligns the stringer in the middle of a post rather than merely attaching the stringer to a side of a post. The present bracket allows for the positioning of a conventional stringer-to-post attaching bracket to be held in the present bracket during or after alignment of the fence stringer for attaching the stringer-to-post bracket to a post. After the stringer-to-post bracket is attached to a post, the fence stringer is inserted thereinto and attached to the stringer-to-post bracket.
The present bracket is supported with a compression clamp which allows the bracket to be easily repositioned up and down on the post to level the stringer between the posts before attaching the stringer to the posts.
A bracket for supporting and aligning one end of a stringer between a pair of posts, such as fence or railing post. A stringer alignment bracket has a compression clamp having a pair of clamping arms spaced for removably clamping onto the side of a post. The bracket has a stringer end supporting platform located between the bracket pair of clamping arms and a pair of spaced centering members, which spaced centering members are located above and to each side of the platform for positioning one end of a stringer therebetween. The alignment bracket can be removably attached to a fence or railing post to support one end of the stringer while aligning and attaching the stringer between a pair of posts. The clamping arms have a curved or angled edge for pushing onto and clamping to a fence post.
The method of attaching a stringer between a pair of fence or railing posts includes selecting a bracket for supporting and aligning one end of a stringer on a post and removably clamping the first of the selected alignment brackets to a post and placing one end of a stringer in the selected alignment bracket removably attached to a post. A second alignment bracket is removably clamped to a second fence post and the other end of the stringer placed in the second alignment bracket to thereby support the stringer between two posts. One selected alignment bracket can be moved on one of said posts to position and level a stringer between the posts so that the stringer can be rapidly attached between posts when building a fence or deck. The method includes placing a level on the stringer supported between two posts and leveling the stringer between the posts. Each end of the stringer can then be nailed to a post. Alternatively, a stringer-to-post bracket can be placed in each alignment bracket prior to placing the end of a stringer therein and the stringer then removed while the stringer-to-post bracket is attached to the post. The end of the stringer can then be attached to the stringer-to-post bracket. Each alignment bracket has a pair of angled or curved removable compression clamps for clamping onto a post and each clamping arm has a plurality of crimping striations thereon for gripping the arms. The alignment bracket can be made of a one-piece polymer material.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the written description and the drawings in which:
Referring to
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The stringer alignment bracket 14 advantageously allows a fence to be built by one person using the rapidly attached and removable stringer alignment brackets 14. One person can individually align and level a stringer between posts without having to have a second person hold one end while making markings or adjustments. This allows for an accurate leveling of stringers by the easy movement of the clamping brackets 14 which are easily and quickly attached to posts and then easily repositioned, as desired. Once the stringers are attached, the boards 13 or other siding can be attached to the stringers or the stringers can be attached as rails. It will be clear that the stringer alignment bracket 14 can be used on 4×4 posts 11 as well as 6×6 or any other size posts desired and can be easily injection molded of a one-piece polymer material.
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It should be clear at this time that a bracket for supporting and aligning one end of a fence stringer has been provided which is utilized in a method of attaching stringers between pairs of posts. However, the present invention should not be construed as limited to the forms shown herein which are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
