Patent Grant
9689177
The present invention relates generally to rackable fencing and, more particularly, to rackable fencing comprising components that have been optimized for shipping unassembled from a manufacturing location to an assembly location.
Good fences make good neighbors. Better fences, however, should achieve more.
The terrain across which a fence may be desired often is not level but rather is inclined. Accounting for such topography may require expensive and time consuming custom fence fabrication on-site. It is more desirable, however, for fencing for such a project to be purchased pre-assembled, yet adaptable for adjustment to match inclined terrain, as pre-assembly would simplify installation and would reduce costs as a result of economies of scale. Even more desirably, such pre-assembled fencing might be adjustable to match a range of inclines, as a range of inclines may be encountered even upon a single fencing installation and certainly between several fencing sites.
Modularity of pre-assembled fencing panels is also desirable. Inasmuch as plans may be altered during installation of fencing, or additional fencing may be discovered to be desirable after installation of an initial run, or later replacement may be desired of a section of fencing damaged after installation, modularity of design would allow easy and aesthetically matching and consistent final results.
The modern economy is described as “global” and in such a context it would be desirable to provide a fence design with components that may be manufactured at a first location, better suited for manufacturing, and shipped unassembled to a second location, better suited for assembly, at which second location the components should be of a design that they are easily connected into finished fencing panels for sale thereafter to end users or for distribution to retailers. In such a context, recognizing the need to minimize the shipping costs, it would be desirable for a fencing design to comprise a minimal number of components that had been optimized so as to be most densely packed into shipping containers. Ideally, those same components should at the same time be of a design allowing efficient connectivity at the assembly location, preferably requiring use only of simple and inexpensive tools, and, once assembled, complement the structural function of each other.
For fencing that is to be manufactured at a first location and shipped unassembled to a second location for assembly, it would be desirable for the components to be designed such that they could be fully painted, coated, or otherwise surface-treated at the manufacturing site yet later assembled at a possibly distant assembly site without damage to the finished surface from transport or from assembly. As to shipping, such fencing components should have no exposed and/or delicate features that would be susceptible to damage in transit, which is inefficient and costly to repair distant from a manufacturing location. Once delivered to the assembly location for assembly, such fencing should comprise a minimal number of different components, for simplification of assembly. And, ideally, only simple, inexpensive tools would be required for such assembly. Once assembled and ready for sale to end users, connectors and structural details ought to be concealed from view, for aesthetic appeal.
Finally, for fencing designed to be manufactured at a first location and shipped unassembled for assembly at a second location into finished fencing product, it would be desirable for the design of the fencing components and the finished assembly to be such that the finished assembly is sturdy, structurally sound, tight, and without loose parts.
The fencing products previously known do not ideally address the foregoing objectives.
A rackable fencing comprising components that have been optimized for pre-assembly shipping is disclosed. As revealed in the following description and the appended figures, this invention discovers a clever and efficient design that achieves the described objectives and more.
In accordance with certain aspects of certain embodiments of the present technology, a rackable fence is provided that comprises a rail, a picket carrier, and a plurality of pickets. The rail may define a rigid inverted U-shaped cross-section and a longitudinal axis. The picket carrier may include a top span that resides within and extends across the inverted U-shaped cross-section. Each of the pickets may be pivotally attached to the picket carrier and pivotable toward the rail.
First and second shoulders may be disposed within the bottom of the inverted U-shaped cross-section and located opposite one another. The picket carrier may reside above the first and second shoulders. In certain embodiments, each pivotal attachment of each picket to a picket carrier may be at a screw, a bolt, a pin, a rivet, or a spring-loaded keeper.
The picket carriers may be metal, extruded plastic, or injection molded plastic.
In certain embodiments, the inverted U-shaped cross-section may be symmetrical.
In some configurations, the rail, the first shoulder, and the second shoulder may be integral.
In accordance with yet additional aspects of other embodiments of the present technology, a rackable fence is provided that may include a first and second rail, a first and second picket carrier, and a plurality of pickets. The first and second rail may each have a header, a first wall extending downwardly from one side of the header, and a second wall extending downwardly from the other side of the header. The header, first wall, and second wall may be rigid one-to-another. The first wall may carry a first shoulder that is disposed toward the second wall and the second wall may carry a second shoulder that is disposed toward the first wall, with both the first and second shoulders disposed opposite the header. The first and second picket carriers may each include a plurality of apertures defined top-to-bottom through each such carrier, with a span across the top of each carrier between such apertures. The first and second picket carriers may be carried upon and above the first and second shoulders that may be, in turn, carried by the first and second walls, respectively. Each picket may be attached to the first and second picket carriers at the apertures and configured to be pivotable toward the first rail.
In certain embodiments, the header, and the first and second shoulders may be integral. In particular configurations, the header, first and second walls, and first and second shoulders may be roll formed and, in some instances, roll formed from a single width of material.
The first and second shoulders may define between them a first width and the first and second picket carriers may each define a cross-sectional width, such cross-sectional width being greater than the defined first width. In particular configurations of the present technology, the first and second rails may define a first symmetrical cross-section. In some aspects, the first and second picket carriers may each define a second symmetrical cross-section.
In accordance with aspects of other embodiments of the present technology, a rackable fence may be provided with a first and second rail, first and second picket carriers, and a plurality of pickets. The first and second rails may each define a length and have a header, a first wall that depends downwardly from the header, and a second wall that depends downwardly from the first header and that is opposite the first wall. The header may be disposed above the first and second walls and, together with the first wall and second wall, define a channel between them. The first and second picket carriers may each be in contact with a first and second wall of a respective rail. Further, each such picket carrier may define a cross-section, the cross-section being open downwardly. Each such picket carrier may carry a plurality of pivots, the pivots being disposed normal to the length defined by the rails at the location of each such pivot. The first and second picket carriers and the pivots may reside within a channel of one of the rails. Each of the pickets may be attached to the first and the second picket carriers by the pivots. The first rail may be movable along its length relative to the second rail.
In accordance some embodiments of the present technology, the header, the first wall, and the second wall may be rigid relative to each other. In particular configurations, the first wall may carry a first shoulder that is opposite the header and the second wall may carry a second shoulder that is opposite the header, with the first picket carrier being carried by the first and second shoulders.
In accordance with yet still further aspects of other embodiments of the present technology, the first and second picket carriers may each include a top span, a first and second profile that both extend downwardly from the top span, a first flange extending outwardly from the first profile, and a second flange extending outwardly from the second profile. In some arrangements, the first flange may be carried upon the first shoulder of the first wall of a rail and the second flange may be carried upon the second shoulder of the second wall.
In accordance with yet still further aspects of other embodiments of the present technology, the top span, first profile, second profile, first flange, and second flange may be integral.
In certain embodiments, the first and second picket carriers may each define symmetrical cross-sections. Also, the header, the first wall, and the second wall may be integral.
So configured, a fence is disclosed with components that may be manufactured at a first location and shipped unassembled to a second location for assembling. A minimal number of different components are required. The components may be fully painted, coated, or otherwise surface-treated at the manufacturing site yet later assembled at a second site without damage to the finished surface from transport or from assembly, as they have no exposed or delicate features that are susceptible to damage in transit. The components may be densely packed into shipping containers, yet thereafter easily connected into finished fencing panels with efficient connectivity requiring use only of simple and inexpensive tools. Once assembled and ready for sale to end users, the fence's components complement the structural function of each other and the finished assembly is sturdy, structurally sound, tight, and without loose parts, and connectors and structural details are concealed from view.
The foregoing description sets forth broadly certain features of the present technology so that the detailed description herein below may be better understood and so that the present contributions to the art from this invention may be better appreciated. Additional features of the invention may be described below.
Additional objects and advantages of the present subject matter are set forth in, or will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from, the detailed description herein. Also, it should be further appreciated that modifications and variations to the specifically illustrated and/or discussed features and elements of this technology may be practiced in various embodiments and uses of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter. Variations may include, but are not limited to, substitution of equivalent means, features, or steps for those illustrated, referenced, or discussed, and the functional, operational, or positional reversal of various parts, features, steps, and the like. Still further, it is to be understood that different embodiments, as well as different presently preferred embodiments, of the present subject matter may include various combinations or configurations of the presently disclosed features, steps, or elements, or their equivalents (including combinations of features, parts, or steps or configurations thereof not expressly shown in the figures or stated in the detailed description of such figures). Additional embodiments of the present subject matter, not necessarily expressed in the summarized section, may include and incorporate various combinations of aspects of features, components, or steps referenced in the summarized objects above, and/or other features, components, or steps as otherwise discussed in this application. Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such embodiments, and others, upon review of the remainder of this specification.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and its functionality, can be understood with reference to the accompanying figures. It should be noted that these figures are not necessarily to scale in all instances.
Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the figures. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the technology and is not meant to be a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used with a different embodiment to yield yet still another embodiment. It is intended that the present application includes such modifications and variations as come within the scope and spirit of the invention. Selected combinations or aspects of the disclosed technology correspond to a plurality of different embodiments of the present invention. Certain features may be interchanged with similar devices or different features not expressly mentioned that perform the same or similar functions.
As used herein, the singular forms of “a,” “and,” and “the,” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The present invention of a rackable fencing of components optimized for pre-assembly shipping includes a fence generally 20. The fence 20 may comprise a first rail 30 and a second rail 40, picket carriers 60a,b, and pickets 50a,b.
Each rail 30, 40 may define a length. Furthermore, first rail 30 and second rail 40 may have identical cross-sections and be otherwise identical except second rail 40 may have apertures disposed along its first header 31 and configured for receipt therethrough of pickets, such as pickets 50a,b.
A rail, such as first rail 30, may be configured with a first wall 32 extending downwardly from a first side of a first header 31, and a second wall 33 extending downwardly from a second side of first header 31, with second wall 33 disposed opposite first wall 32. In certain embodiments, a rail such as first rail 30 may define an inverted U-shaped cross-section. In particular embodiments, the cross-section of a rail, such as first rail 30, may be symmetrical. The cross-section of a rail, such as first rail 30, may define a channel within its inverted U-shaped cross-section. In certain particular respects, the cross-sectional configuration of a rail, such as first rail 30, may be rigid.
First shoulder 36 and second shoulder 37 may be disposed upon a rail, such as first rail 30 or second rail 40. First shoulder 36 and second shoulder 37 may reside at the bottom of the inverted U-shaped cross-section of a rail, such as first rail 30 or second rail 40, opposite one another and disposed toward one another. First shoulder 36, and second shoulder 37 may be integral with first wall 32 and second wall 33, respectively. In certain embodiments, first header 31, first wall 32, second wall 33, first shoulder 36 and second shoulder 37 may all be integral one-with-another. Particularly, for certain applications, a first rail 30 may be roll formed to include a first header 31, a first wall 32, a second wall 33, a first shoulder 36, and a second shoulder 37.
As will be further appreciated from other aspects of the disclosure herein, first rail 30 is movable along its length relative to second rail 40, as depicted, for example, in
One or more picket carriers 60 are also provided with fence 20. Picket carrier 60 may be metal, extruded plastic, injection molded plastic, or other suitable structural material.
A picket carrier 60 may be disposed and reside within the channel formed by a rail 30, 40. In certain embodiments, a picket carrier 60 may reside above shoulders 36, 37 that are disposed within a rail 30. In particular embodiments, a picket carrier 60 may be carried upon first shoulder 36 and second shoulder 37.
In cross-section, picket carrier 60 may include a top span 61, a first profile 62, and a second profile 63. In particular configurations, first flange 64 and second flange 65 may extend from first profile 62 and second profile 63, respectively. In cross-section, picket carrier 60 may be open downwardly. Top-to-bottom apertures 66a,b may be defined within picket carrier 60, with span 61 residing across the top of picket carrier 60 between the apertures 66a,b.
Picket carrier 60 may be rigid in some configurations. In particular embodiments, top span 61, first profile 62, and second profile 63 may be rigid. In certain configurations, they may be integral. Still further, they may be symmetrical. In other embodiments, top span 61, first profile 62, second profile 63, first flange 64, and second flange 65 may be rigid; for particular applications they may be integral, and in other configurations they may be both rigid and integral. Still further, in any such configuration, they may be symmetrical.
Picket carrier 60 may be carried upon first shoulder 36 and second shoulder 37. In a particular embodiment, first flange 64 may reside upon and be carried by first shoulder 36 and second flange 65 may reside upon and be carried by second shoulder 37. In such a configuration, picket carrier 60 will be in contact with first wall 32 and second wall 33 of a rail 30, such as, for example, depicted in
Picket carrier 60 may define a cross-sectional width that is greater than the width between first and second shoulders 36, 37 of a rail 30, as depicted for example in
Pickets 50a,b may be attached to the picket carrier 60 at apertures 66a,b, respectively. Such attachment may be by way of pivots 80. Pivots 80 may be disposed normal to the length of the rail 30.
A plurality of pickets 50, such as pickets 50a,b, are provided with fence 20. A picket 50 may include a first end 51 and a second end 52. In certain embodiments, first end 51 may include a notch 54. Notch 54 may comprise a slot 55 and a receiver 56, adapted for receipt through slot 55 and into receiver 56 of a pivot 80.
Pivot 80 may be provided by a screw, bolt, rivet, or pin. In a particular embodiment, pivot 80 may be provided by a spring-loaded keeper 84.
With such a configuration, a picket 50 may be attached to a picket carrier 60, such that it is pivotable toward a rail 30, as illustrated, for example, in
It will be appreciated that the same configuration of picket carrier 60 as illustrated with first rail 30 in
The embodiment depicted in
In the embodiment shown in
It will be further observed in
In
Finally,
As illustrated particularly in
The rackable fence 20, so configured, provides a clever and efficient design that achieves multiple fencing objectives. Its components, a minimal number of which are required, may be manufactured at a first location and shipped unassembled to a second location for assembly. The components may be painted, coated, or otherwise surface-treated at the manufacturing site yet later assembled at a second site without damage to finished surfaces from transport or from assembly, as they have no exposed or delicate features susceptible to damage in transit. The components may be densely packed into shipping containers, yet thereafter easily connected into finished fencing panels with efficient connectivity requiring the use only of simple and inexpensive tools. Once assembled and ready for sale to end users, the components complement the structural function of each other and the fence is sturdy, structurally sound, tight, and without loose parts, and connectors and structural details are concealed from view.
As disclosed herein, the present invention provides a rackable fence comprising components that have been optimized for shipping unassembled from a manufacturing location to a second, assembly location. While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that various embodiments may be interchanged, both in whole or in part. Furthermore, those with skill in this technology will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended to be a limitation of the invention as further described in the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/351,927, filed on Jan. 17, 2012, which is currently pending, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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