1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to fencing systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a rail clip assembly for securing a fence rail to a fence post. Specifically, the invention relates to a rail clip assembly that includes an L-shaped connector bracket having an integral detent that engages in a recessed area in the rear wall of the assembly's housing when a first leg of the bracket is received through a slot in the housing's perimeter wall.
2. Background Information
A variety of rail clips have been proposed in the prior art for connecting vinyl fence rails to vinyl fence posts. These clips have typically included a mounting base portion that is secured to the rail and which includes a rail-end shaped receptacle to receive the end of the rail therein. One of the reasons these rail clips have been used is to provide a neat, finished connection between the two components. The clips hide incorrectly cut rail ends, evidence of previous attempts to connect the rail and post together and the apparent elimination of gaps between the connected rail ends and the posts. In order to provide a more aesthetically-pleasing device, it is common for the rail clip to be in the magnitude of one to two inches deep. Rail clips that are deeper than this tend to give the rail a cumbersome appearance.
A second consideration when connecting fence rails to fence posts is the existence of rules and regulations governing building standards, In recent years, building codes have required that the rail clip provided must ensure that the end of the rail cannot pop out of the rail clip when a lateral force is applied to the rail. In other types of rail connectors, the rail clip itself is slidably engaged with a mounting base that is first secured to post. In this type of situation, the rail clip has tended to pop off the mounting base, thereby releasing the rail.
There is therefore a need in the art for a rail clip assembly that will connect a horizontal rail to a vertical post and that will resist the tendency for the rail to pop out of the clip when a lateral force is applied to the rail.
A rail clip assembly for connecting a fence rail to a fence post. The assembly comprises a housing slidably engaged with an L-shaped connector bracket that is securable to the post. The bracket has a first leg with a second leg extending outwardly therefrom, and a detent integral with the first leg and extending outwardly therefrom in the opposite direction to the second leg. The first leg is received through a slot in a perimeter wall of the housing and the detent engages in a recessed area in the housing's rear wall. The second leg abuts an exterior surface of the perimeter wall and a fastener secures the second leg to both the perimeter wall and the rail retained within the housing. The rail clip assembly aids in preventing the rail from disengaging from the housing when a lateral force is applied to the rail.
The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
Referring to
Referring to
Housing 11 of rail clip assembly 10 is designed to be secured to post 14 by two components, namely a mounting base 26 and a L-shaped mounting bracket 28. Base 26 is a substantially planar member having a front surface 26a and a back surface 26b and a peripheral wall 26c. As shown in
Referring to
Rear wall 22 of housing 11 is then placed in abutting contact with outer surface 14a of post 14 and is slid downwardly in the direction of arrow “A” (
Housing 211 is designed to be secured to post 214 by one or more mounting spacers 280 and a L-shaped mounting bracket 228. Mounting spacers 280 are used in the place of base 26 and are washer-like members that are sized to be received within the tapered first recess 234 in housing 211. First recess 234 has a depth “R” (
Rail clip assembly 210 is used in the following manner to secure rail 212 to post 214. Back surface 280a of each mounting spacer 280 is placed into abutting contact with the outer surface 214a of post 214. The first leg 230 of the L-shaped bracket 228 is placed into abutting contact with front surfaces 280b of mounting spacers 280. Fasteners 242 are used to secure both first leg 230 of bracket 228 and mounting spacers 280 to post 214. It will be understood that both the first leg 230 and mounting spacers 280 preferably are provided with appropriate holes, such as central aperture 282 in mounting spacers 280, for receiving fasteners 242 therethrough. This ensures the correct positioning of the components. Alternatively, however, holes may be drilled through first leg 230 and mounting spacers 280 during installation of rail clip assembly 210. When bracket 228 and mounting spacers 280 are secured to post 214, the second leg 232 of bracket 228 extends outwardly away from the exterior wall of post 214 and substantially at right angles thereto.
Rear wall 222 of housing 211 is then placed in abutting contact with outer surface 214a of post 214 and is slid downwardly in the direction of arrow “X” (
Referring to
Rail clip assembly 310 comprises a housing 311, having a top wall 316, a bottom wall 318, side wall 320 and rear wall 322. Top, bottom, and side walls 316, 318, 320 comprise a perimeter wall of the housing 311. The perimeter wall together with the rear wall 322 surrounds and defines an interior chamber 324 configured to receive an end 312a of a fence rail 312 therein. Rail clip assembly 310 is designed to secure rail 312 to fence post 314 in such a manner that lateral forces on the rail 312 will not tend to disengage assembly 310, and therefore rail 312, from post 314.
Referring to
In accordance with the present invention, a unitary, integrally formed L-shaped connector bracket 390 is provided to aid in securing rail clip assembly 310 to both of rail 312 and fence post 314. Connector bracket 390 has a first leg 392 and a second leg 394 that are integrally formed and are disposed substantially at right angles to each other. First leg 392 has a front surface 392a, a rear surface 392b, first and second sides 392c, 392d, a top end 392e and bottom end 392f. Extending outwardly and rearwardly from rear surface 392b, is a detent 396 that is integral with first leg 392 and extends outwardly therefrom in the opposite direction to second leg 394. Detent 396 is complementary in shape and size to first recess 334 in rear wall 322 of housing 311 while first leg 392 is complementary in shape and size to second recess 336 in rear wall 322. Detent 396 preferably is smaller in size than first leg 392 and is disposed intermediate, and preferably equidistant from first and second sides 392c, 392d of first leg 392. Consequently, a portion of the rear surface 392b of first leg 392 extends outwardly for a distance beyond detent 396 in at least one direction. This portion of the rear surface 392b engages the front surface 322a of rear wall 322 when first leg 392 is received through slot 338.
Detent 396 has a side wall 396a and a back surface 396a. Back surface 396a is substantially parallel to rear surface 392b of first leg 392. Detent 396 preferably includes a pair of shoulders 397 on its side wall 396a that are designed to interlockingly engage a complementary pair of shoulders 341 (
At least one, and preferably two apertures 398 are provided through first leg 392 and detent 396 so that the apertures 398 extend from front surface 392a of first leg through to rear surface 396b of detent 396. Apertures 398 are spaced vertically apart from each other. Second leg 394 is also provided with at least one and preferably two apertures 399 therein. Apertures 399 extend between an interior surface 394a and exterior surface 394b of second leg 394 and preferably are spaced horizontally apart from each other.
Connector bracket 390 may be engaged with rail clip assembly 310 in a number of ways. In a first way, connector bracket 390 is first secured to fence post 314 and then rail clip assembly 310 is slidably engaged with connector bracket 390. In this instance, rear surface 396b of detent 396 is placed into abutting contact with the outer surface 314a of post 314. Fasteners 342 are inserted through apertures 398 in first leg 392 of connector bracket 390 and are screwed into post 314. Thus, second leg 394 of connector bracket 390 extends outwardly away from outer surface 314a of fence post 314 and substantially at right angles thereto. Rear wall 322 of housing 311 is then placed in abutting contact with outer surface 314a of post 314 and rail clip assembly 310 is moved downwardly in the direction of arrow “A” (
A second way in which connector bracket 390 and housing 311 can be secured together is by first inserting first leg 392 of connector bracket 390 through slot 338 in bottom wall 318 of housing 311. The connector bracket 390 is then pushed inwardly toward housing 311 until second leg 394 of connector bracket 390 abuts exterior surface 318a of bottom wall 318. At this point, first leg 392 of connector bracket 390 is disposed within cavity 324 of housing 311 with detent 396 engaged in first recess 334. Rear wall 322 of housing 311 is then placed in abutting contact with the outer surface 314a of fence post 314. Fasteners 342 are then inserted through the apertures 398 in first leg 392 and are screwed into fence post 314.
Once housing 311 with connector bracket 390 is secured to fence post 314, the end 312a of rail 312 is then inserted into cavity 324 of housing 311. Rail 312 is pushed inwardly until end 312a abuts a portion of front surface 322a of rear wall 322 and a portion of front surface 392a of first leg 392 of connector bracket 390. Second fasteners 344 are inserted through apertures 399 in second leg 394 of connector bracket 390 and are screwed through bottom wall 318 of housing 311 and into rail 312. This securement substantially prevents rail 312 from being withdrawn from cavity 324. Furthermore, the fasteners 344 also prevent rail 312 from being moved laterally and causing rail 312 and rail clip assembly 310 to be dislodged from connector bracket 390.
An aperture 498 is defined generally through the center of each detent 496 and extends from the front surface 492a of first leg 492 through to the rear surface 496b of detent 496. Detents 496 have a width that is complementary to the width of the opening in the rear wall of the rail clip assembly such that detents 496 frictionally are engaged in the rear wall's recessed area. Second leg 494 of connector 490 defines at least two apertures 499 therein that are designed to receive fasteners therethrough. Connector bracket 490 is used in substantially the same manner as connector bracket 390 to secure the rail clip assembly to the rail and fence post.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
This is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/500,670, filed Jul. 10, 2009, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/485,849, filed Jul. 12, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,568,680, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/405,840, filed Apr. 18, 2006, now abandoned, the entire specifications of all of which are incorporated herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11485849 | Jul 2006 | US |
Child | 12500670 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12500670 | Jul 2009 | US |
Child | 12683849 | US | |
Parent | 11405840 | Apr 2006 | US |
Child | 11485849 | US |