U.S. patent application number 16/372533 was filed with the patent office on 2020-10-08 for fence rail end support system.
This patent application is currently assigned to BODO Plastics Company LTD. The applicant listed for this patent is BODO Plastics Company LTD. Invention is credited to Sun Feng, Zhou Xuewei.
Application Number | 20200318380 16/372533 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004036176 |
Filed Date | 2020-10-08 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200318380 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Xuewei; Zhou ; et
al. |
October 8, 2020 |
FENCE RAIL END SUPPORT SYSTEM
Abstract
A fence rail end support system includes a mounting plate having
a plurality of mounting apertures wherein the mounting plate is
configured for being attached to a fence post by fasteners
extending through the mounting apertures. Each of a pair of support
panels extends perpendicularly from the mounting plate wherein an
end of a fence rail is positionable between the pair of support
panels. Each of a plurality of connection slots extends through the
pair of support panels to receive a connector to secure an
associated one of the pair of support panels to the fence rail.
Inventors: |
Xuewei; Zhou; (Zibo City,
CN) ; Feng; Sun; (Zibo City, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BODO Plastics Company LTD |
Zibo City |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
BODO Plastics Company LTD
Zibo City
CN
|
Family ID: |
1000004036176 |
Appl. No.: |
16/372533 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 17/1413 20130101;
E04H 2017/1452 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04H 17/14 20060101
E04H017/14 |
Claims
1. A fence rail end support system comprising: a mounting plate
having a back face and a front face, said back face being planar; a
plurality of mounting apertures extending through said mounting
plate wherein said mounting plate is configured for being attached
to the fence post by fasteners extending through said mounting
apertures; a fence rail having an end; a pair of support panels
extending perpendicularly from said front face of said mounting
plate wherein said end of said fence rail is positionable between
said pair of support panels; and a plurality of connection slots
extending through said pair of support panels wherein each of said
connection slots is configured for receiving a connector to secure
an associated one of said pair of support panels to said fence rail
when said end of said fence rail is positioned between said pair of
support panels.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising said plurality of
connection slots being arranged into horizontally aligned pairs,
each connection slot of each of said aligned pairs being positioned
extending through an associated one of said support panels.
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising said fence rail having
elongated grooves extending inwardly from said end of said fence
rail, each of said grooves aligning with a respective one of said
connection slots when said end of said fence rail is inserted
between said support panels.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a fence panel, said
fence panel having an elongated ridge extending along a lateral
side of said fence panel, said fence panel having a top edge
extending perpendicularly from a top end of said elongated ridge,
said top edge being insertable into a bottom section of said fence
rail wherein said elongated ridge extends laterally relative to
said end of said fence rail; and a ridge slot extending into said
mounting plate, said ridge slot extending into a bottom edge of
said mounting plate, said ridge slot being centrally positioned
between said support panels wherein an upper portion of said
elongated ridge is seated in said ridge slot when said end of said
fence rail is inserted between said support panels.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising each of said support
panels having a distal edge relative to said mounting plate, said
distal edge of each said support panel having a vertical top
section and a curved bottom section, said curved bottom section
curving down and toward a middle of said mounting plate such that
bottom edges of said pair of support plates are directed towards
each other.
6. The system of claim 5, further comprising said vertical top
sections of each of said distal edges being convex relative to said
mounting plate.
7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of braces,
said braces being distributed along respective base edges of said
support panels on an outer side of said support panels.
8. The system of claim 7, further comprising said braces being
arranged to define gaps between adjacently positioned braces, each
of said gaps being laterally aligned with a respective one of said
mounting apertures.
9. A fence rail end support system comprising: a mounting plate
having a back face and a front face, said back face being planar; a
plurality of mounting apertures extending through said mounting
plate wherein said mounting plate is configured for being attached
to the fence post by fasteners extending through said mounting
apertures; a fence rail having an end, said fence rail having
elongated grooves extending inwardly from said end of said fence
rail; a pair of support panels extending perpendicularly from said
front face of said mounting plate wherein said end of said fence
rail is positionable between said pair of support panels; a
plurality of connection slots extending through said pair of
support panels wherein each of said connection slots is configured
for receiving a connector to secure an associated one of said pair
of support panels to said fence rail when said end of said fence
rail is positioned between said pair of support panels, said
plurality of connection slots being arranged into horizontally
aligned pairs, each connection slot of each of said aligned pairs
being positioned extending through an associated one of said
support panels, each of said grooves aligning with a respective one
of said connection slots when said end of said fence rail is
inserted between said support panels; a fence panel, said fence
panel having an elongated ridge extending along a lateral side of
said fence panel, said fence panel having a top edge extending
perpendicularly from a top end of said elongated ridge, said top
edge being insertable into a bottom section of said fence rail
wherein said elongated ridge extends laterally relative to said end
of said fence rail; a ridge slot extending into said mounting
plate, said ridge slot extending into a bottom edge of said
mounting plate, said ridge slot being centrally positioned between
said support panels wherein an upper portion of said elongated
ridge is seated in said ridge slot when said end of said fence rail
is inserted between said support panels; each of said support
panels having a distal edge relative to said mounting plate, said
distal edge of each said support panel having a vertical top
section and a curved bottom section, said curved bottom section
curving down and toward a middle of said mounting plate such that
bottom edges of said pair of support plates are directed towards
each other, said vertical top sections of each of said distal edges
being convex relative to said mounting plate; and a plurality of
braces, said braces being distributed along respective base edges
of said support panels on an outer side of said support panels,
said braces being arranged to define gaps between adjacently
positioned braces, each of said gaps being laterally aligned with a
respective one of said mounting apertures.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
[0003] Not Applicable
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC
OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM
[0004] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT
INVENTOR
[0005] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
[0006] The disclosure relates to rail support devices and more
particularly pertains to a new rail support device for facilitating
connection of a fence rail to a fence post with a minimal gap
between the fence post and an end of the fence rail.
(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed
Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
[0007] The prior art relates to rail support devices.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented
above by generally comprising a mounting plate having a plurality
of mounting apertures wherein the mounting plate is configured for
being attached to a fence post by fasteners extending through the
mounting apertures. Each of a pair of support panels extends
perpendicularly from the mounting plate wherein an end of a fence
rail is positionable between the pair of support panels. Each of a
plurality of connection slots extends through the pair of support
panels to receive a connector to secure an associated one of the
pair of support panels to the fence rail.
[0009] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that
will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject
matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0010] The objects of the disclosure, along with the various
features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed
out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part
of this disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other
than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration
is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is an exploded top front side perspective view of a
fence rail end support system according to an embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of an embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of an end support of an embodiment of
the disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of an end support of an embodiment of
the disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a front view of an end support of an embodiment of
the disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a back view of an end support of an embodiment of
the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new rail support device embodying the
principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and
generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be
described.
[0019] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the fence rail end
support system 10 generally comprises an end support 11 having a
mounting plate 12 and a pair of support panels 30. The mounting
plate 12 has a back face 14 and a front face 16. The back face 14
is planar. Each of a plurality of mounting apertures 18 extends
through the mounting plate 12 wherein the mounting plate 12 is
configured for being attached to a fence post 20 by fasteners 22
extending through the mounting apertures 18. The fasteners 22 are
conventional and may be screws or the like.
[0020] A fence rail 24 has an end 26. The fence rail 24 has
elongated grooves 28 extending perpendicularly and inwardly from
the end 26 of the fence rail 24. For functional purposes relating
to connection each elongated groove 28 need only extend partially
along the fence rail 24. However, for structural stiffness,
facilitation of production, or aesthetics, each elongated groove 28
may extend a full length of the fence rail 24 as shown in FIG.
1.
[0021] Each of the pair of support panels 30 extends
perpendicularly from the front face 14 of the mounting plate 12
wherein the end 26 of the fence rail 24 is positionable between the
pair of support panels 30. Each of a plurality of connection slots
32 extends through the pair of support panels 30 wherein each of
the connection slots 32 is configured for receiving a connector 34
to secure an associated one of the pair of support panels 30 to the
fence rail 24 when the end 26 of the fence rail 24 is positioned
between the pair of support panels 30 abutting or nearly abutting
the mounting plate 12. The connection slots 32 are arranged into
horizontally aligned pairs 36. Each connection slot 32 of each of
the aligned pairs 36 is positioned extending through an associated
one of the support panels 30. Each of the grooves 28 aligns with a
respective one of the connection slots 32 when the end 26 of the
fence rail 24 is inserted between the support panels 30.
[0022] A fence panel 40 has an elongated ridge 42 extending along a
lateral side 44 of the fence panel 40. The fence panel 40 also has
a top edge 46 extending perpendicularly from a top end 48 of the
elongated ridge 42. The top edge 46 is insertable into a bottom
section 50 of the fence rail 24 wherein the elongated ridge 42
extends outward laterally relative to the end 24 of the fence rail
24. A ridge slot 52 extends into the mounting plate 12. The ridge
slot 52 extends into a bottom edge 54 of the mounting plate 12. The
ridge slot 52 is centrally positioned between the support panels 30
wherein an upper portion 54 of the elongated ridge 42 is seated in
the ridge slot 52 when the end 26 of the fence rail 24 is inserted
between the support panels 30. The fence panel 40 is one of a
plurality of fence panels 40 having respective elongated ridges 42
on of the lateral sides 44 of the fence panel 40. To allow for
interconnection of the fence panels 40 the elongated ridges 42 on
each fence panel 40 include a male variety 42A and a female variety
42B. However, for the purpose of engagement to oppositely
positioned end supports 11, the specific variety of the elongated
ridge 42 is not critical as both the male variety 42A and female
variety 42B are considered to similarly position within the ridge
slot 52. Thus, the elongated ridge 42 may abut or vary nearly abut
the adjacently positioned fence post 20.
[0023] Each of the support panels 30 has a distal edge 56 relative
to the mounting plate 12. The distal edge 56 of each support panel
30 has a vertical top section 58 and a curved bottom section 60.
The curved bottom section 60 curves down and toward a middle of the
mounting plate 12 such that bottom edges 62 of the pair of support
plates 30 are directed towards each other. The shape of the curved
bottom section 60 generally conforms to or complements a shape of
the fence rail 24. The vertical top section 58 of each of the
distal edges 56 is convex relative to the mounting plate 12.
[0024] Each of a plurality of braces 66 is distributed along
respective base edges 68 of the support panels 30 on an outer side
70 of the support panels 30. The braces 66 are arranged to define
gaps 72 between adjacently positioned braces 66. Each of the gaps
66 is laterally aligned with a respective one of the mounting
apertures 18. Additionally, each of the gaps 66 aligns with an
associated one of the connection slots 32 facilitating connections
using the fasteners 22 and connectors 34.
[0025] In use, the end supports 11 are used to both connect to the
fence rail 24 and to receive and position the elongated ridge 42
adjacent to the fence post 20. The structures as described above
are provided to allow for 180 degree rotation and inversion to use
the same end support structure for top left, bottom left, top right
and bottom right connections as shown in FIG. 1.
[0026] With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations
in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation,
assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one
skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
[0027] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent
document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense
to mean that items following the word are included, but items not
specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element
by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that
more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly
requires that there be only one of the elements.
* * * * *