Modular Fence Construction

Abstract

A channel member is C-shaped in cross section and has a length, width and thickness bearing a predetermined relation with respect to the width and depth of the elongated slot on one face of the channel. The slot width and depth is such that the channel can be used both as fence post and as a fence rail with the post and rail in interlocking relation. Various orientations of the vertical fence posts provide L-shaped and T-shaped corners, and by arranging the horizontal rails so that the slots face in suitable directions a variety of rail patterns can be formed. Spacers between adjacent rails afford an open, or corral-type, of fence and, if desired, the channel members can also be used to form a trim cap along the top of the fence.

Description

The invention relates to improvements in modular fence constructions.

It is an object of the invention to provide a modular fence construction which is substantially entirely made up of components having identical dimensions, and which can, therefore, be produced very economically.

It is another object of the invention to provide a modular fence construction in which the components can be cast or molded or otherwise formed of any suitable material, such as concrete, wood, "plastic," compressed and fused wood particles, or the like.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a modular fence which can easily and quickly be built by only two people owing to the relatively light weight of its components and the uniformity of size of its components which minimizes measuring.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a modular fence construction which eliminates the need for nails, bolts, struts, wires and other fastenings and bracings.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a modular fence construction which is not only pleasing in appearance but which is very strong and requires little or no upkeep.

It is another object of the invention to provide a generally improved modular fence construction.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in the embodiment described in the following description and illustrated in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a typical installation, with portions broken away to reduce the extent of the figure;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top of a fence, showing a fence cap construction;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 3--3 in FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken on the line 4--4 in FIG. 2.

While the modular fence construction of my invention is susceptible of numerous physical embodiments, depending upon the environment and requirements of use, substantial numbers of the herein shown and described embodiment have been made, tested and used, and all have performed in an eminently satisfactory manner.

The modular fence construction of the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 11, is characterized by the fact that substantially all of its components are almost identical in size and configuration.

This basic unit comprises an elongated channel member 12 having a predetermined length, such as 921/2 inches, a predetermined width, such as 8 inches, and a predetermined thickness, such as 3 inches.

An elongated central slot 13 is formed on the front face 14 of the channel member 12, and extends from one end 15 to the other end 16, the slot having a bottom width of, for example, 3 inches. The slot 13 is formed with a slight taper, or draft, during the molding or casting operation so that the outer width of the slot at the front face of the channel slightly exceeds the bottom width of 3 inches. The taper affords easy starting access to a channel member with one of its side edges 17 or one of its ends 15 or 16 directed toward the slot preparatory to inserting the channel end or edge into snugly fitting relation within the slot.

At the left-hand end of FIG. 1, two channel members 12 are placed vertically with their backs 19 in touching engagement so as to form a very sturdy terminal post member 20, or anchor, at the end of the fence. Since the slot 13 in the left-hand post is exposed, the fence can, if desired, be extended in a left-hand direction at a future time.

The back to back arrangement of posts 21 and 22 at the left-hand end of FIG. 1 finds its counterpart in the arrangement of twin posts 23 and 24 crossing the T-corner in the upper center of FIG. 1.

In order to form a panel 26 between the end or terminal post member 20, comprising the posts 21 and 22, and the intermediate post member 28, comprising the posts 23 and 24, a plurality of channel members 12 is placed in horizontal attitude to form horizontal rails 31. The rails are located one on top of the other, with the ends of the horizontal rails inserted into the open, or facing slots 13, of the adjacent vertical posts 22 and 23.

The snug relation of the rail ends in the slots in the vertical posts affords a very secure interlock, or interconnection, which is highly resistant to lateral displacement and the cumulative weight of the rails makes the panel 26 very strong and rigid.

Panel 26, it will be noted, is characterized by having all of the slots 13 in the horizontal rails facing inwardly. With this arrangement, the slots afford toe supports enabling the panel to be climbed readily from the inside. The outside surface, however, is uninterrupted and the smooth face renders climbing difficult. Such a construction lends itself especially well to commercial uses, such as fence walls around a storage yard, and the like.

Panel 36, in alignment with but to the right of panel 26, as seen in FIG. 1, has all of its horizontal rails arranged so that the slots 13 face outwardly, for esthetic purposes, for example. Total security is not desired in the case of panel 36 and, in fact, alternate rails 31 in panel 36 are replaced by pairs of spacer blocks 38 and 39 so as to provide an open type of fence such as would be suitable, for example, in a horse corral. The spacer blocks 38 and 39 are shorter in length than the channel members 12 but are the same in width and thickness. They may or may not have slots formed therein. In FIG. 1, the spacer blocks 38 and 39 do not have slots.

Where a T-shaped corner is necessary, such as that generally indicated by the reference numeral 41 in FIG. 1, a third channel member is provided. The third channel 42 is placed vertically, next to the posts 23 and 24, and as shown, is oriented so that the vertical slot in post 42 faces at 90.degree. relative to the slots in the posts 23 and 24 so that the horizontal rails 31 can be arranged, as desired, to form the panel 44 which forms the leg of the T-shaped corner.

At the distal end of the panel 44, the channel ends are interlocked into the vertical slot of the post 46, which, along with a second post 47, in back to face relation with the post 46, forms another terminal post member 49. The smooth back surface 19 of the post 47 along with the smooth, coplanar side edges 17 of the posts 46 and 47 affords a finished appearance and one which is resistant to being climbed.

As appears most clearly and typically in FIG. 1, which discloses a broken away portion of the ground, the bottoms of the vertical fence posts, such as the posts 46 and 47, are preferably secured in a block of concrete 51 poured as cement into a post hole 52 in the ground 53, with the terminal post member 49 properly positioned with respect to the required distance from the adjacent post, the desired depth into the hole and plumbness as to attitude.

At the end of the panel 36 remote from the T-corner 41, the rails 31 are lodged in the slot of the vertical post 56 which, together with the vertical post 57 forms an L-shaped corner 58. The post 57 is oriented so that its slot faces 90.degree. away from the slot in post 56, and is therefore able to receive the ends of the horizontal rails 31 forming panel 61.

Panel 61 is characterized by an alternating arrangement of slots, with some slots facing inwardly and others facing outwardly. Such a pattern provides an interesting detail; and, where it is used as a common boundary wall between neighbors, affords an equality of treatment acceptable to both.

The terminal member 63 at the distal end of panel 61 resembles an I-beam in that the first post 66 which holds the adjacent ends of the rails, corresponds to the central web portion of an I-beam whereas the posts 67 and 68 correspond to the flanges. This I-beam construction is very strong and can appropriately be utilized, for example, in a fence on or about a vehicle parking lot where the fence might be subjected to buffeting by carelessly handled vehicles.

As previously explained, all of the bottom ends of all of the vertical posts are sunk at least a foot or two into the concrete. This construction, together with the weight of the rails and the snug interlock between the rails and posts, affords a very strong and secure fence.

It is sometimes desired, however, in the interests of esthetics as well as additional security, to mount a horizontal cap structure 71 on top of the fence, as appears most clearly in FIGS. 2-4.

The cap 71 comprises, in the portion shown, two channel members 72 and 73 laid face down so that the elongated slots 13 are in registry with the upwardly facing side edge 17 of the subjacent horizontal rail 74. Where a cap is to be used, it is often preferred to have the upper edge 17 of the top rail 74 protrude slightly above the upper end of the vertical post, thereby affording an elongated key 75 extending upwardly somewhat into the registering elongated slot 13, corresponding to a keyway. Mortar or a suitable adhesive, such as an epoxy resin, can be used at all suitable joints and junctions, if desired.

Thus, where the ends of the cap members 72 and 73 overlie the respective subjacent upper ends of the posts 77 and 78, mortar or other suitable adhesive can be used. So also, as indicated most clearly in FIG. 3, mortar or other binding material 79 can be utilized to affix the spacer plug 81 located on top of the posts 77 and 78 and spanning the gap between the adjacent ends of the cap members 72 and 73.

As heretofore indicated, the channel members are so dimensioned that in the customary installation, the portion of the vertical fence protruding above ground level is a whole multiple of the channel width. Thus, after the vertical posts are installed and the concrete has set the horizontal rails can be lowered one at a time down the track, or groove, formed by the facing slots in adjacent posts; and when the top rail has been placed in position, the upper side edge of the rail will be substantially flush with the top end of the vertical posts. A variation from this, as previously mentioned, occurs when it is desired to afford a key 75 to fit into the keyway, or slot, where a cap is to be used, and the additional strength of a key is desired.

Fences having fence posts on 8-foot centers are widely used and known. Consequently, by making the channel member, 921/2 inches long, the addition thereto of two channel's web thicknesses (each 11/2 inches) together with 1/4-inch play, or positive tolerance, in the depth of each slot, a total of 96 inches or distance of 8 feet between post centers is attained. The post holes, in other words, can be dug 8 feet apart, and thus the present modular fence construction conforms with the spacing widely used in the construction of fences for many years.

In installing the fence it is customary first to dig the post holes to proper depth, followed by placing all of the posts loosely in their corresponding holes. Then, preferably starting at one end of the fence, the end or terminal post members are placed in the holes to the desired depth and the cement poured. Depth adjustment and vertical plumbness is maintained while the bottom rail extending to the next fence post is properly oriented and inserted both in the first post and in the slot of the next fence post, 8 feet distant. The next fence post is thereupon adjusted and concrete poured, while maintaining proper height and plumb. This cycle is repeated to the other end of the fence, with T-corners, L-corners and other excursions attended to along the path of the fence.

After this primary construction has been completed, the concrete is allowed to set. Thereafter, the second, and final, phase of the installation is taken care of, namely, the placement of the horizontal rails and, if desired, of the fence cap.

It can therefore be seen that I have provided a highly versatile modular fence construction which is not only readily and easily installed, but which is also strong, durable and esthetically pleasing.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A modular fence construction comprising:

a. a plurality of pairs of vertical channel-shaped post members;

1. each of said post members extending between opposite ends and having a predetermined length, each of said post members also including a front side having an elongated end to end slot formed therein, a back side, and a pair of opposite side edges, the transverse width of said slot being in excess of the thickness of said post member measured between said front side and said back side by an amount rendering said slot capable of selectively receiving either of said ends in snug relation;

2.

2. each of said pairs of post members including a first one of said post members and a second one of said post members, said first one and said second one of said post members being oriented to face toward each other in mirror symmetry with said slots in register and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to said predetermined length of each of said post members;

3. each of said plurality of pairs of post members being arranged in a substantially continuous configuration with the intermediate of said pairs of post members each having one of said post members in back to back relation with respect to the adjacent one of said post members in the contiguous one of said pairs of post members; and,

b. a plurality of horizontal, channel-shaped rail members spanning the distance between said registering slots in each of said facing pairs of vertical post members to form a fence panel, each of said rail members extending between opposite ends and having a length equal to said predetermined length of said vertical post members, each of said rail members also including a front side having an elongated end to end slot formed therein, a back side, and a pair of opposite side edges, the dimensions of said front side, said slot, said back side and said side edges of each of said rail members being equal to the corresponding

dimensions of each of said post members. 2. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein each of said vertical post members is installed with one of said ends in the ground a distance such that the height of the above-ground portion of said post member is substantially a whole multiple of the width of one of said rail members measured between said opposite side edges of said rail member and wherein each of said pairs of vertical post members is oriented with said slots in facing relation to receive said ends of said horizontal rail members.

3. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein one of said vertical post members at one end of a first one of said fence panels is arranged in back to back relation with another of said post members at the adjacent end of a second one of said fence panels contiguous to and in linear alignment with said first one of said fence panels.

4. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein one of said vertical post members at one end of a first one of said fence panels is arranged in a predetermined angular relation with respect to another of said post members located at the adjacent end of a second one of said fence panels contiguous to said first one of said fence panels and in angular orientation with respect thereto corresponding to said predetermined angular relation.

5. A modular fence construction as in claim 4 wherein said predetermined angular relation of said one of said post members and said another of said post members and said angular orientation of said first one of said fence panels with respect to said second one of said fence panels, is 90.degree..

6. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein all of said horizontal rail members in at least one of said fence panels are arranged so that said elongated slots face in the same direction.

7. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein said horizontal rail members in at least one of said fence panels are arranged with said elongated slots in adjacent rails facing in alternating opposite directions.

8. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein adjacent ones of said horizontal rail members are spaced apart to afford a plurality of horizontal spaced openings.

9. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein one of said rail members is arranged in horizontal attitude with said slotted front side facing downwardly in register with the subjacent horizontal side edge of the underlying one of said horizontal rail members to form a horizontal cap member covering said underlying rail member, said ends of said horizontal cap member also overlying the subjacent upper ends of the adjacent pair of vertical post members.