Fence

Abstract

An elastomeric fence includes a plurality of posts each including at least one recess on either side, the recess having two opposite first members; a plurality of rails each at its either half portion including two opposite second members adapted to matingly engage with the first members when the post and the rail are connected together, and a beveled edge proximate either end; and a plurality of folding members each including two units pivotably coupled together, each unit including at its one end two opposite third members adapted to matingly engage with the first members when the post and the folding member are connected together, and a beveled edge proximate either end. The fence can be easily assembled and is rot proof, rust proof, simple in construction, and lightweight.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the construction and assembly of fences and more particularly to a fence that can be easily assembled without use of tools or fasteners and is rot proof, rust proof, aesthetic, simple in construction, and lightweight.

2) Related Art

Wood fences require constant attention because of rot and termites. Also, preservative treatment is required. Metal fences are subject to rust and have other drawbacks. Thus, plastic fences are commercially available. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,213 (hereinafter “the '213 patent”) describes a plastic fence as shown in FIG. 1. The fence comprises a plurality of posts 18 having two vertical series of openings 36; and a plurality of rails 16 having two end enlargements 40 each adapted to lockingly receive within the opening 36 by snap-in due to the nature of plastic material. Fence of the '213 patent can be easily assembled and is highly adaptable. However, its constructions are relatively complex.

Taiwanese Utility Model Patent No. 252,510 discloses a metal fence having a plurality of first posts interconnected by a plurality of rails by snap-in as shown in FIG. 2. Also, two second posts are provided between any two adjacent posts and are secured to the rails by snap-in. The fence disclosed in the Taiwanese Patent can be easily assembled and is highly adaptable. However, its constructions are still relatively complex and it is subject to rust. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fence formed of an elastomeric material comprising a plurality of posts each including at least one recess on either side, the recess having two opposite first members; a plurality of rails each at its either half portion including two opposite second members adapted to matingly engage with the first members when the post and the rail are connected together, and a beveled edge proximate either end; and a plurality of folding members each including two units pivotably coupled together, each unit including at its one end two opposite third members adapted to matingly engage with the first members when the post and the folding member are connected together, and a beveled edge proximate either end. By utilizing the present invention, a fence having the following advantages is obtained. The advantages include easy assembly without use of tools or fasteners, being rot proof, rust proof, aesthetic, simple in construction, and lightweight.

In one aspect of the present invention either the first member is a protrusion and each of the second and the third members is an indentation or the first member is an indentation and each of the second and the third members is a protrusion.

In another aspect of the present invention one unit of the folding member at its other end includes a bifurcation and a fourth member on an inner wall of either half of the bifurcation, and the other unit of the folding member at its other end includes a projecting cylinder having a fifth member on either end, the fifth members being adapted to matingly engage with the fourth members when the cylinder is inserted into a space defined by the bifurcation.

In yet another aspect of the present invention either the fourth member is a protrusion and the fifth member is an indentation or the fourth member is an indentation and the fifth member is a protrusion.

In a further aspect of the present invention the post is hollow and consists of two identical halves, and the post further comprises a plurality of internal tabs and a plurality of internal holes adapted to lockingly receive the tabs by snapping.

In yet further aspect of the present invention the rail is hollow and consists of two identical halves, and the rail further comprises a plurality of first elements and a plurality of second elements adapted to lockingly receive the first elements by snapping.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts post, rail, and their connections according to U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,213;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another fence according to Taiwanese Utility Model Patent No. 252,510;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a portion of fence according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing the connections of post, rails, and folding member of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the area in circle of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the post of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the rail of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the folding member of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the assembled folding member of FIG. 8 showing a pivoting of the pivot member relative to the folding member;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a rectangular fence constructed in according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a triangular fence constructed in according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a circular fence constructed in according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 3, an elastomeric fence in accordance with the invention comprises a plurality of posts 1, a plurality of rails 2, and a plurality of folding members 3 in an exploded view. Each component is discussed in detailed below.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the post 1 comprises two vertical series of recesses 7 on both sides. Each parallelepiped recess 7 has a top protrusion 4 and a bottom protrusion 4 vertically aligned therewith. The protrusion 4 has a half-spherical shape. The folding member 3 at either end includes a top indentation 13, a bottom indentation 13, and a beveled edge 14. The indentations 13 are dimensioned and shaped to snugly engage with the protrusions 4 as end of the folding member 3 inserts into the recess 7. As a result, the post 1 and the folding member 3 are lockingly engaged together. Similarly, the rail 2 at either end includes a top indentation 9, a bottom indentation 9, and a beveled edge 10. The indentations 9 are dimensioned and shaped to snugly engage with the protrusions 4 as end of the rail 2 inserts into the recess 7. As a result, the post 1 and the rail 2 are lockingly engaged together.

Referring to FIG. 6, the hollow post 1 in its exploded view consists of two identical halves. The post 1 comprises, in addition to the recesses 7 and the protrusions 4, a plurality of tabs 6 in a snapping section 5, and a plurality of holes 8 adapted to lockingly receive the tabs 6. As a result, both-halves of the post 1 are adapted to fasten together by snap-in.

Referring to FIG. 7, the hollow rail 2 in its exploded view consists of two identical halves coupled together by snap-in. The rail 2 comprises at either end includes the top indentation 9, the bottom indentation 9, and the beveled edge 10 as described above.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, components and assembly of the folding member 3 and a pivot member are shown. The folding member 3 comprises a bifurcation 12 at one end, and a projection 11 on an inner wall of either half of the bifurcation 12. The pivot member comprises a projecting cylinder 15 at one end, the cylinder 15 having a cavity 16 on either end. The cavities 16 are matingly engaged with the projections 11 when the cylinder 15 is inserted into a space defined by the bifurcation 12. As an end, the folding member 3 and the pivot member are pivotably secured together. The pivot member further comprises two grooves 13 on both sides in addition to the beveled edge 14 at the other end. As shown in FIG. 9, the assembled pivot member is adapted to pivot about at most 280 degrees relative to the folding member 3.

Referring to FIG. 10, a rectangular fence is constructed in according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention. A plurality of posts 1 are connected together by a plurality of rails 2 to form one side of a rectangle in a first step. Next, perform the first step four times. Next, connect two adjacent sides of the rectangle together by two folding members 3 in a second step until a rectangle fence is finished. Finally, insert two pegs 17 assembled with the lower rails 2 into the ground for installing the fence in a third step.

Referring to FIG. 11, a triangular fence is constructed in according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention. Similar to the first preferred embodiment, a plurality of posts 1 are connected together by a plurality of rails 2 to form one side of a triangle in a first step. Next, perform the first step three times. Finally, connect two adjacent sides of the triangle together by two folding members 3 in a second step until a triangular fence is finished.

Referring to FIG. 12, a circular fence is constructed in according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention in which a plurality of posts 1 are connected together by a plurality of rails 2.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A fence formed of an elastomeric material comprising:

a plurality of posts each including at least one recess on either side, the recess having two opposite first members;

a plurality of rails each at its either half portion including two opposite second members adapted to matingly engage with the first members when the post and the rail are connected together, and a beveled edge proximate either end; and

a plurality of folding members each including two units pivotably coupled together, each unit including at its one end two opposite third members adapted to matingly engage with the first members when the post and the folding member are connected together, and a beveled edge proximate either end.

2. The fence of claim 1, wherein the first member is a protrusion and each of the second and the third members is an indentation.

3. The fence of claim 1, wherein the first member is an indentation and each of the second and the third members is a protrusion.

4. The fence of claim 1, wherein one unit of the folding member at its other end includes a bifurcation and a fourth member on an inner wall of either half of the bifurcation, and the other unit of the folding member at its other end includes a projecting cylinder having a fifth member on either end, the fifth members being adapted to matingly engage with the fourth members when the cylinder is inserted into a space defined by the bifurcation.

5. The fence of claim 4, wherein the fourth member is a protrusion and the fifth member is an indentation.

6. The fence of claim 4, wherein the fourth member is an indentation and the fifth member is a protrusion.

7. The fence of claim 1, wherein the post is hollow and consists of two identical halves, and wherein the post further comprises a plurality of internal tabs and a plurality of internal holes adapted to lockingly receive the tabs by snapping.

8. The fence of claim 1, wherein the rail is hollow and consists of two identical halves, and wherein the rail further comprises a plurality of first elements and a plurality of second elements adapted to lockingly receive the first elements by snapping.