Modular metal fence or gate panel assembly
A novel modular metal fence or gate panel assembly constructed from vertically spaced apart rails and a horizontal row of vertically disposed pickets is disclosed. At least the upper rail is locked to the pickets which extend therethrough by means of an elongate locking bar which is slidingly disposed within the rail. The bar is moveable from a first position wherein apertures provided in the bar are in full open alignment with picket receiving apertures located in the rail, to a second position in which inwardly projecting flanges in each of the bar apertures are respectively received in rail connecting recesses located in the sidewalls of the pickets.
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a modular metal fence or gate panel assembly of the type constructed from rails and pickets. Each panel section making up a portion of the gate or fence can be boxed and transported in unassembled form and assembled or erected on site requiring limited assembly skills or assembly tools. As a result, the modular panel section can be assembled on site either by professionals or homeowners.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTU.S. Pat. No. 5,454,548—Moore issued Oct. 3, 1995 discloses modular metal fencing or gratings employing vertically spaced apart upper and lower support rails and a horizontal row of vertically disposed pickets which extend through apertures provided in the rails. In order to lock a given rail to the pickets which extend through the rail, an elongate “L”-shaped bar is slidingly located within the rail and thus can engage uniformly oriented slots in the side of the pickets extending therethrough. Because of the length of the “L”-shaped bar, the panel cannot be assembled in situ between the supporting posts located at either end of the panel. Rather, the panel must be assembled on the ground and when the rails and pickets are locked together by the “L”-shaped bar, only then positioned between the panel support posts. A further drawback as a result of the use of the “L”-shaped locking bar is the fact that the slots in the pickets which are received by the bar must be cut into three sides of the picket, thereby weakening its structure. Further, each picket must pass through a total of four apertures provided in the upper and lower rails which can result in unwanted damage to the exterior finish on the pickets.
A modular rail and panel assembly similar to the foregoing is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,001 issued Mar. 16, 1999—Reinbold. In this panel arrangement, the upper portion of each rail which is in the form of an inverted “U”-shaped channel, is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures for receiving a picket inserted therein. Each aperture has a tab portion which positively engages with a slot provided in the sidewall of the picket. The picket is then held in this engagement position by means of a picket locking fastener or wedge which is interposed in the aperture between each picket opposite the tab and the opposite limit of the aperture diametrically opposed to the tab. As an average fence panel contains 24 pickets, assembly of the panel is time consuming since 48 wedges must be inserted. Additionally, and like the above-described modular assembly of Moore, the exterior finish of the pickets can be damaged during assembly and particularly when the wedges are forced into position by means of a hammer or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe novel metal picket fence or gate panel assembly of my invention is similar to the foregoing modular assemblies in the sense it is fabricated from spaced apart and vertically aligned upper and lower support rails each defined by an inverted “U”-shaped channel having an elongate top portion and a plurality of vertically spaced apart picket receiving apertures extending therethrough and which is accompanied by a horizontal row of vertically disposed elongate pickets which respectively extend through vertically aligned pairs of picket receiving apertures in the upper and lower support rails. Further, and like the known assemblies described above, the pickets of my invention each have uniformly oriented rail connecting recesses in at least one sidewall thereof and positioned at locations therealong corresponding to the relative positioning of at least one, and preferably both, of the upper and lower support rails.
In accordance with one aspect of my invention, fastening means is provided for positively connecting one or both of the support rails to corresponding rail connecting recesses in the elongate pickets and which consists of an elongate bar having spaced bar apertures extending therethrough. The elongate bar is designed to be slidingly disposed within the support rail and when in the support rail, moveable from a first position wherein respective ones of the bar apertures are in full open alignment with corresponding ones of the picket receiving apertures to a second position wherein at least one inwardly projecting flange or tab in respective ones of said bar apertures are received in corresponding ones of the rail connecting recesses.
The foregoing fastening means arrangement allows the panel to be either assembled and locked together on the ground or alternatively, assembled in location between two vertical support posts located at the ends of each panel section.
Because the elongate bar moves between two positions, each bar aperture for permitting the passage of the picket therethrough and thereafter positively connecting the picket to the rail has a first open portion the dimensions of which at least correspond to the dimensions of the picket receiving recess, and a second open portion of lesser surface area than the first and which includes the inwardly projecting flange or tab for engagement with rail connecting recess on the pickets.
In order to better facilitate the correct alignment of the rails with the associated pickets extending therethrough and hence enable the elongate bar carried by the rail to slidingly move between its first open and second locking position, where the support rails are substantially identical as are the elongate pickets, a collar surrounding the picket can be advantageously positioned at the same location on each of the pickets such that when the collars abut the top portion of the upper support rail, the location of the upper support rail relative to the corresponding rail connecting recesses in the pickets is determined and which as a consequence thereof, enables the elongate bar to be slidingly moved within the rail from its first open to its second locked position. The collar itself may be made of metal and attached to the picket at its predetermined location by soldering, welding or the like. Alternatively, the collar may be made from suitable plastic material which frictionally engages the outer surface of the picket and is positioned at its predetermined location. After assembly, and if desired, the plastic collar used for alignment purposes can be removed by cutting off.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn the accompanying drawings:
The metallic panel assemblies of this invention and which are intended to be used as gate or fence panels are generally illustrated in
In a like fashion, fence panel C is held in fixed position between support posts or uprights 30 and 40 and are also attached thereto employing for that purpose upper connectors 33 and 43 and lower connectors 34 and 44 which, like the gate pivot connectors, are well known in the art. As illustrated, the panel assembly functioning either as a swing gate panel assembly or as a stationary fence panel assembly are constructed from upper gate rails 25, 35 and 45, lower elongate rails 26, 36 and 46 and a multiplicity of vertically aligned pickets 27, 37 and 47. As illustrated, it will be observed that the pickets 27 and 37 which form gate panels A and B are of differing lengths for ornamental purposes. Vertically disposed upper and lower rails 45 and 46 of fence panel C support vertically aligned pickets 47 which are of equal length.
An exploded view of one picket 47 and upper rail 45 forming part of the fence panel C is illustrated in
Although the lower support rail 46 is not illustrated in
Elongate bar 80 which functions as a locking or “shutter” bar is itself provided with a plurality of spaced apart bar apertures 81 complimenting the apertures 75 in upper rail 45.
With reference to
In order to facilitate sliding movement of bar 80 within rails 25, 26, 35, 36 and 45 and optionally rail 46, bar 80 proximate its end has attached to its undersurface tab 83 which projects downwardly and which can be finger grasped or impacted with a drift in order to move it from its first open to its second locked position.
In keeping with one aspect of this invention, pickets 47 preferably are provided with metal or plastic collars 49 which are located at the same position along the length of each picket so that when the pickets are inserted through aperture 75, recesses 60 and 61 are in a position to register with tabs 82 of bar 80 when the bar is moved into its second locking position. Further, and in order to assist the entry of tabs 82 into and through recesses 60 and 61 in the sidewalls of pickets 47, the leading end of tabs 85 are inwardly tapered. Advantageously, even where the pickets are of different lengths as seen in gate panels A and B in
While pickets having rectangular sidewalls have been illustrated in
It will also be apparent that for locking purposes, only one locking tab need be employed and it can be used to engage only one single recess provided in the sidewall of the picket.
Claims
1. A metal picket fence or gate panel assembly comprising:
- (a) spaced apart and vertically aligned upper and lower support rails, each defined by an inverted “U”-shaped channel having an elongate top portion and a plurality of spaced apart picket receiving apertures extending therethrough;
- (b) a horizontal row of vertically disposed elongate pickets which respectively extend through vertically aligned pairs of said picket receiving apertures in a said upper and lower support rails;
- (c) said elongate pickets each having uniformly orientated rail connecting recesses in at least one sidewall thereof and at locations there along corresponding to the relative positioning of at least one of said upper and lower support rails;
- (d) fasting means for positively connecting said at least one support rail to corresponding rail connecting recesses in said elongate pickets comprising an elongate bar having a spaced bar apertures extending therethrough, said elongate bar being slidingly disposed within the said support rail and moveable from a first position wherein respective ones of said bar apertures are in full open alignment with corresponding ones of said picket receiving apertures, to a second position wherein at least one inwardly projecting flange in respective ones of said bar apertures are received in corresponding ones of said rail connecting recesses.
2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein it said upper and lower support rails are identical and parallel one to the other, said elongate pickets are identical, and said fastening means is slidingly disposed in at least said upper support rail.
3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said bar aperture includes a first open portion the dimensions of which at least correspond to the dimensions of said picket receiving recesses, and a second open portion which includes said at least one inwardly projecting flange.
4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sidewalls of each elongate picket includes a surrounding collar, and the location of a said upper support rail relative to said corresponding rail connecting recesses is determined when said collar abuts the top portion of said upper support rail.
5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening means is slidingly disposed in at least said lower support rail, the sidewalls of each said elongate picket include a surrounding collar, and the location of said lower support rail relative to said corresponding rail connecting recesses is determined when said collar abuts the top portion of said lower support rail.
6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongate pickets are tubular and said sidewalls are rectangular in cross-section, said rail connecting recesses each include a pair of slots which extend through opposed sidewalls, and said one inwardly directed flange is received in said pair of slots when said elongate bar is in said second position.
7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongate pickets are tubular and said sidewalls are circular in cross-section, said rail connector recesses each include a pair of slots which extend through opposed sidewalls, and a pair of opposed and inwardly projecting flanges in said bar aperture is received in said pair of slots when said elongate bar is in said second position.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 27, 2003
Publication Date: Mar 3, 2005
Inventor: Iain MacKay (Beeton)
Application Number: 10/648,215