INSTALLABLE TOP ACCENT PANELS FOR A BARRIER SYSTEM
An accent top panel is selectable installed on a base panel. The installation is made using one of a number of techniques, including, press-fit, clamp fit and clip fit. The base panel can be one of a fence panel, railing panel or gate.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application for Patent No. 60/992,560 of the same title filed on Dec. 5, 2007.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to barriers to pedestrians or vehicles, and more particularly to fences and fence components, as well as railings and railing components, which have a selectably installable top accent panel.
SUMMARYThe present invention comprises a barrier formed from a set of elongate rails and a set of vertical upright members. An accent top panel is selectably installable on a top-most positioned one of the elongate rails of the barrier. The accent top panel includes a base rail having a flat web and a pair of opposed side walls which extend from the web to define a rail channel. The decorative accent features of the top panel are mounted to and above the base rail. The base rail is sized and shaped to fit over the top one of the elongate rails such that the elongate rail is received by the rail channel.
In one implementation, the base rail is designed with dimensions and manufacturing tolerances such that the opposed side walls snugly contact the opposed sides of the top elongate rail in a press-fit manner.
In another implementation, the base rail is designed with a geometry such that the opposed side walls are angled slightly inwardly to form a biasing clamp against the opposed sides of the top elongate rail.
In another implementation, the base rail is designed such that an inner surface of the opposed side walls includes an inwardly projecting bead (or detent) which either engages a bottom edge of the opposed sides of the top elongate rail or snugly contacts the opposed sides of the top elongate rail in a press-fit manner.
An embodiment of the present invention comprises an accent top panel (alone) having any of the configurations discussed above.
Accent top panels are decorative additions selectably attached to the top of a fence panel, railing panel, or a gate. The accent top panels are used to convert a plain fence or railing installation into an installation capable of matching or establishing a particular architectural or ornamental motif. The top panels also provide added height to the fence panel, railing panel, or a gate which may be needed in order to meet certain building codes or provide an added level of security. Reference is made to
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In summary, the attachment of the accent top panel to the base panel (for example, fence panel, railing panel, or gate) is achieved by the depth of the sides of the rail channel being slightly longer than the depth of the sides of the top elongate rail, and by the use of close tolerances between the rail channel and the top elongate rail. The sides of the rail channel can be either straight or bent slightly inwards to create a close tolerance fit that prevents the accent top panel from being loose on the fence. This close tolerance also gives the connection between the accent top panel and the fence/railing/gate panel top elongate rail a snap type fit making the Top Accent tight and secure on the fence/railing/gate panel. Alternatively, the snap fit between the accent top panel and the elongate rail of the base panel is formed using a bead on the bottom edge of each side wall (leg) of the rail channel. These beads can run the full length of the rail channel legs or be small sections of bead spaced along the length of the rail channel. The beads snap over the bottom edge of the fence/railing/gate panel top elongate rail, securing the accent top panel to the base panel. If the leg is shorter than the depth of the elongate top rail, the bead can instead press against the side of the elongate rail.
It will be understood that fasteners, welding, brackets, or an adhesive may be used in addition to the securing means described above.
Claims
1. An accent top panel for selectable installation on a base panel including means for securing the accent top panel to the base panel including a U-shaped channel in the accent top panel which receives an elongate rail of the base panel.
2. The barrier of claim 1 wherein base panel can be one of a fence panel, a gate panel or a railing panel.
3. The barrier of claim 1 wherein the means for securing comprises the U-shaped channel supporting a press fit securing mechanism with respect to receipt of the elongate rail.
4. The barrier of claim 1 wherein the means for securing comprises the U-shaped channel supporting a clamp fit securing mechanism with respect to receipt of the elongate rail.
5. The barrier of claim 1 wherein the means for securing comprises the U-shaped channel supporting a snap fit securing mechanism with respect to receipt of the elongate rail.
6. The barrier of claim 1 wherein the snap fit securing mechanism comprises a bead structure extending along the U-shaped channel which engages an edge of the elongate rail of the base panel.
7. An accent top panel for selectable installation on a base panel, the accent top panel including a rail channel having means for securing the rail channel to the base panel.
8. The panel of claim 7 wherein the means for securing is a press fit securing mechanism.
9. The panel of claim 7 wherein the means for securing is a clamp fit securing mechanism.
10. The panel of claim 7 wherein the means for securing is a snap fit securing mechanism.
11. The panel of claim 7 wherein the means for securing comprises a base rail of the panel being designed with dimensions and manufacturing tolerances such that opposed side walls of the base rail snugly contact opposed sides of a top elongate rail in the base panel in a press-fit manner.
12. The panel of claim 7 wherein the means for securing comprises a base rail of the panel being designed with a geometry such that opposed side walls of the base rail are angled slightly inwardly to form a biasing clamp against opposed sides of a top elongate rail in the base panel.
13. The panel of claim 7 wherein the means for securing comprises a base rail of the panel being designed such that an inner surface of opposed side walls of the base rail includes an inwardly projecting bead (or detent) which engages against opposed sides of a top elongate rail in the base panel.
14. The panel of claim 13 wherein the bead engages a bottom edge of the opposed sides of the top elongate rail.
15. The panel of claim 13 wherein the bead snugly contacts the opposed sides of the top elongate rail in a press-fit manner.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 26, 2008
Publication Date: Jun 11, 2009
Applicant: Fortress Iron, LP (Richardson, TX)
Inventor: Matthew Carlyle Sherstad (Dallas, TX)
Application Number: 12/324,105