CUSTOMIZABLE FENCING SYSTEM AND METHOD
Disclosed is a system and method for a decorative, easy to install privacy fencing system and method therefor. A customizable fencing and privacy enclosure system is provided comprising vertical clamp members and a preferably decorative fabric sheet providing at least some level of ventilation therethrough, such system being configured for attachment to existing fence posts or newly installed fence posts. Such system is comprised of a small number of simplistic components that allow a do-it-yourself homeowner (or other person not particularly advanced as a skilled craftsman) to easily install, customize, and adjust the system to fit the homeowner's particular needs and aesthetic desires.
This application is based upon and claims benefit of copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/690,219 entitled “Fencing and Privacy Enclosure System,” filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jun. 21, 2012 by the inventors herein, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to fencing systems, and more particularly to an easy-to-install, customizable privacy fencing system and method for its installation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFences come in a wide variety of shapes and configurations. For instance, some fences, such as simple chain link or security fences, are typically configured to simply cordon off a particular area. Other fences may provide privacy, such as plank wood fencing often used in residential neighborhoods to fence a homeowner's back yard. Still other fences may provide a distinctive and attractive appearance, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the overall property on which they are installed (in addition to providing the standard feature of delineating a particular space).
Often times, such fencing systems are formed of metal which may rust over time, or wood which may become worn and weathered over time. For the homeowner that wishes to maintain the aesthetic appeal of the originally installed fencing system, this can become frustrating and create a significant chore for the homeowner, often requiring resurfacing/repainting, removal and replacement of fencing sections, and the like, all of which can be significantly laborious tasks. Further, such systems (whether comprised of metal, wood, or synthetic materials) will often require close measurement and fitting for proper installation, and can be quite unforgiving if mistakes are made in doing so, as the ability to customize component dimensions is quite limited. Still further, as components of such systems weather, they may expand or shrink depending upon environmental conditions, and again present significant challenge if the homeowner thereafter wishes to adjust the components of his system to provide a better fit.
Moreover, typically known fencing systems may come at significant cost to the homeowner in both material and installation expenses. Likewise, prior known fencing systems are typically provided as permanent installations. Thus, while they might provide the homeowner opportunity to provide a unique and aesthetically attractive appearance to their yard, they provide little opportunity to change that appearance should styles or simply the desires of the homeowner change.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a fencing system, and more preferably a privacy fencing system, capable of easy installation, customization, and modification that is sufficiently easy to install and modify so that a do-it-yourself homeowner may easily undertake such tasks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONDisclosed is a system and method for a decorative, easy to install privacy fencing system and method therefor. With regard to certain aspects of an embodiment of the invention, a customizable fencing and privacy enclosure system is provided comprising vertical clamp members and a preferably decorative fabric sheet providing at least some level of ventilation therethrough, such system being configured for attachment to existing fence posts or newly installed fence posts. Such system is comprised of a small number of simplistic components that allow a do-it-yourself homeowner (or other person not particularly advanced as a skilled craftsman) to easily install, customize, and adjust the system to fit the homeowner's particular needs and aesthetic desires. Such system provides a sense of privacy and a sleek aesthetic appearance while providing at least some amount of ventilation. The fabric sheet may be comprised of mesh, in order to provide increased ventilation, or a more substantial fabric to increase privacy. The system may also be easily disassembled in order to conduct maintenance on the system or to change the style, color, or other design of the fabric sheet. The system also provides a variety of configurations of fencing, as the components that comprise the system may be cut or otherwise sized to the homeowner's size and specification requirements. Also, while the primary use of such system is for use as privacy fencing, such system could also be used for many functional and decorative fencing and enclosure applications.
Also disclosed herein is a method for installing such a system on existing or newly installed fence posts, which method is designed to be carried out by a homeowner or other installer having minimal craftsman skill (such as a do-it-yourself homeowner).
The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The following description is of a particular embodiment of the invention, set out to enable one to practice an implementation of the invention, and is not intended to limit the preferred embodiment, but to serve as a particular example thereof. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and specific embodiments disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other methods and systems for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent assemblies do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.
With reference to
As shown in
Also as shown in
Similarly, a lower cross member 130 may optionally be provided that also extends between and is attached to two, adjacent, facing vertical clamp members 110 for each fabric sheet 150, but at a lower position along vertical claim member 110 from upper cross member 120. Lower cross member 130 will further assist in maintaining a fixed distance between adjacent, facing vertical clamp members 110, and also provides support for a bottom edge of fabric sheet 150. As with the connection to upper cross member 120, the bottom edge of fabric sheet 150 may optionally be joined to lower cross member 130, such as by way of threaded fasteners such as screws, by use of hook and loop fastening material or snaps, or any other connecting device that will hold the top edge of fabric sheet 150 in place during typical use, but that will allow its intentional removal therefrom when desired by homeowner.
The configuration of customizable fencing system 100 shown in
Vertical clamp member 110 has an interior face 112 (the face that points toward an opposing vertical clamp member 110 at the opposite end of a single fabric sheet 150), and an exterior face 113 (the face that points toward the immediately adjacent fence post 200). A series of preferably vertically aligned holes 114 extend along the length of interior face 112, each hole passing through the width of vertical clamp member 110 and out through exterior face 113. Vertically aligned holes 114 are configured to receive semi-permanent connectors 115, such as screws or similarly configured threaded connectors, and most preferably stainless steel screws, as discussed above. Optionally, in the event that vertical clamp members 110 are to be attached to irregularly shaped fence posts 200, shims, washers, or the like may be provided between such irregularly shaped fence posts 200 and the adjacent vertical clamp member 110 to keep vertical clamp member 110 vertically aligned, and more particularly parallel to a facing vertical clamp member 110 at the opposite end of a single fabric sheet 150.
Preferably, an end cap 116 is provided at an upper end of each vertical clamp member 110, such as a nylon end cap, to provide a clean, finished appearance to the end of each vertical clamp member 110.
Further, in those installations of customizable fencing system 100 that utilize upper cross member 120 and/or lower cross member 130, a fitting 118 may be provided on the interior face 112 of vertical clamp member 110, which fitting 118 is configured to receive an end of each of upper cross member 120 and lower cross member 130. Optionally, each of upper cross members 120 and lower cross member 130 may be semi-permanently joined to each such fitting 118, such as by use of a screw or similarly configured connecting device.
In certain embodiments of the invention, fitting 118 may be configured to fit within an interior of each end of upper cross member 120 and lower cross member 130 so as to provide a clean intersection between each end of upper cross member 120 and lower cross member 130 and each adjacent clamp member 110, maintaining a sleek and aesthetically appealing appearance. In such embodiments, and with particular reference to
Next,
Front face 122 of upper cross member 120 may optionally be provided a plurality of connectors, such as snaps 126 or sections (or a single section) of hook and loop fastening material for joining top edge 152 of fabric sheet 150 to front face 122 of upper cross member 120. Similarly, in those installations in which a lower cross member 130 is used, front face 122 of lower cross member 130 is likewise provided such snaps 126 or other connectors for joining bottom edge 154 of fabric sheet 150 to lower cross member 130.
Referring again to
Next,
The above described customizable fencing system 100 is configured as a highly simplistic system that maintains aesthetic appeal, provides a privacy fencing function, provides opportunity for a homeowner to easily change such aesthetics as they may desire (such as by switching out one fabric sheet 150 having one decorative pattern 158 thereon with another fabric sheet 150 having a distinct decorative pattern 158 thereon), and through its simplistic design may be easily installed by a homeowner having minimal craftsman skill. In accordance with further aspects of an embodiment of the invention, such simplistic system may be installed by way of the following method.
As shown in
The foregoing method describes the installation of a single section of customizable fencing system 100 between two adjacent fence posts 200, and would be repeated as necessary in order to install fabric sheets 150 between all fence posts 150 that are to be included in the installation.
Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein.
Claims
1. A customizable fencing system comprising:
- a first vertical clamp member configured for attachment to a first existing fence post, said first vertical clamp member having an interior face, an exterior face, a front face, a back face, a top end, a bottom end, and a plurality of holes extending through said first vertical clamp member from said interior face to said exterior face;
- a second vertical clamp member identical in construction to said first vertical clamp member and configured for attachment to a second existing fence post, said second vertical clamp member being positioned with respect to said first vertical clamp member so that said interior face of said first vertical clamp member faces an interior face of said second vertical clamp member;
- a flexible fabric sheet extending over said front face and said exterior face of each of said first and second vertical clamp members and extending beyond an intersection of said rear face and said exterior face of at least one of said first and second vertical clamp members, and having a height dimension that is less than a height dimension of each of said first and second vertical clamp members; and
- a semi-permanent connector extending through each said vertical clamp member from said interior face to said exterior face and through said flexible fabric sheet, said semi-permanent connectors being configured to anchor each said vertical clamp member to a fence post with the full said height dimension of said flexible fabric sheet clamped between said exterior face of each said vertical clamp member and an adjacent fence post.
2. The customizable fencing system of claim 1, wherein said height dimension of said flexible fabric sheet is less than a distance between a top-most hole in each of said vertical clamp members and a bottom-most hole in each of said vertical clamp members.
3. The customizable fencing system of claim 1, wherein said flexible fabric sheet further comprises a decorative pattern on at least one side of said flexible fabric sheet.
4. The customizable fencing system of claim 1, further comprising an upper cross member extending between said first vertical clamp member and said second vertical clamp member.
5. The customizable fencing system of claim 4, wherein a top edge of said fabric sheet is aligned with a top edge of said upper cross member.
6. The customizable fencing system of claim 5, further comprising a lower cross member extending between said first vertical clamp member and said second vertical clamp member and vertically below said upper cross member.
7. The customizable fencing system of claim 6, wherein a bottom edge of said fabric sheet is aligned with a lower edge of said lower cross member.
8. The customizable fencing system of claim 1, wherein said flexible fabric sheet extends beyond intersection of said rear face and said exterior face of both of said first and second vertical clamp members.
9. The customizable fencing system of claim 8, wherein said flexible fabric sheet extends beyond said intersections by at least 2 inches.
10. The customizable fencing system of claim 1, wherein said fabric sheet comprises a mesh fabric.
11. The customizable fencing system of claim 1, wherein said fabric sheet comprises a breathable material allowing air to pass therethrough.
12. The customizable fencing system of claim 1, wherein each of said vertical clamp members comprises a hollow tube, said system further comprising a nylon end cap positioned with each of said top end and said bottom end of each said vertical clamp member.
13. The customizable fencing system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a first fence post, wherein said first vertical clamp member is attached to said first fence post with said fabric sheet clamped between said first fence post and said first vertical clamp member; and
- a second fence post, wherein said second vertical clamp member is attached to said second fence post with said fabric sheet clamped between said second fence post and said second vertical clamp member.
14. A method for installing a customizable fencing system, comprising:
- providing a first vertical clamp member configured for attachment to a fence post, said first vertical clamp member having an interior face, an exterior face, a front face, a back face, a top end, a bottom end, and a plurality of holes extending through said first vertical clamp member from said interior face to said exterior face;
- providing a second vertical clamp member identical in construction to said first vertical clamp member and configured for attachment to a fence post;
- providing a plurality of semi-permanent connectors configured to anchor each said first and second vertical clamp member to a fence post;
- attaching said first vertical clamp member to a first fence post with one of said semi-permanent connectors through a top-most one of said holes, and another of said semi-permanent connectors through a bottom-most one of said holes in said first vertical clamp member;
- providing a flexible fabric sheet having a height dimension that is less than a height dimension of each of said first and second vertical clamp members;
- extending a first end of said flexible fabric sheet over said front face and said exterior face of said first vertical clamp member so that the full said height dimension of said flexible fabric sheet is positioned between said top-most hole and said bottom-most hole in said first vertical clamp member;
- installing a semi-permanent connector in said holes between said top-most hole and said bottom-most hole and extending through said first vertical clamp member and said fabric sheet and into said first fence post so as to clamp said fabric sheet between said first vertical clamp member and said first fence post;
- attaching said second vertical clamp member to a second fence post with one of said semi-permanent connectors through a top-most one of said holes in said second vertical clamp member, and another of said semi-permanent connectors through a bottom-most one of said holes in said second vertical clamp member, with said second vertical clamp member positioned with respect to said first vertical clamp member so that said interior faces of said first and second vertical clamp members face each other;
- extending a second end of said flexible sheet over said front face and said exterior face of said second vertical clamp member so that the full said height dimension of said flexible fabric sheet is positioned between said top-most hole and said bottom-most hole in said second vertical clamp member; and
- pulling said second end of said flexible sheet so that said flexible sheet is taught, with said second end of said flexible sheet extending beyond an intersection of said rear face and said exterior face of said second vertical clamp member, and installing a semi-permanent connector in each of said holes between said top-most hole and said bottom-most hole in said second vertical clamp member and extending through said second vertical clamp member and said fabric sheet and into said second fence post so as to clamp said fabric sheet between said first vertical clamp member and said first fence post.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of aligning a top edge of said fabric sheet with an intended position of a top face of cross member to be installed between said first and second vertical clamp members.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of placing a cross member between said vertical clamp members so that a top face of said cross member is aligned with a top edge of said fabric sheet.
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of trimming side portions of said fabric sheet that extend beyond a rear face of either of said first or second vertical clamp members following a period of time sufficient to allow acclimation of said customizable fencing system to an environment in which it is installed.
18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of removing said fabric sheet and thereafter re-installing said fabric sheet according to the steps of claim 14.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 19, 2013
Publication Date: Dec 26, 2013
Inventors: Maureen D. Bergner (Middle River, MD), Frederick E. Bergner (Middle River, MD)
Application Number: 13/921,472
International Classification: E04H 17/16 (20060101);