FENCE RAIL DEVICE

Abstract

A fence rail device includes a rail elongated between a first end and a second end. The rail has an outer wall having a top section, a pair of side sections, and a bottom section defining a hollow interior. A slot extends through the bottom section to define a pair of lateral bottom edges. A top cross wall is spaced from the top section of the outer wall to define an upper interior space and a bottom cross wall is positioned between the top cross wall and the bottom section to define a middle interior space and a lower interior space. Each of a pair of lower walls extends between the bottom section and the bottom cross wall proximate to a respective one of the side sections. Each of a pair of medial walls extends between the bottom cross wall and the top cross wall.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to fence rail devices and more particularly pertains to a new fence rail device for facilitating construction and enhancing durability of a fence construction.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to fence rail devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a rail elongated between a first end and a second end. The rail has an outer wall having a top section, a pair of side sections, and a bottom section defining a hollow interior. A slot extends through the bottom section to define a pair of lateral bottom edges. A top cross wall is spaced from the top section of the outer wall to define an upper interior space and a bottom cross wall is positioned between the top cross wall and the bottom section to define a middle interior space and a lower interior space. Each of a pair of lower walls extends between the bottom section and the bottom cross wall proximate to a respective one of the side sections. Each of a pair of medial walls extends between the bottom cross wall and the top cross wall.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a fence rail device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a detailed top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure as indicated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a left side end view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a right side end view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new fence rail embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the fence rail device 10 generally comprises a rail 12. The rail 12 has a first end 14 and a second end 16. The rail 12 is elongated between the first end 14 and the second end 16. The rail 12 comprises an outer wall 18 defining a hollow interior 20 extending between the first end 14 and the second end 16. For purposes of description the rail 12 is described relative to the orientation shown at the top of FIG. 1. The rail 12 is also used in an inverted position as shown at the bottom of FIG. 1. The outer wall 18 has a top section 22, a pair of side sections 24, and a bottom section 26. The top section 22 is generally parallel to the bottom section 26 and the side sections 24 are parallel to each other. The side sections 24 are substantially planar except as described below.

A slot 28 extends through the bottom section 26 and fully along a length of the rail 12 between the first end 14 and the second end 16 to define a pair of lateral bottom edges 30.

Each of a pair of cross walls 34 is planar. Each of the cross walls 34 extends between the side sections 24. The pair of cross walls 34 includes a top cross wall 36 and a bottom cross wall 38. The top cross wall 36 is spaced from the top section 22 of the outer wall 18 to define an upper interior space 40 within the outer wall 18. The bottom cross wall 38 is positioned between the top cross wall 34 and the bottom section 26 to define a middle interior space 42 above the bottom cross wall 38 and a lower interior space 44 under the bottom cross wall 38.

Each of a pair of lower walls 46 is coupled to and extends between the bottom section 26 and the bottom cross wall 38. Each of the lower walls 46 is positioned proximate to a respective one of the side sections 24. Each of the lateral bottom edges 30 extends inwardly from a base 48 of an associated one of the lower walls 46 defining a pair of spaced lips 50 extending between the first end 14 and the second end 16 of the rail 12. Each of a pair of medial walls 52 is coupled to and extends between the bottom cross wall 38 and the top cross wall 36. A distance between the medial walls 52 is less than a distance between the lower walls 46. An outward face 54 of each of the medial walls 52 is vertically aligned with an associated one of the lateral bottom edges 30.

Each of a pair of upper grooves 56 extends into a respective one of the side sections 24 of the outer wall 18 of the rail 12. Similarly, each of a pair of lower grooves 58 extends into a respective one of the side sections 24 of the outer wall 18 of the rail 12. Each of the side sections 24 has a constant thickness wherein each of the upper grooves 56 defines a corresponding upper interior ridge 60 within the hollow interior 20 and each of the lower grooves 58 defines a corresponding lower interior ridge 64 within the hollow interior 20. Each of the upper interior ridges 60 is positioned within the medial interior space 42 adjacent to the top cross wall 36. Each of the lower interior ridges 64 is positioned within the lower interior space 44 adjacent to the bottom cross wall 38. A distance between the top cross wall 36 and the top section 22 is less than a distance between the bottom cross wall 38 and the bottom section 26.

In use, the described positional relationships and structures enhance stiffness and connection of the rail 12 to end supports 66. The rail 12 is one of a pair of rails 12 having the same structure as described above. The slot 28 of one rail 12 receives and covers the top 68 of panels 70. The fence rail device 10 is described above in the orientation for a top rail position. A second rail 12 is used and is inverted as shown at the bottom of FIG. 1. The slot 28 receives the bottom end 74 of the panels 70 using end supports 66, also in an inverted position. In combination with fence posts 72, panels 70, and the end supports 66, the fence rail device 10 facilitates construction of a durable fence structure.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A fence rail device comprising:

a rail, said rail having a first end and a second end, said rail being elongated between said first end and said second end, said rail comprising an outer wall defining a hollow interior extending between said first end and said second end, said outer wall having a top section, a pair of side sections, and a bottom section, said side sections being parallel to each other, said side sections being substantially planar;

a slot extending through said bottom section between said first end and said second end to define a pair of lateral bottom edges;

a pair of cross walls, each of said cross walls being planar, each of said cross walls extending between said side sections, said pair of cross walls including a top cross wall and a bottom cross wall, said top cross wall being spaced from said top section of said outer wall to define an upper interior space within said outer wall, said bottom cross wall being positioned between said top cross wall and said bottom section to define a middle interior space above said bottom cross wall and a lower interior space under said bottom cross wall;

a pair of lower walls, each of said lower walls being coupled to and extending between said bottom section and said bottom cross wall, each of said lower walls being positioned proximate to a respective one of said side sections; and

a pair of medial walls, each of said medial walls being coupled to and extending between said bottom cross wall and said top cross wall.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a distance between said medial walls being less than a distance between said lower walls.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pair of upper grooves, each of said upper grooves extending into a respective one of said side sections of said outer wall of said rail.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising each of said side sections having a constant thickness wherein each of said upper grooves defines a corresponding upper interior ridge within said hollow interior.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising each of said upper interior ridges being positioned within said medial interior space adjacent to said top cross wall

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pair of lower grooves, each of said lower grooves extending into a respective one of said side sections of said outer wall of said rail.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising each of said side sections having a constant thickness wherein each of said lower grooves defines a corresponding lower interior ridge within said hollow interior.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising each of said lower interior ridges being positioned within said lower interior space adjacent to said bottom cross wall.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising each of said lateral bottom edges extending inwardly from a base of an associated one of said lower walls defining a pair of spaced lips extending between said first end and said second end of said rail.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a distance between said top cross wall and said top section being less than a distance between said bottom wall and said bottom section.

11. A fence rail device comprising:

a rail, said rail having a first end and a second end, said rail being elongated between said first end and said second end, said rail comprising an outer wall defining a hollow interior extending between said first end and said second end, said outer wall having a top section, a pair of side sections, and a bottom section, said side sections being parallel to each other, said side sections being substantially planar;

a slot extending through said bottom section between said first end and said second end to define a pair of lateral bottom edges;

a pair of cross walls, each of said cross walls being planar, each of said cross walls extending between said side sections, said pair of cross walls including a top cross wall and a bottom cross wall, said top cross wall being spaced from said top section of said outer wall to define an upper interior space within said outer wall, said bottom cross wall being positioned between said top cross wall and said bottom section to define a middle interior space above said bottom cross wall and a lower interior space under said bottom cross wall;

a pair of lower walls, each of said lower walls being coupled to and extending between said bottom section and said bottom cross wall, each of said lower walls being positioned proximate to a respective one of said side sections, each of said lateral bottom edges extending inwardly from a base of an associated one of said lower walls defining a pair of spaced lips extending between said first end and said second end of said rail; and

a pair of medial walls, each of said medial walls being coupled to and extending between said bottom cross wall and said top cross wall, a distance between said medial walls being less than a distance between said lower walls;

a pair of upper grooves, each of said upper grooves extending into a respective one of said side sections of said outer wall of said rail;

a pair of lower grooves, each of said lower grooves extending into a respective one of said side sections of said outer wall of said rail;

each of said side sections having a constant thickness wherein each of said upper grooves defines a corresponding upper interior ridge within said hollow interior and each of said lower grooves defines a corresponding lower interior ridge within said hollow interior, each of said upper interior ridges being positioned within said medial interior space adjacent to said top cross wall, each of said lower interior ridges being positioned within said lower interior space adjacent to said bottom cross wall; and

a distance between said top cross wall and said top section being less than a distance between said bottom wall and said bottom section.