Modular Fence Assembly
A modular fence assembly constructed of grade ASTM A-36 to G-50 hardness pre-painted galvanized steel sheet metal with an ASTM A-40 to G-90 coating thickness. The modular fence assembly is solid in construction and is not easily overcome by bolt cutters, axes, or sledge hammers nor is it easily climbable. The posts of the present modular fence assembly have built-in depth markers to ensure uniformity during installation and have anchors that help withstand harsh weather, heavy impact, and prevent them from being pulled out from the ground by trespassers.
This non-provisional application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/753,101, titled NEW METAL FENCE, filed on February 3, 2025 in the name of the Applicant herein, and incorporated herein in full by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to the field of fences. More specifically, the present invention is a modular fence assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFences have been used to obstruct passage into or out of a particular area and to mark boundaries of an area. Currently, fences are typically made of wire, wooden boards, or similar materials. Those wire and wooden fences, however, have proven to be easily overcome. For example, a person may use the holes in a chain-link fence as footholds to simply climb over it. Alternatively, a person may use bolt cutters to cut through the wire fence. A person may bypass a wooden fence by breaking through the wood with an axe or sledge hammer or by pulling up the wooden stakes that anchor the wooden slats.
The modular fence assembly of the present invention allows for variations in its installation. All components of the fence assembly are constructed of grade American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) A-36 to G-50 hardness pre-painted galvanized steel sheet metal with an ASTM A-40 to G-90 coating thickness. The components are then re-painted to the user’s chosen color scheme, assuring the best possible weather guard against rust or corrosion. Furthermore, this type of steel is not easily overcome by bolt cutters, axes, or sledge hammers. The modular fence assembly of the present invention also does not have any holes for a person to use as footholds, and is therefore not so easily climbable. The posts of the present modular fence assembly are also shaped and installed in such a way that they cannot be easily pulled out from the ground.
The present disclosure provides for a modular fence assembly that is easy to install and difficult to bypass. Other benefits and advantages will become clear from the disclosure provided herein and those advantages provided are for illustration. The statements in this section merely provide the background related to the present disclosure and do not constitute prior art.
SUMMARYThis summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the DESCRIPTION OF THE DISLCOSURE. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, a modular fence assembly is disclosed. The modular fence assembly comprises a plurality of fence units positioned side-by-side. Each fence unit comprises: two H-beam posts; a plurality of modular panels between the two H-beam posts; and a top lock coupled to a top end of each of the two H-beam posts.
In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, a modular fence assembly is disclosed. The modular fence assembly comprises a plurality of fence units positioned side-by-side. Each fence unit comprises: two H-beam posts, each H-beam post comprising a galvanized steel sheet roll-formed into an H-shape that has a front wall, a rear wall, and a middle wall positioned between the front wall and the rear wall. The fence unit also has a plurality of modular panels inserted between the two H-beam posts. Each modular panel comprises: two corrugated sheets; a core positioned between the two corrugated sheets; and a frame surrounding and holding the two corrugated sheets and core together. The fence unit also has a top lock coupled to a top end of each of the two H-beam posts.
In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, a modular fence assembly is disclosed. The modular fence assembly comprises a plurality of fence units positioned side-by-side. Each fence unit comprises: two roll-formed H-beam posts, each H-beam post having a front wall, a rear wall, a middle wall positioned between the front wall and the rear wall. Each H-beam post also has a marker on each side that is positioned at 2 ft (0.61 m) from a bottom of the H-beam post, and the marker is coupled to and positioned perpendicular to the middle wall, the front wall, and the rear wall. Each H-beam post also has a top reinforced anchor on each side of the H-beam post that is positioned 6 in (15.24 cm) below the marker. The top reinforced anchor is coupled to and positioned perpendicular to the middle wall and the front wall of the H-beam post. Each H-beam post also has a bottom reinforced anchor on each side of the H-beam post that is positioned 6 in (15.24 cm) above the bottom of the H-beam post. The bottom reinforced anchor is coupled to and positioned perpendicular to the middle wall and the rear wall of the H-beam post. The fence unit also has a plurality of modular panels that are inserted between the two H-beam posts and that are positioned on top of the marker of each H-beam post. Each modular panel comprises: two corrugated sheets; a core positioned between the two corrugated sheets; and a frame surrounding and holding the two corrugated sheets and core together. The fence unit also has a top lock coupled to a top end of each of the two H-beam posts.
The novel features believed to be characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. In the descriptions that follow, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing FIGURES are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain FIGURES may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present disclosure may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of blocks for constructing and operating the disclosure in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.
Each modular panel 26 used in a fence unit 12 may have an internal core 28.
The core 28 may also have one or more vertical reinforcement members 36, spaced evenly along the length of the core 28. Each vertical reinforcement member 36 is coupled at one end to the inner surface of the top C-shaped core member 30 and coupled at its opposite end to the inner surface of the bottom C-shaped core member 32. In the embodiment shown, the core 28 may have three vertical reinforcement members 36, but this number may vary, depending upon the length of the core 28. The vertical reinforcement members 36 and the two side C-shaped core members 34 are evenly spaced apart from each other and are positioned perpendicularly to the top C-shaped core member 30 and the bottom C-shaped core member 32.
The core 28 may also have a plurality of corner reinforcement members 38. In this embodiment, there is one corner reinforcement member 38 coupled at each of the four corners of the core 28. Each corner reinforcement member 38 is coupled at one end to the inner surface of either the top C-shaped core member 30 or the inner surface of the bottom C-shaped core member 32 and is also coupled at its opposite end to the inner surface of a side C-shaped core member 34. The corner reinforcement members 38 form 45° angles at each corner of the core 28.
As shown in
Each modular panel 26 is held together by a galvanized steel frame that is made up of a top C-shaped frame member 44, a bottom C-shaped frame member 46, and two side C-shaped frame members 48. According to one embodiment, the top C-shaped frame member 44, the bottom C-shaped frame member 46, and the two side C-shaped frame members 48 may all have a body that is 3.875 in (9.843 cm) wide and two sides that are each 2.25 in (5.715 cm) wide, where the sides are positioned at 90° angles to the body. It should be clearly understood that these dimensions are provided as an example and that further substantial benefit may be derived from other suitable widths.
When assembling a modular panel 26, one internal core 28 is placed between two corrugated sheets 40. The corrugated sheets 40 will have the same length and width as the internal core 28 so that the two corrugated sheets 40 completely overlap the front and rear of the core 28. The two side C-shaped frame members 48 are slid over the two side C-shaped core members 34 and the two side edges of the corrugated sheets 40 and secured thereto with screws 50 or other suitable means. The top C-shaped frame member 44 is then slid over the top ends of the side C-shaped frame members 48, thus also covering the top C-shaped core member 30 and the top edges of the corrugated sheets 40 and secured thereto with screws 50 or other suitable means. Finally, the bottom C-shaped frame member 46 is slid over the bottom ends of the side C-shaped frame members 48, thus also covering the bottom C-shaped core member 32 and the bottom edges of the corrugated sheets 40 and secured thereto with screws 50 or other suitable means.
Referring to
In one embodiment, the width of each reinforced anchor 22 will be half of the width of the middle wall 20 of the H-beam post 14 and its length will be half of the length of the front wall 16 (or the rear wall 18) of the H-beam post 14. For example, if the middle wall 20 of the H-beam post 14 is 4 in (10.16 cm) wide, then the width of each reinforced anchor 22 will be 2 inch (5.08 cm) and if the width of the front wall 16 (or the rear wall 18) of the H-beam post 14 is also 4 in (10.16 cm) wide, then the length of the reinforced anchor 22 will be also be 2 inch (5.08 cm) or less. Each side of the H-beam post 14 may have a top reinforced anchor 22a (referred to generically as reinforced anchor 22) and a bottom reinforced anchor 22b (referred to generically as reinforced anchor 22). The top reinforced anchor 22a will be positioned opposite from the bottom reinforced anchor 22b; e.g. if the top reinforced anchor 22a is coupled to the front wall 16 and the middle wall 20 of the H-beam post 14, then the bottom reinforced anchor 22b will be coupled to the rear wall 18 and the middle wall 20 of the H-beam post 14 and vice versa.
Each H-beam post 14 may also have a marker 24 formed on each side. Each marker 24 is coupled to and positioned perpendicularly with respect to the middle wall 20, the front wall 16, and the rear wall 18 of the H-beam post 14. One long edge of the marker 24 is coupled to the middle wall 20, one side edge of the marker 24 is coupled to the inner surface of the front wall 16, and the other opposite side edge of the marker 24 is coupled to the inner surface of the rear wall 18. In one embodiment, a marker 24 may consist of an L-shaped bracket with one side coupled to and flush with the middle wall 20 of the H-beam post 14 and with the other side of the L-shaped bracket positioned perpendicularly with the middle wall 20. In another embodiment, the marker 24 may be integral to the H-beam post 14 and may extend perpendicularly and outwardly from the middle wall 20.
According to one embodiment, each marker 24 may be rectangularly shaped, with a 4 in (10.16 cm) width and a 2 inch (5.08 cm) length, but it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may be obtained from the markers 24 having alternative dimensions, as long as the length of the markers 24 do not extend past the side edges of the front wall 16 or the rear wall 18 of the H-beam posts 14.
In one embodiment, the width of each marker 24 will be the same as the width of the middle wall 20 of the H-beam post 14 and its length will be half of the length of the front wall 16 (or the rear wall 18) of the H-beam post 14. For example, if the middle wall 20 of the H-beam post 14 is 4 in (10.16 cm) wide, then the width of each marker 24 will be 4 in (10.16 cm) and if the width of the front wall 16 (or the rear wall 18) of the H-beam post 14 is also 4 in (10.16 cm) wide, then the length of the marker 24 will be also be 2 inch (5.08 cm) or less.
The marker 24 will be positioned at the exact same point on all H-beam posts 14 used to install the fence assembly 10. The marker 24 serves as a limit guide for depth during the installation process, allowing the user to eliminate any guess work as to how far they will need to bury the H-beam posts 14. For example, during installation, the user may insert each H-beam post 14 into the ground/concrete 1000 until the ground/concrete 1000 is level with the marker 24. This will help to ensure that the H-beam posts 14 are all level with each other before the modular panels 26 are inserted between the H-beam posts 14. Doing so helps to provide sufficient foundational strength to withstand high velocity winds and direct impacts from large animals, people, or debris. In one embodiment, the marker 24 is positioned at 2 ft (0.6096 m) from the bottom of the H-beam post 14, but it should be clearly understood that the marker 24 may be positioned at an alternative point on the H-beam posts 14 as long as the position is uniform for all of the H-beam posts 14 used in the fence assembly 10.
The marker 24, the top anchor 22a, and the bottom anchor 22b may be spaced out from each other. For example, in one embodiment where the bottom 2 ft (0.6096 m) of the H-beam posts 14 are to be buried under ground 1000, the marker 24 will be positioned at ground level, the top anchor 22a may be positioned 6 in (15.24 cm) below the marker 24, and the bottom anchor 22b may be positioned at 6 in (15.24 cm) from the bottom of the H-beam post 14, thus leaving 1 ft (0.3048 m) between the top anchor 22a and the bottom anchor 22b. While these measurements may be preferred, it should be clearly understood that further substantial benefit may be obtained from alternative spacing measurements.
Referring to
As an example of installation of the fence assembly 10, a user will install a plurality of H-beam posts 14 into pre-dug holes. If the modular panels 26 are 8 ft (2.438 m) long, then the H-beam posts 14 will be spaced apart by about 8 ft 2 in (2.4892 m) so that the modular panels 26 may be slid in between two adjacent H-beam posts 14. Each H-beam post 14, from the marker 24 and below will be inserted into the ground 1000. Quick dry concrete mix will then be poured into the hole to secure the bottom 2 ft (0.6096 m) of each H-beam post 14 into the ground. If the modular panels 26 are 2 ft (0.6096 m) wide, and the desired fence height is 10 ft (3.048 m), then four modular panels 26 will be slid in between two adjacent H-beam posts 14. A top lock 52 having a length of 8 ft 2 in (2.4892 m) will then be positioned on top of each fence unit 12, extending from the middle wall 20 of one H-beam post 14 to the middle wall 20 of the adjacent H-beam post 14. The top lock 52 will then be secured to the top of both H-beam posts 14 with screws 50, preferably one-way slotted screws.
The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the relevant art and generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.
Claims
1. A modular fence assembly comprising a plurality of fence units positioned side-by-side, each fence unit comprising:
- two H-beam posts;
- a plurality of modular panels inserted between the two H-beam posts; and
- a top lock coupled to a top end of each of the two H-beam posts.
2. The modular fence assembly of claim 1, wherein each H-beam post comprises:
- a front wall;
- a rear wall; and
- a middle wall positioned between the front wall and the rear wall.
3. The modular fence assembly of claim 2, wherein the front wall and the rear wall are each positioned perpendicular with the middle wall.
4. The modular fence assembly of claim 2, wherein each H-beam post comprises a galvanized steel sheet roll-formed into an H-shape.
5. The modular fence assembly of claim 4, wherein a first end and a second end of the galvanized steel sheet are each folded inwardly toward the middle wall.
6. The modular fence assembly of claim 3, further comprising a marker on each side of the H-beam post, wherein each marker is coupled to and positioned perpendicular to the middle wall, the front wall, and the rear wall.
7. The modular fence assembly of claim 6, wherein each marker has a width that is equal to a width of the middle wall of the H-beam post and has a length that is equal to half of a length of the front wall or the rear wall.
8. The modular fence assembly of claim 6, wherein each marker of each H-beam post is positioned at a predetermined distance from a bottom of the H-beam post.
9. The modular fence assembly of claim 3, further comprising at least two reinforced anchors on each side of the H-beam post, wherein each reinforced anchor is positioned perpendicular to the middle wall and has one side edge coupled to an inner surface of the front wall or an inner surface of the rear wall.
10. The modular fence assembly of claim 9, wherein each reinforced anchor has a width that is half of a width of the middle wall of the H-beam post and has a length that is half of a length of the front wall or the rear wall.
11. The modular fence assembly of claim 9, wherein the two reinforced anchors are positioned opposite from each other.
12. The modular fence assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least two reinforced anchors comprise:
- a bottom reinforced anchor positioned at a predetermined distance from a bottom of the H-beam post; and
- a top reinforced anchor positioned at a predetermined distance above the bottom reinforced anchor.
13. The modular fence assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of modular panels comprises:
- two corrugated sheets;
- a core positioned between the two corrugated sheets; and
- a frame surrounding and holding the two corrugated sheets and core together.
14. A modular fence assembly comprising a plurality of fence units positioned side-by-side, each fence unit comprising:
- two H-beam posts, each H-beam post comprising a galvanized steel sheet roll-formed into an H-shape having: a front wall; a rear wall; and a middle wall positioned between the front wall and the rear wall;
- a plurality of modular panels inserted between the two H-beam posts, each modular panel comprising: two corrugated sheets; a core positioned between the two corrugated sheets; and a frame surrounding and holding the two corrugated sheets and core together; and a top lock coupled to a top end of each of the two H-beam posts.
15. The modular fence assembly of claim 14, wherein each side of each H-beam post further comprises a marker coupled to and positioned perpendicular to the middle wall, the front wall, and the rear wall, the marker being positioned at a predetermined distance from a bottom of the H-beam post.
16. The modular fence assembly of claim 15, wherein each marker has a width that is equal to a width of the middle wall of the H-beam post and has a length that is equal to half of a length of the front wall or the rear wall of the H-beam post.
17. The modular fence assembly of claim 14, wherein each side of each H-beam post further comprises:
- a first reinforced anchor coupled to and positioned perpendicular to the middle wall and the front wall of the H-beam post; and
- a second reinforced anchor coupled to and positioned perpendicular to the middle wall and the rear wall of the H-beam post.
18. The modular fence assembly of claim 17, wherein the first reinforced anchor and the second reinforced anchor each has a width that is half of a width of the middle wall of the H-beam post and has a length that is half of a length of the front wall or the rear wall.
19. The modular fence assembly of claim 17, wherein the second reinforced anchor is positioned at a predetermined distance from a bottom of the H-beam post and wherein the first reinforced anchor is positioned at a predetermined distance above the second reinforced anchor.
20. A modular fence assembly comprising a plurality of fence units positioned side-by-side, each fence unit comprising:
- two roll-formed H-beam posts, each H-beam post comprising: a front wall; a rear wall; a middle wall positioned between the front wall and the rear wall; a marker on each side of the H-beam post positioned at 2 ft (0.61 m) from a bottom of the H-beam post, the marker being coupled to and positioned perpendicular to the middle wall, the front wall, and the rear wall; a top reinforced anchor on each side of the H-beam post positioned 6 in (15.24 cm) below the marker, the top reinforced anchor being coupled to and positioned perpendicular to the middle wall and the front wall of the H-beam post; and a bottom reinforced anchor on each side of the H-beam post positioned 6 in (15.24 cm) above the bottom of the H-beam post, the bottom reinforced anchor being coupled to and positioned perpendicular to the middle wall and the rear wall of the H-beam post; a plurality of modular panels inserted between the two H-beam posts and positioned on top of the marker of each H-beam post, each modular panel comprising: two corrugated sheets; a core positioned between the two corrugated sheets; and a frame surrounding and holding the two corrugated sheets and core together; and a top lock coupled to a top end of each of the two H-beam posts.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 13, 2025
Publication Date: Aug 6, 2026
Inventor: CESAR ESTRADA (Calexico, CA)
Application Number: 19/237,678