AU742277B1 - A fence post and rail assembly - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PATENT OF ADDITION Name of Applicant: Address for Service: Invention Title: RONALD WILLIAM BEBENDORF SR.W. Bebendorf 63 Michelangelo Cr Mackenzie QId 4156 Australia A FENCE POST AND RAIL ASSEMBLY The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.

This invention relates to a connecting method of poly vinyl chloride or metal fence rails to fence posts without the need for separate fasteners. Connecting method is particularly suited to fence rails that are centrally slotted to accommodate fence palings but need not be limited to such.

House holders and professional fence builders would recognise that conventional post and rail connecting methods are time consuming and/or lack good aesthetics. An inexpensive, quick and easy positive connecting method would be desirable to such people.

The need'for on site specialised tools is negated with this connecting method.

It is the object of the present invention to minimise on site labour costs by providing factory processed detailed connections for fence posts and rails which, when assembled, will display clean cut lines and SO L 4^ ^rnr%1,=+dmr 1 fimnrj nanelsS I .J OLI ~I l I I W llllv The post and rail assembly comprises of a post member, three rail members, two stiffening bars and a plurality of paling members.

Said rail members connect to said post member, said paling members connect to said rail members, said stiffening bars connect to said post and said rail members.

The connection established between post and rail members is through openings on the inside faces of the post member and slotted projections at the ends of rail members. The connection between the rail member and paling member is established by dropping the paling members through a plurality of openings in the rail members. The connection between the stiffening bars, post member and rail members is established by inserting stiffening bars through post openings of a completed fence panel. Stiffening bars are entered into said rail member until they straddle one established batten member. Stiffening bars project an equal distance past the sides of the post member.

The post members and rail members when connected may be at a right angle with respect to one another. Also the rail members and paling members, when connected, may be at a right angle with respect to one another. The rail members and stiffening bars when connected may be parallel with respect to one another.

The post member may be used to locate the rail members.

Typically the post and rail members are formed as a rectangular hollow section which may be metal or poly vinyl chloride and be elongate.

The post members may have a number of openings on the inside faces. Typically there are three openings on each face. Openings can be staggered on each face to accommodate sloping sites. An opening is typically rectangular in shape.

The rail members may have a plurality of openings on one or both edges. The openings may be in alignment. The openings may be rectangular in shape.

At the ends and at the sides and bottom of the rail members maybe projections. T- ;h.a mni hi hl tofn ennaae with the "I rray ut: pluai I I .J openings on the posts.

The paling members may comprise of a pressed hard wood fibre board or poly vinyl chloride which are configured to form a rectangular shape when viewed in plane. They may be elongate and adapted to pass through the rail members.

The stiffening bar members may comprise of kiln dried dressed hard wood which are configured to form a rectangular shape when viewed in plane. They may elongate and can extend from post to post to increase rail strength in exposed terrain. Stiffening bars may be adapted to pass through the rail and post members. Stiffening bars may be adapted to straddle fence palings and fill the cavity between the palings and the internal walls of the fence rails. Stiffening bars would generally be used on the top and centre rails only but would not be limited to such.

An embodiment of the invention will be illustrated with reference to accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 illustrates a partial front view of a fence post and rail assembly including fence palings according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the inside of a fence post member according to figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a partial perspective view of a mid fence rail member and a top rail member.

Figure 4 illustrates a partial perspective view of an assembled post member and top rail member according to figure 1 and figure 2.

Figure 5 illustrates a partial perspective view of an assembled post member, mid rail member and paling member according to figure 1 and figure 4.

Figure 6 illustrates a partial perspective view of an A n-%&krn :r mrmrr ~~lnemnhr nr( l ofifnnine- hnrI momham IQ I Iss3I llIU IosL, IIlU I II I I J III I I I~i il'*v i .ul according to figure 1 and figure 4.

Figure 7 illustrates a partial perspective view of the fence post member, mid rail member and paling member and rail member inserted over the stiffening bars and locked down into the post member according to figure 1 and figure 6.

Figure 8 illustrates a partial perspective view of fence post and rail joining technique according to figure 1 and figure 4.

Referring to figure 1 there is shown a partial fence assembly comprising a post member 1, rail members 2 and paling members 3.

Referring to figures 1, 2 and 4 it can be seen that the post member 1 is formed from a rectangular hollow section. It is hollow and elongate. The post member 1 can have three sets of openings 4 located on its inner walls. The openings 4 are rectangular in shape. Openings can be arranged to allow for the stepping of rails on sloping sites.

Referring to figures 1, 3 and 4 it can be seen that the rail member 2 is formed from a rectangular hollow section. It is hollow and elongate. The rail member 2 has openings 6 located along its length. The openings 6 are rectangular in shape. They are equally spaced along the length on the edge or edges of rail member 2. Extending along at the ends of the side and bottom walls of rail member 2 are hooked shape projections Shape of projections permits rails to enter into post opening 4 and lock down into post openings 4.

Referring to figures 1, 5 and 6 it can be seen that paling member 3 is rectangular in shape when viewed in plane. The paling member 3 is elongate and can be solid or hollow with internal reinforcing ribs.

Referring to figures 1, 4 and 6 post member 1 and rail members 2 can be seen coupled together.

Referring to figures 1, 5 and 6 it can be seen how paling members 3 can be dropped through a centre rail member 2. Bottom rail member is slotted on the top edge only. Top rail member is slotted on the bottom edge only and/or can have a continuous opening along the bottom i 5 edge to accommodaie paling widths.

Referring to figure 6 it can be seen that stiffening bars 7 are inserted into post member I at opening No. 4 and established rail member 2.

Stiffening bars 7 straddle paling member 3. Stiffening bar members project a sufficient distance out of the opposing face of post member 1 to accommodate future rail member 2 and paling member 3.

It should be appreciated that various other minor changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims (7)

1. A fence post and rail assembly comprising a post member, a cap member, a plurality of rail members, a plurality of paling members and a plurality of stiffening bars, said rail members locate in said post member and are strengthened by said stiffening bars, said post member has three openings typically at opposing sides but not limited to such, said rail members connect to said post member, said rail members have equally spaced slots along the centre of one or both edges, or may have a central continuous opening along one edge, said rail members have projections at said rail ends, shape of projections allows said rail members to lock into said post openings, said paling members connect to said rail members, said paling members each have a thickness and width complimentary to and substantially equal in dimension to the slots in said rail members, said stiffening bar members are located in said post and said rail members, said stiffening brs lorate in said post and said rai assemblies afier the completion of a fence panel, said stiffening bars straddle the assembled said fence paling nearest the said post member, said stiffening bars project into adjoining fence panel cavity a distance equal to installed section in assembled fence panel, said stiffening bar members each have a thickness and width complimentary to and substantially equal to said post opening height and cavity between inside face of said rail member and face of said paling member.

2. The fence assembly of claim 1 wherein the said stiffening bars locate in said post and said rail members to increase strength of assembled said post and said rail members, said stiffening bars may extend post to post to increase overall strength of an assembled fence panel in exposed areas.

3. The fence assembly of claim 1 wherein the said post member is perpendicular to the said rail member when connected.

4. The fence assembly of claim 1 wherein the said paling members are perpendicular to the said rail members when installed.

The fence assembly of claim 1 wherein the said paling members are parallel to the said post member when connected.

6. The fence assembly of claim 1 wherein the said members are preferably formed from poly vinyl chloride but need not be limited to such, said post member, said rail members and said paling members are formed into rectangular hollow sections.

7. A method of constructing a fence post and rail assembly comprising a single post member, said post member that typically has three openings on opposing sides, a plurality of rail members, said rail members which have continuous equally spaced slots along the centre of one or two edges or a central continuous opening along one edge to accommodate a plurality of paling members, said rail members which have end projections shaped to project half way into said post member which then push down and lock into said post member, said paling members drop through a plurality of mid rail members and bottom rail members, a plurality of top rail members, said top rail members are then entered into slots in the top of the said post, entered over the tops of said paling members and locked down into said post, a single post cap member, said post cap is fitted over said post, a plurality of stiffening bars, said stiffening bars are entered into said post openings and are installed into said established rail members, terminating at the far side of the first said paling, said stiffening bar members straddle the first said paling and partially fill the cavity between the inside face of the said fence rail and the face of the said paling, said stiffening bar members project into the adjoining fence panel cavity a distance equal to installed section in the assembled fence panel, said rail members adjoining completed fence panel are entered over established said stiffening bars and entered into post openings and locked down into said post member. DATED this 25th day of May 2001 RONALD WILLIAM BEBENDORF