# US 12,180,736 B2 · Warp resistant fence panel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,180,736 B2 - Document ID: US12180736B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/424,390 - Filed: 2024-01-26 - Published: 2024-10-31 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2023-01-30 - Applicants: Brett Jason Richison - Inventors: Brett Jason Richison - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180736B2 ## CPC - E04H 17/1602: {Using wooden, plastic or composite-material panel-like elements} - E04H 17/165: {using panels with rigid filling and frame} - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) ## Abstract A fence having a frame for receiving fence panels and the fence panels that are preferably received in the frame vertically or horizontally. The fence panel has a reinforcing structure surrounded by panel structure for preventing bowing due to differential heating over the panel. The reinforcing structure may have longitudinal members separated by cross-members for forming channels, and may have external tab portions to facilitate connection with the panel structure. The panel structure may define a tongue and groove for matingly fitting with adjacent panels. The width of the reinforcing structure, and panel structure material on either side of the reinforcing structure preferably define equal thicknesses. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fence panel comprising: a reinforcing structure having a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end, a first edge and a second edge, wherein a distance between said first side and said second side defines a width, and wherein a distance between said first end and said second end define a length; a panel structure having a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end, a first edge and a second edge, said panel structure defining a first side thickness between said first side of said reinforcing structure and said first side of said panel structure, said panel structure defining a second side thickness between said second side of said reinforcing structure and said second side of said panel structure; said reinforcing structure having a first longitudinal member on said first side and a second longitudinal member on said second side, cross-members between said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member, wherein said cross-members define a height between said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member, wherein said cross-members, said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member define at least one chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fence panel according to claim 1 further comprising: at least one first tab portion extending outwardly from said first longitudinal member by a length; and at least one second tab portion extending outwardly from said second longitudinal member by a length. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fence panel according to claim 2 wherein: said at least one first tab portion has a terminal end defining a widened portion and said at least one second tab portion has a terminal end defining a widened portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The fence panel according to claim 2 wherein: said length of said at least one first tab portion and said length of said at least one second tab portion is between 25% and 30% of said height of said cross-members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fence panel according to claim 1 wherein said reinforcing structure is metallic. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fence panel according to claim 1 wherein: said panel structure defines a tongue protrusion on one of said first edge and said second edge and a groove indentation on the other of said first edge and said second edge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fence panel according to claim 6 wherein: said tongue protrusion defines a terminal end surface; said groove indentation defines an inner wall surface; and said panel structure defines a longitudinal distance from said terminal end surface to said inner wall surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fence panel according to claim 7 wherein: said length of said reinforcing structure is between 85% and 95% of said longitudinal distance of said panel structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fence panel according to claim 1 wherein: said width of said reinforcing structure, said first side thickness of said panel structure, and said second side thickness of said panel structure are approximately equal. ### Claim 10 A fence comprising: a frame having vertical and horizontal members; a fence panel received within said frame, said fence panel having a reinforcing structure having a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end, a first edge and a second edge, wherein a distance between said first side and said second side defines a width, and wherein a distance between said first end and said second end define a length, said fence panel having a panel structure surrounding said reinforcing structure, said panel structure having a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end, a first edge and a second edge, said panel structure defining a first side thickness between said first side of said reinforcing structure and said first side of said panel structure, said panel structure defining a second side thickness between said second side of said reinforcing structure and said second side of said panel structure; said reinforcing structure having a first longitudinal member on said first side and a second longitudinal member on said second side, said reinforcing structure having cross-members between said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member wherein said cross-members define a height between said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member, wherein said cross-members, said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member define at least one chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fence of claim 10 wherein: said fence panel is horizontally received within said frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The fence of claim 10 wherein: said fence panel is vertically received within said frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The fence panel according to claim 10 further comprising: at least one first tab portion extending outwardly from said first longitudinal member by a length and at least one second tab portion extending outwardly from said second longitudinal member by a length. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fence panel according to claim 13 wherein: said at least one first tab portion has a terminal end defining a widened portion and said at least one second tab portion has a terminal end defining a widened portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The fence panel according to claim 13 wherein: said length of said at least one first tab portion and said length of said at least one second tab portion is between 25% and 30% of said height of said cross-members. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The fence panel according to claim 10 wherein said reinforcing structure is metallic. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The fence panel according to claim 10 wherein: said panel structure defines a tongue protrusion on one of said first edge and said second edge and a groove indentation on the other of said first edge and said second edge. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The fence panel according to claim 17 wherein: said tongue protrusion defines a terminal end surface; said groove indentation defines an inner wall surface; and said panel structure defines a longitudinal distance from said terminal end surface to said inner wall surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The fence panel according to claim 18 wherein: said length of said reinforcing structure is between 85% and 95% of a said longitudinal distance of said panel structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The fence panel according to claim 10 wherein: said width of said reinforcing structure, said first side thickness of said panel structure, and said second side thickness of said panel structure are approximately equal. ### Claim 21 A fence panel comprising: a reinforcing structure having a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end; a panel structure having a first side, a second side, said panel structure defining a first side thickness between said first side of said reinforcing structure and said first side of said panel structure, said panel structure defining a second side thickness between said second side of said reinforcing structure and said second side of said panel structure; said reinforcing structure having a first longitudinal member on said first side and a second longitudinal member on said second side, said longitudinal members forming at least a portion of at least one chamber therebetween. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The fence panel according to claim 21 further comprising: cross-members between said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member, wherein said cross-members define a height between said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member, wherein said cross-members, said first longitudinal member, and said second longitudinal member define said at least one chamber. ### Claim 23 A fence panel comprising: a reinforcing structure having a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end; a panel structure having a first side, a second side, said panel structure defining a first side thickness between said first side of said reinforcing structure and said first side of said panel structure, said panel structure defining a second side thickness between said second side of said reinforcing structure and said second side of said panel structure; said reinforcing structure having a first longitudinal member on said first side and a second longitudinal member on said second side; at least one tab portion extending outwardly from at least one of said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member, said tab portion extending outwardly by a length. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The fence panel according to claim 23 wherein: said at least one tab portion has a terminal end defining a widened portion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The fence panel according to claim 23 wherein: said reinforcing structure having cross-members between said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member, wherein said cross-members define a height between said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member, wherein said cross-members, said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member define at least one chamber. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The fence panel according to claim 25 wherein: said length of said at least one tab portion is between 25% and 30% of said height of said cross-members. ### Claim 27 A fence comprising: a frame having vertical and horizontal members; a fence panel received within said frame, said fence panel having a reinforcing structure having a first side, a second side, a first end, a second end, said fence panel having a panel structure surrounding said reinforcing structure, said panel structure having a first side and a second side, said panel structure defining a first side thickness between said first side of said reinforcing structure and said first side of said panel structure, said panel structure defining a second side thickness between said second side of said reinforcing structure and said second side of said panel structure; said reinforcing structure having a first longitudinal member on said first side and a second longitudinal member on said second side; at least one tab portion extending outwardly from at least one of said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member, said tab portion extending outwardly by a length. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The fence panel according to claim 27 wherein: said at least one tab portion has a terminal end defining a widened portion. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The fence panel according to claim 27 further comprising: cross-members between said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member, wherein said cross-members define a height between said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member, wherein said cross-members, said first longitudinal member and said second longitudinal member define at least one chamber. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The fence panel according to claim 29 wherein: said length of said at least one tab portion is between 25% and 30% of said height of said cross-members.