Back to results
US 12,392,162 B2Granted
Fence system
AssigneeVision Extrusions Limited
InventorsPeter McCarthy, Vic DeZen, Rolf J. Ohrstrom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fence section includes an upper horizontal rail, a lower horizontal rail, and vertical members. At least one of the vertical members is connected to the upper horizontal rail by an upper connection system and to the lower horizontal rail by a lower connection system.
Claims20
A fence section, comprising:
- an upper horizontal rail including a first longitudinally-extending wall extending lengthwise of the upper horizontal rail and laterally between first and second upper rail sidewalls that depend from the first longitudinally-extending wall and are spaced apart from one another to define an upper rail cavity, wherein the first longitudinally-extending wall includes a plurality of upper rail apertures;
- a lower horizontal rail, spaced vertically below the upper horizontal rail, including a second longitudinally-extending wall extending lengthwise of the lower horizontal rail and laterally between first and second lower rail sidewalls that depend from the first longitudinally-extending wall and are spaced apart from one another to define a lower rail cavity, wherein the second longitudinally-extending wall includes a plurality of lower rail apertures;
- and
- a plurality of vertical members;
- wherein:
- for at least one of the plurality of vertical members:
- the vertical member is connected to the upper horizontal rail by an upper connection system and to the lower horizontal rail by a lower connection system;
- wherein:
- the upper connection system includes a first upper connecting structure and a second upper connecting structure;
- and
- the lower connection system includes a first lower connecting structure and a second lower connecting structure;
- wherein:
- the first upper rail sidewall includes a first upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure, and the vertical member includes a second upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure;
- the second upper rail sidewall includes a first upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure, and the vertical member includes a second upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure;
- the first lower rail sidewall includes a first lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure, and the vertical member includes a second lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure;
- the second lower rail sidewall includes a first lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure, and the vertical member includes a second lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure;
- the second upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure, the second upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure, the second lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure, the second lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure and the vertical member are integrally formed within a unitary one-piece construction;
- and
- for the upper connection system, the connection of the vertical member to the upper horizontal rail is effected by:
- (i) a first upper interaction between the first upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure and the second upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure, and
- (ii) a second upper interaction between the first upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure and the second upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure;
- for the lower connection system, the connection of the vertical member to the lower horizontal rail is effected by:
- (i) a first lower interaction between the first lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure and the second lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure, and
- (ii) a second lower interaction between the first lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure and the second lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure;
- the vertical member extends through the upper horizontal rail via a respective upper rail aperture and the lower horizontal rail via a respective lower rail aperture;
- the vertical member and the upper horizontal rail are co-operatively configured such that establishing of the connection by the upper connection system is effected in response to insertion of the vertical member through the upper horizontal rail via the respective rail aperture;
- the vertical member and the lower horizontal rail are co-operatively configured such that establishing of the connection by the lower connection system is effected in response to insertion of the vertical member through the lower horizontal rail via the respective rail aperture;
- and
- for the upper connection system,
- (i) at least one of
- (a) the first upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure, and
- (b) the second upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure,
- is resiliently deformable, such that at least one of the first upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure and the second upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure is deflected while the inserting is being effected,
- and
- (ii) at least one of
- (a) the first upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure, and
- (b) the second upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure,
- is resiliently deformable, such that at least one of the first upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure and the second upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure is deflected while the inserting is being effected, and
- for the lower connection system,
- (i) at least one of
- (a) the first lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure, and
- (b) the second lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure,
- is resiliently deformable, such that at least one of the first lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure and the second lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure is deflected while the inserting is being effected, and
- (ii) at least one of
- (a) the first lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure, and
- (b) the second lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure,
- is resiliently deformable, such that at least one of the first lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure and the second lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure is deflected while the inserting is being effected;
- while the connection of the vertical member to the upper horizontal rail is effected by:
- (i) the first upper interaction between the first upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure and the second upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure, and (ii) the second upper interaction between the first upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure and the second upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure:
- the first upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure and the second upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure are co-operatively configured to oppose a deflection, of at least one of the first upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure and the second upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure, that is effective for defeating the first upper interaction;
- and
- the first upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure and the second upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure are co-operatively configured to oppose a deflection, of at least one of the first upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure and the second upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure, that is effective for defeating the second upper interaction;
- and
- while the connection of the vertical member to the lower horizontal rail is effected by:
- (i) the first lower interaction between the first lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure and the second lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure, and (ii) the second lower interaction between the first lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure and the second lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure:
- the first lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure and the second lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure are co-operatively configured to oppose a deflection, of at least one of the first lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure and the second lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure, that is effective for defeating the first lower interaction;
- and
- the first lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure and the second lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure are co-operatively configured to oppose a deflection, of at least one of the first lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure and the second lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure, that is effective for defeating the second lower interaction.
55 more elements
A fence section comprising:
- at least two horizontal rails, each one of the at least two horizontal rails including a longitudinally-extending wall extending lengthwise of the horizontal rail and laterally between first and second rail sidewalls that depend from the longitudinally-extending wall and are spaced apart from one another, wherein the longitudinally-extending wall includes at least one rail aperture;
- and
- at least one vertical member;
- wherein:
- the at least two horizontal rails and the at least one vertical member are co-operatively configured such that, for at least one of the at least one vertical member:
- the vertical member is connected to each one of the at least two horizontal rails by a respective connection system such that at least two connection systems are provided;
- each one of the at least two connection systems includes a first connecting structure and a second connecting structure;
- the first connecting structure includes a first counterpart that is connected to a second counterpart, wherein the first counterpart of the first connecting structure is defined by the first rail sidewall and the second counterpart of the first connecting structure is defined by the vertical member;
- the second connecting structure includes a first counterpart that is connected to a second counterpart, wherein the first counterpart of the second connecting structure is defined by the second rail sidewall and the second counterpart of the second connecting structure is defined by the vertical member;
- and
- the second counterpart of the first connecting structure, the second counterpart of the second connecting structure and the vertical member are integrally formed within a unitary one-piece construction;
- the connection of the first counterpart of the first connecting structure to the second counterpart of the first connecting structure is established by a first interaction between the first counterpart of the first connecting structure and the second counterpart of the first connecting structure, and the connection of the first counterpart of the second connecting structure to the second counterpart of the second connecting structure is established by a second interaction between the first counterpart of the second connecting structure and the second counterpart of the second connecting structure;
- for each one of the at least two horizontal rails, the connection with the vertical member is established in response to insertion of the vertical member through the horizontal rail via a respective rail aperture, wherein:
- at least one of:
- (a) the first counterpart of the first connecting structure and (b) the second counterpart of the first connecting structure is resiliently deformable, such that at least one of the first counterpart of the first connecting and the second counterpart of the first connecting structure is deflected while the inserting is being effected;
- and
- at least one of:
- (a) the first counterpart of the second connecting structure and (b) the second counterpart of the second connecting structure is resiliently deformable, such that at least one of the first counterpart of the second connecting structure and the second counterpart of the second connecting structure is deflected while the inserting is being effected;
- while the connection of the first counterpart of the first connecting structure and the second counterpart of the first connecting structure is established by the first interaction, the first counterpart of the first connecting structure and the second counterpart of the first connecting structure are co-operatively configured to oppose a deflection, of at least one of the first counterpart of the first connecting structure and the second counterpart of the first connecting structure, that is effective for defeating the first interaction;
- and
- while the connection of the first counterpart of the second connecting structure and the second counterpart of the second connecting structure is established by the second interaction, the first counterpart of the second connecting structure and the second counterpart of the second connecting structure are co-operatively configured to oppose a deflection, of at least one of the first counterpart of the second connecting structure and the second counterpart of the second connecting structure, that is effective for defeating the second interaction.
18 more elements
A kit for assembling a fence, comprising:
- at least two horizontal rails, each one of the at least two horizontal rails including a longitudinally-extending wall extending lengthwise of the horizontal rail and laterally between first and second rail sidewalls that depend from the longitudinally-extending wall and are spaced apart from one another, wherein the longitudinally-extending wall includes at least one rail aperture;
- and
- at least one vertical member;
- wherein:
- the at least two horizontal rails and the at least one vertical member are co-operatively configured such that, for at least one of the at least one vertical member:
- the vertical member is connectible to the at least two horizontal rails for obtaining an assembly wherein each one of the at least two horizontal rails is connected to the vertical member by a respective connection system such that at least two connection systems are provided;
- each one the at least two connection systems includes a first connecting structure and a second connecting structure;
- the first connecting structure includes a first counterpart that is connectible to a second counterpart, wherein the first counterpart of the first connecting structure is defined by the first rail sidewall and the second counterpart of the first connecting structure is defined by the vertical member;
- the second connecting structure includes a first counterpart that is connectible to a second counterpart, wherein the first counterpart of the second connecting structure is defined by the second rail sidewall and the second counterpart of the second connecting structure is defined by the vertical member;
- the second counterpart of the first connecting structure, the second counterpart of the second connecting structure, and the vertical member are integrally formed within a unitary one-piece construction;
- the connection of the first counterpart of the first connecting structure to the second counterpart of the first connecting structure is establishable by a first interaction between the first counterpart of the first connecting structure and the second counterpart of the first connecting structure, and the connection of the first counterpart of the second connecting structure to the second counterpart of the second connecting structure is establishable by a second interaction between the first counterpart of the second connecting structure and the second counterpart of the second connecting structure;
- for each one of the at least two horizontal rails, the connection with the vertical member is establishable in response to insertion of the vertical member through the horizontal rail via a respective rail aperture, wherein:
- at least one of:
- (a) the first counterpart of the first connecting structure, and (b) the second counterpart of the first connecting structure, is resiliently deformable, such that at least one of the first counterpart of the first connecting structure and the second counterpart of the first connecting structure is deflected while the inserting is being effected, and at least one of:
- (a) the first counterpart of the second connecting structure, and (b) the second counterpart of the second connecting structure is resiliently deformable, such that at least one of the first counterpart of the second connecting structure and the second counterpart of the second connecting structure is deflected while the inserting is being effected;
- while the connection of the first counterpart of the first connecting structure and the second counterpart of the first connecting structure is established by the first interaction, the first counterpart of the first connecting structure and the second counterpart of the first connecting structure are co-operatively configured to oppose a deflection, of at least one of the first counterpart of the first connecting structure and the second counterpart of the first connecting structure, that is effective for defeating the first interaction;
- and
- while the connection of the first counterpart of the second connecting structure and the second counterpart of the second connecting structure is established by the second interaction, the first counterpart of the second connecting structure and the second counterpart of the second connecting structure are co-operatively configured to oppose a deflection, of at least one of the first counterpart of the second connecting structure and the second counterpart of the second connecting structure, that is effective for defeating the second interaction.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.