Fence and railing systems and connector assemblies therefor

An apparatus for a fencing and/or railing system comprising:

• an upwardly extending post;
• a first horizontal fence rail at a top or a bottom of a first fence panel;
• a second horizontal fence rail at a top or a bottom of a second fence panel;
• and
• a connector assembly which connects an end portion of the first fence rail and an adjacent end portion of the second fence rail to the post, the connector assembly including a first clamping ring positioned on the post and a second clamping ring positioned on the post on top of the first clamping ring, each of the first and second clamping rings comprising
• a semicircular ring in which the post is received,
• a first clamping arm which extends from the semicircular ring,
• a second clamping arm which extends from the semicircular ring and is substantially parallel to the first clamping arm,
• a bolt opening extending through the first clamping arm, and
• a bolt opening extending through the second clamping arm;
• the first and the second clamping arms of the first clamping ring being oriented toward the end portion of the first fence rail;
• the first and the second clamping arms of the second clamping ring being oriented toward the end portion of the second fence rail;
• the connector assembly further comprising
• a first rail receiver in which the end portion of the first fence rail is received,
• a second rail receiver in which the end portion of the second fence rail is received,
• a first threaded member which extends from the first rail receiver through the bolt opening of the first clamping arm and the bolt opening of the second clamping arm of the first clamping ring, and
• a second threaded member which extends from the second rail receiver through the bolt opening of the first clamping arm and the bolt opening of the second clamping arm of the second clamping ring;
• the first threaded member being a first bolt having a head;
• the second threaded member being a second bolt having a head;
• the first rail receiver further comprising
• a front wall having a vertical end,
• a back wall which is parallel to the front wall and has a vertical end,
• the back wall having an opening therethrough through which the first bolt extends,
• a horizontal lip which extends from the vertical end of the back wall into an opening between the vertical end of the front wall and the vertical end of the back wall, and
• the horizontal lip defining an internal gap in the first rail receiver, between the back wall of the first rail receiver and a back wall of the first fence rail, in which the head of the first bolt is received;
• and
• the second rail receiver further comprising
• a front wall having a vertical end,
• a back wall which is parallel to the front wall of the second rail receiver and has a vertical end,
• the back wall of the second rail receiver having an opening therethrough through which the second bolt extends,
• a horizontal lip which extends from the vertical end of the back wall of the second rail receiver into an opening between the vertical end of the front wall of the second rail receiver and the vertical end of the back wall of the second rail receiver, and
• the horizontal lip of the second rail receiver defining an internal gap in the second rail receiver, between the back wall of the second rail receiver and a back wall of the second fence rail, in which the head of the second bolt is received.

An apparatus for a fencing and/or railing system comprising:

• an upwardly extending post;
• a horizontal fence rail at a top or a bottom of a fence panel;
• and
• a connector assembly which connects the fence rail to the post, the connector assembly including
• a clamping ring which comprises
• a semicircular ring in which the post is received,
• a first clamping arm which extends from the semicircular ring,
• a second clamping arm which extends from the semicircular ring and is substantially parallel to the first clamping arm,
• a bolt opening extending through the first clamping arm, and
• a bolt opening extending through the second clamping arm,
• a rail receiver in which the fence rail is received,
• a threaded member which extends from the rail receiver through the bolt opening of the first clamping arm and the bolt opening of the second clamping arm of the clamping ring,
• a first nut positioned on the threaded member between the rail receiver and the first clamping arm of the clamping ring, and
• a second nut tightened on the threaded member outside of the second clamping arm of the clamping ring.