Rail bracket mounting system
OwnerRonald R. Westinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rail bracket mounting system, including a bracket that is attached to a post. The bracket is formed to support the notching of a rail. The end of a rail is then nested into the bracket, and is supported by the bracket. The rail is then secured to the bracket by fasteners such as screws, and a cover may then be placed over the bracket, housing the securing fasteners. The rail may be hollow or solid. A hollow rail may be reinforced along its entire length by the insertion of one or more reinforcing members through a hollow portion of the rail.
Claims123
A bracket for supporting and attaching a rail to a fence in a fence system comprising upwardly-extending fence posts and laterally-extending fence rails, said bracket comprising:
- a non-metallic bracket configured to be attached to a fence post that is upwardly-extending in orientation, the nonmetallic bracket further comprising at least a first ledge and at least two sides;
- wherein the ledge is disposed to reside beneath the lowest point of a laterally-extending fence rail inserted into said non-metallic bracket;
A system for assembling a fence comprising upwardly-extending fence posts and laterally-extending fence rails, comprising:
- a bracket configured to be attached to a fence post that is upwardly-extending in orientation, the bracket further comprising at least a first ledge, at least two sides, and at least one receiving structure;
- the ledge disposed to reside beneath the lowest point of a rail inserted into said bracket, each side disposed to support at least a portion of a side of said rail, such that said bracket is capable of fully supporting the rail when the rail is inserted therein;
- and
- a cover designed and configured to attach to the bracket and conceal the attachment of the rail to the bracket.
A bracket for supporting and attaching a rail to a fence in a fence system comprising upwardly-extending fence posts and laterally-extending fence rails, said bracket comprising:
- a non-metallic bracket configured to be attached to a fence post that is upwardly-extending in orientation, the nonmetallic bracket comprising attachment holes for attaching the bracket to the post that are accessible when a rail is inserted into the bracket;
- the non-metallic bracket further comprising at least a first ledge and at least two sides;
- wherein the attachment holes are position to be accessible when a laterally extending fence rail is inserted into the bracket;
- and
- wherein the ledge is disposed to reside beneath the lowest point of a laterally-extending fence rail inserted into said non-metallic bracket.
A system for assembling a fence comprising upwardly-extending fence posts and laterally-extending fence rails, comprising:
- a bracket configured to be attached to a fence post that is upwardly-extending in orientation, the bracket comprising attachment holes for attaching the bracket to the post that are accessible when a rail is inserted into the bracket;
- the bracket further comprising at least a first ledge, at least two sides, and at least one receiving structure;
- the ledge disposed to reside beneath the lowest point of a rail inserted into said bracket, each side disposed to support at least a portion of a side of said rail, such that said bracket is capable of fully supporting the rail when the rail is inserted therein;
- and
- a cover designed and configured to attach to the bracket and conceal the attachment of the rail to the bracket.
A system for assembling a fence comprising upwardlyextending fence posts and laterally-extending fence rails, comprising:
- a rigid fiberglass reinforced nylon plastic bracket configured to be attached to a fence post that is upwardlyextending in orientation, the bracket comprising
- at least a first ledge, the ledge disposed to reside beneath the lowest point of a rail inserted into said bracket, each side disposed to support at least a portion of a side of said rail, such that said bracket is capable of fully supporting the rail when the rail is inserted therein;
- two sides each of the two sides having at least one opening therein for fastening the rail to the bracket by attaching a fastener to the rail through the opening, the bracket further comprising
- attachment holes for attaching the bracket to the post that are accessible when a rail is inserted into the bracket, the attachment holes located in the at least two bracket sides, the attachment holes residing in a lateral position with respect to a rail inserted into the bracket;
- and
- a cover made of rigid molded PVC, the cover designed and configured to attach to the bracket and conceal the attachment of the rail to the bracket comprising at least one fastening structure on the cover comprising at least one tab disposed on the cover, such that when the cover is attached to the bracket, the fastening structure interacts with the at least one receiving structure comprising at least one groove located on the bracket to secure the cover to the bracket;
- the cover further designed and configured to cover the attachment holes and provide at least a part of the fastening that secures the rail to the bracket, when the cover is in attached to the bracket;
- a PVC rail containing at least one hollow reinforcement chamber;
- at least one reinforcement member inserted into the at least one hollow reinforcement chamber, the at least one reinforcement member made of metal and extending the complete length of the rail.
A method of attaching a fence rail to a fence post in a fence system comprising upwardly-extending fence posts and laterally-extending fence-rails, comprising the steps of:
- (a) selecting a first non-metallic fence bracket configured to be attached to a fence post that is upwardlyextending in orientation, the first non-metallic bracket further comprising at least a first ledge and at least two sides;
- the ledge disposed to reside beneath the lowest point of a laterally-extending fence rail inserted into said first nonmetallic bracket, each side disposed to support at least a portion of a side of said rail;
- such that said first non-metallic bracket is capable of supporting the rail when an end of the rail is inserted therein;
- (b) attaching the bracket to the post;
- (c) selecting a fence rail and placing a first end of the rail into the non-metallic bracket, such that the rail is supported by the non-metallic bracket;
- and
- (d) securing the rail to the bracket.
A method of attaching a fence rail to a fence post in a fence system comprising upwardly-extending fence posts and laterally-extending fence rails, comprising the steps of:
- (a) selecting a first bracket configured to be attached to a fence post that is upwardly-extending in orientation, the first bracket further comprising at least a first ledge and at least two sides;
- the ledge disposed to reside beneath the lowest point of a first end of a laterally-extending fence rail inserted into said first bracket, each side disposed to support at least a portion of a side of one end of said rail;
- such that said first bracket is capable of supporting the rail when an end of the rail is inserted therein;
- (b) attaching the first bracket to the post;
- (c) selecting a fence rail and placing a first end of the rail into the first bracket, such that the rail is supported by the first bracket;
- (d) securing the rail to the first bracket;
- (e) selecting a bracket cover designed and configured to attach to the first bracket and conceal the attachment of the rail to the first bracket, said cover comprising at least one fastening structure, such that when the cover is attached to the bracket, the fastening structure interacts with the receiving structure to secure the cover to the bracket;
- and
- (f) attaching the cover to the first bracket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.