Plastic fence construction
OwnerFrederick M. Pettitinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plastic fence having spaced hollow plastic posts with vertically spaced holes in the posts for receiving rails with a friction fit with the rails having vertical rungs, slats, or both which are received between the rails with a friction fit. A plastic gate construction including a frame fabricated from plastic frame sections connected by elbows, vertical rung and slat members extending vertically in the frame, and plastic hinge members formed integrally with the elbows for mating with cooperating hinge elements mounted on sleeves which are secured to a post of a fence.
Claims20
A plastic fence comprising a plurality of spaced hollow plastic posts, vertically spaced holes in said posts, said holes having substantially parallel sides which are spaced apart a first distance, vertically spaced hollow horizontal plastic rails of substantially uniform continuous hollow rectangular cross section throughout their extent including their ends, each of said plastic rails having outwardly bowed side walls throughout its extent including both of its end portions, said outwardly bowed side walls of each of said rails including its bowed side walls at its end portions being spaced apart a second distance which is greater than said first distance, said outwardly bowed side walls of each of said rails being resilient and flexible at both of said end portions to permit said bowed side walls at both of said end portions of each of said rails to be squeezed together, each of said end portions of said side walls which were squeezed together fitting with direct contact against said substantially parallel sides of said vertically spaced holes with a friction fit.
A connection between the rail and post of a plastic fence comprising a hollow plastic post, a hole in said post, said hole having substantially parallel sides which are spaced apart a first distance, a plastic rail of substantially continuous hollow rectangular cross section throughout its extent including its end, said plastic rail having outwardly bowed opposed resilient side walls throughout its extent including said end, said outwardly bowed resilient side walls including said end having portions which are spaced apart a second distance which is greater than said first distance, said side walls including said portions at said end being resilient and flexible to permit said portions at said end to be squeezed together to fit into said hole with a friction fit.
A plastic fence comprising a plurality of spaced hollow plastic posts, vertically spaced holes in said posts, said holes having sides which are spaced apart a first distance, vertically spaced hollow horizontal plastic rails of substantially continuous uniform cross section throughout their extent, said plastic rails having outwardly bowed side walls throughout their extent including their ends, said outwardly bowed side walls including said ends having portions which are spaced apart a second distance which is greater than said first distance, said ends of said side walls being resilient and flexible to permit them to be squeezed together to fit into said holes with a friction fit, opposed horizontally spaced second holes in adjacent rails, said second holes having second sides which are spaced apart a third distance, vertical plastic members extending between said rails, said vertical plastic members having outwardly bowed second side walls throughout their extent including their ends, said outwardly bowed second side walls including their ends having portions spaced apart a fourth distance which is greater than said third distance, said ends of said second side walls being resilient and flexible to permit them to be squeezed together to fit into said second holes to thereby provide a tight fit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.