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US 4,792,122 AGranted
Fence bracket
AssigneeNone recorded
InventorThomas J. Smrt
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorThomas J. Smrt
Estimating the term…
A fence bracket for mounting adjacent fence rails in fixed relation on a fence post includes first and second fingers extending around a portion of the fence post and each having a hooked portion which is disposed over and engages at least one flange of the post wherein at least one of the fingers is engageable with one of a series of protrusions on a face of the post to limit movement of the bracket thereon. Means are also provided between the first and second fingers for supporting overlapping ends of adjacent rails whereby a fastener may be driven through the overlapping ends to secure the rails in fixed relation on the post. The bracket may be installed from the side of the post and hence does not require the prior removal of other fencing apparatus supported thereby.
A fence bracket for mounting adjacent fence rails in fixed relation on a generally upright fence post of the type having protrusions longitudinally spaced along the post, where the post includes a longitudinal axis and first and second spaced flanges disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, comprising:
A fence bracket for securing fence rails to a generally upright fence post of the type having protrusions longitudinally spaced along the post and spaced flanges disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the post, comprising:
A fence bracket for securing fence rails to a generally upright, metal fence post wherein the post includes a main portion having a face, a series of protrusions spaced longitudinally along the post and first and second longitudinal flanges disposed on opposite sides of the main portion such that the post is T-shaped in cross-section, comprising:
A method of assembling a fence using fence rails and fence posts of the type having a pair of flanges on first and second sides thereof and at least one protrusion on a rear face thereof, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Fences constructed of rigid elements, e.g. with additional wire fillings or with posts: post-and-rail fences, e.g. without vertical cross-members
Details of connections between rails and posts: the rails being attached to the front faces of the posts
Details of connections between rails and posts: using fixing devices encircling, partially or fully, the post
Fences: board fastener
Term ended 21 Jul 2006 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to fence construction and more particularly to a bracket for securing wooden or other rails on a metal fence post.
2. Background Art
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the bracket of the present invention for use with T-shaped metal fence posts;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1 partially assembled on a metal fence post taken from a different angle from that of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the bracket as fully assembled on the post;
Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, there is illustrated in detail a first embodiment of a fence bracket 10 according to the present invention. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bracket 10 is particularly adapted for use with T-shaped fence posts 12 having a main body or portion 14, first and second longitudinal flanges 16,18 and a rear face 20 having protrusions 22 spaced longitudinally along the face 20.
The bracket 10 includes first and second fingers 26,28 each having main portions 26a,28a, respectively. Each finger 26,28 also includes hooked portions 26b,28b, respectively. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the bracket 10 is in installed position on the post 12, the fingers extend around a portion of the fence post and more particularly straddle or extend across the rear face 20, and are disposed over and engage the flange 16 of the post. Further, one or both of the main portions 26a,28a is engageable with one or more of the protrusions 22 to limit longitudinal, i.e. upward and downward, movement of the bracket 10 on the post 12. Typically, one of the main portions 26a,28a is engageable with one protrusion to limit downward movement while the other of the main portions 26a,28a is engageable with a different protrusion to limit upward movement, although this need not be the case.
As seen in the figures, the fingers 26,28 are disposed in planes transverse to the longitudinal axis 29 (FIG. 2) of the post 12. The fingers are disposed in substantially horizontal planes when the longitudinal axis 29 of the fence post is substantially vertical, as is the usual case. Means are provided for supporting overlapping ends 30,32 of adjacent fence rails so that the rails are mounted in fixed relation on the fence post 12. In this embodiment of the invention, the supporting means comprises first and second support members 34,36 which are transversely disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the post and which are joined to and associated with the main portions 26a,28a of the fingers 26,28, respectively. Each support member 34,36 is disposed on the same side of the longitudinal axis 29, lies in the same plane as its associated main portion 26a, 28a and is disposed transversely relative thereto. A connecting member 38 which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 29 of the post extends between and is joined to the support members 34,36. The support members 34,36 and the connecting member 38 together define an opening through which the ends 30,32 may extend. It can be seen that this opening extends forwardly of the fence post 12 and slightly to one side thereof.