Picket fence cap assembly
AssigneeCertainTeed Corporation
InventorStephen W. Steffes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clip-on assembly that can resist detachment of a plastic picket cap member from a plastic picket member when significant pulling force is applied to the cap member. The assembly includes a single clip including an upwardly bowed central portion joined to first and second upwardly extending end portions. The end portions have at least one outwardly projecting retention barb adapted for secure embedment into the inner side wall surfaces of a picket member when the assembly is inserted therein. The legs of the cap member upon which the clip is installed are very stiff by virtue of being reinforced by plates that resist deflection of the legs when inserted in the clip.
Claims24
A cap assembly for a hollow plastic fence picket member, said assembly comprising:
- a plastic cap member including a top portion and end legs downwardly depending from said top portion and adapted for insertion into a picket member;
- and
- a clip including a central portion upwardly bowed toward said top portion of said cap member, said central portion being joined to first and second upwardly extending end portions, said end portions having outwardly projecting retention means for contacting inner surfaces of end walls of a picket member when the cap assembly is inserted therein.
A plastic fence picket comprising:
- a hollow plastic fence picket member;
- and
- a cap assembly for said picket member comprising:
- a plastic cap member including a top portion and end legs downwardly depending from said top portion and adapted for insertion into a picket member;
- and
- a clip including a central portion upwardly bowed toward said top portion of said cap member, said central portion joined to first and second upwardly extending end portions, said end portions having outwardly projecting retention means for contacting inner surfaces of end walls of a picket member when the cap assembly is inserted therein.
A plastic cap member for a hollow plastic fence picket, said cap member comprising:
- a top portion;
- end legs downwardly depending from said top portion and adapted for insertion into the fence picket, wherein said end legs are adapted to carry a clip having a central portion joined to end portions, and wherein the end portions of the clip are adapted to contact inner surfaces of end walls of the fence picket when said end legs are inserted therein;
- and
- means for resisting inward flexure of the end portions of the clip, wherein said means for resisting inward flexure is separate from said end legs and is adapted to contact the central portion of the clip.
In a cap assembly for a hollow plastic fence picket member, the assembly comprising a plastic cap member including a top portion and end legs downwardly depending from said top portion and adapted for insertion into the picket member, a clip adapted to be carried by the end legs and comprising:
- a central portion upwardly bowed toward the top portion of the cap member;
- and
- first and second upwardly extending end portions joined to said central portion, said end portions having outwardly projecting retention means for contacting inner surfaces of end walls of a picket member when the cap assembly is inserted therein.
The clip of claim 24 wherein the cap member includes a post and said means for connecting said clip to said cap member comprise means carried by said clip for gripping said post.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.