US20170058557A1

US20170058557A1 - Adjustable fence

Info

Publication number: US20170058557A1
Application number: US14/837,292
Authority: US
Inventors: Chun-Yin WU
Original assignee: Hudson Hardware and Plastics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hudson Hardware and Plastics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-08-27
Filing date: 2015-08-27
Publication date: 2017-03-02

Abstract

An adjustable fence comprises two opposite posts, a slat assembly, and two buffering elements. The slat assembly has multiple detachable slats detachably mounted between the posts. The buffering elements are respectively mounted in the mounting slots of the posts, and each of the buffering elements is disposed between the post body of each of the posts and the slat assembly. Increasing or decreasing the detachable slats of the slat assembly adjusts the height of the adjustable fence for different applications. The pushing force resulting from the thermal expansion or/and contraction of the slat assembly or/and the post body is absorbed by the buffering element, so that the bottom bracket of the slat assembly and the post body do not push each other to be deformed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fence; especially relates to an adjustable fence.
2. Description of the Prior Art(s)
Fences are freestanding structures designed to restrict or prevent any transgression of strangers or animals across a boundary. Fences are generally distinguished from a wall by the lightness of its construction made by wood instead of solid bricks or concrete.
A conventional fence has multiple wooden slats. The wooden slats are arranged in a column or row and assembled together by fasteners such as nails. However, the fence with the fasteners tightly holding the wooden slats does not allow quick attachment or removal of wooden slats for height adjusting purposes. Attaching wooden slats to or removing wooden slats from the fences needs hand tool to mount or detach fasteners thereon, which wastes too much time and lowers the efficiency of adjusting the height of the fence.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an adjustable fence to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable fence.
The adjustable fence comprises two posts separated from each other at an interval, a slat assembly slidably and detachably mounted between the posts, and two buffering elements. Each of the posts has a post body having a top end and a bottom end, and a mounting slot formed transversely in and extending longitudinally along the post body. The slat assembly has multiple detachable slats slidably and detachably mounted in the mounting slots of the posts. The buffering elements are respectively disposed in the mounting slots of the posts. Each of the buffering elements is disposed between the post body of each of the posts and the slat assembly.
Increasing or decreasing the detachable slats of the slat assembly adjusts the height of the adjustable fence for different applications. The pushing force resulting from the thermal expansion or/and contraction of the slat assembly or/and the post body is absorbed by the buffering element, so that the bottom bracket of the slat assembly and the post body do not push each other to be deformed.
Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an adjustable fence in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable fence in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the adjustable fence in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged exploded perspective view of the adjustable fence in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top view of the adjustable fence in FIG. 1, wherein a limit and a cap are omitted;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the post of the adjustable fence in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an adjustable fence in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of an adjustable fence in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional side view of the detachable slats of the adjustable fence in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view of the detachable slat in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged cross sectional side view of the adjustable fence in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a fence assembly combined by multiple adjustable fences in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged top view of the fence assembly in FIG. 12, wherein limits and caps are omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, an adjustable fence 1 in accordance with the present invention has two posts 10, a slat assembly 20, two limits 30, and two buffering elements 40.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, the posts 10 are separated from each other at an interval. Each of the posts 10 has a post body 11, a mounting slot 12, two expanding slots 13, two side strips 14, a foot 15, and a cap 16.
With reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the post body 11 has a top end, a bottom end, an inner surface 111, and two inside surfaces 112. The inner surface 111 is connected with and extends between the top end and the bottom end. The inner surface 111 defines two opposite mounting slits 1111 distributed longitudinally along the post body 11. Each of the inside surfaces 112 defines two opposite mounting grooves 1121 distributed longitudinally along the post body 11. The inside surfaces 112 and the inner surface 111 are disposed at intervals with each other. In an embodiment, the post body 11 is made of wood, plastic, or metal, such as aluminum.
With reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the mounting slot 12 is formed transversely in the post body 11 and extends longitudinally along the post body 11. The mounting slot 12 is defined by the inner surface 111 and is disposed between the mounting slits 1111. Also, the mounting slot 12 has a top opening connected with the top end and a bottom opening connected with the bottom end.
With reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, each of the expanding slots 13 is formed transversely in the post body 11 and extends longitudinally along the post body 11. The expanding slots 13 are defined by the inside surfaces 112 respectively. Each of the expanding slots 13 is deposed between the mounting grooves 1121 of each of the inside surfaces 112. Each of the expanding slots 13 has atop opening connected with the top end and a bottom opening connected with the bottom end.
With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the side strips 14 selectively close the expanding slots 13 respectively to prevent dust from accumulating in the expanding slots 13. Each of the side strips 14 has a strip body 141 and two opposite mounting tabs 142. The strip body 141 of each of the side strips 14 selectively closes each of the expanding slots 13. The mounting tabs 142 of each of the side strips 14 are detachably engaged with the mounting grooves 1121 of the corresponding inside surface 112 respectively.
With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6, the foot 15 is mounted on the bottom end of the post body 11 by multiple screws. The foot 15 has a connecting element 151 connected to the bottom end of the post body 11, and a mounting element 152 formed on the connecting element 151. In an embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the connecting element 151 is a connecting plate. The mounting element 152 comprises multiple mounting holes 1521 formed through the connecting element 151, so that fasteners such as nails or screws may penetrate through the mounting holes 1521 of the mounting element 152 to fasten the foot 15 on a cement floor. In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the mounting element 152A is a flat mounting tab formed on and protruding radially out from the connecting element 151A, so that the mounting element 152A is embedded in the cement or soil for locating the foot 15A in the cement or soil. In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the mounting element 152B is a mounting awl formed on and protruding downward from the connecting element 151B, so that the foot 15B is capable of standing stably on the soil or the ground with the mounting element 152B stabbing the soil or the ground.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the cap 16 is mounted on the top end of the post body 11 by fasteners such as bolts and nails for selectively closing the top openings of the mounting slot 12 and of the extending slots 13.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the slat assembly 20 is slidably and detachably mounted between the posts 10. The slat assembly 20 has multiple detachable slats 21, a bottom bracket 22, and a top bracket 23.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, and 9, the detachable slats 21 are slidably and detachably mounted in the mounting slots 12 of the posts 10. The detachable slats 21 are arranged in a column. Each of the detachable slats 21 has a top edge, a bottom edge, two opposite ends, a top positioning element 211, a bottom positioning element 212, and two beveled notches 213. Each of the opposite ends of each of the detachable slats 21 is connected between the top edge and the bottom edge of each of the detachable slats 21. The opposite ends are respectively detachably connected with the mounting slots 12 of the posts 10. The top positioning element 211 of each of the detachable slats 21 is formed on the top edge of each of the detachable slats 21. The bottom positioning element 212 of each of the detachable slats 21 is formed on the bottom edge of each of the detachable slats 21. The bottom positioning element 212 of each of the detachable slats 21 is engaged selectively with the top positioning element 211 of an adjacent detachable slat 21. The beveled notches 213 of each of the detachable slats 21 are formed oppositely on the bottom edge of each of the detachable slats 21. Increasing or decreasing the detachable slats 21 of the slat assembly 20 adjusts the height of the adjustable fence for different applications. In an embodiment, the detachable slats 21 are made of wood, plastic, or metal, such as aluminum.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, 9, and 10, the bottom bracket 22 is mounted detachably and slidably in the mounting slots 12 of the posts 10. The bottom bracket 22 is located under the detachable slats 21. The bottom bracket 22 has a top edge, a top positioning member 221, two alignment protrusions 222, and two opposite terminals 223. The top positioning member 221 is formed on the top edge of the bottom bracket 22. The top positioning member 221 is selectively engaged with the bottom positioning element 212 of an adjacent detachable slat 21. The alignment protrusions 222 are formed oppositely on the top edge of the bottom bracket 22 and are selectively and respectively engaged with the beveled notches 213 of the adjacent detachable slat 21. The terminals 223 are connected with the top edge of the bottom bracket 22. The terminals 223 are detachably connected with the mounting slots 12 of the posts 10 respectively. In an embodiment, the bottom bracket 22 is made of wood, plastic, or metal, such as aluminum.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, and 9, the top bracket 23 is mounted detachably and slidably in the mounting slots 12 of the posts 10. The top bracket 23 is located above the detachable slats 21 and has a bottom edge and a bottom positioning member 231. The bottom positioning member 231 is formed on the bottom edge of the top bracket 23 and is selectively engaged with the top positioning element 211 of an adjacent detachable slat 21. In an embodiment, the top bracket 23 is made of wood, plastic, or metal, such as aluminum.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, and 9, in an embodiment, the top positioning element 211 is a positioning protrusion protruding upward from the top edge of each of the detachable slats 21. The bottom positioning element 212 is a positioning notch defined in the bottom edge of each of the detachable slats 21. With reference to FIG. 10, the top positioning member 221 is a positioning protrusion. With reference to FIG. 9, the bottom positioning member 231 is a positioning notch.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, and 11, the limits 30 are respectively mounted on the posts 10. The limits 30 are detachably mounted in the mounting slots 12 of the posts 10 respectively and press against the slat assembly 20 to prevent the slat assembly 20 from being disassembled from the posts 10 inadvertently. Each of the limits 30 has a mounting plate 31, a threaded hole 32, a pressing plate 33, a first fastener 34, and a second fastener 35. The mounting plate 31 of each of the limits 30 is mounted slidably in the mounting slits 1111 of each of the posts 10. The threaded hole 32 is formed through the mounting plate 31. The pressing plate 33 is formed on and protrudes from the mounting plate 31. The pressing plate 33 is pressed against the top bracket 23 of the slat assembly 20. The first fastener 34 of each of the limits 30 is mounted through the threaded hole 32. The first fasteners 34 of the limits 30 press tightly against the inner surfaces 111 of the posts 10 respectively. The second fastener 35 is mounted through the pressing plate 33 and the top bracket 23 of the slat assembly 20 to force the pressing plate 33 to press against the slat assembly 20 tightly. In an embodiment, the first fastener is a bolt and the second fastener is a screw.
With reference to FIG. 4, the buffering elements 40 are resilient. The buffering elements 40 are disposed in the mounting slots 12 of the posts 10 respectively. Each of the buffering elements 40 is disposed between the inner surface 111 of the post body 11 of each of the posts 10 and the terminals 223 of the bottom bracket 22 of the slat assembly 20. The buffering elements 40 are embedded in the terminals 223 of the bottom bracket 22 respectively. When the bottom bracket 22 and/or the post body 11 expand with heat and/or contract with cold, the pushing force between the bottom bracket 22 and the post body 11 is absorbed by the buffering elements 40. As such, the bottom bracket 22 and the post body 11 do not push each other to be deformed. In an embodiment, the buffering elements 40 are made from foaming material.
With reference to FIGS. 1, 11, and 12, multiple adjustable fences 1 of the present invention can be combined together to form a fence assembly or an enclosure. The slat assemblies 20 of two neighboring adjustable fences 1 are mounted on one post 10. The detachable slats 21, the bottom bracket 22, and the top bracket 23 of one of the two neighboring adjustable fences 1 are mounted in the mounting slot 12. The detachable slats 21, the bottom bracket 22, and the top bracket 23 of another adjustable fence 1 are mounted in one of the expanding slots 13. As such, combining multiple adjustable fences 1 of the present invention together for a fence assembly or an enclosure as desired is achieved.
Based on the above, the adjustable fence 1 has the following advantages.
The height of the adjustable fence 1 can be quickly changed by increasing or decreasing the detachable slats 21 of the slat assembly 20 for different applications. Therefore, adjusting the height of the adjustable fence 1 is easy and efficient.
The bottom bracket 22 guides the lowest detachable slat 21 to easily fit the bottom bracket 22 and prevents the detachable slats 21 from bending at an intermediate section due to a heavy total weight of the slat assembly 20. Therefore, the bottom bracket 22 plays an important role that guides and supports the slat assembly 20 to prevent any inadvertent deformation.
The top bracket 23 holds the detachable slats 21 to prevent the detachable slats 21 from being detached inadvertently.
The limits 30 with the first fastener 34 and the second fastener 35 securely hold and press against the slat assembly 20 to prevent the detachable slats 21 from being detached inadvertently and enhance an overall structural strength of the adjustable fence 1.
The pushing force resulting from the thermal expansion or/and contraction of the bottom bracket 23 or/and the post body 11 is absorbed by the buffering element 40, so that the bottom bracket 23 and the post body 11 do not push each other to be deformed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable fence comprising:

two posts separated from each other at an interval, each of the posts having:

a post body having:

a top end; and

a bottom end; and

a mounting slot formed transversely in and extending longitudinally along the post body, and the mounting slot having:

a top opening connected with the top end; and

a bottom opening connected with the bottom end;

a slat assembly slidably and detachably mounted between the posts and having multiple detachable slats slidably and detachably mounted in the mounting slots of the posts, and each of the detachable slats having two opposite ends respectively detachably connected with the mounting slots of the posts; and

two buffering elements respectively disposed in the mounting slots of the posts, and each of the buffering elements disposed between the post body of each of the posts and the slat assembly.

2. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

each of the detachable slats has:

a top edge connected with the opposite ends;

a bottom edge with the opposite ends;

a top positioning element formed on the top edge; and

a bottom positioning element formed on the bottom edge and engaged selectively with the top positioning element of an adjacent detachable slat;

the slat assembly further has:

a bottom bracket mounted detachably and slidably in the mounting slot of the posts, located under the detachable slats, and having:

a top edge;

a top positioning member formed on the top edge of the bottom bracket and selectively engaged with the bottom positioning element of an adjacent detachable slat; and

two opposite terminals connected with the top edge of the bottom bracket, and the terminals detachably connected with the mounting slots of the posts respectively; and

each of the buffering elements disposed between the post body of each of the posts and each of the terminals of the bottom bracket.

3. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 2, wherein the buffering elements are respectively embedded in the terminals of the bottom bracket.

4. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

each of the detachable slats has two beveled notches formed oppositely on the bottom edge; and

the bottom bracket has two alignment protrusions formed oppositely on the top edge of the bottom bracket and selectively and respectively engaged with the beveled notches of the adjacent detachable slat.

5. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

6. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 2, wherein the slat assembly further has a top bracket mounted detachably and slidably in the mounting slot of the posts, located above the detachable slats, and having:

a bottom edge; and

a bottom positioning member formed on the bottom edge of the top bracket and selectively engaged with the top positioning element of an adjacent detachable slat.

7. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 5, wherein the slat assembly further has a top bracket mounted detachably and slidably in the mounting slot of the posts, located above the detachable slats, and having:

a bottom edge; and

8. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the posts has an expanding slot formed transversely in and extending longitudinally along the post body, and the expanding slot having:

a top opening connected with the top end; and

a bottom opening connected with the bottom end.

9. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of the posts has an expanding slot formed transversely in and extending longitudinally along the post body, and the expanding slot having:

a top opening connected with the top end; and

a bottom opening connected with the bottom end.

10. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

the post body of the post having the expanding slot further has:

an inside surface connected with and extending between the top end and the bottom end, and defining two opposite mounting grooves respectively distributed longitudinally along the post body;

the expanding slot is defined by the inside surface and is disposed between the mounting grooves; and

the post having the expanding slot further has:

a side strip selectively closing the expanding slot and having:

a strip body selectively closing the expanding slot; and

two opposite mounting tabs mounted on the strip body and respectively engaged with the mounting grooves.

11. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

the post body of the post having the expanding slot further has:

the post having the expanding slot further has:

a side strip selectively closing the expanding slot and having:

a strip body selectively closing the expanding slot; and

12. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the post body of each of the posts further has:

an inner surface connected with and extending between the top end and the bottom end, and defining two opposite mounting slits respectively distributed longitudinally along the post body;

the mounting slot is defined by the inner surface and is disposed between the mounting slits;

the adjustable fence further has two limits mounted detachably in the mounting slots of the posts respectively; and

each of the limits presses against the slat assembly and has:

a mounting plate mounted slidably in the opposite mounting slits of the post;

a threaded hole formed through the mounting plate;

a pressing plate formed on and protruding from the mounting plate, and pressing against the slat assembly;

a first fastener mounted through the threaded hole and pressing tightly against the inner surface; and

a second fastener mounted through the pressing plate and the slat assembly.

13. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the post body of each of the posts further has:

each of the limits presses against the slat assembly and has:

a mounting plate mounted slidably in the opposite mounting slits of the post;

a threaded hole formed through the mounting plate;

a second fastener mounted through the pressing plate and the slat assembly.

14. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the posts has a foot mounted on the bottom end of the post body and having:

a connecting element connected to the bottom end of the post body; and

a mounting element formed on the connecting element.

15. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the posts has a foot mounted on the bottom end of the post body and having:

a connecting element connected to the bottom end of the post body; and

a mounting element formed on the connecting element.

16. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 15, wherein the mounting element is a flat mounting tab formed on and protruding radially out from the connecting element.

17. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 15, wherein the mounting element is a mounting awl formed on and protruding downward from the connecting element.

18. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 15, wherein the mounting element comprises multiple mounting holes formed through the connecting element.

19. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 1, wherein each post further has a cap mounted detachably on the top end of the post body and selectively closing the top opening of the mounting slot.

20. The adjustable fence as claimed in claim 15, wherein each post further has a cap mounted detachably on the top end of the post body and selectively closing the top opening of the mounting slot.