US2145172A

US2145172A - Adjustable grade iron fence

Info

Publication number: US2145172A
Application number: US127273A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gustafson Gustaf Arnold
Original assignee: CYCLONE FENCE Co
Current assignee: CYCLONE FENCE Co
Priority date: 1937-02-23
Filing date: 1937-02-23
Publication date: 1939-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 1956-01-24

Description

Jan. 24, 1939. e. A. GUSTAFSON 2,145,172

ADJUSTABLE GRADE IRON FENCE File'd Feb. 23, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l II n H x I 1 [720657255 6 drrzoZd GaaZafiwm Jan. 24, 1939. A. GUSTAFSQN 2,145,172

ADJUSTABLE GRADE IRON FENC E Filed Feb. 25, 1937 3 Sheets-sheaf 2 G drfzofd Gwhfgorz Jan. 24, 1939- G. A. GUSTAFS ON- ADJUSTABLE GRADE IRON FENCE Filed Feb. 23, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE GRADE IRON FENCE Application February 23, 1937, Serial No. 127,273

12 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in fence structure and has more particular reference to an improved iron fence of the ornamental picket type.

V The inherent characteristics of ornamental iron fencing such as its solid and substantial appearance makes this type of fence very desirable for certain purposes which the chain-link wire fabric type of fence can not fulfill. However, the demand for ornamental iron fence has not been as great as might be expected due primarily tothe fact that such fence is very expensive to con-V struct and erect as it is first necessary to determine the grade at the place of erection.- The fence is then built to specification and when erected it will conform to the slope and contour of the ground.

An object of the invention is to provide an ornamental iron fence which will be adjustable as to grade so that the'fence will not have to be built to particular specifications but can be manufactured in large quantities at a relatively low cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide an iron picket fence that can be fabricated either partly or entirely from sheet metal and which will fulfill all requirements of service ordinarily demanded of ornamental iron fencing.

Another object is to provide an iron picket fence wherein the horizontal rails are fabricated from a plurality of parts stamped from sheet metal and which are capable of holding the fence in assembled relation although permitting limited articulated movement so that the fence can be adjusted to conform to the slope and contour of the ground at the place of erection.

Another object is to provide an ornamental iron fence of the character described wherein the horizontal rails and pickets will be held in assembled relation without the use of welding or fastening means of any kind.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is a front elevational view illustrating a fragmentary section of the ornamental picket fence of the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear'elevational view with parts 1 shown in section of the fence of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is aplan view, parts being shown in section, taken substantially alongline 3-3 of Figure 1; I

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the construction of the horizontal rails and the manner of associating the pickets therewith;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a channel member comprising one element of a horizontal rail;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 6--6 of Figure 4;

Figure '7 is a rear'elevational view showing a fragmentary section of the present fence -adjusted to conform to the slope of the ground; and

Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views illustrating the manner of assembling the pickets and horizontal rails.

The present fence is similar in appearance to the ornamental iron fence of the type having vertical pickets although the horizontal rails of the present fence are fabricated from sections stamped. from sheet metal. The pickets thereof may also be stamped from sheet metal although solid iron pickets may be used if desired and are therefore to be considered as coming within the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the fence of the invention may bedescribed as comprising vertical pickets indicated by numeral l0 held in vertical position and in proper spaced relation by horizontal upper and lower rails indicated generally by numerals II and I2, respectively. As previously described, the pickets may be stamped from sheet metal in which case they will be channel-shaped in cross section, or said pickets may be of solid iron as shown at [0 in Figures 4, 8 and 9. The upper ends of the pickets are preferably pointed as at l3, in any desired decorative manner and are further characterized by notches l4 located in the upper section and lower section of the pickets respectively. Said notches are provided in opposed side walls of the pickets and function to support the horizontal rails, as. will be more particularly described. The said horizontal rails have limited movement on the pickets, which may be described as pivotal movement, with the notches l4 forming bearings on which the pivotal movement of the rails takes place.

The upper and lower rails II and I2, respectively, are identicalin construction, each including a channel member l6, Figure 5, having parallel forwardly projecting flanges I1 and I8. At spaced points along the length of the channelshaped member the lower flanges I! are slotted as at 20 for substantially the full extent of the flange, said slot having a width slightly larger than the width of the pickets at the notches I4. In vertical alignment with the slots 20 the upper flange I8 is slotted as at 2 I, also for the full depth of the flange, although the width of each slot 2| greatly exceeds that of the slots 20. The width of each slot 2I will depend on the width of the pickets ID with which the channel-shaped member I6 is to be assembled. In the present drawings the slot 2| is shown as having a width substantially twice that of the slot 20 and this may be considered as exemplary without limiting the invention thereto. As a further guide in determining the width of the slots 2I it is necessary that the same greatly exceed the width of the picket III or III in order to allow pivotal movement of the channel-shaped member on the notches I4.

The other part of each horizontal rail consists of a member 22 which, as shown in Figure 4, consists of a depending flange 23, an arcuate front portion 24, and a connecting flat top portion 25. At spaced'intervals along the length of member 22 the flat top portion 25 is provided with openings 26 which may be either square or rectangular, depending on the cross sectional shape of the pickets. The openings 26 are large enough to permit a picket to pass freely through the opening, although it is desirable that each opening have a fairly close fit around its picket. The arcuate portion 24 of said member is bowed to the extent where the lower end thereof will engage and ap-' ply a yielding pressure to the picket at a point some distance below each pair of notches I4, as

will be clearly understood by reference to Figure 6( In assembling the pickets and horizontal rails the lower rail I2 is assembled first, since it is necessary to telescope the member Hover the pickets, the said pickets entering the openings 26 provided therefor. The member l6 of the lower rail is first associated with the pickets, as shown in Figure 8, the notched section in the lower portion of the pickets entering the slots 20 in the lower flange of the member, which thereby positions and retains the said channel-shaped member on the pickets. The member 22 of the lower rail is then telescoped over the pickets which enter and pass through openings 26 therefor. Downward movement of the member 22 may be continued until the arcuate portion 24' strikes the lower projecting flange II. It will then be necessary 'topry said arcuate portion 24 outwardly until the same will pass over the projecting edge of flange I I which provides an effective lock to retain the members in associated relation. It is also understood that the arcuate portion 24 is bowed so that its lower end engages the pickets, applying a yielding pressure against the same, to aid in maintaining the fence structure in a firm and secure relation. However, it is possible for the member 22 to have considerable movement vertically with respect to member I6 and in order to prevent this and at the same time hold the'member22 with the fiat top portion 25 in contact with the top flange I8 the members have locking relation as shown in Figures 4 and 6. The lock is formed by indenting the body portion of member I 6 at 2'! for a distance between adjacent pickets and by cutting the lower edge of flange 23 at spaced points as at 28 and bending inwardly the portion or lip' 39 of metal between said cuts. In accordance with the invention the indented portion 21 is considerably longer than the lip 30 or, in other words, said indented portion is longer than the distance between cuts 28. When the assembly of the lower rail is completed the upper rail I I is then assembled in a similar manner as illustrated in Figure 9.

In ornamental iron fencing sections of the fence are supported by posts which may have a distinctive design in order to carry out the dec- I orative feature of the fence. The invention contemplates that the present fence will comprise sections of pickets and rails as described which will be supported by posts of any conventional construction and design. It has not been deemed necessary to disclosethe posts as they form no part-of the invention.

The present fence will fulfill all requirements of service ordinarily demanded of ornamental iron fencing although the same can be constructed entirely of sheet metal. Notwithstanding the fabricated construction of the rails, they present at all times a solid and substantial appearance which compares favorably with conventional ornamental iron fence. The outer ap-' pearance of the present fence is further enhanced by the fact that the openings 26 have a close fit around each picket so as not'to dis-' A further important feature of the present fence resides in its adjustability as'to grade. Thus the present fence can be manufactured as a standard article in large quantities and erected on ground of any slope or contour. This adjustability as to grade isthe result of the pivotal movement which the pickets Ill may have on the channel member I6, as will be clear from an inspection of Figure '7. The pickets maintain their vertical position, whereas, the rails are disposed parallel to the ground. The channel members support the pickets at the notches I4 and each notch forms a bearing on which said pivotal movement may take place. In accordance with the invention the slots 2| are made sufficiently large to accommodate the pickets when the channel member is angularly disposed with respect thereto. This pivoting movement between the channel member and pickets, as above described, causes sliding movement of each member 22 on its channel member I6. This relative movement of the members comprising the rails is charac teristic of the present fence structure. For this reason it isnecessary that the indented portion 21 have a length in excess of lip 30. Irrespective of the angular position of the rails as regards the pickets the appearance of said rails remains the same and the parts are maintained in a firm and secure relation under all conditions.

It is not necessary to weld any parts of the present fence nor are fastening means of any kind required. The parts are retained in assoparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Fence structure of the ornamental iron type consisting of vertically disposed pickets supported by spaced upper and lower rails, each rail including associated members one of which has engagement with said pickets in a manner to support the same while permitting limited pivotal movement of the pickets on said member at their point of support, said other member partly enclosing said first mentioned member and having a facing portion forming the front wall of the rail.

2. Fence structure of the ornamental iron type consisting of vertically disposed pickets supported by spaced upper and lower rails, each rail including associated members one of which has engagement with said pickets in a manner to support the same while permitting limited pivotal movement of the pickets on said member at their point of support, said other member partly enclosing said first mentioned member and having an outwardly bowed portion forming the front wall of the rail, the lower end of said bowed portion contacting the pickets.

3. Fence structure consisting of vertically disposed pickets supported by spaced upper and lower rails, each rail including associated members substantially channel-shape in cross section, one of said members providing the rear wall of said rail and having engagement with said pickets in a manner to support the same while permitting limited pivotal movement of the pickets on said member at their point of support, and said other member having openings for the passage of the pickets.

4. Fence structure consisting of vertically disposed pickets supported by spaced upper and lower rails, each rail comprising associated members substantially channel-shaped in cross section and each member having openings therein for the passage of the pickets, the openings in one of said members being substantially vertically aligned with the openings in the other members, and said members having relative movement in the direction of their longitudinal axes when said fence structure is adjusted to conform to the slope of the ground at its place of erection, whereby said openings maintain their vertl cal alignment.

5. Fence structure consisting of vertically disposed pickets supported by spaced upper and lower rails, each rail comprising a channelshaped member providing the rear wall and a cover member providing the front wall of the rail, the cover member and said channel-shaped member having openings therein permitting passage of the pickets, said pickets having interlocking engagement with the channel-shaped member at the openings therein and which permits limited pivotal movement of the pickets.

6. Fence structure of the character described, comprising vertically disposed pickets supported by spaced upper and lower rails, each rail comprising a channel-shaped member providing the rear wall of the rail and a cover member providing the front wall, each member having openings therein permitting passage of the pickets, said pickets having a notched portion of reduced width, and the said openings in the channelshaped member receiving the portion of reduced width of the picket passing therethrough, whereby the pickets are supported by said member in a manner permitting limited pivotal movement of the pickets on the member.

'7. In a fence of the character described, vertically disposed pickets and spaced upper and lower rails supporting said pickets, each rail comprising associated members each having openings in at least one wall thereof permitting pas sage of the pickets, and said members having interlocking engagement in assembled relation and which maintains said fence in proper assembled relation without extraneous fastening means.

8. In a fence of the character described, vertically disposed pickets and spaced upper and lower rails supporting said pickets, each rail including a channel-shaped member the lower flange of which is provided with openings receiving the pickets and which are thereby supported by said member, and a cover member having a bowed portion providing the front wall of the rail,.and which in assembled relation extends below said lower flange forming a lock therewith.

9. In a fence of the character described, vertically disposed pickets and spaced upper and lower rails supporting said pickets, each rail including a channel-shaped member the lower flange of which is provided with openings receiving the pickets and which are thereby supported by said member, and a cover member having a bowed portion providing the front wall of the rail, said bowed portion extending below the lower flange when the members are in assembled relation and the end of said bowed portion engaging the pickets and applying a yielding pressure thereto.

10. In a fence of the character described, vertically disposed pickets and spaced upper and lower rails supporting said pickets, each rail including a channel-shaped member the lower flange of which is provided with openings receivin the pickets and which are thereby supported by said member, and a cover member having a bowed portion providing the front wall of the rail.

11. In a fence of the character described, vertically disposed pickets and spaced upper and lower rails supporting said pickets, each rail including a channel-shaped member the lower flange of which is provided with openings receiving the pickets and which are thereby supported by said member, and a cover member having a bowed portion providing the front wall of the rail, said cover member having openings in one wall thereof through which the pickets extend.

12. In a fence of the character described, ver- .locking engagement with the channel-shaped member to maintain the members in assembled relation, and said cover member having sliding movement on the channel-shaped member upon adjustment of the fence to adapt the same to the slope of the ground at the place of erection.

GUSTAF ARNOLD GUSTAFSON.