US3411753A

US3411753A - Decorative fence

Info

Publication number: US3411753A
Application number: US584494A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wood Everette Clifton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-10-05
Filing date: 1966-10-05
Publication date: 1968-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 1985-11-19

Description

Nov. 19, 1968 E. c. WOOD 3,411,753

DECORATIVE FENCE Filed Oct. 5, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l J Ef/zffon Hood i ATTORNEY Nov. 19, 1968 E. c. woon DECORATIVE FENCE I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1966 E. C/yfon 11/000 ATTORNEY Nov. 19, 1968 c, wooD 3,411,753

DECORAT IVE FENCE Filed Oct. 5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l l I :E k l as" H I}! N I I m J ll] l I P R p 35 39 Fjl4 I INVENTOR E.C'/1' Ion h ood l7 33 BY WWW l2a-- 3g ATTORNEY United States Patent ()7 3,411,753 DECORATIVE FENCE Everette Clifton Wood, Ardmore, Okla., assignor of eighty percent to Betty Wood and twenty percent to John Caldwell, both of Ardmore, Okla.

Filed Oct. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 584,494 9 Claims. (Cl. 25624) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a decorative fence, the combination of horizontally extending fence rail means, vertically disposed decorative panel means formed from sheet material having edge portions thereof supportably retained by said rail means, and fence posts connected to said rail means for supporting said panel means with the lowermost edge thereof spaced above the ground, said panel means being formed from a single sheet of material cut along an irregular line to provide each panel with a series of prominences and recesses therebetween, the size and shape of the prominences of each panel being complementally identical to the size and shape of the recesses in the other panel.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fences, particularly ornamental or decorative fences, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a fence of an aesthetic appearance which is very simple in construction, which may be easily and economically manufactured and installed, and in which the fence paneling is spaced above the ground so that access may be had thereunder for cutting or trimming grass, and the like.

Briefly, the fence structure of the invention comprises posts supporting horizontal rail means which are grooved to support vertical panel means with the lowermost edge of the panel means spaced above the ground as already noted. One important feature of the invention resides in connecting the fence posts to the rail means in an adjustable manner, which permits positioning of the panel means in a vertical plane even when the posts have not been installed exactly in their intended positions.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the panel means, each panel being out along an irregular line to provide a series of prominences and recesses therebetween. Such prominences and recesses not only enhance the aesthetic appearance of the paneling, but since the size and shape of the prominences of each panel complementally conform to the size and shape of the recesses in another panel, the panels may be cut economically from a sheet of material without any waste.

With the foregoing more important object and [features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a decorative fence in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view showing how the fence panels are cut from a single piece of material;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the fence shown in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational detail showing the connection of one of the fence posts to the rail;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view,

3,411,753 Patented Nov. 19, 1968 taken substantially in the plane of the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line -6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the fence of FIG. 1 but with a modified post arrangement;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional detail of the fence post connection in FIG. 7;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional detail, similar to that in FIG. 8, but illustrating a modified embodiment of the fence post and connection;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing a modified embodiment of the fence;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary plan view showing the cut out of panels for the fence embodiment of FIG. 10;

FIGURE 12 is an end view of the fence shown in FIG. 10;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional detail .of the fence post connection in FIG. 12; and

FIGURE 14 is an end view of the fence in FIG. 10 but with a modified post arrangement.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularly to FIGS. l-6' inclusive, the decorative fence of the invention is designated generally by the numeral 10, it being understood that only a longitudinal portion of the fence appears in FIG. 1 and that the fence may be of any suitable running length.

The fence 10 comprises fence rail means consisting of a single, horizontal rail 11 supported at longitudinally spaced points by fence posts 12 which are connected to the rail in a manner hereinafter to be described. The upper and lower edges of the rail 11 are provided with longitudinal grooves 13 to support decorative panel means comprising an upper panel 14 and a lower panel 15, both disposed in a vertical plane. The upper panel 14 has its lower edge seated in the groove 13 in the upper edge of the rail 11, while the lower panel 15 has its upper edge inserted in the groove in the lower edge of the rail, so that the panel 14 projects above the rail and the panel 15 depends from the rail, as will be clearly apparent. The edges of the

panels

14, 15 which are inserted in the grooves 13 may be retained therein in any suitable manner, as for example, by frictional fit alone, or by an adhesive, or by fastener elements such as screws, or the like. The grooved rail 11 is H-shaped in cross-section, as will be apparent from FIG. 6.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the

panels

14, 15 may be formed from a single sheet of material M of any suitable running length, the material being cut along an irregular line 16 so as to provide each panel with a series of prominences P. When the

panels

14, 15 are separated after cutting along the line 16, the prominences P of each panel result in the formation of a series of recesses R between the prominences of the other panel, as will be apparent from FIG. 1. The size and shape of the prominences of each panel is thus complementally identical to the size and shape of the recesses in the other panel, and in this manner the panels may be cut from the sheet M without any waste of material whatever. It is to be noted that the particular shape of the prominences and recesses as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is for illustrative purposes only, and that this may be varied in an endless variety of different patterns. In any event, when the panels are cut out and assembled to the rail 11, the particular configuration thereof will produce a highly aesthetic appearance, it also being noted that the recesses R are open at the upper edge of the upper panel 14 and at the lower edge of the lower panel 15 to provide a striking visual effect by the prominences P projecting both upwardly and downwardly from the fence rail 11 between the two panels.

Each of the aforementioned fence posts 12 may consist of a length of pipe or rod, having its lower end portion inserted in the ground or embedded in a concrete walk, or the like. The upper end of the post is screw-threaded into an adapter cap 17 as indicated at 18 in FIG. 5, and the fence rail 11 is held assembled to the cap 17 in any suitable manner, as for example, by a screw 19 extending downwardly through the rail into the cap at the underside of the rail. As a practical matter, the rail 11 may be seated directly on top of the cap 17, but preferably, adjustable leveling means are interposed between the rail and the cap. These means comprise a pair of

discs

20, 21 whi:h are complementally bevelled as shown in FIG. 4 and are centrally apertured to receive the screw 19 therethrough. It will be apparent that during erection of the fence, the

discs

20, 21 may be rotated relative to each other about the screw 19, so as to facilitate positioning of the panel means 14, 15 in a vertical plane even if the post 12 is not installed exactly in a vertical position.

The posts 12 are sufiiciently long to support the rail 11 and the panel means 14, 15 so that the lowermost edge of the lower panel 15 is spaced above the ground indicated at 22. In this manner, clearance exists under the fence to facilitate mowing or trimming of grass directly below the fence, except of course, in the immediate vicinity of the posts 12.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified fence post arrangement wherein the posts 12a are set back from the vertical plane of the

fence panels

14, 15, so as to be less likely to interfere with the movement of a lawn mower or trimmer under the fence. In this modified arrangement, as shown in detail in FIG. 8, the cap 17 is mounted by the screw 19 on the rear side of the rail 11, rather than directly below the rail, and the upper end of the post 1211 is screwthreaded into a 90 elbow 23 which, in turn, is provided with a short nipple 24 screw-threaded laterally into the cap 17. Thus, the post 12a is spaced rearwardly from the vertical plane of the fence to afford additional clearance for lawn mowing or trimming.

The cap 17 in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 may be placed directly against the back side of the rail 11 or, if desired, the

bevelled discs

20, 21 may be interposed between the cap and the rail to afford adjustment between the fence post and the rail in facilitating vertical positioning of the fence panels. This is shown in FIG. 9 which also illustrates a further modification wherein the 90 elbow 23 is substituted by a 45 elbow 23a so that the post 12b extends downwardly and rearwardly from the fence at an acute angle of approximately 45 to the ground. Thus, the lower end of the post 12b enters the ground at a point spaced considerably rearwardly from the vertical plane of the fence and even a greater clearance exists for lawn mowing purposes than in the instances of the

posts

12 and 12a, already described.

Referring now to FIGS. -13, the same illustrate a modified embodiment of the fence designated generally by the numeral 30. Here, instead of two fence panels, a single panel 31 is provided in a vertical plane, the upper and lower edges of this panel "being seated in longitudinal grooves 32 formed in the respective lower and upper edges of a pair of horizontal rails 33. Each of the fence posts 12b is provided at its upper end with an elbow 23a connected by a short nipple 34 to a T 35, the latter having lengths of pipe 36 extending both upwardly and downwardly therefrom. The ends of the pipes 36 are equipped with 90 elbows 23 which are connected by short nipples 24 to the caps 17, secured by the screws 19 to the upper and lower rails 33, as will be clearly understood from FIGS. 12 and 13.

The single fence panel 31 is cut out from a sheet of material M along the lines 16 as shown in FIG. 11, so that when the panel is removed from the material sheet, it has a series of upwardly and downwardly projecting prominences P with recesses R therebetween. The recesses are open at the upper and lower edges of the panel and the upper and lower end portions of the prominences are seated in the grooves 32 of the rails 33 to retain the panel in position. It will be noted that unlike in the embodiment of FIG. 1 wherein the recesses R are open in the finished form of the fence, in the embodiment of FIG. 10 the recesses become closed by the rails 33 at the upper and lower edges of the panel.

It will be also observed that the size and shape of the prominences P in the upper portion of the panel 31 are complementally identical to the size and shape of the recesses R in the lower portion of the panel. Thus, one panel may be out after another from the material sheet M without any waste of material whatever.

FIG. 14 shows a modified post arrangement such as may be used in the fence 30 of FIGS. 10-13. Here, the vertical post 12a, set back from the plane of the fence, is provided at its upper end with a T 37, having one branch thereof connected by a nipple 38 to the cap 17 on the lower one of the rails 33. The T 37 is also provided with an upward post extension 39 having a elbow 23 at its upper end connected by a nipple 24 to the cap 17 on the upper one of the rails 33. The post extension 39 thus serves not only to support the fence rails 33, but also to connect the rails to each other. This same function, incidentally, is also performed by the lengths of pipe 36 in the arrangement of FIG. 12.

In all embodiments of the invention the fence post portions below the fence panels may be camouflaged by shrubbery, or the like, so that they are hidden from view and the fence has the appearance of being suspended above the ground, without visible means of support.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure, and various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a decorative fence, the combination of horizontally extending fence rail means, vertically disposed decorative panel means formed from sheet material having edge portions thereof supportably retained by said rail means, and fence posts connected to said rail means for supporting said panel means with the lowermost edge thereof spaced above the ground, said panel means being formed from a single sheet of material cut along an irregular line to provide each panel with a series of prominences and recesses therebetween, the size and shape of the prominences of each panel being complementally identical to the size and shape of the recesses in the other panel.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with means connecting said posts to said rail means, said connecting means being adjustable to facilitate positioning of said panel means in a vertical plane.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said posts are spaced rearwardly from said panel means.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 :wherein said posts extend rearwardly and downwardly from said panel means at an acute angle.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said rail means comprises a single horizontal rail having longitudinal grooves in upper and lower edges thereof, said panel means comprising an upper panel having its lower edge seated in the grooved upper edge of the rail and a lower panel having its upper edge seated in the grooved lower edge of the rail.

6. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said recesses are open at the upper and lower edges of the upper and lower panels respectively.

7. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said rail means comprise upper and lower horizontal rails having opposing longitudinal grooves in the respective lower and upper edges thereof, said panel means comprising a panel having its upper and lower edge portions seated in said grooves.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 wherein said panel has upper and lower portions cut along irregular lines to provide each of said portions with a series of prominences and recesses therebetween, the size and shape of the prominences of each panel portion being complementally identical to the size and shape of the recesses in the other panel portion. 7

9. The device as defined in claim 7 wherein said fence posts include means for connecting said upper and lower rails together.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,776,785 9/ 1930 Davidson.

3,037,593 6/ 1962 Webster.

3,101,929 8/1963 Dvore 256-24 549,714 11/1895 Foster 52-613 X 656,314 8/ 1900 Beerbower.

977,862 12/1910 Grant 256-64 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner.