US3486739A - Rail fence - Google Patents

Description

R. L. NELSON ETAL Dec. 30, 1969 RAIL FENCE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 18, 1968 Dec. 30, 1 969 I R. L. NELSON ETAL 3,486,739

' RAIL FENCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 18, 1968 INVENTOR.

ROBERT L. NELSON BY SUSAN JANENELSON United States Patent US. Cl. 25665 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention comprises a plurality of pairs of fence posts arranged in pairs in linearly spaced relationship; each of said pairs of fence posts being supported at their bottoms in cement-filled fence post holes and being aligned alongside one another in transversely spaced relationship, a double-saddle clamp remova'bly secured to and spanning each pair of said plurality of pairs of fence posts adjacent to the tops thereof for retaining said posts against displacement, a plurality of rail-holding sleeves pivotally mounted on each pair of postsin vertically spaced relationship in the transverse space therebetween, and tubular rails slidably mounted on but snugly fitting each of said sleeves and extending linearly between successive pairs of said fence posts.

This invention in a rail fence for enclosing any given area of land, such as a horse corral or a series of horse corrals, comprises a plurality of laterally spaced pairs of metal tubular fence posts of circular cross-section presenting smooth, uninterrupted or unobstructed exterior surfaces and supported in fixed upright positions linearly spaced apart in laterally spaced pairs, each of said fence posts having a series of openings therein in spaced relation to one another from adjacent the top to adjacent the bottom thereof, said openings being arranged in opposed pairs in respect to each of the pairs of laterally spaced posts with their inlets facing the space between the pairs of laterally spaced posts, together with a plurality of rail-holding sleeves, pivot pins on opposite sides of each of said sleeves extending into opposed pairs of openings at a plurality of levels in said posts to freely mount said rail-holding sleeves for pivotal movement on and between said pairs of posts from the horizontal to an inclination of approximately 80 degrees from the horizontal thereby permitting the erection of the fence on both level and inclined terrain, and pipe rails mounted in said sleeves and extending linearly between successive pairs of fence posts.

The invention, in general, relates to fence construction and more particularly relates to a permanent rail fence having all of its components except the rails prefabricated and united together for ready erection on level and inclined terrain by simple placement of the rails.

Heretofore in the art, rail fences have largely been constructed of Wooden posts and wooden rails which require frequent mending or replacement of portions thereof or complete rebuilding because of damage thereto from the elements or animals confined within a fenced area. In some fenced areas (see US. Letters Patent, No. 348,383), iron posts and iron rails in picket form have been employed; such iron rails being of relatively thin cross-section and therefore easily bent or broken. Recently, there has been placed on the market a metal fence employing connected tubular posts which are of inverted U-shape together with pipe rails slidably mounted in rings which are welded to the double posts, all as described and claimed in US. Letters Patent, No. 3,285,576. The present invention is directed to an improved all metal post obviating all of the disadvantages of prior rail fences and capable of indefinite use and no maintenance costs.

3,486,739 Patented Dec. 30, 1969 ice A primary object of our present invention is to provide an improved rail fence capable of being almost entirely prefabricated and assembled at a central plant r installation in concrete and erection 'by simple mounting of the steel pipe rails at any location remote from such central plants.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved rail fence of the indicated nature which is additionally characterized by its capability of being erected on both level and inclined terrain.

A still further object of our invention is to provide an improved rail fence of the aforementioned character which can be pre-fabricated and assembled, as Well as installedand erected at a minimum of cost and which requires only a nominal, at most, of maintenance expense.

Other objects of our invention, together with some of the advantageous features thereof, will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that we are not to be limited to the precise embodiment illustrated nor to the precise arrangement of the components thereof, as our invention, as defined in the appended claims, can be embodied in a plurality and variety of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of some of the principal components of a preferred embodiment of our invention in an all metal rail fence; these portable components being pre-fabricated assembled and united in a central plant for ready installation.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view, partly in section, of the majority of the components shown in FIG. 1; this view illustrating the erection of one pair of posts in a concrete foundation as Well as the removal of the lower double-saddle clamp component.

FIG. 3 is a view partly in section, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is another view, partly in section, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a broken longitudinal perspective view of a rail fence embodying our present invention and illustrating the installation on level and variable inclined terrain.

FIG. 6 is a broken sectional elevational view of one of the metal posts illustrating the top closure or cap component for the posts.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the top closure or cap component employed in the preferred embodiment of our invention.

In its preferred form, the rail fence of our present invention preferably comprises a plurality of pairs of tubular metal posts arranged alongside one another in spaced apart pairs and supported in upright position in a concrete foundation, double-saddle clamps removably spanning each pair of posts for retaining the same against spaced apart displacement, together with a plurality of rail-holding sleeves pivotally mounted on each pair of spaced apart posts in vertically spaced relationship to one another, and pipe rails slidably mounted in said sleeves and extending linearly between successive pairs of posts for an indeterminate length of fence.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, we provide as principal integral or united post components of the preferred embodiment of our improved metal rail fence, a plurality of pairs of tubular posts 11 and 12 which are arranged alongside of one another and held in opposed spaced relationship by a pair of top double saddle-clamps generally designated by the reference numerals 13 and 14, and a pair of bottom clamps 13' and 14, as well as a plurality of rail-holding sleeves, designated generally by the reference numeral 16, which are arranged in vertically spaced relationship to one another, as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings, and which are pivotally mounted on suitable pivot pins 17. These components comprising the tubular posts 11 and 12 which, of course are made to the heights desired, together with the double saddle clamps 13, 14 and 13', 14, are all pre-fabricated and assembled and united together as a unit at a central plant and can be transported as units to the location where the rail fence of our improved invention is to be erected. It may be observed here that the saddle clamps 13, 14 and 13, 14 are removably mounted by means of a screw-bolt 18 which pierces the webs 19 of the saddle-clamps which are tightened into operative positions by turning down a nut 20 its fullest extent upon the threaded portion of the bolt 19 to bear against the outer surface of the saddle-clamps 13, 13' and thus drawing up the bolt so that its head 21 bears against the outer surface of the saddle clamps 14, 14'. Each of the two saddle- clamps 13, 14, 13', 14' is so fashioned that their outer ends 22, which merge with the webs 19 thereof, are arcuately formed so as to partially surround the peripheries of the tubular posts 11 and 12 at the top and bottom thereof. The two sections of each double saddle clamp are complementary to one another and are fitted to the tubular uprights or posts at the front and back thereof so that the arcuate extremities of the clamps engage the posts almost completely circumferentially thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, we provide in the transverse space 23 between each pair of posts 11 and 12 a plurality of rail-holding sleeves 16 which are welded, as at 25, or otherwise securely fastened at diametrically opposite points to pivot pins 26 and 27 extending into opposite tubular fence posts 11 and 12, respectively, through openings 28 and 29 fashioned in such posts 11 and 12, respectively. As shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the sleeves 16 are pivotally mounted by means of pivot pins 26 and 27 at vertically spaced intervals from adjacent to the top of the posts to adjacent the ground level allowing approximately two feet of the connected posts 11 and 12 for penetration and setting in post holes filled with concrete 30. With all of the foregoing parts assembled and united together, all as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the assembly of pairs of posts 11 and 12, in the quantities required for erection of a rail fence of predetermined height and length, is taken to the site of the fence in readiness for installations of each of the pairs of posts 11 and 12. Prior to disposing each pair of posts in the poured concrete 30, the lower double-saddles 13' and 14 are removed from each of the joined pairs of posts 11 and 12 for subsequent use at the assembly plant.

In addition to transporting to the site of the fence the aforesaid assembled and united components including the posts 11 and 12, the double- saddles 13 and 14, and the pivotally mounted rail-carrying sleeves, we take along the required number of lengths of pipes constituting the metal rails 31 of the improved fence of our invention. The rails 31 usually are fabricated in 21 foot to 24 foot lengths and they are individually slidably mounted in each of the pivotally mounted sleeves 16 so as to extend linearly between each erected pair of posts 11 and 12 which normally are spaced approximately 10 feet apart. As illustrated particularly in FIG. 5 of the annexed drawings, the tubular metal rails 31 can be disposed in planes parallel to the ground or all level horizontally as depicted in fragmentary showing at the extreme left of FIG. 5. Or, as shown in the remainder of the view of FIG. 5, the rails can be disposed at an inclination to the horizontal and thus, while the plurality of rails in both instances are in parallel relationship to one another, the rail fence can readily be erected and can follow an irregular terrain where both level and inclined or sloping ground is encountered. This disposition of the rails and the erection of our improved all metal rail fence on terrain of irregular contour is due to our feature of mounting all of the rail-holding sleeves 16 on pivots so that each of such sleeves pivots on its own axis. This pivotal construction permits the erection of our improved rail fence on even an eighty degree grade. Once the rails 31 have been slidably fitted and mounted in operative positions fitting the sleeves 16 snugly, any portions of the rails less than the distance between linearly adjacent posts 11 and 12 can be fitted into auxiliary connector sleeves or collars 32 which serve to join together in axial extensions other portions of the rails extending beyond the pairs of posts 11 and 12, all as illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. Once the plurality of rails 31 have been mounted, suitable metal set-screws 33 can be tightened down against the periphery of each such rail at the posts of the fence, see FIG. 5.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, we have illustrated a removable topfitting closure 36 for each of the tubular fence posts 11 and 12. As shown, each closure 36 is formed with a head 37 thereon which is equal to or slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the tubular posts 11 and 12 so that when placed on the tops thereof the head 37 of the closure 36 will hold it in position on the tops of the fence posts to prevent rain, snow or other moisture from entering within the posts and thus avoiding rust or other oxidation. Each closure 36 is provided with integral depending vanes 38, 39 and 40 which bear against the inner wall of the posts 11 and 12 and retain the closure against displacement.

We preferably fabricate the tubular posts 11 and 12 as well as the rail-holding sleeves 16 and the doublesaddle clamps 13, 14 and 13, 14 as well as also the pipe rails of steel or of galvanized iron in order to protect the same against rust or other deterioration. Likewise, the smaller components consisting of the pivot pins 17 on which the sleeves 16 are mounted by means of welding, as well as the top closures 36 for the fence posts, are all fabricated of galvanized iron. Further, all bolts and screws employed are galvanized metal.

We claim:

1. A rail fence comprising a plurality of pairs of tubular metal posts of circular cross-sections arranged along side one another in laterally spaced apart pairs and supported in linearly spaced relation in concrete foundations; said posts presenting smooth unobstructed exterior surfaces, means spanning each pair of said posts for retaining the same against spaced apart displacement, a plurality of rail-holding sleeves pivotally mounted directly on each pair of said plurality of laterally spaced apart posts in vertically spaced relationship to one another for free pivotal movement within the space between each said pair of posts, and pipe rails slidable mounted in said sleeves and extending linearly between successive pairs of said plurality of tubular metal posts.

2. A rail fence as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of pivot pins extend from opposite sides of each of said plurality of said rail-holding sleeves and partially into each post of said plurality of pairs of laterally spaced posts to effect free pivotal mounting of said sleeves in the spaces between each pair of laterally spaced posts whereby each sleeve is freely pivoted on its own axis between the horizontal and an inclination of approximately eighty degrees from the horizontal so that the fence can be erected on both level and inclined terrain.

3. A rail fence as defined in claim 1 wherein said means comprises double-saddle clamps for rigidly holding said tubular posts against spaced apart displacement each consisting of complementary sections containing opposed flat webs arranged in spaced relationship to one another; each of said webs having a hole therethrough at approximately its longitudinal center located in the spaces between each of said pair of laterally spaced apart posts, and opposed arcuate ends merging with said webs and partially encircling said posts of each of said pair of laterally spaced posts, and a screw-bolt extending through said holes of said webs to effect the clamping together of said complementary sections on each pair of said posts.

4. A rail fence for enclosing an area of land such as a horse corral; said rail fence comprising a plurality of laterally spaced apart metal tubular fence posts of circular cross-section presenting smooth, unobstructed exterior surfaces and supported in fixed upright positions in linearly spaced apart relation; each of said fence posts having a series of openings therein in spaced apart relationship to one another-{from adjacent the top thereof to adjacent the bottom thereof, said openings being arranged in opposed pairs in respect to each of the pairs of laterally spaced apart posts with their inlets facing the space between each of the pairs of laterally spaced apart posts, a plurality of rail-holding sleeves each having an annular opening therethr'jough, a pivot pin on each side of each of said sleeves extending partially into said posts through the inlets of each of said pairs of opposed openings in said lateral spaced apart pairs of posts to freely pivotally mount each of said sleeves at a plurality of levels on said fence posts in the spaces between each 6 pair of said laterally spaced apart posts to permit pivotal movement of said rail-holding sleeves from the horizontal to an inclinationifrom the horizontal of approximately eighty degrees, and pipe rails mounted in the annular openings of said sleeves and extending linearly between successive pairs of fence posts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 348,383 8/1886 Cummings 256-59 X 776,968 12/1904 Vestal 256-59 1,154,625 9/ 1915 Gutenkunst 25 6-68 3,002,493 10/1961 Galamba 256-59 X 3,285,576 11/1966 Clark 256-65 X FOREIGN PATENTS 273,893 6/ 1951 Switzerland.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner

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