Solid-appearing fence system

Abstract

A fencing system that has the appearance of having solid columns and panels made of concrete, brick, rock, or stucco, yet is substantially less expensive to construct. The system includes a plurality of hollow columns and hollow wall members, both with interior cages covered with thin, relatively inexpensive panels. The panels may be easily attached to the exposed surfaces of the interior cages. In one embodiment, the panels are made of concrete, which may be exposed or are sufficiently durable to be covered with soil-based materials, such as brick, rock, or stucco thereby creating the appearance that the entire fence is made of these materials. In another embodiment, the panels are made of lightweight foam with an aluminum sheet packing. The interior cage of the column includes a plurality of vertical legs, which during construction, are embedded into a concrete footing. The interior cage of the wall member is disposed and connected in an end-to-end manner to the interior cages of the two adjacent columns. A decorative cap or lighting fixture may be attached to the top of each column, and moldings may be attached to the sides and bottom edges to provide a more finished, attractive appearance. Also, decorative molding or bars may be added to the panels.

I claim:  
     
         17 . A fencing system, comprising: 
 a. at least one hollow column including a vertically aligned interior cage made of at least four longitudinally aligned legs and a plurality of cross-members, said legs having distal ends and being sufficiently spaced apart to create an longitudinally aligned unobstructed space inside said column;    b. at least one wall member including an interior cage perpendicularly aligned and attached to said interior cage located inside said column, said interior cage formed in said wall member including at least four longitudinal members sufficiently spaced apart to form an unobstructed space inside said wall member;    c. an attachment means to securely attach interior cage located inside said wall member to said interior cage located inside said columns, and;    d. a plurality of thin panels made of weather resistant material attached to said interior cage of said column and said interior cage of said wall member, each said panel having a realistic outer surface;    
     
     
         18 . The fencing system, as recited in claim  17 , wherein said distal ends are embedded in the supporting soil to hold said column in an upright position.  
     
     
         19 . The fencing system, as recited in claim  18 , wherein said panels are made of concrete.  
     
     
         20 . The fencing system, as recited in claim  18 , wherein said legs have uncovered distal ends that are embedded into the soil when the column is oriented into an upright position.  
     
     
         21 . The fencing system as recited in claim  18 , wherein said panels are made of lightweight aerated concrete.  
     
     
         22 . The fencing system, as recited in claim  18 , wherein said panels are made of foam filled concrete.  
     
     
         23 . The fencing system as recited in claim  19 , further including an outer brick layer placed over said outer surface of said panels.  
     
     
         24 . The fencing system as recited in claim  19 , further including a rock layer placed over said outer surface of said panels.  
     
     
         25 . The fencing system as recited in claim  19 , further including a stucco layer placed over the outer surface of said panels.  
     
     
         26  The fencing system as recited in claim  18 , wherein said panels are made of foam material.  
     
     
         27 . The fencing system as recited in claim  19 , wherein said concrete is aerated.  
     
     
         28 . The fencing system as recited in claim  19 , wherein said concrete is partially filled with foam particles.  
     
     
         29 . The fencing system as recited in claim  19 , further including a plurality of clips extending from the surface of said panel used to engage said interior cages of said column and said wall member.  
     
     
         30 . A fencing system, comprising: 
 a. a column including an interior cage made of a plurality of longitudinally aligned legs partially covered with thin concrete panels, said legs being spaced apart to create an unobstructed longitudinally aligned space inside said column and said legs extending downward below said panels to be embedded into the soil to hold the column in an upright position;    b. a concrete layer formed inside said interior cage and adjacent to the soil and between said legs to hold said column in an upright position, and;    c. at least one wall member attached at one end to said column, said wall member    including an interior cage connected to said columns, and a plurality of thin concrete panels formed over said interior cage to form a hollow structure; and,    
     
     
         31 . The fencing system, as recited in  claim 30 , further include a leg member attached to said wall member to attach said wall member to the soil.  
     
     
         32 . The fencing system as recited in  claim 31 , further including a layer of concrete disposed around said leg member to hold said leg member in a vertical position in the soil.  
     
     
         33 . The fencing system as recited in  claim 31 , further including a removable cap attached to said column.  
     
     
         34 . The fencing system as recited in  claim 31 , further including a brick layer placed over the outer surface of said panels.  
     
     
         35 . The fencing system as recited in  claim 31 , further including a rock layer placed over the outer surface of said panels.  
     
     
         36 . The fencing system as recited in  claim 31 , further including a stucco layer placed over the outer surface of said panels.  
     
     
         37 . A method for constructing a fence, comprising the following steps: 
 a. constructing at least one column that includes an interior cage covered with a plurality of panels, said cage including an unobstructed space formed therein with a plurality of longitudinally aligned legs with distal ends to be embedded into the soil to hold the column in an upright position over the soil;    b. pour a thin layer of concrete into the column to sufficiently cover the soil and a lower portion of said interior cage,    c. attaching a cap to said column, and;    d. attaching a wall member to said column.