Fence insert and combination thereof

Abstract

A decorative insert body, upper and lower connecting arm sets extending from the body, and upper and lower mounting feet extend from the connecting arms for attachment to upper and lower lateral fence rails. The decorative body has a U-shaped upper section, a U-shaped lower section, and a middle section. The upper connecting arms form a U-shape that is inverted from the U-shaped upper section, and the lower connecting arms form a U-shape that is inverted from the U-shaped lower section. Additionally, side mounting feet can extend from the middle section for attachment to fence vertical spindles.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An insert for use with a fence having an upper rail, a lower rail, and a plurality of spindles extending therebetween, said insert comprising: 
 a decorative body; and    a plurality of mounting feet extending from said decorative body and adapted to attach to the upper rail, the lower rail, or one of the spindles.    
     
     
         2 . The insert of  claim 1  wherein said decorative body comprises an upper section, a lower section, and a middle section therebetween, and wherein said plurality of mounting feet comprises at least one upper mounting foot extending upward from said upper section for attachment to the upper rail and at least one lower mounting foot extending downward from said lower section for attachment to the lower rail.  
     
     
         3 . The insert of  claim 2  wherein said at least one upper mounting foot comprises two upper mounting feet, each foot linked to an upper connecting arm extending from said upper section of said body, said upper connecting arms cooperating to form an upper U-shaped mounting structure, and wherein said at least one lower mounting foot also comprises two lower mounting feet, each foot linked to a lower connecting arm extending from said lower section of said body, said lower connecting arms cooperating to form a lower U-shaped mounting structure.  
     
     
         4 . The insert of  claim 3  wherein said upper section of said decorative body is generally U-shaped, and is connected to and inverted from said upper U-shaped mounting structure, and said lower section of decorative body is generally U-shaped and is connected to and inverted from said U-shaped lower mounting structure.  
     
     
         5 . The insert of  claim 2  wherein said plurality of mounting feet further comprises at least two side mounting feet, with one of said side mounting feet extending laterally from one side of said middle section for attachment to one of the spindles and with another one of said side mounting feet extending laterally and oppositely from the other side of said middle section for attachment to another spindle.  
     
     
         6 . The insert of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of mounting feet further comprises at least two side mounting feet, with one of said side mounting feet extending laterally from one side of said middle section for attachment to one of the spindles and with another one of said side mounting feet extending laterally and oppositely from the other side of said middle section for attachment to another spindle.  
     
     
         7 . The insert of  claim 2  wherein each of said mounting feet is generally T-shaped.  
     
     
         8 . An insert for use with a fence having an upper rail, a lower rail, and a plurality of spindles extending therebetween, said insert comprising: 
 a decorative body having a U-shaped upper section, a U-shaped lower section, and a middle section therebetween;    two upper connecting arms extending upward from said upper section and cooperating to form an upper U-shaped mounting structure that is inverted relative to said U-shaped upper section;    two lower connecting arms extending downward from said lower section and cooperating to form a generally U-shaped lower mounting structure that is inverted relative to said U-shaped lower section; and    two upper mounting feet with one foot attached to each of said upper connecting arms for attaching to the upper rail;    two lower mounting feet with one foot attached to each of said lower connecting arms for attaching to the lower rail; and    two side mounting feet extending laterally from said middle section, with one of said side mounting members extending from one side of said middle section for attachment to one of the spindles and with the other one of said side mounting members extending from the opposite side of said middle section for attachment to another one of the spindles.    
     
     
         9 . The insert of  claim 8  wherein said upper U-shaped mounting structure and said U-shaped lower section each have an open side facing upward, and said lower U-shaped mounting structure and said U-shaped upper section each have an open side facing downward.  
     
     
         10 . The insert of  claim 8  wherein each of said upper, lower, and side mounting feet includes at least two mounting feet.  
     
     
         11 . The insert of  claim 10  wherein each of said mounting feet is generally T-shaped.  
     
     
         12 . The insert of  claim 8  wherein each of said mounting feet have at least one hole defined therein for receiving a fastener.  
     
     
         13 . The insert of  claim 8  wherein said decorative body is made of plastic.  
     
     
         14 . The insert of  claim 8  wherein said decorative body has the appearance of wrought iron.  
     
     
         15 . A fence, comprising: 
 an upper rail;    a lower rail;    a plurality of spindles extending between said upper rail and said lower rail;    a fence insert comprising a decorative body and two upper mounting feet, two lower mounting feet, and at least two side mounting feet extending therefrom;    said decorative body having an upper section, a lower section, a middle section therebetween, two upper connecting arms extending upward from said upper section and cooperating to form a generally U-shaped upper mounting structure, and two lower connecting arms extending downward from said lower section and cooperating to form a generally U-shaped lower mounting structure, said upper section being generally U-shaped and inverted relative to said U-shaped upper mounting structure, and said lower section being generally U-shaped and inverted relative to said U-shaped lower mounting structure;    said two upper mounting feet attached to said upper connecting arms for attachment to the upper rail;    said two lower mounting feet attached to said lower connecting arms for attachment to the lower rail; and    said side mounting feet each extending laterally from said middle section, with one of said side mounting members extending from one side of said middle section for attachment to one of the spindles, and with another one of said side mounting members extending from the opposite side of said middle section for attachment to another one of the spindles.    
     
     
         16 . The fence of  claim 15  wherein said upper U-shaped mounting structure and said U-shaped lower section each have an open side facing upward, and said lower U-shaped mounting structure and said U-shaped upper section each have an open side facing downward.  
     
     
         17 . The fence of  claim 15  wherein each of said upper, lower, and side mounting feet is generally T-shaped.  
     
     
         18 . The fence of  claim 15  wherein said decorative body is made of plastic and has the appearance of wrought iron.