Extruded fence post and rail system

Abstract

A fence assembly including a post and interconnecting rails. The post includes an interior chamber structure defined by numerous compartments, an exterior wall structure and a plurality of inwardly projecting rail-receiving channels. The rail-receiving channels at least partially define the geometry of the interior chamber structure. The assembly may be made of extruded plastic material such that the post, rails and additional components, such as channel inserts, are generally hollow along their respective elongate dimensions. Each of the components within the assembly may be cut to user-defined lengths. The purpose of the abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure, and is not to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A post defined by a generally hollow construction along an elongate axis thereof, said post comprising: 
 an interior chamber structure defined by a plurality of elongate compartments at least one of which defines a pole-receiving compartment configured to engage a rigid support pole along a pole-engaging axis offset relative to and substantially parallel with a post centerline defined along said elongate axis;    an exterior wall structure; and    a plurality of inwardly projecting elongate rail-receiving channels formed into said exterior wall structure, each of said channels comprising an interior surface which at least partially defines said interior chamber structure.    
     
     
         2 . A post according to  claim 1 , wherein said pole-receiving compartment comprises a plurality of projections disposed therein.  
     
     
         3 . A post according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of rail-receiving channels defines a connecting member therein such that, upon placement of a rail defined by a surface complementary to that of said connecting member into said rail-receiving channel, translation of said rail along its longitudinal dimension is substantially prohibited.  
     
     
         4 . A post according to  claim 3 , wherein said connecting member comprises a narrowed throat disposed in said channel.  
     
     
         5 . A post according to  claim 1 , wherein said post is of unitary construction.  
     
     
         6 . A post according to  claim 5 , wherein said post is made of plastic.  
     
     
         7 . A post according to  claim 6 , wherein said post defines an extrudable cross sectional profile.  
     
     
         8 . A post according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one channel insert selectively disposable in one of said rail-receiving channels to form a flush surface with said exterior wall structure.  
     
     
         9 . A post according to  claim 1 , further comprising a removable channel cover integrally formed across at least one of said rail-receiving channels to form a substantially flush surface with said exterior wall structure, said channel cover substantially circumscribed by at least one line of weakness to facilitate ease of removal.  
     
     
         10 . A post according to  claim 8 , wherein said removable channel cover is substantially circumscribed by a pair of substantially parallel lines of weakness.  
     
     
         11 . A post according to  claim 8 , wherein said line of weakness comprises a score line.  
     
     
         12 . A reinforced post comprising: 
 a post defined by a generally hollow construction along an elongate axis thereof, said post comprising: 
 an interior chamber structure defined by a plurality of elongate compartments at least one of which defines a pole-receiving compartment configured to engage a rigid support pole along a pole-engaging axis offset relative to and substantially parallel with a post centerline defined along said elongate axis;  
 an exterior wall structure; and  
 a plurality of inwardly projecting elongate rail-receiving channels formed into said exterior wall structure, each of said channels comprising an interior surface which at least partially defines said interior chamber structure; and  
   a rigid support pole engaged with said pole-receiving compartment along said pole-engaging axis, said rigid support pole configured to be anchored to a mounting surface such that said rigid support pole defines a reinforcing axis substantially parallel to said elongate axis, thereby providing increased resistance to rotation of said post about said elongate axis when coupled to said mounting surface and said pole-receiving compartment.    
     
     
         13 . A reinforced post according to  claim 12 , wherein said rigid support pole defines a non-axisymmetric cross section to facilitate an interlocking fit with said pole-receiving compartment.  
     
     
         14 . A reinforced post according to  claim 13 , wherein said non-axisymmetric cross section defines at least one radial detent.  
     
     
         15 . A reinforced post according to  claim 13 , wherein said rigid support pole defines a substantially T-shaped cross section.  
     
     
         16 . A reinforced post according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said non-axisymmetric cross section of said rigid support pole defines a plurality of anti-rotational engagement surfaces;    at least a portion of said pole-receiving compartment is configured to engage one of said anti-rotational engagement surfaces upon rotation of said post in a first direction; and    at least a portion of said pole-receiving compartment is configured to engage one of said anti-rotational engagement surfaces upon rotation of said post in a second direction opposite said first direction.    
     
     
         17 . A reinforced post according to  claim 16 , wherein said pole receiving compartment and said anti-rotational engagement surfaces are configured such that a degree of rotation permitted prior to engagement of said anti-rotational engagement surfaces with said compartment is insubstantial.  
     
     
         18 . A reinforced post according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said non-axisymmetric cross section of said rigid support pole further defines a plurality of anti-translational engagement surfaces;    at least a portion of said pole receiving compartment is configured to engage one of said anti-translational engagement surfaces upon translation of said post in a first translational direction perpendicular to said pole-engaging axis; and    at least a portion of said pole receiving compartment is configured to engage one of said anti-translational engagement surfaces upon translation of said post in a second direction perpendicular to said first translational direction and said pole-engaging axis.    
     
     
         19 . A reinforced post according to  claim 13 , wherein said projections form a unitary structure with said interior chamber structure.  
     
     
         20 . A reinforced post according to  claim 12 , wherein said pole-receiving compartment comprises a plurality of projections disposed therein.  
     
     
         21 . A reinforced post according to  claim 20 , wherein said rigid support pole and said plurality of projections define an interlocking fit.  
     
     
         22 . A reinforced post according to  claim 20 , wherein said plurality of projections are configured to engage said rigid support pole in such a manner that substantial rotation of said post about said rigid support pole is impeded.  
     
     
         23 . A reinforced post according to  claim 12 , wherein said interlocking fit is only possible over a substantially singular angular orientation about said reinforcing axis between said rigid support pole and said pole-receiving compartment.  
     
     
         24 . A reinforced post according to  claim 12 , wherein the longitudinal dimension of said rigid support pole extends along a substantial length of said post plus a distance below sufficient to ensure secure anchoring into a mounting surface.  
     
     
         25 . A reinforced post according to  claim 12 , wherein said projections are substantially triangle-shaped.  
     
     
         26 . A reinforced post according to  claim 12 , wherein said pole-receiving chamber structure defines a substantially trapezoidal-shaped compartment.  
     
     
         27 . A reinforced post according to  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of said projections are disposed against an outer wall of said post.  
     
     
         28 . A reinforced post according to  claim 13 , wherein said pole-receiving compartment is at least partially defined by said exterior wall surface.  
     
     
         29 . A post defined by a generally hollow construction along an elongate axis thereof, said post comprising: 
 an interior chamber structure defined by a plurality of elongate compartments at least one of which defines a pole-receiving compartment;    an exterior wall structure;    a plurality of inwardly projecting elongate rail-receiving channels formed into said exterior wall structure, each of said channels comprising an interior surface which at least partially defines said interior chamber structure; and    at least one removable channel cover integrally formed across at least one of said channels to form a substantially flush surface with said exterior wall structure, said channel cover substantially circumscribed by at least one line of weakness to facilitate ease of removal.    
     
     
         30 . A post according to  claim 29 , wherein said pole-receiving compartment comprises a plurality of projections disposed therein, said plurality of projections configured to engage a rigid support pole along a pole-engaging axis of said pole-receiving compartment.  
     
     
         31 . A post according to  claim 29 , wherein said pole-receiving compartment is offset relative to and substantially parallel with a post centerline defined along said elongate axis.  
     
     
         32 . A post according to  claim 29 , further comprising a rigid support pole configured to be anchored to a mounting surface such that said rigid support pole defines a reinforcing axis substantially parallel to said elongate axis, thereby providing increased resistance to rotation of said post about said elongate axis when coupled to said mounting surface and said plurality of projections.  
     
     
         33 . A reinforced post comprising: 
 a structure substantially hollow along an elongate axis thereof, said structure configured to be anchored to a mounting surface and comprising: 
 an interior chamber structure defined by a plurality of elongate compartments at least one of which defines a pole-receiving compartment;  
 an exterior wall structure; and  
 a plurality of inwardly projecting elongate rail-receiving channels formed into said exterior wall structure, each of said channels comprising an interior surface which at least partially defines said interior chamber structure;  
   a rigid support pole defined by a non-axisymmetric cross section, said rigid support pole configured to be anchored to a mounting surface such that said rigid support pole defines a reinforcing axis substantially parallel to said elongate axis, said rigid support pole configured to impede rotation of said post about said elongate axis when engaged with said pole-receiving compartment; and    a removable channel cover integrally formed across at least one of said channels to form a substantially flush surface with said exterior wall structure, said channel cover substantially circumscribed by a line of weakness to facilitate ease of removal.    
     
     
         34 . A reinforced post according to  claim 33 , wherein said pole-receiving compartment comprises a plurality of projections disposed therein, said plurality of projections configured to complement said non-axisymmetric cross section of said rigid support pole.  
     
     
         35 . A reinforced post according to  claim 33 , wherein said pole-receiving compartment is offset relative to and substantially parallel with a post centerline defined along said elongate axis.  
     
     
         36 . A fence assembly comprising: 
 a reinforced post defined by a generally hollow construction along an elongate axis thereof, said post comprising: 
 an interior chamber structure defined by a plurality of elongate compartments at least one of which defines a pole-receiving compartment configured to define a pole-engaging axis offset relative to and substantially parallel with a post centerline defined along said elongate axis;  
 an exterior wall structure;  
 a plurality of inwardly projecting elongate rail-receiving channels formed into said exterior wall structure, each of said channels comprising an interior surface which at least partially defines said interior chamber structure; and  
 a rigid support pole engaged with said pole-receiving compartment, said rigid support pole configured to be anchored to a mounting surface such that said rigid support pole defines a reinforcing axis substantially parallel to said elongate axis, thereby providing increased resistance to rotation of said post about said elongate axis when coupled to said mounting surface and said pole-receiving compartment;  
   a plurality of rails, each of which includes ends configured to be received within one of said rail-receiving channels; and    a channel insert configured to be selectively disposed within one of said rail-receiving channels.    
     
     
         37 . A post according to  claim 36 , wherein said pole-receiving compartment comprises a plurality of projections disposed therein, said plurality of projections configured to engage said rigid support pole along said pole-engaging axis.  
     
     
         38 . A fence assembly according to  claim 36 , further comprising at least one pin disposed in each end of each of said rails, said pin to effect a locking relationship between each of said rails and a corresponding one of said channels.  
     
     
         39 . A fence assembly according to  claim 38 , wherein said at least one pin comprises a plurality of pins axially aligned with one another in each said end of said rail.  
     
     
         40 . A fence assembly according to  claim 36 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of said rail-receiving channels defines a narrowed throat.  
     
     
         41 . A fence assembly according to  claim 36 , further comprising a plurality of said channel inserts, each configured to stack within said rail-receiving channel relative to said rails such that a preferred height and spacing of said rails is effected.  
     
     
         42 . A fence assembly according to  claim 36 , wherein said post and said rail define an extrudable cross sectional profile.  
     
     
         43 . A fence assembly according to  claim 36 , wherein an outer surface of said channel insert is shaped to form a flush surface with said exterior wall structure.  
     
     
         44 . A fence assembly according to  claim 36 , further comprising a removable channel cover integrally formed across at least one of said rail-receiving channels to form a substantially flush surface with said exterior wall structure, said channel cover substantially circumscribed by at least one line of weakness to facilitate ease of removal.  
     
     
         45 . A fence assembly according to  claim 36 , further including a cap releasably connected to a top of said post.