Modular fence system

Abstract

The invention provides a modular fence system that includes a picket and a rail having upper and lower rail elements engagable together generally without fasteners. The lower rail member includes an opening having a tab extending therein. The opening is sized to allow the picket to be inserted therethrough allowing clearance for the tab. Upon assembly, the picket and the lower rail member move laterally relative to each other, allowing the tab to enter an opening formed in the picket side, thus holding the picket vertically. The upper rail member can be disposed over the picket through an opening in the upper rail member, so that engagement elements on the upper and lower rail members engage. The upper rail member opening is sized smaller than the lower rail member opening and holds the picket laterally in position, keeping the picket engaged with the tab inserted therein.

1 . A modular fence system, comprising: 
 a. a picket having an opening on a vertical portion of the picket; and    b. a rail having a first rail member and a second rail member, 
 i. the first rail member having an opening and a tab extending into the rail member opening, the tab being adapted to slidably engage the picket opening and support the picket in a vertical direction, the first rail member opening being sized at least as large as a cross section of the picket plus a length of the tab into the first rail member opening; and  
 ii. the second rail member adapted to be coupled to the picket, the second rail member having an opening sufficiently large to allow the picket to be inserted therethrough, and further adapted to be coupled to the first rail member primarily by being pressed into position.  
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second rail member is adapted to be pressed into position independent of fasteners.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the picket opening is formed on a side of the picket and the tab extends in a lateral direction into the first rail member opening, so that lateral movement between the first rail member and the picket engages the tab at least partially into the picket opening.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first rail member comprises a first engagement element and the second rail member comprises a second engagement element, the first and the second engagement elements adapted to matingly engage each other.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second rail comprises a channel having a web and at least two flanges and the second engagement element is formed on at least one the two flanges and adapted to matingly engage the first rail member.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first rail member comprises a channel having a web and at least two flanges, wherein the opening and the tab are formed in the web.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second rail adapted to engage the picket at a different elevation than the first rail.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first rail member is sized to allow the second rail member to at least partially overlap the first rail member.  
     
     
         9 . A modular fence system, comprising: 
 a. a picket having an opening on a vertical portion of the picket; and    b. a rail having a first rail member and a second rail member, 
 i. the first rail member having an opening and a tab extending into the rail member opening, the tab being adapted to slidably engage the picket opening in a lateral direction and support the picket in a vertical direction, the first rail member opening being sized at least as large as a cross section of the picket plus a length of the tab into the first rail member opening; and  
   ii. the second rail member adapted to be coupled to the picket, the second rail member having an opening sufficiently large to allow the picket to be inserted therethrough and smaller than the first rail member opening, and further adapted to be coupled to the first rail member independent of fasteners.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first rail member comprises a first engagement element and the second rail member comprises a second engagement element, the first and the second engagement elements being adapted to matingly engage each other.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second rail member comprises a channel shape having a web and at least two flanges and the second engagement element is formed on at least one of the two flanges and adapted to matingly engage the first rail member.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first rail member comprises a channel shape having a web and at least two flanges and the opening and the tab are formed in the web.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the flanges from the first rail member and the flanges from the second rail member matingly engage.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first rail member is sized to allow the second rail member to at least partially overlap the first rail member.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a second rail adapted to engage the picket at a different elevation than the first rail.  
     
     
         16 . A method of assembling a modular fence system having a picket with an opening in a vertical portion of the picket, a first rail member having an opening with a tab extending into the opening, and a second rail member having an opening formed therein, comprising: 
 a. locating the first rail member relative to the picket so that the first rail member at least partially surrounds the picket and the tab is aligned with the picket opening;    b. engaging the tab of the first rail member at least partially with the picket opening;    c. coupling the second rail member with the picket; and    d. engaging the second rail member and the first rail member together independent of fasteners while the tab is engaged with the picket opening so that the rail members are restrained relative to each other and the tab is restrained in the picket opening.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein engaging the tab of the first rail member at least partially with the picket opening comprises laterally moving the first rail member, picket, or both relative to each other.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first and the second rail members each comprises at least two flanges extending and wherein engaging the second rail member and the first rail member comprises engaging the flanges of each rail member.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second rail member at least partially overlaps the first rail member.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein coupling the second rail member with the picket comprises protruding the picket through the second rail member opening.