Modular metal fence or gate panel assembly

Abstract

A novel modular metal fence or gate panel assembly constructed from vertically spaced apart rails and a horizontal row of vertically disposed pickets is disclosed. At least the upper rail is locked to the pickets which extend therethrough by means of an elongate locking bar which is slidingly disposed within the rail. The bar is moveable from a first position wherein apertures provided in the bar are in full open alignment with picket receiving apertures located in the rail, to a second position in which inwardly projecting flanges in each of the bar apertures are respectively received in rail connecting recesses located in the sidewalls of the pickets.

1 . A metal picket fence or gate panel assembly comprising: 
 (a) spaced apart and vertically aligned upper and lower support rails, each defined by an inverted “U”-shaped channel having an elongate top portion and a plurality of spaced apart picket receiving apertures extending therethrough;    (b) a horizontal row of vertically disposed elongate pickets which respectively extend through vertically aligned pairs of said picket receiving apertures in a said upper and lower support rails;    (c) said elongate pickets each having uniformly orientated rail connecting recesses in at least one sidewall thereof and at locations there along corresponding to the relative positioning of at least one of said upper and lower support rails;    (d) fasting means for positively connecting said at least one support rail to corresponding rail connecting recesses in said elongate pickets comprising an elongate bar having a spaced bar apertures extending therethrough, said elongate bar being slidingly disposed within the said support rail and moveable from a first position wherein respective ones of said bar apertures are in full open alignment with corresponding ones of said picket receiving apertures, to a second position wherein at least one inwardly projecting flange in respective ones of said bar apertures are received in corresponding ones of said rail connecting recesses.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein it said upper and lower support rails are identical and parallel one to the other, said elongate pickets are identical, and said fastening means is slidingly disposed in at least said upper support rail.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each said bar aperture includes a first open portion the dimensions of which at least correspond to the dimensions of said picket receiving recesses, and a second open portion which includes said at least one inwardly projecting flange.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls of each elongate picket includes a surrounding collar, and the location of a said upper support rail relative to said corresponding rail connecting recesses is determined when said collar abuts the top portion of said upper support rail.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said fastening means is slidingly disposed in at least said lower support rail, the sidewalls of each said elongate picket include a surrounding collar, and the location of said lower support rail relative to said corresponding rail connecting recesses is determined when said collar abuts the top portion of said lower support rail.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said elongate pickets are tubular and said sidewalls are rectangular in cross-section, said rail connecting recesses each include a pair of slots which extend through opposed sidewalls, and said one inwardly directed flange is received in said pair of slots when said elongate bar is in said second position.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said elongate pickets are tubular and said sidewalls are circular in cross-section, said rail connector recesses each include a pair of slots which extend through opposed sidewalls, and a pair of opposed and inwardly projecting flanges in said bar aperture is received in said pair of slots when said elongate bar is in said second position.