Picket fence and rail mounting system

Abstract

A picket fence and rail mounting system that is easily transformable by the consumer into a variety of aesthetic styles is provided. The system comprises at least an upper and a lower elongate rail. Each rail has a hollow interior defining a substantially I-shaped cross-section including at least a first slot and a second slot. A plurality of pickets are transversely slidable through openings in an upper surface of the rails and a channel in a lower surface. The pickets each have at least a first notch or indentation near a first end and a second notch or indentation near a second end. The distance from the first end to the first notch or indentation is preferably shorter than the distance from the second end to the second notch or indentation. An elongate retaining rod slidable within at least one rail cooperates with a notch or indentation on each picket to secure the picket to the rail. Rather than the retaining rod, spring clips, threaded fasteners or the like may cooperate with a hole in each picket to secure the picket to the rail. The pickets are invertible, such that they extend a distance x or a distance y above the upper rail depending upon whether the first or second notch or indentation or hole engages the retaining rod or other fastening member. Finials and decorative inserts may be secured to the fence to provide more aesthetic styles. Further, the upper rail is invertible, wherein a smooth cap may be secured to the upwardly facing surface of the upper rail, providing the fence with a smooth upper end having no protruding pickets.

1 . A method of making a picket fence, comprising the steps of: 
 making an elongate generally hollow rail having a top wall and a bottom wall spaced from the top wall, and a pair of side walls;    forming a series of spaced openings in the top wall;    forming an open channel in the bottom wall, the channel sized to permit pickets to extend therethrough;    forming a slot in a rail sidewall adjacent the top wall;    providing a series of pickets to extend snugly through the openings and extend through the channel;    forming a first notch or indentation in a side wall of each of the pickets; and    providing a retaining rod sized to extend through the rail slot and the picket notches or indentations to lock the pickets to the rail.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said picket notch or indentation forming step comprises spacing the picket notch or indentation from a first end of the picket at a location such that with the rail oriented so that the top wall faces upward, and the retaining rod extends through the slot, the rail top wall is spaced below the first end of the picket, and with the rail inverted so that the top wall faces downward, and the retaining rod extends through the slot, the rail bottom wall is spaced above or substantially flush with the first end of the pickets.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of forming a second notch or indentation in the same or an oppositely facing side wall of each of the pickets, wherein the second notch or indentation is spaced farther from a second end of the picket than the first notch or indentation is spaced from the first end.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of providing an elongate cap to fit onto the bottom wall of the rail when the rail is inverted so that the bottom wall is facing upward and the retaining rod is extending through the slot so that the bottom wall is spaced above or substantially flush with the first end of the pickets, whereby the cap can cover the channel and the first end of the pickets.  
   
   
       5 . A method of installing the picket fence of  claim 4 , comprising the steps of: 
 orienting the rail such that the top wall faces up;    locating the slot laterally adjacent the notch or indentation; and    inserting the retaining rod within the slot to engage the notch or indentation; or    orienting the rail such that the bottom wall faces up;    locating the slot laterally adjacent the notch or indentation;    inserting the retaining rod within the slot to engage the notch or indentation; and    covering the channel with the cap.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of securing a finial to at least one picket when the top wall faces up.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of securing a decorative insert to the rail channel so that a decorative portion of the insert depends from the rail between adjacent pickets.