Slat System for Picket Barriers

Abstract

A slat system for picket barriers comprising a plurality of interconnected slats, slat-to-barrier connection means in order to fasten the slat system to the vertical members of a picket barrier, and slat-to-slat connection means to interconnect the slats and allow the slats to adjust laterally and vertically in relation to each other while still maintaining generally continuous combined surfaces between the slats. Whereby, the interconnected slats are fastened to the lateral sides of the vertical members of a picket barrier so as to make private or decorate the picket barrier.

1 . A slat system for picket barriers comprising: 
 a) a plurality of slats each having first and second surfaces, a desired length, predetermined top and bottom cross-sectional profiles, and first and second lateral sides having connecting portions; and    b) slat-to-barrier connection means comprising: 
 i) slat-to-barrier connecting portions on the lateral sides of said slats that are adjacent to vertical members of a picket barrier; and  
 ii) means for attaching said slat-to-barrier connecting portions to the desired substantially lateral sides of said vertical members of a picket barrier; and  
   c) slat-to-slat connection means comprising: 
 i) slat-to-slat connecting portions on the lateral sides of said slats that are adjacent to other said slats;  
 ii) connection means for positioning desired said surfaces on adjacent said slats thereby one adjacent said surface may be disposed generally flush with another to form a generally continuous combined surface between said slats;  
 iii) at least one laterally adjustable connection means for connecting said slat-to-slat connecting portions on desired adjacent said slats,  
 whereby privacy may be added to a picket barrier.  
   
   
   
       2 . A slat system according to  claim 1 , wherein the said slats are made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).  
   
   
       3 . A slat system according to  claim 1 , wherein said slat-to-slat connection means comprises said slat-to-slat connecting portions on adjacent said slats overlapping.  
   
   
       4 . A slat system according to  claim 1 , wherein said slat-to-slat connection means comprises said slat-to-slat connecting portions on adjacent said slats matably interconnecting.  
   
   
       5 . A slat system according to  claim 4 , wherein said slat-to-slat connecting portions comprise flanged matable members.  
   
   
       6 . A slat system according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for attaching said slat-to-barrier connecting portions to said vertical members of a picket barrier comprises a first matable means on said vertical member of a picket barrier, and a second matable means on said slat-to-barrier connecting portions.  
   
   
       7 . A slat system according to  claim 6 , wherein said first matable means comprises a gap extending down the lateral side of said vertical member of a picket barrier, and said second matable means comprises a substantially male flanged member extending along said slat-to-barrier connecting portion.  
   
   
       8 . A slat system according to  claim 6 , wherein said first matable means comprises a flanged ridge extending down the lateral side of said vertical member of a picket barrier, and said second matable means comprises a substantially female member extending along said slat-to-barrier connecting portion.  
   
   
       9 . A slat system according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for attaching said slat-to-barrier connecting portions to the desired substantially lateral sides of said vertical members of a picket barrier is a screw.  
   
   
       10 . A slat system according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for attaching said slat-to-barrier connecting portions to said vertical members of a picket barrier comprises a clip with generally V shaped flanges on each end inserted through aligned holes in said slat-to-barrier connecting portions and said vertical members of a picket barrier.  
   
   
       11 . A slat system according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for attaching said slat-to-barrier connecting portions to said vertical members of a picket barrier comprises mounting inserts attached to said vertical members of a picket barrier and said mounting inserts comprise a first matable connective means so as to connect to a second matable connective means on said slat-to-barrier connecting portions.  
   
   
       12 . A slat system according to  claim 11 , wherein said first matable connective means comprises a first and a second flanged arm generally parallel to each other and extending laterally with the flanges generally pointing away from each other, and a second matable connective means consisting of a third and a fourth flanged arm generally parallel to each other and extending laterally with the flanges generally pointing toward each other so that said third and fourth flanged arms snapedly or slidably encompass said first and second flanged arms.  
   
   
       13 . A slat system according to  claim 1 , wherein the slat system comprises a first slat, a second slat, a third slat, a fourth slat, and a fifth slat, and 
 a) said first slat comprising: 
 i) the top cross-sectional profile generally shaped as a C,  
 ii) the first lateral side of said first slat having a slat-to-barrier connecting portion comprising a generally flat wall, and  
 iii) the second lateral side of said first slat having the slat-to-slat connecting portion comprising a first flanged arm and a second flanged arm with a groove between them extending longitudinally along the slat, and  
   b) said second slat comprising: 
 i) the top cross-sectional profile generally shaped as a E,  
 ii) the first lateral side of said second slat comprising the slat-to-slat connecting portion comprising a generally arrowhead-shaped flange that matably connects into said groove of said first slat, enabling said first slat and said second slat to move vertically in relation to each other, and  
 iii) the second lateral side of said second slat having the slat-to-slat connecting portion comprising an first outer arm, a middle flanged arm, and a second outer arm that extend generally laterally from the body of the slat with a first groove and a second groove of a predetermined depth formed between the arms, and  
   c) said third slat comprising: 
 i) the top cross-sectional profile generally shaped as a sideways H,  
 ii) the first lateral side of said third slat comprising the slat-to-slat connecting portion comprising a first flanged extending arm and a second flanged extending arm with a first groove between them extending the length of the slat so that said first flanged extending arm of said third slat matably fits in said first grove of said second slat, said second f langed extending arm of said third slat matably fits in said second groove of said second slat, and said middle flanged arm of said second slat matably fits in said first groove of said third slat, so that said third slat and said second slat may move laterally and vertically in relation to each other without being easily separated, and  
 iii) the second lateral side of said third slat comprising the slat-to-slat connecting portion comprising a third flanged extending arm and a fourth flanged extending arm with a second groove between them extending the length of the slat, and  
   d) said fourth slat of substantially the same shape and construction of said second slat comprising: 
 i) the top cross-sectional profile generally shaped as a backwards E, and  
 ii) the first lateral side of said fourth slat comprising a slat-to-slat connecting portion comprising an first outer arm, a middle flanged arm, and a second outer arm that extend generally laterally from the body of the slat with a first groove and a second groove of a predetermined depth formed between the arms, so that said middle flanged leg of said fourth slat matably connects to said second groove of said third slat and said third flanged arm of said third slat matably fits in said first groove of said fourth slat, said fourth arm of said third slat matably fits in said second groove of said fourth slat, so that said fourth slat and said third slat may move laterally and vertically in relation to each other without being easily separated, and  
 iii) the second lateral side of said fourth slat comprising a slat-to-slat connecting portion comprising a generally arrowhead-shaped flange,  
   e) said fifth slat of substantially the same shape and construction of said first slat comprising: 
 i) the top cross-sectional profile generally shaped as a backward C, and  
 ii) the first lateral side of said fifth slat comprising a slat-to-slat connecting portion comprising a first flanged arm and a second flanged arm with a groove between them extending longitudinally along the slat so that said generally arrowheadshaped flange of said fourth slat matably connects to said groove of said fifth slat, and  
 iii) the second lateral side of said fifth slat comprising a slat-to-barrier connecting portion comprising a generally flat wall,  
 whereby said first slat and said fifth slat are connected to a first and second vertical member of a picket barrier respectively, and said first, second, third, fourth, and fifth slats are interconnected.