Fence system

Abstract

A modular fence system. The system includes fence planks designed for insertion into open channels of upper and lower fence rails. The fence rails are supported in a horizontal orientation between intermittent fence posts, with the fence planks extending vertically between the rails. The planks include resilient protrusions, called plank-projections, at their upper ends. The plank-projections are designed to engage with channel-projections formed in the open channels of the upper fence rail and lower fence rail, to inhibit inadvertent removal of the planks from the upper rail. Alternatively, the plank-projections may be eliminated in favor of having the channel-projections simply grip the planks frictionally, or, vice versa, the channel-projections could be eliminated in favor of having the plank-projections press frictionally against the walls of the open channels in the, upper rail or lower rail or both. Accordingly, the engagement between the upper rail and the planks takes some weight off the lower rail such that fewer support posts are needed, and that engagement can be provided with just the channel-projections, or just the plank-projections, or both.

1 . A fence system comprising: 
 a rail configured to be supported in a laterally extending orientation for holding a plurality of elongate fence planks in an upwardly-extending position, said rail having an elongate top side and an elongate bottom side, said rail further including an elongate open channel formed in the bottom side of the rail such that said elongate open channel includes an elongate channel-entrance that extends lengthwise along a majority length of the bottom side of the rail, the rail further including spaced apart channel-sidewalls extending inwardly from the elongate channel-entrance in the bottom side of the rail in a direction toward the top side of the rail to thereby define the elongate open channel therebetween;    a plurality of fence planks having free ends configured and dimensioned to extend through the elongate entrance of the open channel and reside slidably within said open channel to thereby enable the fence planks to be slidable toward and away from each other along the open channel when their free ends are positioned through the entrance and into the open channel; and    at least one channel-projection formed as part of at least one of the channel-sidewalls of the rail, said channel-projection extending outwardly from a surface of the channel-sidewall into engagement with the fence planks when said fence planks are placed into the open channel, for increased support of the fence planks.    
     
     
         2 . The fence system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel-projection is configured and dimensioned such that its engagement with the fence planks prevents said fence planks from contacting the surface of the channel-sidewall when said fence planks are placed into the open channel.  
     
     
         3 . The fence system of  claim 1 , wherein the fence planks are hollow, each plank having a front wall and an opposing rear wall, wherein the front and rear walls each include an elongate groove formed therein extending lengthwise along the plank.  
     
     
         4 . The fence system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel-projection comprises at least one elongate ledge formed on one of the channel-sidewalls, said ledge extending lengthwise along a majority length of said channel-sidewall.  
     
     
         5 . The fence system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel-projection comprises at least one elongate ledge formed on one of the channel-sidewalls, and at least one elongate ledge formed on the other of the channel-sidewalls, said ledges each extending lengthwise along a majority length of the channel-sidewall on which they are formed.  
     
     
         6 . The fence system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel-projection comprises at least two spaced-apart elongate ledges formed on one of the channel-sidewalls, said ledges extending lengthwise along a majority length of said channel-sidewall.  
     
     
         7 . The fence system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel-projection comprises at least two spaced-apart elongate ledges formed on one of the channel-sidewalls, and at least two spaced-apart elongate ledges formed on the other of the channel-sidewalls, said ledges each extending lengthwise along a majority length of the channel-sidewall on which they are formed.  
     
     
         8 . The fence system of  claim 1 , said fence system being characterized by an absence of blocking structure residing between the fence planks along the open channel when the free ends of said fence planks are positioned through the entrance and into the open channel, such that said fence planks remain slidable toward and away from each other along the open channel if desired.  
     
     
         9 . The fence system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel-projection comprises at least one elongate ledge formed on one of the channel-sidewalls and extending lengthwise continuously along a majority length of said channel-sidewall, such that the fence planks are slidable toward and away from each other along the open channel in frictional engagement against said elongate ledge.  
     
     
         10 . The fence system of  claim 9 , wherein the rail and the sides, channel-sidewalls and at least one elongate ledge thereof collectively comprise a one-piece, unitary member made of a resilient material having elastic memory.  
     
     
         11 . The fence system of  claim 1 , wherein the fence planks each include a front wall and an opposing rear wall, and a plurality of internal bracing walls disposed between the front and rear walls in a transverse orientation with respect to said front and rear walls.  
     
     
         12 . The fence system of  claim 1 , wherein the fence planks are hollow, each plank having a front wall, an opposing rear wall, and a left sidewall and a right sidewall coupled between the front and rear walls at opposing sides thereof, respectively; 
 wherein the left sidewalls have an elongate channel formed therein, and the right sidewalls have an elongate projection formed thereon configured and dimensioned to be inserted into the channel of the left sidewalls of adjacent planks for additional support.    
     
     
         13 . The fence system of  claim 12 , wherein the fence planks are hollow, each plank having a front wall and an opposing rear wall, wherein the front and rear walls each include an elongate groove formed therein extending lengthwise along the plank.  
     
     
         14 . The fence system of  claim 1 , wherein the open channel extends continuously along a majority length of the rail, without interruption.  
     
     
         15 . A fence system comprising: 
 a rail configured to be supported in a laterally extending orientation for holding a plurality of elongate fence planks in an upwardly-extending position, said rail having an elongate top side and an elongate bottom side, said rail further including an elongate open channel formed in the bottom side of the rail such that said elongate open channel includes an elongate channel-entrance that extends lengthwise along a majority length of the bottom side of the rail, the rail further including spaced apart channel-sidewalls extending inwardly from the elongate channel-entrance in the bottom side of the rail in a direction toward the top side of the rail to thereby define the elongate open channel therebetween;    a plurality of fence planks having free ends configured and dimensioned to extend through the elongate entrance of the open channel and reside slidably within the open channel to thereby enable the fence planks to be slidable toward and away from each other along the open channel when their free ends are positioned through the entrance and into the open channel; and    at least one plank-projection formed as part of each fence plank, said plank-projection extending outwardly from a surface of the fence plank into engagement with one of the channel-sidewalls when said fence planks are placed into the channel, for increased support of the fence planks.    
     
     
         16 . The fence system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one plank-projection comprises a tab piece extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the fence plank at an acute angle relative to said exterior surface, said tab piece having an elastic memory connection to said exterior surface such that depression of said tab piece causes said tab piece to exert a reactive force against said depression.  
     
     
         17 . The fence system of  claim 15 , wherein the fence planks are hollow, each plank having a front wall, an opposing rear wall, and a left sidewall and a right sidewall coupled between the front and rear walls at opposing sides thereof, respectively; 
 wherein the left sidewalls have an elongate channel formed therein, and the right sidewalls have an elongate projection formed thereon configured and dimensioned to be inserted into the channel of the left sidewalls of adjacent planks for additional support.    
     
     
         18 . The fence system of  claim 15 , wherein the planks are hollow and are comprised of sidewalls, said sidewalls having an opening formed in a free end section of the planks such that a circumferential edge defines said opening, and wherein the at least one plank-projection extends outwardly from a portion of said circumferential edge.  
     
     
         19 . The fence system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one plank-projection comprises a severed portion of the walls of the plank.  
     
     
         20 . A fence system comprising: 
 a rail configured to be supported in a laterally extending orientation for holding a plurality of elongate fence planks in an upwardly-extending position, said rail having an elongate top side and an elongate bottom side, said rail further including an elongate open channel formed in the bottom side of the rail such that said elongate open channel includes an elongate channel-entrance that extends lengthwise along a majority length of the bottom side of the rail, the rail further including spaced apart channel-sidewalls extending inwardly from the elongate channel-entrance in the bottom side of the rail in a direction toward the top side of the rail to thereby define the elongate open channel therebetween;    a plurality of fence planks having free ends configured and dimensioned to extend through the elongate entrance of the open channel and reside slidably within said open channel to thereby enable the fence planks to be slidable toward and away from each other along the open channel when their free ends are positioned through the entrance and into the open channel;    at least one channel-projection formed as part of at least one of the channel-sidewalls of the rail, said channel-projection extending outwardly from a surface of the channel-sidewall into engagement with some portion of the fence planks when said fence planks are placed into the open channel, for increased support of the fence planks; and    at least one plank-projection formed as a part of each fence plank, said plank-projection extending outwardly from a surface of the fence plank into engagement with the at least one channel-projection when said fence planks are placed into the channel, for increased support of the fence planks;    wherein the at least one channel-projection is configured and dimensioned such that its engagement with the fence planks prevents said fence planks from contacting the surface of the channel-sidewall when said fence planks are placed into the open channel;    wherein the at least one channel-projection comprises at least one elongate ledge formed on one of the channel-sidewalls, and at least one elongate ledge formed on the other of the channel-sidewalls, said ledges each extending lengthwise along a majority length of the channel-sidewall on which they are formed, such that the fence planks are slidable toward and away from each other along the open channel in frictional engagement against said elongate ledges;    the fence system being characterized by an absence of blocking structure residing between the fence planks along the open channel when the free ends of said fence planks are positioned through the entrance and into the open channel, such that said fence planks remain slidable toward and away from each other along the open channel if desired;    wherein the rail and the sides, channel-sidewalls and elongate ledges thereof collectively comprise a one-piece, unitary member made of a resilient material having elastic memory.    
     
     
         21 . The fence system of  claim 20:   wherein the at least one channel-projection comprises at least two spaced-apart elongate ledges formed on one of the channel-sidewalls, and at least two spaced-apart elongate ledges formed on the other of the channel-sidewalls, said ledges each extending lengthwise along a majority length of the channel-sidewall on which they are formed;    wherein the at least one plank-projection comprises a tab piece extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the fence plank at an acute angle relative to said exterior surface, said tab piece having an elastic memory connection to said exterior surface such that depression of said tab piece causes said tab piece to exert a reactive force against said depression;    wherein the planks are hollow and are comprised of sidewalls, said sidewalls having an opening formed in a free end section of the planks such that a circumferential edge defines said opening, and wherein the tab piece extends outwardly from a portion of said circumferential edge;    wherein the tab piece comprises a severed portion of the walls of the plank;    wherein the fence planks are hollow, each plank having a front wall and an opposing rear wall, wherein the front and rear walls each include an elongate groove formed therein extending lengthwise along the plank;    wherein the fence planks each include a front wall and an opposing rear wall, and a plurality of internal bracing walls disposed between the front and rear walls in a transverse orientation with respect to said front and rear walls.    
     
     
         22 . The fence system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one channel-projection comprises at least two spaced-apart elongate ledges formed on one of the channel-sidewalls, and at least two spaced-apart elongate ledges formed on the other of the channel-sidewalls, said ledges each extending lengthwise along a majority length of the channel-sidewall on which they are formed.  
     
     
         23 . The fence system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one plank-projection comprises a tab piece extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the fence plank at an acute angle relative to said exterior surface, said tab piece having an elastic memory connection to said exterior surface such that depression of said tab piece causes said tab piece to exert a reactive force against said depression.  
     
     
         24 . The fence system of  claim 20 , wherein the planks are hollow and are comprised of sidewalls, said sidewalls having an opening formed in a free end section of the planks such that a circumferential edge defines said opening, and wherein the at least one plank-projection extends outwardly from a portion of said circumferential edge.  
     
     
         25 . The fence system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one plank-projection comprises a severed portion of the walls of the plank.  
     
     
         26 . The fence system of  claim 20 , wherein the fence planks are hollow, each plank having a front wall and an opposing rear wall, wherein the front and rear walls each include an elongate groove formed therein extending lengthwise along the plank.  
     
     
         27 . The fence system of  claim 20 , wherein the fence planks each include a front wall and an opposing rear wall, and a plurality of internal bracing walls disposed between the front and rear walls in a transverse orientation with respect to said front and rear walls.  
     
     
         28 . The fence system of  claim 20 , wherein the rail comprises an upper rail, the fence system further comprising: 
 a lower rail configured to be supported in a laterally extending orientation for holding the plurality of elongate fence planks upon it in an upwardly-extending position in cooperation with the upper rail, said lower rail having an elongate bottom side and an elongate top side, said lower rail further including an elongate open channel formed in the top side rail such that said elongate open channel includes an elongate channel-entrance that extends lengthwise along a majority length of the top side of said lower rail, the lower rail further including spaced apart channel-sidewalls extending inwardly from the elongate channel-entrance in the top side of the rail in a direction toward the bottom side of the rail to thereby define the elongate open channel therebetween, wherein the plurality of fence planks further include lower free ends configured and dimensioned to extend through the elongate entrance of the open channel in the lower rail to reside slidably within said open channel to thereby enable the fence planks to be slidable toward and away from each other along said open channel when their lower free ends are positioned through the entrance and into the open channel of the lower rail; and    at least one lower channel-projection formed as part of at least one of the channel-sidewalls of the lower rail, said lower channel-projection extending outwardly from a surface of the channel-sidewall into engagement with the lower free ends of the fence planks when said fence planks are placed into the open channel in the lower rail, for increased support of the fence planks.    
     
     
         29 . A fence system comprising: 
 a lower rail configured to be supported in a laterally extending orientation for holding a plurality of elongate fence planks upon it in an upwardly-extending position, said lower rail having an elongate bottom side and an elongate top side, said lower rail further including an elongate open channel formed in the top side rail such that said elongate open channel includes an elongate channel-entrance that extends lengthwise along a majority length of the top side of said lower rail, the lower rail further including spaced apart channel-sidewalls extending inwardly from the elongate channel-entrance in the top side of the rail in a direction toward the bottom side of the rail to thereby define the elongate open channel therebetween;    a plurality of fence planks having lower free ends configured and dimensioned to extend through the elongate entrance of the open channel in the lower rail and reside slidably within said open channel to thereby enable the fence planks to be slidable toward and away from each other along the open channel when their free ends are positioned through the entrance and into the open channel; and    at least one channel-projection formed as part of at least one of the channel-sidewalls of the lower rail, said channel-projection extending outwardly from a surface of the channel-sidewall into engagement with the lower free ends of the fence planks when said fence planks are placed into the open channel of the lower rail, for increased support of the fence planks.