Pickets for use in modular fence systems

Abstract

A modular fence system that eliminates the pervasive problem of a sagging bottom rail due to the cumulative weight of the pickets bearing downwardly thereon and that does so without additional labor or material costs. A double tongue and groove structure along the vertical edges of each of the fence pickets facilitates interlocking engagement between adjoining pickets that prevents sliding vertical movement therebetween. Thus, the weight of a panel of joined together vertical fence pickets bears only at the ends of the bottom rail, into which the panel of pickets is positioned, at its two points of attachment to adjacent posts.

1 . A fence picket having a desired length, the fence picket comprising: 
 a front face wall;    an opposing rear face wall spaced a desired distance behind said front face wall and parallel thereto;    a left edge of said fence picket, between said front and rear face walls, being formed to provide a pair of elongate outwardly projecting tongues extending the entire length of said fence picket, a space between said pair of tongues forming a single central groove midway between said front and rear face walls; and    a right edge of said fence picket, between said front and rear face walls, being formed to include a single elongate outwardly projecting tongue midway between said front and rear face walls and extending the entire length of said fence picket, elongate spaces on either side of said single tongue forming a pair of grooves, one of which is proximate said front face wall and the other of which is proximate said rear face wall.    
   
   
       2 . A fence picket as in claims  1 , wherein the space between said front and rear face walls is substantially void.  
   
   
       3 . A fence picket as in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of internal web walls between said front and rear face walls.  
   
   
       4 . A fence picket as in  claim 1 , wherein said front and rear face walls include an elongate groove formed therein, said groove extending lengthwise along said fence picket.  
   
   
       5 . A fence picket as in  claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of tongues formed in said left edge of said fence picket is arc-shaped at a distal end thereof.  
   
   
       6 . A fence picket as in  claim 5 , further comprising an arcuate wall forming an inner terminus of said single central groove between said pair of tongues.  
   
   
       7 . A fence picket as in  claim 1 , wherein said single tongue formed in said right edge of said fence picket is arc-shaped at a distal end thereof.  
   
   
       8 . A fence picket as in  claim 7 , further comprising an arcuate wall forming an inner terminus of each of said pair of grooves on either side of said single tongue.  
   
   
       9 . A method for assembling a plurality of fence pickets in side by side relationship to form a fence panel, comprising: 
 providing a plurality of pickets of desired length, each of the pickets having a front face wall and an opposing rear face wall spaced a desired distance behind said front face wall and parallel thereto, a left edge of each of said fence pickets, between said front and rear face walls, being formed to provide a pair of elongate outwardly projecting tongues extending the entire length of said picket, a space between said pair of tongues forming a single central groove midway between said front and rear face walls, a right edge of each of said fence pickets, between said front and rear face walls, being formed to include a single elongate outwardly projecting tongue midway between said front and rear face walls and extending the entire length of said fence picket, elongate spaces on either side of said single tongue forming a pair of grooves, one of which is proximate said front face wall and the other of which is proximate said rear face wall;    aligning said plurality of fence pickets in side by side relationship, with said right edge of one of said plurality of fence pickets abutting said left edge of an adjacent one of said plurality of fence pickets; and    inserting said single tongue on said right edge of said one of said plurality of fence pickets into said single groove between said pair of tongues on said left side of said adjacent one of said plurality of fence pickets to thereby effect interlocking engagement of said single tongue and said pair of grooves on said right edge of said one of said plurality of fence pickets with said single groove and said pair of tongues on said left side of said adjacent one of said plurality of fence pickets.