Fence system with axillary supported mounting system

Abstract

A rail clip for connecting a horizontal fence rail to a vertical fence post. The rail clip comprises a housing that is slidably engaged with a mounting base secured to the fence post. The clip further includes a L-shaped mounting bracket, a first leg of which is inserted into the housing between the mounting base and the rail clip, and a second leg which abuts the underside of the housing. An end of the rail is inserted into a chamber formed in the housing and a fastener is used to secure the second leg of the mounting bracket, the housing and the end of the rail together. The mounting bracket aids in preventing the rail and rail clip from dislodging from each other and from the fence post when a lateral force is applied to the rail.

1 . A rail clip for securing a fence rail to a fence post; said rail clip comprising: 
 a housing having a perimeter wall and a rear wall which define an interior chamber that is adapted to receive an end of the rail therein;    a mounting bracket having a first leg and a second leg angled from the first leg; whereby the mounting bracket is adapted to secure the housing to the rail; and    at least one fastener for securing the mounting bracket to the housing and the rail.    
   
   
       2 . The rail clip as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter wall comprises a top wall, a bottom wall and opposing side walls which extend outwardly away from the rear wall of the housing; and wherein said bottom wall defines a first aperture therein; and said first leg of said mounting bracket is receivable through said first aperture; whereby said second leg extends forwardly away from the rear wall and adjacent the bottom wall of the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The rail clip as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the mounting bracket is substantially L-shaped with the second leg extending outwardly away from the first leg at an angle of ninety degrees; and when the first leg is received through the first aperture, the second leg is disposed in abutting contact with the bottom wall of the housing.  
   
   
       4 . The rail clip as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting base that is engageable with the rear wall of the housing; and wherein the housing is adapted to engage the fence post by way of the mounting bracket.  
   
   
       5 . The rail clip as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising at least one second fastener; and wherein said second fastener is adapted to secure the mounting base and the first leg of the mounting bracket to the fence post.  
   
   
       6 . The rail clip as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the mounting base has a front surface and a rear surface and a peripheral wall extending therebetween; and wherein a first portion of the first leg of the mounting bracket extends outwardly beyond the peripheral wall of the mounting base when the first leg and mounting base are secured to the fence post.  
   
   
       7 . The rail clip as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the peripheral wall of the mounting base is tapered so that the rear surface of the mounting base is smaller in dimension than is the front surface of the mounting base.  
   
   
       8 . The rail clip as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the rear wall defines a second aperture therein, and said second aperture extends downwardly in the rear wall and terminates in the bottom wall; and wherein a portion of the rear wall surrounding the second aperture is tapered so as to be complementary in shape to at least a portion of the peripheral wall of the mounting base.  
   
   
       9 . The rail clip as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the first aperture is sufficiently wide enough to receive both the first leg and the mounting base therethrough.  
   
   
       10 . The rail clip as defined in  claim 9 , wherein an interior surface of the rear wall of the mounting bracket includes a recessed area surrounding the tapered portion of the rear wall; said recessed area being complementary sized and shaped to receive the first leg of the mounting bracket therein.  
   
   
       11 . The rail clip as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the first leg of the mounting bracket and the mounting base frictionally engage the rear wall of the housing.  
   
   
       12 . The rail clip as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket is manufactured from metal.  
   
   
       13 . In combination: 
 a substantially vertical fence post;    a substantially horizontal fence rail;    a rail clip mounted on the fence post; and wherein the rail clip comprises: 
 a housing having a perimeter wall which defines a chamber that is complementary sized and shaped to receive an end of the rail therein; and wherein said perimeter wall defines a first aperture therein;  
 a mounting bracket having a first leg and a second leg disposed substantially at right angles to each other; wherein the first leg of the mounting bracket is received into the first aperture in the perimeter wall; and the second leg of the mounting bracket extends outwardly away from the first leg and abuts an exterior portion of the perimeter wall;  
 a first fastener which secures the first leg to the fence post; and  
 a second fastener which secures the second leg to both the portion of the perimeter wall and to the end of the fence rail.  
   
   
   
       14 . The combination as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the mounting bracket is made from metal.  
   
   
       15 . The combination as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the housing includes a rear wall that abuts the fence post and the combination further includes a mounting base having a front surface, a rear surface and a peripheral wall that tapers from the front surface to the rear surface; and wherein the mounting base is secured by the first fastener between the first leg of the mounting bracket and the fence post.  
   
   
       16 . The combination as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the rear wall of the housing includes a second aperture that is configured to receive the mounting base therein, such that the rear surface of the mounting base is substantially coplanar with an exterior surface of the rear wall.  
   
   
       17 . The combination as defined in  claim 14 , wherein 
 the first aperture in the perimeter wall is configured to receive both the mounting bracket and the first leg therethrough.    
   
   
       18 . The combination as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the mounting bracket and first leg frictionally engage in a recessed area within the rear wall of the housing.  
   
   
       19 . In combination, a fence rail, a fence post and a rail clip for connecting the post and rail together; wherein the rail clip comprises a housing configured to receive an end of the rail therein; and a metallic mounting bracket that is partially received within the housing and partially extends along a portion of an outer surface of the housing; wherein the mounting bracket is secured by first fasteners to the post and by second fasteners to both the housing and the rail held therein; whereby the mounting bracket secures the housing and rail against being disengaged from each other and from the fence post when a lateral force is applied against the rail.