Metal fence post for panel and picket fences

Abstract

The present invention includes an improved metal fence post for use with a wooden fence. The fence post has a C-shaped center section formed by a rear wall, two sides and two flanges, and each of the sides includes a plurality of holes extending along the length of the sides. The fence post can be used as a line, corner, end or gate post. Preferably, the width of the sides of the C-shaped center section is about the same as the thickness of the wooden fence rails so that the fence posts are positioned in-line with the fence rails. Advantageously, the fence posts allow the fence boards to be attached to either or both sides of the rails. In addition, the fence post of the present invention allows for the installation of prefabricated fence panels in the construction of the fence.

1 . A fence post for an in-line wooden fence wherein standard two-by-four rails supported by the sides of the posts, with the rails supporting fence boards attached in-line to the rail and flush with the posts, said posts, comprising:
 an elongated member configured to support a wooden fence, the elongated member including a first flange extending along a first side of the elongated member and a second flange extending along a second side of the elongated member and generally aligned in the same plane with the first flange, and forming a generally C-shaped channel, the channel having a first side connected to a first flange and a second side connected to a second flange, and a rear wall joining the first and second sides, and the rear wall being spaced away from the plane of the flanges, the first side and the second side each having a dimension extending between the respective front surface of the flanges and the rear surface of the rear wall approximately the same as the width of a standard two-by-four, whereby the rails may be attached to the sides of the posts, with the ends of the rails being positioned adjacent the respective first and second sides of the post to thus enable fence boards to cover the flanges and the open end of the channel between the flanges and to also enable fence boards to be attached to the rails adjacent the rear wall of the channel.   
   
   
       2 . The fence post of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sides has a plurality of penetrations extending along the length of said side. 
   
   
       3 . The fence post of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two sides has an inwardly directed flange. 
   
   
       4 . The fence post of  claim 1 , wherein said inwardly directed flanges do not abut thus creating an opening for the insertion of fasteners into said opening for the attachment of the fence rails to the sides of the post. 
   
   
       5 . A fence system, comprising:
 a fence post including a front surface defined by a pair of spaced flanges, a generally C-shaped channel having a first side joined to one of the flanges, a second side joined to the other one of the flanges, and a connecting portion interconnecting the first side and the second side, and said connecting portion forming a rear surface of the fence post; and   a standard two-by-four rail having a front surface and a rear surface;   wherein the connecting portion is configured to contact and abut the rail with the end of the rail engaging and being supported by one of the sides, such that the front surface of the rail and the front surface of the fence posts are generally aligned, and the rear surface of the rail and the rear surface of the fence post are generally aligned.   
   
   
       6 . The fence system of  claim 5 , further comprising fence boards attached to the front surface of the rail. 
   
   
       7 . The fence system of  claim 5 , further comprising fence boards attached to the front surface and the rear surface of the rail, and wherein the fence post is concealed between two or more of the fence boards. 
   
   
       8 . The fence post of  claim 5 , wherein the fence post is constructed from steel. 
   
   
       9 . A method of constructing a fence, comprising:
 inserting a fence post into the ground, the fence post including a front surface defined by a pair of spaced flanges, a first side joined to one of the flanges and, a second side spaced from the first side and joined to the other one of the flanges, and a rear wall forming a connecting portion interconnecting the first side and the second side, the rear wall being spaced from the front surface and forming a rear surface of the post;   placing one or more fence rails on either side of the fence post so that a front surface of the fence rails is generally aligned with the front surface of the post, and the rear surface of the fence rails is generally aligned with the rear surface of the post; attaching the one or more fence rails to the sides of the fence post.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fence rail has a width of about 1½ inches. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first side and the second side have a width of about 1½ inches. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising attaching fence boards to the fence rails, and wherein the fence boards conceal at least a portion of the fence post. 
   
   
       13 . The fence system of  claim 9 , further comprising fence boards attached to the front surface and the rear surface of the rail, and wherein the fence post is concealed between two or more of the fence boards.