Extruded Bottom Fence Rail

Abstract

An extruded bottom fence rail having a topside longitudinal track extending the length of the rail for holding the bottom portion of at least one planar article taken from the group of sheet, panel, board, plank, slat, and lath with an interiorly positioned stiffener compartment having a plurality of braces extending between the rail's interior walls and the stiffener compartment walls and optionally providing that the planar article has outward projections within that portion contained with the bottom-rail track providing for potential linear movement while preventing vertical movement.

1 . An extruded bottom fence rail comprising:
 a) a housing having a top side, bottom side with spaced apart walls therebetween;   b) a longitudinal track extending the length of the top side; and   c) an interiorly positioned stiffener compartment extending the length of the fence bottom rail for insertion therein of a rigid stiffening member.   
   
   
       2 . The extruded bottom fence rail as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the rigid stiffening member is metal. 
   
   
       3 . The extruded bottom fence rail as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the stiffener compartment walls and metal stiffener have a portion transversely forming a tab fixing the metal stiffener location. 
   
   
       4 . The extruded bottom fence rail as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the topside track comprises a pair of walls extending from topside flanges with the walls conjoining to form a transverse platform with said flanges partially extending over said track walls. 
   
   
       5 . The extruded bottom fence rail as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said track has a pair of braces positioned between the exterior track wall and housing interior wall for the length of the rail. 
   
   
       6 . The extruded bottom fence rail as recited in  claim 1  wherein the stiffening compartment has a substantially elliptical shape fixedly positioned with a plurality of braces. 
   
   
       7 . The extruded bottom fence rail as recited in  claim 6  wherein said braces extend between the stiffener compartment exterior wall to the housing interior wall. 
   
   
       8 . The extruded bottom fence rail as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the braces comprise a pair of stiffener compartment top portion braces, a pair of central portion braces and a pair of bottom portion braces. 
   
   
       9 . The extruded bottom fence rail as recited in  claim 1  further providing at least one upwardly depending tab formed within the longitudinal track approximate the track distal end as a track stop. 
   
   
       10 . The extruded bottom fence rail as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said tab is formed at each track distal end to retain planar articles therebetween. 
   
   
       11 . The extruded bottom fence rail as recited in  claim 10  wherein said planar articles is taken from the group of sheet, panel, board, plank, slat, and lath.