Pocket rail construction

Abstract

A rail structure for use as part of a fence construction. The rail has a rigid support member enclosed by a sleeve, the sleeve having a groove or channel extending along its longitudinal length and a hollow chamber for receiving the support member therein. The channel is dimensioned to receive a plurality of slats disposed in spaced relation to one another such that when received in the channels of opposed rails a fence section is formed. Various modifications to the basic rail structure permit construction of a privacy or containment fence section that may include a plurality of vertical segments, including for example lattice work.

1 . A rail comprising an elongate rigid support member and an outer sleeve;
 said outer sleeve comprising a chamber defined to receive and enclose the elongate rigid support member and a channel defined along a longitudinal length of the sleeve adjacent said chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The rail of  claim 1 , wherein said channel is defined by opposed inner walls of a pair of fingers extending outwardly from said sleeve. 
   
   
       3 . The rail of  claim 2 , wherein said channel further comprises a slot defined along a longitudinal length of said opposed inner walls. 
   
   
       4 . The rail of  claim 3 , wherein said slot further comprises an edge surface defined along a longitudinal length of said slot, said edge surface facing inwardly relative said channel towards said sleeve. 
   
   
       5 . The rail of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve member comprises a plurality of chambers, wherein each chamber is defined to receive and enclose the elongate rigid support member. 
   
   
       6 . The rail of  claim 5 , further comprising at least two elongate rigid support members, wherein each elongate support member is received in and enclosed by a chamber. 
   
   
       7 . The rail of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve comprises a plurality of channels defined along a longitudinal length of the sleeve. 
   
   
       8 . The rail of  claim 7 , wherein each said channel is defined at an angle relative to another said channel. 
   
   
       9 . A rail adapted to receive facing material of various thicknesses, the rail comprising an elongate rigid support member and an outer sleeve enclosing the elongate rigid support member; said outer sleeve comprising a channel defined along a longitudinal length of the sleeve, said channel having a width sufficient to receive a first facing material having a first thickness. 
   
   
       10 . The rail of  claim 9 , further comprising a slot defined in opposed inner surfaces of said channel and a retaining clip, said retaining clip having a base, a pair of legs extending from said base, and a retaining flange extending outwardly from each of said legs, wherein said retaining clip is received in said channel and said retaining flanges engage with said slots. 
   
   
       11 . The rail of  claim 10 , wherein each said slot further comprises an edge surface facing inwardly relative said channel and said retaining flanges engage with said edge surface. 
   
   
       12 . The rail of  claim 10 , wherein an inner surface of each said leg are spaced apart by a width corresponding to a second facing material having a second thickness less than said first thickness. 
   
   
       13 . The rail of  claim 12 , wherein said inner surface of each said leg is spaced apart by a width less than said second thickness. 
   
   
       14 . The rail of  claim 13 , wherein said retaining flanges are urged into said slot when a second facing material is received between said legs of said retaining clip. 
   
   
       15 . The rail of  claim 10  wherein said retaining clip has a length substantially the same as a longitudinal length of said sleeve. 
   
   
       16 . The rail of  claim 10 , wherein said retaining clip is comprised of a plurality of discrete retaining clips. 
   
   
       17 . The rail of  claim 10 , wherein said clip base has a width substantially equal to the width of said channel. 
   
   
       18 . The rail of  claim 10 , wherein said legs of said clip are arcuate. 
   
   
       19 . The rail of  claim 10 , wherein sail legs of said clip are flat. 
   
   
       20 . The rail of  claim 10 , said retaining clip further comprising a dust shield wherein the legs extend proximal to said channel opening and a dust flange extends outwardly from an end of said leg, and a lower surface of said dust flange will overlie a surface of the sleeve adjacent to said channel opening. 
   
   
       21 . The rail of  claim 20 , wherein said retaining flange extends from said legs at a point intermediate said leg ends and said base. 
   
   
       22 . The rail of  claim 10 , wherein said slots are defined along a longitudinal length of said sleeve. 
   
   
       23 . A rail comprising an elongate rigid support member, an outer sleeve enclosing the elongate rigid support member, and at least one pair of projections extending from said sleeve, said projections having opposed inwardly facing walls to define a groove which extends along a longitudinal length of the sleeve, said groove characterized by a slot defined along the longitudinal length of said inwardly facing walls. 
   
   
       24 . The rail of  claim 23 , wherein said slot comprises at least one edge surface facing inwardly relative said groove.