Hingeless fence

Abstract

A hingeless fence assembly is described as having a free-standing post and a tubular member. The free-standing post extends upwardly from a hole in the ground and is positioned within the ground to a depth sufficient to provide the necessary stability. The tubular member is rotatably received over the free-standing post and has a greater diameter than the free-standing post. The tubular member is free to rotate about the free-standing post.

1 . A hingeless fence assembly, comprising:
 a first free-standing post extending upwardly;   a moveable fence portion having a tubular member being operable for rotatable coupling over the first free-standing post.   
     
     
         2 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first free-standing post is positioned within a hole in the ground to a depth sufficient to provide stability to the fence assembly. 
     
     
         3 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member has an inside diameter greater than an outside diameter of the first free-standing post and sufficient to allow the tubular member to rotate about the first free-standing post. 
     
     
         4 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the tubular member has an inside diameter of about 4 inches and the first free-standing post has an outside diameter of about 3½ inches. 
     
     
         5 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member comprises an end cap at an end thereof, an internal surface of the end cap sitting on an edge of the first free-standing post when the tubular member is rotatably coupled over the first free-standing post. 
     
     
         6 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member comprises a ring member positioned at an end thereof, an internal surface of the ring sitting on an edge of the first free-standing post when the tubular member is rotatably coupled over the first free-standing post. 
     
     
         7 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the ring member comprises a thrust bearing. 
     
     
         8 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lateral support member positioned at an upper end of the tubular support, an internal surface of the lateral support member positioned against an outer surface of an upper end of the first free-standing post when the tubular member is rotatably coupled over the first free-standing post. 
     
     
         9 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the lateral support member is selected from the group consisting of a bushing, a ball bearing, and a needle bearing. 
     
     
         10 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 8 , further comprising a second lateral support member positioned at a lower end of the tubular support, an internal surface of the second lateral support member positioned against an outer surface of a lower end of the first free-standing post when the tubular member is rotatably coupled over the first free-standing post. 
     
     
         11 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the second lateral support member is selected from the group consisting of a bushing, a ball bearing, and a needle bearing. 
     
     
         12 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second free-standing post having a first non-moveable fence portion and positioned proximate to the first free-standing post, and a third free-standing post having a second non-moveable fence portion and positioned proximate to an end of the moveable fence portion opposite the first free-standing post. 
     
     
         13 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the moveable fence portion is a swinging gate having a fulcrum at the rotatable coupling of the tubular member over the first free-standing post. 
     
     
         14 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first free-standing post further comprises at least one channel formed within an upper most edge thereof, and the tubular member further comprises a cross bar within an upper most end thereof, wherein the cross bar is engagable with the at least one channel to hold the tubular member in at least one corresponding fixed rotational position with respect to the first free-standing post. 
     
     
         15 . A method of installing a hingeless fence assembly, the method comprising:
 planting a first free-standing post into the ground, the first free-standing post extending upwardly from the ground; and   slipping a tubular member over the first free-standing post to rotatably couple the tubular member to the first free-standing post, the tubular member having a moveable fence portion extending therefrom.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , the method further comprising;
 planting a second free-standing post into the ground proximate to the first free-standing post;   attaching a first non-moveable fence portion to the second free-standing post;   planting a third free-standing post into the ground proximate to end of the moveable fence portion opposite the first free-standing post; and   providing a latch from the end of the moveable fence portion to the third free-standing member for holding the moveable fence portion to the third free-standing post.   
     
     
         17 . A hingeless fence assembly, comprising:
 a first free-standing post extending upwardly from the ground;   a moveable fence portion having a tubular member rotatably coupled over the first free-standing post, the tubular member having an inside diameter greater than an outside diameter of the first free-standing post sufficient to allow the tubular member to rotate about the first free-standing post.   
     
     
         18 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a second free-standing post extending upwardly from the ground and having a first non-moveable fence portion, and being positioned proximate to the first free-standing post; and   a third free-standing post extending upwardly from the ground and having a second non-moveable fence portion, and being positioned proximate to an end of the moveable fence portion opposite the first free-standing post.   
     
     
         19 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the moveable fence portion is a swinging gate having a fulcrum at the rotatable coupling of the tubular member over the first free-standing post. 
     
     
         20 . A hingeless fence assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the first free-standing post further comprises at least one channel formed within an upper most edge thereof, and the tubular member further comprises a cross bar within an upper most end thereof, wherein the cross bar is engagable with the at least one channel to hold the tubular member in at least one corresponding fixed rotational position with respect to the first free-standing post.