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, said channel defined by a pair of fingers extending outwardly from said sleeve and separated by a fixed width, said fingers having an outwardly facing wall, an inwardly facing wall, and a slot defined in said inwardly facing wall; and, a spring clip having a base commensurate with said fixed width, said spring clip seated within said channel and held in compression by engagement of opposed ends of said spring clip in said slots in said fingers, such that said spring clip may retentively receive there within substantially planar members of varying widths less than said fixed width. 
   
   
       2 . The rail of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve member comprises a plurality of chambers, wherein each chamber is defined to receive and enclose an elongate rigid support member. 
   
   
       3 . The rail of  claim 2 , further comprising at least a second elongate rigid support member, wherein each elongate support member is received in and enclosed by a chamber. 
   
   
       4 . The rail of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve defines a plurality of longitudinally extending channels. 
   
   
       5 . A rail adapted to receive facing material of various thicknesses, comprising: an outer sleeve enclosing an elongate rigid support member, said outer sleeve defining an outwardly opening longitudinal channel, said channel having a fixed width and a first and second slot defined in opposed inner surfaces of said channel; and
 a retaining clip selected from: a spring clip captively received in said first and second slots retentively receiving facing material of varying thickness; or a longitudinally extending spring clip captively received in said first and second slots and having defined therein a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures for insertion of a plurality of pickets forming said facing material.   
   
   
       6 . The rail of  claim 5 , wherein said retaining clip comprises a base, a pair of legs extending from said base, and a retaining flange formed on each of said legs, wherein said retaining flanges engage said first and second slots. 
   
   
       7 . The rail of  claim 5  wherein said retaining clip has a length substantially the same as a longitudinal length of said sleeve. 
   
   
       8 . The rail of  claim 5 , wherein said retaining clip is comprised of a plurality of discrete retaining clips. 
   
   
       9 . The rail of  claim 5 , wherein said retaining clip has a base with a width substantially equal to the width of said channel. 
   
   
       10 . The rail of  claim 5 , wherein said legs of said clip are arcuate. 
   
   
       11 . The rail of  claim 5 , wherein sail legs of said clip are flat. 
   
   
       12 . The rail of  claim 5 , said retaining clip further comprising a dust shield extending outwardly from an end of said leg to overlie a surface of the sleeve adjacent to said channel opening. 
   
   
       13 . A reinforced railing comprising, a rigid, elongated, structural member formed optionally as a channel, tube or I-beam from a material selected from a metallic or composite material having suitable reinforcing and support characteristics, an outer sleeve extruded from a durable polymer composition, said sleeve having a length commensurate with said structural member and at least one longitudinal chamber having an inner dimension such that said structural member may be slidingly received therein in close fitting relationship, said sleeve further defining an open longitudinal channel along at least one side thereof. 
   
   
       14 . A family of reinforcing railings in according to  claim 13  wherein each of said rails have one or more chambers of identical size for receiving said structural members therein. 
   
   
       15 . A family of reinforcing railings as defined in  claim 14  having at least two parallel chambers for selectively receiving one or more of said structural members therein. 
   
   
       16 . A reinforced railing in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said channel is defined by a pair of fingers extending outwardly from said sleeve and separated by a fixed width, a spring clip having a base commensurate with said fixed width, said spring clip seated within said channel and held in compression by engagement of opposed ends of said spring clip in said fingers, such that said spring clip may retentively receive there within substantially planar members of varying widths less than said fixed width.