Ornamental fencing system and method for assembling the same

Abstract

A fence has at least one fence section which extends between a pair of posts. Each of the fence section has an upper and lower horizontal rail extending between the posts. A plurality of channels extends transversally through the rails. Pickets are vertically inserted through the channels of the upper and lower rails, each picket having its top extremity projecting upwardly of the upper rail. Picket caps are each associated with a corresponding one of the pickets. Each picket cap has a body portion rigidly affixed to the top extremity of its corresponding picket, the picket also having a first arm and a second arm projecting on opposite sides of the body portion and extending along the upper rail of the fence section. The first arm of each picket cap is attached to the second arm of the picket cap affixed to an adjacent picket with attaching means.

1 . A fence having at least one fence section extending between a pair of posts, each of said at least one fence section comprising:
 an upper horizontal rail and a lower horizontal rail extending between said posts and connected thereto, a plurality of channels extending transversally through said rails;   a plurality of pickets vertically inserted through the channels of the upper and lower rails, each picket having a top extremity projecting upwardly of the upper rail;   a plurality of picket caps each associated with a corresponding one of said pickets, each picket cap having a body portion rigidly affixed to the top extremity of the corresponding one of the pickets, a first arm and a second arm projecting on opposite sides of the body portion and extending along said upper rail;   attaching means for attaching the first arm of each picket cap to the second arm of one of said picket caps affixed to an adjacent one of said pickets.   
   
   
       2 . A fence according to  claim 1 , wherein the body portion of each of the picket caps comprises a cavity therein, the top extremity of the corresponding picket being snugly fitted into said cavity. 
   
   
       3 . A fence according to  claim 2 , further comprising an adhesive retaining the top extremity of the corresponding picket within said cavity. 
   
   
       4 . A fence according to  claim 1 , wherein, for each one of said picket caps:
 the first and second arms define flat flanges;   a distal end of the flange of the first arm is folded into a riser section and a step section; and   a distal end of the flange of the second arm is unfolded;   each of said distal ends being provided with a hole;   the step section of the distal end of the first arm overlapping the distal end of the second arm of the picket cap affixed to the adjacent one of said pickets, the hole of the distal end of the first arm being directly aligned with the hole of the distal end of the second arm of the picket cap of the adjacent picket.   
   
   
       5 . A fence according to  claim 4 , wherein, for each of said picket caps, the hole in the distal end of each arm is threaded, and wherein the attaching means comprise a screw inserted through the threaded hole of the distal end of the first arm of said one picket cap and through the aligned threaded hole of the distal end of the second arm of said picket cap of the adjacent picket. 
   
   
       6 . A fence according the  claim 1 , wherein for each one of said picket caps:
 distal ends of the first and second arms of said one picket cap are upwardly curved above said upper rail, each of said distal ends being provided with a ring having an axis substantially orthogonal to the upper rail and to the picket associated with said one picket cap, the axis of the ring of the first arm of said one picket cap corresponding to the axis of a complementary ring of the second arm of the picket cap of the adjacent picket; and   the attaching means comprises a pin fitted through the ring of the first arm of said one picket cap and through the complementary ring of the second arm of said picket cap of the adjacent picket.   
   
   
       7 . A fence according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of annular gaskets, each gasket being placed around a top extremity of a corresponding one of the pickets, and resting over the channel of the upper rail into which said corresponding one picket is inserted. 
   
   
       8 . A fence according to  claim 1 , wherein the rails, the pickets and the picket caps are made of metal. 
   
   
       9 . A fence according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second arm is provided with an ornamental element positioned to hide from view the attaching means. 
   
   
       10 . A fence according to  claim 2 , wherein the body portion of each of the picket caps further comprises an ornamental section. 
   
   
       11 . A fence according to  claim 1 , wherein the rails and the pickets have an elongated hollow shape. 
   
   
       12 . A fence according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second arms of each of the picket caps rest over said upper rail. 
   
   
       13 . A kit for use in a fence having at least one fence section extending between a pair of posts, each of said at least one fence section having an upper horizontal rail and a lower horizontal rail extending between said posts and connected thereto, a plurality of channels extending transversally through said rails; a plurality of pickets vertically inserted through the channels of the upper and lower rails, each picket having a top extremity projecting upwardly of the upper rail, the kit comprising:
 a plurality of picket caps, each picket cap having a body portion rigidly affixable to the top extremity of a corresponding one of the pickets, a first arm and a second arm projecting on opposite sides of the body portion;   attaching means for attaching together the respective first arm and second arm of pairs of said picket caps when affixed to adjacent ones of said pickets.   
   
   
       14 . A kit according to  claim 13 , wherein for each of said picket caps:
 the first and second arms define flat flanges;   a distal end of the flange of the first arm is folded into a riser section and a step section; and   a distal end of the flange of the second arm is unfolded; and   each of said distal ends being provided with a hole pierced at a predetermined distance from an edge of said distal ends.   
   
   
       15 . A kit according to  claim 13 , the kit further comprising a plurality of said upper horizontal and lower horizontal rails. 
   
   
       16 . A kit according to  claim 15 , the kit further comprising a plurality of said pickets. 
   
   
       17 . A kit according to  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of picket caps are rigidly pre-affixed to a corresponding one of the plurality of the pickets. 
   
   
       18 . A method for building a fence section, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) erecting and fixing a pair of posts to a rigid surface;   b) connecting ends of an upper horizontal rail and a lower horizontal rail to each one of the pair of posts, the rails extending substantially orthogonally to the posts and such that the channels of the upper rail are aligned with the channels of the lower rail;   c) affixing each one of a plurality of picket caps to a top end of a corresponding one of a plurality of pickets, each picket cap having a body portion rigidly affixable to the top extremity of the corresponding one of the pickets, each picket cap further having a first arm and a second arm of each of said picket caps projecting on opposite sides of the body portion;   d) inserting each one of the pickets of step c) into a corresponding pair of channels of the rails such that the top extremity of each of the pickets projects upwardly of the upper rail and such that the first and second arms of each of the picket caps extend along said upper rail; and   e) attaching the first arm of each picket cap to the second arm of one of said picket caps affixed to an adjacent one of said pickets with attaching means.