Snap-together fencing components

Abstract

A self-locking panel assembly for mounting between a pair of fence posts or deck posts has a first elongate rail having an elongate lower opening, a second elongate rail having an elongate upper opening, and an elongate fence panel having an upper edge and a lower edge. The upper edge of the panel is inserted into the lower opening of the first elongate rail, and the lower edge of the panel is inserted into the upper opening of the second rail. Catches are formed in the first and second rails and/or in the edges of the fence panel such that when the upper and lower edges of the fence panel are inserted into the openings in the rails, the catches hold the fence panel securely in place in the rails.

1 . A snap-together plastic panel assembly for mounting between two fence posts or deck posts, the snap-together panel assembly comprising:
 a lower rail with a channel formed therein;   an upper rail with a channel formed therein;   a middle rail with upper and lower channels formed therein;   a lower panel extending between the lower rail and the middle rail;   an upper panel extending between the middle rail and the upper rail; and   wherein the rails and the panels are held together by snap-together connections therebetween.   
   
   
       2 . The snap-together plastic panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the upper and lower panels are barbed. 
   
   
       3 . The snap-together plastic panel assembly of  claim 2  wherein the barbed panels each have multiple individual barbs formed therein. 
   
   
       4 . The snap-together plastic panel assembly of  claim 2  wherein at least one of the barbed panels comprises an elongated barb formed along an edge of the panel. 
   
   
       5 . The snap-together plastic panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the rails is barbed, having an elongated barb formed along the length of the rail. 
   
   
       6 . The snap-together plastic panel assembly of  claim 1  where the lower panel is corrugated. 
   
   
       7 . The snap-together plastic panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the upper panel is a lattice panel. 
   
   
       8 . The snap-together plastic panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the panels is embossed with a wood-grain texture. 
   
   
       9 . The snap-together plastic panel assembly of  claim 6  wherein the corrugated panel is shaped and configured to allow multiple ones of the corrugated panels to be nested during shipping or storage. 
   
   
       10 . The snap-together plastic panel assembly of  claim 9  wherein the corrugated panel has barbs or catches formed along at least one edge and the shape and configuration of the panel is adapted to allow multiple ones of the panel to be nested, as for stacking in shipment and storage, without crushing the barbs or catches. 
   
   
       11 . The snap-together plastic panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the panels is partially foamed to reduce weight, the foamed panel having outer layers which are not foamed sandwiching a foamed core. 
   
   
       12 . A self-locking panel assembly for mounting between a pair of fence posts or deck posts, the panel assembly comprising:
 a first elongate rail having an elongate lower opening;   a second elongate rail having an elongate upper opening;   an elongate fence panel having an upper edge and a lower edge, the upper edge adapted to be inserted into the lower opening of the first elongate rail, and the lower edge adapted to be inserted into the upper opening of the second rail, and   wherein catches are formed in at least one of the first and second rails and/or in the edges of the fence panel such that when the upper and lower edges of the fence panel are inserted into the openings in the rails the catches hold the fence panel securely in place in the rails.   
   
   
       13 . The self-locking panel assembly of  claim 12  wherein the catches comprise barbs. 
   
   
       14 . The self-locking panel assembly of  claim 13  wherein the barbs are formed in the edges of the panel. 
   
   
       15 . The self-locking panel assembly of  claim 13  wherein the barbs are formed in the rails. 
   
   
       16 . The self-locking panel assembly of  claim 12  wherein the panel is a privacy panel. 
   
   
       17 . The self-locking panel assembly of  claim 12  wherein the panel is a lattice panel. 
   
   
       18 . The self-locking panel assembly of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a third elongated rail having an elongated lower opening, wherein the first elongated rail further comprises an upper elongated opening; and   a lattice panel having an upper edge and a lower edge, the upper edge adapted to be inserted into the lower opening of the third elongated rail and the lower edge adapted to be inserted into the upper edge of the first elongated rail.   
   
   
       19 . The self-locking panel assembly of  claim 18  further comprising a plurality of catches formed into at least one of the first and third rails and/or in the edges of the lattice panel such that when the upper and lower edges of the lattice panel are inserted into the openings in the rails the catches hold the lattice panel securely in place in the rails. 
   
   
       20 . The self-locking panel assembly of  claim 16  wherein the privacy panel is a corrugated panel. 
   
   
       21 . The self-locking panel assembly of  claim 20  wherein the corrugated panel has barb-like catches formed therein. 
   
   
       22 . The self-locking panel assembly of  claim 16  wherein the privacy panel comprises one or more solid board-like elements. 
   
   
       23 . A snap-together plastic panel assembly of  claim 18  wherein at least one of the panels is embossed with a wood-grain texture. 
   
   
       24 . A snap-together plastic panel assembly of  claim 12  wherein the panel comprises a corrugated panel with barbs or catches formed along at least one edge and the shape and configuration of the panel is adapted to allow multiple ones of the panel to be nested, as for stacking in shipment and storage, without crushing the barbs or catches. 
   
   
       25 . A snap-together plastic panel assembly of  claim 18  wherein at least one of the panels is partially foamed to reduce weight, the foamed panel having outer layers which are not foamed sandwiching a foamed core. 
   
   
       26 . A plastic panel for use in a fence between fence posts or in a deck railing between deck posts, the plastic panel comprising:
 a corrugated plastic panel having barbs or catches formed therein along upper and lower edges of the corrugated plastic panel; and   wherein the corrugated plastic panel is sized and configured to allow multiple ones of the panel to be stacked in a closely nested arrangement for shipping and/or storage without crushing the barbs or catches formed therein.