Replaceable panel fencing systems and methods

Abstract

Replaceable fence systems, methods, etc., include at least first and second vertical posts, a bottom rail coupled to the first and second posts and typically having a channel on an upper surface of the bottom rail, and a removable top rail positioned above the bottom rail and coupled to the first and second posts and having a channel on a lower surface of the top rail. The posts and rails are configured to replaceably accept, retain and disgorge replaceable fence panels, typically using a plurality of connection joints that permit the panels to be held at differing, adjustable heights and angles from one post to the next. Each of the channels can include a flexible centering insert configured to accept a variety of thicknesses of replaceable panels.

1 . A replaceable fence system, comprising:
 at least two vertical posts each comprising at least one lower connection joint and at least one upper connection joint, each connection joint attached to or integral with the vertical post;   for each vertical post, at least one lower fence panel support element configured to attach to the lower connection joint and to releasably hold a lower portion of at least one replaceable fence panel, thereby releasably holding the replaceable fence panel to the vertical post;   for each vertical post, at least one upper fence panel support element configured to attach to the upper connection joint and to releasably hold an upper portion of the replaceable fence panel, thereby releasably holding the replaceable fence panel to the vertical post; and   the replaceable fence panel comprising the lower portion and the upper portion, wherein the replaceable fence panel is configured to be releasably held, respectively, by the lower fence panel support elements and the upper fence panel support elements at a desired height and desired angle determined individually relative to each to the vertical posts.   
   
   
       2 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 1  wherein the lower fence panel support elements comprise the two ends of a bottom rail extending between the two vertical posts, the bottom rail comprising a channel disposed in an upper surface of the bottom rail and sized to receive the replaceable fence panel, and the upper fence panel support elements comprise the two ends of an upper rail extending between the two vertical posts, the upper rail comprising an upper channel disposed in a lower surface of the upper rail and sized to receive the replaceable fence panel. 
   
   
       3 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 1  wherein the lower and upper connection joints each comprise a substantially round joint extending away from the vertical post and configured to join with a corresponding socket or channel in a side of the replaceable fence panel. 
   
   
       4 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 3  wherein the substantially round joint is a substantially round ball. 
   
   
       5 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 3  wherein the substantially round joint is a substantially round disc. 
   
   
       6 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 1  wherein each connection joint is vertically moveable relative to its vertical post to be positioned at multiple heights along the first vertical post such that the desired height and the desired angle are variable relative to each of the vertical posts and can be set differently for each of the vertical posts. 
   
   
       7 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 1  wherein each of the connection joints allows the corresponding rail to rotate in both a horizontal and a vertical direction. 
   
   
       8 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 1  wherein the channels in each of the bottom rail and the upper rail include a flexible centering element configured to accept and center a plurality of thicknesses of replaceable panels. 
   
   
       9 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 8 , wherein the flexible centering element comprises an insert comprising a flexible strip material attached to the corresponding channel. 
   
   
       10 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 8 , wherein the flexible centering element comprises the walls of the channel. 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 1  wherein each of the vertical posts comprises a vertical channel coupled to the corresponding connection joints. 
   
   
       13 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 1  further comprising a mounting plate coupled to a bottom end of each post. 
   
   
       14 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 13 , wherein each of the mounting plates is configured to provide multiple connection angles between the mounting plate and the corresponding post. 
   
   
       15 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 1  further comprising a top cap coupled to a top end of each post. 
   
   
       16 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a middle fence panel support element comprising a middle rail positioned between the lower and upper fence panel support elements, the middle rail coupled to the vertical posts, and having a channel on both a lower and an upper surface of the middle rail, wherein each of the middle rail channels includes a flexible centering element configured to accept and center a variety of thicknesses of replaceable panels.   
   
   
       17 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 1  wherein the lower fence panel support elements and the one upper fence panel support elements are integral with the replaceable fence panel and project from the replaceable fence panel into corresponding detents in the vertical posts. 
   
   
       18 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises a plurality of different replaceable fence panels having at least one of different widths, materials or aesthetic features. 
   
   
       19 . A replaceable fence system, comprising:
 first and second vertical posts;   a bottom rail having a channel on an upper surface of the bottom rail configured to accept a variety of replaceable fence panels;   a top rail positioned above the bottom rail and having a channel on a lower surface of the top rail configured to accept a variety of panels;   first and second articulating connection joints respectively coupling the bottom rail to the first and second posts; and   third and fourth articulating connection joints respectively coupling the top rail to the first and second posts,   wherein each of the articulating connection joints allow for multiple connection angles between the corresponding rail and post in both a horizontal and a vertical direction, and allow for multiple connection heights between the corresponding rail and post.   
   
   
       20 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 19  wherein each of the connection joints comprises a ball and socket feature. 
   
   
       21 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 19 , wherein each of the posts is configured to provide multiple connection points for each of the corresponding articulating connection joints. 
   
   
       22 - 25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 19  wherein the channels in each of the bottom rail and the upper rail include a flexible centering insert configured to accept a plurality of thicknesses of replaceable panels. 
   
   
       27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . The replaceable fence system of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a middle rail positioned between the bottom and top rails and having a channel on both a lower and an upper surface of the middle rail configured to accept a variety of panels; and   fifth and sixth articulating connection joints respectively coupling the middle rail to the first and second posts,   wherein each of the articulating connection joints allows for multiple connection angles between the corresponding rail and post in both a horizontal and a vertical direction.   
   
   
       29 . A connection joint for a replaceable fence system, comprising a substantially round joint extending away from a base, the base configured to slidably engage a vertical channel in at least one of a fence post or a corresponding replaceable fence panel such that the base can be held at a plurality of heights within the channel, and the substantially round joint configured to releasably engage a detent in the other of the fence post and the corresponding replaceable fence panel such that the fence post or replaceable fence panel can be held at a plurality of angles, both horizontal and vertical, relative to the base. 
   
   
       30 . The connection joint of  claim 29  wherein the base is substantially square or rectangular and the substantially round joint further comprises two substantially opposed projections extending substantially laterally from the round joint such that the weight of the replaceable fence panel bears on the projections. 
   
   
       31 - 33 . (canceled) 
   
   
       34 . A fence post comprising at least one connection joint, the connection joint comprising a substantially round joint extending away from the fence post, the substantially round ball joint configured to releasably engage a detent in a corresponding replaceable fence panel such that the replaceable fence panel can be held at a plurality of angles relative to the fence post. 
   
   
       35 . The fence post of  claim 34  wherein the plurality of angles comprise both horizontal and vertical angles. 
   
   
       36 . The fence post of  claim 34  wherein the connection joint is slidably engaged to the fence post to slide substantially axially along the fence post such that the replaceable fence panel can be maintained at a plurality of heights along the fence post. 
   
   
       37 - 38 . (canceled) 
   
   
       39 . A replaceable fence panel comprising at least one connection joint, the connection joint comprising a substantially round joint extending away from the replaceable fence panel, the substantially round joint configured to releasably engage a detent in a corresponding fence post such that the replaceable fence panel can be held at a plurality of angles, both horizontal and vertical, relative to the fence post. 
   
   
       40 . The replaceable fence panel of  claim 39  wherein the connection joint is slidably engaged to the replaceable fence panel to slide substantially axially along the replaceable fence panel such that the replaceable fence panel can be maintained at a plurality of heights relative to the fence post. 
   
   
       41 - 42 . (canceled) 
   
   
       43 . A method of using a replaceable fence system, comprising:
 providing at least two fence posts;   placing a first replaceable fence panel between the two fence posts and releasably connecting the first replaceable fence panel to the two vertical fence posts to create a fence;   permitting the fence to remain in position as a fence for an extended period;   removing the first replaceable fence panel from the two fence posts; and,   placing a second replaceable fence panel between the two fence posts and releasably connecting the second replaceable fence panel to the two vertical fence posts to create a fence.   
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the method further comprises providing at least one additional fence post and placing at least one additional replaceable fence panel between one of the first two fence posts and the additional fence post. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the first replaceable fence panel is placed at a different height and a different angle relative to the intervening fence post compared to the first replaceable fence panel. 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the different height and the different angle are effected via a connection joint comprising a substantially round joint releasably connecting the fence post and the replaceable fence panel. 
   
   
       47 - 49 . (canceled) 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the substantially round joint is slidably connected to at least one of the fence post and the replaceable fence panel and the different height between the panels is effected by sliding the substantially round joint to the desired level.