Method and apparatus for providing braced sections of a fence

Abstract

The fence building system which provides for one or more corner posts and H-brace fence sections employs standard system components and a couple of general fence tools. The present system provides for at least one fence post that is slidable over a conventional studded steel T-post. The fence posts disclosed herein can comprise a rigid connector bracket having one end or a swivel connector bracket having two ends. The ends of the brackets mate with an end of a connecting rail. An optional bracket assembly is mountable to one or more fence posts to enable the making of other fence configurations. The present system provides for a fence that is inexpensive to manufacture, is light weight, is easy-to-transport to remote locations, and is easily and quickly installed, dismantled and reused in the field without the use of specialty tools.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A fence post assembly comprising:
 a metal tube having a cavity for insertably receiving a length of a steel post;   said tube further comprising a bracket having a swivelable mating end and a stationary mating end;   said swivelable mating end mountable to a first connecting fence rail thereby allowing said first connecting fence rail to be rotated horizontally relative to said tube; and   said stationary mating end mountable to a second connecting fence rail.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an optional assembly mountable to said tube to provide an additional mating end for a subsequent connecting fence rail. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said swivelable mating end can be rotated about said tube, said swivelable mating end and said stationary being positionable relative to each other at an angle of about 20 degrees to about 270 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 X further comprising a formation of a corner upon a mounting of a first connecting fence rail to said swivelable mating end and a mounting of a second connecting fence rail to said stationary mating end, said first and second fence rails each connected to a respective vertical post. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising a tension brace mountable to said tube and to at least one of said vertical posts. 
     
     
         6 . A fence assembly comprising:
 at least two metal tubes each having a cavity for insertably receiving a length of a steel post, each of said tubes further comprising one or more bracket ends mateable with an end of a connecting fence rail;   at least two steel posts mounted to a ground surface in spaced relation to one another;   each of said tubes mounted on a corresponding one of said steel posts and rotatably positioned so a pair of said bracket ends may oppose the other; and   a connecting rail having two ends, each of said ends mounted to a corresponding one of said opposing bracket ends to form a fence section.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  further comprising a brace system mounted to said at least two tubes for tensioning purposes. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein one of said one or more bracket ends is swivelable thereby allowing a connecting rail mounted thereto to be rotated about its respective tube. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a connecting rail mounted to said swivelable bracket end can form a portion of a H-brace section or a portion of a corner. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of fence sections can be mounted in series to form a fence line. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 6  further comprising an optional assembly mountable to one or more of said tubes to provide an additional mating end for a fence rail. 
     
     
         12 . A fence post and rail system comprising:
 a plurality of steel posts mounted to a ground surface in spaced relation to one another and defining a desired perimeter or line;   a plurality of metal tubes each comprising a cavity capable of receiving a length of a steel post, said tubes mounted on a corresponding one of said steel posts, one or more of said plurality of tubes further comprising a rigid bracket having a stationary mating end, one or more of said plurality of tubes further comprising a swivel bracket having a moveable mating end and a stationary mating end;   said one or more rigid bracketed tubes positioned so a pair of bracket ends oppose one another, a mounting of a connecting fence rail therebetween forming a H-brace section of a fence;   said moveable mating ends of said one or more swivel bracketed tubes positioned so adjacent bracket ends are in angled relation to one another, a mounting of a connecting fence rail therebetween forming a portion of a corner of a fence; and   a plurality of connecting members mounted to said tubes to form a partial barrier between said fence posts.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said moveable mating ends are positioned so adjacent bracket ends are at an angle of about 20 degrees to about 270 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a brace system mounted to at least two adjacent tubes for tensioning purposes. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein one or more of said swivel brackets are positioned so adjacent bracket ends are at an angle of about 180 degrees, a mounting of a connecting fence rail therebetween forming a H-brace section of a fence. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising an optional assembly mountable to one of said plurality of tubes to provide an additional mating end for a fence rail.