Fence Installation Tool

Abstract

A tool to facilitate fence cross-beam installation includes an elongate member having left and back generally flat surfaces and a plurality of windows spaced between bottom and top ends. A rod protrudes from the elongate member near the bottom end. In a method for installing cross-beams to adjacent first and second fence posts having tops, bottoms and front, rear, medial and lateral surfaces the rod is permitted to rest on an upper surface of the plank. The left generally flat surface is positioned against the medial surface of the first post and the elongate member back surface is aligned with the first fence post rear surface. Cross-beam support bracket are inserted through the windows in the tool and into contact with the first fence post medial surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool to facilitate fence cross-beam installation, comprising:
 an elongate member having a generally flat left surface, a generally flat back surface and a plurality of windows spaced between bottom and top ends; and   a rod protruding from the elongate member near the bottom end.   
     
     
         2 . The fence tool as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the left and back surfaces are orthogonal. 
     
     
         3 . The fence tool as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the rod protrudes at an orientation parallel with the left surface but normal to the back surface. 
     
     
         4 . The fence tool as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of windows comprise at least one window near the bottom end and at least one window near the top end. 
     
     
         5 . The fence tool as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of windows further comprise at least one intermediate window. 
     
     
         6 . The fence tool as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the rod is configured to protrude from the elongate member at any of a variety of positions between the bottom and top ends. 
     
     
         7 . A cross-beam bracket installation tool, comprising:
 an elongate member having a generally flat left surface, a generally flat back surface, a plurality of windows spaced between bottom and top ends and a plurality of bores oriented parallel with the left surface but normal to the back surface; and   a rod configured to be received within any of the plurality of bores.   
     
     
         8 . The fence tool as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising a generally flat front surface parallel to and spaced from the back surface. 
     
     
         9 . The fence tool as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the rod protrudes from both the front and back surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The fence tool as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of windows extends through the left surface. 
     
     
         11 . The fence tool as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of windows is spaced closer to the back surface than the front surface. 
     
     
         12 . The fence tool as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of windows is spaced closer to the front surface than the back surface. 
     
     
         13 . A method for installing cross-beams to adjacent first and second fence posts having tops, bottoms as well as front, rear, medial and lateral surfaces, the method comprising:
 securing a proximal end of a plank near the bottom of the first fence post;   securing a distal end of the plank to the second fence post such that elevations of the proximal and distal ends are equal;   providing a rod protruding from an elongate member having left and back generally flat surfaces and a plurality of windows spaced between bottom and top ends, wherein the rod protrudes near the elongate member bottom end;   with the elongate member approximately vertical, resting the rod on an upper surface of the plank;   positioning the elongate member left surface against the medial surface of the first post;   aligning the elongate member back surface with the first fence post rear surface;   securing the tool to the first fence post; and   inserting at least one first cross-beam support bracket through the windows in the tool and into contact with the first fence post medial surface.   
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising fixing the first support bracket to the first fence post with fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the fasteners are screws. 
     
     
         16 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising removing the tool from the first fence post. 
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 moving the tool toward the second fence post;   with the elongate member approximately vertical, resting the rod on an upper surface of the plank adjacent to the second fence post;   securing the tool to the second fence post; and   inserting at least one second crossbeam support bracket through the windows in the tool and into contact with the second fence post medial surface.   
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising fixing the second support bracket to the second fence post using screws. 
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising removing the tool from the second fence post. 
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , positioning a first end of a fence cross-beam into the first support bracket fixed to the first fence post and a second end of the fence cross-beam into the second support bracket fixed to the second fence post.