Method and apparatus for constructing and repairing fence or railings

Abstract

An apparatus including a first picket having a first slot on a first side of the first picket and a second slot on a second side which opposes the first side of the first picket. The apparatus may further include a first locking strip having including a first opening including a first section having a first width and a second section having a second width, wherein the first width is larger than the second width. The apparatus may further include a first railing having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening of the railing is substantially perpendicular to the second opening of the first railing. The first locking strip may be adapted to be inserted into the first opening in the first railing, and slid into the first railing and used to lock the first picket with respect to the first railing.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first picket having a first slot on a first side of the first picket and a second slot on a second side which opposes the first side of the first picket;   a first locking strip having including a first opening including a first section having a first width and a second section having a second width, wherein the first width is larger than the second width;   a first railing having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening of the railing is substantially perpendicular to the second opening of the first railing;   wherein the first locking strip is adapted to be inserted into the first opening in the first railing, and slid into the first railing into a first state in which the first section of the first opening of the first locking strip is aligned with the second opening of the first railing;   wherein the first picket is adapted to be inserted in a second state into the second opening in the first railing and simultaneously into the first section of the first opening of the first locking strip; and   wherein first locking strip is adapted to be placed in a third state in which the second section of the first locking strip is aligned with the second opening of the first railing, and first part of the first locking strip is within the first slot of the first picket and a second part of the first locking strip is within the second slot of the first picket.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the second section of the first opening of the first locking strip is centrally located with respect to the first section of the first opening of the first locking strip, such that in the third state the first part of the first locking strip within the first slot of the first picket and the second part of the first locking strip within the second slot of the first picket are substantially equal. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising
 a first post; and 
 a second post; 
 wherein the first railing is adapted to be inserted into the first post at a first end of the first railing and inserted into the second post at a second end of the first railing which is opposite the first end of the first railing. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the first picket has a third slot on the first side of the first picket, spaced apart from the first slot, and a fourth slot on the second side of the first picket, spaced apart from the second slot; 
 a second locking strip having including a first opening including a first section having a first width and a second section having a second width, wherein the first width of the first section of the second locking strip is larger than the second width of the second section of the second locking strip; 
 a second railing having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening of the second railing is substantially perpendicular to the second opening of the second railing; 
 wherein the second locking strip is adapted to be inserted into the first opening in the second railing, and slid into the second railing into a fourth state in which the first section of the first opening of the second locking strip is aligned with the second opening of the second railing; 
 wherein the first picket in the second state is inserted into the second opening in the second railing and simultaneously into the first section of the first opening of the second locking strip; and 
 wherein second locking strip is adapted to be placed in a fifth state in which the second section of the second locking strip is aligned with the second opening of the second railing, and a first part of the second locking strip is within the third slot of the first picket and a second part of the second locking strip is within the fourth slot of the first picket. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising
 a second picket having a first slot on a first side of the second picket and a second slot on a second side of the second picket which opposes the first side of the second picket; 
 wherein the first locking strip has a second opening including a first section having a first width and a second section having a second width, wherein the first width of the second opening of the first locking strip is larger than the second width of the second opening of the first locking strip; 
 wherein the first railing includes a third opening which is substantially parallel to the first opening of the first railing; 
 wherein the first locking strip is adapted to be inserted into the first opening in the first railing, and slid into the first railing into the first state such that the first section of the first opening of the first locking strip is aligned with the second opening of the first railing and the first section of the second opening of the first locking strip is aligned with the third opening of the first railing; 
 wherein the second picket is adapted to be inserted in a fourth state into the third opening in the first railing and simultaneously into the first section of the second opening of the first locking strip; and 
 wherein first locking strip is adapted to be placed in the third state, such that the second section of the first opening of the first locking strip is aligned with the second opening of the first railing, and the first part of the first locking strip is within the first slot of the first picket and the second part of the first locking strip is within the second slot of the first picket, and such that the second section of the second opening of the first locking strip is aligned with the third opening of the first railing, and a third part of the first locking strip is within the first slot of the second picket and a fourth part of the first locking strip is within the second slot of the first picket. 
 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising
 placing a first locking strip and a first railing into a first state, wherein the first locking strip is inserted in the first railing so that a first section of a first opening of the first locking strip aligns with a first opening of the first railing;   while the first locking strip and the first railing are in the first state, placing a first picket into a second state, wherein the first picket is inserted into the first opening of the first railing and into the first section of the first opening of the first locking strip; and   after the first locking strip and the first railing have been placed in the first state and the first picket has been placed in the second state, moving the first locking strip into a third state in which the first section of the first opening of the first locking strip is no longer aligned with the first opening of the first railing, but a second section of the first opening of the first locking strip is aligned with the first opening of the first railing, and first and second portions of the first locking strip are located within first and second slots, respectively, of the first picket.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising
 inserting a first end of the first railing into a first post so that the first railing is substantially perpendicular to the first post. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising
 inserting a second end of the first railing, into a second post so that the first railing is substantially perpendicular to the second post, wherein the second end is opposite the first end. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein
 in the first state the first locking strip is inserted in the first railing so that a first section of a second opening of the first locking strip aligns with a second opening of the first railing; 
 while the first locking strip and the first railing are in the first state, placing a second picket into a fourth state, wherein the second picket is inserted into the second opening of the first railing and into the first section of the second opening of the first locking strip; and 
 after the first locking strip and the first railing have been placed in the first state and the second picket has been placed in the fourth state, moving the first locking strip into the third state in which the first section of the second opening of the first locking strip is no longer aligned with the second opening of the first railing, but a second section of the second opening of the first locking strip is aligned with the second opening of the first railing, and third and fourth portions of the first locking strip are located within first and second slots, respectively, of the second picket.