Fencing System And Method For Assembling A Fence Panel

Abstract

This invention relates to a fencing system and method for assembling a fence panel. The fencing system comprises pickets, braces and rails which can be assembled into a fence panel. The fence panel can be assembled by inserting the pickets through the slots of the brace and the opening of the rails when the brace is in the unlocked position. The assembled fence panel can be locked into place by longitudinally driving the braces relative to their respective rails from the unlocked position to the locked position.

1 . A fencing system, said system comprising:
 pickets, each picket being elongate and having one or more connecting areas;   braces, each brace being elongate with a plurality of connecting portions spaced apart along the length of the brace and a slot for each connecting portion, having an unlocked position wherein one of the pickets extends through one of the slots of the brace and one of the connecting areas of the one of the pickets is disposed within the brace in longitudinal spaced relation to the connecting portion of the one of the slots, the slot for each connecting portion being adapted to allow longitudinal movement of the brace from the unlocked position to a locked position while the one of the pickets extends through the one of the slots of the brace wherein the one of the connecting areas of the one of the pickets is disposed within the brace and aligned with the connecting portion of the one of the slots in the locked position;   rails, each rail adapted to receive a brace for telescopic movement and having a plurality of openings adapted to communicate with the slots of the braces to permit through passage of the pickets and to limit longitudinal movement of the pickets;   whereby a plurality of pickets, rails and braces can be assembled into a fence panel and the braces can be driven relative to their respective rails from the unlocked position to the locked position to lock the fence panel together.   
     
     
         2 . The fencing system according to  claim 1  wherein the connecting area consists of one or more protrusions and the connecting portion consists of one or more holes. 
     
     
         3 . The fencing system according to  claim 1  wherein the connecting area consists of one or more holes and the connecting portion consists of one or more protrusions. 
     
     
         4 . The fencing system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 each brace consists of two parallel vertical sides connected by a horizontal side through which the slots are formed; and   each rail consists of two parallel vertical walls connected by a horizontal wall through which the openings are formed and an inwardly facing lip on each of the parallel vertical walls in vertical spaced relation to the horizontal wall.   
     
     
         5 . The fencing system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 alignment of the connecting area with the connecting portion in the locked position limits vertical movement of the picket and longitudinal movement of the brace.   
     
     
         6 . The fencing system according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 alignment of the connecting area with the connecting portion in the locked position limits rotational movement of the picket.   
     
     
         7 . A method of assembling a fence panel consisting of:
 telescopically inserting one or more braces into a corresponding number of rails;   aligning slots in each of the braces with openings in the corresponding rail to allow insertion of pickets through the slots and the openings;   inserting the pickets through the slots and the openings so that the connecting areas of the pickets are disposed within the braces in longitudinal spaced relation to the connecting portions of the slots and the openings limit longitudinal movement of the pickets;   driving the braces in a longitudinal direction relative to the corresponding rail to bring the connecting areas of the pickets into alignment with the connecting portions of the slots, thereby locking the pickets and braces together.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein
 each connecting area consists of one or more protrusions and the connecting portion consists of a corresponding number of holes; and 
 bringing the protrusions into alignment with the holes results in the protrusions entering into the holes. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein
 each connecting area consists of one or more holes and the connecting portion consists of a corresponding number of protrusions; and 
 bringing the protrusions into alignment with the holes results in the protrusions entering into the holes. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein bringing the connecting areas of the pickets into alignment with the connecting portions of the slots limits vertical movement of the pickets and longitudinal movement of the braces. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein bringing the connecting areas of the pickets into alignment with the connecting portions of the slots limits rotational movement of the pickets.