Fence Assembly and Method of Installing the Same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fence assembly and method of installing a fence assembly on a support surface having underground obstacles. The method for installing a fence assembly includes providing at least three posts, brackets each having a first plate and a second plate that is connected perpendicularly to the first plate, at least one rail, and a fence fabric. The posts are inserted in a support surface, such that the at least three posts are spaced from one another at varying distances. The first plates of the brackets are secured to a front surface of each post, and the rail is secured to the second plate of the brackets in an orientation perpendicular to the posts. The fence fabric is secured to the rail so such that the fence assembly components are not accessible from the exterior of the fence assembly.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for installing a fence assembly on a support surface having underground obstacles, comprising:
 providing:
 at least three posts each having a longitudinal axis and a front surface, 
 a plurality of brackets each having a first plate and a second plate that is connected to the first plate and is substantially perpendicular to the first plate, 
 at least one rail having a longitudinal axis, and 
 a fence fabric; 
   inserting the at least three posts in a support surface, such that the at least three posts are spaced from one another, wherein the distance between a first post and a second post is different than a distance between the second post and a third post;   securing the first plate of each bracket to the front surface of one of the at least three posts such that the second plate of each bracket is arranged in a horizontal plane that is perpendicular to the front surface of each of the at least three posts;   securing the at least one rail to the second plate of one or more of the plurality of brackets secured to the at least three posts so that the longitudinal axis of the at least one rail is arranged perpendicularly with respect to the at least three posts; and   securing the fence fabric to the at least one rail so that the at least three posts and the plurality of brackets are not accessible from an area exterior to the fence assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The method for installing a fence assembly according to  claim 1 , comprising positioning the at least three posts such that each of the at least three posts is independently spaced from an adjacent post by about 15 to about 25 feet. 
     
     
         3 . The method for installing a fence assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least three posts comprises a central portion having a first side and a second side, and a first panel on the first side that extends perpendicularly to the central portion, and a second panel on the second side that extends perpendicularly to the central portion, and wherein the first panel defines the front surface of each of the at least three posts. 
     
     
         4 . The method for installing a fence assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising securing a plurality of brackets on each of the at least three posts, such that the plurality of brackets on one of the at least three posts are spaced from one another along the longitudinal axis of the post. 
     
     
         5 . The method for installing a fence assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein securing the plurality of brackets to the at least three posts comprises the use of fasteners. 
     
     
         6 . The method for installing a fence assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plate of each of the plurality of brackets defines one or more apertures and the method further comprises inserting a fastener through the one or more apertures of the brackets to secure each of the plurality of brackets to the at least three posts. 
     
     
         7 . The method for installing a fence assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rail comprises a central panel with a first side and a second side, a first panel extending perpendicularly from the first side of the central panel, and a second panel extending perpendicularly from the second side of the central panel, and the method further comprises positioning the central panel of the at least one rail in facing engagement with the second panel of one or more of the plurality of brackets. 
     
     
         8 . The method for installing a fence assembly according to  claim 7 , further comprising securing the central panel of the at least one rail to the second panel of one of the plurality of brackets via fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . The method for installing a fence assembly according to  claim 7 , further comprising securing the fence fabric to the second panel of the at least one rail. 
     
     
         10 . The method for installing a fence assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the fence fabric comprises a rigid material. 
     
     
         11 . The method for installing a fence assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing one or more support ribs, positioning the one or more support ribs substantially perpendicularly to the at least one rail, and securing the support ribs to the fence fabric. 
     
     
         12 . The method for installing a fence assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising pile-driving or vibro-driving each of the at least three posts into the support surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method for installing a fence assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising forming a hole in the support surface, positioning a first end of one of the at least three posts in the hole, and filling the hole with a foundation material to form a foundation. 
     
     
         14 . The method for installing a fence assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the hole is formed so as to have a depth that is greater than a width of the hole. 
     
     
         15 . The method for installing a fence assembly according to  claim 13 , further comprising positioning reinforcing rebar in the foundation material. 
     
     
         16 . A fence assembly for installation on a support surface with underground obstacles, comprising:
 at least three posts each having a longitudinal axis and a front surface;   a plurality of brackets each having a first plate and a second plate that is connected to the first plate and is substantially perpendicular to the first plate, wherein the first plate of each of the plurality of brackets is secured to the front surface of one of the at least three posts such that the second plate of each of the plurality of brackets is perpendicular to the front surface of the post;   at least one rail having a longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one rail is secured to the second plate of one or more of the plurality of brackets so that the longitudinal axis of the at least one rail is arranged perpendicularly with respect to the at least three posts; and   a fence fabric secured to the at least one rail so that the at least three posts and the plurality of brackets are not accessible from an area exterior to the fence assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The fence assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the at least three posts are independently spaced from an adjacent post by about 15 to about 25 feet. 
     
     
         18 . The fence assembly of  claim 16  wherein each of the at least three posts is an I-beam. 
     
     
         19 . The fence assembly of  claim 16 , wherein each of the at least three posts comprises a central portion having a first side and a second side, a first panel on the first side that extends perpendicularly to the central portion, and a second panel on the second side that extends perpendicularly to the central portion, and wherein the first panel defines the front surface of each of the at least three posts. 
     
     
         20 . The fence assembly of  claim 16 , wherein each of the at least three posts comprises a plurality of brackets secured thereon, wherein the plurality of brackets on each of the at least three posts are spaced from one another along the longitudinal axis of the post. 
     
     
         21 . The fence assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of brackets are secured to the at least three posts via fasteners. 
     
     
         22 . The fence assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first plate of each of the plurality of brackets defines one or more apertures for receiving a fastener. 
     
     
         23 . The fence assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one rail comprises a central panel with a first side and a second side, a first panel extending perpendicularly from the first side of the central panel, and a second panel extending perpendicularly from the second side of the central panel. 
     
     
         24 . The fence assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the central panel of the at least one rail is in facing engagement with the second plate of one or more of the plurality of brackets secured to the at least three posts. 
     
     
         25 . The fence assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the central panel of the at least one rail is secured to the second plate of one or more of the plurality of brackets via fasteners. 
     
     
         26 . The fence assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the fence fabric is secured to the second panel of the at least one rail. 
     
     
         27 . The fence assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the fence fabric comprises a rigid material. 
     
     
         28 . The fence assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising one or more support ribs positioned substantially perpendicularly to the at least one rail, and wherein the one or more support ribs are secured to the fence fabric. 
     
     
         29 . The fence assembly of  claim 16 , wherein each of the at least three posts comprises a first end that is encased within a foundation.