Fence slat and fence slat locking system

Abstract

This disclosure generally relates to fence slat and a fence slat interlocking system. The fence slat includes a first fence slat locking mechanism disposed on one side of the fence slat. The fence slat further includes a second fence slat locking mechanism disposed on a second side of the fence slat. A plurality of fence slats are interlocked with each other by the one or more locking mechanisms such that lateral tension is applied between each fence slat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fence slat, comprising:
 a face;   a first fence slat locking mechanism disposed on a first side of the fence slat and   a second fence slat locking mechanism disposed on a second side of the fence slat,   wherein the first fence slat locking mechanism includes a locking surface that is parallel to the face and the second fence slat locking mechanism includes another locking surface that is parallel to the face,   wherein the first fence slat locking mechanism and the second fence slat locking mechanism open towards each other.   
     
     
         2 . The fence slat of  claim 1 , wherein the first fence slat locking mechanism further includes a first bend. 
     
     
         3 . The fence slat of  claim 2 , wherein the first bend is 90° relative to a face of the fence slat. 
     
     
         4 . The fence slat of  claim 1 , wherein the first fence slat locking mechanism further includes a second bend. 
     
     
         5 . The fence slat of  claim 2 , wherein the second bend is 90° relative to the first bend. 
     
     
         6 . The fence slat of  claim 1 , wherein a first locking surface is disposed between a first bend and a second bend. 
     
     
         7 . The fence slat of  claim 6 , wherein a second locking surface is created by the second bend, wherein the second locking surface is less than half of the width of the fence slat across a face of the fence slat. 
     
     
         8 . The fence slat of  claim 1 , wherein the second locking mechanism includes:
 a first bend that is approximately 90° relative to a face of the fence slat,   a second bend that is approximately 90° relative to the first bend,   a first locking surface disposed between the first bend and the second bend, and   a second locking surface created by the second bend which is less than half of the width of the fence slat across the face of the fence slat.   
     
     
         9 . A fence slat locking system, comprising:
 a first fence slat including a first locking mechanism;   a second fence slat including a second locking mechanism which nests inside the first locking mechanism and interlocks with a third fence slat; and   a fourth fence slat.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first fence slat abuts the third fence slat along at least one locking surface of the first fence slat and at least one locking surface of the third fence slat. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first fence slat and the third fence slat are co-planar and the second fence slat and the fourth fence slat are co-planar. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the fourth fence slat abuts the second fence slat along at least one locking surface of the fourth fence slat and at least one locking surface of the second fence slat. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first fence slat, the second fence slat, the third fence slat, and the fourth fence slat are uniformly sized. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first fence slat, the second fence slat, the third fence slat, and the fourth fence slat are metal. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a horizontal cross member. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the horizontal cross member is disposed in an aperture of a first fence post and an aperture of a second fence post. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the horizontal cross member is made of polyvinyl chloride plastic. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first fence post and the second fence post are made of polyvinyl chloride plastic. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first fence slat, the second fence slat, the third fence slat, and the fourth fence slat are made of steel. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first fence slat, the second fence slat, the third fence slat, and the fourth fence slat experience lateral tension between a first fence post and a second fence post.