Modular fence system and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A modular fence system is disclosed herein. The modular fence system may include a first vertical post, a second vertical post, a first horizontal support configured to extend between and secure to the first vertical post and the second vertical post, a first vertical panel comprising a first vertically elongated slot and a second vertically elongated slot, and a first plurality of fasteners. Additional horizontal supports and vertical panels may be included. The modular fence system and its components may be configured to be installed on sloped terrain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular fence system, comprising:
 a first vertical post;   a second vertical post;   a first horizontal support configured to extend between and secure to the first vertical post and the second vertical post;   a first vertical panel comprising a first vertically elongated slot and a second vertically elongated slot; and   a first plurality of fasteners each configured to extend through one of the first or second vertically elongated slots into the first horizontal support to secure the first vertical panel to the first horizontal support.   
     
     
         2 . The modular fence system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second vertically elongated slots comprises a height, H SL , and are separated by a distance, D SL , and wherein 
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   H 
                   SL 
                 
                 
                   D 
                   SL 
                 
               
               ≥ 
               
                 0.3 
                 
                   5 
                   . 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     
         3 . The modular fence system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second vertically elongated slots comprise a slot width, W SL , wherein each of the first plurality of fasteners comprise a shaft having a shaft width, W FS , and wherein 
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     W 
                     SL 
                   
                   - 
                   
                     W 
                     FS 
                   
                 
                 
                   D 
                   SL 
                 
               
               ≥ 
               
                 
                   0 
                   . 
                   0 
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 
                   3 
                   . 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     
         4 . The modular fence system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second horizontal support configured to extend between and secure to the first vertical post and the second vertical post, wherein the second horizontal support is above or below the first horizontal support when the first and second horizontal supports are secured to the first and second vertical posts. 
     
     
         5 . The modular fence system of  claim 4 , wherein the first vertical panel comprises a third vertically elongated slot and a fourth vertically elongated slot, and wherein each of the first plurality of fasteners are configured to extend through one of the third or fourth vertically elongated slots into the second horizontal support to secure the first vertical panel to the second horizontal support. 
     
     
         6 . The modular fence system of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of vertical panels including the first vertical panel, wherein the first and second horizontal supports include a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first and second sides of the first and second horizontal supports are configured such that vertical panels from the plurality of vertical panels can be secured to both the first and second sides of the first and second horizontal supports. 
     
     
         7 . The modular fence system of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second sides of the first and second horizontal supports comprise a plurality of holes configured to receive the first plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         8 . The modular fence system of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of holes are prefabricated holes. 
     
     
         9 . The modular fence system of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of holes are grouped into sets of two holes, and wherein each hole in each of the set of holes is closer to the other hole in the same set than to holes in other sets. 
     
     
         10 . The modular fence system of  claim 1 , wherein the first horizontal support comprises a first end, a first tab extending out from the first end, and a second tab extending out from the first end, wherein the first end, first tab, and second tab are configured to form a U-shaped cavity configured to receive one of the first or second vertical posts. 
     
     
         11 . The modular fence system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first tab and second tab comprise an aperture, and wherein the modular fence system comprises a second plurality of fasteners, each of the second plurality of fasteners configured to extend through the apertures in the first tab or second tab and into one of the first and second vertical posts to secure the first horizontal support to one of the first or second vertical posts. 
     
     
         12 . The modular fence system of  claim 11 , wherein the aperture in the first tab and the aperture in the second tab are disposed at an aperture distance, D A , from the first end, wherein the first horizontal support is configured such that the first horizontal support and one of the first and second vertical posts form a gap when the first horizontal support is secured to and extending orthogonally from one of the first or second vertical posts, wherein the gap has a gap width, W G , and wherein 
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   W 
                   G 
                 
                 
                   D 
                   A 
                 
               
               ≥ 
               
                 
                   0 
                   . 
                   0 
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 
                   6 
                   . 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     
         13 . The modular fence system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first plurality of fasteners comprises a head having a flange and a flange width, and wherein the flange width is greater than the slot width of the first and second vertically elongated slots. 
     
     
         14 . A modular fence system, comprising:
 a first stanchion;   a second stanchion;   a first horizontal support configured to extend between and secure to the first stanchion and the second stanchion; and   a first vertical panel including a first securing recess, a second securing recess, and a first protrusion extending between the first recess and the second securing recess,   wherein the first vertical panel is configured to secure to the first horizontal support.   
     
     
         15 . The modular fence system of  claim 14 , wherein the first vertical panel further comprises a second protrusion extending from the first securing recess oppositely from the first protrusion and a third protrusion extending from the second securing recess oppositely from the first protrusion. 
     
     
         16 . The modular fence system of  claim 15 , wherein the first vertical panel further comprises a first edge extending from the second protrusion oppositely from the first securing recess and a second edge extending from the third protrusion oppositely from the second securing recess, and wherein the first and second edges comprise a hem. 
     
     
         17 . The modular fence system of  claim 16 , wherein the hem is an open hem. 
     
     
         18 . The modular fence system of  claim 14 , wherein the first vertical fence panel comprises a dog-eared top end. 
     
     
         19 . A method of installing a modular fence system, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first vertical post, a second vertical post, a first horizontal support configured to extend between and secure to the first and second vertical posts, a first vertical panel comprising a first vertically elongated slot and a second vertically elongated slot, and a first plurality of fasteners each configured to extend through one of the first or second vertically elongated slots into the first horizontal support to secure the first vertical panel to the first horizontal support;   securing the first and second vertical posts to the ground;   securing the first horizontal support to the first and second vertical posts; and   securing the first vertical panel to the first horizontal support by inserting fasteners from the first plurality of fasteners through each of the first and second vertically elongated slots and into the first horizontal support.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first horizontal support comprises a first end, a first tab extending out from the first end, and a second tab extending out from the first end, wherein the first end, first tab, and second tab are configured to form a U-shaped cavity configured to receive one of the first vertical post or the second vertical post, and wherein the step of securing the first horizontal support to the first vertical post includes inserting the first vertical post into the U-shaped cavity.