Bracket for installing horizontal fencing to the outside of a post and method of using the same

Abstract

A fence bracket for installing a horizontal fence, and a method of using the same that decreases the expense and time of installing two different types of horizontal fencing configurations. The fence bracket directly connects to a post to define a fence member slot oriented in a direction shared by a surface of the post to which the fence bracket is directly connected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fence bracket for directly connecting to an external surface a post to define a fence member slot facing a direction that said external surface faces, the fence bracket comprising:
 a C-channel defining the fence member slot defined by two opposing legs of the bracket; and   a connection flange for directly connecting to said surface, wherein the connection flange extends from a distal edge of an inner leg of the two opposing legs in a direction away from the fence member slot,   whereby no part of the fence bracket engages an internal portion of the post.   
     
     
         2 . The fence bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the connection flange has a plurality of spaced apart fastener holes. 
     
     
         3 . The fence bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the two opposing legs each have a plurality of pilot holes that align with each other. 
     
     
         4 . A method of bracketing a fence member, by way of a fence bracket, to outer surfaces of two adjacent posts, wherein no part of the fence bracket engages an internal portion of the post, the method comprising:
 directly attaching a first fence bracket of claim  3  to a first outer surface of a first post of the two adjacent posts by way of its connection flange;   directly attaching a second fence bracket of claim  3  to a second outer surface of a second post of the two adjacent posts by way of its connection flange so that the respective fence member slots of the first and second fence brackets directly face each other; and   fastening each end of the fence member in the respective fence member slot of the first and second fence brackets so that for each end of the fence member a plurality of fasteners pass through the two opposing legs, the end of the fence member, and into the respective post.   
     
     
         5 . A method of bracketing a fence configuration to an outer surface of a post, by way of a fence bracket, wherein no part of the fence bracket engages an internal portion of the post the method comprising:
 directly attaching a first fence bracket of claim  3  to a first outer surface of a post by way of its connection flange; and   directly attaching a second fence bracket of claim  3  to a second outer surface of the post by way of its connection flange so that the respective fence member slots of the first and second fence brackets are coplanar and directly face away from each other.