Stackable spacers for infill

Abstract

A fence system that provides a platform that allows for construction of various configurations. The system includes a section of fence having first and second uprights and an upper and a lower rail that span between the uprights. First and second end brackets are affixed to the uprights for receiving a plurality of horizontal panels. Spacers may be located within the end brackets to selectively space the horizontal members as desired or may be located within upper and lower rails to selectively space the vertical members as desired. Spacer combinations can vary an amount of spacing between horizontal or vertical panels. Advantages include versatility, i.e., an ability to easily install spacers, either alone, or in stackable combination with other spacers to easily construct a fence having horizontal or vertical segments that are separated by a desired amount.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fence frame comprising:
 a first vertical channel;   a second vertical channel;   a top rail;   a bottom rail;   a first member extending between one of said first vertical channel and said second vertical channel, extending between said top rail and said bottom rail;   a second member extending between one of said first vertical channel and said second vertical channel, or extending between said top rail and said bottom rail;   a first spacer in said first vertical channel or said top rail for spacing apart said first member and said second member;   a second spacer in said second vertical channel or said bottom rail for spacing apart said first member and said second member.   
     
     
         2 . The fence frame according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first upright defining an inwardly facing side; 
 a first end bracket affixed to said inwardly facing side of said first upright, wherein said first vertical channel is defined by a first end bracket. 
 
     
     
         3 . The fence frame according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said first spacer is a first spacer unit; and 
 said second spacer is a second spacer unit. 
 
     
     
         4 . The fence frame according to  claim 3  wherein:
 said first spacer unit having a front member having an upper end, a lower end, an inside surface and an outside surface, a rear member having an upper end a lower end, an inside surface and an outside surface, an upper member connecting said front member and said rear member, a lower member connecting said front member and said rear member; 
 wherein said front member of said first spacer unit and said rear member of said first spacer unit extend above said upper member of said first spacer unit for defining an upper receptacle; 
 wherein said front member of said first spacer unit and said rear member of said first spacer unit extend below said lower member for defining a lower receptacle. 
 
     
     
         5 . The fence frame according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said first spacer comprises a first spacer unit and a first stackable unit; and 
 said second spacer comprises a second spacer unit and a second stackable unit. 
 
     
     
         6 . The fence frame according to  claim 4  wherein:
 said first spacer comprises a first spacer unit and a first stackable unit; and 
 said second spacer comprises a second spacer unit and a second stackable unit; 
 wherein said first stackable unit defines a protrusion sized for mating engagement with said lower receptacle of said first stackable unit. 
 
     
     
         7 . The fence frame according to  claim 6  wherein:
 said first stackable unit having a front stackable member having an upper end, a lower end, and an inside surface, a rear stackable member having an upper end, a lower end, and an inside surface, a protrusion having a front portion, a back portion and an end portion connecting said front portion and said back portion, a horizontal stackable member connecting said front stackable member and said rear stackable member; 
 wherein said front portion of said protrusion of said first stackable unit has a first end, a second end, and an outer surface, said first end of said front portion engaging said inside surface of said front stackable member proximate said upper end of said front stackable member. 
 
     
     
         8 . The fence frame according to  claim 7  wherein:
 wherein said back portion of said protrusion of said first stackable unit has a first end, a second end, and an outer surface, said first end of said back portion engaging said inside surface of said rear stackable member proximate said upper end of said rear stackable member; 
 wherein said protrusion of said first stackable unit is sized to matingly engage with said lower receptacle on said first spacer unit; 
 wherein said front stackable member of said first stackable unit and said rear stackable member of said first stackable unit of one of said front stackable member of said first stackable unit and said rear stackable member of said first stackable unit extend below said horizontal stackable member for defining a lower stackable receptacle; 
 wherein a protrusion of a second stackable unit is sized to matingly engage with said lower stackable receptacle on said first spacer unit. 
 
     
     
         9 . The fence frame according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said first horizontal member defines a first end, a second end, an upper portion, and a lower portion; 
 said second horizontal member defines a first end, a second end, an upper portion, and a lower portion; 
 wherein said first end of said first horizontal member is received in said first vertical channel; 
 wherein said second end of said first horizontal member is received in said second vertical channel; 
 wherein said first end of said second horizontal member is received in said first vertical channel; 
 wherein said second end of said second horizontal member is received in said second vertical channel. 
 
     
     
         10 . A fence and spacer combination comprising:
 a fence frame;   a first panel supported by said fence frame, said first panel having a spacer engaging surface;   a second panel supported by said fence frame, said second panel having a second spacer engaging surface;   a spacer defining a first receptacle for securely receiving said first spacer engaging surface of said first panel, said spacer defining a second receptacle for securely receiving said second spacer engaging surface of said second panel.   
     
     
         11 . The fence and spacer combination of  claim 10  wherein:
 said fence frame defines a vertical channel; 
 wherein said spacer is received in said vertical channel. 
 
     
     
         12 . The fence and spacer combination of  claim 10  wherein:
 said spacer is a spacer unit, said spacer unit defining said first receptacle for securely receiving said first space engaging surface of said first panel, said spacer unit defining said second receptacle for securely receiving said second spacer engaging surface of said second panel. 
 
     
     
         13 . The fence and spacer combination according to  claim 12  further comprising:
 a stackable unit defining a protrusion; 
 wherein said protrusion is sized to matingly engage with a receptacle on said spacer unit. 
 
     
     
         14 . The fence and spacer combination according to  claim 10  wherein:
 said spacer is a spacer unit, said spacer unit having a front member having an first end, a second end, an inside surface and an outside surface, a rear member having a first end, a second end, an inside surface and an outside surface, a first member connecting said front member and said rear member, and a second member connecting said front member and said rear member; 
 wherein said front member and said rear member extend above said first member for defining a first receptacle; 
 wherein said front member and said rear member extend below said second member for defining a second receptacle; 
 said spacer unit defining said first receptacle for securely receiving said first spacer engaging surface of said first panel, said spacer unit defining said second receptacle for securely receiving said second spacer engaging surface of said second panel. 
 
     
     
         15 . The fence and spacer combination according to  claim 10  further comprising:
 a stackable unit having a front stackable member having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface, a rear stackable member having a first end, a second end, and an inside surface, an first protrusion having a front portion, a back portion and a first portion connecting said front stackable member and said rear stackable member, a horizontal stackable member connecting said front stackable member and said rear stackable member; 
 wherein said front portion of said first protrusion has an upper end, a lower end, and an outer surface, said second end of said front portion engaging said inside surface of said front stackable member proximate said first end of said front stackable member; 
 wherein said back portion of said first protrusion has a first end, a second end, and an outer surface, said second end of said back portion engaging said inside surface of said rear stackable member proximate said first end of said rear stackable member; 
 wherein said first protrusion is sized to matingly engage with said second receptacle on said spacer; 
 wherein said front stackable member and said rear stackable member of said stackable unit extend below said horizontal stackable member for defining a second stackable receptacle. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method of constructing a fence panel comprising:
 erecting a first vertical channel and a second vertical channel;   affixing a first end of a base rail proximate to a lower end of said first vertical channel;   affixing a second end of said base rail proximate to a lower end of said second vertical channel;   affixing a first end of a top rail proximate to a lower end of said first vertical channel;   affixing a second end of said top rail proximate to a lower end of said second vertical channel;   locating a first panel within at least two of said first vertical channel, said second vertical channel, said base rail, and said top rail;   locating a second panel within at least two of said first vertical channel, said second vertical channel, and positioning said second panel adjacent to said first panel;   locating a spacer within one of said first vertical channel and said base rail and locating said spacer within one of said second vertical channel and said top rail for spacing apart said first panel and said second panel.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein said step of erecting comprises:
 setting a first upright and a second upright in a vertical orientation, said first upright having a first panel facing side, said second upright having a second panel facing side; 
 affixing a first end bracket to said first panel facing side of said first upright, said first end bracket defining a first channel; 
 affixing a second end bracket to said second panel facing side of said second upright, said second end bracket defining a second channel. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method  claim 16  wherein:
 said spacer defines an upper receptacle for receiving said second panel and defines a lower receptacle for receiving one of said first panel and a protrusion of a stackable unit. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein:
 said spacer is a first spacer unit and a first stackable unit, said spacer defining a receptacle for receiving one of said first panel and said second panel; 
 said first stackable unit defining a receptacle for receiving one of said first panel and said second panel.