Chain link fencing with decorative slats that provide complete privacy

Abstract

Chain link fencing having a plurality of elongate picket members comprising elongate slats that lie in diagonal valleys of the chain link fencing. Elongate, U-shaped channels lie along the respective sides of each elongate slat. The channels fit over and cover a row or ridge of knuckles formed along the side of each of the respective valleys of the chain link fencing. The pickets cover essentially the entire side of the chain link fence and leave no spaces or openings between pickets. The system thus provides complete privacy. Engagement members are associated with the channels to secure the channel members and thus the pickets to respective rows or ridges of knuckles on the chain link fencing.

We claim: 
     
       1. Chain link fencing comprising: a plurality of .Iadd.extruded plastic .Iaddend.elongate slats, with each of said slats having first and second elongate sides, and with each slat being of a size to lie in a diagonal valley of the chain link fencing;   an elongate, U-shaped channel formed integrally along a first side of each of said slats, said channel having first and second spaced apart .Iadd.plastic .Iaddend.sidewalls connected by a .Iadd.plastic .Iaddend.bottom wall so as to form an elongate open trough along a top side of said channel, with said first side of each slat being integrally attached to the first sidewall of said U-shaped channel such that when said slat is received in said valley, the open trough of said channel fits over a diagonal ridge of knuckles formed along the side of said valley by intertwined wires of the chain link fencing so that said channel covers said diagonal ridge of knuckles and the portions of the wires that extend between and connect the knuckles;   attachment means for securing said U-shaped channel to said diagonal ridge of knuckles that said channel covers, said attachment means comprising: .Iadd.integrally formed plastic projections extending from each of the sidewalls adjacent the open trough, the projections of the first sidewall extending toward the second sidewall and the projections of the second sidewall extending toward the first sidewall such that the projections of both sidewalls snap engage with knuckles of the chain link fence;.Iaddend.     aligned apertures in the spaced apart sidewalls of said channel, said apertures being located adjacent to the open trough at the top side of said channel; and   a clip member that extends through the aligned apertures on the spaced apart sidewalls of the channel and across the open trough at the top side of said channel so as to close the top of the channel at the clip member thereby confining the portion of the wire within the closed channel at the clip member to thereby interlock said channel and the elongate slat attached thereto to the chain link fencing.   
     
     
       2. Chain link fencing in accordance with claim . .8.!. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein a second elongate slat is integrally attached to and extends from the second sidewall of each channel such that the second slat will overlap with a corresponding slat in an adjacent valley of the chain link fencing. 
     
     
       3. Chain link fencing in accordance with claim 1 wherein said clip members are wedge shaped and make wedged engagement with said aligned apertures. 
     
     
       4. Chain link fencing in accordance with claim 3 wherein at least one side of said clip members are provided with a plurality of teeth spaced therealong such that the teeth engage with the aperture in said channel. 
     
     
       5. Chain link fencing comprising: a plurality of elongate slats, with each of said slats having first and second elongate sides, and with each slat being of a size to lie in a diagonal valley of the chain link fencing;   an elongate, U-shaped channel formed integrally along a first side of each of said slats, said channel having first and second spaced apart sidewalls connected by a bottom wall so as to form an elongate open trough along the top side of said channel, with said first side of each slat being . .1.1.!. integrally attached to the first sidewall of said U-shaped channel such that when said slat is received in said valley, the open trough of said channel fits over a diagonal ridge of knuckles formed along the side of said valley by intertwined wires of the chain link fencing so that said channel covers said diagonal ridge of knuckles;   attachment means for securing said U-shaped channel to said diagonal ridge of knuckles that said channel covers, said attachment means comprising: spaced apart apertures in said sidewalls of said channel; and   spaced apart projections extending from the second side of each said slat, said projections being in alignment with said apertures. .,.!..Iadd.;.Iaddend.     wherein the projections of each slat extend through a respective aperture in a channel of a corresponding slat in an adjacent valley of the chain link fence such that the projections extend across the channel of the corresponding slat in the adjacent valley so as to close the channel in the corresponding slat and confine the portion of the wire within the closed channel of the corresponding slat in the adjacent valley.   
     
     
       6. Chain link fencing in accordance with claim 5 wherein a second elongate slat is integrally attached to and extends from the second sidewall of each channel such that the second slat will overlap with a corresponding slat in an adjacent valley of the chain link fencing. .Iadd.7. A plurality of integral plastic picket members sized and shaped to cover valleys and ridges of a chain link fence, each picket member comprising: (a) an elongate channel, the channel having plastic sidewalls and a plastic bottom wall extending between lower edges of the walls, an upper edge of each of the walls supplied with projections extending toward an opposite wall, the projections adapted to snap engage the knuckles of a chain link fence; and   (b) two parallel plastic slats sized to fit within the valleys of the chain link fence, each of the slats integral with the channel and extending outward from the upper edges of the sidewalls of the   
     
     
        channel..Iaddend..Iadd.8.  The members of claim 7, wherein the projections are continuous projecting lips..Iaddend..Iadd.9. The members of claim 7, wherein the projections slant toward the bottom wall to form barb-like engagement members..Iaddend..Iadd.10. The members of claim 9, wherein the barb-like engagement members of the projections are adapted to engage indentations on opposite sides of the knuckles of a chain-link fence..Iaddend..Iadd.11. The members of claim 7, wherein one of the slats is wider than the other..Iaddend..Iadd.12. The members of claim 7, wherein the picket member further comprises: (c) aligned apertures in the sidewalls adjacent an open end of the channel; and   (d) a clip extending through the aligned apertures and across the channel to confine the wire of a chain link fence between the channel bottom wall and the clip..Iaddend..Iadd.13. A plurality of picket members for converting a chain link fence to a privacy fence, each picket member comprising:   an extruded plastic picket member body, the member body adapted for attachment to a chain link fence to cover the valleys and ridges of the fence, the member body comprising: (a) two parallel elongate slats, a first of the slats wider than a second, both first and second slats sized to lie in valleys of a chain link fence;   (b) an elongate channel formed between the slats, the channel having first and second spaced-apart sidewalls with upper and lower ends, a bottom wall extending between the lower ends of the sidewalls, the elongate slats each integral with, and extending outward from, the upper ends of the sidewalls; and   (c) projections extending from the upper ends of each of the sidewalls toward an opposite sidewall the projections comprising barbs, the barbs adapted for snap engagement with indentations on opposite sides of the     
     
     
        knuckles of the ridges of a chain link fence..Iaddend..Iadd.14.  A picket member for converting an open mesh chain link fence to a privacy fence, the picket member comprising: an integral extruded plastic picket member body, the member body adapted for mounting on a chain link fence to cover the valleys and ridges of the fence, the member body comprising: (a) two parallel elongate plastic slats, each of the slats sized to lie in the valleys of the chain link fence; and   (b) an elongate U-shaped channel formed integrally between the slats, the channel having sidewalls, each wall having projections extending toward the opposite wall, the projections adapted for snap engagement with the knuckles of the ridges of a chain link fence..Iaddend.