PLASTIC FENCE

• US 20090230371A1
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The AMES Companies Incorporated (Griffon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ames True Temper Incorporated
• Inventors: Hatcher, Stephen D., Cook, John H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,726,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 256/19
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 17/1439 with separate pickets going through the horizontal members

Abstract

A molded plastic fence having a unitary front fence section and a unitary rear fence section is provided. The unitary front fence section and the unitary rear fence section are coupled together to form a fence without visible molding artifacts. To emulate a traditional wooden fence, the fence sections preferably include various fence elements such as posts, slats and rails. The fence elements on each fence section typically have a planar member with an inner side and a raised edge extending from the inner side. The molding artifacts are disposed on the inner sides of the fence elements. The unitary front fence section and a unitary rear fence section are coupled with the raised edges engaging each other. In this configuration the molding artifacts are hidden from view and the fence elements appear as solid.

Claims

1. A molded plastic fence assembly comprising:

a unitary front fence section having a forward side, an inner side, and a plurality of partial fence elements, said partial fence elements each having lateral sides, said inner side having one or more interior molding artifacts, said forward side and said lateral sides being generally free from molding artifacts;

a unitary rear fence section having a back side, an inner side, and a plurality of partial fence elements, said partial fence elements each having lateral sides, said inner side having one or more interior molding artifacts, said back side and said lateral sides being generally free from molding artifacts; and

said unitary front fence section and said unitary rear fence section structured to engage each other with said unitary front fence section inner side and said unitary rear fence section inner side engaging each other whereby said fence is created and whereby no said interior molding artifacts are visible.

2. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 1 wherein:

each said element in said unitary front fence section plurality of partial fence elements includes a substantially contiguous perimeter;

each said element in said unitary rear fence section plurality of partial fence elements includes a substantially contiguous perimeter; and

the substantially contiguous perimeter of each said element in said unitary front fence section plurality of partial fence elements being structured to engage the substantially contiguous perimeter of each said element in said unitary rear fence section plurality of partial fence elements.

3. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 2 wherein:

each said element in said unitary front fence section plurality of partial fence elements includes a generally planar member having a raised edge, said raised edge extending along the substantially contiguous perimeter of each said element in said unitary front fence section plurality of partial fence elements, said edge extending from said inner side; and

each said element in said unitary rear fence section plurality of partial fence elements includes a generally planar member having a raised edge, said raised edge extending along the substantially contiguous perimeter of each said element in said unitary rear fence section plurality of partial fence elements, said edge extending from said inner side.

4. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 3 wherein:

each said raised edge in said unitary front fence section plurality of partial fence elements has a width and a face and includes an extended rib, said rib having a width that is less than the width of said associated edge, said rib extending from said edge face;

each said raised edge in said unitary rear fence section plurality of partial fence elements has a width and a face and includes an extended rib, said rib having a width that is less than the width of said associated edge, said rib extending from said edge face; and

wherein each said rib on said unitary front fence section plurality of partial fence elements does not align with a said rib on said unitary rear fence section plurality of partial fence elements.

5. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 4 wherein:

wherein each said rib on said unitary front fence section plurality of partial fence elements has a width that is about half the width of the edge face from which each said rib extends; and

wherein each said rib on said unitary rear fence section plurality of partial fence elements has a width that is about half the width of the edge face from which each said rib extends.

6. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 5 wherein:

wherein each said raised edge face in said unitary front fence section plurality of partial fence elements has an inner portion and an outer portion;

wherein each said rib on said unitary front fence section plurality of partial fence elements extends from the outer portion of the associated edge face;

wherein each said raised edge face in said unitary rear fence section plurality of partial fence elements has an inner portion and an outer portion; and

wherein each said rib on said unitary rear fence section plurality of partial fence elements extends from the inner portion of the associated edge face.

7. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 6 further comprising a coupling device structured to couple said unitary front fence section and said unitary rear fence section.

8. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 7 wherein:

said coupling device includes a coupling device first component and a coupling device second component;

said coupling device first component extending from at least one of said unitary front fence section plurality of partial fence elements planar member inner side; and

said coupling device second component extending from at least one of said unitary rear fence section plurality of partial fence elements planar member inner side.

9. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 8 wherein:

said coupling device first component is a generally circular peg;

said coupling device second component is a generally circular collar; and

wherein said peg fits snugly within said collar.

10. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 9 wherein:

said collar includes a generally circular inner surface; and

said collar inner surface including at least one flat portion, said flat portion structured to act as a wedge.

11. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 10 wherein said at least one flat portion includes three flat portions, the center of said flat portions being disposed about 120 degrees apart about said collar inner surface.

12. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 9 wherein said coupling device includes an adhesive, said adhesive disposed in said collar prior to the insertion of said peg, whereby said peg is bonded to said collar.

13. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 7 wherein said coupling device includes an adhesive, said adhesive disposed between said unitary front fence section and said unitary rear fence section whereby said unitary front fence section and said unitary rear fence section are bonded together.

14. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 1 wherein said unitary front fence section further includes a coupling device structured to couple said unitary front fence section and said unitary rear fence section.

15. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 14 wherein:

each said planar member in said unitary front fence section plurality of partial fence elements has a forward side and inner side;

each said planar member in said unitary rear fence section plurality of partial fence elements has a back side and inner side;

said coupling device includes a coupling device first component and a coupling device second component;

said coupling device first component extending from at least one of said unitary front fence section plurality of partial fence elements planar member inner side; and

said coupling device second component extending from at least one of said unitary rear fence section plurality of partial fence elements planar member inner side.

16. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 15 wherein:

said coupling device first component is a generally circular peg;

said coupling device second component is a generally circular collar; and

wherein said peg fits snugly within said collar.

17. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 16 wherein:

said collar includes a generally circular inner surface; and

said collar inner surface including at least one flat portion, said flat portion structured to act as a wedge.

18. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 17 wherein said at least one flat portion includes three flat portions, the center of said flat portions being disposed about 120 degrees apart about said collar inner surface.

19. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 16 wherein said coupling device includes an adhesive, said adhesive disposed in said collar prior to the insertion of said peg, whereby said peg is bonded to said collar.

20. The molded plastic fence assembly of claim 14 wherein said coupling device includes an adhesive, said adhesive disposed between said unitary front fence section and said unitary rear fence section whereby said unitary front fence section and said unitary rear fence section are bonded together.