RAIL INSERT

• US 20170350157A1
• Filed: 06/03/2016
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knudsen N. Eric
• Original Assignee: Knudsen N. Eric
• Inventors: Knudsen, N. Eric
• Granted Patent: US 10,501,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 17/1417 with vertical cross-members
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 17/1448 Adjustable, angled or hinged connections
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 17/1473 using fixing devices encircling, partially or fully, the post
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 17/1488 Brackets for connections between rails and posts E04H17/1448- E04H17/1486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 17/20 Posts therefor

Abstract

A system of fence components includes fence posts, fence rails having cavities formed in their ends, and fence rail inserts sized to be positioned within the fence rail cavities. The fence rail inserts and the fence rail cavities include corresponding mating features to allow the fence rail inserts to be positioned and locked within the fence rail cavities. The fence rail inserts also include fastener guides that allow a fastener to pass through to couple the fence rail inserts to the fence posts.

Claims

1. A structure, comprising:

a vertical fence member having a side surface;

a rail extending outwardly from the side surface of the vertical fence member, the rail including an insert cavity at an end of the rail adjacent to the vertical fence member;

a rail insert positioned within the insert cavity, the rail insert including a fastener guide; and

a fastener extending through the fastener guide of the rail insert and into the side surface of the vertical fence member.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the rail includes an end face that is flush with the side surface of the vertical fence member.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the rail extends outwardly from the side surface of the vertical fence member at an oblique angle.

4. The structure of claim 2 wherein the rail extends outwardly from the side surface of the vertical fence member at an oblique angle relative to a vertical reference plane perpendicular to the side surface of the vertical fence member.

5. The structure of claim 2 wherein the rail extends outwardly from the side surface of the vertical fence member at an oblique angle relative to a horizontal reference plane.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein the cavity includes a blind hole formed in a first major side surface of the rail and a groove formed around a periphery of a bottom end of the blind hole, and the rail insert includes a ridge engaged with the groove to prevent movement of the rail insert toward the first major side surface of the rail.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein the insert cavity is formed in the end of the rail such that the rail insert is slidably engageable with the rail in a direction aligned with a longitudinal length of the rail.

8. A rail assembly, comprising:

an elongated rail having a respective insert cavity formed in each of opposing ends thereof; and

a respective rail insert insertably received in each insert cavity, each rail insert comprising a fastener guide to receive a fastener through the rail insert to secure the respective end of the rail to a vertical fence member.

9. The rail assembly of claim 8 wherein each of the insert cavities includes a peripheral groove and each respective rail insert includes a peripheral ridge engaged with the peripheral groove.

10. The rail assembly of claim 8 wherein each rail insert is accommodated within the confines of an outer profile of the elongated rail.

11. A method, comprising:

positioning an end of a rail adjacent to a side of a vertical fence member, the end of the rail having a rail insert accommodated in an insert cavity thereof, and the rail insert having a fastener guide; and

extending a fastener through the fastener guide of the rail insert into the side of the vertical fence member to secure the end of the rail to the vertical fence member.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the rail is a component of a pre-manufactured fence panel.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the rail is a component of a fence panel that is assembled on-site.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

forming the insert cavity in the end of the rail based at least in part on information pertaining to an installation site.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

inserting the rail insert into the insert cavity of the rail wherein inserting includes at least one of press-fitting and loosely fitting the rail insert within the insert cavity of the rail.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein positioning the end of the rail adjacent to the side of the vertical fence member comprises abutting an end face of the rail flush against the side of the vertical fence member.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a desired orientation of an end face of the rail based on information pertaining to an installation site; and

cutting the rail such that the end face has the desired orientation.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

positioning an end of a second rail adjacent to the side of the vertical fence member, the end of the second rail having a rail insert accommodated in an insert cavity thereof, and the rail insert having a fastener guide; and

extending a fastener through the fastener guide of the rail insert accommodated in the insert cavity of the second rail into the side of the vertical fence member to secure the end of the second rail to the vertical fence member.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the rail includes another insert cavity at an opposing end of the rail in which a second rail insert is accommodated, and further comprising:

supporting the opposing end of the rail adjacent another vertical fence member, and

extending a fastener through a fastener guide in the second rail insert into the side of the other vertical fence member to secure the opposing end of the rail to the other vertical fence member.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

removing material from the rail to form the insert cavity at the end of the rail; and

inserting the rail insert into the insert cavity.

21. A rail fastening system, comprising:

a plurality of rail inserts, each rail insert including a bottom end having a peripheral ridge, a top end opposite the bottom end, a front end extending between the bottom end and the top end, and at least one fastener guide extending from the front end to the top end at an oblique angle to the top end,

wherein the front end extends at a different angle relative to the top end for each of at least some of the rail inserts.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the front end of at least one of the rail inserts is perpendicular to the top end thereof.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the front end of at least one of the rail inserts is oblique to the top end thereof.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein a first fastener guide of a first one of the rail inserts extends at a first oblique angle with respect to the top end of the first one of the rail inserts, a second fastener guide of a second one of the rail inserts extends at a second oblique angle with respect to a top end of the second one of the rail inserts, and the first oblique angle is not the same as the second oblique angle.

25. A rail fastening system, comprising:

a rail insert including a bottom end having a peripheral ridge, a top end opposite the bottom end, a front end extending between the bottom end and the top end, and at least one fastener guide extending from the front end to the top end at an oblique angle to the top end.

26. A rail fastening system, comprising:

a plurality of rail inserts, each rail insert including a bottom end having a peripheral ridge, a top end opposite the bottom end, a front end extending between the bottom end and the top end, and at least one fastener guide extending from the front end to the top end at an oblique angle to the top end, the plurality of rail inserts including;

a first rail insert wherein the front end of the first rail insert is perpendicular to the top end of the first rail insert;

a second rail insert wherein the front end of the second rail insert is oblique to the top end of the second rail insert;

a third rail insert wherein the at least one fastener guide of the third rail insert extends at a first oblique angle with respect to the top end of the third rail insert; and

a fourth rail insert wherein the at least one fastener guide of the fourth rail insert extends at a second oblique angle with respect to the top end of the fourth rail insert, wherein the first oblique angle is not the same as the second oblique angle.