WO2008030921A2 - Pieu, rail, et système de connecteur pour clôtures - Google Patents

Pieu, rail, et système de connecteur pour clôtures Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008030921A2
WO2008030921A2 PCT/US2007/077703 US2007077703W WO2008030921A2 WO 2008030921 A2 WO2008030921 A2 WO 2008030921A2 US 2007077703 W US2007077703 W US 2007077703W WO 2008030921 A2 WO2008030921 A2 WO 2008030921A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
post
connector
rail
ears
rails
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2007/077703
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English (en)
Other versions
WO2008030921A3 (fr
Inventor
Michael Dean Sullivan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of WO2008030921A2 publication Critical patent/WO2008030921A2/fr
Publication of WO2008030921A3 publication Critical patent/WO2008030921A3/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H17/00—Fencing, e.g. fences, enclosures, corrals
    • E04H17/14—Fences constructed of rigid elements, e.g. with additional wire fillings or with posts
    • E04H17/1413—Post-and-rail fences, e.g. without vertical cross-members
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H17/00—Fencing, e.g. fences, enclosures, corrals
    • E04H17/14—Fences constructed of rigid elements, e.g. with additional wire fillings or with posts
    • E04H17/1413—Post-and-rail fences, e.g. without vertical cross-members
    • E04H17/1447—Details of connections between rails and posts
    • E04H17/1452—Details of connections between rails and posts the ends of the rails are fixed on the lateral sides of the posts
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H17/00—Fencing, e.g. fences, enclosures, corrals
    • E04H17/14—Fences constructed of rigid elements, e.g. with additional wire fillings or with posts
    • E04H17/1413—Post-and-rail fences, e.g. without vertical cross-members
    • E04H17/1447—Details of connections between rails and posts
    • E04H17/1473—Details of connections between rails and posts using fixing devices encircling, partially or fully, the post
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T403/00—Joints and connections
    • Y10T403/71—Rod side to plate or side
    • Y10T403/7182—Yoke or ring-type connector
    • Y10T403/7188—Rod received in open channel

Definitions

  • This invention generally relates to fencing systems and, in particular, to a connector for use in a fencing system.
  • fences are used for a wide variety of reasons and in a multitude of environments.
  • One arena in which fences are frequently used is to create pens or corrals to keep animals within certain defined areas.
  • Pens or corrals are typically intended to keep predators out, protecting the animals that are being held within them. They also prevent the animals from wandering off, running away, or being stolen.
  • these things lead to monetary losses for the owner.
  • horses are usually worth thousands of dollars so that their loss can have a significant impact on the owner.
  • horses are large animals that could cause injury to themselves or others if they are set loose. For this reason, horse owners are particularly interested in using fences to create corrals.
  • fence construction can vary a great deal.
  • One of the most common forms of fence construction is a rail and post system.
  • the posts are usually cylindrical members that are inserted into the ground and the rails are frequently rectangular members that stretch between the posts, creating the obstructions necessary to keep the animals in their proper place.
  • connectors are used to attach the rails to the post so that the different components for the fence including the posts and rails can be easily transported to the site where the horse owner wishes to construct the corral. Obviously, it is very important for the horse owners to be able to select a connector that will provide both the functional and aesthetic characteristics that they need.
  • the corral owner wishes to create a paddock with a plurality of pens with a central hub.
  • This situation provides a challenge to the corral owner to construct because connectors do not properly accommodate the attachment of more than two rails at the same location on a post.
  • the owner may wish to create fences where the rails are not substantially parallel or perpendicular to each other.
  • Most connectors that are currently available are either in line connectors for the attachment of rails that will form a 180-degree angle or right angle connectors for the attachment of rails that will form a 90-degree angle.
  • a connector that allows for the attachment of rails that that can form angles within a continuous spectrum is desired.
  • a connector for constructing a fence having a post, rails with rail apertures, and bolts corresponding to nuts is provided.
  • the connector includes a body, an outwardly-extending first ear, and an outwardly-extending second ear.
  • the body terminates in opposing first and second ends and forms a passage therethrough.
  • the passage is configured to receive the post therein.
  • the outwardly-extending first ear is unitarily formed with the first end and includes a first inner aperture and a first outer aperture.
  • the first inner aperture is interposed between the body and the first outer aperture.
  • the outwardly-extending second ear is unitarily formed with the second end and spaced apart from the first ear.
  • the second ear includes a second inner aperture and a second outer aperture.
  • the first and second inner apertures and the first and second outer apertures generally aligned with each other, respectively.
  • the first and second outer apertures and one of the rail apertures receive one of the threaded bolts to support one of the rails and the first and second inner apertures receive another of the threaded bolts which, when rotated into one of the threaded nuts, draws the first and second ends toward each other, reduces a dimension of the passage, and clamps the body to the post.
  • a system for constructing a containment structure using a vertically oriented post includes first, second, and third connectors.
  • the first connector clamps the post and supports a first rail at a first height along the post.
  • the first rail extends away from the post in a first direction.
  • the second connector clamps the post, mates with the first connector, and supports a second rail at a second height along the post.
  • the second rail extends away from the post in a second direction.
  • the third connector clamps the post, mates with the second connector, and supports a third rail at the second height along the post.
  • the third rail extends away from the post in the first direction.
  • a method of constructing a fence using a fence post which defines a central axis extending vertically therethrough.
  • the method includes the step of clamping a first body of a first connector onto the fence post such that first ears extend generally horizontally away from the fence post and are offset on opposing sides of the central axis.
  • the method also includes the step of clamping a second body of a second connector onto the fence post such that second ears extend generally horizontally away from the fence post and are offset on opposing sides of the central axis.
  • the second body mates with the first body such that the first ears and the second ears are approximately equally vertically disposed along the fence post.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a fence system using the post, rails, end connector, and two-way variable angle connector in accordance with the teachings of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the fence system of FIG. 1 showing a junction using two rails and two-way variable angle connectors with a single post;
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the fence system of FIG. 1 showing a junction involving an end connector, rail, and post;
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded assembly view of the junction of FIG. 3 showing how the end connector, rail, and end cap are assembled;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fence system showing several junctions that use two outside three-way variable connectors and one middle three-way variable angle connector to attach three rails to the same location on a single post;
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the top junction of FIG. 5 using three- way variable angle connectors to attach three rails to the same location on a single post;
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fence system showing four junctions that use two outside four-way variable connectors and two inside four-way variable connectors to attach four rails to the same location on a single post;
  • FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the top junction of FIG. 7 using four- way variable angle connectors to attach four rails to the same location on a single post;
  • FIG. 9 is front plan view of an end connector in its folded and flat state
  • FIG. 10 is a front plan view of the outside three-way variable angle connector in its folded and flat state and of the middle three-way variable angle connector in its folded state;
  • FIG. 11 is a front plan view of the two-way variable angle connector in its folded and flat state
  • FIG. 12 is a front plan view of the outside four- way variable angle connector in its folded and flat state and the inside four-way variable angle connector in its folded and flat state;
  • FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the fence system of FIG. 1 that is seamlessly integrated with a structure.
  • FIG. 1-4 there is shown a rail 20, post 22, and connector system for a fence that satisfies the aforementioned needs. It includes a plurality of tubular steel posts 22 that are first inserted into the ground using well-known means. Once in place, end caps 24 made of cast aluminum are placed on top of the exposed ends to keep items from falling within the space found within the posts 22 and to prevent any injury to a person who might fall on top of the post 22.
  • end connector 26 for attaching a rail 20 to a post 22 at the end of the fence.
  • the construction of the two-way variable angle connectors 28 allows a user to align two rails 20 so that they are at the same height while also allowing the freedom to adjust the angle formed by the intersection of the two rails 20 in a continuous fashion.
  • wood rails 20 are also provided.
  • the connectors allow a fence to be created in any number of rail configurations and fence shapes.
  • the posts 22, end caps 24, and connectors 26, 28 can be powder metal coated with a color to match the color of the wood rails 20. This allows a user to create a fence that has a consistent aesthetic motif.
  • the end connector 26, best seen in Figures 3, 4 and 11, comprises a c-clamp portion 30 that is capable of encircling more than 180 degrees of the circumference of the post 22 so that a sufficient clamping force can be produced to hold the end connector 26, and any rail 20 that is attached thereto, stationary with respect to the post 22.
  • the c-clamp portion 30 terminates on both sides into two ears 32 that have three holes 34 each that are in alignment. Thus, the ears 32 are mirror images of each other.
  • the c-clamp portion 30 is slid over the post 22 such that it is free to ride up and down the post 22 but is otherwise secured around the post 22. Then the rail 20 is placed between the two ears 32 such that its holes 38 are aligned with the two of the holes 34 of each ear 32 that are furthest away from the c-clamp portion 30 and that run in a direction that is parallel to the post 22. Afterwards, two galvanized carriage bolts 36 are placed through the holes 38 of the rail 20 and those holes 34 of the end connector 26 that align with the holes 38 of the rail 20.
  • the last step involves making sure that the carriage bolts 36 are fastened to the end connector 26 and rails 20 via two nuts 40 that are rotated onto the exposed ends of the carriage bolts 36 after the bolts 36 have passed through the end connector 26 and rail 20. At this point, a secure attachment has been made between the end connector 26 and the rail 20 but the rail 20 and end connector 26 are still free to ride up and down the post 22.
  • an end cap 24 is placed over the end of the post 22 once all the desired rails 20 have been attached to the post 22. At this point, all the components of the fence have the same color, even the heads of the carriage bolt 36 are powder coated to match in color with the rest of the fence.
  • a two-way variable angle connector 28 includes a c-clamp portion 42 whose height is roughly half of that of the rail 20 to which it is to be attached and that is capable of encircling more than 180 degrees of the circumference of the post 22.
  • the c-clamp portion 42 terminates on both sides in a pair of ears 44 that are L-shaped members having a first portion 46 that extends a predetermined distance away from the c-clamp portion 42 and a second portion 48 that extends away from the first portion 42.
  • the length of the extension of the second portion 48 is such that the overall height of the ear 44 is substantially equal to the height of the rail 20 to which the two-way variable angle connector 28 is to be attached.
  • Each ear 44 also has three holes 50 that are in alignment with the holes 50 of the other ear.
  • the ears 44 of the two-way variable angle connector 28 are mirror images of each other.
  • Two of these holes 50 are used to attach the two-way variable angle connector 28 to a rail 20 using bolts 36 and nuts 40 in the same fashion as previously discussed for the end connector 26 after the connector 28 has been slid over the top of the post 22. Then the third nut 40 and bolt 36 combination are used with the last set of holes 50 to fix the position of the connector 28 and rail 20 vertically with respect to the post 22 as discussed previously for the end connector 26.
  • the width of the second portion 48 of the L-shaped ears 44 is less than the length of the first portion 46 so that a gap is created between the second portion 48 of the ears 44 and the post 22 so that the c-clamp portion 42 of another two-way variable angle connector 28 can be placed therein with the second portion 48 of the L-shaped ears 44 of the second connector 28 extending in a direction that is opposite of that of the second portion 48 of the L-shaped ear 44 of the first connector 28.
  • the user then attaches another rail 20 to the second connector 28. Now the user moves the second connector 28 until it contacts the first connector 28 and rotates the second rail 20 and connector 28 until the desired angle is formed between the first rail 20 and the second rail 20.
  • this provides a joint that allows two rails 20 to be at the same height, to be attached to the same post 22, and to form virtually any angle necessary between the first and second rails 20.
  • a method for joining three rails 20 to the same post 22 at the same vertical position is provided by using two outside three-way variable angle connectors 52 and a middle three-way variable angle connector 54.
  • the construction of the outside three-way variable angle connector 52 is essentially the same as that of the two-way variable angle connector 28, having ears 53 with holes 55, except the height of the c-clamp portion 56 of the outside three-way variable angle connector 52 is approximately a third of the height of the rails 20 that it will be connected to instead of being half of the height.
  • the middle connector 54 we see that the middle connector 54 has c-clamp portion 58 that is centered with respect to its ears 60.
  • the ears 60 also have holes 62 for attaching the middle connector 54 to a rail 20 and for clamping the middle connector 54 to a post 22.
  • these connectors 52, 54 are configured such that there is clearance between their ears 53, 60 and the post 22 so that the c-clamp portions of other connectors can fit therebetween, allowing a middle connector 54 to sit on top of a outside connector 52 and another outside connector 52 to sit on top of the middle connector 54.
  • the second outside connector 52 is slid over the post 22 with its c-clamp portion 56 positioned to be near the top of the rail 20 until it rests on top of the middle connector 54.
  • the second outside connector 52 and third rail 20 are then secured once the desired angle with respect to the other rails 20 has been achieved.
  • An end cap 24 is placed over the end of the post 22 once all the desired rails 20 have been attached to the post 22.
  • Figures 7, 8 and 12 show how four rails 20 can be attached to the same post 22 and also be at the same height. This is accomplished by using two outside four- way variable angle connectors 64 and two inside four- way variable angle connectors 66.
  • the construction of the outside four- way connector 64 is virtually identical to that of the outside three-way connector 52 in that it has L-shaped ears 68 with holes 70 as well as a c-clamp portion 72.
  • the height of the c-clamp portion 72 is only a quarter of the height of the rail 20 to which it is to be attached.
  • the inside four- way connector 66 has ears 74 with holes 76 and a c-clamp portion 73 whose height is also a quarter of the height of the rail 20 to which it is to be attached.
  • the c-clamp portion 72 begins at a distance from the beginning of its ears 74 that is one fourth of the height of the ear 74.
  • the height of ear 74 is equal to the height of the rails.
  • the four- way junction can be created in the following way. First, the user slides the first outside four- way connector 64 over a post 22 and attaches it to a rail 20 with its c- clamp portion 72 facing down as previously described for the outside three-way connector 52. Once the desired orientation and position has been achieved, the user fixes the rail's 20 position as mentioned earlier. Then, the user slides the first inside four-way connector 66 over the post 22 with its c-clamp portion 73 oriented so that it will be next to the lower half of the rail 20 until it bottoms out on the first outside four- way connector 64. The user then attaches a rail 20 and fixes its position as previously described.
  • a second inside four- way connector 66 is slid over the post 22 with its c-clamp portion 73 oriented so that it will be next to the upper half of the rail 20 to which it will be attached until it bottoms out on the first inside four- way connector 66.
  • the third rail 20 is then attached to the connector 66 and its position is fixed in the same way as the previous two rails 20.
  • the second outside four- way connector 64 is slid over the post 22 with its c-clamp portion 72 facing up until it bottoms out on the second inside four- way connector 66.
  • the last rail 20 is then attached to the connector 64 and its orientation is fixed as desired by the user.
  • Figure 13 shows that the variable angle connectors 28 allow the user to create a fence to structure transition where the rails 20 of the fence have gaps between them while the rails 20 of the structure have rails that are directly on top of each other. This also allows a user to retrofit this system to existing structures or to create new ones easily. So the user can use as many or as few rails 20 as needed, reducing cost. Those rails 20 of a structure that do not transition to the rails 20 of the fence can be attached to a post 22 using an end connector 26. As can be seen by the structure itself, the top portion can be created by using vertical rails 20 instead of horizontal rails 20.
  • this fence system provides for connectors having ears that all have the same height and that are configured to connect to a single style of rail that has a consistent hole pattern and outside dimensions.
  • all the variable angle junctions utilize at least two of the same connector to make assembly as simple as possible while also reducing the cost of manufacturing.
  • All of the connectors can be stamped and folded using a progressive die operation, which is the most economic way to make the connectors.
  • paddocks can be created with a central hub that has pens that are of different sizes because rails that form them can make different angles with each other.
  • the connectors, end cap, and carriage bolts can be colored the same to provide a consistent aesthetic motif.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Fencing (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un connecteur pour construire une clôture qui comprend un corps et des oreilles. Le corps se termine dans des extrémités et forme un passage qui peut recevoir un pieu. Chaque oreille est formée avec une des extrémités et comprend des ouvertures intérieures et extérieures. Les ouvertures intérieures sont interposées entre le corps et les ouvertures extérieures. Les oreilles sont espacées les unes des autres. Les ouvertures intérieures et les ouvertures extérieures sont généralement alignées les unes avec les autres, respectivement. Les ouvertures extérieures et une ouverture de rail reçoivent un boulon fileté pour supporter un rail et les ouvertures intérieures reçoivent un autre boulon qui, lorsqu'il est tourné dans un écrou, rapproche les première et seconde extrémités, réduit une dimension du passage, et serre le corps sur le pieu.
PCT/US2007/077703 2006-09-08 2007-09-06 Pieu, rail, et système de connecteur pour clôtures Ceased WO2008030921A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US84305006P 2006-09-08 2006-09-08
US60/843,050 2006-09-08
US11/850,239 2007-09-05
US11/850,239 US20080061279A1 (en) 2006-09-08 2007-09-05 Post, Rail, and Connector System For Fences

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008030921A2 true WO2008030921A2 (fr) 2008-03-13
WO2008030921A3 WO2008030921A3 (fr) 2008-05-29

Family

ID=39158027

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2007/077703 Ceased WO2008030921A2 (fr) 2006-09-08 2007-09-06 Pieu, rail, et système de connecteur pour clôtures

Country Status (2)

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US (1) US20080061279A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2008030921A2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN114833634A (zh) * 2022-04-19 2022-08-02 南京航空航天大学 一种换刀结构及测定并保持五轴增减材加工设备转台中心的方法

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITMI20060571A1 (it) * 2006-03-27 2007-09-28 G S R L Dispositivo a montaggio rapido per il contenimento del terreno
US8167274B2 (en) * 2008-04-11 2012-05-01 C. R. Laurence Company, Inc. Corner assembly
US20140061561A1 (en) * 2012-08-30 2014-03-06 Goldstein Brit Fence post cap for entertaining
US20140131647A1 (en) * 2012-11-15 2014-05-15 Dillon Fencing & Contracting, Llc Method and apparatus for providing braced sections of a fence
US9909271B2 (en) * 2015-11-12 2018-03-06 Rite-Hite Holding Corporation Shock absorbing retractable bollard systems
US10422155B2 (en) 2015-12-07 2019-09-24 Bullet Fence Systems, LLC Fence and fence connection apparatus and method
US11174656B1 (en) 2019-03-11 2021-11-16 Bullet Fence Systems, LLC Fence clip apparatus and method
WO2022232835A2 (fr) 2021-04-30 2022-11-03 Nez Khan, L.L.C. Renfort de clôture adaptable

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US4113681A (en) * 1977-05-10 1978-09-12 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Thermoplastic polyvinyl chloride-acrylic powder coating composition
US5961242A (en) * 1997-11-28 1999-10-05 Iron Eagle Industries Inc. Bracket for a fencing system

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN114833634A (zh) * 2022-04-19 2022-08-02 南京航空航天大学 一种换刀结构及测定并保持五轴增减材加工设备转台中心的方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20080061279A1 (en) 2008-03-13
WO2008030921A3 (fr) 2008-05-29

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