US3921960A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tubular rail and post fencing
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-05-21
•
Granted: 1975-11-25
•
Expires: 1993-05-21
Abstract
Abstract Fencing of simplified construction is made up of a number of pre-formed fencing sections that are positioned in end-to-end relation and secured to each other. Each fence section includes a number of intermediate posts, a pair of end posts and a number of fence rails, all tubular. Each intermediate post is provided with a number of transverse apertures into which the rails are inserted to extend well beyond the intermediate posts. Each end post has a blind aperture that receives a corresponding end of a respective one of the rails. The rail ends are locked to and within the end posts, but the rails are snugly and slidably received in the intermediate post apertures to provide flexibility of the fence sections. One of the fence sections has one of its end posts formed as a gateway to provide a pair of mutually spaced gate posts, both of which are fixed to at least one of the rails.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph W Bright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:54
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H17/00; E04H17/14; E04H17/1413; E04H17/1447; E04H17/1465; F; F16; F16B; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
328 words
A fence section comprising: a plurality of mutually spaced intermediate tubular posts, each said post having a number of mutually spaced transverse apertures extending completely therethrough, a plurality of continuous tubular rails, each rail extending freely through corresponding apertures in all of said intermediate posts, and each said rail extending substantially beyond both sides of said intermediate posts for connection to an end post, first and section tubular end posts respectively positioned at opposite sides of said fence section, each said end post having an aperture therein corresponding to a like aperture in an adjacent one of said intermediate posts, said apertures in said end posts receiving portions of respective ones of said rails that extend beyond an intermediate post, each said rail being a close but sliding fit within its corresponding apertures in each of said intermediate and end posts, whereby said fence section, at least in and about the intermediate posts, is relatively flexible and will readily deform to accomodate uneven ground contour by experiencing limited motion between said intermediate posts and the rails that are supported thereby and moveably extend therethrough, means for securing at least some of said rails to said end posts, at least one of said end posts comprising first and second fixedly interconnected gate posts mutually spaced from each other along the extent of said fence section, said first gate post having said end post apertures therein for receiving said rails, one of the apertures oF said first gate post that is positioned near one end thereof, being formed completely through said first gate post and having one of said rails extending entirely therethrough towards said second gate post, said second gate post having an aperture in one side thereof receiving said one rail, said means for securing said rails to said end posts comprising means for locking at least some of said rails to said first gate post, and means for locking said one rail to said second gate post.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
328 words
A fence section comprising: a plurality of mutually spaced intermediate tubular posts, each said post having a number of mutually spaced transverse apertures extending completely therethrough, a plurality of continuous tubular rails, each rail extending freely through corresponding apertures in all of said intermediate posts, and each said rail extending substantially beyond both sides of said intermediate posts for connection to an end post, first and section tubular end posts respectively positioned at opposite sides of said fence section, each said end post having an aperture therein corresponding to a like aperture in an adjacent one of said intermediate posts, said apertures in said end posts receiving portions of respective ones of said rails that extend beyond an intermediate post, each said rail being a close but sliding fit within its corresponding apertures in each of said intermediate and end posts, whereby said fence section, at least in and about the intermediate posts, is relatively flexible and will readily deform to accomodate uneven ground contour by experiencing limited motion between said intermediate posts and the rails that are supported thereby and moveably extend therethrough, means for securing at least some of said rails to said end posts, at least one of said end posts comprising first and second fixedly interconnected gate posts mutually spaced from each other along the extent of said fence section, said first gate post having said end post apertures therein for receiving said rails, one of the apertures oF said first gate post that is positioned near one end thereof, being formed completely through said first gate post and having one of said rails extending entirely therethrough towards said second gate post, said second gate post having an aperture in one side thereof receiving said one rail, said means for securing said rails to said end posts comprising means for locking at least some of said rails to said first gate post, and means for locking said one rail to said second gate post.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fence section of claim 1 including closure means moveably mounted to one of said first and second fixedly interconnected gate posts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A corral comprising: a plurality of portable fence sections and at least one fence section of the type set forth in claim 1, all of said fence sections being arranged in end to end relation to form a continuous enclosure, and means for securing each end post of one section to an adjacent end post of another section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The corral of claim 3 wherein said means for securing end posts of one section to end posts of another section comprises first and second U-shaped strap members disposed on respectively opposite sides of adjoining end posts of adjacent fence sections, and fastening means for securing said first and second strap members to each other to tightly clamp adjacent posts therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
Fencing comprising a plurality of portable fence sections and at least one portable fence section of the type set forth in claim 1, all of said fence sections being arranged to form a continuous enclosure, and each of the end posts of all of said sections being fixed to an adjoining end post of an adjacent section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
282 words
A fence section comprising: a plurality of mutually spaced intermediate tubular posts, each said post having a number of mutually spaced transverse apertures extending completely therethrough, a plurality of continuous tubular rails, each rail extending freely through corresponding apertures in all of said intermediate posts, and each said rail extending substantially beyond both sides of said intermediate posts for connection to an end post, first and second tubular end posts respectively positioned at opposite sides of said fence section, each said end post having an aperture therein corresponding to a like aperture in an adjacent one of said intermediate posts, said apertures in said end posts receiving portions of respective ones of said rails that extend beyond an intermediate post, each said rail being a close but sliding fit within its corresponding apertures in each of said intermediate and end posts, whereby said fence section, at least in and about the intermediate posts, is relatively flexible and will readily deform to accommodate uneven ground contour by experiencing limited motion between said intermediate posts and the rails that are supported thereby and movably extend therethrough, and means for securing said rails to one of said end posts, said means for securing said rails to said one end post comprising an aperture in each of said rails, said apertures being mutually aligned with each other and with the axis of said one end post, a locking rod within said one end post and extending through the apertures of at least a pair of said rails, and at least one rail spacer wedged to and within said one end post between the rails of said pair, said spacer having an aperture receiving said locking rod.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
282 words
A fence section comprising: a plurality of mutually spaced intermediate tubular posts, each said post having a number of mutually spaced transverse apertures extending completely therethrough, a plurality of continuous tubular rails, each rail extending freely through corresponding apertures in all of said intermediate posts, and each said rail extending substantially beyond both sides of said intermediate posts for connection to an end post, first and second tubular end posts respectively positioned at opposite sides of said fence section, each said end post having an aperture therein corresponding to a like aperture in an adjacent one of said intermediate posts, said apertures in said end posts receiving portions of respective ones of said rails that extend beyond an intermediate post, each said rail being a close but sliding fit within its corresponding apertures in each of said intermediate and end posts, whereby said fence section, at least in and about the intermediate posts, is relatively flexible and will readily deform to accommodate uneven ground contour by experiencing limited motion between said intermediate posts and the rails that are supported thereby and movably extend therethrough, and means for securing said rails to one of said end posts, said means for securing said rails to said one end post comprising an aperture in each of said rails, said apertures being mutually aligned with each other and with the axis of said one end post, a locking rod within said one end post and extending through the apertures of at least a pair of said rails, and at least one rail spacer wedged to and within said one end post between the rails of said pair, said spacer having an aperture receiving said locking rod.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The fence section of claim 6 including a second spacer wedged to and within said end post at a position axially spaced from said first-mentioned spacer, said second spacer having an aperture extending therethrough in alignment with the aperture in said first-mentioned spacer, said locking rod extending through the aperture of said second spacer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The fence section of claim 6 wherein said spacer comprises an apertured body and gripping means extending outwardly therefrom in gripping engagement with the inner surface of said eNd post.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
278 words
A fence section comprising: a plurality of mutually spaced intermediate tubular posts, each said post having a number of mutually spaced transverse apertures extending completely therethrough, a plurality of continuous tubular rails, each rail extending freely through corresponding apertures in all of said intermediate posts, and each said rail extending substantially beyond both sides of said intermediate posts for connection to an end post, first and second tubular end posts respectively positioned at opposite sides of said fence section, each said end post having an aperture therein corresponding to a like aperture in an adjacent one of said intermediate posts, said apertures in said end posts receiving portions of respective ones of said rails that extend beyond an intermediate post, each said rail being a close but sliding fit within its corresponding apertures in each of said intermediate and end posts, whereby said fence section, at least in and about the intermediate posts, is relatively flexible and will readily deform to accommodate uneven ground contour by experiencing limited motion between said intermediate posts and the rails that are supported thereby and movably extend therethrough, and means for securing said rails to one of said end posts, said means for securing said rails to said one end post comprising a plurality of spacers driven into said one end post between at least some of said rails, said spacers having apertures mutually aligned with each other and with the axis of said one end post and each having outwardly extending holding means in gripping engagement with the inner surface of said one end post, and a locking rod extending through each rail and through each aperture in said spacer member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
278 words
A fence section comprising: a plurality of mutually spaced intermediate tubular posts, each said post having a number of mutually spaced transverse apertures extending completely therethrough, a plurality of continuous tubular rails, each rail extending freely through corresponding apertures in all of said intermediate posts, and each said rail extending substantially beyond both sides of said intermediate posts for connection to an end post, first and second tubular end posts respectively positioned at opposite sides of said fence section, each said end post having an aperture therein corresponding to a like aperture in an adjacent one of said intermediate posts, said apertures in said end posts receiving portions of respective ones of said rails that extend beyond an intermediate post, each said rail being a close but sliding fit within its corresponding apertures in each of said intermediate and end posts, whereby said fence section, at least in and about the intermediate posts, is relatively flexible and will readily deform to accommodate uneven ground contour by experiencing limited motion between said intermediate posts and the rails that are supported thereby and movably extend therethrough, and means for securing said rails to one of said end posts, said means for securing said rails to said one end post comprising a plurality of spacers driven into said one end post between at least some of said rails, said spacers having apertures mutually aligned with each other and with the axis of said one end post and each having outwardly extending holding means in gripping engagement with the inner surface of said one end post, and a locking rod extending through each rail and through each aperture in said spacer member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
137 words
A portable fence section comprising: a plurality of tubular rails, a plurality of tubular intermediate posts, each having a plurality of transverse apertures extending completely therethrough, and each receiving snugly, but slidably, respective ones of said rails without any further interconnection between rails and posts, a pair of end posts each having a plurality of apertures snugly receiving a corresponding end portion of respective rails, and means for fixing said rails to both of said end posts, said means for fixing said rails to both of said end posts comprising apertures formed in ends of respective rails, a plurality of spacers driven into respective end posts and frictionally retained therein between at least some of said rails, and a locking rod extending within each end post through apertures of said rails and through apertures of said spacers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
137 words
A portable fence section comprising: a plurality of tubular rails, a plurality of tubular intermediate posts, each having a plurality of transverse apertures extending completely therethrough, and each receiving snugly, but slidably, respective ones of said rails without any further interconnection between rails and posts, a pair of end posts each having a plurality of apertures snugly receiving a corresponding end portion of respective rails, and means for fixing said rails to both of said end posts, said means for fixing said rails to both of said end posts comprising apertures formed in ends of respective rails, a plurality of spacers driven into respective end posts and frictionally retained therein between at least some of said rails, and a locking rod extending within each end post through apertures of said rails and through apertures of said spacers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The fence section of claim 10 wherein at least some of said spacers comprise an apertured dished disc wedged to and within one of said end posts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
Fencing comprising: a plurality of mutually spaced apertured posts, a plurality of mutually spaced rails each extending through corresponding apertures in a plurality of said posts, and means for locking at least some of said rails in at least one of said posts, said means for locking comprising an aperture formed in and extending through portions of said rails within said one post, at least one spacer wedged to and within said one post between at least some of said rails, said spacer having an aperture extending therethrough in alignment with the apertures of said rails, and a locking rod extending through said one post through the apertures of said rails, and through the aperture of said spacer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
Fencing comprising: a plurality of mutually spaced apertured posts, a plurality of mutually spaced rails each extending through corresponding apertures in a plurality of said posts, and means for locking at least some of said rails in at least one of said posts, said means for locking comprising an aperture formed in and extending through portions of said rails within said one post, at least one spacer wedged to and within said one post between at least some of said rails, said spacer having an aperture extending therethrough in alignment with the apertures of said rails, and a locking rod extending through said one post through the apertures of said rails, and through the aperture of said spacer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The fencing of claim 12 wherein said spacer comprises an apertured body driven into said one end post, said spacer having outwardly extending holding means in forced gripping engagement with the inner surface of said one post.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
The fencing of claim 13 wherein said spacer comprises a dished disc having a continuous integral flange extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom, said flange comprising sAid holding means, a plurality of said dished discs being driven into said end post to forcibly deform the flanges thereof and fixedly retain the discs in position within the end post.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
132 words
Fencing comprising: a plurality of mutually spaced apertured posts, a plurality of mutually spaced rails each extending through corresponding apertures in a plurality of said posts, and means for locking at least some of said rails in at least one of said posts, said means for locking comprising an aperture formed in and extending through portions of said rails within said one post, at least one spacer wedged to and within said one post, said spacer comprising an apertured body having flange means bent up to form an obtuse angle with the body, said flange means being inwardly deformed to securely grip said post and wedge said spacer in position, and a locking rod extending through said one post, through the apertures of said rails, and through the aperture of said spacer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
132 words
Fencing comprising: a plurality of mutually spaced apertured posts, a plurality of mutually spaced rails each extending through corresponding apertures in a plurality of said posts, and means for locking at least some of said rails in at least one of said posts, said means for locking comprising an aperture formed in and extending through portions of said rails within said one post, at least one spacer wedged to and within said one post, said spacer comprising an apertured body having flange means bent up to form an obtuse angle with the body, said flange means being inwardly deformed to securely grip said post and wedge said spacer in position, and a locking rod extending through said one post, through the apertures of said rails, and through the aperture of said spacer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The fencing of claim 15 including a plurality of said spacers, one of said spacers being positioned entirely within said one post between said rails, and another of said spacers being fixed to an end of said locking rod.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
72 words
The fencing of claim 15 wherein said flange means comprises at least first and second oppositely disposed flange sections extending upwardly and outwardly from opposite portions of said body and being spaced from one another in normal unstressed condition by a distance greater than the internal dimension of said one post, said spacer being driven into said one post to thereby inwardly deflect said flange sections and wedge said spacer in position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fencing of claim 17 wherein said body has a dimension between said flange sections slightly less than the comparable inner dimension of said one post.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |