Appeal 2007-0009
Application 10/345,461
1 Appellant invented a fence where the fence posts and fence rails are
2 made of steel. (Specification 1). The fence is designed so that all the rails
3 may be pushed snugly against each other in the in-line post. (Specification
4 3). To prevent someone from stealing the rails by removing spacer 16
5 (figure 9), a post cap 18 is provided with a lock thereon. (Specification 6).
6 Claim 1 is representative of the invention and reads as follows:
7 1. An interlocking and anti-theft steel fencing system
8 comprising a plurality of tubular steel posts vertically supported
9 from a ground and horizontally spaced and a plurality of
10 horizontal tubular steel rails connected between the posts, at
11 least one of the posts being an in-line post, the in-line post
12 being provided with opposite vertical side portions, the in-line
13 post having openings on one side portion and openings on an
14 opposite side portion for receiving therein the ends of rails
15 which connect to the in-line post, the openings being of
16 essentially the same shape as the outside shape of the horizontal
17 rails but being slightly larger to permit canting of the ends of
18 the rails in the openings, the rails being fitted into the in-line
19 post so that the rails coming in from opposite sides of the in-
20 line post through the openings are in abutting relation within
21 the in-line post, at least one of said posts constituting an end
22 post, the end post having openings along one side surface
23 portion only of the end post for receiving therein the ends of
24 rails connected to the end post, the openings on the end post
25 being of the same shape and slightly larger than the outer
26 periphery of the rails connecting into the end post, the end post
27 having its rails extending inwardly less than the full width of
28 the end post, a vertical spacer extending essentially the full
29 height of the end post between the ends of the rails and the
30 inside portion of the end post opposite from the openings
31 therein, a post cap received over the top of the end post when
32 the spacer is in position; and means for locking the post cap
33 securely in place on the top of the end post.
34
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013