Molded picket fence section

Abstract

A picket fence section is made as a single integral plastic component. The fence section can be made in various length including a length appropriate for securement between posts spaced at eight foot centers. The picket fence section is preferrably of a high density polyethylene material and made by blow molding.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A plastic picket fence section comprising an upper hollow horizontal member and a lower horizontal member with both horizontal members extending the length of the fence section and forming the major horizontal support structure, a plurality of vertically extending picket members space in the length of said horizontal members and extending above and below said horizontal members, each picket member being divided into a top section, a middle section and a base section with all of said sections being hollow, each top section extending above said upper horizontal and separated from the respective middle section by said upper horizontal member, each middle section extending between and connecting said horizontal members with the respective base sections extending below said lower horizontal member and separated from the respective middle section by said lower horizontal member.  
     
     
         2 . A plastic picket fence section as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said section is greater than 30 inches in height and is of a length greater than five feet.  
     
     
         3 . A plastic picket fence section as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said section is greater than 30 inches in height and is of a length of about eight feet.  
     
     
         4 . A plastic picket fence section as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fence section is symmetrical relative to a vertical plane through said fence section.  
     
     
         5 . A plastic picket fence section as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said section is a single integrally molded component.  
     
     
         6 . A plastic picket fence section as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said fence section is a blow molded component.  
     
     
         7 . A plastic picket fence section as claimed in  claim 5  wherein each horizontal member includes at least one horizontal recess extending in the length of the horizontal member and dividing said horizontal member internally into a series of horizontally extending hollow cavities.  
     
     
         8 . A plastic picket fence section as claimed in  claim 7  wherein each horizontal extending recess is paired with a recess provided on the opposite side of the horizontal member and said paired recesses divide said horizontal member into said series of horizontally extending hollow cavities.  
     
     
         9 . A plastic picket fence section as claimed in claim in  claim 8  wherein each horizontal member is divided by said paired recesses into an upper horizontally extending chamber, a central horizontally extending chamber and a lower horizontally extending chamber.  
     
     
         10 . A plastic picket fence section as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said central horizontally extending chamber is the largest horizontally extending chamber.  
     
     
         11 . A plastic picket fence section as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each picket section is divided by opposed recesses in each section which divide the hollow cavity of the picket section into a series of hollow chambers.  
     
     
         12 . A plastic picket fence section as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each picket has opposed faces parallel to the length of the fence section and each face includes a recess inwardly positioned from each side of the picket and extends around the face of the picket on the sides and the top thereof.  
     
     
         13 . A plastic picket fence section as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said fence section is defined by a host of generally closed hollow cavities which are interconnected through pinch off regions.  
     
     
         14 . A plastic fence section as claimed in  claim 13  which is a blow molded component and requires no additional horizontal reinforcing throughout its length for support between two opposed fence posts.  
     
     
         15 . A picket fence system comprising a series of vertical posts and a series of plastic picket fence sections with a picket fence section disposed between opposed posts such that the gap between two opposed posts is closed by one of said plastic picket fence sections and each picket fence section is supported by and suspended between opposed said posts, and wherein each picket fence section comprises an upper hollow horizontal member and a lower horizontal member with both horizontal members extending the length of the fence section and forming the major horizontal support structure, a plurality of vertically extending picket members space in the length of said horizontal members and extending above and below said horizontal members, each picket member being divided into a top section, a middle section and a base section with all of said sections being hollow, each top section extending above said upper horizontal and separated from the respective middle section by said upper horizontal member, each middle section extending between and connecting said horizontal members with the respective base sections extending below said lower horizontal member and separated from the respective middle section by said lower horizontal member.  
     
     
         16 . A single piece blow molded combination post cap and post cover comprising an elongate body portion sized for enclosing a wooden or metal fence post with a post cap at one end thereof closing one end of said post cover and integral therewith.  
     
     
         17 . A single piece blow molded combination post cap and post cover as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said post cover in section has a plurality of wall sections joined at corners and at least some of said corners project outwardly and form expansion corners which can locally distart and increase the size of said post cover.  
     
     
         18 . A single piece blow molded combination post cap and post cover as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said post cover is generally square in cross section with expansion projections at each corner.