Modular fencing system and method for constructing same

Abstract

The invention is directed to a fence post and a modular fencing system and method that utilizes same. The fence post has an elongated body having an outer wall and at least one elongated channel defined by said outer wall. The elongated channel has opposing sides and an open front. A fastener guide is defined in the outer wall along a plane that is generally orthogonal to the opposing sides of the component channel. In a further embodiment the component channel includes a lip protruding inwardly from the opposing sides adjacent to the front portion. In a further embodiment the fencing system includes post reinforcement members and rail reinforcement members. In other embodiments a fencing system is provided which includes posts, rails, pickets, screens and spacers that interconnect with the aid of fasteners to define a fence structure.

1 . A fence post comprising: 
 (a) an elongated body having an outer wall;    (b) at least one elongated component channel defined in said body by said outer wall, said component channel having a pair of opposing sides, a back extending between said opposing sides and an open front defined between said opposing sides; and    (c) at least one fastener guide defined in said outer wall along a plane that intersects said opposing sides of said component channel.    
   
   
       2 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fastener guide has a v-shaped cross-section.  
   
   
       3 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fastener guide extends along the length of said post.  
   
   
       4 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said at least one fastener guide is defined on each of said opposing sides of said post.  
   
   
       5 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a first of said fasteners guides is defined on an outer portion of said outer wall and a second of said fastener guides is defined in an adjacent side defined in said component channel, said first fastener guide and said second fastener guide being aligned along a common plane that intersects and is generally orthogonal to said opposing sides of said component channel.  
   
   
       6 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 5  wherein a second set of said first and second fastener guides are defined on opposing sides of said post.  
   
   
       7 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said post has a pair of said component channels.  
   
   
       8 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said post has a plurality of said component channels that are disposed along a common central axes.  
   
   
       9 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said post has an plurality of said component channels that are disposed along orthogonal central axes.  
   
   
       10 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said post has a generally rectilinear cross-sectional profile.  
   
   
       11 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said post has a generally rounded cross-sectional profile.  
   
   
       12 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a lip protruding inwardly from each of said opposing sides of said component channel adjacent to said open front.  
   
   
       13 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  that is integrally formed through an extrusion process.  
   
   
       14 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  that is integrally formed through a molding process.  
   
   
       15 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  that is formed of any extrudable or moldable material.  
   
   
       16 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  that is formed of PVC.  
   
   
       17 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of plugs for covering access holes formed in said fastener guide.  
   
   
       18 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said outer wall defines a hollow interior.  
   
   
       19 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 18  further comprising a post reinforcing member that is disposable within said hollow interior.  
   
   
       20 . A modular fencing system comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of fence posts, each said fence post comprising: 
 (i) an elongated body having an outer wall;  
 (ii) at least one elongated component channel defined in said body by said outer wall, said component channel having a pair of opposing sides, a back extending between said opposing sides and an open front defined between said opposing sides; and  
 (iii) at least one fastener guide defined along a plane that is orthogonal to said opposing sides of said component channel; and  
   (b) a plurality of rails for extending between adjacent pairs of said fence posts, said rails having a cross-sectional profile that is sized to fit within said component channels.    
   
   
       21 . A modular fencing system as claimed in  claim 20  wherein rail component channels are defined in said rails for receiving one or more desired fence components.  
   
   
       22 . A modular fencing system as claimed in  claim 20  wherein said fence components comprise one or more pickets.  
   
   
       23 . A modular fencing system as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said fence components comprise one or more screens.  
   
   
       24 . A modular fencing system as claimed in  claim 20  further comprising component spacers sized for fitting within said post component channel.  
   
   
       25 . A modular fencing system as claimed in  claim 24  wherein at least one of said component spacers defines a fence component channel for snugly receiving at least one of said fence components.  
   
   
       26 . A modular fencing system as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said component spacer defines a blank face for covering said front portion of said channel.  
   
   
       27 . A modular fencing system as claimed in  claim 20  further comprising a plurality of plugs for covering access holes formed in said fastener guides during assembly of said fencing system.  
   
   
       28 . A modular fencing system comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of fence posts, each said fence post comprising: 
 (i) an elongated body having an outer wall;  
 (ii) at least one elongated component channel defined in said body by said outer wall, said component channel having a pair of opposing sides, a back extending between said opposing sides and an open front defined between said opposing sides; and  
 (iii) a lip protruding inwardly from each of said opposing sides of said component channel adjacent to said front;  
   (b) a plurality of rails for extending between adjacent pairs of said fence posts, said rails having a cross-sectional profile that is sized to fit within said component channels.    
   
   
       29 . A modular fencing system as claimed in  claim 28  wherein rail component channels are defined in said rails for receiving one or more desired fence components.  
   
   
       30 . A modular fencing system as claimed in  claim 28  wherein said fence components comprise one or more pickets.  
   
   
       31 . A modular fencing system as claimed in  claim 29  wherein said fence components comprise one or more screens.  
   
   
       32 . A modular fencing system as claimed in  claim 28  further comprising component spacers sized for fitting within said post component channel.  
   
   
       33 . A modular fencing system as claimed in  claim 32  wherein at least one of said component spacers defines a fence component channel for snugly receiving at least one of said fence components.  
   
   
       34 . A modular fencing system as claimed in  claim 33  wherein said component spacer defines a blank face for covering said front portion of said channel.  
   
   
       35 . A fence post comprising: 
 (a) an outer wall defining an elongated body having a hollow interior;    (b) at least one elongated component channel defined in said body by said outer wall;    (c) an elongate post reinforcement member disposed within said hollow interior, said post reinforcement member defining an elongated channel for nesting with said component channel of said body.    
   
   
       36 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 35  wherein said post reinforcement member is removably disposed within said hollow interior.  
   
   
       37 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 35  wherein said outer wall defines a completely hollow interior.  
   
   
       38 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 35  wherein said outer wall defines an opposing pair of said component channels.  
   
   
       39 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 35  wherein said outer wall defines a pair of said component channels orthogonally to one another.  
   
   
       40 . A fence post as claimed in  claim 35  wherein said post reinforcement member is formed of metal.  
   
   
       41 . A method for constructing a modular fence system comprising the following steps: 
 (a) securing elongate fence posts to a ground surface each of said fence posts have elongate component channels with opposing sides and an open front and at least one fastening guide defined along a plane that is orthogonal to said opposing sides of said component channel;    (b) positioning rails laterally between pairs of fence posts with the ends of said rails being disposed in said component channels;    (c) securing said rails to said posts using fasteners and said fastening guides; and    (d) drilling pilot holes through at least one side of said component channel and at least one wall of said rails disposed in said component channel.    
   
   
       42 . A method as claimed in  claim 41  further comprising the step of drilling holes through said fastening guides for receiving said fasteners.  
   
   
       43 . A method as claimed in  claim 42  wherein said holes include access holes for fully receiving said fasteners.  
   
   
       44 . A method as claimed in  claim 42  wherein said holes include pilot holes for receiving said fasteners.  
   
   
       45 . A method as claimed in  claim 41  further comprising the step of inserting plugs into said holes after securing said fasteners.