Adjustable fence post

Abstract

A fence post ( 10 ) wherein first and second angle members ( 12 and 14 ) are in sliding engagement with each other. The angle members have apertures ( 26 and 40 ) so as to receive the ends of fence rails ( 28 ) and adjust the elevation of the fence rails by sliding the angle members ( 12 and 14 ) with respect to each other.

1 . A fence post that supports lateral fence rails, said post comprising: 
 a first angle member that has first and second panels that are joined together to define a predetermined angle between the first and second panels, the first panel of said first angle member having an outer edge that defines an elongated lip and the second panel of said first angle member having an outer edge that defines a slot; and    a second angle member that has first and second panels that are joined together to define a predetermined angle between the first and second panels, said first panel of said second angle member having an outer edge that defines an elongated lip, said second panel of said second angle member having an outer edge that defines a slot, with the lip of the first panel of said second member fitting in sliding engagement with the slot of the second panel of said first angle member and also with the slot of said second panel of said second angle member fitting in sliding engagement with the lip of said first panel of said first angle member.    
   
   
       2 . The fence post of  claim 1  wherein said first angle member is moveable with respect to said second longitudinal member at times when the lip of said second angle member is engaged in the slot of said first angle member and when the slot of said second angle member is engaged with the lip of said first angle member.  
   
   
       3 . The fence post of  claim 2  wherein at least one of said first and second panels of said first angle member includes at least one aperture for receiving the end of a fence rail.  
   
   
       4 . The fence post of  claim 3  where at least one of said first and second panels of said second angle member includes at least one aperture of receiving the end of a fence rail.  
   
   
       5 . The fence post of  claim 1  wherein the slot of said second panel of said first angle member defines opposed surfaces having a gap therebetween.  
   
   
       6 . The fence post of  claim 5  wherein the lip of said first panel of said second angle member defines lateral outer surfaces wherein the separation between said lateral outer surfaces is greater than the gap between the opposed surface of the slot of said first angle member.  
   
   
       7 . The fence post of  claim 1  wherein said first angle member and said second angle member are arranged in a stacked relationship with the panels of said first angle member being in a parallel relationship to respective panels of said second angle member.  
   
   
       8 . A method of assembling a fence from a family of angle members, said method post comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a first angle member from a group of angle members that includes blanks, single panel aperture angle members, and double panel aperture angle members;    selecting a second angle member from the same group of angle members from which said first angle member was selected;    aligning one longitudinal end of the first angle member opposite one longitudinal end of the second angle member;    engaging the first and second longitudinal angle members together by sliding the lip of the first angle member into the slot of the second angle member while simultaneously sliding the lip of the second angle member into the slot of the first angle member to form a fence post;    adjusting the longitudinal positions of the first angle member with respect to the longitudinal position of the second angle member to determine the longitudinal position of at least one aperture in at least one of said first and second angle members.