Fence Panel with interlock

Abstract

A panel is provided for construction of a fence and for connection to a similar panel in interlocking relationship. The panel includes a receiver, a mounting portion and a side wall. The side wall is disposed between the receiver and the mounting portion wherein the receiver of a first panel is interlocked with the mounting portion of a second panel. The rounded features of the mounting portion facilitate insertion into the receiver forcing the receiver to expand beyond its original dimension. Once inserted a base leg of the receiver and a flange of the mounting portion remain in biased contact forcing the shoulder of the mounting portion into contact with the contact wall of the receiver and effectively interlocking the two panel members and thereby limiting lateral movement.

1 . An interlocking fence panel assembly comprising: 
 a first panel with a sidewall interposed between a mounting portion and a receiver,    a second panel with a sidewall interposed between a mounting portion and a receiver,    the mounting portion of the first and second panel comprising a shoulder and a flange with a contact feature;    the receiver of the first and second panels comprising a base leg and a contact wall, wherein when the mounting portion of the first panel is received into the receiver of the second panel the flange of the mounting portion of the first panel remains in biased contact with the base leg of the receiver of the second panel thereby urging the shoulder of the mounting portion into contact with the contact wall of the receiver and thereby limiting relative movement between the first and second panel.    
     
     
         2 . The interlocking fence panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion of the first and second panels further comprises a knee for providing flexure to the flange.  
     
     
         3 . The interlocking fence panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver of the first and second panels further comprises a base curve for providing flexure to the base leg.  
     
     
         4 . An interlocking fence panel assembly comprising: 
 a sidewall comprising a first side and a second side;    a mounting portion comprising a series of three bends of approximately 90 degrees each, a mounting shoulder interposed between the first and second bend and a strut interposed between the second and third bend, wherein the third bend extends into an upright for supporting a cantilevered flange that extends from a knee, the knee directing the flange transversely away from the sidewall and terminating in a contact edge;    a receiver disposed opposite the mounting portion on the sidewall, the receiver comprising an elbow of about 90 degrees extending into a contact wall, the contact wall extending into a base curve with a base leg extending transversely from the base curve toward the second side of the sidewall and terminating in a cantilever base leg following a return bend, a gap being formed between the base leg and the second side of the side wall;    wherein the mounting portion of a first panel is inserted into the receiver of a second panel through the gap and wherein the flange remains in biased contact with the base leg of the receiver thereby urging the shoulder of the mounting portion into contact with the contact wall of the receiver and interlocking the first and second panel limiting relative lateral movement of the first and second panels.    
     
     
         5 . In a process for producing an interlocking fence panel assembly that limits relative movement between the fence panels, the process being of the type including the steps of: 
 extruding a sidewall comprising a first side and a second side;    extruding a mounting portion into a first end of the sidewall, the mounting portion comprising a first bend of about 90 degrees extending into a shoulder, the shoulder extending into a second bend of about 90 degrees to form a strut, the strut extending into a third bend of about 90 degrees forming an upright that extends partially to the second side of the sidewall, the upright extending into a knee that further extends into a cantilevered flange that extends generally transversely away from the side wall of the fence panel terminating at a contact edge;    extruding a receiver disposed opposite the mounting portion on the sidewall, the receiver comprising an elbow of about 90 degrees extending into a contact wall, the contact wall extending into a base curve with a base leg extending transversely from the base curve toward the second side of the sidewall and terminating in a cantilever base leg with a serpentine loop, a gap being formed between the base leg and the second side of the side wall wherein upon inserting the mounting portion of a first panel into the receiver of a second panel through the gap the flange remains in biased contact with the base leg of the receiver thereby urging the shoulder of the mounting portion into contact with the contact wall of the receiver limiting relative lateral movement between the first and second panels.    
     
     
         6 . In a process for constructing an interlocking fence panel assembly that limits relative movement between the fence panels, the process being of the type including the steps of: 
 inserting a mounting portion of a first fence panel into a receiver of a second fence panel;    placing in biased contact a flange of the mounting portion of the first panel with a base leg of the receiver of the second fence panel;    creating an audible confirmation of the biased contact between the flange and the base leg; and    repositioning of a shoulder of the mounting portion of the first fence panel into contact with a contact wall of the receiver of the second side panel.