Picket and rail fence

Abstract

A picket and rail fence is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a fence including a rail including a tube having a rectangular cross section including a top, a bottom, two sides, and at least one cutout, a picket including a bar configured to fit within the at least one cutout of the rail, a retaining bar having a lengthwise rectangular shape, the retaining bar including a first substantially flat longitudinal portion, a second substantially flat longitudinal portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are separated by a middle portion having a cross section forming a protrusion extending away from the first portion and the second portion, wherein the retaining bar is configured to slide within the rail such that a bottom of the retaining bar abuts one of the two sides of the rail, and wherein the picket bar includes a notch configured to receive at least a portion of the protrusion of the retaining bar.

1 . A fence comprising:
 a rail comprising a tube having a rectangular cross section comprising a top, a bottom, two sides, and at least one cutout;   a picket comprising a bar configured to fit within the at least one cutout of the rail;   a retaining bar having a lengthwise rectangular shape, the retaining bar comprising a first substantially flat longitudinal portion, a second substantially flat longitudinal portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are separated by a middle portion having a cross section forming a protrusion extending away from the first portion and the second portion;   wherein the retaining bar is configured to slide within the rail such that a bottom of the retaining bar abuts one of the two sides of the rail; and   wherein the picket bar includes a notch configured to receive at least a portion of the protrusion of the retaining bar.   
   
   
       2 . The fence of  claim 1 , further comprising a grommet having a rectangular shape and a rectangular opening configured to receive the picket, wherein the grommet is configured to slide onto the picket and to fit within the at least one cutout of the rail. 
   
   
       3 . The fence of  claim 2 , wherein the grommet comprises a substantially square shape. 
   
   
       4 . The fence of  claim 2 , wherein the grommet has a flat front face, a flat rear face, and two side walls extending from the rear face and in a direction normal to the rear face along opposing sides of the opening of the grommet, where the side walls of the grommet are configured to abut the at least one rail cutout. 
   
   
       5 . The fence of  claim 2 , wherein the grommet is configured to prevent the rail from contacting the picket. 
   
   
       6 . The fence of  claim 2 , wherein the grommet is comprised of polyvinyl chloride. 
   
   
       7 . The fence of  claim 1 , wherein the rail and the picket have cross sections that are substantially square in shape. 
   
   
       8 . The fence of  claim 1 , wherein the rail, the picket and the retaining bar are comprised of galvanized steel. 
   
   
       9 . The fence of  claim 1 , wherein the picket bar comprises a rigid tube having a rectangular cross section comprising four picket sides. 
   
   
       10 . The fence of  claim 9 , wherein the notch comprises a semicircular cutout extending through at least two sides of the picket. 
   
   
       11 . The fence of  claim 1 :
 further comprising a grommet having a rectangular shape and a rectangular opening configured to receive the picket;   wherein the at least one cutout is disposed on the top of the rail;   wherein the bottom comprises at least one bottom cutout;   wherein the at least one top cutout and the at least one bottom cutout are configured to receive the picket;   wherein the grommet is configured to slide onto the picket and to fit within the at least one top cutout of the rail.   
   
   
       12 . The fence of  claim 11 :
 wherein the at least one top cutout is substantially square in shape; and   wherein the at least one bottom cutout is rectangular in shape.   
   
   
       13 . The fence of  claim 12 , wherein a center of the at least one top cutout is not aligned with a center of the at least one bottom cutout. 
   
   
       14 . The fence of  claim 1 , wherein the fence section is configured to allow for up to 25 percent raking. 
   
   
       15 . The fence of  claim 1 , wherein a cross section of the protrusion comprises a V-shape wherein a vertex of the V-shape is disposed along a line normal to the first portion and the second portion. 
   
   
       16 . A fence comprising:
 a picket bar having a notch;   a grommet configured to slide onto the picket bar;   a rail comprising a tube having a rectangular cross section comprising a top, a bottom, two sides, and a cutout configured to receive the picket bar and the grommet; and   a retaining bar having a lengthwise protrusion;   wherein the retaining bar is configured to slide within the rail; and   wherein the notch is configured to receive the lengthwise protrusion of the retaining bar when the picket and the retaining bar have been inserted into the rail.   
   
   
       17 . The fence of  claim 16 :
 wherein the grommet comprises a rectangular shape and a rectangular opening configured to receive the picket;   wherein the at least one cutout is disposed on the top of the rail;   wherein the bottom comprises at least one bottom cutout; and   wherein the at least one top cutout and the at least one bottom cutout are configured to receive the picket.   
   
   
       18 . The fence of  claim 17 :
 wherein the at least one top cutout is substantially square in shape; and   wherein the at least one bottom cutout is rectangular in shape.   
   
   
       19 . The fence of  claim 18 , wherein a center of the at least one top cutout is not aligned with a center of the at least one bottom cutout. 
   
   
       20 . A method for installing a fence, the method comprising:
 inserting a picket into a cutout of a rail comprising a tube having a rectangular cross section;   sliding a retaining bar into the rail, wherein the retaining bar comprises a lengthwise rectangular shape with a protrusion extending substantially from a centerline along a length of the lengthwise rectangular shape; and   attaching the rail to a post.