Installable top accent panels for a barrier system

Abstract

An accent top panel is selectable installed on a base panel. The installation is made using one of a number of techniques, including, press-fit, clamp fit and clip fit. The base panel can be one of a fence panel, railing panel or gate.

1 . An accent top panel for selectable installation on a base panel including means for securing the accent top panel to the base panel including a U-shaped channel in the accent top panel which receives an elongate rail of the base panel. 
   
   
       2 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein base panel can be one of a fence panel, a gate panel or a railing panel. 
   
   
       3 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the means for securing comprises the U-shaped channel supporting a press fit securing mechanism with respect to receipt of the elongate rail. 
   
   
       4 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the means for securing comprises the U-shaped channel supporting a clamp fit securing mechanism with respect to receipt of the elongate rail. 
   
   
       5 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the means for securing comprises the U-shaped channel supporting a snap fit securing mechanism with respect to receipt of the elongate rail. 
   
   
       6 . The barrier of  claim 1  wherein the snap fit securing mechanism comprises a bead structure extending along the U-shaped channel which engages an edge of the elongate rail of the base panel. 
   
   
       7 . An accent top panel for selectable installation on a base panel, the accent top panel including a rail channel having means for securing the rail channel to the base panel. 
   
   
       8 . The panel of  claim 7  wherein the means for securing is a press fit securing mechanism. 
   
   
       9 . The panel of  claim 7  wherein the means for securing is a clamp fit securing mechanism. 
   
   
       10 . The panel of  claim 7  wherein the means for securing is a snap fit securing mechanism. 
   
   
       11 . The panel of  claim 7  wherein the means for securing comprises a base rail of the panel being designed with dimensions and manufacturing tolerances such that opposed side walls of the base rail snugly contact opposed sides of a top elongate rail in the base panel in a press-fit manner. 
   
   
       12 . The panel of  claim 7  wherein the means for securing comprises a base rail of the panel being designed with a geometry such that opposed side walls of the base rail are angled slightly inwardly to form a biasing clamp against opposed sides of a top elongate rail in the base panel. 
   
   
       13 . The panel of  claim 7  wherein the means for securing comprises a base rail of the panel being designed such that an inner surface of opposed side walls of the base rail includes an inwardly projecting bead (or detent) which engages against opposed sides of a top elongate rail in the base panel. 
   
   
       14 . The panel of  claim 13  wherein the bead engages a bottom edge of the opposed sides of the top elongate rail. 
   
   
       15 . The panel of  claim 13  wherein the bead snugly contacts the opposed sides of the top elongate rail in a press-fit manner.