Aluminum fence system

Abstract

The fence system attaches to an aluminum or steel rectangular base post in concrete or the ground. The inside wall of a fence column slides over the base post. The fence column also has an outside wall around the inside wall. Three sides of the fence column has an elongated slot which receives one end of a slat. The fence system also has a gate of the same style as the rest of the fence. A lockset housing replaces one fence column. The lockset's latch projects from the other side. A hollow post has a slot facing the latch when the gate is closed. A latch cover is held by the slot, and an extension of the latch cover extends along the lockset housing to block surreptitious opening the gate. Clips may secure transparent, translucent, or opaque panels from the top, bottom, and sides.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A fence system comprising:
 a first upright fence column, formed of a single piece, the first upright fence column having an inside wall sized to receive a base post and an outside wall around the inside wall;   the first upright fence column including at least one slot extending the length of the first upright fence column from the inside wall toward the outside wall, the at least one slot having grooves along either side, each groove adapted to receive distal shoulders of an extension;   the extension having a length and a height extending from the inside wall through the length of the slot, distal shoulders to engage the grooves, and a U-shaped opening adapted to receive a flat panel;   a horizontal clip extending away from the first upright fence column, the horizontal clip having a width sized to be received in the at least one slot, the horizontal clip having a U-shaped opening adapted to receive a flat panel.   
     
     
         2 . The fence system of  claim 1  wherein the extension and horizontal clip are cut at 45°-angles and fastened to the first upright fence column. 
     
     
         3 . The fence system of  claim 2  wherein the horizontal clip is held in place adjacent to the extension using L-shaped fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The fence system of  claim 1  wherein the panel is composed of plastic, plastic composite, metal, metal composite, glass, glass composite, wood, wood composite, or a composite of any of them. 
     
     
         5 . The fence system of  claim 1  further comprising a second upright fence column and a second extension;
 the second upright fence column formed of a single piece, the second upright fence column having an inside wall sized to receive a base post and an outside wall around the inside wall; 
 the second upright fence column including a second at least one slot extending the length of the second upright fence column from the inside wall toward the outside wall, the second at least one slot having grooves along either side, each groove adapted to receive distal shoulders of an extension; 
 the second extension having a length and a height extending from the inside wall through the length of the slot of the second upright column, distal shoulders to engage the grooves, and a U-shaped opening adapted to receive a flat panel; and 
 wherein the horizontal clip extends to the second upright fence column. 
 
     
     
         6 . The fence system of  claim 5  further comprising a second horizontal clip;
 the second extension being slotted into the at least one slot of the first column, the second extension being slotted into the second at least one slot of the second column, the horizontal clip extending from the at least one slot of the first column to the second at least one slot of the second column and having its U-shaped portion opening upward; 
 the panel being slotted into the extension, second extension, and horizontal clip; 
 and the second horizontal clip extending from the at least one slot of the first column to the second at least one slot of the second column and having its U-shaped portion opening downward and slotted over the panel. 
 
     
     
         7 . The fence system of  claim 6  further comprising a second panel, third horizontal clip, and fourth horizontal clip;
 the third horizontal clip above the second horizontal clip and extending from the at least one slot of the first column to the second at least one slot of the second column and having its U-shaped portion opening upward; 
 the second panel being slotted into the extension, second extension, and third horizontal clip; 
 and the fourth horizontal clip extending from the at least one slot of the first column to the at least one slot of the second column and having its U-shaped portion opening downward and slotted over the second panel. 
 
     
     
         8 . The fence system of  claim 5  wherein the second upright fence column incorporates at least two elongated sidewalls of sufficient width to accommodate a conventional lockset. 
     
     
         9 . The fence system of  claim 8  further comprising a stationary upright fence column formed of a single piece, the stationary upright fence column having an inside wall sized to receive a base post and an outside wall around the inside wall;
 the stationary upright fence column including at least one slot extending the length of the stationary upright fence column from the inside wall toward the outside wall, the at least one slot having grooves along either side, each groove adapted to receive distal shoulders of a latch strike plate; 
 a latch strike plate having a length and a height extending from the inside wall through the length of the slot, distal shoulders to engage the grooves, a latch opening positioned to receive a latch from a conventional lockset, and a strike extension extending the length of the latch strike plate for engaging the outside wall of the second upright column when the gate is closed. 
 
     
     
         10 . The fence system of  claim 9  wherein the second upright fence column has at least one cutout in the outside wall for at least one lock faceplate positioned to insert a latch from a conventional lockset into the latch opening of the latch strike plate. 
     
     
         11 . A fence system comprising:
 a first upright fence column, formed of a single piece, the first upright fence column having an inside wall sized to receive a base post and an outside wall around the inside wall;   the first upright fence column including a first slot extending the length of the first upright fence column from the inside wall toward the outside wall, the first slot having grooves along either side, each groove adapted to receive distal shoulders of a first extension;   the first extension extending from the inside wall through the length of the first slot;   a second upright fence column, formed of a single piece, the second upright fence column having a hollow cross-section, and incorporating a second slot extending the length of the second upright fence column;   a second extension extending the length of the second upright fence column within the second slot; and   a panel extending between the first upright fence column and the second upright fence column, fixed at either side within the first and second extensions within the first and second slot.   
     
     
         12 . The fence system of  claim 11  further comprising a pair of horizontal clips, the pair of horizontal clips extending between the first upright fence column and second upright fence column, the pair of horizontal clips having a width sized to be received in the first and second slots of the first and second upright fence columns, the pair of horizontal clips having a U-shaped opening adapted to receive a panel; and
 the panel fixed within the U-shaped openings of the pair of horizontal clips. 
 
     
     
         13 . The fence system of  claim 12  wherein the first and second extensions and the pair of horizontal clips are joined together to form a rectangular shape surrounding the panel. 
     
     
         14 . The fence system of  claim 12  wherein the pair of horizontal clips are held in place adjacent to the opposed clips using L-shaped fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . The fence system of  claim 12  wherein the panel is composed of plastic, plastic composite, metal, metal composite, glass, glass composite, wood, wood composite, or a composite of any of them. 
     
     
         16 . The fence system of  claim 12 , further comprising a second panel and second pair of horizontal clips;
 the second panel fixed between the first and second extensions; and   the second panel additionally fixed in the U-shaped openings of the second pair of horizontal clips.   
     
     
         17 . The fence system of  claim 12  wherein the first upright fence column and the second upright fence column form a gate and the second upright fence column incorporates at least two elongated sidewalls of sufficient width to accommodate a conventional lockset. 
     
     
         18 . The fence system of  claim 17  further comprising a stationary upright fence column formed of a single piece, the stationary upright fence column having an inside wall sized to receive a base post and an outside wall around the inside wall;
 the stationary upright fence column including a third slot extending the length of the stationary upright fence column from the inside wall toward the outside wall, the third slot having grooves along either side, each groove adapted to receive distal shoulders of a latch strike plate; 
 a latch strike plate having a length and a height extending from the inside wall through the length of the slot, distal shoulders to engage the grooves, a latch opening positioned to receive a latch from a conventional lockset, and a strike extension extending the length of the latch strike plate for engaging the outside wall of the second upright column when the gate is closed. 
 
     
     
         19 . The fence system of  claim 18  wherein the second upright fence column has at least one cutout in the outside wall for at least one lock faceplate positioned to insert a latch from a conventional lockset into the latch opening of the latch strike plate. 
     
     
         20 . A fence system comprising:
 a first upright fence column, formed of a single piece, the first upright fence column having an inside wall sized to receive a base post and an outside wall around the inside wall;   the first upright fence column including a first slot extending the length of the first upright fence column from the inside wall toward the outside wall, the first slot having grooves along either side, each groove adapted to receive distal shoulders of an extension, the extension having a length and a height extending from the inside wall through the length of the first slot;   a second upright fence column, formed of a single piece, the second upright fence column having a hollow cross-section, incorporating a second slot extending the length of the second upright fence column, at least one cutout in the outside wall for at least one lock faceplate positioned to insert a latch from a conventional lockset into a latch opening of a latch strike plate;   a panel extending between the first upright fence column and the second upright fence column, mounted between the first and second slot; and incorporating at least two elongated sidewalls of sufficient width to accommodate a conventional lockset;   a pair of opposed extensions, each running the length of the first and second slot, mounted within the first and second slot;   a pair of horizontal clips, the pair of horizontal clips extending between the first upright fence column and second upright fence column, the pair of horizontal clips having a width sized to be received in the at least one slot of the first and second upright fence columns, the horizontal clip having a U-shaped opening adapted to receive a panel;   the panel fixed within the pair of opposed extensions and the pair of horizontal clips;   a stationary upright fence column formed of a single piece, the stationary upright fence column having an inside wall sized to receive a base post and an outside wall around the inside wall and at least one slot extending the length of the stationary upright fence column from the inside wall toward the outside wall, the at least one slot having grooves along either side, each groove adapted to receive distal shoulders of a latch strike plate; and   the latch strike plate having a length and a height extending from the inside wall through the length of the slot, distal shoulders to engage the grooves, a latch opening positioned to receive a latch from a conventional lockset, and a strike extension extending the length of the latch strike plate for engaging the outside wall of the second upright column when the gate is closed.