Modular fence

Abstract

A fence system comprises a plurality of fence posts and a fence rail. The fence rail is characterized by a fence rail longitudinal axis and a fence rail cross-sectional profile in a plane orthogonal to the fence rail longitudinal axis. The fence rail cross-sectional profile has a hollow, obround shape. Each fence post has at least one rail opening having a substantially obround shape matching the obround shape of the cross-sectional profile of the fence rail, whereby a longitudinal end of the fence rail is slidingly insertable into the rail opening. The fence rail is mounted to and supported by a bracketing pair of the fence posts, wherein longitudinally opposing ends of the fence rail are positioned within corresponding rail openings of the bracketing pair of the fence posts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fence system kit comprising:
 a plurality of fence posts; and   a fence rail;   wherein:   the fence rail is characterized by a fence rail longitudinal axis and a fence rail cross-sectional profile in a plane orthogonal to the fence rail longitudinal axis, wherein the fence rail cross-sectional profile has a hollow, obround shape, and wherein the fence rail has a side opening at one transverse side of the fence rail extending parallel to the fence rail longitudinal axis;   each fence post has at least one rail opening having a substantially obround shape matching the obround shape of the cross-sectional profile of the fence rail, whereby a longitudinal end of the fence rail is slidingly insertable into the rail opening.   
     
     
         2 . The fence system kit of  claim 1 , wherein the side opening of the fence rail extends an entire length of the fence rail. 
     
     
         3 . The fence system kit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the fence posts has a substantially I-beam shape with a web extending parallel to a fence post vertical axis of the fence post, the web bridging in perpendicular relation two parallel, opposing flanges each extending parallel to the fence post vertical axis, the web having at least one of the at least one rail openings.   
     
     
         4 . The fence system kit of  claim 1 , wherein the fence rail is a male fence rail, and fence system kit further comprises a female fence rail, wherein a longitudinal end of the male fence rail is longitudinally mateable with an end opening of the female fence rail to form an overlapping portion. 
     
     
         5 . The fence system kit of  claim 4 , wherein:
 at least one of the fence posts is a middle fence post having a substantially I-beam shape with a web extending parallel to a fence post vertical axis of the fence post, the web bridging in perpendicular relation two parallel, opposing flanges each extending parallel to the fence post vertical axis, the web having at least one of the at the at least one rail openings; and   the overlapping portion of the mated male fence rail and female fence rail is positionable in the at least one of the at the at least one rail openings in the web of the at least one of the fence posts.   
     
     
         6 . The fence system kit of  claim 1 , wherein the fence rail is an upper fence rail, and the fence system kit further comprises a lower fence rail, wherein:
 the lower fence rail has an upper panel slot at an upper end of the lower fence rail extending parallel to the fence rail longitudinal axis;   the upper fence rail has a lower panel slot at a lower end of the upper fence rail extending parallel to the fence rail longitudinal axis;   the lower fence rail is positionable adjacent, below, and parallel to the upper fence rail; and   the fence system kit further comprises a panel positionable between the upper fence rail and the lower fence rail, wherein an upper edge of the panel is positionable within the lower panel slot of the upper fence rail and a lower edge of the panel is positionable within the upper panel slot of the lower fence rail.   
     
     
         7 . The fence system kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fence posts is a corner fence post, wherein:
 the corner fence post has a quarter-circular wall extending parallel to a fence post vertical axis of the corner fence post an entire length of the corner fence post;   the corner fence post further has two rectangular radial walls each adjoining opposing longitudinal edges of the quarter-circular wall and extending parallel to the fence post vertical axis the entire length of the corner fence post;   the quarter-circular wall and the two rectangular radial walls together define the channel;   opposing longitudinal edges of the two rectangular radial walls opposite the quarter-circular wall define a slot extending parallel to the fence post vertical axis; and   each of the rectangular radial walls has at least one of the rail openings.   
     
     
         8 . The fence system kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fence posts is an end fence post, wherein:
 the end fence post has a cross-sectional shape of a rectangle with four walls extending parallel to a fence post vertical axis of the end fence post;   the four walls together define a channel;   one of the four walls is a slot wall which forms a slot extending parallel to the fence post vertical axis; and   a different one of the four walls adjacent the slot wall has at least one of the rail openings.   
     
     
         9 . The fence system kit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rail adapter sleeve having a substantially hollow obround right prism shape;   wherein:   a longitudinal end of the fence rail is longitudinally mateable with the rail adapter sleeve; and   the substantially obround shape of the at least one rail opening matches the shape of the rail adapter sleeve, and the rail adapter sleeve is postionable in the at least one rail opening.   
     
     
         10 . The fence system kit of  claim 1 , wherein the fence rail and the plurality of fence posts are formed of extruded aluminum. 
     
     
         11 . The fence system kit of  claim 1  free from fasteners. 
     
     
         12 . A fence rail characterized by a fence rail longitudinal axis and a fence rail cross-sectional profile in a plane orthogonal to the fence rail longitudinal axis, the fence rail cross-sectional profile having a hollow, obround shape with a side opening at one transverse side of the fence rail extending parallel to the fence rail longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . The fence rail of  claim 12 , wherein the side opening extends along an entire length of the fence rail. 
     
     
         14 . The fence rail of  claim 12 , comprising:
 an upper panel slot at an upper end of the fence rail extending parallel to the fence rail longitudinal axis; and   a lower panel slot at a lower end of the fence rail extending parallel to the fence rail longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         15 . The fence rail of  claim 14 , wherein:
 each longitudinal end of the upper panel slot is spaced from a corresponding, adjacent longitudinal end of the fence rail, such that a length of the upper panel slot is less than the entire length of the fence rail; and   each longitudinal end of the lower panel slot is spaced from the corresponding, adjacent longitudinal end of the fence rail, such that a length of the lower panel slot is less than the entire length of the fence rail.   
     
     
         16 . The fence rail of  claim 12  formed of extruded aluminum. 
     
     
         17 . A fence post characterized by a fence post vertical axis and having a substantially I-beam shape with a web extending parallel to the fence post vertical axis and bridging in perpendicular relation two parallel, opposing flanges each extending parallel to the fence post vertical axis, wherein the web has at least one rail opening having a substantially obround shape. 
     
     
         18 . The fence post of  claim 17  formed of extruded aluminum. 
     
     
         19 . A fence post characterized by a fence post vertical axis and comprising:
 a quarter-circular wall extending parallel to a fence post vertical axis of the corner fence post an entire length of the corner fence post; and   two rectangular radial walls each adjoining opposing longitudinal edges of the quarter-circular wall and extending parallel to the fence post vertical axis an entire length of the corner fence post;   wherein:   the quarter-circular wall and the two rectangular radial walls together define a channel;   opposing longitudinal edges of the two rectangular radial walls opposite the quarter-circular wall define a slot; and   each of the rectangular radial walls has at least one rail opening having a substantially obround shape.   
     
     
         20 . The fence post of  claim 19  formed of extruded aluminium.