Aluminum fence system

Abstract

A gate post column is disclosed, the gate post column has a substantially rectangular cross-section comprising a first substantially flat wall on a first end, two, elongated, flat outside walls immediately adjacent on either side of the first substantially flat wall and opposite one another, the two, elongated flat outside walls each including at a second end opposite the first substantially flat wall, two opposed grooves, the two opposed grooves for receiving a slot cover, such that when the slot cover is in place, the appearance of the two, opposed, elongated, flat outside walls is substantially smooth and flat along its entire width, and a slot, directly opposite the first substantially flat wall at the second end, the slot of sufficient width to accommodate a plurality of slats therewithin the slot.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A gate post column having a substantially rectangular cross-section comprising:
 a first substantially flat wall on a first end;   two, elongated, flat outside walls immediately adjacent on either side of the first substantially flat wall and opposite one another;   the two, elongated flat outside walls each including at a second end opposite the first substantially flat wall, two opposed grooves, the two opposed grooves for receiving a slot cover, such that when the slot cover is in place, the appearance of the two, opposed, elongated, flat outside walls is substantially smooth and flat along its entire width; and   a slot, directly opposite the first substantially flat wall at the second end, the slot of sufficient width to accommodate a plurality of slats therewithin the slot.   
     
     
         2 . The gate post column of  claim 1  wherein the two, elongated, flat outside walls are of sufficient width to accommodate a conventional lockset. 
     
     
         3 . The gate post column of  claim 2  wherein the sufficient width is two and one eighth inches. 
     
     
         4 . The gate post column of  claim 1  wherein the slot includes at least two slat grooves for accommodating spacers to enable slats mounted within the slot to be spaced apart from one another at arbitrary heights along the length of the gate post column. 
     
     
         5 . The gate post column of  claim 4  wherein the spacers may be cut to any size desired and slidably mount within the at least two grooves. 
     
     
         6 . The gate post column of  claim 1  further including a plurality of semi-circular, open-ended gaps, one in each corner where the two, elongated, flat outside walls meet the first substantially flat wall and adjacent to the slot, the open-ended gaps for mounting covers on top of the upright gate post column. 
     
     
         7 . The gate post column of  claim 1  wherein the two, elongated, flat outside walls of the gate post column are of approximately four inches in width and the end opposite the first substantially flat wall including the two opposed grooves is approximately one inch in width. 
     
     
         8 . A fence system comprising an upright gate post column, the upright gate post column having a substantially rectangular cross-section comprising:
 a first substantially flat wall on a first end;   two, elongated, flat outside walls immediately adjacent on either side of the first substantially flat wall and opposite one another;   the two, elongated flat outside walls each including at a second end opposite the first substantially flat wall, two opposed grooves, the two opposed grooves for receiving a slot cover, such that when the slot cover is in place, the appearance of the two, opposed, elongated, flat outside walls is substantially smooth and flat along its entire width;   a slot, directly opposite the first substantially flat wall on the second end, the slot of sufficient width to accommodate a plurality of slats therewithin the slot; and   a hollow core around which each of the first substantially flat wall, the two, elongated, flat outside walls, and the slot are arranged.   
     
     
         9 . The fence system of  claim 8  wherein the two, elongated, flat outside walls of a width greater than two and one eighth inches. 
     
     
         10 . The fence system of  claim 8  wherein the slot includes at least two slat grooves for accommodating spacers to enable slats mounted within the slot to be spaced apart from one another at arbitrary heights along the length of the gate post column. 
     
     
         11 . The fence system of  claim 10  wherein the spacers may be cut to any size desired and slidably mount within the at least two grooves. 
     
     
         12 . The fence system of  claim 8  further including a plurality of semi-circular, open-ended gaps, one in each corner where the two, elongated, flat outside walls meet the first substantially flat wall and adjacent to the slot, the open-ended gaps for mounting covers on top of the upright gate post column. 
     
     
         13 . The fence system of  claim 8  wherein the two, elongated, flat outside walls of the gate post column are of approximately four inches in width and the end opposite the first substantially flat wall including the two opposed grooves is approximately one inch in width. 
     
     
         14 . The fence system of  claim 8  further comprising a second post, the second post having a substantially square cross-section comprising;
 three substantially flat sides; 
 a fourth side having a slot running the length of the second post and incorporating two grooves for accepting a latch slot cover running the length of the slot into which a latch for the conventional lockset may be cut. 
 
     
     
         15 . The fence system of  claim 14  further comprising
 a conventional lockset cut through the two, elongated, flat outside walls and mounted within the gate post column; and 
 a cutout to accommodate the latch cut into the latch slot cover. 
 
     
     
         16 . The fence system of  claim 15  wherein the latch slot cover further comprises a latch strike plate which sits immediately adjacent to the first substantially flat wall and one of the two, elongated, flat outside walls to inhibit movement of the gate post column past the latch in one direction. 
     
     
         17 . A gate post column, the upright gate post column having a substantially rectangular cross-section comprising:
 a first substantially flat wall on a first end;   a slot, directly opposite the first substantially flat wall on the second end, the slot of sufficient width to accommodate a plurality of slats therewithin the slot;   two, elongated, flat outside walls immediately adjacent on either side of the first substantially flat wall and opposite one another;   the two, elongated flat outside walls each including at a second end opposite the first substantially flat wall, a cavity with a wall immediately adjacent to the slot, the cavity including two opposed grooves, the two opposed grooves for receiving a slot cover, such that when the slot cover is in place, the appearance of the two, opposed, elongated, flat outside walls is substantially smooth and flat along its entire width; and   a hollow core around which each of the first substantially flat wall, the two, elongated, flat outside walls, and the slot are arranged.   
     
     
         18 . The gate post column of  claim 17  wherein a flat portion, not including the cavity, the two, elongated, flat outside walls is of a width greater than two and one eighth inches. 
     
     
         19 . The gate post column of  claim 17  wherein the slot includes at least two slat grooves for accommodating spacers to enable slats mounted within the slot to be spaced apart from one another at arbitrary heights along the length of the gate post column. 
     
     
         20 . The gate post column of  claim 17  wherein the first substantially flat wall includes an indentation, running the entire length of the gate post column, the indentation of sufficient width to accommodate the width of a conventional lockset latch bolt.