Fence System

Abstract

A fence section includes an upper horizontal rail, a lower horizontal rail, and vertical members. At least one of the vertical members is connected to the upper horizontal rail by an upper connection system and to the lower horizontal rail by a lower connection system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit for a fence section, comprising:
 a horizontal rail including a longitudinally-extending wall extending lengthwise of the horizontal rail and a rail sidewall that depends from the longitudinally-extending wall; and   a vertical member; including a longitudinally-extending wall extending lengthwise of the vertical member and a member sidewall that depends from the longitudinally-extending wall;   wherein:
 the vertical member and the horizontal rail are connectible by a connection system; 
 the connection system includes a first connecting structure; 
 the rail sidewall includes a first connection counterpart of the first connecting structure, and the member sidewall includes a second connection counterpart of the first connecting structure; 
 the first connection counterpart of the first connecting structure includes an arm and a protrusion extending from the arm; 
 the second connection counterpart of the first connecting structure includes a slot, the member sidewall including a slot-defining surface that defines the slot; and 
 the connection of the vertical member and the horizontal rail is effectible by:
 insertion of the first connection counterpart of the first connecting structure into the slot of the second connection counterpart of the first connecting structure, and 
 
 while the vertical member and the horizontal rail are connected:
 the arm is extending through the slot, and the protrusion and the slot-defining surface are disposed in opposing relationship; and 
 the protrusion and the slot-defining surface are co-operatively configured to oppose displacement of the horizontal rail, relative to the vertical member, in an upward direction, along an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vertical member. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The fence section of  claim 1 , wherein:
 while the vertical member and the horizontal rail are connected:
 the arm and the slot-defining surface are disposed in opposing relationship; and 
 the arm and the slot-defining surface are co-operatively configured to oppose displacement of the horizontal rail, relative to the vertical member, in a downward direction, along an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vertical member. 
   
     
     
         3 . The fence section of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the arm extends along an axis of extension that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the horizontal rail and is parallel to a normal axis defined by an inward-facing surface of the rail sidewall;   the protrusion extends from the arm along an axis of extension, and the axis of extension of the arm and the axis of extension of the protrusion are disposed in a non-parallel relationship.   
     
     
         4 . The fence section of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the axis of extension of the arm and the axis of extension of the protrusion are disposed in a perpendicular relationship.   
     
     
         5 . The fence section of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the protrusion extends from a portion of the arm that is intermediate a leading edge of the arm and the rail sidewall.   
     
     
         6 . The fence section of  claim 1 , wherein:
 while the vertical member and the horizontal rail are connected:
 the protrusion is disposed in the slot. 
   
     
     
         7 . A kit for a fence section, comprising:
 a first fence member including a longitudinally-extending wall extending lengthwise of the first fence member and a first member sidewall that depends from the longitudinally-extending wall; and   a second fence member; including a longitudinally-extending wall extending lengthwise of the second fence member and a second member sidewall that depends from the longitudinally-extending wall;   wherein:
 the first fence member and the second fence member are connectible by a connection system; 
 the connection system includes a first connecting structure; 
 the first member sidewall includes a first connection counterpart of the first connecting structure, and the second member sidewall includes a second connection counterpart of the first connecting structure; 
 the first connection counterpart of the first connecting structure includes an arm and a protrusion extending from the arm; 
 the second connection counterpart of the first connecting structure includes a slot, the member sidewall including a slot-defining surface that defines the slot; 
 the slot-defining surface includes a first slot-defining surface portion and a second slot-defining surface portion, wherein the first slot-defining surface portion and the second slot-defining surface portion are disposed in opposing relationship; and 
 the connection of the first fence member and the second fence member is effectible by:
 insertion of the first connection counterpart of the first connecting structure into the slot of the second connection counterpart of the first connecting structure; and 
 
 while the first fence member and the second fence member are connected:
 the arm is extending through the slot, the protrusion and the first slot-defining surface portion of the slot-defining surface are disposed in opposing relationship, and the arm and the second slot-defining surface portion of the slot-defining surface are disposed in opposing relationship; and 
 the protrusion and the first slot-defining surface portion are co-operatively configured to oppose displacement of the first fence member, relative to the second fence member, in a first direction, along an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second fence member; and 
 the arm and the second slot-defining surface portion are co-operatively configured to oppose displacement of the first fence member, relative to the second fence member, in a second direction, along an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second fence member, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction. 
 
   
     
     
         8 . The fence section of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the arm extends along an axis of extension that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first fence member; and   the protrusion extends from the arm along an axis of extension, and the axis of extension of the arm and the axis of extension of the protrusion are disposed in a non-parallel relationship.   
     
     
         9 . The fence section of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the axis of extension of the arm and the axis of extension of the protrusion are disposed in a perpendicular relationship.   
     
     
         10 . The fence section of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the protrusion extends from a portion of the arm that is intermediate a leading edge of the arm and the first member sidewall.   
     
     
         11 . The fence section of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the slot is defined between the first slot-defining surface portion and the second slot-defining surface portion of the slot-defining surface.   
     
     
         12 . The fence section of  claim 7 , wherein:
 while the first fence member and the second fence member are connected:
 the protrusion is disposed in the slot. 
   
     
     
         13 . The fence section of  claim 7 , wherein:
 while the first fence member and the second fence member are connected:
 a longitudinal axis of the first fence member and a longitudinal axis of the second fence member are disposed in a non-parallel relationship. 
   
     
     
         14 . A kit for a fence section, comprising:
 a first fence member including a longitudinally-extending wall extending lengthwise of the first fence member and laterally between a first sidewall and a second sidewall that depend from the longitudinally-extending wall and are spaced apart; and   a second fence member; including a longitudinally-extending wall extending lengthwise of the second fence member and laterally between a first sidewall and a second sidewall that depend from the longitudinally-extending wall and are spaced apart;   wherein:
 the first fence member and the second fence member are connectible by a connection system; 
 the connection system includes a first connecting structure and a second connecting structure; 
 the first sidewall of the first fence member includes a first connection counterpart of the first connecting structure, the second sidewall of the first fence member includes a first connection counterpart of the second connecting structure, the first sidewall of the second fence member includes a second connection counterpart of the first connecting structure, and the second sidewall of the second fence member includes a second connection counterpart of the second connecting structure; 
 the first connection counterpart of the first connecting structure includes a first arm and a first protrusion extending from the first arm; 
 the first connection counterpart of the second connecting structure includes a second arm and a second protrusion extending from the second arm; 
 the second connection counterpart of the first connecting structure includes a first slot, the first sidewall of the second fence member including a first slot-defining surface that defines the first slot; 
 the second connection counterpart of the second connecting structure includes a second slot, the second sidewall of the second fence member including a second slot-defining surface that defines the second slot; 
 the first slot-defining surface of the first sidewall of the second fence member includes a first slot-defining surface portion and a second slot-defining surface portion, wherein the first slot-defining surface portion and the second slot-defining surface portion of the first slot-defining surface are disposed in opposing relationship; 
 the second slot-defining surface of the second sidewall of the second fence member includes a first slot-defining surface portion and a second slot-defining surface portion, wherein the first slot-defining surface portion and the second slot-defining surface portion of the second slot-defining surface are disposed in opposing relationship; and 
 the connection of the first fence member and the second fence member is effectible by:
 insertion of the first connection counterpart of the first connecting structure into the first slot the second connection counterpart of the first connecting structure; 
 insertion of the first connection counterpart of the second connecting structure into the second slot of the second connection counterpart of the second connecting structure; and 
 
 while the first fence member and the second fence member are connected:
 the first arm is extending through the first slot, the first protrusion and the first slot-defining surface portion of the first slot-defining surface are disposed in opposing relationship, and the first arm and the second slot-defining surface portion of the first slot-defining surface are disposed in opposing relationship; 
 the second arm is extending through the second slot, the second protrusion and the first slot-defining surface portion of the second slot-defining surface are disposed in opposing relationship, and the second arm and the second slot-defining surface portion of the second slot-defining surface are disposed in opposing relationship; 
 the first protrusion, the first slot-defining surface portion of the first slot-defining surface, the second protrusion, the first slot-defining surface portion of the second slot-defining surface are co-operatively configured to oppose displacement of the first fence member, relative to the second fence member, in a first direction, along an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second fence member; and 
 the first arm, the second slot-defining surface portion of the second slot-defining surface, the second arm, and the second slot-defining surface of the second slot-defining surface are co-operatively configured to oppose displacement of the first fence member, relative to the second fence member, in a second direction, along an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second fence member, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The fence section of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first arm extends along a first axis of extension that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first fence member;   the first protrusion extends from the first arm along a first axis of extension, and the first axis of extension of the first arm and the first axis of extension of the first protrusion are disposed in a non-parallel relationship;   the second arm extends along a second axis of extension that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first fence member;   the second protrusion extends from the second arm along an axis of extension, and the second axis of extension of the second arm and the second axis of extension of the second protrusion are disposed in a non-parallel relationship.   
     
     
         16 . The fence section of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first axis of extension of the first arm and the first axis of extension of the first protrusion are disposed in a perpendicular relationship; and   the second axis of extension of the second arm and the second axis of extension of the second protrusion are disposed in a perpendicular relationship.   
     
     
         17 . The fence section of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first protrusion extends from a portion of the first arm that is intermediate a leading edge of the first arm and the first member sidewall; and   the second protrusion extends from a portion of the second arm that is intermediate a leading ledge of the second arm and the second member sidewall.   
     
     
         18 . The fence section of  claim 14 , wherein:
 while the first fence member and the second fence member are connected:
 the first protrusion is disposed in the first slot; and 
 the second protrusion is disposed in the second slot. 
   
     
     
         19 . The fence section of  claim 14 , wherein:
 while the first fence member and the second fence member are connected:
 a longitudinal axis of the first fence member and a longitudinal axis of the second fence member are disposed in a non-parallel relationship. 
   
     
     
         20 . The fence section of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first connection counterpart of the first connecting structure and the first connection counterpart of the second connecting structure are disposed in opposing relationship.