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 fence section, comprising:
 a horizontal rail comprising a longitudinally-extending recess defined between a first recess side wall and a second recess side wall, the recess including a recess base; and   a vertical member;   wherein:
 the vertical member is connected to the horizontal rail by a connection system; 
 the connection system includes a connecting structure; 
 the first recess side wall includes a first counterpart of the connecting structure, and the vertical member includes a second counterpart of the connecting structure; 
 the first counterpart of the connecting structure is disposed inwardly from an outermost end of the first recess side wall, in a direction towards the recess base, such that an intermediate wall surface is defined between the outermost end of the first recess side wall and the first counterpart of the connecting structure; 
 the connection of the vertical member to the horizontal rail is effected by an interaction between the first counterpart of the connecting structure and the second counterpart of the connecting structure; and 
 the vertical member is received in the recess of the horizontal rail. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fence section of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the vertical member and the horizontal rail are co-operatively configured such that:
 the intermediate wall surface is disposed opposite the vertical member, such that displacement of the vertical member, relative to the horizontal rail, in a direction towards the intermediate wall surface, is opposed by the intermediate wall surface. 
   
     
     
         3 . The fence section of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the vertical member and the horizontal rail are co-operatively configured such that:
 the intermediate wall surface conceals at least a portion of the second counterpart of the connecting structure, such that the at least a portion of second counterpart of the connecting structure is occluded from view from a line of sight extending in a direction towards the recess from a point that is facing the at least a portion of second counterpart of the connecting structure. 
   
     
     
         4 . The fence section of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first counterpart of the connecting structure includes a tongue;   the second counterpart of the connecting structure includes a groove;   the interaction includes a receiving of the tongue in the groove.   
     
     
         5 . The fence section of  claim 1 , wherein the connection of the vertical member to the horizontal rail is exclusively by the connection system. 
     
     
         6 . The fence section of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the intermediate wall surface is a first intermediate wall surface;   the interaction is a first interaction; and   the connecting structure is a first connecting structure;   the connection system further includes a second connecting structure;   the second recess side wall includes a first counterpart of the second connecting structure, and the vertical member includes a second counterpart of the second connecting structure;   the first counterpart of the second connecting structure is disposed inwardly from an outermost end of the second recess side wall, in a direction towards the recess base, such that a second intermediate wall surface is defined between the outermost end of the second recess side wall and the first counterpart of the second connecting structure; and   the connection of the vertical member to the horizontal rail is further effected by a second interaction between the first counterpart of the second connecting structure and the second counterpart of the second connecting structure.   
     
     
         7 . The fence section of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the vertical member and the horizontal rail are co-operatively configured such that:
 the second intermediate wall surface is disposed opposite the vertical member, such that displacement of the vertical member, relative to the horizontal rail, in a direction towards the second intermediate wall surface, is opposed by the second intermediate wall surface. 
   
     
     
         8 . The fence section of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the vertical member and the horizontal rail are co-operatively configured such that:
 the second intermediate wall surface conceals at least a portion of the second counterpart of the second connecting structure, such that the at least a portion of second counterpart of the second connecting structure is occluded from view from a line of sight extending in a direction towards the recess from a point that is facing the at least a portion of second counterpart of the second connecting structure. 
   
     
     
         9 . A kit for a fence section, comprising:
 a horizontal rail comprising a longitudinally-extending recess defined between a first recess side wall and a second recess side wall, the recess including a recess base; and   a vertical member;   wherein:
 the vertical member is connectible to the horizontal rail by a connection system; 
 the connection system includes a connecting structure; and 
 the first recess side wall includes a first counterpart of the connecting structure, and the vertical member includes a second counterpart of the connecting structure; 
 the first counterpart of connecting structure is disposed inwardly from an outermost end of the first recess side wall, in a direction towards the recess base, such that an intermediate wall surface is defined between the outermost end of the first recess side wall and the first counterpart of the connecting structure; 
 the connection of the vertical member to the horizontal rail is effectible by an interaction between the first counterpart of the connecting structure and the second counterpart of the connecting structure; and 
 while the vertical member and the horizontal rail are connected, the vertical member is received in the recess of the horizontal rail. 
   
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the vertical member and the horizontal rail are co-operatively configured such that, while the vertical member and the horizontal rail are connected:
 the intermediate wall surface is disposed opposite the vertical member, such that displacement of the vertical member, relative to the horizontal rail, in a direction towards the intermediate wall surface, is opposed by the intermediate wall surface. 
   
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the vertical member and the horizontal rail are co-operatively configured such that, while the vertical member and the horizontal rail are connected:
 the intermediate wall surface conceals at least a portion of the second counterpart of the connecting structure, such that the at least a portion of second counterpart of the connecting structure is occluded from view from a line of sight extending in a direction towards the recess from a point that is facing the at least a portion of second counterpart of the connecting structure. 
   
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first counterpart of the connecting structure includes a tongue;   the second counterpart of the connecting structure includes a groove;   the interaction includes a receiving of the tongue into the groove.   
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the connection of the vertical member to the horizontal rail is exclusively by the connection system. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the intermediate wall surface is a first intermediate wall surface;   the interaction is a first interaction; and   the connecting structure is a first connecting structure;   the connection system further includes a second connecting structure;   the second recess side wall includes a first counterpart of the second connecting structure, and the vertical member includes a second counterpart of the second connecting structure;   the first counterpart of the second connecting structure is disposed inwardly from an outermost end of the second recess side wall, in a direction towards the recess base, such that a second intermediate wall surface is defined between the outermost end of the second recess side wall and the first counterpart of the second connecting structure; and   the connection of the vertical member to the horizontal rail is further effectible by a second interaction between the first counterpart of the second connecting structure and the second counterpart of the second connecting structure.   
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the vertical member and the horizontal rail are co-operatively configured such that, while the vertical member and the horizontal rail are connected:
 the second intermediate wall surface is disposed opposite the vertical member, such that displacement of the vertical member, relative to the horizontal rail, in a direction towards the second intermediate wall surface, is opposed by the second intermediate wall surface. 
   
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the vertical member and the horizontal rail are co-operatively configured such that, while the vertical member and the horizontal rail are connected:
 the second intermediate wall surface conceals at least a portion of the second counterpart of the second connecting structure, such that the at least a portion of second counterpart of the second connecting structure is occluded from view from a line of sight extending in a direction towards the recess from a point that is facing the at least a portion of second counterpart of the second connecting structure. 
   
     
     
         17 . A kit for a fence section, comprising:
 an upper horizontal rail comprising a longitudinally-extending upper recess defined between a first upper recess side wall and a second upper recess side wall, the upper recess including an upper recess base;   a lower horizontal rail comprising a longitudinally-extending lower recess defined between a first lower recess side wall and a second lower recess side wall, the lower recess including a lower recess base; and   a vertical member;   wherein:
 the vertical member is connectible to the upper horizontal rail by an upper connection system and to the lower horizontal rail by a lower connection system; 
 the upper connection system includes a first upper connecting structure and a second upper connecting structure; and 
 the lower connection system includes a first lower connecting structure and a second lower connecting structure; and 
 the first upper recess side wall includes a first upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure, and the vertical member includes a second upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure; 
 the second upper recess side wall includes a first upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure, and the vertical member includes a second upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure; 
 the first lower recess side wall includes a first lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure, and the vertical member includes a second lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure; 
 the second lower recess side wall includes a first lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure, and the vertical member includes a second lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure; 
 the first upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure is disposed inwardly from an outermost end of the first upper recess side wall, in a direction towards the upper recess base, such that a first upper intermediate wall surface is defined between the outermost end of the first upper recess side wall and the first upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure; 
 the first upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure is disposed inwardly from an outermost end of the second upper recess side wall, in a direction towards the upper recess base, such that a second upper intermediate wall surface is defined between the outermost end of the second upper recess side wall and the first upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure; 
 the first lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure is disposed inwardly from an outermost end of the first lower recess side wall, in a direction towards the lower recess base, such that a first lower intermediate wall surface is defined between the outermost end of the first lower recess side wall and the first lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure; 
 the first lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure is disposed inwardly from an outermost end of the second lower recess side wall, in a direction towards the lower recess base, such that a second lower intermediate wall surface is defined between the outermost end of the second lower recess side wall and the first lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure; 
 the connection of the vertical member to the upper horizontal rail is effectible by:
 a first upper interaction between the first upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure and the second upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure; and 
 a second upper interaction between the first upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure and the second upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure; 
 
 the connection of the vertical member to the lower horizontal rail is effectible by:
 a first lower interaction between the first lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure and the second lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure; and 
 a second lower interaction between the first lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure and the second lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure; 
 
 while the vertical member and the upper horizontal rail are connected, the vertical member is received in the upper recess of the upper horizontal rail; and 
 while the vertical member and the lower horizontal rail are connected, the vertical member is received in the lower recess of the lower horizontal rail. 
   
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the vertical member and the upper horizontal rail are co-operatively configured such that, while the vertical member and the upper horizontal rail are connected:
 the first upper intermediate wall surface is disposed opposite the vertical member, such that displacement of the vertical member, relative to the upper horizontal rail, in a direction towards the first upper intermediate wall surface, is opposed by the first upper intermediate wall surface; and 
 the second upper intermediate wall surface is disposed opposite the vertical member, such that displacement of the vertical member, relative to the upper horizontal rail, in a direction towards the second upper intermediate wall surface, is opposed by the second upper intermediate wall surface; 
   the vertical member and the lower horizontal rail are co-operatively configured such that, while the vertical member and the lower horizontal rail are connected:
 the first lower intermediate wall surface is disposed opposite the vertical member, such that displacement of the vertical member, relative to the lower horizontal rail, in a direction towards the first lower intermediate wall surface, is opposed by the first lower intermediate wall surface; and 
 the second lower intermediate wall surface is disposed opposite the vertical member, such that displacement of the vertical member, relative to the lower horizontal rail, in a direction towards the second lower intermediate wall surface, is opposed by the second lower intermediate wall surface. 
   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the vertical member and the upper horizontal rail are co-operatively configured such that, while the vertical member and the upper horizontal rail are connected:
 the first upper intermediate wall surface conceals at least a portion of the second upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure, such that the at least a portion of second upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure is occluded from view from a line of sight extending in a direction towards the upper recess from a point that is facing the at least a portion of second upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure; and 
 the second upper intermediate wall surface conceals at least a portion of the second upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure, such that the at least a portion of second upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure is occluded from view from a line of sight extending in a direction towards the upper recess from a point that is facing the at least a portion of second upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure; 
   vertical member and the lower horizontal rail are co-operatively configured such that, while the vertical member and the lower horizontal rail are connected:
 the first lower intermediate wall surface conceals at least a portion of the second lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure, such that the at least a portion of second lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure is occluded from view from a line of sight extending in a direction towards the lower recess from a point that is facing the at least a portion of second lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure; and 
 the second lower intermediate wall surface conceals at least a portion of the second lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure, such that the at least a portion of second lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure is occluded from view from a line of sight extending in a direction towards the lower recess from a point that is facing the at least a portion of second lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure. 
   
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure includes a first upper tongue;   the first upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure includes a second upper tongue;   the first lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure includes a first lower tongue;   the first lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure includes a second lower tongue;   the second upper counterpart of the first upper connecting structure includes a first upper groove;   the second upper counterpart of the second upper connecting structure includes a second upper groove;   the second lower counterpart of the first lower connecting structure includes a first lower groove;   the second lower counterpart of the second lower connecting structure includes a second lower groove;   the first upper interaction includes a receiving of the first upper tongue in the first upper groove;   the second upper interaction includes a receiving of the second upper tongue in the second upper groove;   the first lower interaction includes a receiving of the first lower tongue in the first lower groove; and   the second lower interaction includes a receiving of the second lower tongue in the second lower groove.