Tool-Free Fence Joiner for Rapid Assembly and Secure Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temporary event fencing systems are time-consuming to assemble and disassemble due to intricate components and can be accidentally or maliciously disconnected, as they often rely on tools, loose pins, or fasteners for assembly and security.
Innovation Solution
A joiner system that secures rails to posts and panels without tools, featuring a pair of legs with an aperture and a collocated hole in the rail, allowing pickets or boards to be inserted and locked in place, preventing removal without tools, and including rearward and outward wings for easy insertion and a nipple for vertical locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional fencing systems use tools, loose pins, or fasteners for assembly, then the structure can be securely connected, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the joiner, locking mechanism, and securing function into a single integrated component. The joiner includes a body with legs that define an aperture, and when inserted into the rail, the picket passes through both the rail and the joiner's aperture, creating a unified assembly that eliminates the need for separate fasteners or tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The fencing system is designed to be self-assembling without requiring external tools or fasteners. The joiner and picket configuration allows the structure to lock itself into place through the interaction of its own components - the picket passes through the rail and joiner aperture, and the legs secure everything together automatically.
2Reliability
If traditional fencing systems use loose pins or fasteners, then assembly is straightforward, but the structure can be accidentally or maliciously disconnected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested configuration where the picket passes through the rail and then through the aperture defined by the joiner's legs. The joiner itself is nested within the rail structure, and the entire assembly locks together without requiring separate fastening elements. This nested arrangement creates a secure, tool-free connection that resists accidental or malicious disconnection.
3Strength
If fencing components use intricate or small components for connection, then the structure can be securely assembled, but assembly and disassembly becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fencing system is divided into modular segments - posts, rails, joiners, and pickets - that can be quickly assembled and disassembled. The joiner acts as a modular connector that simplifies the connection process while maintaining structural integrity. Each component is designed to work independently yet contribute to the overall strength of the fence structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable or temporary fence including one or more substantially horizontal rails. A joiner is adapted to attach the rail to each post or adjacent panel, the joiner having a configuration that engages with a vertical component passing through the rail and the joiner thus effectively locking the joiner into the rail. The joiner further includes a mechanism to prevent the vertical component from moving vertically out of the joiner thus securing the panel components together.