Horizontal Fence Assembly With Universal Support Rails for Uneven Ground
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wooden fences are expensive to install and maintain, prone to decay, warping, fading, and cracking, and require regular maintenance to maintain structural integrity and aesthetic appeal, while also needing specialized skills for assembly.
Innovation Solution
A modular fencing system using U-shaped members and universal support rails that allow for easy assembly with minimal tools, accommodating ground elevation variations and customizable heights, featuring a cross-sectional profile with a rail tongue and groove system for fence planks, allowing planks to float freely and reducing the need for individual fastening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If natural wood fencing is used, then aesthetic warmth and privacy are achieved, but the fence is prone to decay, warping, cracking, and requires regular maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining wood-like aesthetic planks with a durable aluminum support structure. The planks provide the desired aesthetic warmth while the aluminum framework prevents warping, cracking, and decay, resolving the contradiction between appearance and structural reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The fence system is segmented into separate functional components: aesthetic planks and structural support members. This allows each component to perform its specialized function - planks for appearance and aluminum framework for structural integrity - eliminating the need for maintenance while preserving aesthetics
2Strength
If traditional wooden fence assembly is used, then structural integrity can be achieved, but specialized woodworking skills and tools are required for installation
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses interchangeable and adjustable components that can be easily assembled and disassembled without specialized tools. The planks can be slipped in and out of the aluminum framework, allowing anyone to install or maintain the fence without woodworking skills while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The aluminum support members are designed with universal features including pre-drilled holes for various fastening methods and adjustable configurations. This universality allows the same components to be installed using simple hand tools while achieving robust structural integrity
3Stability of the object's composition
If fixed fence structures are used, then stability is achieved, but the fence cannot accommodate variations in ground elevation or be easily modified
Solution Approach 1:
The fence system employs adjustable and modular components that can be configured to accommodate varying ground elevations. The aluminum support members can be positioned at different heights and angles, allowing the fence to adapt to uneven terrain while maintaining structural stability through the rigid framework
4Strength
If wooden planks are fastened rigidly to posts, then structural strength is achieved, but the planks cannot accommodate thermal expansion or contraction
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a flexible attachment mechanism where planks are held in place by the aluminum framework without rigid fastening. This allows the planks to expand and contract thermally within the framework while remaining securely positioned, preventing damage from thermal movement while maintaining attachment strength
Data Source
AI summary
A universal support rail for a horizontal fence assembly has main body with a cross-sectional profile having a rail tongue extending to be retained within a fence plank groove and a rail groove formed to retain a fence plank tongue. The universal support rail may be positioned on top of the fence plank, or under the fence plank or between two fence planks to retain a plurality of fence planks in a stacked configuration between a pair of adjacent U-shaped members. A horizontal fence assembly comprises a pair of U-shaped members attached to a pair of coaligned and spaced apart vertical posts or other flat vertical surfaces defining a vertical channel for receiving at least one universal support rail and a plurality of fence planks. A method is provided for assembling a horizontal fence.