HORIZONTAL FENCE AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A universal support rail for a horizontal fence assembly spanning a distance between a pair of adjacent U-shaped members attached to a pair of vertical posts or other flat vertical surfaces, said universal support rail comprising: a main body having a first end and a second end, each of said first and second ends being sized for retention within an opening of a vertical channel formed by one of the pair of U-shaped members; said main body formed with a cross-sectional profile having a rail tongue extending from a first side thereof, and a rail groove formed in an opposite side thereof, said rail groove being sized and positioned to retain a plank tongue of a fence plank therein; said rail tongue being sized and positioned to be retained within a plank groove formed in a fence plank; whereby said universal support rail may be positioned on top of the fence plank, or under the fence plank or between two fence planks to retain said fence planks in a stacked configuration between the pair of adjacent U-shaped members.

2. Use of the universal support rail of claim 1 as a base rail upon which a plurality of fence planks is received and retained in stacked configuration in a horizontal fence assembly.

3. Use of the universal support rail of claim 1 as a mid rail in a horizontal fence assembly wherein said universal support rail is positioned to receive, in the rail groove of the main body thereof, the plank tongue of a lower one of the plurality of fence planks, and to be received within the plank groove of a higher one of the plurality of fence planks, the rail tongue of the main body thereof.

4. Use of the universal support rail of claim 1 as an upper rail in a horizontal fence assembly wherein said universal support rail is positioned to receive, in the rail groove of the main body thereof, the plank tongue of a lower fence plank, in a stacked configuration.

5. A horizontal fence assembly comprising: a pair of U-shaped members attached to a pair of coaligned and spaced apart vertical posts or other flat vertical surfaces, each of said U-shaped members defining a vertical channel having an opening for receiving at least one universal support rail and a plurality of fence planks; the plurality of fence planks spanning the distance between the pair of vertical channels, each of which fence planks being constructed having a first longitudinal edge forming a plank tongue and an opposing longitudinal edge forming a plank groove; the universal support rail spanning the distance between the pair of vertical channels, said universal support rail comprising a main body having a first end and a second end, each of said first and second ends being sized for retention within the openings of the vertical channels of each of the pair of U-shaped members; said main body formed with a cross-sectional profile having a rail tongue extending from a first side thereof, and a rail groove formed in an opposite side thereof, said rail groove being sized and positioned to retain the plank tongue of a fence plank therein; and said rail tongue being sized and positioned to be retained within the plank groove of a fence plank; and, fastening means to secure the universal support rail in the vertical channel of each of the U-shaped members; whereby said universal support rail may be positioned on top of the fence plank, or under the fence plank or between two fence planks to retain said fence planks in a stacked configuration between the pair of adjacent U-shaped members.

6. The horizontal fence assembly of claim 5 wherein the at least one universal support rail comprises a bottom rail attached to a bottom end of each of the U-shaped members.

7. The horizontal fence assembly of claim 5 wherein the at least one universal support rail comprises a top rail attached to top end of each of the U-shaped members.

8. The horizontal fence assembly of claim 6 wherein the bottom rail attached to a bottom end of each of the U-shaped members and a top rail attached to a top end of each of the U-shaped members frame the plurality of fence planks.

9. The horizontal fence assembly of claim 8 wherein the a top rail is a universal support rail.

10. The horizontal fence assembly of claim 5 wherein the at least one universal support rail comprises a mid rail attached to each of the U-shaped members above at least one of the fence planks and below at least one of the fence planks.

11. The horizontal fence assembly of claim 5 wherein each U-shaped member provides a lower attachment area positioned adjacent a bottom end thereof and an upper attachment area adjacent a top end thereof for fastening universal support members between the pair of U-shaped members.

12. The horizontal fence assembly of claim 5 wherein the fastening means comprises at least one aperture in each U-shaped member for receiving a fastener for securing the universal support rail within the vertical channels.

13. The horizontal fence assembly according to claim 12 wherein the at least one aperture comprises a first pair of apertures each to receive a fastener, through one side of each U-shaped member along a 45 degree angle from a longitudinal edge of the first side of said U-shaped member, and a second pair of apertures, each to receive a fastener through an opposing side of each U-shaped member along a 45 degree angle from the longitudinal edge of the other side of said U-shaped member.

14. The horizontal fence assembly of claim 13, wherein the two pairs of apertures are oriented at a 90 degree angle to one another on the opposing sides of the U-shaped member.

15. The horizontal fence assembly of claim 14, wherein each said fastener is a self-drilling screw.

16. The horizontal fence assembly of claim 11 wherein each U-shaped member provides an mid attachment area at a selected distance from the lower attachment area for fastening one of the universal support members.

17. The horizontal fence assembly of claim 5 wherein one of the pair of U-shaped members is attached to a first face of a vertical post and one of an additional pair of U-shaped members is attached on another face of the vertical post, said one of the additional pair of U-shaped members having an opening for receiving another at least one universal support rail and another plurality of fence planks.

18. A method of assembling a horizontal fence comprising the steps of: (a) providing first and a second vertical channels, respectively defined by first and second U-shaped members respectively attached to first and second anchored posts, the openings of said first and second vertical channels facing one another; (b) fastening into the first and second vertical channels a first universal support rail comprising a main body having a cross-sectional profile having a rail tongue extending from a first side thereof, and a rail groove formed in an opposite side thereof, said universal support rail oriented with the rail tongue pointing upward; (c) inserting into the first and second vertical channels a plurality of fence planks each having a first longitudinal edge forming a plank tongue and an opposing longitudinal edge forming a plank groove, said plurality of fence planks oriented with their plank grooves pointing downward in stacked configuration, receiving and resting upon the rail tongue of the first universal support rail; and, (d) fastening into the first and second vertical channels a second universal support rail comprising a main body having a cross-sectional profile having a rail tongue extending from a first side thereof, and a rail groove formed in an opposite side thereof, said universal support rail oriented with the rail tongue pointing upward and the rail groove pointing downward and receiving therein a plank tongue of one of the plurality of fence planks.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of (e) inserting into the first and second vertical channels a second plurality of fence planks each having a first longitudinal edge forming a plank tongue and an opposing longitudinal edge forming a plank groove, said second plurality of fence planks oriented with their plank grooves pointing downward in stacked configuration, receiving and resting upon the rail tongue of the second universal support rail; and, (f) fastening into the first and second vertical channels a third universal support rail comprising a main body having a cross-sectional profile having a rail tongue extending from a first side thereof, and a rail groove formed in an opposite side thereof, said third universal support rail oriented with the rail tongue pointing upward and the rail groove pointing downward and receiving therein a plank tongue of one of the second plurality of fence planks.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a horizontal fence assembly in accordance with the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross section of the horizontal fence assembly taken vertically along line A-A of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross section of the horizontal fence assembly taken horizontally along line B-B of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a universal support rail in accordance with the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 5. is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a vertical channel attached to a post in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating assembly of a fencing assembly.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the fencing assembly showing an optional decorative cap placed above the top universal support rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms a, an and the are not limited to one element, but instead should be read as meaning at least one. The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

[0019] While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Where methods described above indicate certain events occurring in certain order, the ordering of certain events may be modified. Additionally, certain of the events may be performed concurrently in a parallel process, when possible, as well as performed sequentially as described above.

[0020] Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words lower, bottom, upper, and top designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words inwardly and outwardly,, upwardly and downwardly, axially and peripherally refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device, and designated parts thereof, in accordance with the present disclosure. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms a, an and the are not limited to one element, but instead should be read as meaning at least one. The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0021] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0022] Where structural elements having the same structural and functional characteristics are used in pairs they may be designated by using a single reference numeral for the element, with the prime () symbol designating the two identical structural elements of a pair.

[0023] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the present invention is a new horizontal fencing assembly 20 for a horizontal fencing system, indicated by general reference 10, which may be erected as horizontal fence planks 12 supported by a plurality of adjacent, spread apart vertical posts 14. The vertical posts 14 are typically 3 inch3 inch aluminum fence posts, which are installed in in post holes 16 and anchored by concrete 18. Each horizontal fence assembly 20 spans a distance between a pair of adjacent spread apart vertical posts 14.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, each vertically oriented channel 24 is formed as an extruded U-shaped member 28 which may be attached to an outside face of a respective one of the vertical posts during installation on site. Each U-shaped member 28 will be positioned on the face 22 of the vertical post 14 in an orientation with the channel opening 26 facing an adjacent one of the plurality of vertical posts 14. Each U-shaped member 28 will be fastened to its respective vertical post 14 by conventional means such as post screws 30. Preferably, the U-shaped members are attached to vertical posts with self drilling screws through the back wall of each of the U-shaped members 28 through counter-sunk apertures to the vertical posts. Vertically oriented posts are not pre-drilled.

[0025] It should be noted that in accordance with the present invention, a horizontal fence assembly 10 can be mounted to any flat vertical surface capable of supporting a fence, such as the side of a building, a stone wall, a gate pillar etc. The U-shaped members 28 provide the vertical channels 24 that define channel openings 26 to receive universal support rails and fence planks. The channel openings 26 of the U-shaped members 28 on adjacent posts will face each other for receiving at least one universal support rail 32 and a plurality of fence planks 12 therebetween. Virtually any flat vertical surface to which the U-shaped members may be attached can be used to install a horizontal fence assembly. Thus a fence assembly could span two buildings, two anchored posts, or a combination thereof. This allows a fence line to begin on a building or other structure and to continue with free-standing anchored posts.

[0026] In most instances the vertical posts 14 will have two of the U-shaped members 28 attached to opposing faces 22,34 thereof to facilitate the longitudinal extension of the horizontal fence between multiple aligned vertical posts along the intended path of the fence. In instances where it is desired to have the fence form a corner and extend in another direction, the U-shaped members may be mounted on adjacent faces 22,36 of the vertical post to form a 90 degree turn in the path of the fence. U-shaped members may be attached to three or all four sides of a vertical post if a user wanted multiple fence lines to extend from a single point.

[0027] Each U-shaped member 28 provides a lower attachment area 27 positioned adjacent a bottom thereof and an upper attachment area 31 positioned adjacent a top thereof for fastening the universal support members 32 between the pair of U-shaped members 28, 28. Each U-shaped member 28 may further comprise a mid attachment area 37 at a pre-determined position between the lower attachment area 27 and the upper attachment area 31. At each of the attachment areas (lower, mid, and upper) each of the U-shaped members 28, 28 define a first pair of apertures 38,38 through one side thereof along a 45 degree angle from a longitudinal edge of a first side 42 of said channel 24. Each of the U-shaped members 28, 28 also defines a second pair of apertures 40, 40 through the opposing side 44 thereof along a 45 degree angle from a longitudinal edge of the other side of said vertical channel 24. The two pairs of apertures 38, 38 and 40, 40 are oriented at a 90 degree angle to one another for strength and to ensure that opposing self-drilling screws do not interfere with one another within the U-shaped members 28, 28.

[0028] With respect to the placement of the through holes in the top and bottom ends of vertical channels, it should be understood that the apertures in opposing sides need to be offset but not necessarily by 90 degrees. Furthermore the line of apertures on a first side need not necessarily be 90 degrees from vertical, provided that the apertures in the opposing channel side are rotated to be offset from the apertures in the first side.

[0029] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the universal support rail 32 comprises a main body 46 having a first end 48 and a second end 50. Each of said first 48 and second 50 ends is sized for retention within the opening 26 of a vertical channel 24 defined on the face of each of the pair of adjacent vertical posts 14. The main body 46 of the universal support rail is formed with a cross-sectional profile 52 having a rail tongue 54 extending from a first side 56 of the main body 46 and a rail groove 58 formed on a second side 60 thereof, the second side 60 being opposite to the first side 56. The universal support rail is sized to fit within and be retained by the opposing vertical channel openings 26 on the U-shaped members attached to adjacent vertical posts 14.

[0030] The rail groove 58 is sized and positioned to retain the plank tongue of a tongue and groove composite fence plank 12 therein. More specifically, the rail tongue 54 is sized and positioned to be retained within a plank groove 62 formed in each fence plank 12. The cross-sectional profile 52 of the main body 46 of the universal support rail 32 enables the universal support rail 32 to be positioned on top of the fence plank 12, under the fence plank 12 or between two fence planks 12,12 to retain said fence planks in a stacked configuration between the pair of adjacent vertical channels 14.

[0031] The first end 48 and the second end 50 of the main body 46 of the universal support rail 32 are affixed to the first side 42 and the opposing side 44 of the U-shaped channel 24 through the first pair 38,38 of predrilled apertures in the sides of each U-shaped member 28 with self-drilling metal screws 66. The universal support rail 32 is not pre-drilled and is intended to be punctured by the self-drilling screws 66. Preferably a universal support rail 32 is attached within the vertical channels of two U-shaped members such that the bottom of the horizontal rail 32 is flush with the bottom end of each of the opposing U-shaped channels 24 to support and secure a plurality of fence planks 12.

[0032] The horizontal fencing system according to the present invention may by constructed using wooden fence planks, but it is preferable to construct the planks from engineered composite materials typically constructed from combinations of plastic and wood fibre. The fence planks are cut to standard lengths typically used in fencing projects. Six feet (72 inches) is a common length. The length of each of the fence planks is approximately inch less than the total length between the inside of the two vertical channels. The present invention uses tongue and groove fence planks. Each of the fence planks 12 is constructed having an upper longitudinal edge which forms a plank tongue 64 and a lower longitudinal edge forming a plank groove 62. It will be understood that the plank tongue 64 is sized to be received within the rail groove 58 of a universal support rail 32 and the plank groove 62 is sized to receive the rail tongue 54 of the universal support rail 32.

[0033] A series of composite fence planks 12 are slid down within the U-shaped vertical channels 24, 24 of two adjacent U-shaped members. Each of the fence planks 12 is oriented between the vertical channels 24, 24 such that the plank groove 62 along the lower edge of a first plank receives the correspondingly sized rail tongue 54 of the first side 56 of the main body 46 of the universal support rail 32. The remaining fence planks are slid down within the channels 24, 24 such that the plank groove 62 in the bottom edge of each plank receives the plank tongue 64 of the preceding plank in a stacked configuration.

[0034] Once the stack of planks is complete, a second additional universal support rail 32 which will serve as a top rail 33 may be placed within the vertical channels 24, 24 to mate with the uppermost composite fence plank by receiving the plank tongue 64 within the rail groove 58 of the horizontal support rail. The top horizontal support rail 33 is screwed at its ends 48, 50 to the sides of the U-shaped members 28, 28 in a similar manner as discussed above. For aesthetic reasons a decorative cap rail 35 can be fitted onto the upwardly protruding rail tongue 54 of the top horizontal support rail 33 to cover the protruding rail tongue 54. Preferably the upper edge of the top universal support rail 33 is flush with the top ends of each U-shaped channel but this will depend upon the height of the fence planks.

[0035] Both the universal support rails, and the fence planks, may be cut shorter than stock in order to accommodate the actual distance between the inside back walls of opposing vertical channels 24 in the U-shaped members 28.

[0036] In an alternative embodiment, a modified top rail could be substituted in place of the top universal support rail. The modified top rail would have a main body defining a rail groove for receiving a fence tongue of a lower fence plank, but the main body would not define a protruding rail tongue. Instead, would remain flat to provide a flat edge at the top of the horizontal fence assembly.

[0037] Aluminum fence post caps 68 may be placed over top of each vertical fence post to prevent water from accumulating within them, which water might freeze within hollow fence post cavities, potentially distorting the contour and/or integrity of said vertical fence posts.

[0038] The preparation of the area where the horizontal fencing system will be assembled proceeds as follows: When planning the positioning of the fencing system and installation site, map out the positing of the vertical fence posts six feet apart. Next dig post holes 8 inches in diameter to a depth of 36 inches to 48 inches and fill the bottom with a few inches gravel if required. Colder climates may require deeper post-holes. Insert one vertical post into each hole and ensure that the post is at least 76 inches from the ground to the top of the post for a 6 foot fence. Then pour concrete into the hole around the post to set and form a concrete anchor. While the concrete is still wet, lay a 6 foot board on the ground to ensure the proper spacing between the posts, and then level each post within the post hole on both the X and Y Axis, and ensure there at least 76 inches of each vertical post protrudes from the ground.

[0039] This procedure is repeated for all posts in fence project. Once each vertical fence post 12 is mounted in a post hole 16 and anchored by concrete to a desired height and the concrete has dried, assembly may proceed. Earth removed from the post holes may be used to shore up one end of the plank to level.

[0040] A summary of the principal steps in the process of assembling a fencing system will be discussed briefly in the next 4 paragraphs. Following this summary, a further, more details description of the method will be provided.

[0041] ASSEMBLY SUMMARY: The first step in the assembly is providing first vertical channel 24 and second vertical channels 24, respectively defined by first and second U-shaped members 28, 28 respectively attached to first and second anchored posts. The openings 26, 26 of said first and second vertical channels 24, 24 are oriented facing one another. A first universal support rail 32 comprising a main body 46 having a cross-sectional profile 52 having a rail tongue 54 extending from a first side 56 thereof, and a rail groove 58 formed in an opposite side 60 thereof is oriented with the rail tongue 54 pointing upward and fastened into the first and second vertical channels 24, 24 as a bottom support rail 35.

[0042] Then, into the first and second vertical channels is inserted a plurality of fence planks 12. Each of the fence planks has a first longitudinal edge forming a plank tongue 64 and an opposing longitudinal edge forming a plank groove 62, and the plurality of fence planks is oriented with their plank grooves 62 pointing downward in stacked configuration. In this manner the stack of planks rests on the rail tongue 54 of the universal support rail, receiving the rail tongue 54 within the plank groove 62 of the lower most plank. The remaining planks are stacked tongue in groove on top of one another.

[0043] A second universal support rail 32 is then inserted into the first and second vertical channels to serve as a top rail 33. The second universal support rail 32 has the same structure as the first one; namely, a main body 32 having a cross-sectional profile 52 having a rail tongue 54 extending from a first side thereof, and a rail groove 58 formed in an opposite side thereof. Again, the second universal support rail 32 (top rail 33) is oriented with the rail tongue 54 pointing upward and the rail groove 58 pointing downward and receives therein a plank tongue 64 of one of the uppermost one of the plurality of fence planks. This second universal support rail serves as a top rail 33 in 6 foot horizontal fence assemblies. A frame 39 is formed around the fence planks by the bottom universal support rail 35 fastened 3 within the two vertical channels 24, 24 supporting the fence planks on top of its rail tongue 54, and the top universal support rail 33 fastened within the two vertically oriented channels 24, 24 and receiving the plank tongue 64 of the uppermost one of the fence planks within its rail groove 58. This framing effect permits the plurality of fence planks 12 to float freely within the frame 39, with out the need to fasten every plank to the U-shaped members 28, 28. The free floating capability accommodates any warping or distortion that the composite fence planks may experience due to thermal expansion when exposed to sunlight or heat. If the composite planks were individually fastened to the U-shaped members, they could tear at the fastening points during thermal expansion.

[0044] For taller fences it is advantageous to add a third universal support rail 32 to serve as a mid rail 37 to the horizontal fence assembly. The addition of a mid rail 37 is accomplished by fastening another universal support rail 32 into the first and second vertical channels at a selected height in the same manner as the previous installation of the other universal support rails 32, also oriented with their rail tongues 54 pointing upward and their rail grooves 58 pointing downward. A mid attachment area 41 may be provided on the U-shaped members for this purpose. Another plurality of fence planks 12 is inserted into the first and second vertical channels 24, 24 to rest on the mid universal support rail 37. Once assembled, the mid rail 37 is positioned between two stacks of fence planks. The mid rail 37 relieves some of the weight due to the presence of a larger number of fence planks bearing on the bottom rail 35, and acts to strengthen the frame 39 around the fence planks to improve strength and stability of the complete horizontal fence assembly 20.

[0045] ASSEMBLY DETAIL: The first assembly step is placing a first U-shaped member 28 against a first face 22 of a first anchored vertical post 14, and centering, levelling and orienting said first U-shaped member 28 such that a first vertical channel 24 defined by the first U-shaped member 28 provides an opening 26 for receiving at least one universal support rail 32 and a plurality of fence planks 12. The first U-shaped member 28 is fastened to the first face 22 of the first anchored post 14 using self-drilling screws 66.

[0046] The next step is providing a first universal support rail 32 having a main body 46 formed with a cross-sectional profile 52 having a rail tongue 54 extending from a first side 48 thereof, and a rail 58 groove formed in an opposite side 60 thereof. To facilitate levelling and alignment, a user should rest a first end 48 of the first universal support rail 32 on top of the first U-shaped member 28 and raise a second end 50 of the universal support rail 32 to level against a second anchored vertical post and place a leveling mark on the second anchored vertical post.

[0047] Next place a second U-shaped member 28 against a first face of the second anchored vertical post, centering, levelling and orienting the second U-shaped member 28 at the levelling mark. Then fasten the second U-shaped member 28 to the second anchored post in an orientation such that a second vertical channel 24 defined by the second U-shaped member 28 provides a second opening 26 for receiving at least one universal support rail 32 and a plurality of fence planks. The second opening 26 is oriented facing the opening 26 of the first U-shaped member 28.

[0048] Next, measure the distance between the two anchored posts and subtract inch to accommodate the thickness of the U-shaped members 28, 28, and cut a second universal support rail 32 to the length so calculated.

[0049] The first universal support rail 32 is then placed in the opposing vertical channels 24, 24 oriented in such a manner that the rail tongue 54 extending from the first side of the rail body 56 faces upward and the rail groove 58 on the second side of the rail body 56 faces downward and is aligned with the bottom end of each vertically oriented channels 24, 24. The universal support rail is attached to the opposing sides 42, 44 of the vertical channels 24, 24 in the manner aforesaid with self-drilling screws 66 through the pre-drilled 38,38 and 40,40 apertures in each of the first 42 and opposing 44 sides of each vertically oriented channels 24, 24.

[0050] Next, lift a first end 48 of the first universal support rail 32 flush with a bottom of the first channel 24 and fasten by screwing a self-drilling screw into a pre-drilled hole in an attachment area adjacent the bottom of the first channel 24. Then lift the second end 50 of the first universal support rail 32 flush with a bottom of the second channel 24 and screw a self drilling screw into a pre-drilled hole of an attachment area adjacent the bottom of the second channel 24 to fasten.

[0051] Next, confirm that the first universal support rail 32 is level, and fully secure it within the first and second channels 24,24 by screwing the remaining self-drilling screws into the first U-shaped member 28 and the second U-shaped member 28. Then insert one fence plank 12 having a first longitudinal edge forming a plank tongue 64 and an second longitudinal edge forming a plank groove 62 into the first channel 24 and the second channel 24 of the first U-shaped member 28 and the second U-shaped member 28 oriented to receive the rail tongue 54 of the universal supporting rail 32 within the plank groove 62. The universal support installed in this manner which will serve as the bottom universal support rail 35.

[0052] Each of the steps discussed in paragraphs 38-44 should be repeated sequentially for each horizontal fencing assembly 20 to form a fencing line of the desired length. Install a universal support rail 32 between the U-shaped members attached to each pair of vertical posts in the fence line before starting to stack the other fence planks. This practice will keep all the vertical posts level in the fencing system straight during installation and prevent them from pulling toward the finished panel.

[0053] A series of composite fence planks 12 are then slid into position between opposing vertical channels 24, 24 such that the plank groove 62 along the bottom longitudinal edge of each fence plank is oriented downwardly to receive the plank tongue 64 along the upper longitudinal edge of the fence plank immediately below. Once the desired number of planks are installed the last fence plank should have an upwardly oriented protruding plank tongue 64 along the upper longitudinal edge thereof.

[0054] It is preferred to slide the planks into position in a staged manner. Once the universal support rail 32 is installed and secured in the vertical channels 24, 24, slip in three or four planks into the channels 24, 24 on top of the bottom universal support rails 35 throughout the fence line. Do not stack or finish one full horizontal fence assembly at a time. This could pull vertical posts toward the finished panel. Instead, create a low stack (about 4 planks), for each assembly in the fence line, then mid-height (another 4 planks), then top, (last 4 or more planks) until the desired height of the fence is achieved.

[0055] Then, insert a second universal support rail 32 into the first 24 and the second 24 vertical channels defined by the first U-shaped member 28 and second U-shaped member 28 to serve as a top universal support rail 33. The top universal support rail 33 is oriented with the rail tongue 54 pointing upward. Preferably the top edge of the top horizontal rail 33 will be flush with the top end of each of the opposing U-shaped members 28, 28. The two ends 48, and 50 the top horizontal rail 33 is then screwed to one of the opposing U-shaped members 28, 28 with self drilling screws through apertures in each side of the U-shaped channels near the top thereof.

[0056] The apertures in opposing sides of each U-shaped member 28 are oriented on a first side at approximately 45 degrees from vertical and the aperture in a second side of each U-shaped member is oriented at 90 degrees from the aperture on the first side of each U-shaped member. Once all the fence planks have been inserted and the fence looks complete, the tops of the vertical posts may be trimmed if necessary. Finally aluminum fence post caps 68 are attached to the top of each vertical fence post in order to cover and block the open ends of each aluminum fence post from receiving precipitation

[0057] It should be understood that the vertical posts, the U-shaped members forming the vertical channels, and the universal support rails are preferably constructed of aluminum, such parts may be made of other materials which could include other metals or alloys, fiberglass composite or other suitable materials of sufficient strength to support the fence planks and withstand wind, and which would not tend to expand or contract in changing weather conditions.

[0058] The horizontal fencing system may be packaged in kits containing all materials needed to install a fence. Such kits would comprise two U-shaped members 28 at least one universal support rail 32 and a supply of self-drilling screws. Such kits may further comprise a second universal support rail for use as a top rail or an alternate form of top rail. Such kits may further comprise a third universal support rail for use as a mid rail.

[0059] Gates can be added anywhere in the horizontal fencing system by fastening gate hardware between two adjacent vertical posts at the gate position.