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  Fencing system capable of adjusting to a sloping groundUSPTO Application #: 20070278467Title: Fencing system capable of adjusting to a sloping ground Abstract: An adjustable picket fence includes movable joints connecting rails to pickets so the rails can articulate with respect to the pickets whereby the orientation of the rails can be adjusted to accommodate uneven terrain. (end of abstract) Agent: Sung I. Oh, Professional Law Corporation - West Covina, CA, US Inventor: Corey D. Ash USPTO Applicaton #: 20070278467 - Class: 256022000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Fences, Metallic, Picket The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070278467. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the general art of fences, and to the particular field of picket fences. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Fences made of wood, stone, brick, metal and other materials have been used for many years for a variety of reasons such as to indicate boundaries, to hinder an act of trespass by animals or people and to confine animals or people within an enclosure. Fences may also be used to manage sound, wind, light, sightlines and for purely aesthetic reasons. Since fences have multiple purposes, a variety of styles have evolved over the years. Wood fences in particular seem to have the widest variety of designs, including a woven-board style, a solid abutting picket board style, a staggered picket board style and a louvered style [0003] Picket fences are well known. They consist of a number of vertical members, called "pickets," secured to at least two horizontal supports to form a panel. A number of these panels are then secured together with pickets that are anchored in the ground or other suitable mounting surface. Picket fences are typically used as protective barriers around private properties, swimming pools, gardens and the like, and may include decorative features. This type of fence is typically constructed and installed by a skilled artisan. For this reason, they are usually quite expensive. [0004] More recently, a less costly type of picket fence has emerged. This type of picket fence is constructed of a collection of pre-fabricated components that are packaged and sold through retail outlets. The components are designed to be easily put together by the average "do-it-yourself" type of consumer. This type of fence also serves as an effective barrier to unwanted guests and may also be aesthetically pleasing. [0005] Common techniques for positioning and supporting a fence rail during assembly of a fence are well known. In typical practice, a plurality of fence pickets are positioned carefully on railings and slightly above the ground. Fence rails are then mounted between and to the fence pickets by fasteners, the fasteners frequently being screws, bolts, nails or other like mechanical fasteners which are driven, screwed or otherwise inserted through the fence rail. [0006] The formation of a fence and particularly the connecting, positioning and supporting of the fence rails against the fence pickets can frequently be a labor-intensive and time-consuming process requiring use of multiple tools. Moreover, a fence rail, once mounted to a fence picket using typical means, may be difficult to remove and re-position at a different angle or elevation. Indeed, repeated installation and removal of the same fence picket may, in common practice, puncture, damage or deface the fence rail and even the connected fence pickets. Yet further, removal and repositioning of a fence rail, even where possible, is often a labor-intensive and time-consuming process requiring use of multiple tools. Moreover, construction on uneven terrain is often particularly complex, even requiring a customized structure and special skills. [0007] Problems appear to exist, however, with the methods of construction known to the inventor in that each appears to be a complicated method which requires the purchase of multiple individual specific components to complete and which permits little room for modifications to address variable needs. [0008] There accordingly exists a need for an invention which facilitates rapid, efficient, sturdy, yet easily-modifiable connection and positioning of fence rails along a fence by even a relatively unskilled user at a user-selected, user-modifiable elevation and at a user-selected, user-modifiable angle. A need additionally exists for a means and a method which accomplishes the foregoing purposes without need of tools or additional fasteners and without damage to the fence picket or attached fence rails. [0009] The inventor is aware that because of the relative ease of installation, buying prefabricated fence sections has become popular. However, without fence sections that can accommodate a slope, the fence sections must be coupled together in a manner that will produce gaps when used on slopes. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a picket fence system that has movable joints between the rails and the pickets whereby the rails can articulate with respect to the pickets. The rails can thus be easily moved into a desired orientation to account for uneven terrain. It is noted that the fence embodying the present invention can be used with many kinds of fencing materials, including, but not limited to, vinyl, wood and metal. [0011] Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES [0012] The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. [0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable picket fence embodying the present invention. [0014] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 3 shows the adjustable fence embodying the present invention in position on uneven terrain. [0016] FIG. 3A shows how the fence embodying the present invention can easily adapt to different slopes. [0017] FIG. 4 shows a swivel joint on a picket. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0018] Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in an adjustable picket fence 10 that is located adjacent to ground G. Fence 10 comprises a plurality of pickets, such as picket 12. Each picket includes a first end 14 which is a top end when the pickets is mounted between two posts (PS) as shown in FIG. 3A, a second end 16 which is a bottom end when the picket is mounted in the PS and a longitudinal axis 18 which extends between first end 14 and second end 16. [0019] A first swivel joint 20 is located near the first end. First swivel joint 20 includes a pivot pin 22 having one end 24 inserted into the picket and a second end 26 that is spaced apart from the picket. A second swivel joint 30 is located near second end 16. Second swivel joint 30 includes a pivot pin 32 which has one end 34 inserted into the picket and a second end 36 that is spaced apart from the picket. Second swivel joint 30 is spaced apart from first swivel joint 20 in the direction of longitudinal axis 18. Continue reading... Full patent description for Fencing system capable of adjusting to a sloping ground Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Fencing system capable of adjusting to a sloping ground patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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