Privacy fence inserts with locking member
View Patent ↗Privacy systems for a fence include a plurality of elongated privacy inserts positioned in at least one locking member having a plurality of locking tabs. The locking member is laterally inserted into the bottom of a chain link fence perpendicular to the privacy inserts. Apertures near the bottom edges of the front and rear sides of the privacy inserts engage the locking tabs thereby retaining the privacy inserts in alignment in the chain link fence. The locking tabs on front and rear support walls of the locking member are preferably laterally offset from each other.
1. A privacy system for a fence comprising
a plurality of privacy inserts and a locking member, said plurality of privacy inserts being insertable into said locking member,
said privacy inserts each including an elongated body having a front, face, a rear lace and at least one side;
said elongated body including a first end and a second end;
said front face having a front notch and said rear face having a rear notch, both of said notches being equally spaced from said first end so that the notches are in alignment with each other, said notches being located at a distance from the first end so as to receive locking tabs of said locking member when the elongated body is inserted into said locking member;
said notches having a width (W) less than a width of said elongated body and a height (H);
said locking member including a front support, a rear support spaced from said front support, and a connector portion connecting said front support and said rear support, said supports and said connector portion defining it channel within which said elongated body is insertable;
each of said front support and said rear support including an inner surface and an outer surface wherein the respective inner surfaces generally face each other;
said front support including a first plurality of spaced locking tabs, said first plurality of spaced locking tabs being integrally formed with said front support and extending inwardly; and
said rear support including a second plurality of spaced locking tabs, said second plurality of spaced locking tabs being integrally formed with said rear support and extending inwardly, the first plurality of locking tabs on said front support being positioned laterally offset from said second plurality of locking tabs on said rear support;
each locking tab of said first and second plurality of spaced locking tabs having a width extending from a first side to a second side of a locking tab and a distance from said first side of one locking tab to said second side of an adjacent locking tab being less than said width (W) of said notches, and
said first and second plurality of spaced locking tabs being dimensioned and spaced so that both the front notch and the rear notch of said elongated, body inserted into said locking member receives at least one of said first and second plurality of spaced locking tabs, respectively, and
at least one of said front and rear notches receives a plurality of either said first plurality of spaced locking tabs or said second plurality of spaced locking tabs.
2. The privacy system for a fence according to claim 1 , wherein the width of an said elongated body is less than a total distance spanned by three contiguous locking tabs and three spaces between said contiguous locking tabs.
3. The privacy system for a fence according to claim 1 , wherein said elongated body is generally tubular.
4. The privacy system for a fence according to claim 3 , wherein said elongated body includes a generally oblong cross section defined by said front face, said rear face, a right side and a left side.
5. The privacy system for a fence according to claim 1 , wherein said connector portion includes a plurality of openings.
6. The privacy system for a fence according to claim 1 , wherein said locking tabs include a first surface generally facing said connector portion and a second surface generally facing away from said connector portion.
7. The privacy system for a fence according to claim 6 , wherein said second surface extends at an angle inwardly and toward said connector portion to facilitate insertion of a privacy insert into said locking member.
8. The privacy system for a fence according to claim 7 , wherein said first surface is substantially perpendicular to a closest one of said front support and said rear support.
9. The privacy system for a fence according to claim 7 , wherein said first surface extends at an angle inwardly and toward said connector portion to impede removal of a privacy insert from said locking member.
10. The privacy system for a fence according to claim 1 , wherein said locking tabs are angled toward said connector portion.
11. The privacy system for a fence according to claim 1 , wherein said front and rear supports include holes adjacent to said locking tabs.
12. The privacy system for a fence according to claim 1 , wherein portions of said front and rear supports spaced from said connector portion are flared outwardly to facilitate insertion of a privacy insert into said locking member.