US20030075712A1

US20030075712A1 - Fence assembly with lighting capability

Info

Publication number: US20030075712A1
Application number: US10/010,291
Authority: US
Inventors: Chang-Yuan Lin
Original assignee: Yuan Mei Decorative Lamp and Painting Co Ltd
Current assignee: Yuan Mei Decorative Lamp and Painting Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-22
Filing date: 2001-10-22
Publication date: 2003-04-24

Abstract

A fence assembly includes at least one frame unit and a lamp assembly. The frame unit is formed integrally from plastic, and includes a plate body and a peripheral flange. The plate body includes at least one first post portion and at least one second post portion that forms an angle with the first post portion. The peripheral flange extends rearwardly from a periphery of the plate body such that the plate body and the peripheral flange cooperate to confine a receiving space at a rear surface of the plate body. The lamp assembly includes at least one lamp socket secured on the plate body, at least one light bulb mounted on a corresponding lamp socket, and a power cord connected to the lamp socket. The power cord is disposed in the receiving space and is adapted to be connected to a power source.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a fence assembly, more particularly to a fence assembly with a lighting capability.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional fence assembly is generally designed to barricade a certain area, such as a yard, a garden, and private property, and is not capable of producing light. If the conventional fence assembly is to be provided with lighting, a lot of energy, time, and money will be wasted, especially when the length of the conventional fence assembly is relatively long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a fence assembly with a lighting capability so as to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Accordingly, a fence assembly of this invention comprises at least one frame unit and a lamp assembly. The frame unit is formed integrally from plastic, and includes a plate body and a peripheral flange. The plate body has front and rear surfaces, and includes at least one first post portion and at least one second post portion. The second post portion is connected to and forms an angle with first post portion. The peripheral flange extends rearwardly from a periphery of the plate body such that the plate body and the peripheral flange cooperate to confine a receiving space at the rear surface of the plate body. The lamp assembly includes at least one lamp socket, at least one light bulb, and a power cord. The lamp socket is secured on the plate body at the rear surface of the plate body. The light bulb is mounted on a corresponding lamp socket, and is disposed at the front surface of the plate body. The power cord is connected to the lamp socket, is disposed in the receiving space, and is adapted to be connected to a power source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: [0007]
FIGS. 1 and 2 are front and rear perspective views of the first preferred embodiment of a fence assembly according to the present invention; [0008]
FIG. 3 is fragmentary perspective view illustrating a first manner of connection between a coupling block and a coupling hole of an adjacent frame unit; [0009]
FIG. 4 is fragmentary perspective view illustrating a second manner of connection between the coupling block and the coupling hole of the adjacent frame unit; [0010]
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a third manner of connection between the coupling block and the coupling hole of the adjacent frame unit; [0011]
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a decorative cap of the fence assembly of the present invention; and [0012]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a fence assembly according to the present invention.[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure. [0014]
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment of a [0015] fence assembly 1 according to the present invention is shown to comprise at least one frame unit 11 and a lamp assembly 12. The frame unit 11 is formed integrally from plastic, and includes a plate body 111 and a peripheral flange 112. The plate body 11 has front and rear surfaces 1111, 1112, and includes at least one first post portion 1113 and at least one second post portion 1114. Each of the first post portions 1113 extends horizontally so as to be disposed in parallel with the ground surface, and has opposite ends formed with complementary interlocking units 13 for interconnecting adjacent ones of the frame units 11. The complementary interlocking units 13 on the opposite ends of the first post portion 1113 include a coupling block 131 and a coupling hole 132 for engaging the coupling block 131 on the first post portion 1113 of the adjacent one of the frame units 11. Each of the coupling block 131 and the coupling hole 132 has a rectangular cross-section. The second post portion 1114 extends vertically and is connected transversely to the first post portion 1113. In this embodiment, the plate body 111 includes two first post portions 1113 and six second post portions 1114. Two of the second post portions 1114 are formed with a stake end 1115 adapted to be planted in a ground surface. The peripheral flange 112 extends rearwardly from a periphery of the plate body 111 such that the plate body 111 and the peripheral flange 112 cooperate to confine a receiving space 113 at the rear surface 1112 of the plate body 111.
The [0016] lamp assembly 12 includes at least one lamp socket 121, at least one light bulb 122, and a power cord 123. The lamp socket 121 is secured at the rear surface 1112 of the plate body 111. The light bulb 122 is mounted on a corresponding lamp socket 121, and is disposed at the front surface 1112 of the plate body 111. The power cord 123 is connected electrically to each lamp socket 121, and disposed in the receiving space 113. The power cord 123 further has a first end provided with an electrical plug 1231, and a second end provided with an electrical socket 1232 for connecting electrically with the electrical plug 1231 of an adjacent frame unit 11. A cover plate (not shown) can be disposed on the rear side of the frame unit 11 to protect the power cord 123 from bad weather. The lamp assembly 13 further includes at least one decorative cap 121 mounted removably on the front surface 1111 of the plate body 111, and disposed to surround a corresponding light bulb 122. As shown in FIG. 6, the decorative cap 121 is formed with a pair of anchor projections 1210 and a center hole 1211 for extension of the light bulb 122 therethrough. Each of the anchor projections 1210 has a hook end 1212. The front surface 1111 of the plate body 111 is formed with a pair of anchor holes 115 for engaging removably the anchor projections 1212. Each of the anchor holes 115 has a wider hole section 1151 and a narrower hole section 1152. The wider hole section 1151 permits passage of the hook end 1212 of a corresponding one of the anchor projections 1210 therethrough when the hook end 1212 is registered with the wider hole section 1151. The narrower hole section 1152 prevents removal of the hook end 1212 of the corresponding one of the anchor projections 1210 from the plate body 111 when the decorative cap 121 is turned relative to the plate body 111 so as to register the hook end 1212 with the narrower hole section 1152.
In use, the [0017] interlocking units 13 of the adjacent frame units 11 are interconnected to achieve the desired length of the fence assembly 1. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the coupling block 131 can engage the coupling hole 132 of the adjacent frame unit 11 such that the adjacent frame units 11 are aligned with each other or are transverse to each other to suit the intended environment. Alternatively, if the coupling block 131 is resilient, the coupling block 131 can be bent upon engagement with the coupling hole 132 of the adjacent frame unit 11 such that the adjacent frame units 11 are transverse to each other, as best shown in FIG. 5. After the fence assembly 1 is assembled, the electrical plug 1231 and the electrical socket 1232 of the adjacent frame units 11 are interconnected, and the electrical plug 1231 of one of the frame units 11 is connected to a power source, thereby enabling the light bulbs 122 in the light sockets 121 on each of the frame units 11 to radiate light.
FIG. 7 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of a [0018] fence assembly 1 according to the present invention. Unlike the first preferred embodiment, two of the second post portions 1114 of the plate body 111 are formed with a leg end 1116 adapted to stand on a ground surface.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. [0019]

Claims

I claim:

1. A fence assembly comprising:

at least one frame unit, said frame unit being formed integrally from plastic, said frame unit including a plate body with front and rear surfaces, and a peripheral flange extending rearwardly from a periphery of said plate body such that said plate body and said peripheral flange cooperate to confine a receiving space at said rear surface of said plate body, said plate body including at least one first post portion and at least one second post portion that is connected to and that forms an angle with said at least one first post portion; and

a lamp assembly including at least one lamp socket secured on said plate body at said rear surface of said plate body, at least one light bulb mounted on a corresponding said lamp socket and disposed at said front surface of said plate body, and a power cord connected to said at least one lamp socket and disposed in said receiving space, said power cord being adapted to be connected to a power source.

2. The fence assembly of claim 1, wherein said second post portion extends vertically and is formed with a stake end adapted to be planted in a ground surface.

3. The fence assembly of claim 1, wherein said second post portion extends vertically and is formed with a leg end adapted to stand on a ground surface.

4. The fence assembly of claim 1, comprising a plurality of said frame units, wherein said first post portion of each of said frame units extends horizontally and has opposite ends formed with complementary interlocking units for interconnecting adjacent ones of said frame units.

5. The fence assembly of claim 4, wherein said complementary interlocking units on said opposite ends of said first post portion include a coupling block and a coupling hole for engaging said coupling block on said first post portion of the adjacent one of said frame units.

6. The fence assembly of claim 5, wherein each of said coupling block and said coupling hole has a rectangular cross-section.

7. The fence assembly of claim 1, wherein said power cord has a first end provided with an electrical plug and a second end provided with an electrical socket.

8. The fence assembly of claim 1, wherein said lamp assembly further includes at least one decorative cap mounted removably on said front surface of said plate body and disposed to surround a corresponding said light bulb.

9. The fence assembly of claim 8, wherein said decorative cap is formed with a pair of anchor projections, said front surface of said plate body being formed with a pair of anchor holes for engaging removably said anchor projections.

10. The fence assembly of claim 9, wherein each of said anchor projections has a hook end, each of said anchor holes having a wider hole section that permits passage of said hook end of a corresponding one of said anchor projections therethrough when said hook end is registered with said wider hole section, and a narrower hole section that prevents removal of said hook end of the corresponding one of said anchor projections from said plate body when said hook end is registered with said narrower hole section.