Fence or Deck Post Cap

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to caps for fastening to the tops of fence or deck posts and, more particularly, to caps made of plastic.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known to make fence or deck post caps from wood or PVC resin with a UV stabilizer. A problem with wooden caps is that they often disintegrate over time when exposed to weather. Another drawback with both existing wood and plastic caps is the way such caps are typically mounted to fence and deck posts. Prior art caps are typically made as a single piece which is screwed into the top of the post and centered by the eyesight of the installer. The cap and the post must typically be made by the same manufacturer in order for the cap to snugly and evenly fit on the top of the post. These sizing problems are encountered because post manufacturers make posts having variations in wall thickness. These variations in wall thickness are due to the different extrusion tolerances and varying post product lines present among the different fence post manufacturers.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide a cap made of plastic which is not susceptible to deterioration caused by weather. It would also be advantageous to equip the cap with means for fitting the cap evenly on top of a fence or deck post despite differences in tolerance from one post to another. It would also be desirable to provide a mechanism to ensure that the parting lines on the cap are properly aligned when installed.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved fence or deck post cap which is durable, easy to properly assemble and install, and which fits on a post in a manner which compensates for varying post thicknesses and tolerances.

The present invention relates to a fence or deck post cap which includes a base having a recessed portion and downward extending sidewalls; a cap portion having an upper cap portion and a rod depending from the upper cap portion, the rod being receivable in the recessed portion of the base; and wedges on an interior of each sidewall of the base.

The cap portion comprises a first half and a second half and means for joining the two halves together (for example, by a snap fit). The base preferably has three wedges on the interior of each sidewall, and the rod is fastened in the recessed portion of the base by means of glue or the like. The recessed portion of the base has an outer edge which is shaped substantially as a circle and has a first flat section on the outer edge. The rod of the cap portion has a second flat section which engages with the first flat section to provide a key for restricting rotational movement of the rod in the base and to set the parting lines on the cap appropriately. The fence or deck post cap further has means for fastening the base to the top of a post. The upper cap portion may be shaped as a tear drop, a ball, a diamond or any other desired shape. The fence or deck post cap is made out of plastic.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of three caps attached to posts according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing how a cap, according to the invention, snaps together and is fitted into a base;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the base of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cap fitted into a base, the base being screwed into a post.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cap 10 for a fence or deck post is made of plastic, preferably vinyl PVC, and comprises a cap portion 12 fastened to a base 14. The plastic cap 10 is durable and is not susceptible to deterioration due to weather effects, as is the case with prior art fence or deck post caps, made of wood or other materials.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cap portion 12 comprises two halves 12a, 12b which are connected by a snap 18 creating a parting line at the joint between the two halves. When properly installed, the parting line is parallel with the length of the fence or deck 13 to provide uniformity and promote the appearance of solid fence or deck post caps, despite the two-part construction.

The cap portion 12 further comprises an upper cap portion 20 and a rod 22. The upper cap portion 20 may be shaped as a tear drop, a diamond, a ball or any other desired shape. The rod 22 is substantially circular and is received in and glued to a recessed portion 24 in the center of the base 14. The rod 22 and the recessed portion 24 are both notched with flat sections 26, 28 in order to prevent rotational movement of the rod 22 in the recessed portion 24. The flat portions 26, 28 also provide a key to ensure the installer sets the parting lines of the cap 10 in parallel alignment with the direction of the fencing (or decking) 13.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the base 14 and shows the flat section 28 on the outer edge of the recessed portion 24. Three wedges 30 are located on the interior of each sidewall 25 of the base 14. The wedges 30 are preferably on the order of 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide. The wedges 30 serve as shims of gradually increasing thicknesses to allow the base 14 to fit on varying posts 16, despite differences in thickness and tolerances, caused by the extrusion process in making plastic posts, or due to the use of posts from different manufacturers.

FIG. 4 depicts the cap portion 12 inserted in the base 14 in cross-section. The base 14 is snugly and evenly fitted over the post 16 through contact of the wedges 30 on the outer, upper edges of the post 16. The base 14 is fastened to the post 16 by means of glue placed on the inside surfaces of the base 14, or by screws extended through the sidewalls 25 of the base 14.

The present invention thus provides an improved fence or deck post cap with enhanced durability and the capability to fit posts of varying thicknesses and tolerances. The fence or deck post cap of the present invention also provides a built-in mechanism for properly aligning the cap to maximize its aesthetic appeal. An installer may quickly and efficiently install the base and cap portion of the present invention, without relying solely on his or her eyesight to properly align the cap.

Having described the presently preferred embodiments and best mode of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.