Fence connector assembly

Claim 1

A fence assembly comprising: a substantially vertical post, a connector assembly and a generally horizontal rail having two ends; said connector assembly comprising a connector bracket, said connector bracket having a vertical sleeve defining a vertical cavity for receiving a post; said sleeve having at least one pair of laterally spaced side members projecting from at least one side of said sleeve, said side members being substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart sufficient to receive one end of at least one rail therebetween; a threaded aperture through said sleeve; said members being astraddle said aperture; at least one L-shaped mounting stud having a substantially horizontal leg and an upwardly oriented substantially vertical leg, said horizontal leg being in threaded engagement with said aperture for securing said connector bracket to the post, and said vertical leg having a distal end spaced from said bracket sleeve; and said rail having a vertical opening spaced from the end of said rail, said opening being larger than said distal end of the said vertical leg to freely fit thereover, and being spaced from the end of said rail an amount less than the spacing of said distal end from said sleeve to space the end of said rail from said sleeve and allow said rail to have limited pivotal movement on said vertical leg between said side members to accommodate uneven terrain.