"Safety net .system" to ter-Haleo inc describe a fencing panel mads .from ^' .woven wire.

It is also known for non-woven fencing panels io be made from strands of razor wire that are welded at their po nts of i tersectio ,

Drawbacks of known unwoven fencing paneis made from strands of razor wire include:

the barbs defined by the razor wire strands are oriented / aligned in substanilaliy th same plane:

s the pane! provides s sorface on which a foot may be supported; and

If the spot welds securing the razor wire strands together are broken, such strands can easily be removed from ^' the fencing panel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide woven razor wire fencing panel that addresses the: above drawbacks.

SU ARY OF THE. INVENTION

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a fencing panel thai includes: a first array of substantially parallel wire strands that are spaced from each other; and a second arra of substantially parallel razor wire strands t ai are spaced from each other, characterised in that: (I) the second array of razor wire strands is woven between the first array of wire strands; and (in the second array of razor wire strands intersect the irst array of wire strands at between SO degrees and 100 degrees.

Typically, the second array of razor wire strands weave around the first array of wire strands along the entire length of the razor wire strands.

Generall , the razor wire strands are welded to the wire strands at their points of intersection.

Preferably, the first array of wire strands am substantially co-planar.

Typically; (i) the wire strands are spaced between 25mm and 300mm; and (ii) the razor wire strands are spaced between 25mm and 200 mm,

Generally;, the first array of wire strands, are rectangular in axiai cross section. The minor edges f isucrs wire strands may be shaped to form projecting ^' formations. More preferably,, adjacent ha!f-cire iar sections may be stamped out of the wire strand to create projecting formations at the intersection of adjacent circular cut-outs.

Typically, the f ncing panel further includes a rectangular frame within which the; wire strands and razor wire strands are secured.

Generally, the fi st array o? wire strands are razor wire strands,

Preferably, the fencing panel is secured between parallei posts, with the second array of razor wire strands running substantially parallel to the posts.

BR! £F DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail, b way of example on y, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fencing panel according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of trie fencing panel In Figure 1 along line A-A; and

F g re 3 is a front view of the fencing panel In Figure 1 secured to fence posts. in this specification, "wire" means an elongate metal body that is formed by drawing, cutting, rolling or stamping,

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention a fencing panel 10: is provided.

The fencing panel 10 includes a first array of substantially paraifei wire strands 12 that are spaced from: each other by between 25mm and 300mm, "-Substantially parallel" is intended :to mean ths adjacent wire strands 12 diverge / converge by less than 5 degrees, preferably, by less than 3 degrees, it is also preferable for each wire strand 2 to lie op t e same plane, albeit that a deviation of 5mm from the plane is accepted (i.e. "-substantially coplanar).

The fencing panel 10 further includes a second array of substantiall ^' parallel razor wire strands 1 that are spaced from eac other by between 25mm and 260mm. "Substantially parallel" is intended to mean that adjacent razor wire strands 14 diverge / converge by less than 5 degrees, preferably, by less than 3 degrees, it -s also preferable for each razor wire strand 14 to. lie on the same plane, albeit that a deviation of Smm ffom the plane Is accepted (Le, "subsfantisi!y coplanar"). The second array of razor wire strands 1 is woven between the first array of wire strands 12. In other words, each razor wire strand 14 moves from side to side to progress around consecutive wire strands 12. Importantly, the razor wire strand 14 weaves past wire strands 12 along the entire length of the razor wire strand 14, so as to adopt continuous sinusoidal shape. Since the barbs 15 defined by the razor wire strand are oriented along the axis of the razor wire strand 14, such sinusoidal shape causes the alignment / orientation of the barbs 16 - to vary along the length of each razor wire strand 14. Furthermore, the second array of razor wire strands 14 is angularly offset relative to the first array of wire strands 12 by between 80 degress and 100 degrees, such that the razor wire strands 14 intersect the wire strands 12 by between 00 degrees and 100 degrees. ^' Preferably, the second arra of razor wire strands 14 run orthogonal to the first array of wire strands 2, and ihe wire strands 12 and razor wine strands 14 are welded to each other at their points of intersection.

Although the Figures show the second array of razor wire strands 14 with the barbs 16 of each alternate strand 14 aligned, it will be appreciated that the barbs 16 need not be aligned. In other words, the barbs 18 on adjacent and alternate strands 14 could be longitudinally offset / sp ced.

^R « "aus n the raz^ wire strands 14 to adopt a sinusoidal shape, and thereby varying the alignment /orientation of the barbs 18 defined by the razor re strands 14, the potentiat ion ihe barbs 16 to snag a passing proximal object: is Increased, Furthermore, as the razor wire strands 14 are forced to curve around: the wire strands 12, a few of the barbs 1S defined by the razor wire strands 14 are deformed, causing the barbs 16 to extend angularly from the longitudinal axis of the razor wire strand 14. This deformation further Increases the chance of the barbs 1S _: snagging a passing, proximal object.

Finally, since adjacent razor w!re _: strands 14 pass a wire strand 12 on opposite sides of the wire strand 14, the continuous surface that the wire strand 12 provides for supporting a foot thereon is limited to a length of twice the spacing of adjacent razor wire strands 14. f urthermore, a foot supported by the wire strand 12 support surface is likely to be pierced by a barb IS defined by the razor wire strands 14. This should be contrasted with prior a ; unwoven razor wire panels, which provided; (!) a support surface along the entire ength of the horizontal strands: and (ii) a much lower likelihood that a foot supported on the horizontal strand would be pierced by the razor wire strands. Returning to the fencing panel 10 according to the present Invention , it will also be appreciated that, should the welded connections between the wire strands 12. and razor wire strands 14 be broken, the fact that the razor wire strands 14 are woven between the wire strands 12, renders it difficult to remove either th wire strands 12 or the razor wire strands 14 from the fencing panel 10 For instance, to remove a razor wire strand 14 from the fencing panel 10, such strand 14 would h ve to be threaded axisiiy from between the wire strands 12. And, such axial movement would cause the barbs 16 defined by the razor wire strand 14 to snag on the wire strand 12. limiting further -axiai movement ^' of the razor wire strand 14. In addition, weaving the second array of razor wire strands 14 around the first array of wire strands 12 increases the rigidity of the fencing pane: 10.

Although ins wire strands 12 have been shown as being circular in axial cross-section (i.e. in section cut orthogonally to t e longitudinal axis of the si 12}, the ire strands 12 could be rectangular in axial cross-section. This would render the wire strands 12 more difficult to cut with a wire cutter. Even further, the minor edges of the rectangular cross-section wire strands 12 could be shape to form projecting formations. For example, adjacent half- circular sections could be stamped out of the wire strand 12 to create projections at th intersection of adjacent-circular cut-outs. This would make the wire strand 12 difficult to hold.

The fencing panel 10 also includes a rectangular frame: 18 made from angle, or channel sections, within ^' which frame 10 the first array of wire strands 12 and the second array of razor wire strands 14 are secured.

Optionally, the wire strands 12 could also be razor wire strands. But, this is not shown In the Figures.

Turning to Figure 3, the fencing panel 10 Is, in use, secured between parallel fence posts 20 with the second array of razor wins 14 funning Substantially parallel to the posts 20 (i.e. not diverging from / converging to the posts 20 by more than 5 degrees). In this arrangement, the razor wire strands 14 run vertically, while the wire strands 12 run horizontally.