RAILLESS FENCE SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to fences and, more particularly, to fence systems that do not have rails, and methods therefor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a fence having at least two support members, such as posts. At least two sheets of infill material are secured to the support members, and each of the sheets of infill material includes an edge. An edge of each of two adjacent sheets of infill material are received by two channels of at least one union strip for coupling together the at least two sheets of infill material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view exemplifying a fence system embodying features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of the fence system of FIG. 1 ; FIGURE 3 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the fence system of FIG. 2; FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a second alternate embodiment of the fence system of FIG. 1 ; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the fence system of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are, for the sake of clarity, not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by the same reference numeral through the several views.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral 100 generally designates a fence system embodying features of the present invention, but for the coupling together of edges 130 of sheets of infill material 114 (described below), which coupling together is described in further detail below with respect to FIGS. 2-5. The fence system 100 preferably includes a number of support members, such as posts 102 (two of which are shown in FIG. 1), each of which posts preferably include a conventional cap 104 positioned at the top of each respective post. The posts 102 may be of any desired length (e.g., four, eight, or twenty feet), of any desired cross- section (e.g., round, square, elliptical, I-beam, angle iron, and the like), of any desired material (e.g., wood, steel, and the like) and set substantially vertically in the ground, in cement, in a concrete slab, or the like, 103 in any conventional manner desired, with regular or irregular spacing between posts. Infill material 114 is extended across the posts 102 and preferably retained to the posts 102 by two or more brackets, exemplified by brackets 120, such brackets being described in further detail below with respect to FIGS. 2-3. The infill material 114 preferably comprises any material effective for extending across the posts 102, such as, by way of example and not limitation, wire mesh, woven wire mesh, welded wire mesh, single wire panel, double wire panel, twin wire welded wire panel, expanded metal mesh, perforated panel, steel grate panel, solid sheets of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, multi-ply ballistic fiberglass laminate produced from ballistic fiberglass impregnated with a thermo set polyester resin binder, and the like.

FIGURE 2 depicts a plan view of an embodiment 200 of the fence system of FIG. 1, wherein union strips 202 are utilized to couple together the edges 130 of the sheets of infill material 114. As shown in FIG. 2, the infill material 114 preferably comprises cross- wires 114a which run generally vertically in FIG. 1, on both sides of the infill material, and including along the edges 130 (also known as "double wire" panels). The union strips 202 define two channels 202a configured for receiving edges 130 of sheets of the infill material 114, and in particular, for retaining the edges by retaining respective cross-wires 114a which extend along both sides of a respective edge 130 of sheets of infill material 114.

As mentioned above, the infill material 114 is preferably retained to the post 102 by way of the bracket 120. The bracket 120 comprises a wrap 210 which wraps half way around the post 102 and abuts one side of the infill material 114. The

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bracket 120 further comprises a strap 212 which seats on an opposite side of the infill material 114 from the wrap 210 and is secured to the wrap 210, preferably via a fastener 214. The fasteners 214 preferably comprises a bolt (or screw) having a carriage type of head (i.e., a "dome-shaped" head with no driver slot) and square shoulder. The nut of the fastener 214 preferably comprises a conical type head, and a breakaway portion configured for breaking away from the main portion of the nut upon the application of a predetermined amount of torque, thereby rendering the fastener not readily removable, thereby enhancing security still further. The fastener 214 may alternatively comprise a bolt (or screw) having a pan type of head (i.e., a head with a driver slot, such as a Phillips head, a square head, or the like), no square shoulder, and configured for receiving the breakaway nut. It may be appreciated that, with the infill material 114 interposed between the wrap 210 and the strap 212, the infill material is thereby secured to the post 102.

The fence system of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be installed by first setting a plurality of posts 102 in the ground, in cement, in a concrete slab, or the like, 103. The posts 102 may be regularly or irregularly spaced apart. A sheet of infill material 114 is then extended across a post and secured thereto by way of two or more brackets, such as the bracket 120 and fasteners 214. A subsequent sheet of infill material 114 is then positioned adjacent to the first sheet of infill material so that edges 130 are spaced apart for receiving a union strip 202, and the union strip is then slid along the edges 130, receiving the cross-wires 114a, thereby securing together the sheets of infill material. Additional sheets of infill material are thus extended across additional posts until the entire fence is constructed.

FIGURE 3 depicts a plan view of an embodiment 300 of a fence system similar to the fence system of FIGS. 1 and 2, but for the cross- wires 114a extending along only a single side of the infill material 114 (also known as "single wire" panels), though they preferably extend along both sides of the edges 130 for facilitating retention of the edges 130 (also known as "double wire" edges) in the channels 202a. In a still further alternative embodiment (not shown), the cross-wires 114a extend along a single side of the sheet of infill material, even including at the edges 130, and the union strip 202 is configured for retaining an edge 130 having a single cross-wire. Installation of the fence of FIG. 3 would be similar to the installation of the fence of FIGS. 1 and 2.

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FIGURE 4 depicts a plan view of an embodiment 400 of a fence system similar to the fence system of FIGS. 1 and 2, but for utilizing two or more hooks 402 on one edge 130 of each sheet of infill material 114, which hooks engage a corresponding edge 130 of an adjacent sheet of infill material to thereby couple together the edges 130 of the sheets of infill material 114. As shown in FIG. 4, the infill material 114 preferably comprises cross-wires 114a which run generally vertically in FIG. 1 , on both sides of the infill material, and including along the edges 130.

Installation of the fence system 400 is similar to the installation of the fence systems 200 and 300, but for engaging the hooks 402 with an edge 130 of a corresponding sheet of infill material 114, and ensuring that the sheets of infill material are taut with respect to each other to thereby maintain engagement of the hooks with the edges of adjacent sheets of infill material.

FIGURE 5 depicts a plan view of an embodiment 500 of a fence system similar to the fence system of FIGS. 1 and 4, but for being configured with cross- wires 114a extending along but a single side of the infill material 114 (also known as "single wire" panels), though they preferably extend along both sides of the edges 130 (also known as "double wire" edges) for facilitating retention of the edges 130 by the hooks 402. In a still further alternative embodiment (not shown), the cross-wires 114a extend along a single side of the sheet of infill material, even including at the edges 130. Installation of the fence of FIG. 5 would be similar to the installation of the fence of FIG. 4.

By the use of the present invention for security applications, wherein labor and materials are not needed to install horizontal rails across the posts, costs of installation are significantly reduced. Still further, posts may be regularly or irregularly spaced apart, and do not need to be spaced according to the width of sheets if infill material, thereby facilitating still further cost savings.

It is understood that the present invention may take many forms and embodiments. Accordingly, several variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. For example, infill material may be secured to the support members (e.g., posts) 102 by way of welding, or any other mechanism or fastener means. The infill material may comprise other designs providing they include a cross-wire on at least one edge and a cross-wire or hook on

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the other (opposing) edge. While not required, the fence may be reinforced with rails extending from one post to another. Electrical current maybe run through the fence, and/or may be supplemented with other security measures, such as concertina wire.

Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.

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