US20070252125A1 - Modular fencing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular fencing system is disclosed, comprising panels of tubular frame and welded wire mesh, bases adapted to engage with and support the panels, coupling brackets and tie-downs, and optionally including no-climb panels. The system may also include mating pallet and stowage baskets for transporting and storing the components of the system.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The use of portable fencing is well known and finds a wide variety of security and safety applications varying from crowd control at sporting events, festivals and concerts to the provision of security at construction sites to pet enclosures and temporary livestock enclosures and routers. However, such portable fencing has a variety of drawbacks, chief among which are the lack of modularity and the difficulty of storing, handling, transporting, assembling and disassembling the same.
• There is therefore a need in the art for a portable modular fencing system that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks. This need is met by the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• According to the present invention, there is provided a modular fencing system that is easily storable and transportable, and that may be quickly installed and broken down. The principle features of the fencing system include the following:
• • (1) panels of tubular frame and welded wire mesh wherein the mesh is welded to the inside of the tubular frame;
  • (2) optional bases having adjacent pairs of upright male members adapted to mate with adjacent tubular frames of (1);
  • (3) optional base weights that loop over the male members of (2);
  • (4) coupling brackets for coupling the tubular frames of adjacent panels of (1);
  • (5) optional tie-downs to aid in securing (1) to (2);
  • (6) optional no-climb panels of U-shaped tubular frames and welded wire mesh having exposed wires on the open side of the U-shape;
  • (7) straight or angled coupling brackets for connecting (6) to (1);
  • (8) optional reflective tape or paint on (1); and
  • (9) mateable pallet and stowage basket for storing and transporting items (1)-(7).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the system of the invention.
• FIG. 2 is an elevational view of an exemplary panel of the invention.
• FIGS. 3A and 3B show detail of the wire mesh welds of the panels of the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary base and base weights of the invention.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary no-climb extension of the invention.
• FIGS. 6A and 6B are elevational views of exemplary vertical and angled connectors, respectively, for connecting no-climb extensions to the panels.
• FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views of exemplary couplers for coupling adjacent panels.
• FIG. 8 is an elevational view of an exemplary tie-down of the invention.
• FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary storage and transport pallet and basket combination of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• Referring to the drawings, wherein the same numerals refer to the same elements, there is shown inFIG. 1 an exploded perspective view of the fencing system of the invention with adjacentrectilinear panels1 secured tobase15 and secured together at the upper ends of the panels bycoupling bracket24, and at the lower portion secured tobase15 by tie-downs25.Angle connector23 attaches no-climb extension18 to the top ofpanel1 at an angle, preferably about 45°.
• As seen inFIGS. 1-2,panel1 comprises atubular frame10 preferably welded together, anoptional cross brace11, also preferably welded toframe10 at about the mid-point of the panel, andwire mesh12.Tubular frame10 may be rectangular, triangular, square or round in cross-section, preferably the latter.Wire mesh12 is preferably formed of a metal such as steel, and is preferably welded atintersections13 of the horizontal and vertical elements of the mesh, as shown inFIG. 3A. The terminus of each wire mesh element is preferably secured to approximately the center oftubular frame12 on the inside of the frame atpoints14; when the wire mesh is formed of metal, the means of attachment topoints14 is preferably by welding. Details of the preferred form of attachment ofwire mesh12 totubular frame10 are shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B. This arrangement permits the panels to easily slide past each other during insertion into and removal from, for example, a truck and/or a storage/transport pallet, described below. It also permits the panels to be handled and assembled safely without concern for injury by any sharp point. And if the system is used to confine a pet, there is similarly no risk of injury to the pet. The panels may also be provided with a reflective coating and/or reflective tape on, for example, aplate7asecured towire mesh12 or totubular frame10 in theareas7b, preferably both, so as to make the fencing system more visible at night.
• Base15 is shown inFIG. 4, and comprises uprightmale members16 designed to accept the open ends oftubular frame10 from adjacent panels, as well as a tie-down loop17 designed to cooperate with tie-down25, as described below. When used in a four-panel rectangular or square configuration,bases15 may be dispensed with, as long as the panels are coupled together bycouplers24, described below. Because the open ends offrame10 may pivot uponmale members16 ofbase15, a panel may be aligned in the same plane as the adjacent panel or at virtually any angle relative thereto, e.g., from about 30° to about 270°. Another feature of the inventive fencing system is that one panel may be converted to a gate by simply leaving that panel unattached to coupling bracket5 on both ends and unattached tomale member16 on one end; the opening and closing of such a “gate panel” may be facilitated by attaching a caster wheel (not shown) to the free end of the panel.Base15 is preferably formed of a heavy material such as steel plate, so as to add stability to the fencing system.Base15 may also be provided withholes8 near one or both ends of the plate, the holes designed to accept spikes (not shown) to further enhance stability of the system.Optional base weights9 may be placed onbase15 by loopingbase weight loops9aovermale members16 to further stabilize the system (loops9amay also be used as carrying handles).
• An optional no-climb extension18 is shown inFIG. 5, and comprises a generally U-shapedtubular frame19 having open-ended wire mesh20 secured to the inner portion offrame19 withspot welds21, preferably in the same fashion as discussed above in connection withpanel1. The cross-section oftubular frame19 should be the same as the cross-section of paneltubular frame10 so as to facilitate connection of the two. Open-ended wire mesh20 is similarly comprised of horizontal and vertical wire elements secured to each other at their intersections, as in the case ofwire mesh12 ofpanels1, discussed above. Becausewire mesh20 is open-ended, the exposedends20aof the wire effectively discourage a person from climbing over the fence for fear of either being punctured byopen ends20aor having his or her clothes getting snagged on the same.
• Optional no-climb extensions18 are secured totubular frame10 by either avertical connector22, shown inFIG. 6A, or anangled connector23, shown inFIG. 6B.Vertical connector22 connects no-climb extension18 totubular frame10 in a vertical or upright orientation, whileangled connector23 connects no-climb extension18 totubular frame10 at an angle, the most preferred angle being about 45°. Bothconnectors22 and23 are provided withflanges22aand23a, respectively, the flanges serving as a stop relative to bothtubular frame10 and no-climb extension18.
• Panels1 are optionally coupled together in their upper portions bycoupler24 or24′, shown inFIGS. 7A and 7B, respectively.Coupler24 comprises two identical C-shaped brackets24ajoined by aflat section24bhaving a hole therethrough to accept a nut andbolt combination24c.Coupler24′ is of substantially the same design ascoupler24, with the exception that, instead of a nut and bolt connection, alocking pin24dandcam24earrangement is used to draw the two C-shaped brackets together and lock them securely in place on adjoining tubular frames.Pin24dis secured, preferably by welding, to theflat portion24bof one of the C-shaped brackets24a.Cam24eis preferably pivotally mounted onpin24dand provided with ahole24ftherein designed to receivecam lever24g.Cam lever24g, used to rotatecam24einto and out of locking position, is shown in phantom inFIG. 7B to make clear that it may be withdrawn fromhole24fonce the cam has been rotated to lock the coupler in place.
• Further stability is provided to the fencing system by tie-down25, shown inFIG. 8. Tie-down25 comprises cable25ahaving crimpedloops25bat each end, an S-shapedhook25cat one end and a turnbuckle25dandsecond hook25eat the other end. In use, tie-down25 is looped through tie-down loop17 onbase15 and S-shapedhook25cis attached to the wire mesh of one of two adjacent panels.Hook25eis then attached to the wire mesh of the adjacent panel, and then turnbuckle25dis tightened until cable25ais taut.
• FIG. 9 depicts anexemplary pallet26 andbasket27 designed to store and transport the panels and other components of the modular fencing system.Pallet26 is preferably of such a size as to accommodate approximately28panels1 in a vertical, side-by-side arrangement that permits the panels to be slid in or out of the pallet from either opened end of the pallet. The corner posts of the pallet frame are provided withpins26adesigned to engage with correspondingfemale members27clocated in the bottom of the upright corner posts of the frame ofbasket27.Basket27 has its side and bottom covered withwire mesh27b, and may optionally be provided with interior walls as shown in the upper portion ofFIG. 9, so as to form compartments for the different components of the system.Basket27 may also be provided withpins27ain the top portion of its corner posts, which in turn may engage anotherbasket27 for transport and storage of additional components of the system or even anadditional pallet26 containing additional panels.
• The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims (17)

1. A modular fencing system comprising the following components:

(1) panels of tubular frame and welded wire mesh wherein the mesh is welded to the inside of the tubular frame;

(2) bases having adjacent pairs of upright male members adapted to mate with adjacent tubular frames of component (1);

(3) coupling brackets for coupling the tubular frames of adjacent panels of component (1); and

(4) adjustable tie-downs comprising cables securing said mesh of component (1) to component (2), and provided with tensioning means for adjusting the tension of said cables.

2. The system ofclaim 1 wherein said tubular frame of component (1) is substantially round.

3. The system ofclaim 1 wherein component (1) is substantially rectangular.

4. The system ofclaim 1 wherein component (1) is substantially square.

5. The system ofclaim 1 wherein component (3) includes a cam capable of exerting a clamping force on adjacent tubular frames.

6. The system ofclaim 1 further comprising no-climb panels of U-shaped tubular frames and welded wire mesh having exposed wires on the open side of said U-shaped tubular frames.

7. The system ofclaim 6 further comprising vertical and angular coupling members for coupling said no-climb panels to component (1) in either a generally vertical or generally angular orientation.

8. The system ofclaim 7 wherein the angle of said angular orientation is approximately 45°.

9. The system ofclaim 1 further comprising a loop in component (2) of sufficient size to permit component (4) to pass therethrough.

10. The system ofclaim 9 further comprising at least one weight placeable on component (2).

11. The system ofclaim 10 wherein said at least one weight is provided with a loop that may be looped over said upright male members of component (2).

12. The system ofclaim 1 further comprising reflective coating on one or more portions of component (1).

13. The system ofclaim 7 further comprising a mating pallet and stowage basket for containing said no-climb panels, said coupling brackets and components (1)-(4).

14. The system ofclaim 13 further comprising upright male mating members in the upper portions of said pallet designed to mate with the lower portions of said stowage basket.

15. The system ofclaim 14 wherein said stowage rack has upright male members in its upper portions designed to mate with a second component selected from the group consisting of a second basket and a second pallet.

16. A modular fencing system comprising the following components:

(1) four panels of tubular frame and welded wire mesh wherein the mesh is welded to the inside of the tubular frame; and

(2) coupling brackets for coupling the tubular frames of adjacent panels of component (1).

17. The system ofclaim 16 wherein component (2) includes a cam capable of exerting a clamping force on adjacent tubular frames.

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