US 5,421,557 A · Fence system

Abstract

A fence system including a frame and a plurality of foraminous panels attached to the frame. The foraminous panels are constructed with continuous integral strands which are connected by integral bonds extending between each of the strands. The integral strands form a zig-zag pattern defining cell apertures therebetween. The cell apertures define a non-circular interior shape. A fastener of the fence system has a shank and a head attached to one end of the shank. A shoulder positioned between the shank and the head is shaped to cooperatively engage a cell aperture for preventing rotation of the fastener when engaged with a foraminous panel. The foraminous panels are attached to the frame with a portion of each neighboring panel having an overlapping area through which fasteners are inserted and attached. An angled top edge cap is attached along a top end of the foraminous panels and is angled to deter climbing. The top cap material is formed of foraminous panels having cell apertures generally smaller than lower panels. The top cap panel material is self-supporting but is incapable of supporting the weight of a climber. Additionally, barbed segments are formed along a terminal edge of the top cap by shearing one of the integral strands to provide extremely sharp pointed tips.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A fence system comprising a plurality of foraminous panels being attachable to a frame;

a plurality of integral strands and integral bonds forming each of said panels, neighboring ones of said plurality of integral strands being connected at spaced apart locations by said integral bonds, at least two neighboring integral strands abutting and being attached to said frame with said integral strands being generally vertically oriented;
cell apertures being defined between neighboring ones of said integral strands and at least two of said integral bonds, said cell apertures defining a non-circular interior shape;
a plurality of fasteners, each fastener of said plurality of fasteners having a shank and a head formed on one end of said shank, said head having a convex surface distal said shank, a shoulder of said fastener positioned on said fastener between said shank and said head being formed for extending through and engaging an inside surface of one of said cell apertures and preventing rotation of said fastener when engaged with said cell aperture, a retaining portion attachable to said shank for securing each of said fasteners to said panel;
a barrier being defined by said plurality of panels being attached to said frame, said barrier having an attack side and a secure side;
and
neighboring panels of said plurality of panels having an overlapping area, said neighboring panels being oriented for aligning corresponding ones of said cell apertures of said overlapping area, at least one of said plurality of fasteners extending through said aligned corresponding ones of said cell apertures for attaching said neighboring panels, said head of said fastener extending from said attack side of said barrier.

3 more elements

A fastener in combination with a foraminous panel fence system, said fence system being attachable to a frame and a plurality foraminous panels attached to said frame and defining a barrier surface, said barrier surface having an attack side and a secure side, said foraminous panels including a plurality of integral strands and integral bonds, cell apertures being defined between neighboring one of said integral strands and at least three spaced apart integral bonds, said cell apertures defining a non-circular interior shape;

said fastener comprising:
a shank, a head formed on one end of said shank, and a shoulder of said fastener positioned between said shank and said head, said shoulder being formed, sized and dimensioned for projecting into and engaging an inside surface of one of said cell apertures of said foraminous panels and preventing rotation of said fastener when engaged with said cell aperture, a retaining portion attachable to said shank for securing said fastener to said panel.

A fence system for attaching fence panels over an existing woven fence system of the type having a plurality of interlinking pickets defining a woven material and a frame to which said woven material is attached, said fence system comprising:

a plurality of foraminous panels overlying and attaching to said woven material and said frame;
a plurality of integral strands and integral bonds forming each of said foraminous panels, neighboring ones of said plurality of integral strands being connected at spaced apart locations by said integral bonds with said integral strands being generally vertically oriented;
cell apertures of said foraminous panels being defined between neighboring integral strands and at least two spaced apart integral bonds;
a plurality of fasteners for attaching said panels to said existing woven material, said plurality of fasteners having a shank and a head formed on one end of said shank, said shank being formed for extending through one of said cell apertures and a corresponding opening between two neighboring interlinking pickets of said woven material, said head being sized and dimensioned for abutting said integral strands to prevent passage through said cell aperture;
a bracket being engaged by at lest one of said fasteners, at least two arms extending from said bracket, each of said at least two arms extending from said bracket and overlying at least one picket of said woven material for securing said panel to said woven material;
neighboring panels of said plurality of panels having an overlapping area, said neighboring panels being oriented for aligning corresponding cell apertures of said overlapping areas of said neighboring panels, at least one of said fasteners extending through a corresponding one of said aligned corresponding cell apertures for attaching said neighboring panels to each other.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fence system

Life of this patent

Fence system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23