Panel connector

In a panel system for confining an animal comprising a plurality of panels, each panel comprising an integral, substantially rectangular rigid structure including a bottom, a top, a first end and a second end, a connector having an open position and a closed position for connecting a first end of a first panel to a second end of an adjacent panel, the connector comprising

• a rigid, U-shaped portion;
• a pivotal connection means for pivotally connecting the U-shaped portion to the first end of the first panel;
• and
• a sliding sleeve, slidably connected to the first end of the first panel and adapted to secure the U-shaped portion in the closed position wherein, from the open position, the U-shaped portion is rotatable about the second end of the adjacent panel and the sliding sleeve is slidable to secure the U-shaped portion in the closed position.

A connector for fence panels comprising

• an encompassing member including a rigid curvilinear portion being substantially in a horizontal plane;
• a first vertically oriented portion extending from an end of the curvilinear portion and a second vertically oriented portion extending from another end of the curvilinear portion;
• a slidable, vertically oriented female bracket, said bracket being adapted to secure one of said first vertically oriented portion and said second vertically oriented portion, said bracket being further adapted to move vertically on a first fence panel post from a connected position to an unconnected position;
• a female fitting adapted to be fixedly attached to said first panel post, the female fitting adapted to hingedly engage the other of said first vertically oriented portion and said second vertically oriented portion;
• whereby said encompassing member is adapted to encompass a second fence post of a second fence panel when one of said first verticality oriented portion and said second vertically oriented portion is secured in said female bracket and the other of said first vertically oriented portion and said second vertically oriented portion is engaged in the said female fitting.

A panel in a panel system for confining an animal, the panel system comprising a plurality of panels, each panel comprising an integral, substantially rectangular rigid structure including a bottom, a top, a first end and a second end wherein the panel comprises a connector having an open position and a closed position for connecting a first end of the panel to a second end of an adjacent panel, the connector comprising

• a rigid, U-shaped portion;
• a pivotal connection means for pivotally connecting the U-shaped portion to the first end of the panel;
• and
• a sliding sleeve, slidably connected to the first end of the panel and adapted to secure the U-shaped portion in the closed position wherein, from the open position, the U-shaped portion is rotatable about the second end of the adjacent panel and the sliding sleeve is slidable to secure the U-shaped portion in the closed position.

In a panel system for confining an animal comprising a plurality of fencing panels, each panel comprising an integral, substantially rectangular rigid structure including a bottom, a top, a first end and a second end, a connector for connecting a first end of a first panel to a second end of an adjacent panel, the connector comprising

• a rigid, U-shaped portion slidably connected to the first end of the first panel;
• a fixed sleeve projecting from the second end of the adjacent panel and adapted to receive a first end of the U-shaped portion;
• and
• a sliding sleeve, slidably connected to the second end of the adjacent panel and adapted to receive a second end of the U-shaped portion wherein, to connect the first end of the first panel to the second end of the adjacent panel, the first end of the U-shaped portion is slid into the fixed sleeve and then the sliding sleeve is slid onto another end of the U-shaped portion.