Back to results
US 8,402,630 B2Granted
Barrier fence
AssigneeErtec Environmental Systems LLC
InventorsJohn H. McGinn, Vincent P. Morris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The movement of small vertebrates, e.g. endangered or threatened species, into and/or out of defined areas, e.g. construction sites, is controlled by use of a barrier fence which includes an apertured polymeric sheet. The polymeric sheet includes an upper portion which extends upwards from the ground and a lower portion which is buried in the ground. The polymeric sheet is formed by first and second sets of polymeric strands which are bonded to each other and are spaced apart from each other, thus providing apertures. The height and depth of the barrier fence and the size of the apertures prevent the small vertebrates from crossing the fence, and the apertures permit wind and water flow through the barrier fence.
Claims24
A method of controlling the movement of vertebrates, the method comprising installing an elongate barrier device along an elongate path which lies along the surface of the ground and which the vertebrates are expected to attempt to cross, the barrier device comprising
- (1) an elongate laminar sheet which comprises
- (a) an elongate lower portion which extends downwards from the elongate path into the ground to a depth of d inch below the surface of the ground, where d is 3 to 24 inch, and
- (b) an elongate laminar upper portion which
- (b1) extends upwards from the elongate, path and away from the ground to a height of h inch above the surface of the ground, where h is 12 to 60 inch, and
- (b2) comprises a laminar apertured sheet material wherein the apertures have a size and shape such that the force required to pull a sphere of diameter 0.375 inches through the sheet is at least 38 lbs, the apertured sheet material having a thickness and a laminar dimension at right angles to the thickness, and the apertured sheet material comprising
- a first set of first polymeric strands which (i) are parallel to each other, and (ii) are spaced-apart from each other with a distance between adjacent strands of 0.1 to 0.3 inch, and
- a second set of second polymeric strands which (i) are parallel to each other and at an angle of 30 to 90 degrees to the first strands, (ii) are bonded to the first strands at crossover points, and (iii) are spaced-apart from each other with a distance between adjacent strands of 0.1 to 0.3 inch,
- each of the first and second polymeric strands having a thickness in the laminar dimension of the sheet between the crossover points of 0.04 to 0.5 inch, and
- (2) a plurality of laterally spaced-apart posts which are secured to the ground and to which the upper portion of the elongate laminar sheet is secured.
6 more elements
A method of controlling the movement of turtles, tortoises and salamanders, the method comprising installing an elongate barrier device along an elongate path which lies along the surface of the ground and which the turtles, tortoises and salamanders are expected to attempt to cross, the barrier device comprising
- (1) an elongate laminar sheet which comprises
- (a) an elongate lower portion which extends downwards from the elongate path into the ground to a depth of d inch below the surface of the ground, where d is 3 to 8 inch, and
- (b) an elongate laminar upper portion which
- (b1) extends upwards from the elongate path and away from the ground to a height of h inch above the surface of the ground, where h is 12 to 18 inch, and
- (b2) comprises a laminar apertured sheet material wherein the apertures have a size and shape such that the force required to pull a sphere of diameter 0.375 inches through the sheet is at least 38 lbs,
- the apertured sheet material having a thickness and a laminar dimension at right angles to the thickness, and
- the apertured sheet material comprising
- a first set of first polymeric strands which (i) are parallel to each other, and (ii) are spaced-apart from each other with a distance between adjacent strands of 0.1 to 0.3 inch, and
- a second set of second polymeric strands which (i) are parallel to each other and at an angle of 30 to 90 degrees to the first strands, (ii) are bonded to the first strands at crossover points, and (iii) are spaced-apart from each other with a distance between adjacent strands of 0.1 to 0.3 inch, each of the first and second polymeric strands having a thickness in the laminar dimension of the sheet between the crossover points of 0.04 to 0.5 inch, and
- (2) a plurality of laterally spaced-apart posts which are secured to the ground and to which the upper portion of the elongate laminar sheet is secured;
- wherein the laminar sheet consists essentially of the lower portion and the upper portion, the lower portion is substantially planar, the upper portion is substantially planar, and the lower portion and the upper portion are different parts of the same apertured sheet material.
8 more elements
A method of controlling the movement of toads, the method comprising installing an elongate barrier device along an elongate path which lies along the surface of the ground and which the toads are expected to attempt to cross, the barrier device comprising
- (1) an elongate laminar sheet which comprises
- (a) an elongate lower portion which extends downwards from the elongate path into the ground to a depth of d inch below the surface of the ground, where d is 8 to 16 inch, and
- (b) an elongate laminar upper portion which
- (b1) extends upwards from the elongate path and away from the ground to a height of h inch above the surface of the ground, where h is 12 to 24 inch, and
- (b2) comprises a laminar apertured sheet material wherein the apertures have a size and shape such that the force required to pull a sphere of diameter 0.375 inches through the sheet is at least 38 lbs,
- the apertured sheet material having a thickness and a laminar dimension at right angles to the thickness, and
- the apertured sheet material comprising
- a first set of first polymeric strands which (i) are parallel to each other, and (ii) are spaced-apart from each other with a distance between adjacent strands of 0.1 to 0.3 inch, and
- a second set of second polymeric strands which (i) are parallel to each other and at an angle of 30 to 90 degrees to the first strands, (ii) are bonded to the first strands at crossover points, and (iii) are spaced-apart from each other with a distance between adjacent strands of 0.1 to 0.3 inch, each of the first and second polymeric strands having a thickness in the laminar dimension of the sheet between the crossover points of 0.04 to 0.5 inch, and
- (2) a plurality of laterally spaced-apart posts which are secured to the ground and to which the upper portion of the elongate laminar sheet is secured;
- wherein the laminar sheet consists essentially of the lower portion and the upper portion, the lower portion is substantially planar, the upper portion is substantially planar, and the lower portion and the upper portion are different parts of the same apertured sheet material.
8 more elements
A method of controlling the movement of small mammals, the method comprising installing an elongate barrier device along an elongate path which lies along the surface of the ground and which the small mammals are expected to attempt to cross, the barrier device comprising
- (1) an elongate laminar sheet which comprises
- (a) an elongate lower portion which extends downwards from the elongate path into the ground to a depth of d inch below the surface of the ground, where d is 3 to 8 inch, and
- (b) an elongate laminar upper portion which
- (b1) extends upwards from the elongate path and away from the ground to a height of h inch above the surface of the ground, where h is 30 to 42 inch, and
- (b2) comprises a laminar apertured sheet material wherein the apertures have a size and shape such that the force required to pull a sphere of diameter 0.375 inches through the sheet is at least 38 lbs,
- the apertured sheet material having a thickness and a laminar dimension at right angles to the thickness, and
- the apertured sheet material comprising
- a first set of first polymeric strands which (i) are parallel to each other, and (ii) are spaced-apart from each other with a distance between adjacent strands of 0.1 to 0.3 inch, and
- a second set of second polymeric strands which (i) are parallel to each other and at an angle of 30 to 90 degrees to the first strands, (ii) are bonded to the first strands at crossover points, and (iii) are spaced-apart from each other with a distance between adjacent strands of 0.1 to 0.3 inch, each of the first and second polymeric strands having a thickness in the laminar dimension of the sheet between the crossover points of 0.04 to 0.5 inch, and
- (2) a plurality of laterally spaced-apart posts which are secured to the ground and to which the upper portion of the elongate laminar sheet is secured;
- wherein the laminar sheet consists essentially of the lower portion and the upper portion, the lower portion is substantially planar, the upper portion comprises (a) a substantially vertical and substantially planar base section and (b) a substantially planar lip section which extends from the top of the base section at an angle of 30 to the 90° to the base section, the lower portion and the upper portion are different parts of the same apertured sheet material, and the lip section is 3-8 inch long.
8 more elements
A method of controlling the movement of frogs, lizards and skinks, the method comprising installing an elongate barrier device along an elongate path which lies along the surface of the ground and which the frogs, lizards or skinks are expected to attempt to cross, the barrier device comprising
- (1) an elongate laminar sheet which comprises
- (a) an elongate lower portion which extends downwards from the elongate path into the ground to a depth of d inch below the surface of the ground, where d is 3 to 10 inch, and
- (b) an elongate laminar upper portion which
- (b1) extends upwards from the elongate path and away from the around to a height of h inch above the surface of the ground, where h is 24 to 36 inch, and
- (b2) comprises a laminar apertured sheet material wherein the apertures have a size and shape such that the force required to pull a sphere of diameter 0.375 inches through the sheet is at least 38 lbs,
- the apertured sheet material having a thickness and a laminar dimension at right angles to the thickness, and
- the apertured sheet material comprising
- a first set of first polymeric strands which (i) are parallel to each other, and (ii) are spaced-apart from each other with a distance between adjacent strands of 0.1 to 0.3 inch, and
- a second set of second polymeric strands which (i) are parallel to each other and at an angle of 30 to 90 degrees to the first strands, (ii) are bonded to the first strands at crossover points, and (iii) are spaced-apart from each other with a distance between adjacent strands of 0.1 to 0.3 inch, each of the first and second polymeric strands having a thickness in the laminar dimension of the sheet between the crossover points of 0.04 to 0.5 inch, and
- (2) a plurality of laterally spaced-apart posts which are secured to the ground and to which the upper portion of the elongate laminar sheet is secured;
- wherein the laminar sheet consists essentially of the lower portion and the upper portion, the lower portion is substantially planar, the upper portion comprises (a) a substantially vertical and substantially planar base section and (b) a substantially planar lip section which extends from the top of the base section an angle of 30 to 90° to the base section, the lower portion and the upper portion are different parts of the same apertured sheet material, and the lip section is 3 to 8 inch long.
8 more elements
A method of controlling the movement of snakes, the method comprising installing an elongate barrier device along an elongate path which lies along the surface of the ground and which the snakes are expected to attempt to cross, the barrier device comprising
- (1) an elongate laminar sheet which comprises
- (a) an elongate lower portion which extends downwards from the elongate path into the ground to a depth of d inch below the surface of the ground, where d is 3 to 10 inch, and
- (b) an elongate laminar upper portion which
- (b1) extends upwards from the elongate path and away from the ground to a height of h inch above the surface of the ground, where h is 24 to 46 inch, and
- (b2) comprises a laminar apertured sheet material wherein the apertures have a size and shape such that the force required to pull a sphere of diameter 0.375 inches through the sheet is at least 38 lbs,
- the apertured sheet material having a thickness and a laminar dimension at right angles to the thickness, and
- the apertured sheet material comprising
- a first set of first polymeric strands which (i) are parallel to each other, and (ii) are spaced-apart from each other with a distance between adjacent strands of 0.12 to 0.2 inch, and
- a second set of second polymeric strands which (i) are parallel to each other and at an angle of 30 to 90 degrees to the first strands, (ii) are bonded to the first strands at crossover points, and (iii) are spaced-apart from each other with a distance between adjacent strands of 0.12 to 0.2 inch,
- each of the first and second polymeric strands having a thickness in the laminar dimension of the sheet between the crossover points of 0.04 to 0.5 inch, and
- (2) a plurality of laterally spaced-apart posts which are secured to the around and to which the upper portion of the elongate laminar sheet is secured;
- wherein the laminar sheet consists essentially of the lower portion and the upper portion, the lower portion is substantially planar, the upper portion comprises (a) a substantially vertical and substantially planar base section and (b) a substantially planar lip section which extends from the top of the base section an angle of 30 to 90° to the base section, the lower portion and the upper portion are different parts of the same apertured sheet material, and the lip section is 3 to 8 inch long.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.