AU2009217471A1

AU2009217471A1 - A fabric

Info

Publication number: AU2009217471A1
Application number: AU2009217471A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Paul Cacioli; Elizabeth Cigulevski; Andrew Nasarczyk
Original assignee: Gale Pacific Ltd
Current assignee: Gale Pacific Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-01
Filing date: 2009-09-22
Publication date: 2010-04-15

Description

1 P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: A FABRIC Applicant: Gale Pacific Limited The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 A FABRIC The present invention relates to a fabric. The invention particularly relates to a fabric for use in the control of animals. The fabric may be used as any one or more of a 5 native wildlife, livestock, vermin or domestic animal barrier and will be herein generally described in that context. It is to be appreciated, however, that the invention may have broader application than these specific uses. The protection of Australian native wildlife from foxes, feral cats, wild dogs, cane 10 toads and other introduced and unwanted species is a particularly important consideration to ensure the long term survival of native wildlife. Already many wildlife species have been totally decimated or are on the endangered list as a direct result of the introduction into Australia of unwanted species, which prey on the native wildlife. 15 Other introduced species cause a problem for wildlife by competing for the same, often limited, food sources and other resources, with the introduced species often winning out to the detriment of the native wildlife. Introduced species can also undesirably spread disease through a native wildlife population. 20 Still other introduced species provide an attractive, but poisonous food source for the native wildlife. An example of this is the cane toad, which releases a toxin when threatened by predators (such as when threatened by native wildlife) that generally results in the death of the animal concerned when the toad is eaten. 25 Similar issues to those mentioned above are also faced in countries and regions other than Australia. It would therefore be desirable to provide a barrier for separating native wildlife from vermin. It would also be desirable that the barrier does not cause harm to native 30 wildlife. Farmers face a constant battle in keeping their livestock and crops safe from native wildlife, foxes, feral cats, wild dogs and the like. It is also important for farmers to ensure that feed provided for their livestock is being eaten by the livestock and not by <filename> 2 other unwanted animals. Yet another important issue for farmers is protection of their crops from unwanted animals. It would therefore also be desirable to provide a barrier for separating unwanted 5 animals from livestock and crops. Fences alone are often an ineffective solution to the problems referred to above. Some existing types of barriers do meet the needs referred to above, these being 10 generally in the form of electric fences. Electric fences have been found to be generally effective in a number of applications. Nevertheless, the installation of an electric fence can be a time consuming and expensive process, at least in part because electric fences are generally designed to be permanent or semi-permanent structures. 15 It would therefore be desirable to provide an alternative to an electric fence, which is potentially more cost effective to manufacture, relatively simple to install, portable, and which is potentially re-usable in one or more subsequent barrier applications. 20 Summary of the Invention According to a broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fabric including a plurality of interconnected fabric threads. The fabric includes a first electrical conducting thread interconnected with the fabric threads. The first conducting thread is connectable to an electric power source. The fabric also includes 25 a second electrical conducting thread interconnected with the fabric threads. The second conducting thread is connectable to the ground enabling the second conducting thread to be earthed. The first conducting thread is insulated from the second conducting thread. The first and second conducting threads are exposed on at least one side of the fabric enabling simultaneous contact by at least one animal. 30 Reference is made above to "at least one animal". It is to be appreciated that the invention has been designed for use with animals, but is not limited thereto. The invention may have other uses. <filename> 3 In use, the first conducting thread is connected to a power supply, and the second conducting thread is connected to the ground. The first conducting thread is insulated from the second conducting thread, such that the arrangement provides an open electric circuit extending from the power supply, through the first conducting thread, 5 and then from the second conducting thread to the earth. The circuit is open by virtue of the first conducting thread being insulated from the second conducting thread. However, the circuit may be closed if an animal (or other object) simultaneously contacts both the first and second conducting threads. Should this occur then an electric current would flow from the power source through the first conducting thread, 10 through the animal, then through the second conducting thread to earth. The result of this is that the animal would experience an electric shock deterring them from touching the fabric. The electric current level could be selected as desired or required. Typically, the 15 current level would be selected so as not to injure the animal, but at the same time of sufficient magnitude to deter the animal from further contact with the fabric. The power supply may include any one or more of a battery and mains power. The battery may be electrically connected to a solar cell to facilitate recharging of the 20 battery. The fabric is preferably provided in the form of a net (or netting). The net may be provided in any suitable dimensions for a given use. The applicant considers that, in one form, a rectangular net may be provided around 2 metres in height and around 50 25 metres in length. In a particularly preferred form, the net is 2.05 metres in height and 50 metres in length. The net may be capable of rolling up to assist in transportation and storage. 30 The fabric may adopt any suitable form. It may be a single layer fabric, or may include multiple layers. In one preferred form, the fabric is a single layer fabric, with each of the first and second conducting threads exposed on both sides of the fabric. <filename> 4 The fabric may be manufactured in any suitable form. For example, the fabric may be a woven fabric, such that the interconnected threads are woven threads. By way of another exemplary form, the fabric may be a knitted fabric, with the interconnected threads being knitted threads. 5 It is envisaged that, in a preferred from, at least a portion of the first conducting thread extends through the fabric generally parallel to at least a portion of the second conducting thread, with the first conducting thread located in the fabric generally proximate the second conducting thread. 10 The first and second conducting threads should be separated within the fabric by a sufficient spacing to avoid arcing between the two threads during use. The precise spacing required will depend on a multitude of factors, including the type and rated power of the power source used, the fabric composition and environmental factors. It 15 is envisaged that the first and second conducting threads will be separated by a plurality of fabric threads and/or a gap provided in the fabric between the two conducting threads. In one form of the invention, the applicant has found that a gap of at least 22 mm is sufficient between the conducting threads to prevent arcing. 20 Reference has been made to the fabric including a first conducting thread and a second conducting thread. Those threads may be provided in any suitable length and pattern through the fabric. In a particularly preferred arrangement, the fabric contains a plurality of first 25 conducting threads arranged in a generally parallel arrangement in the fabric, with each connected or connectable to the power source. In such an arrangement, the fabric further contains a plurality of second conducting threads arranged in a generally parallel arrangement in the fabric, with each connected or connectable to the ground such that each of the second conducting fabrics is earthed. 30 It is further envisaged that the plurality of first conducting threads may aligned generally parallel to the plurality of second conducting threads, and that the first and second threads may be arranged in alternating arrangement through the fabric. In <filename> 5 such an arrangement, it may be preferable that the first and second conducting threads are approximately equidistantly spaced in the fabric Each of the first and second conducting threads may be incorporated into on onto the 5 fabric in any suitable way. For example, the conducting threads may be woven or knitted into the fabric or otherwise applied to the fabric. Each of the first and second conducting threads may adopt any suitable form. For example, each conducting thread may take the form of (or include) at least of one of a 10 stainless steel wire and a conducting polymer. The net may include a support structure in the form of a frame of other suitable arrangement for supporting the net in a generally upstanding orientation. 15 The first conducting threads of one net may be electrically connectable to the first conducting threads of an adjacent net. Similarly, the second conducting threads of the net may be electrically connectable to the second conducting threads of the adjacent net. In this way, two or more nets may be electrically linked to provide a multi-net barrier system, optionally including a single electric power source. 20 It should be appreciated that the term "thread" as used herein includes mono- and multi-filament threads, and also two or more threads which are twisted or drawn together for knitting with other threads. This understanding is to extend to the composition of the fabric threads, as well as the composition of the first and second 25 conducting threads. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The particularity of the drawings is to be understood as not limiting the preceding broad description of the invention. 30 Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically a fabric according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically a fabric according to a second embodiment of the present invention. <filename> 6 Referring to Figure 1, there is diagrammatically illustrated a woven fabric 10 including a plurality of horizontally extending fabric threads 12 (only some of which are labeled) and a plurality of vertically extending threads 14 (only some of which are labeled). 5 The fabric 10 is provided in the form of a net (or netting) 11 for use as an animal barrier. Although not to scale, the net 11 has a height h of around two metres and a length I of around fifty metres. These dimensions can of course be altered to suit any practical application. 10 The fabric 10 includes a plurality of horizontally extending first electrical conducting threads 16 interwoven with the fabric threads. The first conducting threads 16 are connected at the left hand end by a wire 18 to an electric power source in the form of a battery 20. Although not clearly illustrated, releasable connectors connect the threads 16 to the wire 18. 15 The fabric 10 also includes a plurality of horizontally extending second electrical conducting threads 22 interwoven with the fabric threads. The second conducting threads 22 are connected at the right-hand end by a wire 24 to the ground 26 enabling the second conducting threads 22 to be earthed. Releasable connectors 20 connect the threads 22 to the wire 24, although these are not clearly illustrated in Figure 1. Each of the conducting threads 16,22 may take the form of (or include) at least of one of a stainless steel wire and a conducting polymer. 25 Several horizontally extending fabric threads 12 are provided between each of the first conducting threads 16 and neighboring second conducting threads 22, such that the threads 16 are insulated from the threads 22. In Figure 1, only three fabric threads 12 are illustrated as separating neighboring threads 16 and 22; although it is to be 30 appreciated that a greater number may be provided to prevent arcing between the threads 16 and 22. The precise number of threads 12 required would depend at least in part on the fabric weave (or knit) pattern adopted, the density of the fabric 10, environmental factors, and the type and power of the battery 20. In one arrangement, <filename> 7 a gap of at least 22 mm between neighboring threads 16 and 22 was sufficient to prevent arcing. The first and second conducting threads 16,22 are exposed on both sides of the 5 fabric 10, although the arrangement may be altered (such as by the application of a second layer on one side of the fabric 10) so that the threads 16,22 are exposed on only one side of the fabric. In use, each first conducting thread 16 is insulated from its neighboring second 10 conducting threads 22, such that the arrangement provides a plurality of parallel open electric circuits extending from the battery 20, through the wire 18 and each of the first conducting threads 16, and then from each second conducting thread 22 through wire 24 to the ground 26. The circuits are open by virtue of the first conducting threads 16 being insulated from the second conducting threads. However, one or more of the 15 circuits may be closed if an animal (or other object) simultaneously contacts at least one of first conducting threads 16 and one of the second conducting threads 22. Should this occur then an electric current would flow from the battery 20 through the wire 18 and the first conducting thread(s) 16, through the animal, then through the second conducting thread(s) 22 and the wire 24 to the ground 26. The result of this 20 would be that the animal would experience an electric shock deterring them from further touching the fabric 10. The electric current level could be selected as desired or required. Typically, the current level would be selected so as not to injure the animal, but at the same time of 25 sufficient magnitude to deter the animal from further contact with the fabric 10. Although not illustrated, the battery 20 may be electrically connected to a solar cell to facilitate recharging of the battery 20. 30 The net 11 may include a support structure (not illustrated) in the form of a frame of other suitable arrangement for supporting the net 11 in a generally upright orientation. Only one net 11 is illustrated. Nevertheless, two or more nets may be provided and electrically linked. In this respect, the first conducting threads 16 of one net 11 may be <filename> 8 electrically connectable to the first conducting threads of an adjacent net. Similarly, the second conducting threads 22 may be electrically connectable to the second conducting threads of the adjacent net. In this way, the net 11 may be electrically linked to provide a multi-net barrier system, optionally including a single battery 20. 5 The fabric 10 is flexible, UV stabilized, and has a fabric mass of about 350gsm, although this may be varied. The fabric 10 is also resistant to flex cracking. Figure 2 illustrates a second possible embodiment of a fabric 100 according to the 10 present invention when provided in the form of a net 110. The fabric 100 includes a plurality of pairs of first and second electrical conducting threads 116,122. Each pair of threads 116,122 is provided on one side of a horizontally extending web 120. Fabric 110 in this embodiment is provided in the form of an open weave structure including a plurality of interwoven horizontally and vertically extending webs 120,140. 15 Each web 120, 140 may be constructed from a plurality of independent threads, or may instead adopt any other suitable structural form. The threads 116 are connected to a power source (not illustrated) by a wire 118; and the threads 122 are connected by a wire 124 to the ground 126. In use, the net 110 functions in a similar manner to the net 11 illustrated in Figure 1. 20 Desirably, the present invention provides an animal barrier usable in a wide variety of applications that is relatively cost effective to manufacture, simple to transport and install, portable, and potentially re-usable. 25 Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the construction and arrangement of the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of this invention. C:\pof\word\SPEC-866283.doc

Claims

1. A fabric including a plurality of interconnected fabric threads, the fabric 5 including: a first electrical conducting thread interconnected with the fabric threads; the first conducting thread connectable to an electric power source; and a second electrical conducting thread interconnected with the fabric threads; the second conducting thread connectable to the ground enabling the second 10 conducting thread to be earthed; with the first conducting thread being insulated from the second conducting thread; wherein the first and second conducting threads are exposed on at least one side of the fabric enabling simultaneous contact by at least one animal. 15

2. A fabric according to claim 1, wherein the interconnected threads are one of woven threads and knitted threads.

3. A fabric according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second conducting threads are exposed on both sides of net. 20

4. A fabric according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of the first conducting thread extends through the fabric generally parallel to at least a portion of the second conducting thread. 25

5. A fabric according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first conducting thread is located in the fabric generally proximate the second conducting thread.

6. A fabric according to claim 5, wherein the first and second conducting threads 30 are separated by at least one of a plurality of fabric threads and a gap in the fabric.

7. A fabric according to any one of the preceding claims, including a plurality of first conducting threads arranged in a generally parallel arrangement in the fabric. <filename> 10

8. A fabric according to any one of the preceding claims, including a plurality of second conducting threads arranged in a generally parallel arrangement in the fabric.

9. A fabric according to claim 8 when dependent on claim 7, wherein the plurality 5 of first conducting threads are aligned generally parallel to the plurality of second conducting threads

10. A fabric according to claim 9, wherein the first and second conducting threads are arranged in an alternating arrangement through the fabric 10

11. A fabric according to claim 10, wherein the first and second conducting threads are approximately equidistantly spaced in the fabric

12. A fabric according to claim 11, wherein each of the first conducting threads is 15 spaced from each neighboring second conducting thread by at least about 22 mm.

13. A fabric according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first and second conducting threads is woven or knitted into the fabric 20

14. A fabric according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first and second conducting threads includes at least of one of a stainless steel wire and a conducting polymer.

15. A fabric according to any one of the preceding claims, including a power supply 25 connected to each of the first conducting threads.

16. A fabric according to claim 15, wherein the power supply includes one of a battery and mains power. 30

17. A fabric according to claim 16, wherein the battery is connected to a solar panel to facilitate recharging of the battery.

18. A fabric according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein fabric is provided in the form of a net. <filename> 11

19. A fabric according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first conducting threads is electrically connectable to first conducting threads of an adjacent net; and each of the second conducting threads is electrically connectable to 5 second conducting threads of the adjacent net.

20. A fabric substantially as herein described and illustrated. <filename>