GB2473863A

GB2473863A - Animal flap for mesh fence

Info

Publication number: GB2473863A
Application number: GB0916947A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Paul King
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-28
Filing date: 2009-09-28
Publication date: 2011-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2029-09-28
Also published as: GB2473863B; GB0916947D0

Abstract

A flap to enable animals, particularly dogs, to pass through a fence or fence panel of wire mesh 16, 18 comprises a frame 10 defining an aperture 12 which is mounted to the fence and a panel 14 swingably mounted to the frame 10. The frame 10 has opposing side edge margins, each provided with at least one row of spaced apart apertures 20, and a plurality of fasteners 24 of U-shaped form are used to engage through selected pairs of these apertures at each side margin of the frame in order to attach the frame to the wires 16 of the mesh fencing, which are then cut away in the region of the aperture 12. The panel 14 may be attached to the frame 10 by similar U shaped fasteners (46 Figure 4). The frame and panel may be manufactured from a plastic material.

Description

FLAP ASSEMBLY FOR THROUGH PASSAGE OF ANIMALS

The present invention concerns a device to enable animals, particularly dogs, to pass through a fence.

Cat flaps and dog flaps are well-known for mounting in doors of solid material to enable passage there through of cats and dogs without the need for opening the entire door, and therefore without the need for presence of a human to allow the cat or dog to pass in or out of a building.

Out in the countryside where access over walls and fences for walkers is by means of stiles there can be a problem in getting dogs over. Also, where hounds are used in hunting and in accompanying shooting parties, there can be a similar problem when areas are enclosed by fencing, such as pigs netting, or walls, which horses and humans can more readily pass over or through.

Accordingly, as already indicated, an object of the present invention is to provide a device which will mitigate this problem and provide dogs in particular with means of passage through mesh fencing.

According to the invention a flap assembly is provided for through passage of animals, said assembly comprising a frame defining an aperture and a panel for swingably mounting to the frame to close or open the aperture, the frame having opposing side edge margins, each provided with at least one row of multiple spaced apart apertures, and a plurality of fasteners of U-shaped form to enable the frame to be attached to mesh fencing or similar by means of these fasteners engaging selected pairs of said multiple apertures at each side margin of the frame.

The invention will be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a frame of a first practical embodiment of the frame assembly of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from the front of the first practical embodiment of the frame assembly of the invention when mounted onto a mesh fence, showing the flap secured in a closed position;

I

Figure 3 is a perspective view from the rear of the same embodiment of frame assembly as in figure 2 showing the flap partially opened; and Figure 4 is a perspective view from the rear, corresponding to figure 3, but of a second, modified frame assembly in accordance with the invention.

Referring firstly to figures 1 to 3, a practical embodiment of the flap assembly of the invention comprises a substantially rectangular frame 10 defining a central aperture 12, together with a panel 14, also substantially rectangular, which is swingably mounted onto the frame 10 as a flap to close or open the aperture 12. Both the frame and the panel 14 need to be relatively light in weight and weatherproof and may accordingly be made of any suitable plastics materials, or alternatively of wood or metal or any suitable composite material. The panel 14, in particular, may be made of perforated material to reduce its weight.

The frame 10 is specifically adapted to be mounted onto a mesh fence made of intermeshing horizontal and vertical wires 16, 18, as shown in figures 2 and 3.

Opposing longer edge margins of the frame 10 are each provided with a row of apertures 20. A plurality of U-shaped fasteners 24 are provided, each with a corresponding two-holed washer 26 to provide what may be termed as "wire rope grips" for engagement of any selected wires 16, 18 of the fence, the size and curvature of the U-shaped fasteners 24 and the spacing between the holes in the washer 26 being chosen to match the diameter of the wires 16, 18 SO that these are a snug fit between each fastener 24 and its washer, as shown in figure 3. The limbs of the U-shaped fasteners 24 are provided with screw threads and corresponding nuts 28 are provided for threaded engagement to these threads, as shown in figure 2.

The frame 10 is also provided with two spaced apart pairs of holes 30 in its upper edge margin and the flap panel 14 has apertures 32 of corresponding spacing and is thereby connected to the frame by a further pair of similar U-shaped fasteners 34 and corresponding nuts 36, as shown in figures 2 and 3. In this respect, the panel 14 in this embodiment is slightly larger than the aperture 12 and overlies the front surface of the frame 10 so as to open only by swinging away from the front surface, and close by abutment against the front surface around the edge of the aperture 12. In its closed position the flap panel 14 may be secured relative to the frame 10, as shown in figure 2, by a simple engagement of wire 37 or twine or similar through respective apertures 38 and twisting or tying, or by any other suitable latching or locking arrangement, including a padlock.

In use, the frame 10 is offered up to a wire mesh fence or fence panel in which it is to be installed and it is then secured to respective horizontal wires 16 of the fence or fence panel by means of the U-shaped fasteners 24, washers 26 and nuts 28, as shown in figures 2 and 3. In this respect, the wires 16 are engaged between the fasteners 24 and the respective washers 26, and then the limbs of the fasteners 24 are projected through selected adjacent pairs holes 20 of the rows of holes 20 at each side of the frame 10 and secured by respected pairs of nuts 28. Following this, the wires 16, 18 are cut away from the region of the aperture 12 and turned back on themselves to be secured by twisting around adjacent to fasteners 24 and at the top and bottom of the frame, as shown in figure 3 so that the region of the aperture 12, through which a dog is to pass is free of any projecting wires which could otherwise cause injury.

The panel 14 may be secured to the frame 10 either before or after the frame 10 is mounted onto the fence or fence panel.

Figure 4 shows an alternative version where the panel 44 providing the flap is slightly smaller than the aperture 12 in the frame 10 and is mounted to be freely swingable in the aperture both to the front and to the rear of the frame 10, and also of the fence or fence panel in which it is mounted. The panel 44 is shown mounted by simple loops 46 to apertures in the top margin of the frame 10. Other manners of mounting are possible. Again, this panel 44 can be secured in a closed condition by means of lower apertures 47, 48 in the panel 44 and the frame 10, respectively. Again, such locking can alternatively be achieved by any other suitable latching or locking arrangement, including a padlock.

The foregoing is illustrative and not limitative of the scope of the invention and variations in detail are possible in other embodiments. In particular, the mounting of the flap and the manner of latching or locking of the flap relative to the frame may be accomplished differently to the above described embodiments. Also, although less favourable, the rows of apertures whereby the fasteners connect the frame onto the wire mesh could be provided at top and bottom side margins instead of or in addition to at opposing lateral side margins, as in the illustrated embodiments.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A flap assembly for through passage of animals comprising a frame defining an aperture and a panel for swingably mounting to the frame to close or open the aperture, the frame having opposing side edge margins, each provided with at least one row of multiple spaced apart apertures, and a plurality of fasteners of U-shaped form to enable the frame to be attached to mesh fencing or similar by means of these fasteners engaging selected pairs of said multiple apertures at each side margin of the frame.
2. A flap assembly according to claim 1 wherein the panel is swingably mounted to the frame adjacent a top side edge of the frame.
3. A flap assembly according to claim 2 wherein the panel is swingably mounted to the frame by means of similar fasteners of U-shaped form.
4. A flap assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the panel is of perforated material.
5. A flap assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the frame and the panel are formed of plastics material.
6. A flap assembly for through passage of animals substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and is illustrated by figures 1 to 3 or figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
7. A mesh fence or fence panel in which a flap assembly for through passage of animals as claimed in any preceding claim is installed.