US154329A - Improvement in portable fences - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HAFEIt, OF BEDFOBD, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,329, dated August 25, 1874; application filed April 27, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN HAFER, of Bedford, in the county of Bedford and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to a fence of that wellknown class in which the panels are secured together in such manner as to brace and sustain each other by means of detachable connections or fastenin gs, which admit of the fence being taken apart, the panels moved,- and again set up and secured in position in another place. v

It is the object of my invention to simplify the application and cheapen the construction of these panel-fastenings, and render them efficient in operation.

The subject-matter claimed will hereinafter be set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a view in elevation of a section of my improved fence; Fig. 2, a plan or top view of the same; Fig. 3, a longitudinal horizontal section through one of the panels; Fig. 4, a view of one of the fastenings; and Fig. 5, a view in perspective, showing the fence as braced.

Each panel of the fence is composed of end posts A A, into round mortiscs in which are fitted the correspondingly-shaped tenons at the ends of the rails B B B The rails are,

' by preference, made polygonal in cross-section, and pass through a middle post, 0, the mortises in which are also made polygonal, and of the full size of the rails, to enable them to he slipped through and the post adjusted to the proper position, where it may be keyed or nailed. This construction serves to prevent the twisting of the rails or panel. Several of these posts may be employed, if desired, and asmany rails used as deemed necessary to make an open or a tight fence.

The panels are placed end to end, as shown in Fig. 1, and fastenings composed of links or double hooks D D (two or more at each end of a panel) are applied so that they hook over the rails and rest against the posts. As the fence is of the worm form it cannot be blown over or knocked down by stock so long as the panels are united, and as the fastenings D D securely connect the panels, a strong fence is produced. Braces E, as shown in Fig. 5, may be employed, if desired; but I do not deem them necessary except on hillsides and in straight fences to which my improved fastenings may be applied.

The fastening-hooks are composed of rodiron bent in the peculiar form shown, the iron being bent at each end at about a right angle. with its central part, and the extreme ends then bent downward, by which construction the central part of the fastenings rests against one side or face of each of two adjacent posts. The hooks rest against the sides of the posts, at right angles with the sides or faces against which the central part rests, the ends of the fastening hooking over the rails. These fastenings can be made very cheaply; they can be easily and quickly applied or removed, and, when inplace, securely unite the panels, as they are self-locking, without the use of wedges, keys, or other additional parts, and, owing to their form, may be applied either to the top or bottom rails, or to the intermediate rails.

I claim as my invention-. The self-locking duplex panel-hook D, constructed as described, and adapted to clasp the rails of two adjacent panels of a zigzag fence and embrace the contiguous posts of the said panels, as and for the purpose specified. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN HAFER. Witnesses:

ESPY M. ALsIP, VALENTINE STEOKMAN.

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