US3069142A

US3069142A - Panel fence

Info

Publication number: US3069142A
Application number: US10918A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl E Kessler
Original assignee: ALL PRODUCTS CO
Current assignee: ALL PRODUCTS CO
Priority date: 1960-02-25
Filing date: 1960-02-25
Publication date: 1962-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1979-12-18

Description

Dec. 18, 1962 c. E. KESSLER 3,069,142

PANEL FENCE Filed Feb. 25, 1960 CARL E. KESSLER IN VENTOR.

BY WM A TTORNE Y United States Patent Ofilice 3,069,142 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 Texas Filed Feb. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 10,918 1 Claim. (Cl. 256-34) This invention relates to fences and has reference to a panel for attachment to .a fence of the chain link type.

Durability and low cos-t construction have led to widespread use of chain link fences. These fences utilize lengths of machine woven wire fabrics supported by standardized tubular members and joints to form enclosures of great economic advantage over other types of fences of comparable permanence. Where the purpose of a fence is merely to mark property lines or to restrain animals, the visually unobstructing nature of chain link fences may be an asset. On the other hand, where privacy is desired or where a wind break is needed the chain link type fence, by itself, is unsatisfactory. The same standardization which produces economy results in a uniformity of appearance which, when extended throughout a neighborhood, lacks expressiveness and distinctiveness for the complimentary tastes of individual property owners and produces drabness and conformity in suburban areas.

Since the chain link fences marketed by different manufacturers are of substantially uniform construction, differing primarily in strand spacings and minor ornamental features of supporting structures, it would be desirable to have specially adapted accessories such as panels capable of converting existing fences into modified surfaces, and in mass producing these accessories to achieve similar economies. It would be particularly desirable to provide standard panel components which could be quickly and simply secured to a fence in various patterns and combinations to simultaneously achieve a change in the function of the fence and a distinctive appearance individually composed to harmonize with other property improvements.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an accessory panel for chain link fences.

Another object is to provide a panel which is light in weight and which can utilize features of construction of chain link fences for alignment and support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a panel which may be held by its own spring tension on a chain link fence.

Another object of the invention is to provide panels which may be demountably secured to a chain link fence in a variety of patterns and arrangements.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a panel which may quickly .and easily be applied to -a chain link fence by an unskilled workman and which will tend to pass easily between the intermeshes of the wire fabric of the fence.

Another object of the invention is to provide an integr-al clip for locking a panel to .a chain link fence.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a chainlink fence with panels as defined herein.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a broken perspective view of the invention illustrating a preferred embodiment of an end clip therefor.

FIGURE 5 is a broken perspective view of the invention showing an alternate embodiment of end clip construction and illustrating features of construction at opposite ends of a panel.

FIGURE 6 is a reduced elevational view of a chain link fence showing diagonally spaced panels, as defined herein, attached thereto.

FIGURE 7 is a reduced elevational view of a chain link fence showing adjacent panels secured and diagonally reinforced thereon.

FIGURE 8 is a reduced elevational view of a chain link fence having panels interwoven with the strands thereof.

FIGURE 9 is a broken perspective view of the invention illustrating another alternative embodiment of an end clip thereof.

An understanding of the construction of a chain link type fence is pertinent to an explanation and description of the present invention. Generally, the fabric of a chain link fence may be envisioned as a series of interlocking helical members compressed into a substantially flat structure. With particular reference to FIGURE 1, a pair of strands a and b are twisted together at their upper ends and extend dive-rgingly downward with one strand b in a plane forwardly offset from the plane of the other strand a. The strands a and b are each entwined with strands c and d of adjacent pairs of wires and then extend convergingly downward to entwinement with one another. At each intersection c, entwinement alternates the plane of a strand so that all portions extending downward and to the right are in a plane which is forward of the common plane of portions extending downward and to'the left. Hence, successive portions of adjacent strands form a substantially continuous diagonal ridge f at one side of the fence.

If observers at opposite sides of a chain link fence simultaneously view its construction, each sees forward diagonal ridges extending downwardly and to the right. What one observer sees as a forward ridge 1, the other sees as a rearward ridge. Therefore, the fence may be described as a series of forward coplanar diagonal ridges f and a series of rearward coplanar diagonal ridges g perpendicular thereto. The intertwining portion e of adjacent strands constitute spacing members between the planes of the forward and rearward ridges f and g. A series of troughs h, with rearward ridges g defining the base of each trough and with forward ridges f defining its longitudinal edges and with the intertwinings e of adjacent wire strands defining the sides thereof are thus formed in .one side of the fence (FIGURE 2) and troughs i perpendicular thereto are likewise formed in the obverse side (FIGURE 3).

With specific reference to the invention, a series of

panels

10, 1 1, :12, 13 and 14 are shown in FIGURE 1 respectively positioned within adjacent troughs h of a chain link fence. Each panel Ill-14 is an elongate plate of transversely arched flexible sheet metal which is normally straight with respect to its longitudinal axis. Panels 10-14 are equal in length although it is to be understood that panels near ends of a fence or in special applications may be suitably cut to required length either before or after installation.

The width of each panel 10-414 corresponds to the spacing between ridges f of the fence. Reference to FIG- URES 2 and 3 shows that intersecting wires form a greater width in section between the planes of the diagonally extending portions of the strands than they do at the planes themselves, and the width of each panel 10-14 is slightly greater than the distance between intertwined portions of strands e intermediate the planes of the ridges 1.

All corners 15 of each panel 10-14 are arcuately formed to provide tapered shoulders at opposite ends of the panel.

Each panel 1044 is fastened to the uppermost diagonal strand in the base of its trough by a clip 16 integrally constructed with the panel. The clips 16a and 16b in FIGURE 1 are integral and substantially rectangular extensions on corresponding ends of the panels 12-, 13 and 14 and are bent to engage the uppermost diagonal strand of each trough as last referred to. Alternate embodiments of the clip construction are shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 9. The clip 16 shown in FIGURE 4 is comprised of a flap 17 formed as a substantially rectangular continuation of the upper end of the panel 10-14 and having the corners 18 of its extended end arcuately receded and having its lateral edges 19 flared at its junction with the upper end of the panel. As shown by dotted lines in FIGURE 4, this form of the clip may be erected in an S-shape for stacked shipment of the panels and may be pressed downwardly and rearward'ly by thumb pressure before or during installation.

In a second form of construction (FIGURE 5) the clip 16 is made as a partially severed leaf 20 of circular shape which is joined at its upper end to the remainder of the panel; when the leaf is folded from its aperture 21 and receives a strand of Wire therebeneath, the free end of the leaf may be folded around the wire and back through the aperture where it will be received with increased clearance due to foreshortening by its displacement around the wire.

As a third alternate embodiment (FIGURE 9) the clip 16 is formed as an elongated severance 22 in the body of the panel with the upper end of the clip continuous with the panel and with the lower end of the clip enlarged and provided with relatively fiat shoulders 23 at its juncture with the remainder of the clip. This form of the clip 16 may be pressed outwardly of the panel to receive a wire strand therebeneath. The enlarged end of the clip may then be slightly twisted about its longitudinal axis and passed back through its aperture where the enlarged end is untwisted to form a locking type connection between the panel and the strand.

The invention is adapted for installation in a variety of patterns and interlocking relationships. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 8, a panel 12 may be woven under one or more of the base strands in a trough h. The rounded ends 15 of the panel serve as guides for reintroduction of the panel 12 into the trough immediately adjacent such underweaving and provide clearance between the upper end of the panel and the uppermost entwinement of each pair of strands a and b. Once a series of panels 1014 have been placed in adjacent troughs 11, they may be further secured by introduction of additional panels 24 positioned forwardly of the troughs h and the panels 1044 therein and rearwardly of strands forming ridges f of the troughs; it is thus seen that panels perpendicularly disposed to one another tie in the separate troughs h and i viewed from opposite sides of the fence and mutually secure one another therein. Decorative patterns may be formed by alternating or spacing panels (FIGURE 6) so installed and the decorative values may be further enhanced by so alternating panels of various colors or shades of a color.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary construction herein shown and described, but may be made in various ways within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In combination with a chain link fence having diagonally disposed parallel troughs therein formed by intertwining adjacent strands, elongate sheet metal panels received within said troughs, said panels being transversely arched and having arcuately formed corners at their lower ends, and having integral clips at their upper ends positioned to engage that strand transversely disposed with reference to the trough in which the panel is received.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 621,496 Johnson et al. Mar. 21, 1899 825,916 Mahaffy July 17, 1906 2,760,759 Rice Aug. 28, 1956 2,954,964 OHafiey Oct. 4, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 725,998 Great Britain Mar. 16, 1955