US46541A - Improved fence - Google Patents

Description

N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER, WAS-MINGTON D C Nirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

MARCUS BROWN, OF FOND DU LAC, AND OSCAR J. SHANNON, OF FAIR- WATER, WISCONSIN. p

AIMPRovl-:D FENCE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 16,54 I, dated February 2S, 1865.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MARcUs BROWN, of `Iiadoga, Fond du Lac county, and State of Wisconsin, and OscAR J. SHANNON, of Fairwater, in said county and State, have invented a new and Improved Portable Fence; and we do hereby declare that the following` is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of our invention in that class of fences designated as portable fences is to provide a cheap and durable fence, and one which shall be rigid when placed in position, but which can readily be taken down 7 or put up77 when such operations become necessary, for the purpose of transportation or otherwise, as the case may be.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will proceed to describe the same with reference to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of our im- Avproved fence, Fig. 2, a view showing the peculiar formation of the posts; and Fig. 3, a view in section, slightly different in construct-ion, but the saine in principle as in Fig. l.

- As indicated in the figures, a a are posts, which inclose, or between which are clasped, the lapped ends of the panel-boards b, and the distance between these posts a a" constitute a panel of the fence. Central of the length of each panel auxiliary posts are secured for the purpose of giving rmness and rigidity to the whole structure when in position, as represented in Fig. 1'. On the inner and abutting faces of the posts c a' mortises, as at c, are cut of a depth and length to correspond with the width and thickness of the panel-boards, so that when the latter are in place within the former, as indicated in the drawings, the inner faces of the posts will adjoin or abut, or nearly so. One of these posts in general form and outline is made rectangular throughout, while its fellow at its lower extremity, as at d, is beveled oft' on its inner face, and, as at d, at its upper extremity on its outer face. None of the posts named are intended to enter the ground, but are made with their lower ends square, for the purpose of assisting in the maintenance of their vertical position upon the ground when the fence is 'the fence, while its opposite end is upon the outside. We prefer the latter arrangement, in view of rigidity when the fence is once erected 5 but the former arrangement admits of the erection of the fence in somewhat less time.

For binding the posts a c together securely, metallic bands e e, usually made of strong wire, are provided, and within which the bot- I tom ofthe posts a a are inserted when in the act of erecting the fence. These bands e aie only large enough to inclose the bottom of the posts when the latter are inserted therein, as shown in Fig. 2, in which position the beveltd portion d lits snugly against the inner face, or a portion thereof, of the post c. Having thus inserted the posts a c' within the band e, they are xthen forced together into the position shown in Fig; l, and secured together by dropping over their upper ends the holding-band e, the beveled part d at the top of the posts a readily admitting of the proper application of the holding-band.

It will thus be seen that by the act of drawing the posts together after their insertion within the band e a leverage-power is exerted to cause the lower ends of the posts to be firmly set within the band c, and which will cause this band to seat itself in the wood of the post, thereby holding the posts together with great security, and at'the same time preventing any liability of the slipping off of the band e from the bottom of the posts.

To provide against the action ofthe winds, stakes, as at j', are drivenin the ground on both sides of the fence, to which stay-wires are secured, as at g, the same being passed around the posts a a', as indicated in Fig. l; and to provide against the racking7 of the fence in a longitudinal direction, stay-wires, as at It, and stakes, as at t, are combined with the posts a c at such intermediate distances as may be deemed necessary for its security.

In Fig. 3 we have shown the post a with mortises of sufficient depth cut therein to embrace nearly the thickness of the overlapped ends ofthe panel-boards, thereby rendering it unnecessary to eut any mortises in the post a. As shown in lines in this gure, the post a is set in the ground; but the binding ofthe posts together by the band e is the same as heretofore described.

We would here state that We do not mean to confine ourselves to the v application of the bevels d and d to either one of the posts a ci', since, Whether applied to the one or the other ot' said posts the leverage and binding effect is the same.

The advantages of this inode of constructing fences are obvious: First, the size, length, and hence the cost, of the posts is less than the ordinary board fence; second, the building is less than half the trouble; third, the decay of posts when placed in the ground is avoided fourth, the breaking of nails, cost ot'` same, and splitting of the boards in driving nails is avoided. The fence at any time may be made taut simply by driving down the stakes, or by laying a stone or other 4Weight upon the stay-Wires; sixth, if anyr portion ot'y a panel becomes broken it can be replaced without disturbing an adjoining portion 5 seventh, any one of the lengths or panels can be renoved and a gap or gateway made Without disturbing other parts or injuring the `mate- 1. Constructing. a fence with posts having bevels d d', substantially as and for the purpose set lforth.

2. The bands e, or their equivalent in conibination with beveled posts a a, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Witness our hands in` matter of our application for a patent for improved fence.

osoAn J. SHANNON. MARCUS BROWN.

Witnesses to` signature of Oscar JfShanllOIlZ R. T. CAMPBELL, E. SGHAFER. vWitnesses to signature of Marcus Brown GEORGE GATES,

F. CHrr'rENDEN.

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