U.S. patent application number 14/204318 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-10 for wire-mesh security fence and fence panel.
This patent application is currently assigned to C.E. Shepherd Company, L.P.. The applicant listed for this patent is C.E. Shepherd Company, L.P.. Invention is credited to G. Maury Shepherd.
Application Number | 20140191176 14/204318 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43729592 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140191176 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shepherd; G. Maury |
July 10, 2014 |
Wire-Mesh Security Fence and Fence Panel
Abstract
A wire-mesh security fence panel and security fence is provided.
In at least on example the fence panel includes: a first set of
substantially parallel wires, each wire having a first and a second
end; a second set of substantially parallel wires, the second set
of wires being welded across the first set on one picket-wire side
of the first set; a cross-wire-side connection strip welded across
the first end of the first set on the picket-wire side of the first
set; and an opposite side connection strip welded across the second
end of the first set on the opposite side of the picket-wire side.
In one such example each connection strip has an outside edge and
each outside edge is equally spaced from the end of the wires to
which the strip is welded.
Inventors: |
Shepherd; G. Maury;
(Houston, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
C.E. Shepherd Company, L.P. |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
C.E. Shepherd Company, L.P.
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
43729592 |
Appl. No.: |
14/204318 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13958128 |
Aug 2, 2013 |
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14204318 |
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13683780 |
Nov 21, 2012 |
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13958128 |
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12881810 |
Sep 14, 2010 |
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13683780 |
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61242239 |
Sep 14, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
256/33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 17/161 20130101;
E04H 17/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
256/33 |
International
Class: |
E04H 17/04 20060101
E04H017/04 |
Claims
1. A wire-mesh fence panel comprising: a first set of substantially
parallel wires, each wire having a first and a second end; a second
set of substantially parallel wires, the second set of wires being
welded across the first set on one picket-wire side of the first
set; a cross-wire-side connection strip welded across the first end
of the first set on the picket-wire side of the first set; and an
opposite side connection strip welded across the second end of the
first set on the opposite side of the picket-wire side.
2. A wire-mesh fence panel as in claim 1, wherein each connection
strip has an outside edge and each outside edge is equally spaced
from the end of the wires to which the strip is welded.
3. A wire-mesh fence comprising: at least two wire-mesh panels,
each panel comprising: a wire-mesh fence panel comprising: a first
set of substantially parallel wires, each wire having a first and a
second end, a second set of substantially parallel wires, the
second set of wires being welded across the first set on one
picket-wire side of the first set, a cross-wire-side connection
strip welded across the first end of the first set on the
picket-wire side of the first set, and an opposite-side connection
strip welded across the second end of the first set on the opposite
side of the picket-wire side; the picket-wire side connection strip
of the first panel being connected the opposite-side connection
strip of the second panel; and the first end of the wires of the
first set of a first of the panels substantially facing the second
end of the wires of a second panel.
4. A fence as in claim 3 further comprising a bolt having two ends,
each end being inserted through a hole in a connection strip of the
first panel and a hole in a connection strip of the second
panel.
5. A fence as in claim 4, wherein each bolt end is threaded and
further comprising a nut on each threaded end.
6. A fence as in claim 5 further comprising posts connected to the
connection strips.
7. A fence as in claim 4, wherein the hole in at least one
connection strip comprises a slot.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] In the field of security fences, "cut resistance" and "climb
resistance" has led to the use of welded mesh fence. Such fences
are made by arranging multiple horizontal lines of wire--spaced
apart a small distance--and welding vertical cross wires to the
horizontal lines. The result is a mesh. Typical mesh used in
security fences is so called "3-5-8" (meaning that the horizontal
lines are about 3 inches apart, the cross wires are 0.5 inches, and
the wire is 8 gauge). Other dimensions and mesh patterns are known
or will occur to those of skill in the art. The wires are welded
into a mesh on a variety of welding systems (for example, automatic
resistance-mesh welders, such as those available from Entwicklungs-
und Verwertungs-Gesellschaft m.b.H. (a.k.a. "EVG") and
Clifford/Ideal Welding Systems). Continuous wire welders and jig
welders are used to perform the welding. To prevent the panels from
warping, tension is placed on the wires during the welding process.
The ends of the panels are typically finished with a cross wire
welded across the face of the horizontal like wires.
[0002] In practice, welded mesh fences present problems. For
example, in a typical installation, the fence posts are installed
about 8 feet apart, but the spacing may be very irregular.
Likewise, in some applications, or a welded mesh fence may need to
be installed on pre-existing chain link posts. Since chain link
does not require highly regular spacing, it can be stretched to
accommodate significant irregularities. In welded mesh fencing,
however, stretching the width of the panel is not possible Further,
the hardware typically used to join panels leaves nuts or other
parts that are vulnerable to attack on the outside of the fence,
reducing the security of the fence. Therefore, there is a need for
a wire-mesh fence and a wire-mesh fence panel that gives
flexibility in installation with irregularly-spaced posts. There is
a separate need for a joining of wire-mesh fence panels that
reduces the amount of connection component material that is easily
attacked on the outside of the fence.
SUMMARY OF EXAMPLES
[0003] In at least one example of the invention, a welded wire-mesh
fence panel is provided that includes: a first set of substantially
parallel wires, each wire having a first and a second end; a second
set of substantially parallel wires, the second set of wires being
welded across the first set on one picket-wire side of the first
set; a cross-wire-side connection strip welded across the first end
of the first set on the picket-wire side of the first set; and an
opposite side connection strip welded across the second end of the
first set on the opposite side of the picket-wire side. In one such
example each connection strip has an outside edge and each outside
edge is equally spaced from the end of the wires to which the strip
is welded.
[0004] In a further example of the invention, a wire-mesh fence is
provided that includes: at least two wire-mesh panels. The
picket-wire side connection strip of the first panel is connected
to the opposite-side connection strip of the second panel, and the
first end of the wires of the first set of a first of the panels
substantially facing the second end of the wires of a second panel.
In at least one such example, a bolt is provided (for example,
square shaped and having two ends). Each end is inserted through a
hole in a connection strip of the first panel and a hold in a
connection strip of the second panel. In some examples, each bolt
end is threaded and a nut is applied on each threaded end. In some
examples, the holes comprise slots. In still further examples,
fence posts are connected at the connection strips. In another
example, the holes in the connection strip are threaded to accept
fasteners passing through holes in the adjoining connection strip.
Still further examples as seen in the attached drawings and
detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a front view of an example of the invention in
which a wire-mesh panel is seen.
[0006] FIG. 1A is a detail view of the upper left corner of the
wire mesh panel of FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 1B is a detail view of the upper right corner of the
wire mesh panel of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 1C is an end on view of the lower left corner of the
wire mesh panel of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 1D is an end on view of the lower right corner of the
wire mesh panel of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example of the invention
in which two wire-mesh panels such as that illustrated in FIG. 1
are spaced apart before joining.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a top view of an example of the invention, showing
a butt-joint of two assembled panels.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example of the invention,
in which connected panels are mounted to a fence post.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a front view of connected panels attached to a
fence post.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a top view of connected panels attached to a fence
post.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Referring now to FIG. 1 an example of a wire-mesh fence
panel 100 is seen comprising substantially parallel rail-wires 102,
each having a first end 102a and a second end 102b. Substantially
parallel cross-wires 104 are welded across rail-wires 102 at
substantially regular intervals. At each end of the panel 100 a
connection strip is welded across the ends of the wires 102. As
seen in detail in FIGS. 1A-1D, picket-wire-side connection strip
106 is welded on the picket-wire side 108 of panel 100, and
opposite-side connection strip 110 is welded across the ends of the
wires 102 on the side opposite the picket-wire side 108 of panel
100
[0016] Referring now to the example of FIG. 2, each connection
strip 106 and 110 has an outside edge 112 that is spaced from the
end of the wires to which the strip is welded. As the two panels
100a and 100b are moved together, the ends of the rail-wires face
each other; and, if the spacing is regular enough, as seen in the
top-view of FIG. 3, this allows a "butt-connection" between the
wires of two panels 100a and 100b when they are connected
together.
[0017] Referring again to FIG. 2, slot-holes 116 are provided in
each connection strip and are positioned to overlap with the
slot-holes of another panel when assembled. Such slots allow for
irregular spacing of posts to be accommodated.
[0018] Referring again to FIG. 3, in at least one example of the
invention, a U-shaped bolt 204 is inserted from the side opposite
the picket-wire-side of panels 100a and 100b through slots 116 (not
shown in FIG. 3), and nuts 210 are applied to the threaded ends of
bolt 204. Therefore, it is possible to build an entire fence on
which no nuts or cross-wires are available on one side of the
fence. When used as the outside of whatever location is to be
protected, this increases security; the back of a U-shaped bolt is
more difficult to attack than a nut. Other methods of joining
panels will occur to those of skill in the art without departing
from the invention.
[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 4, in some examples, the overlapping
connection strips are attached by bolts 400 (e.g., secure bolts
who's heads shear after installation) to threaded posts 300 that
have been previously set in the ground. In other examples, the
spacing between posts is too irregular and cannot be attached at
the connection strips (see FIG. 5). However due to the overlapping
connection strips being welded to the ends of the wires, the
assembled panels present a uniform barrier that can be attached to
irregularly spaced posts with hardware that will occur to those of
skill in the art. For example, the following types of connectors
are useful to mount joined panels to posts: standard threaded
fasteners, threaded tamper proof fasteners, welded studs, rivets,
self tapping standard and tamper proof fasteners, direct welding,
etc. Referring now to FIG. 6, still another example is seen in
which joined panels 601 and 603 are connected by strips 605, which
are held together by bolts 606 that are threaded into block 605.
The assembled panels are fastened to round posts 615 by clamp
member 607 which is secured to block 605 by bolts 609 (held in
place by nuts 610 and heads 611.)
[0020] In some embodiments, the connection strips 106 and 110 are
welded during manufacturing, to the picket-wires of a wire-mesh
welding processed panel; in further examples, strips 106 and 110
are welded to the so-called "rail-wires". In still a further
example, strips are welded to more than two sides (e.g. four),
allowing panels to be joined in two dimensions. Thus higher fences
are enabled from multiple panels of one height.
[0021] The materials and sizes of the mesh are known to those of
ordinary skill in the field; however, the following have been found
to be particularly useful and are preferred: [0022] 12 gage (0.120
inch diameter) through 4 gage (0.225 inch diameter) wire welded
into a 3''.times.5'' mesh. [0023] 12 gage (0.120 inch diameter)
through 4gage (0.225 inch diameter) wire welded into a
2''.times.2'' mesh. [0024] 12 gage (0.120 inch diameter) through 4
gage (0.225 inch diameter) wire welded into a 2''.times.6'' mesh
[0025] 12 gage (0.120 inch diameter) through 4 gage (0.225 inch
diameter) wire welded into 1''.times.1'' mesh
[0026] Other dimensions and even more irregular spacing of wires
may be used without departing from the invention.
[0027] The above description is given by way of example only. Other
examples of the invention will occur to those reading the current
document that are within the scope of the invention--whose scope is
not intended to be limited by any statement or specific example
given above. The scope of the patent is intended to be defined only
by the claims which follow.
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