Portable Fence Panel

Abstract

A portable fence panel is arranged for connection to identical panels for use as a pen or corral. Each panel has a generally rectangular frame which holds a wire barrier. A trio of tubes is mounted both at the top and bottom of one end post. An inverted U-shaped stud is mounted both at the top and bottom of the other end post for fitting into selected tubes. By providing the trio of tubes, a four-way fence corner can be easily constructed. A releasable locking mechanism is mounted below the stud to underlie the tubes and prevent disconnection.

Description

BACKGROUND

The invention pertains generally to animal husbandry and more particularly to a portable fence panel to provide a pen for livestock.

Fences of various kinds have been provided for the retention of livestock of a more or less permanent nature including posts embedded in the earth with connecting structure, all of which was relatively heavy requiring substantial materials, labor and skill in the fabrication thereof. Such structures have lacked flexibility to be adjusted to areas of varying sizes and consequently imposed a substantial problem in the provision of adequate corral-forming fencing. Temporary or portable fence panels overcome the above problems, and one such panel is shown in U. S. Pat. No. 3,204,606 issued Sept. 7, 1965 to Parr et al. In that prior patent, however, both ends of the panel were similar so it could not be easily determined how the panels were to be fitted together.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a portable fence panel for livestock pens.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable fence panel of strong, durable construction, capable of being connected to identical panels to provide a pen for a variety of livestock.

Another object is to provide a portable fence panel having a construction which can be readily connected to identical panels and which is apparent which parts are to be interfitted for such connection, so that erection can be accomplished by a minimum of workmen in a minimum of time.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a portable fence panel which can be connected to identical panels to form rectangular and polygonal pens of any desired size and which pens are usable as holding pens, field corrals, temporary stalls, and the like.

It is another object to provide a portable fence panel for connection to an identical panel and which means for temporarily locking the two panels together.

These, together with other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of portable fence panels of the present invention connected to provide three pens;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of four panels interconnected and illustrating the locking mechanisms in locking position;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section through the end post on which the female members are mounted, and showing the relation of a typical female member to the end post;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of opposite ends of two portable fence panels just prior to connection;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation of the locking mechanism on the end post on which the male members are mounted.

DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings which illustrate the best presently known mode of carryng out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

A preferred embodiment of a portable fence panel 10 includes vertical end posts 11 and 12 which are connected by upper and lower rails 13 and 14, respectively. The end posts and rails are advantageously formed of a one inch diameter steel tube with the lower rail 14 welded to the end posts. The upper rail 13 may be an integral continuation of the end posts 11 and 12, as shown. The posts and rails provide a generally rectangular frame which supports a barrier 15 therebetween. The barrier may be of wire rod stock to retain smaller livestock or of steel tubing for larger livestock. In either event, the barrier is preferably welded to the frame.

Connector means are provided for connecting each portable fence panel 10 to similar portable fence panels. The connector means includes first and second female members 20, 20' on the first end post 11. As best seen in FIG. 4, the female members 20, 20' are vertically spaced at locations adjacent the upper and lower rails 13 and 14. Each female member provides three openings which are aligned with corresponding openings in the other female member. In the preferred embodiment, each female member comprises three tubular members 21-23 (see FIG. 3). The three tubular members are mounted on the first end post 11 as by welding and are arranged with their axes parallel to each other and parallel to the axis of the first end post 11. In the illustrated construction, the tubular members are preferably formed from 1 inch diameter steel tubing and have a vertical length of about 2 inches. The lower female member 20' is of identical construction to that of female member 20, and the foregoing description should be taken as applying to both.

The connector means also includes first and second male members 30, 30' (see FIG. 4) on the second end post 12. The male members are vertically spaced a distance equal the spacing of the female members 20, 20'. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the male member 30 is made of 5/8 inch steel rod formed into an inverted U-shape comprising legs 31 and 32 interconnected by an intermediate portion 33. Legs 31 and 32 are preferably parallel to each other and mounted parallel to the axis of end post 12. The lower male member 30' is of identical construction to that of male member 30 and the foregoing description should be taken as applying to both. The outer legs 32 of both members 30, 30' are aligned for insertion through the aligned openings of the female members.

Referring to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the second end post 12 may be positioned adjacent the first end post 11 of a similar portable fence panel 10. By raising the second end post 12, and moving it in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4, the male members 30, 30' may be inserted through the selected aligned openings in the female members 20, 20'. Since three openings are provided in the female members, a four-way corner may be accomplished in the manner shown in FIG. 2.

In the event that two female members end up adjacent each other as will occur in complex configurations as shown in FIG. 1, separate U-shaped male members can be utilized to fit into the adjacent female members and thereby provide the connection. I prefer, however, to provide the separate male member (not shown) in a W-shape so that it can fit into two female members of one fence panel and into one of the female members in each adjacent panel thereby providing additional rigidity.

While the aforementioned structure has utility for some uses, in accordance with the present invention the connector means also includes a locking apparatus 40 for holding the male members 30, 30' in the inserted position. In the embodiment illustrated, the locking apparatus 40 includes two portions which are mirror images of each other as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Each portion includes an arcuate part 41 which is circumjacent a portion of the end post 12 and contiguous thereto, and an outwardly extending finger 42 for underlying one of the tubular members 21-23 as best shown in FIG. 2. The two portions are held together by a fastener 43 which may be a bolt or other means for releasably securing the circumjacent part to the end post. When the fastener 43 is released, the locking apparatus 40 may be moved away from its locking position either by rotating the asme or allowing it to slide downwardly along the post 12.

It is now deemed apparent that the male members are inserted through the female members, and the locking apparatus is disposed at a position closely adjacent the lower end of leg 32 or the bottom of the tubular members 21, 22 or 23, the two fence panels 10 are connected together in such a manner that they cannot be disconnected. A mere loosening of the fastener 43 allows the locking apparatus to be moved away from the locking position and the fence panels can then be readily disconnected.

It is now deemed apparent from the foregoing that a series of portable fence panels are provided which may be readily assembled by unskilled persons with minimum effort and a minimum of time to provide a pen or corral which will retain livestock. The fence panel is relatively lightweight, sturdy, durable and highly flexible as to the area enclosed.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has herein been illustrated and described, this has been done by way of illustration and not limitation, and the invention should not be limited except as required by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A portable fence panel for combination with other portable fence panels of similar character to provide a self-sustaining enclosure for retention of livestock, said portable fence panel comprising: first and second end posts; upper and lower rails connecting said end posts and providing a generally rectangular frame; means carried by said frame for providing a barrier therebetween for the livestock; connector means for connecting the portable fence panel to similar portable fence panels; the connector means including first and second female members on the first end post and vertically spaced at locations adjacent the upper and lower rails, and first and second male members on the second end post and vertically spaced a distance approximating the spacing of the female members; each female member comprising three tubular members having axes parallel to each other and parallel to the first end post and providing three openings which are aligned with the corresponding openings on the other female member; each male member having an inverted U-shape; the male members arranged for insertion through the aligned openings of the female members so that three other fence panels can be connected; the connector means including locking means mounted on the second end post and movable to a locking position underlying one of the tubular members to prevent removal of the corresponding male member therefrom; and the locking means including a portion substantially circumjacent the second end post, an outwardly-extending finger for underlying one of the tubular members, and a fastener for releasably securing the circumjacent portion to the second end post; whereby when multiple panels are connected a plurality of self-sustaining enclosures for livestock are provided.

2. A portable fence panel for combination with identical portable fence panels to provide a self-sustaining enclosure for retention of livestock, the portable fence panel comprising: first and second upright end posts; upper and lower rails connecting the end posts and providing a generally rectangular frame; means carried by the frame for providing a livestock barrier between the posts and rails; first and second female members on the first end post and vertically spaced at locations adjacent the upper and lower rails; first and second male members on the second end post and vertically spaced a distance approximating the spacing of the female members; the male members arranged for insertion through the corresponding female members so that identical fence panels can be thusly connected; and locking means mounted on the second end post and movable between a locking position underlying the female member to prevent removal of the corresponding male member therefrom and a position removed from the locking position for releasably holding the male members in said inserted position; and the locking means including a portion substantially circumjacent the second end post, an outwardly-extending finger for underlying the female member, and a fastener for releasably securing the circumjacent portion to the second end post.

3. A portable fence panel for combination with identical portable fence panels to provide a self-sustaining enclosure for retention of livestock, the portable fence panel comprising: first and second upright end posts; upper and lower rails connecting the end posts and providing a generally rectangular frame; means carried by the frame for providing a livestock barrier between the posts and rails; first and second female members on the first end post and vertically spaced at locations adjacent the upper and lower rails; first and second male members on the second end post and vertically spaced a distance approximating the spacing of the female members; the male members arranged for insertion through the corresponding female members so that identical fence panels can be thusly connected; locking means mounted on one of the end posts for releasably holding the male members in said inserted position; and the locking means including a first piece having an arcuate portion for engaging a portion of the exterior of an end post and an outwardly extending finger for contacting the member on the end post of an adjacent connected fence panel, a second piece having an arcuate portion for engaging another portion of the exterior of said end post, and a fastener for tightening the two arcuate portions against said end post with the finger in said contacting position to prevent disconnecting of the male members from the female members.

4. A portable fence panel as set forth in claim 3 wherein each female member comprises three tubular members having axes parallel to each other and parallel to the first end post; and each male member has a U-shape with one leg secured to the second end post and the other leg parallel to the second end post.

5. A portable fence panel as set forth in claim 4 wherein the locking means is mounted on the second end post, and said contacting position is a position underlying one of the tubular members to prevent removal of the corresponding male member therefrom.

6. A portable fence panel for combination with identical portable fence panels to provide a self-sustaining enclosure for retention of livestock, the portable fence panel comprising: first and second upright end posts; upper and lower rails connecting the end posts and providing a generally rectangular frame; means carried by the frame for providing a livestock barrier between the posts and rails; first and second female members on the first end post and vertically spaced at locations adjacent the upper and lower rails; first and second male members on the second end post and vertically spaced a distance approximating the spacing of the female members; the male members arranged for insertion through the corresponding female members so that identical fence panels can be thusly connected; and locking means for releasably holding the male members in said inserted position and including a portion substantially circumjacent one of the end posts, a finger extending outwardly from said portion for contacting the member on the end post of an adjacent fence panel, and means for releasably securing the circumjacent portion to said one end post.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein each female member provides a plurality of openings which are aligned with the corresponding openings on the other female member on the first end post.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the locking means is mounted on the second end post at a location intermediate the first and second male members mounted thereon.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein each female member comprises a plurality of tubular members having axes parallel to each other.