US2600666A - Fence - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1952 w. M; MARTEN S EN 2,600,666

FENCE Filed April 25, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVHVTOR. T I B. 6. William M. Mqr 'Tensen,

Patented June 17, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FENCE William M. Martensen, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 25, 1949, Serial No. 89,391

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in fences, and the like. The improvements herein disclosed relate especially to sectional fences which can be readily assembled and built into continuous runs of fencing Without the need of special tools for that purpose. The fence herein disclosed is built up from units which can be readily assembled together at the situs where the fence is to be installed; and thes units are of such construction that they may be thus assembled regardless of the exact contour of the ground, whether rising or descending, or level; and regardless of whether the completed fence is to be straight or curved to conform to various outlines of the lot to be enclosed. Several forms'of installation are illustrated in the drawings, but these are shown merely by way of examples of the flexibility and versatility of the fence construction herein disclosed.

The fence units herein disclosed are of such form, and are so related to each other that the desired fence can be built up unit by unit following the contour of the ground, and the border of the plot to be enclosed by the fence. The individual units are of standard form, and interchangeable, and are provided with interlocking means so that as they are installed to produce the desired configuration these units will interlock into a continuous enclosure;

One object of the invention is toprovide a form of fence unit which is simple and can be readily made of wire or rod, of round or square or other selected cross-section, by very simple manufacturing operations, These units are also of such form that they may be readily packed into containers of simple and inexpensive form, and with little loss of bulk in such packing to thereby re-' duce shipping costs to a minimum. It is afurther object to so form these units that when they are interlocked together into a completed run of fence there will be no duplication of material in the uprights of the completed fence, thus elimihating unnecessary material in the units, with consequent reduction of initial cost and weight of the units needed for a given run of fence.

A further feature of the invention relates to means for providing a low level rail or stringer extending along the run of the completed fence, or such portion thereof as may be selected. In this connection it i an object to make provision for interlocking this rail or stringer to the several fence units as the fence is built up, thus providing a completed fence including such rail or stringer as a definite part thereof. It is a further object to so arrange the fence units and such rail or stringer that the interlocking between the parts can be effected in simple manner and without the need of special tools, or tools of complex or unusual construction. The interlocking means herein disclosed is such that a'very strong and permanent connection is thereby provided between the fence units and the rail or stringer.

A further feature of the invention is to provide the fence units with shouldered portions which may be readily engaged for driving the fence units into the ground to the necessary depth, such driving being by a hammer or other'suitable tool to drive the units either by pressure or impact as desired.

Other objects and uses of the invention wi1lappear from a detailed description of the same, which consists in the features of construction, and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an elevation of a section of run of fence, comprising two of the standard units and an end unit, the fencing shown in this figure being located on a substantially level plot of ground, and the fencing shown in this figure being provided with a low level rail or stringer embody; ing features of the present invention; I V

Figure 2' shows a section of run of fence similar to that shown in Figure 1, but it shows how the fence units can be used to provide a fence of uniform height extending along a plot of ground which is of non-level form, a low level rail or stringer being shown by dotted lines in this figure;

Figure 3 shows a section of run of fence similar to that shown in Figure 1, but it shows how the fence units can be used to provide a fence or" varying height'with respect to the surface of the ground whereon such fence is erected;

Figure 4 shows a plan view of a section of fence embodying the features of the present invention; such section of fence being straight;

Figure 5 shows a plan view similar to that of Figure 4, but with the fence following a curved line to meet the desired contour of the plot being fenced;

Figure 6 shows a fence unit of the form used in producing the fence sections shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, but the unit shown in Figure 6 is provided with an offset or shouldered portion at the ground level to provide a'shoulder which may be readily engaged for drivin or setting the fence unit into the ground;

Figure 7 shows on enlarged scale as compared to Figures 1 and 2 a fragmentary elevation of the portions of two fence units which portions occupy positions close to the ground level, and this figure shows a low level rail or stringer extending along the fence, and comprising angle bar section, such rail or stringer being interlocked with the fence units by one form of such interlock;

Figure 8 shows a horizontal or plan section of the construction shown in Figure 7, being taken on the line 88 of Figure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows; the interlocking means shown in Figures 7 and 8 comprising notches formed in the vertical risers of the fence units, the rail or stringer being provided with openings to accommodate the vertical risers of the units, and with lugs or tongues which may be deformed after the rail or stringer and the fence units have been assembled together in order to lock the units to the rail or stringer;

Figure 9 shows a fragmentary horizontal view of the interlock between one of the fance units and the rail or stringer on larger scale than the scale of Figures 7 and 8, the parts being locked together, and Figure 9 being a horizontal section taken on the line 99 of Figure 10, looking in the direction of the arrows;

- Figure 10 shows a vertical section taken on the line Ill-l0 of Figure 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 11 shows a view similar to that of Figure 8 also on enlarged scale as compared to Figures 1 and 2, but it shows a construction in which the fence units are of square cross-section instead of round as in the form of Figure 8;

Figure 12 shows a vertical section taken on the line l2|2 of Figure 11, looking in the direction of the arrows and also on enlarged scale as compared to Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 13 shows on a still more enlarged scale as compared to Figures 1 and 2 a horizontal fragmentary section through one fence unit, and a rail or stringer locked thereto by another form of interlocking arrangement in which the interlocking is provided by turning the fence unit through a proper amount of turn with respect to the rail or stringer after the riser of the fence unit has been set through the rail opening; Figure 13 being a horizontal section taken on the line l3-l3 of Figure 15, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 14 shows a horizontal section taken on the line 4-44 of Figure 15, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 15 shows a vertical section taken on the lines l5l5 of Figures 13 and 14, looking in the directions of the arrows of said figures;

Figure 16 shows an enlarged scale fragmentary elevation of the interlocking parts of two adjacent fence units of the form shown in previous figures; and

Figure 1'7 shows a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line l1|1 of Figure 16, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, each fence unit comprises a section of wire or rod formed to provide the vertical riser portion 20, the upper recurved portion 2|, and the outwardly formed interconnecting lug portion 22. Preferably there is also provided a rather short vertical section 23 between the upper curved portion 2| and the lug portion 22, such arrangement adapting the units more readily to meet such conditions as rising or falling ground levels on which the fence units are installed.

Reference to Figures 16 and 17 shows the form of the portions 22 and 23 in greater detail than Figure 1. From Figures 16 and 17 it will be seen that the lug portion 22 is readily formed by fiattening out the end portion of the rod from which the unit is made, and thus widening such end portion, and this flattened portion or lug is perforated with a hole 24 of size to receive the riser 20 of the adjoining fence unit when the units are assembled into continuous fence run. The locations of the holes 24 of the unit lugs are far enough removed laterally from the curved portions 2| (and from the vertical portions 23, if provided) so that when the successive fence units are assembled together the parts of such successive units will not interfere with each other, but will produce an attractive and regular fence as will be evident from examination of Figure 1. In order to complete a run of fencing and to give a finished appearance and form to the end thereof, use may be made of one special unit of simple U-shape as shown at the right-hand of Figure 1, both sides of the curved upper portion 25 of such special unit being carried downwardly the full distance so that they both come to or may be inserted into the ground.

The lower portions of the several fence units are inserted into the ground a suitable distance to give proper support to the fence units. In Figure 1 the ground level is shown as being substantially horizontal, and the lower portions 26 of the various units are set down into the ground for support as shown. Both arms of the special end unit 25 are thus set into the ground. If desired these ground settings may be made in concrete or other special supporting means, but generally it will be found satisfactory to set the riser portions directly into the ground, if such riser portions are made long enough to provide for a sufficient depth of such setting.

In Figure l I have shown the longitudinally extending low level rail or stringer 21 extending from unit to unit. I shall describe several forms of such rail hereinafter, and also shall disclose the means whereby such rail may be readily interlocked with the several units which it traverses.

In Figure 2 I have shown a section of fence such as just described, but installed on a plot of ground of descending level. The ground surface is shown at 28 in this figure. Due to the descending contour of this ground surface it is seen that each unit progressively towards the right is set at a lower level than its left-hand neighbor. For this reason the lugs 22 engage with the successive fence units higher up on said units than is the case when the units are installed on level ground. By providing the short vertical sections 23 in the several units it is seen that installation of the units on rather steep ground can be readily made without causing the lugs to engage over more than a small portion of the curvature 2! of successive right-hand units; and generally the holes 24 formed in these lugs will be of somewhat oversize so that proper engagement with such slight amount of curvature will be possible, as in the installation illustrated in Figure 2. In that figure I have also shown the horizontally or longitudinally extending rail or stringer 29 extending between successive fence units. I shall hereinafter disclose forms of such rails or stringers, and the interlocking means, which is adapted to meet the conditions imposed by the fact that such rail or stringer is not set at right-angles to the risers of the several fence units.

In Figure 3 I have shown installation of fencing on level ground, but with .thesuccessive units set-at varying depthsso that'thetop of the fence presents a slanting line. In so setting the-several units the conditions of interlockingbetween successive units are similar to the conditions presented in the installationshown in Figure 2; but I have not shown any longitudinally extending low level rail or stringer in the installation shown in Figure 3.

In Figure4 I have shown a plan view of a section of the fencing which extends in a straight line. In Figure 5 I have shown a planview of a section of fencing following a-curved line corresponding to a curved definition ofa plot of ground. It will be readily seen that even a very sharp curvature may be followed in the installation of the fencing.

In Figure 6 I have shown the vertical riser of afence unit as provided with an onset portion defining theshoulder in such riser. Preferably such offset portion will be so located that when the unit is set the proper distance into the ground for proper supportthis shoulder will come to or close to the groundsurfaee as shown in Figure -6. This shoulder maybe readily-engaged by a hammer or other tool for-driving the riser of the unit into the ground-{and by properly locatingv this shoulder it will also define the limit of the depth towhich the unit should beset into the ground. Thus this shoulder when provided will serve two useful purposes.

Reference may now be had to Figures 7 to 15, inclusive, showing various forms of interlocking means between the longitudinally extending rail or stringer and the several vertical risers of the fence units which it traverses. In the arrangement of Figures 7 and 8, each of the vertical risers is provided with a notch at one side, 3|, of depth su-fiicient to ensure the desired interlocking action, but not of sufficient depth to reduce the strength of the riser seriously. In thesefigures the rail or stringer is shown as comprising an angle section, the web 32 of such angle section being set horizontal and the flange 33 of such angle section being set vertically. The notches 3| are of vertical dimension or width sufiicient to accommodate the web of the angle 32, and preferably these notches are made of greater width than the thickness of the angle web, so that when fence installation is made under such conditions as that shown in Figure 2 wherein the rail or stringer is not at right-angles to the vertical risers of the fence units the proper interlocking between the risers and the stringer may be effected.

The web of the rail or stringer is provided with an opening in position and of size to accommodate each of the risers of the fence units to be interlocked with such stringer. These are the holes 34 shown in Figure 8 (and also on larger scale in Figures 9 and 10). The web of the stringer is also cut back from these holes to release the tongues 35, which tongues are formed upwardly as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 10, and the parts are so related and proportioned that when these tongues are thus originally formed upwardly and at an angle as shown in Figure 10 there will be provided openings of sumcient size to permit the risers of the fence units to be set down through, these so enlarged openings. Thereafter the risers may be shifted sidewise slightly, o the stringer may be shifted slightly in the opposite direction to engage the edge of the opening of the stringer with the notch of the riser, thus engaging the parts together.

6.. Thereafter the tongue 35 may be forced down into surface alignmentawith the web of the stringer, thus reducing the opening of the web and locking the riser. in place. When thus locked; the tongue will prevent lateral movement ofthe riser sufficiently-to permit disengagement to occur; but by formingthe parts of ample- ,clearances it will be possible for the stringer to be. shifted angularlywith respect to theriser suchan amount astoaccommodate differences of elevation between successive. fence units due to round slant, as. shown, forexample in Figure 2.

The arrangements, shown in Figures ,7, 8, 9 and 10 are for roundfence units, that is, units formed of round stock. In Figures 11 and 12 I have shown similararrangements in which, however, the'fence units are made of square stock. The locking effects produced in the case of square or rectangular section fence units are, however, similar to those. looking effects of the round stock arrangements previously illustrated and described.

In Figures 13, Hand 15 I have shown another interlocking arrangement for ensuring proper interlock between. the risers of the fence units and the stringer. In this case each ofthe fence unit risers is of square cross-section, and is pro-- vided with an encircling notch 36 of width sulficient to accommodate the thickness of the stringer to be received therein. This notch may be circular as shown in Figures 13 and 14. The bar of the stringer is provided with a rectangular opening 3'! of size sufiicient to permit the riser to beset downthrough the opening of such stringer bar. Thereafter the fence unit and its riser may be rookedor turned through approximately 45 degrees to bring the said riser into position shown in Figures 13 and 14 as compared to the opening of the stringerbar.

It is noted that the form of interlock shown in Figures 13, 14 and 15 is predicated on the fact that the riser is non-round in cross-section. In the arrangement shown in those figures the sides of the rectangular openings in the stringer bar extend parallel to the edges of such bar, this arrangement permitting openings of given size to be formed in said bar with a minimum amount of reduction in the section of such bar at the locations of these openings, and correspondingly with a minimum of loss of strength of the stringer bar. With this arrangement the fence unit bars will be formed with their edges facing directly away from the plane of the fence.

While I have herein shown and described only certain embodiments of my present invention, still I do not intend to limit myself thereto, except as I may do so in the claims to follow.

I claim:

1. A sectional fence comprising a series of selfcontained units each including two arms connected by a top connecting portion, one of said arms being substantially longer than the other arm, means to interlock the shorter arm of each unit with the longer arm of the adjacent unit, together with a longitudinally extending running rail extending lengthwise of the fence, the longer arms of successive units being provided with laterally facing notches, said rail being provided with an opening to accommodate the longer arm of each unit, each such opening having an edge portion facing the notch of the unit arm corresponding to such opening, and of dimension to enter into such notch for locking purposes, the longer arms of the units extending through the corresponding openings of the rail, and a tongue carried by the rail at the location of each opening through such rail and at that side of such opening opposite to the edge portion aforesaid, each tongue being of dimension greater than the size of the corresponding rail opening measured in the direction of such tongue minus the dimension of the unit longer arm in such direction, whereby when the edge of the opening of the rail is accommodated within the notch of the unit arm and the tongue is caused to lie parallel to the length of the rail said tongue engages that face of the unit arm opposite to the notch of such arm with retention of the edge of the rail opening within such notch and locking of the unit arm to the rail.

2. A sectional fence comprising a series of selfcontained units each including two arms connected by a top connecting portion, one of said arms being substantially longer than the other arm, and the lower portion of such longer arm being adapted for insertion into the ground for support of such arm in substantially vertical position, each of said other shorter arms being provided with a substantially horizontal lug extending outwardly from the lower end of such shorter arm in the plane of the top connecting portion aforesaid, and the lug of each such shorter arm being of thickness substantially less than the diameter of the material comprising the shorter arm, and being of width substantially greater than the diameter of the material comprising such shorter arm, each such lug being provided with a through opening lying completely within the width of such lug and surrounded by the material of such lug, each such opening being of size to receive therethrough the longer arm of the adjacent fence unit, substantially as described.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the lower end portion of each longer arm is pointed to facilitate insertion into the ground, substantially as described.

4. A structure as defined in claim 2 wherein 8 the through opening in each shorter arm lug lies with its center substantially coincident with the plane which includes the top connecting portion of the unit of which such shorter arm is a part, substantially as described.

5. A structure as defined in claim 2 wherein each longer arm is provided with an upwardly facing shoulder substantially at the ground level position when such unit is inserted into the ground, whereby such insertion is facilitated by force exerted against such shoulder downwardly, substantially as described.

6. A lawn wicket embodying a single vertical leg merging into a lateral portion integral therewith and terminating at the opposite end of the lateral portion in an eye adapted to receive the vertical leg of the next laterally adjacent wicket.

7. A lawn wicket embodying a single vertical leg merging into a lateral portion integral therewith and terminating at the opposite end of the lateral portion in an eye in a substantially horizontal plane adapted to receive the vertical leg of the next laterally adjacent wicket.

8. A wire lawn wicket having a single vertical leg for insertion into the ground and an upper lateral portion extending from said leg and terminating in an eye in a substantially horizontal plane and disposed remotely from said leg for passage therethrough of the vertical leg of the next laterally adjacent wicket.

WILLIAM M. MARTENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 117,865 Clarke Aug. 8, 1871 257,194 Waters May 2, 1882 888,905 Johnson May 26, 1908 1,730,936 High Oct, 8, 1929

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