US2805046A - Collapsible guard fence - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3, 1957 Filed Feb. 10, 1956 J. C. PETTERSON COLLAPSIBLE GUARD FENCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H b i:

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Sept. 3, 1957 J. c. PETTERSON COLLAPSIBLE GUARD FENCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10. 1956 and/I .7

INVENTOR.

Unitd States Patent p COLLAPSIBLE GUARD FENCE I John C. Patterson, Arcadia, Calif. Application February 10, 1956, Serial No. 564,721

3 Claims. (Cl. 256 -25) The present invention relates to a fence of a type which may be elevated above the ground surface, or other surface, or lowered within the surface, as may be desired, for the purpose of protecting various and sundry areas, such as a swimming poll, building materials, machinery, vehicles of any character, and so on.

The present structure is adapted to be elevated above a ground surface to any height from a minimum to a maximum under the control of automatic means, which may take the form of a hydraulic lift, electrical lift and, in some instances, a manual lift, whereby an area in whole or in part may be surrounded.

An object of the invention is the provision of a collapsible guard fence of simple and durable construction, foolproof in operation, inexpensive in cost of manufacture and installation, which may be wholly concluded, and which is generally superior to devices now known to the inventor.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association, and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in one embodiment in the accompanying drawings, described generally, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the collapsible guard fence of the invention shown surrounding a given plot or area which is to be protected against ingress by outsiders, the said area representing a pool,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the construction of Figurel, showing the collapsible fence elevated above ground level,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged, partially sectional view of the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, and taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3, and,

Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, the fence being collapsed within a container situated beneath the surface of the ground.

Referring now with particularity to the drawings I have shown in Figure l, the invention surrounding a pool, designated generally as 1. As previously stated, other objects may be guarded by the present invention. The outline of the pool is of little consequence, although in the present instance, a rectangular type pool is depicted. Surrounding the pool outwardly from the marginal side walls thereof and within the ground, is a metal boxing, designated generally as 2, which may comprise a pair of side walls 3 and 4 in spaced apart, parallel relationship, interconnected by a base member 5, which is perforated, as shown at 6, the side walls being shouldered at 7 and 8 to provide a restricted entrance opening within the boxing. The restricted entrance opening of the boxing is provided with a pair of facing, continuous angle members 9 and 10 the purpose of which 2,805,046 Patented Sept. 3, 7

Will be described later. As shown in Figure 4, the usual cement walk surrounds the pool, as shown at 11 and 12, and engages the shoulder portions 7 and 8 to securely hold the boxing within the ground. The construction is such that a slotted way in the walk circumscribes the pool and affords entrance within the boxing 2. Positioned within and extending through the base 5 of the boxing are one or more vertical cylinders 13, the heads 14 of which extend to the shouldered portions 7 and 8 of the boxing and within each cylinder is a piston 15. Secured to each piston is anelongated tubular type arm or post 16, which extends through the head 14 to any determined length. Suitable piping 17 extends from a compressor 18 and to by-pass pipes 19 having outlets adjacent the bottom of each cylinder 13. The tubular arms 16 .are adapted to raise or lower a collapsible fencing, designated generally as 20. This fencing may takevarious forms, such 'as the well known submarine fencing, link fencing, orbar fencing wherein the bars are loosely pinned together for relative movement. A top rail 21 of T cross-section has the web 22 thereof secured by means of links 23 to the upper portion of the fencing, as illustrated in Figure 3, while the lower edges of the fencing are secured by links 24 to the web 25 of a bottom rail 26 of T cross-section. As illustrated in Figure 4, when the fence is raised or elevated to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4, the bottom rail engages the angle members 9 and 10 and limits upward movement of the fence. Each post or tubular arm 16 is angled to horizontal at its upper end, as shown at 27, to hold the rail 21 canted so that water will run from the top surface thereof.

The width of the rail is such as to bridge the cement walk slotted way and rest upon the angle members 9 and 10 when the fencing is received within the confines of the boxing 2, as illustrated in Figure 5.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention just described are as follows:

Obviously, the number of hydraulic cylinders utilized in the practice of the present invention will depend upon the area to be surrounded and the weight of the fence to be elevated or lowered within the boxing 2. As shown, the fence is made from a series of panels, designated generally as 27, and each panel is secured to separate rails 21, contiguous ends of the rails being carried on the inclined upper ends of each tubular arm 16, as shown in Figure 3. I accomplish this arrangement by diametrically slotting the upper ends of each tubular arm or post 16, as shown at 28. Preferably each slot 28 is of triangular section and has a depth less than the length of webbing 22. This causes the rail 21 to wobble, and thus discourages climbing thereon. When it is desired to raise any given area of fencing, suitable valves are operated to direct pressure fluid from the compressor 18 into each by-pass pipe 19 and move the pistons 15 upwardly within their respective cylinders to move the tubular arms 16 upwardly and elevate each panel of the fence.

It is within the purview of the invention to provide contiguous pairs of cylinders and piston arms whereby contiguous fence panels may be individually raised or lowered. I may provide, also, articulate ends for the top rails which may be connected to or released from the piston arms to accomplish the same object.

While the drawing shows a single piping 17 having bypass piping 19, it is evident that any number of pipes under valve control may connect with by-pass piping to selected zones, to the end that either the side fencing or the end fencing may be elevated or lowered as desired. It is quite obvious that when pressure is relieved in the piping that the weight of the fencing and its associated members will be sufi'icien-t to lower the fencing within the boxing 2 from the position of Figure 3 to that of Figure 4. However, it is within thepurview of my invention to provide separate relief piping and valves, ifait is desired.

Iclaim: g I j V '1. A collapsible guard fence of the type adapted to be received beneath the surface of the ground or elevated therea'bove for protecting selected areas against trespass, including an elongated boxing normally positioned beneath the surface of the ground, there being an entrance way at the surface ofthe ground communicating with the interior of the boxing, an elongate T section-ed rail at all times confined within the said boxing, an elongate I! sectioned top rail, a panel type collapsible fencing carried between the webs of the top and bottom T sectioned rails substantially throughout the length thereof, a pair of hydraulic cylinders having pistons therein for movement, elongate arms secured to the said pistons, the upper ends of said arms for each pair of pistons supporting the top rail, simultaneous upward movement of both pistons elevating the top rail and the said fence together with the bottom rail, and stops carried by the said casing for engagement with the bottom rail to limit upward movement of the said fence and top rail, lowering of the said pistons simultaneously lowering the" said panel fence within the casing, the top rail engaging the said stops carried by the casing to close the entrance way to the interior of said casing, the arrangement being such that the surface of the top rail is substantially flush with the surface of the ground.

2. The guard fence as set forth in claim 1: said elongate arms being tubular and both provided with diametric slots for receiving in part the top rail.

3. The guard fence as set forth in claim 1: said elongate arms both provided at the outermost ends thereof with outwardly flaring diametric slots for receiving therein the top rail in rockable canted position.

Keenan Mar. 17, 1925 Pardee Oct. 21, 1941

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