Abstract
A pipe coupler is disclosed for the repair of a damaged top rail of a cylindrical chain link fence pipe. The pipe coupler comprises a pipe coupler having a cylindrical body wall including a primary socket and a secondary socket. The primary socket and the secondary socket have a larger cylindrical diameter than the cylindrical top rail of the chain link fence for slidably engaging with the ends of the top rail portions. The pipe coupler has a socket door for covering a socket grove which prevents the separation of a replacement cylindrical rail portion or an existing cylindrical rail portion. A flexible strap and a clamp are used to keep the socket door closed.
Claims
1. A fence repair device for coupling a first cylindrical top rail and a second cylindrical top rail of a chain link fence, the fence repair device comprising: a pipe coupler having a cylindrical body wall having a primary socket having a fixed diameter and a secondary socket; said fixed diameter of said primary socket having a cylindrical opening configured for slidably engaging with the first cylindrical top rail of the chain link fence; said secondary socket comprising a socket groove and a complimentary socket door which combine to define a cylindrical opening configured for receiving the second cylindrical top rail of the chain link fence; a flexible strap having a proximal end and a distal end; said flexible strap is fastened to said primary socket at said proximal end of said strap and fastened to said socket door at said distal end of said strap such that said flexible strap pivotally couples said socket door with said pipe coupler; said socket groove having an opening being configured for laterally transitioning the second cylindrical top rail of the chain link fence from adjacent to said pipe coupler and into said secondary socket; a socket door for covering said socket groove to prevent the separation of the second cylindrical top rail of the chain link fence from said pipe coupler; and a clamp encircling said secondary socket and said socket door for maintaining said socket door over said socket groove.
2. The device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pipe coupler is constructed of metal, aluminum, galvanized steel, plastic, or PVC.
3. The device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible strap is secured to said pipe coupler and said socket door at said proximal end and said distal end, respectively by welds.
4. The device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible strap is secured to said pipe coupling and said socket door at said proximal end and said distal end, respectively by bolts.
5. The device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible strap is secured to said pipe coupler and said socket door at said proximal end and said distal end, respectively by pop rivets.
6. The device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said socket groove extends less than half the total length of said pipe coupler.
7. The device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said opening is least 180 degrees.
8. The device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pipe coupler has a stop surface extending radially inward and being engageable with the first cylindrical top rail and the second cylindrical top rail for preventing the first cylindrical top rail and the second cylindrical top rail from passing through said pipe coupler.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
(2) FIG. 1 is a view of an undamaged chain-link fence;
(3) FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 wherein the chain-link fence has been damaged;
(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of the pipe coupler;
(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of the pipe coupler shown in FIG. 3;
(6) FIG. 5 is an end view of the pipe coupler shown in FIG. 3 with the primary socket in the foreground and the secondary socket in the background;
(7) FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 except the secondary socket in the foreground and the primary socket in the background;
(8) FIG. 7 is a sectional view a long line 7-7 in FIG. 6;
(9) FIG. 8 is a top view with a socket door partially open;
(10) FIG. 9 is a side view shown in FIG. 8 with the socket door partially open;
(11) FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the damage section in FIG. 2;
(12) FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10 but including a cutting device and a cutting mark;
(13) FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 11 with the damaged portion of the cylindrical top rail removed;
(14) FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 12 with the replacement cylindrical rail;
(15) FIG. 14 has the present invention whereas the replacement cylindrical rail is inserted in the primary socket and is angled away from the existing cylindrical rail with the socket door open;
(16) FIG. 15 is similar to FIG. 14 with the present invention whereas the replacement cylindrical rail is inserted into the primary socket and the existing cylindrical rail is inserted into the groove of the second socket;
(17) FIG. 16 is similar to FIG. 15 with the present invention installed with the clamp fastened around the closed socket door; and
(18) FIG. 17 is similar to FIG. 16 with the chain-link fabric no longer hidden from view.
(19) Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several Figures of the drawings.
DETAILED DISCUSSION
(20) Replacing a damaged cylindrical pipe in a chain link fence system has been troublesome and required a great deal of man hours to perform. Of all the cylindrical pipes in a fence system, the cylindrical top rail is usually the pipe that gets damaged. FIGS. 3-9, 14-17 illustrate a pipe coupler 32 for joining a replacement cylindrical rail 34 portion to an existing cylindrical rail 36 portion typically when the cylindrical top rail 38 has been damaged.
(21) FIG. 1 shows a section of an undamaged chain link fence 10. An undamaged chain link fence 10 has a terminal post 14 which is held in place by concrete 18. The function of the terminal post 14 is to give framing for the chain link fabric 20 and is located at beginnings, ends, intersections, and at corners of the chain link fence 10. Chain link fence 10 sections that expand over a considerable distance will also include line posts 12 which function as intermediary between the terminal posts 14 to hold up the chain link fabric 20. To finish the structure of the chain link fence 10, a cylindrical top rail 38 runs, typically horizontally, from terminal post 14 to another terminal post 14. The chain link fabric 20 is secured to the terminal posts 14 by having a tension bar 28 running vertically through the chain link fabric 20 in which the tension bar 28 is secured to the terminal post 14 by means of tension bands 22. The chain link fabric 20 is secured to the cylindrical top rail 38 and the line posts 12 by means of fence ties 24.
(22) FIG. 2 shows the same section of the chain link fence 10 as in FIG. 1 except for the cylindrical top rail 38 that has sustained damage.
(23) FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention pipe coupler 32 showing the pipe coupler 32 that is constructed with a cylindrical body wall 44 and having a primary socket 46 and a secondary socket 48. The primary socket 46 has a larger cylindrical diameter than the cylindrical top rail 38 of the chain link fence 10 for slidably receiving and engaging with the end of one of the cylindrical top rail 38 portion. The secondary socket 48 also has a larger cylindrical diameter than the cylindrical top rail 38 than that of the socket groove 50 for receiving and engaging with one of the cylindrical top rail 38 portion.
(24) FIG. 3 also shows a flexible strap 40, a socket door 42, and a stop surface 60. FIG. 3 illustrate the socket door 42 for covering the socket groove 50 thereby preventing the separation of the replacement cylindrical rail 34 portion or the existing cylindrical rail 36 portion. The flexible strap 40 that has a proximal end 62 and a distal end 64. The flexible strap 40 is fastened to the pipe coupler 32 at the proximal end 62 and is fastened to the socket door 42 at the distal end 64 either by welds, bolts or pop rivets 66, typically. The flexible strap 40 couples the socket door 42 with the pipe coupler 32 for pivoting the socket door 42 relative to the pipe coupler 32. The socket door 42 covers the socket groove 50 thereby preventing the separation of the replacement cylindrical rail 34 portion or the existing cylindrical rail 36 portion from being removed from the secondary socket 48. The pipe coupler 32 has a stop surface 60 that extends radially inward and being engageable with an end of one of the cylindrical top rail 38 to prevent the cylindrical top rail 38 from passing through the pipe coupler 32.
(25) FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 3 showing the socket door 42 the primary socket 46 the secondary socket 48 the stop surface 60, and the flexible strap 40.
(26) FIG. 5. shows the pipe coupler 32 having a primary socket 46, a primary aperture 52, and a primary channel 56 all of which are in the foreground. The primary socket 46 shown in FIG. 5 has a diameter larger than the cylindrical top rail 38 for receiving and circumferentially engaging the cylindrical top rail 38.
(27) FIG. 6 shows the pipe coupler 32 having the secondary socket 48, the secondary aperture 54, and a secondary channel 58 all of which are in the foreground. The socket groove 50 and secondary socket 48 shown in FIG. 6 has a larger diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical top rail 38 for receiving and circumferentially engaging the cylindrical top rail 38.
(28) The socket groove 50 extends less than half the total length of the pipe coupler 32 and has an opening at least 180 for the insertion of the cylindrical top rail 38.
(29) FIG. 7 is a sectional view along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 shows the primary socket 46, the secondary socket 48, the stop surface 60, the socket door 42, and the flexible strap 40.
(30) FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 3 in that it shows a top view of the pipe coupler 32 with the socket door 42 partially open. FIG. 8 also shows a second horizontal wall 57 that extending from the socket groove proximal end 51 to the socket groove distal end 53.
(31) FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 4 in that it shows a side view of the pipe coupler 32 with the socket door 42 partially open. Also shown in FIG. 9, is the socket groove 50 having a vertical wall 59 that extends outwardly at the socket groove proximal end 51, and a first horizontal wall 55 extending from the socket groove proximal end 51 to the socket groove distal end 53.
(32) The socket door 42 is a pivoting closure having a pivoting vertical wall 41, a first pivoting horizontal wall 43, and a second pivoting horizontal wall 45 shown in FIG. 8. The pivoting vertical wall 41 is arcuate and defining the edge of the socket door proximal end 47. The first pivoting horizontal wall 43 extends from the socket door proximal end 47 to the socket door distal end 49. The second pivoting horizontal wall 45, shown in FIG. 8, extends from the socket door proximal end 47 to the socket door distal end 49. When the socket door 42 is closed, the first pivoting horizontal wall 43 will contact the first horizontal wall 55, the second pivoting horizontal wall 45, shown in FIG. 8, will contact the second horizontal wall 57, shown in FIG. 8, and the pivoting vertical wall 41 will contact the vertical wall 59. With the socket door 42 closed, the socket door 42 and the socket groove 50 are in contact which creates a cylindrical body.
(33) FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the damaged portion of the cylindrical top rail 38 with the chain link fabric 20 removed from view.
(34) FIG. 11 exhibits the cutting tool 72 and a proximate location to the cut line 70 of the cylindrical top rail 38 that must be cut and removed before the replacement cylindrical rail 34 and pipe coupler 32 can be installed.
(35) FIG. 12 shows the damaged cylindrical top rail 38 section of a chain link fence has been removed and is awaiting the replacement cylindrical rail 34 section.
(36) FIG. 13 shows the replacement cylindrical rail 34 section installed. Under current techniques the terminal post 14 must be pulled away from the existing cylindrical rail 36 portion in order to get a replacement cylindrical rail 34 using a standard pipe coupler. This however is not possible because the terminal post 14 is typically cemented 18 into the ground and the chain link fabric 20 does not give enough slack to angle the terminal post 14 away, which would be required to install a prior art pipe coupler.
(37) FIG. 14 shows the present invention allowing the joining of a replacement cylindrical rail 34 portion to the existing cylindrical rail 36 portion without the required movement of the terminal post 14. It is also shown in FIG. 14 that the replacement cylindrical rail 34 portion has been installed into the primary socket 46 and is all angled away from the existing cylindrical rail 36 portion. This facilitates the installation of the existing cylindrical rail 36 portion into the socket groove 50 of the pipe coupler 32. It does not matter which direction the pipe coupler 32 is installed. The installer can just as easily install the existing cylindrical rail 36 in to the primary socket 46 and the replacement cylindrical rail 34 into the socket groove 50. The pipe coupler 32 is slid first on to one of either the replacement cylindrical rail 34 portion or the existing cylindrical rail 36 portion until the portion hits the stop surface 60 within the pipe coupler 32. With the pipe coupler 32 angled away, along with the replacement cylindrical rail 34 portion from the chain link fence 10, the installer then opens the socket door 42 revealing the socket groove 50. Then with the socket door 42 open the installer next angles the pipe coupler 32 and the replacement cylindrical rail 34 portion together back towards the existing cylindrical rail 36 portion where as the existing cylindrical rail 36 section can be inserted into the socket groove 50 as shown in FIG. 15.
(38) FIG. 15 shows the replacement cylindrical rail 34 portion has been inserted into the primary socket 46 of the pipe coupler 32 and the existing cylindrical rail 36 portion has been inserted into the socket groove 50. FIG. 15 also shows a clamp 68 that maintains the socket door 42 over the socket groove 50 once repairs have been completed.
(39) FIG. 16 shows the socket door 42 which has been closed over the socket groove 50 and held in place with the clamp 68 and the flexible strap 40. The socket door 42 being closed will retain the existing cylindrical rail 36 within the secondary socket 48. FIG. 17 shows a completed installation of the pipe coupler 32 within the chain link fence 10.
(40) The pipe coupler 32 can be constructed from a variety of materials such as metal, aluminum, galvanized steel, plastic or PVC. The flexible strap 40 may also be constructed from materials such as metal, aluminum, or galvanized steel.
(41) The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
