Trimmer line shield for chain link fences

Abstract

A trimmer line shield for preventing the line of a grass trimmer from striking and becoming entangled in the bottom portion of a chain link fence is formed of an elongated stiff plastic extrusion having a longitudinally extending vertical main body of generally T-shaped transverse cross section, a tapered bottom end, a pair of longitudinally extending stop flanges disposed a distance above the tapered bottom end extending laterally outward beyond each side of the main body, and a longitudinally extending flat top portion that extends a distance laterally outward beyond each side of the main body for engaging the bottom of the fence. The shield is driven into the ground to extend between vertical fence posts and the fence is installed between the posts with its bottom end engaging the flat top portion a distance above the ground surface which also inhibits growth of vegetation into the open spaces between the wire members.

Claims

1. A trimmer line shield for chain link fences, comprising: an elongated extrusion having a longitudinally extending vertical main body portion having a generally T-shaped transverse cross section and a tapered bottom end; a longitudinally extending flat top portion that extends a distance laterally outward beyond each side of the top of the main body portion for engaging the bottom of chain link fencing; and a pair of flat longitudinally extending stop flange members parallel to the longitudinally extending flat top portion and disposed a distance above the tapered bottom end, disposed a distance below the longitudinally extending flat top portion, and extending laterally outward from each said side of the main body portion; wherein the shield is driven into ground supporting the fence to extend between two adjacent spaced vertical fence posts and chain link fencing installed between the posts such that the fencing's bottom end engages the flat top portion to prevent line of a trimmer from striking and becoming entangled with the chain link fence.

2. The trimmer line shield according to claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of holes extending vertically through said flat top portion adjacent to said outer sides thereof in longitudinally spaced relation; and a plurality of fasteners configured to extend through said holes and attach to the bottom of the chain link fence at selected locations to secure the chain link fence to the top of the trimmer line shield.

3. The trimmer line shield according to claim 2, wherein said fasteners are selected from a group consisting of D-rings, hog rings, fence ties, pull ties, and cable ties.

4. A method for preventing a trimmer line of an edger from striking a chain link fence and inhibiting growth of vegetation below and adjacent to the bottom of the fence, comprising: providing a trimmer line shield having a longitudinally extending vertical main body portion of generally T-shaped transverse cross section, a tapered bottom end, a longitudinally extending flat top portion that extends a distance laterally outward beyond each side of the top of the main body portion for engaging the bottom of the fencing, and a pair of flat longitudinally extending stop flanges parallel to the longitudinally extending flat top portion and disposed a distance above the tapered bottom end, disposed a distance below the longitudinally extending flat top portion, and extending laterally outward from each said side of the main body portion; driving the trimmer line shield into the ground to extend between two adjacent spaced vertical fence posts with its said stop flanges engaged on the surface of the ground; installing chain link fencing between the adjacent fence posts such that the chain link fencing's bottom end engages the flat top portion to prevent the line of a trimmer from striking and becoming entangled within the chain link fence, and the bottom of the fence is disposed a distance above the ground surface to inhibit growth of the vegetation adjacent to the bottom of the fence.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the trimmer line shield has a plurality of holes extending vertically through said flat top portion in longitudinally spaced relation, and including the further step of: securing fasteners between the holes in the flat top portion of the trimmer line shield and the bottom of the chain link fence at selected locations to maintain the bottom of the fence the distance above the ground surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the trimmer line shield as seen from the top, one end, and one side, the opposed end and side being a mirror image thereof.

(2) FIG. 2 a perspective view of the trimmer line shield shown installed beneath the bottom of a chain link fence.

(3) FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the trimmer line shield connected to the bottom of the chain link fence with a fastener.

(4) FIG. 4 is a transverse cross section view through the upper portion of the trimmer line shield and bottom portion of the chain link fence taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, showing the fastener installed between in a hole in the top portion of the shield and the wire members surrounding an open spaces adjacent to the bottom of the chain link fence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown a trimmer line shield 10 for chain link fences in accordance with the present invention. The trimmer line shield 10 is formed of an elongated stiff plastic extrusion which has a longitudinally extending vertical main body portion 11 having a generally T-shaped transverse cross section with a tapered bottom end 12, a longitudinally extending flat top portion 13 that extends a distance laterally outward beyond each side of the main bottom portion 11 for engaging the bottom of the fence.

(6) A pair of flat integrally formed longitudinally extending stop flange members 14 disposed a distance above the tapered bottom end 12 extend laterally outward beyond each side of the main bottom portion 11.

(7) The trimmer line shield 10 is installed between the lower ends of pre-installed vertical fence posts P to extend therebetween by driving the tapered bottom end 12 into the ground until the stop flange members 14 engage and rest on the ground surface.

(8) Thereafter, the chain link fence F is installed between the vertical fence posts P in the conventional manner such that its bottom end engages, and rests on, the flat top portion 13 of the trimmer line shield 10.

(9) After installation, the trimmer line shield 10 prevents the line of a grass trimmer from striking and becoming entangled in the open spaces and wire members adjacent to the bottom portion of the chain link fence F when trimming grass adjacent to it. The trimmer shield 10 also maintains the bottom of the fence F a distance above the ground surface and inhibits the undesirable growth of vegetation into the open spaces between the wire members along the bottom of the fence.

(10) The trimmer line shield 10 may also be provided with a plurality of holes 15 that extend vertically through the flat top portion 13 adjacent to outer sides thereof in longitudinally spaced relation for receiving fasteners to secure the bottom of the fence to the trimmer line shield at selected locations.

(11) FIGS. 3 and 4 show a fastener 16 installed in a hole 15 in the top portion 13 of the shield and the wire members W surrounding an open space S adjacent to the bottom of the chain link fence F. In the example of FIGS. 3 and 4, but not limited thereto, the fastener 16 is in the form of a hog ring (a C-shaped piece of metal wire). The following are several other examples of suitable fasteners that may be used: D-rings, hog rings, fence ties, pull ties, and cable ties.

(12) While the present invention has been disclosed in various preferred forms, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and are not to be considered in a limiting sense in interpreting the claims. The claims are intended to include all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. Variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art from this disclosure, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed in the following claims defining the present invention.