Chain link fence with internally retained slats and method of making the same

Abstract

A chain link fence with retained slats including a chain link fence with two or more slats inserted into the fence, each slat haVing two opposing apertures bounding an internal channel and at least one band disposed through the internal channels so as to retain the slats within the chain link fence. Apertures may form cutouts in the slats. The band is flexible and inserted into the chain link fence before installation. The entire system is configured to be rolled and unrolled. A method of making the chain link fence with retained slats is also provided.

Claims

1. A rolled pre-assembled chain link fence with retained slats, comprising: a chain link fence panel having a top, a bottom, a front side, and a back side; a plurality of fence slats inserted into the chain link fence panel generally from one or more of and perpendicular to the top and the bottom, each slat of the plurality of fence slats comprising a tubular body having opposing longitudinally-extending front and back faces having a width defining an outermost profile of the slat, opposing longitudinally-extending sides faces, and two opposing apertures extending through the sides faces of the slat and bounding an internal channel perpendicular to the slat, each of the two opposing apertures having a peripheral shape defining a concave cutout which extends into the front and back faces of the slat and forms a narrowing of the outermost profile of the slat, the apertures of adjacent slats being aligned to form interstices between the adjacent slats; and a flexible band longitudinally extending through the internal channel of each slat of the plurality of fence slats at slat centers to retain the plurality of fence slats within the chain link fence panel; wherein the flexible band is configured to bend within the interstices to enable the pre-assembled chain link fence with retained slats to be rolled on each of the front and back sides for shipping prior to installation of the chain link fence.

2. The chain link fence with retained slats of claim 1, comprised substantially of unwinged slats.

3. The chain link fence with retained slats of claim 1, wherein one or more of the two opposing apertures forms a substantially continuously curving cutout.

4. The chain link fence with retained slats of claim 1, wherein each of the two opposing apertures forms a substantially continuously curving cutout.

5. A rolled pre-assembled chain link fence with retained slats, comprising: a chain link fence panel having a top, bottom, a front side, and a back side; a plurality of unwinged fence slats inserted into the chain link fence panel generally from one or more of and perpendicular to the top and the bottom, each unwinged fence slat of the plurality of unwinged fence slats comprising a tubular body having opposing longitudinally-extending front and back faces having a width defining an outermost profile of the slat, opposing longitudinally-extending sides faces, and two opposing apertures extending through the sides faces of the slat and bounding an internal channel perpendicular to the slat, each of the two opposing apertures having a peripheral shape defining a cutout with a concave edge which extends into the front and back faces of the slat and forms a narrowing of the outermost profile of the slat, the apertures of adjacent slats being aligned to form interstices between the adjacent slats; and a flexible band longitudinally extending through the internal channel of each slat of the plurality of fence slats at slat centers to retain the plurality of fence slats within the chain link fence panel; wherein the flexible band is configured to bend within the interstices to enable the pre-assembled chain link fence with retained slats to be rolled on each of the front and back sides for shipping prior to installation of the chain link fence.

6. The chain link fence with retained slats of claim 5, wherein one or more of the two opposing apertures forms a substantially continuously curving cutout.

7. The chain link fence with retained slats of claim 5, wherein each of the two opposing apertures forms a substantially continuously curving cutout.

8. The chain link fence with retained slats of claim 5, wherein an end of the flexible band is tapered.

9. A method of making a pre-assembled chain link fence with retained slats, comprising the steps of: providing a chain link fence panel having a top, a bottom, a front side, and a back side; providing a plurality of fence slats, each slat comprising a tubular body having opposing longitudinally-extending front and back faces having a width defining an outermost profile of the slat, opposing longitudinally-extending side faces, and two opposing apertures extending through the sides faces of the slat and bounding an internal channel perpendicular to the slat, each of the two opposing apertures having a peripheral shape defining a concave cutout which extends into the front and back faces of the slat and forms a narrowing of the outermost profile of the slat; inserting the fence slats into the chain link fence panel from one or more of and perpendicular to the top and the bottom, the apertures of adjacent slats being aligned to form interstices between the adjacent slats; providing a flexible elongate band; and inserting the flexible elongate band through the fence slat apertures of each slat of the plurality of fence slats at slat centers to retain the slats within the chain link fence panel; wherein the flexible band is configured to bend within the interstices to enable the fence to be rolled on each of the front and back sides for shipping prior to installation of the chain link fence; and rolling the pre-assembled chain link fence for shipping prior to installation of the fence.

10. The method of making a pre-assembled chain link fence with retained slats of claim 9, further comprising the step of installing the fence at a property.

11. The method of making a pre-assembled chain link fence with retained slats of claim 9, further comprising the step of unrolling the chain link fence prior to installation thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) To further clarify the above and other aspects of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The drawings may not be drawn to scale. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front view of a chain link fence with retained slats.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective, partial section view of a first slat with apertures and an interior channel.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective, partial section view of a first slat with apertures and an interior channel.

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the chain link fence with retained slats in a rolled configuration.

(6) FIG. 5 is a plan view of a first band for retaining slats.

(7) FIG. 6 is a plan view of a second band for retaining slats.

(8) FIG. 7 is a plan view of a third band for retaining slats.

(9) FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a fourth band for retaining slats.

(10) FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a fifth band for retaining slats.

(11) FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a sixth band for retaining slats.

(12) FIG. 11 is a plan view of a first beveled aperture of a slat.

(13) FIG. 12 is a plan view of an apertures and an interior channel of a slat with beveled entry.

(14) FIG. 13 is a perspective, partial section view of a second slat with apertures and an interior channel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(15) Referring to FIG. 1, the chain link fence with internally retained slats comprises a traditional chain link fence 101 with fence slats 102 inserted into the chain link fence 101 and generally running from the top A to the bottom B of the chain link fence 101. Each fence slat 102 is constructed to accept at least one band 110 (which band 110 may, itself, be a single elongate element or a combination of elongate elements) into and running transversely across the interior 111 of the slat 102. The slat 102 may have any cross-sectional shape which is known in the art, such as rectangular, circular, and/or elliptical. The slats 102 and the at least one band 110 are inserted into the chain link fence 101 before the chain link fence 101 is installed, i.e., the slats 102 and the at least one band 110 are pre-inserted into the chain link fence 101.

(16) Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary solid slat 200 contains an interior channel 201 and/or E running between a first side 202 and a second side 203 of the slat 200. Another embodiment for an exemplary hollow slat 300 is shown in FIG. 3. Slat 300 contains a first aperture 301 on a first side 303 to accept for entry and/or egress a first end 501 of the band 110 (see FIGS. 5-10); and the second side 304 of the slat 300 contains a second aperture 302, also to accept the first end of the band 501 for entry and/or egress. Where multiple slats are employed within the chain link fence with retained slats. The apertures, interior channel, and/or channels of each slat are preferably located at substantially the same horizontally centered and elevational/vertical position so that a given band can run centrally through the corresponding apertures, interior channel, and/or channels of a plurality of parallel-linear oriented slats. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1, 4, and 13, each slat has a front and back outermost profile (or outline), the apertures bound an internal channel perpendicular to the slat, and the apertures form a narrowing of the outermost elevational profile, for example, through substantially continuously curving cutouts of the outermost elevational profile. Apertures of adjoining slats may form interstices 112 between slats at the front and back sides of the fence adjacent to slat narrowings. The band 110 may be disposed within the interstices to form a structure that allows the entire fence to be rolled and unrolled on each of the front and back sides of the fence.

(17) Referring briefly back to FIG. 1, the one or more bands 110 has, as earlier observed, sufficient strength to retain slats 102 within the chain link fence 101 while also being sufficiently flexible to permit the chain link fence 101 with the pre-inserted slats 102 and band or bands 110 to be rolled and/or unrolled in the traditional manner for a chain link fence, as depicted in FIG. 4. To help accomplish this, band or bands 110 can be constructed of any material sufficient to create the preceding characteristics but is preferably composed of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). One non-exclusive alternative material is low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Band or bands can be of any desired length but are preferably one of standard lengths for a chain link fence, such as, for example, twenty-five feet or fifty feet.

(18) As set forth herein, the invention may also include a method of making a fence with retained slats according to the fence, slat, and/or band specifications set forth herein. Such method may include the steps of: providing a chain link fence; providing fence slats, each slat having two opposing apertures bounding an internal channel; inserting the fence slats into the chain link fence; providing an elongate band; and inserting the elongate band through the fence slat apertures. As the fence with retained slats is intended in some embodiments as a pre-installed system, the method may further include the step of installing the fence at a property including after the other abovementioned steps.

(19) A number of features may be incorporated in order to facilitate placement of a band or bands into a slat or slats. Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, to facilitate insertion of a band 110 into the interior channel and/or apertures of a slat or slats, the first end 501 of a band 110 is preferably tapered when observed in a plan view looking at either a face (also called the front) or the back (also called the rear) of the band 110. For example, the first end 501 may be pointed (FIG. 5); curved (FIG. 6); or truncated (FIG. 7).

(20) Referring to FIGS. 8-10, to further facilitate insertion of a band 110 into the apertures, interior channel, and/or channels of a slat or slats, the first end 501 of a band 110 is preferably tapered when observed in an elevational view looking at either side of the band 110. For example, the first end 501 may be pointed (e.g., FIG. 8); curved (e.g., FIG. 9); or truncated (e.g., FIG. 10). Tapered band ends, as set forth above, create angles that guide the band into the slat into interior channel, channels, and/or apertures and also result in a smaller surface area for minimizing potential insertion obstructions with slat surfaces. The band configurations set forth above are exemplary only, and any other shaped band end 501 that facilitates placement of the band 110 within a slat or slats may be employed without departing from the purposes or scope of the invention.

(21) Referring now to FIGS. 11-12, to facilitate insertion of a band 110 into the apertures, interior channel, and/or channels of a slat or slats, the first and/or second aperture 1101, as illustrated in FIG. 11, or the entry to and/or egress from 1201 the interior channel E, as shown in FIG. 12, is beveled, i.e., the outer perimeter 1102 is farther from the middle 1104 of the interior of the slat than is the inner perimeter 1103. Beveling on the apertures, interior channel, and/or channels of a slat or slats, and particularly beveling on these features on both sides of a slat, optimizes installation by avoiding the need to install the band from exclusively one side of the fence.

(22) Referring now to FIG. 13, yet another embodiment for facilitating the insertion of a band 110 into the apertures, interior channel, and/or channels of a slat or slats includes an aperture or apertures 1301, 1302 with one or more concavities 1303, 1304 curved inward with respect to a side or the sides 1305, 1306 of the slat 1300 resulting in a circular or elliptical apertures. This embodiment is also shown in FIG. 1. So shaped, slat apertures 1301, 1302 act as funnels for directing the band into the slat. Across such embodiments, when inserted in a slat, band 110 is configured to be bounded on opposing sides by concave edges or concavities. Concavities may be present on one or both sides of the slat. Concavities on opposing sides are preferable to avoid the need to install the band from exclusively one side of the fence.

(23) As set forth herein, the invention may also include a method of making a fence with retained slats according to the fence, slat, and/or band specifications set forth herein. Such method may include the steps of: providing a chain link fence; providing fence slats, each slat having two opposing apertures bounding an internal channel; inserting the fence slats into the chain link fence; providing an elongate band; and inserting the elongate band through the fence slat apertures. As the fence with retained slats is intended in some embodiments as a pre-installed system, the method may further include the step of installing the fence at a property including after the other abovementioned steps.

(24) Thus configured, a chain link fence with retained slats is provided that optimizes installation efficiency through a pre-installed, retention-type configuration that allows the entire system to be rolled or unrolled.

(25) As used herein, the term “substantially” indicates that one skilled in the art would consider the value modified by such terms to be within acceptable limits for the stated value. Also as used herein the term “preferable” or “preferably” means that a specified element or technique is more acceptable than another but not that such specified element or technique is a necessity. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.