FENCE OPENING AND FENCE SYSTEM

Abstract

Yard fences and land enclosures typically have a gate or other door structure that requires some sort of hinge, latch and looks different in overall appearance from the rest of the structure (just as the front door of a house appears different from the outer wall). Presented here is a simple mechanism by which any part of commonly used fences can be implemented as a fence opening. When closed, it appears as a continuous fence. However, when implementing the teaching herein, the space between any two fence posts can become a fence opening.

Claims

1. A fence section installation apparatus comprising: a first fence post anchor configured to contain a rotating capsule hollow; a rotating capsule hollow installed within said first fence post anchor; a second fence post anchor configured to contain a rotating capsule hollow; a second rotating capsule hollow installed within said second fence post anchor; a fence section with a first and second fence post configured to raise and lower into the corresponding installed first and second rotating capsule hollows.

2. The fence section installation apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the first or second fence posts of said fence section comprises an upper section and a lower section and further comprises a lever in said upper section configured to allow just the lever to disengage and raise in and out of its corresponding lower section configured to raise and lower into its corresponding rotating capsule hollow.

3. The fence section installation apparatus of claim 2 wherein two consecutive fence sections are each configured such that one of the first or second fence posts of each said fence section comprising an upper and lower section further comprises a lever configured to allow just the lever to disengage and raise in and out of its corresponding lower section configured to raise and lower into its corresponding rotating capsule hollow and wherein both said further configured fence posts are adjacent to each other.

4. A complete fence comprising at least three or more fence sections wherein at least one said fence section comprises the fence section installation apparatus of claim 1.

5. The fence section installation apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is fashioned from materials chosen from the group consisting of steel, PVC, wood and plastics.

6. The complete fence of claim 4, wherein said fence is fashioned from materials chosen from the group consisting of steel, PVC, wood and plastics.

7. The complete fence of claim 4, wherein said fence is further configured to allow the fence posts to accept properly configured outer coverings wherein said coverings are interchangeable.

8. The complete fence of claim 4, wherein said fence is configurable via a specially developed smart device application.

9. The fence section installation apparatus of claim 2, wherein said lever is further configured to engage said fence post lower section within the rotating capsule hollow and remain operatively connected as one piece and configured to disengage as one piece from the rotating capsule hollow and to allow just the lever to raise out of its corresponding post lower section at the choice of the operator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1A depicts a head on and FIG. 1B a perspective view of one embodiment of a section of fence with a fence opening as described in embodiments herein illustrating typical post anchors for securing the fence and fence opening into the ground.

[0029] FIG. 2A depicts a typical wire fence with periodic posts, two of which, according to embodiments of this disclosure, have been modified to create a removable and replaceable opening, here with the fence closed FIG. 2B depicts the same fence having a corner in a perspective view.

[0030] FIG. 3A depicts a typical wire fence with periodic posts, two of which, according to embodiments of this disclosure, have been modified to create a removable and replaceable opening, here with the opening. FIG. 3B depicts the same fence having a corner in a perspective view.

[0031] FIG. 4 depicts a fence section according to embodiments of this disclosure wherein the fence section is configured to lift out vertically from the post anchors on both sides of the fence section.

[0032] FIG. 5 depicts a fence section according to embodiments of this disclosure wherein a lever is configured to allow a fence post on one side of the fence section to come unattached from the fence post anchor at ground level.

[0033] FIG. 6 depicts a fence section modified according to alternative embodiments of the current disclosure wherein the fence section is configured to lift out of the ground anchors and the rotating capsule hollow that exists on the fence posts on both sides of the fence section.

[0034] FIG. 7 depicts a fence section modified according to embodiments of the current disclosure whereby the fence section is capable of rotating open and closed as a door on a hinge, showing a modified fence post containing a lever that is configured to unlatch from the post ground anchor; a second modified fence post that is configured to rotate within its ground anchor inside a rotating capsule hollow. Further depicted is a component of the ground anchors that are embedded in the post cement to prevent the anchor itself from rotation.

[0035] FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of a typical fence section of a typical wire yard fence with fence posts on either side, fence top and bottom that contain the wire fence section and fence post component that embed into the ground in ground anchors with typical dimensions according to certain embodiments described herein with the fence post sections embedded into the ground anchors such that the bottom of the fence section is just above ground level.

[0036] FIG. 9 illustrates certain preferred dimensions of an embodiment of a typical fence section as described herein.

[0037] FIG. 10A depicts an embodiment of a single door opening with a lever to allow door swing in a head on view. FIG. 10B depicts the same door in a perspective view.

[0038] FIG. 11 depicts an embodiment of double door fence sections as described herein in a closed position with the levers (4) latched at ground level

[0039] FIG. 12 depicts two consecutive fence sections (5) each modified according to embodiments of the current disclosure whereby each fence section is capable of rotating open and closed as a door on a hinge, showing two modified fence posts (1) each containing a lever (4) that is configured to unlatch from the post ground anchor (9) wherein the two such fence posts are the ones that are next to each other in the consecutive fence sections (i.e., they would be a common fence section post but for the modifications taught herein); and two second modified fence posts (2) corresponding to the opposite fence posts of the consecutive fence sections that are configured to rotate within their ground anchors (7) inside a rotating capsule hollow (6). Further depicted is a component of the ground anchors (8) that are embedded in the post cement to prevent the anchor itself from rotation.

[0040] FIG. 13A depicts a head on view of an embodiment of double fence door openings with levers to allow door swing as described herein. FIG. 13B depicts the same configuration in a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] For clarity of disclosure, and not by way of limitation, the detailed description of the invention is divided into the following subsections that describe or illustrate certain features, embodiments or applications of the present invention.

Definitions

[0042] fence section as used herein means two consecutive fence posts of a fence length configured to support fence material and containing such fence material and may contain a top and/or bottom support for such fence material.

[0043] fence post as used herein means a post configured to support fence material and further configured to be installed into a fence post anchor to stabilize the fence relative to the ground.

[0044] fence post anchor as used herein means an anchor configured to be stabilized in the ground and further configured to receive a rotating capsule hollow that may receive a fence post to stabilize it relative to the ground and yet allow free rotation of the fence post within the fence post anchor.

[0045] rotating capsule hollow as used herein means an apparatus configured to be installed into a fence post anchor and further configured to allow a fence post to be inserted thus stabilizing the fence post relative to the ground but remaining free to be rotated and/or raised and lowered.

The System and Method of the Present Invention

[0046] A typical yard fence installation comprises metal fence posts that are simply pounded into the ground to a predefined depth and then metal chain link or other metal fabricated into a woven metal wire mesh are then attached to each post. The bottom of each metal post typically is pointed to facilitate getting inserted into the ground and also contain ears or other device to keep the post from rotating and/or lifting back out of the ground.

[0047] In such fences, if a door or gate is desired, special allowances must be made to provide a post with hinges on one side of the fence section and a post with latches on the consecutive post of that fence section. Moreover, the typical fence posts of this door section require a different fence post installation to support the extra weight and functionality of the door or gate.

[0048] Herein is taught an apparatus and method of installing a separate, but exactly the same as the rest of the fence, fence section into specially configured fence post anchors, each configured in a manner depending on the desired ultimate functionality, that allow that fence section to now function as a door or gate. In this manner, only the extra, commonly available and inexpensive components as disclosed herein are required and the fence as a whole appears as one continuous fence.

[0049] In one embodiment, PVC of various diameters and/or metal tubes or a combination is required and post cement is required. Referring to FIG. 1A, in one embodiment, a fence section is depicted wherein a removable section is installed. In this embodiment, there exists either one continuous fence, or a fence with an opening. Referring to FIG. 1A, in this embodiment, a fence post anchor is configured by digging a fence post hole to a predetermined depth, filling the hole with prepared post cement or other appropriate anchoring material and inserting into the anchoring material a configured rotating capsule hollow fashioned in one instance with PVC tubing or metal tubing of a predetermined inside and outside diameter (for example, with a 2 inside diameter hollow) and a bottom cap to prevent the cement or other anchoring material from entering the hollow component. In this embodiment, the fence posts are configured to be slightly less in diameter than the inside diameter of the hollow component (i.e., less than 2 in outside diameter) to slip into the rotating capsule hollows and are thus, capable of raising or lowering, but when inserted, are stable. In an alternative embodiment, the original metal fence posts are anchored into the fence post anchors with their ears or other stabilizing component embedded in the cement or other appropriate anchoring material. In this embodiment, the fence material is attached to PVC tubing of predetermined inside and outside diameters, sufficiently strong to support the fence material and also configured to slip over, on and off of the original metal fence posts.

[0050] In an alternate embodiment, referring to FIG. 7, the installation is exactly as just described, except that one fence post is further modified and configured to contain a lever that raises or lowers a pin into or out of the fence post anchor and/or rotating capsule hollow. In this embodiment, when the pin is raised, the fence post section is free to rotate about the other fence post within its corresponding rotating capsule hollow and can rotate open to any degree or closed. A mechanism may be implemented about the rotating fence post to limit the swing to one open direction or to any desired degree of opening. When closed, the lever can reinsert into the rotating capsule hollow of that fence post anchor preventing rotation.

[0051] In an alternate embodiment, referring to FIG. 12, two consecutive fence sections are installed as described in the preceding paragraph with the fence posts containing the levers of each fence section configured to be adjacent. In this embodiment, a double door is formed.

[0052] Referring to FIGS. 10B and 13B, a perspective view of the swing of the opening fence doors is shown.

Examples

[0053] The present invention is further illustrated, but not limited by, the following examples.

[0054] A typical installation as taught herein will be desired by pet owners who want to keep their pets confined to a particular area, but also easily allow the pet and the pet owner in or out when desired. Alternatively, the same configuration may be desired by parents with young children.

[0055] Commercially available metal mesh fences with metal fence posts are easily and relatively inexpensively obtainable. However, adding doors and/or gates can easily make the installation more expensive and more technically difficult. By implementing the teachings of this disclosure, no other complicated materials are required or special fence sections purchased, only commonly available PVC and post anchor cement.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 9, a typical fence section may be 40 inches wide, 60 inches tall with fence posts installed 18 inches into the ground. In one embodiment, a 2 inch diameter steel, PVC or other appropriate material tubing cut into an 18 inch length will form an appropriate fence post anchor. First, dig a hole of 18 inches in depth and insert the cut piece of tubing. Next, create an appropriate rotating capsule hollow by utilizing a 1 inch diameter tubing of similarly appropriate material cut into a 10 inch length and cap one end. Pour prepared concrete mix into the fence post anchor tubing and insert the rotating capsule hollow into the wet cement and allow to set. In this embodiment, an appropriate fence post anchor has been fashioned.

[0057] In one embodiment, referring back to FIG. 7, if the lever is further configured to allow the operator to choose whether: (a) the lever simply slides out of its corresponding fence post component configured to allow that fence post component to remain in its corresponding rotating capsule hollow and allow separation; or (b) the lever may remain operatively connected to its corresponding fence post component to act as one piece to allow the operator to choose whether to open the door as is in that configuration or pull the whole door out, reverse orientation and slide the assembly back in and then allow the door to open in the opposite configuration, i.e., the rotational post is reversed. The lever is configured to act as a lever or as a one piece unit operatively connected to the levered post at the choosing of the user.

[0058] In one embodiment, all of the posts as described herein can be configured to accept a changeable outer covering. For example, a split plastic tube with cutouts in strategic areas that would otherwise be obstructed can be slipped over the outer post to change the outward appearance of the post to be displayed in any color or finish appearance. Thus, the fence system could appear to have posts of marble or slate or gold or silver or any desired appearance.

[0059] In one embodiment, installation advice and/or fence configuration could be offered and/or rendered through a smart device application. For example, an app would be enabled and a passcode given to a purchaser of a system as described herein wherein the user could input dimensions of a yard or desired covered area by a fence with height of fence, distance between fence posts, i.e., width of fence sections, colors and other required and desirable information and the app will calculate the necessary fence system components to achieve the desired configuration and end result and further produce an order to be accepted and further provide installation instructions.

[0060] Publications cited throughout this document are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Although the various aspects of the invention have been illustrated above by reference to examples and preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is defined not by the foregoing description but by the following claims properly construed under principles of patent law.

[0061] Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more of such features, is included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually exclusive.