METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A FENCE PANEL FOR LIVESTOCK CORRALS

Abstract

A method of constructing corrals for livestock including the steps of forming a plurality of fence panels each including two vertical posts having a series of spaced holes along their lengths, a plurality of horizontal tubes for attaching between respective holes of the two vertical posts, inserting respective end sections of each horizontal tube within respective holes of the two vertical posts, and welding each respective end section of each horizontal tube to the vertical post material surrounding each respective spaced hole; connecting the plurality of fence panels together to form a chosen shape of the corral; providing and connecting roof panels between chosen fence panels; and securing the plurality of fence panels to a ground surface.

Claims

1. A method of constructing a livestock corral comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of fence panels, each including; two vertical posts, each including: a series of spaced holes along their lengths; a plurality of horizontal tubes; inserting respective end sections of each of said plurality of horizontal tubes within respective holes of said two vertical posts; and welding each respective end section of each of said plurality of horizontal tubes to vertical post material surrounding each respective said spaced holes; connecting said plurality of fence panels together to form a chosen shape of said livestock corral; providing a plurality of roof panels; wherein said plurality of roof panels are connected between top portions of chosen fence panels; and securing said plurality of fence panels to a ground surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of connecting said plurality of fence panels together includes: providing a plurality of clamps, each including: a first clamp member; wherein said first clamp member is placed upon adjacent surfaces of respective adjacent vertical posts of adjacent fence panels; a second clamp member; wherein said second clamp member is placed upon adjacent surfaces of respective adjacent vertical posts of adjacent fence panels opposite from said first clamp member; and a releasable connector; wherein said releasable connector is placed between said first and second clamp members and is adapted to pull said first and second clamp members together and securely and releasably hold said respective adjacent vertical posts of adjacent fence panels together; wherein said plurality of clamps are adapted and used to connect said plurality of fence panels together to form said chosen shape of said livestock corral.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said first and second clamp members are formed having respective curved portions adapted to fit around respective surfaces of said respective adjacent vertical posts, to thereby increase friction between said clamp members and said vertical posts.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of: providing at least one truss member; and connecting said at least one truss member via said clamp members between top portions of chosen fence panels prior to the step of connecting said roof panels between top portions of said chosen fence panels, to thereby increase the stability of said livestock corral.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of securing said plurality of fence panels to a ground surface includes: providing a plurality of posts, each including; an elongated tube portion; wherein said elongated tube portion is adapted to be placed within a hole in said ground surface; and a horizontal tube clamp portion; wherein said horizontal tube clamp portion is connected to a top portion of said elongated tube portion; and wherein said horizontal tube clamp portion is adapted to be placed upon a top surface of a horizontal tube of a fence panel adjacent said ground surface; and providing concrete; wherein said concrete is adapted to be placed within each said hole in said ground surface while each respective said elongated tube portion is located within each respective said hole, to thereby secure each respective said elongated tube portion, and thereby each of said plurality of posts, therein.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of fence panels is pivotally connected to an adjacent fence panel and releasably attached to another of said plurality of fence panels, thereby forming a gate member adapted to close and open said livestock corral for livestock to enter and leave said livestock corral.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: forming a plurality of extension panels, each including: two vertical posts, each including: a bottom end section including bolt and nut connectors; a horizontal tube; wherein said horizontal tube is connected between said two vertical posts; and an inclined tube; wherein said inclined tube is connected between said two vertical posts above and at an angle with respect to said horizontal tube; and wherein said two vertical posts of said plurality of fence panels each further include: a top end section including bolt and nut connectors adapted to releasably connect with said bolt and nut connectors of said two vertical posts of said plurality of extension panels; wherein a chosen number of said plurality of extension panels are connected to a respective chosen number of said plurality of fence panels, via respective bolt and nut connectors, before said plurality of roof panels are connected between top portions of chosen fence panels, such that a chosen number of said roof panels are connected between top portions of said plurality of extension panels, thereby forming an inclined roof surface therebetween.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein: said elongated tube portion of each of said plurality of posts includes: a horizontal plate attached to a distal end thereof, and includes: two spaced holes therethrough; said horizontal tube clamp portion of each of said plurality of posts includes: a top plate; and two side plates; wherein said two side plates extending perpendicularly from said top plate; and wherein said two side plates include two spaced holes therethrough adapted to align with said two spaced holes of said horizontal plate; and two bolt and nut connectors; wherein said two bolt and nut connectors are placed through said spaced holes of said two side plates of said horizontal tube clamp portion and said spaced holes of said horizontal plate after said elongated tube portion is placed within said hole of said ground surface, said horizontal tube of a respective said fence panel is placed in position with respect to said elongated tube portion, and said horizontal tube clamp portion is place upon said horizontal tube of said respective fence panel, to thereby secure said fence panel to said respective post, and thereby said ground surface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said elongated tube portion of each of said plurality of posts further includes a horizontal extension adapted to more surely hold said elongated tube portion within said concrete.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one truss member is formed having a Z-shaped cross-section.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing a plurality of boards; wherein said boards are adapted to be placed between said plurality of fence panels and upon respective horizontal tubes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, an improved method of constructing a fence panel for livestock corrals, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating the step of providing vertical posts having a series of spaced holes along their length according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view illustrating a horizontal tube about to be inserted into a respective hole of one of the vertical posts according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view illustrating a horizontal tube inserted into the respective hole of the vertical post according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 2.

[0011] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view illustrating the end section of the horizontal tube welded to the vertical post material surrounding the hole of the vertical post according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 3.

[0012] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view illustrating the completed fence panel according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 4.

[0013] FIG. 6 shows a plurality of fence panels, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1, and trusses laying on the ground in preparation for assembly into a livestock corral.

[0014] FIG. 7 shows an extension panel being connected to a fence panel using a bolt and nut connection.

[0015] FIG. 8 shows fence panels and a gate being connected to one another forming a portion of the livestock corral.

[0016] FIG. 9 shows two fence panels being connected to one another using a clamp member.

[0017] FIG. 10 shows a truss member being connected between fence panel members using clamp members.

[0018] FIG. 11 shows roof panels being attached to top portions of the extension panels of the fence panels.

[0019] FIG. 12a shows a horizontal tube clamp portion of a post being placed over a top portion of an elongated tube portion of a fence panel and about to be attached to the elongated tube portion of the post located in the ground.

[0020] FIG. 12b shows a horizontal tube clamp portion of a post and the elongated tube portion of the post including a horizontal extension.

[0021] FIG. 13 shows cement being placed within a hole in the ground to secure a post therein.

[0022] FIG. 14 shows roof panels attached to top portions of the extension members of chosen fence panels of one embodiment of the livestock corral.

[0023] FIG. 15 shows a side view of an extension panel being attached to a fence panel.

[0024] FIG. 16 shows an alternate embodiment of the assembled livestock corral.

[0025] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to an improved method of constructing corrals for livestock.

[0027] Referring now to the drawings FIGS. 1-5, the improved method of constructing corrals for livestock includes the method of constructing a plurality of fence panels 100, each fence panel formed by the steps of providing two vertical posts 110 each having a series of spaced holes 120 along their lengths, providing a plurality of horizontal tubes 200 for attaching between respective holes of the two vertical posts, inserting respective end sections 210 of each horizontal tube within respective holes 120 of the two vertical posts, then welding 300 each respective end section 210 of each horizontal tube to the vertical post material 130 surrounding each respective spaced hole 120, thereby forming a fence panel for livestock corrals much stronger than prior art fence panels for livestock corrals. In the preferred embodiment, the vertical posts 110 are always larger in diameter than the horizontal tubes 200.

[0028] A plurality of fence panel 100 are the adapted to be connected together to form a livestock corral. Each adjacent fence panel 100 can be interconnected by various means and methods, including but not limited to hinges and clamps.

[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 6-17, a method of constructing a livestock corral 500 is shown, wherein the method comprises the steps of forming a plurality of fence panels 100 as set forth above; then connecting the plurality of fence panels 100 together to form a chosen shape of the livestock corral 500; then providing a plurality of roof panels 400 connected between the top portions of chosen fence panels 100; and then securing the plurality of fence panels 100 to a ground surface 600.

[0030] The step of connecting the plurality of fence panels 100 together includes a plurality of clamps 170, each including a first clamp member 172 placed upon adjacent surfaces of respective adjacent vertical posts 110 of adjacent fence panels 100; a second clamp member 174 placed upon adjacent surfaces of respective adjacent vertical posts of adjacent fence panels 100 opposite from the first clamp member; and a releasable connector 176 placed between the first and second clamp members and adapted to pull the first and second clamp members together and securely and releasably hold the respective adjacent vertical posts 110 of adjacent fence panels 100 together, and adapted and used to connect the plurality of fence panels 100 together to form the chosen shape of the livestock corral. The first and second clamp members 172 are formed having respective curved portions adapted to fit around respective surfaces of the respective adjacent vertical posts 110, to thereby increase friction between the clamp members 172 and the vertical posts 110.

[0031] The method further comprises the step of connecting at least one truss member 160, using the clamp members, between top portions of chosen fence panels prior to the step of connecting the roof panels between top portions of the chosen fence panels, to thereby increase the stability of said livestock corral. Furthermore, the truss members 160 may be formed having a Z-shaped cross-section to thereby increase the strength of the structure, although other shapes may be incorporated as well.

[0032] The step of securing the plurality of fence panels 100 to a ground surface 600 includes providing a plurality of posts 300, each including an elongated tube portion 310 placed within a hole in the ground surface 600; and a horizontal tube clamp portion 320 connected to a top portion of the elongated tube portion 310, and placed upon a top surface of a horizontal tube 125 of a fence panel 100 adjacent said ground surface; and providing concrete 700 placed within each hole in the ground surface while each respective elongated tube portion 310 is located within each hole, to thereby secure each elongated tube portion, and thereby each of the plurality of posts 300, therein. Furthermore, the elongated tube portion 310 of each of the plurality of posts 300 includes a horizontal plate 314 attached to a distal end thereof, and includes two spaced holes 316 therethrough; and the horizontal tube clamp portion 320 of each of the plurality of posts includes a top plate, and two side plates extending perpendicularly from the top plate, wherein the two side plates include two spaced holes 324 therethrough adapted to align with the two spaced holes 316 of the horizontal plate; and two bolt and nut connectors 330 placed through the spaced holes of the two side plates of the horizontal tube clamp portion and the spaced holes of the horizontal plate after the elongated tube portion is placed within the hole of the ground surface, the horizontal tube of a respective fence panel is placed in position with respect to the elongated tube portion, and the horizontal tube clamp portion is place upon the horizontal tube of the respective fence panel, to thereby secure the fence panel to the respective post, and thereby the ground surface. Furthermore, the elongated tube portion of each of the plurality of posts further includes a horizontal extension 319 adapted to more surely hold the elongated tube portion within the concrete.

[0033] One of the plurality of fence panels may be pivotally connected to an adjacent fence panel and releasably attached to another, thereby forming a gate member 140 adapted to close and open said livestock corral for livestock to enter and leave the livestock corral.

[0034] In order to form a variety of shapes and sizes of the livestock corral 500 the method also includes the step of forming a plurality of extension panels 150, each including two vertical posts 153, each including a bottom end section including bolt and nut connectors 180; a horizontal tube 155 connected between the two vertical posts; and an inclined tube 157 connected between the two vertical posts 153 above and at an angle with respect to said horizontal tube 155; and wherein the two vertical posts 110 of the fence panels 100 each further include a top end section including bolt and nut connectors 180 adapted to releasably connect with the bolt and nut connectors of the two vertical posts 153 of the plurality of extension panels 150. When constructing the livestock corral, a chosen number of the plurality of extension panels 150 are connected to a respective chosen number of the plurality of fence panels 100, via respective bolt and nut connectors 180, before the plurality of roof panels are connected between top portions of chosen fence panels, such that a chosen number of roof panels are connected between top portions of the plurality of extension panels, thereby forming an inclined roof surface therebetween.

[0035] Finally, a plurality of boards may be incorporated as well, wherein the boards can be placed between the plurality of fence panels and upon respective horizontal tubes. The plurality of boards may be formed from materials including, wood, fiberglass, metal, or any other like material.

[0036] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.

[0037] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention.