Fence system for containing pets
A lightweight fence and gate for containing pets including a plurality of poles and a mesh fabric tensioned between the plurality of poles. The mesh fabric is attached to each pole by screws, and a flexible fabric border may cover and be attached to edges of the mesh fabric The mesh fabric is made from metal and the fabric border may be made from vinyl.
In recent years, a need has been recognized for a type of temporary fence that is able to contain pets. More specifically, there is a need for a fence that is difficult for a pet to penetrate, is weather resistant, and is removable. Traditional removable fences are typically made from a plastic mesh material that is susceptible to be chewed, scratched, clawed or otherwise compromised by an animal. Such activity by animals may cause the plastic mesh material to tear, allowing an opening in the fence through which an animal may escape or enter the fenced area. On the other hand, fences that are made from more durable materials, such as metal, are not easily removable and storable, thus making them difficult to erect and dismantle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a fence system that is difficult for a pet to penetrate, is weather resistant, and is easily removable and installable into, for example, a deck.
In one exemplary embodiment, the invention provides for a lightweight fence and gate for containing pets including a mesh fabric tensioned between a plurality of poles, the mesh fabric being attached to each pole by screws. A flexible fabric border covers and is attached to edges of the mesh fabric. The mesh fabric is made from metal, for example, aluminum. The fabric border may made from vinyl and may attached to the mesh fabric by a double needle walking foot machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to
The mesh fabric 16 is located between adjacent poles 12 of the fence system 10 and is made from a lightweight, rust-resistant metal. In one exemplary embodiment, the mesh fabric 16 has a square pattern measuring ⅛ inch by ⅛ inch. Having such a pattern ensures that the fence does not provide footholds which a pet could use to scale the fence. Additionally, the small square pattern reduces the likelihood that a pet will be able to chew through the mesh fabric 16. The metal used for the mesh fabric may be, for example, aluminum, but any other lightweight, rust-resistant metal may also be used. The pattern of the fence need not be ⅛ inch squares, but rather any pattern that does not provide footholds or jaw access which could be used by an animal to penetrate the fence. Moreover, the material tensioned between the poles 12 of the fence and the pattern of such material should allow the fence portions to be rolled up for easy storage and unrolled without any obvious lasting deformities.
The mesh fabric 16 may have a vinyl border 20 running along each edge of the fabric. The border 20 serves to cover the sharp edges of the mesh fabric 16 to prevent the edges from causing injury to a person or an animal and also to prevent the edges of the fabric from fraying or otherwise becoming compromised. The border 20 may be created by folding a piece of vinyl over a length of the edge of the mesh fabric 16 and then flat stitching the vinyl using, for example, a double needle walking foot machine. The double needle walking foot machine provides two rows of stitching 22 to secure the vinyl border 20 around the mesh fabric 16. The border 20 may also be made from any other flexible material which prevents the edges of the mesh fabric from piercing the border and may be coupled to the mesh fabric by any means sufficient to keep the border attached to the fabric. In an alternate embodiment, the edges of the mesh fabric 16 may be fused, such as by welding, to form an edge without sharp points. Additionally, any other methods that prevent edges of the mesh fabric from having sharp points that may cause injury are contemplated, such as, for example, fusing the edges of the mesh fabric by melting the sharp points together.
As shown in
In one exemplary embodiment, fourteen screws are used to attach the mesh fabric 16 to a pole 12. As shown in
As noted above, the fence system 10 of the present invention is adapted to fit into holes 34 drilled into the ground 36 or a deck as shown in
As shown in
When the fence 10 is temporarily not being used, but the sockets 28 are left in the pool deck holes 34, a cap 42 (
Sections of the fence, including a gate section, may be attached together by a connector 44 to form a fence system 10. As shown in
The connector 44 has a closed position, as shown in
As shown in
Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A lightweight fence and gate for containing pets comprising:
- a flexible mesh fabric tensioned between a plurality of poles of the lightweight fence and gate for containing pets, the flexible mesh fabric being attached to each pole by screws such that an edge of the flexible mesh fabric is substantially parallel to the pole; and
- a flexible fabric border covering and attached to edges of the mesh fabric;
- wherein the flexible mesh fabric is made from metal; and
- wherein the flexible mesh fabric is patterned to prevent footholds and jaw access which could be used by an animal to penetrate the fence.
2. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 1, wherein the flexible fabric border is made from vinyl.
3. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 1, wherein the flexible fabric border is stitched to the flexible mesh fabric.
4. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 3, wherein the flexible fabric border is stitched to the flexible mesh fabric using a double needle walking foot machine.
5. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 1, wherein the flexible mesh fabric is made from aluminum.
6. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 1, wherein each pole is insertable into a socket, the socket being inserted into a hole.
7. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 1, wherein the flexible mesh fabric is attached to the poles by a plurality of screws.
8. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 1,
- wherein a molding is located along a length of each pole;
- wherein the flexible mesh fabric is located between the aluminum molding and the pole; and
- wherein the molding and flexible mesh fabric are attached to the poles by a plurality of screws.
9. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 8, wherein the molding is made from aluminum.
10. A method for installing a lightweight fence and gate for containing pets, the lightweight fence and gate including a plurality of poles, a metal mesh fabric tensioned between the plurality of poles, the mesh fabric being attached to each pole by screws, and a flexible fabric border covering and attached to edges of the mesh fabric, the method comprising:
- locating a plurality of predrilled holes on a surface;
- inserting a socket into each predrilled hole;
- sequentially inserting a pole into each socket.
11. A lightweight fence and gate for containing pets comprising:
- a flexible mesh fabric tensioned between a plurality of poles of the lightweight fence and gate for containing pets;
- wherein the flexible mesh fabric is attached to each pole along a length of the pole such that an edge of the flexible mesh fabric is substantially parallel to the pole;
- wherein the flexible mesh fabric is made from metal; and
- wherein the flexible mesh fabric may be rolled and unrolled repeatedly without substantial lasting deformities.
12. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 11, further comprising a flexible fabric border covering and attached to edges of the flexible mesh fabric.
13. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 11, wherein the flexible mesh fabric has fused edges absent sharp points.
14. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 11, further comprising a molding attached to each pole, the molding extending along a length of each pole and covering the flexible mesh fabric.
15. The lightweight fence and gate of claim 11, each pole further comprising an insert and a pin attached to the insert such that the pin protrudes from the pole.
16. A lightweight fence and gate for containing pets comprising:
- a flexible mesh fabric tensioned between a plurality of poles of the lightweight fence and gate for containing pets; and
- a molding attached to each pole, the molding extending along a length of each pole and covering the flexible mesh fabric;
- wherein the flexible mesh fabric is made from metal;
- wherein the flexible mesh fabric has fused edges absent sharp points; and
- wherein the flexible mesh fabric is patterned to prevent footholds and jaw access which could be used by an animal to penetrate the fence.
17. The lightweight fence of claim 16, wherein the flexible mesh fabric and the molding are attached to the plurality of poles by at least one attachment member.
18. The lightweight fence of claim 17, wherein the at least one attachment member is selected from the group consisting of a screw, a rivet, and a nut and bolt.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 14, 2006
Publication Date: Jan 17, 2008
Inventor: Steven Sadinsky (Van Nuys, CA)
Application Number: 11/486,541
International Classification: E04H 17/16 (20060101);