Provisional Patent Application No. 62/378,413 filed on Aug. 23, 2016.
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The invention relates to an apparatus that is interweaved with chain-link fences and the like, more particularly, an apparatus configured to allow for a stable and secure attachment to said fence material.
Some prior art using elongated slats on chain-link fence and the like are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,760,759; 3,069,142; 3,958,794; 4,725,044; 3,356,343; and 3,355,150.
One problem with prior art chain-link fence assemblies is that these attachments can easily fall off if they don't have additional fasteners, folded metal sheets as clips, or other similar fixing mechanisms or parts.
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in con-junction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
The Shape of the Apparatus
The apparatus has an inner orifice and a gap. The gap runs from the outer edge of the apparatus to the inner orifice located at the center of the apparatus, or alternatively at some interior location of the apparatus. An optional securing member may be inserted into the gap, held in place by friction.
As shown in
Interweaving Method
Chain-link fences and the like are made of interwoven wires. These interwoven wires form patterns of wire entanglements and wire segments. The present invention utilizes the pattern and 3-dimensional properties of the apparatus and the chain-link fence to interweave the apparatus onto chain-link fences and the like.
Wire pattern (A), as shown in
Wire pattern (B), as shown in
Step 1 of Interweaving Method: Wire Segment Selection.
As shown in
Step 2 of Interweaving Method: Orientation and Insertion
As shown in
When selecting a rearward-facing wire segment as wire segment 22 to insert apparatus 10 around entanglement 21, the apparatus 10 must be oriented so that: the direction from the gap 15 to convex curve 11 is opposite to the direction from entanglement 21 to wire segment 26.
When selecting a forward-facing wire segment as wire segment 24 to insert apparatus 10 around entanglement 21, the apparatus 10 must be oriented so that the direction from the gap 15 to convex curve 11 is the same as the direction from entanglement 21 to wire segment 23. After insertion, apparatus 10 must then be rotated 180 degrees around the axis created by wire segment 24.
Step 3 of interweaving method: Positioning, as shown in
Step 4 of Interweaving Method: Pivoting, as Shown in
The apparatus 10 is pivoted around the axis created by forward-facing wire segments 24 and 26. The apparatus 10 is pivoted towards rearward-facing wire segment 23 until gap 15 crosses over wire segment 23.
Step 5 of Interweaving Method: Confining
In order to confine the apparatus 10 on the chain-link fence, the gap 15 of the apparatus should not be in front of wire segment 23. Rotating the apparatus, as shown in
Optional Step: Securing
Adding an optional piece 20, as shown in
It should be understood that apparatus 10 can be circular as shown, or may assume other shapes as desired provided the overall dimensions of apparatus 10 do not exceed the distance between any three parallel chain-link fence wires. Apparatus 10 can be constructed from a wide range of materials depending on intended use. Where, for example, apparatus 10 will be used to secure material to a chain-link fence, apparatus 10 may be constructed of impact-resistant plastic, a non-corrosive metal such as aluminum or galvanized steel, or wood that has been treated to resist moisture. In such a case, the material to be secured to a chain-link fence can be attached to apparatus 10 by any number of means known to those skilled in the art. Another use for apparatus 10 is as a means to host sub-systems like for example electronics. In this case, apparatus 10 may be constructed to meet the protection requirements. Another use for apparatus 10 is to provide stronger hanging solutions by allowing other materials to be integrated onto or with apparatus 10. In such case, more hanging designs are possible as long as they are within the load bearing capacity of the chain-link fence. Another use for apparatus 10 is decorative or to create readable messages on chain-link fences by using a multiplicity of apparatus 10 arrayed in the form of letters, with or without background, using one or more colors as appropriate given the use. In such cases, apparatus 10 can be constructed of thinner materials, as there will be no additional weight placed on the device.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190048614 A1 | Feb 2019 | US |