Patent Application
20110240940
The present invention relates to a structure for a fence slat to be inserted in a wire mesh or chain link fence. Such slats are secured within the mesh or links of the fence to provide privacy.
Various forms of fence slats have been described in the prior art for insertion in wire mesh fences to make the fence generally opaque and thereby provide privacy. The slats are insertable in the channels that are ordinarily formed in the construction of the wire fence. Such slats, fences, and channels are known in the art and are disclosed, for example, in expired U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,725,044; 4,836,505; and 4,860,998, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The various constructions of such fence slats and their descriptions have failed to take into account the value of making the slat with a minimum amount of material while still allowing the slat to be frictionally held in the channel and to provide the slat with sufficient longitudinal, lateral, and torsional strength, particularly for rapid, automated insertion into the channel.
The present disclosure is directed toward a fence slat for insertion into the channel of a wire mesh fence. The slat is removably secured within the channel, preferably by only a frictional fit, although it may be combined with one or more locking rails.
The slat has a body that defines in cross-section a substantially hourglass shape having a central narrowed portion between a pair of wider portions. The body includes a front wall defining a concave outer surface and a back wall opposite the front wall. The back wall also defines a concave outer surface and the slat body further includes a pair of edges interconnecting the front and back walls. The body has an internal cavity defined within the front and back walls and the edges, which cavity may be subdivided by one or more ribs that interconnect the front and back walls. The slat body extends longitudinally from an upper end to a lower end.
A first one of the optional ribs within the internal cavity of the slat body may extend longitudinally substantially from the upper end to the lower end of the slat body. The first rib interconnects the front wall and the back wall and defines a width extending substantially straight between the front and back wall within a central portion of the internal cavity of the slat body. The first rib may be positioned at the central narrowed portion of the hourglass shape of the slat body and substantially equidistant between the edges of the slat body.
The slat body defines in cross-section a first width between the front and back outer surfaces adjacent one of the outer edges and a second width between the front and back outer surfaces at a narrowest point in the central narrowed portion, and further wherein the second width is less than about half the first width.
The fence slat may further include a pair of wings extending from the edges of the slat body. The edges of the slat body may be provided with a suitable rounded, or squared-off shape. The body may lack all ribbing between the front and back walls and include a central fused portion interconnecting the front and back walls. The fence slat may be provided with three ribs, a first rib at the narrowest portion of the hourglass shape, and second and third ribs positioned within the wider portions of the hourglass shape. The slat body may include a widest portion at or adjacent the edges of the body. The first, second, and third ribs may be reduced in their necessary width by the concave curvature of the front and back walls.
The fence slat of the present disclosure is for insertion into a channel in a wire mesh fence. Such fence and channel are disclosed in the prior art as referenced above. The slat is removably secured within the channel, preferably by only a frictional fit, although it may be combined with one or more locking rails with interlocking structure provided in or on the slats at selected locations.
Slat 10 includes a slat body 12 with a substantially hourglass shape, wherein the slat narrows to a central portion 14 between a pair of wider portions 16. Body 12 typically has its widest portions 18 adjacent or at a pair of edges 20 that interconnect a front wall 22 and a back wall 24. An internal cavity 26 is defined within the walls and edges, which may or may not be divided into one or more subsections 26a-d.
Front and back walls 22, 24 have concave outer surfaces 28, 30 and edges 20 may be rounded or squared (See
One or more ribs 32, 34, 36 within internal cavity 26 of slat body 12 interconnect front wall 22 and back wall 24. As shown in
The hourglass shape provides the central portion 14 of slat body 12 that is narrower as compared to the width at either wider portions 16 or widest portions 18 at or adjacent edges 20. Ribs 32, 34, 36, when positioned in or nearer central portion 14 are narrower than the width at the wider portions and edges. The wider edges provide sufficient width to be held frictionally within the wire mesh channel, while the narrower ribs require less material than would be necessary for a uniform width. If slat 10 is manufactured using an extrusion process, then ribs 32, 34, 36 are extruded along with the rest of body 10 and the extrusion slots for them are sized appropriately to provide the minimum amount of material.
The one or more ribs interconnect the front and back walls, and, in the case of an extrusion process, are formed integrally with the front and back walls. Typically, the one or more ribs extend longitudinally substantially from the upper end to the lower end of the slat body. First rib 32 interconnects the front wall and the back wall and defines a width W1 extending substantially straight between front wall 22 and back wall 24 within central portion 14 in internal cavity 26 of slat body 12. First rib 32 may be positioned at the center and narrowest location in central narrowed portion 14 of the hourglass shape of slat body 12 and may be substantially equidistant between edges 20 of slat body 12. Alternatively, first rib 32 may be eliminated or placed in a different position as suited to a particular application of the fence slat.
Slat body 12 defines in cross-section a first width WA between front outer surface 28 and back outer surface 30 at or adjacent outer edges 20. Slat body 12 defines in cross-section a second width WB between the front and back outer surfaces at a narrowest point 40 in central narrowed portion 14. Typically second width WB is less than about half first width WA, and preferably second width WB is about 35% of first width WA, although any suitable ratio can be used depending on the structural characteristics desired for the fence slat.
Typically, fence slat 10 is provided with three ribs 32, 34, 36, including first rib 32 at the narrowest portion of the hourglass shape, and second and third ribs 34, 36 positioned within wider portions 16 of the hourglass shape. Alternatively, the ribs may be greater or lesser in number and be placed in any suitable location. Body 12 typically includes its widest portion at or adjacent edges 20 and alternatively may be wider in another portion if suited to a particular application.
Preferably, the first, second, and third (and any other) ribs are reduced in their necessary width by the concave curvature of the front and back walls. Alternatively, one or more of them may be placed and sized to correspond with the maximum width for the slat body. The second and third ribs typically each define equal widths W2 and are symmetrically positioned, and alternatively may be differently sized and positioned. Preferably, width W1 of first rib 32 is less than about half of width W2 of second or third rib 34, 36.
Fence slat 10 may also include a pair of wings 42, 44 extending from edges 20 of slat body 12. As shown in
Wings 42, 44 preferably extend in a direction and for a distance so as to cross midpoint line MP. Wings 42, 44, may be substantially straight, as shown in
As shown in
Edges 20 of slat body 12 may be provided with a suitable rounded or semi-circular shape, as shown in
As shown in
Additionally, although the fence slat has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing operational principles and preferred embodiments, these skilled in the art will find apparent that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims. The present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variances that fall within the scope of such claims.
