Patent Application
20220396970
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention generally relates to an improved retractable fence stabilizer and method of use.
The present invention is distinguished over the following prior art:
Patent EP0359704 does not appear to be an adjustable fence support. The present invention is used for stabilizing fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,703,189 is used for supporting wire such as barb wire, strands of wire to prevent climbing over line of fencing or intrusion. The present invention is primarily used to support fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,981 is primarily used by carpenters when erecting vertical walls by using two pipes connected with a turnbuckle. One end of the pipe uses a hinged wall anchor, and the other end of the pipe uses a hinged floor anchor at the other end. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,836 is used for supporting a wall such as a masonry wall when building large warehouse walls for example. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,570 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it uses a metal vertical channel with adjustable tubing attached to a footing that is designed to help hold up damaged building structures. The present invention is mostly used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
Patent US2005/0072059 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it is used when a wall is being fabricated from masonry blocks. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
Patent EP1662048B1 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it uses a ground anchoring system and does not retract and deploy telescopically like the present invention. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,727,712 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it uses a bracket or brace used for shoring purposes when building concrete forms. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,006 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it is used for supporting masonry walls during construction. The present invention is primarily used for fences that is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,135 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it is used for supporting a different type of fencing that is netted or a rope divider that has an unrelated function compared to the present invention, build, and application. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,377,020B1 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it uses a wire that is wrapped around a post, tightened with a strainer and overall mounts to post differently. The present invention is primarily used for fences that is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
Patent US2005/0161571A1 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it uses a shoring post that is designed to hold something up horizontally above it and not a vertical structure like a wooden fence. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
Patent EP2450488A2 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it uses a mast for indoor and outdoor spaces to serve as a temporary boundary pole or barrier used with ropes or bands to provide a free area away from people and traffic. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,832,559 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it uses a brace for construction of a concrete building when placing vertical concrete wall slab. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,833 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it is used for bracing when building a wall made of materials such as masonry blocks. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,849,849B2 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it is a frame that is used to mount solar panels on flat roofs. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,134,897 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it uses a cement base attached to the support and is particularly used for corner posts in fencing. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,171,627 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it is used for bracing of walls, roofs, decks, ship hulls, or bulkheads and is anchored to the ground and to the above surface of the item being braced. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,358 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it provides support in the form of a truss utilized for pouring of concrete floors. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,412B1 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it is an adjustable locking and unlocking structure for a telescopic tube and therefore is just a component and not a complete shoring system. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,194,090B2 is different from the present invention's design, build, and application because it is a portable windbreak device and not a shoring system. The present invention is primarily used for fences and is fully retractable when not in use and is easily deployed when put in service.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is an improved retractable fence stabilizer.
In several embodiments, the present invention comprises a novel design and method of providing stabilization for fencing to prevent or minimize damage caused by high wind situations such as severe thunderstorms or hurricanes.
The retractable fence stabilizer is designed to allow for ease of mounting, setup, and storage. The retractable fence stabilizer is also designed to provide for customizability to provide use applications in a variety of positions. In several embodiments, the retractable fence stabilizer is preferably mounted to a wooden fence through flanges at both ends of a first support member wherein at least two other support members are joined to the first support member to allow for selective extension and collapsing of the retractable fence stabilizer. It is designed to allow for the retractable fence stabilizer to be collapsible to reduce the footprint, size, or overhang when it is installed to a fence or placed in storage when not installed to a fence. It is designed to allow for collapsing or retraction of the support members that selectively extend away from the fence to provide better aesthetics when there is not an impending weather event and to further prevent tripping hazards or obstacles which could impact mowing or landscape activities or playing children in the yard. It is further designed to allow for quick extension and securing of the support members while the retractable fence stabilizer is installed to a fence to provide stabilization of the fence in the event of an incoming weather event, such as a severe thunderstorm, windstorm, or hurricane.
The retractable fence stabilizer may include a vertical support member comprising a length and one or more flanges disposed along the length of the vertical support member; an intermediate support member comprising a length and one or more flanges disposed along the length of the intermediate support member; a bottom support member comprising a length and one or more flanges disposed along the length of the bottom support member; and a base pad; wherein, the bottom support member is joined to the vertical support member via a first flange affixed to the vertical support member and the one or more flanges disposed along the length of the bottom support member; wherein, the intermediate support member is joined to the vertical support member via a second flange affixed to the vertical support member along the length and the one or more flanges disposed along the length of the bottom support member; wherein, the intermediate support member is joined to the bottom support member to form a joint via one or more flanges affixed to the intermediate support member and one or more flanges affixed to the bottom support member; wherein, the base pad is affixed to the joint formed by the intermediate support member and bottom support member. The second flange affixed to the vertical support member is disposed along the length of the vertical support member in a superior position to the first flange.
The one or more flanges disposed along the length of the vertical support member may be secured or affixed to a fence, wooden fence, a fence post, or other rigid post or member.
The retractable fence stabilizer for mounting to a fence for reducing the likelihood of falling over due to a wind event may include a vertical support member comprising a length, a first end, and a second end; an intermediate support member comprising a length, a first end, and a second end; a bottom support member comprising a length, a first end, and a second end; and a base pad; wherein, the vertical support member is secured to a fence via a top flange affixed to the first end of the vertical support member and a bottom flange affixed to the second end of the vertical support member; wherein, the bottom support member is joined to the vertical support member proximate to the second end of the vertical support member via a moveable flange, wherein the moveable flange is further joined to bottom support member via a flange disposed at the first end of the bottom support member, wherein the moveable flange and the flange form a hinged joint; wherein, the intermediate support member is joined to the vertical support member proximate to the first end of the vertical support member via a second moveable flange, wherein the second moveable flange is further joined to intermediate support member via a second flange disposed at the first end of the intermediate support member, wherein the second moveable flange and the second flange form a second hinged joint; wherein, the intermediate support member is joined to the bottom support member to form a third hinged joint at the second end of intermediate support member and the second end of the bottom support member; and wherein, the base pad is moveably joined to the third hinged joint.
The retractable fence stabilizer may include an extended position wherein the first hinged joint is disposed in a position proximate to the second end of the vertical support member and wherein the base pad is secured to a surface.
The retractable fence stabilizer may also include a collapsed position wherein the second hinged joint is disposed in a position proximate to the first end of the vertical support member and further wherein the first hinged joint is disposed in a position closer to the first end of the vertical support member than the second end of the vertical support member.
The retractable fence stabilizer may also include one or more attachments to secure the base pad to a surface. The attachment points may be spikes or stakes or other device or material.
For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings describing specific embodiments of the disclosure, wherein:
One or more illustrative embodiments incorporating the invention disclosed herein are presented below. Applicant has created a revolutionary and improved retractable fence stabilizer and method of use.
In the following description, certain details are set forth such as specific quantities, sizes, etc. to provide a thorough understanding of the present embodiments disclosed herein. However, it will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without such specific details. In many cases, details concerning such considerations and the like have been omitted because such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present disclosure and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
Referring to the drawings in general, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to be limiting thereto. Drawings are not necessarily to scale, and arrangements of specific units in the drawings can vary.
While most of the terms used herein will be recognizable to those of ordinary skill in the art, it should be understood, however, that when not explicitly defined, terms should be interpreted as adopting a meaning presently accepted by those of ordinary skill in the art. In cases where the construction of a term would render it meaningless, or essentially meaningless, the definition should be taken from Webster's Dictionary 2020, 11th Edition. Definitions and/or interpretations should not be incorporated from other patent applications, patents, or publications, related or not, unless specifically stated in this specification, or if the incorporation is necessary for maintaining validity. As utilized herein, the following terms have the following definitions.
While preferred embodiments have been shown, and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or teaching herein. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications of the system and apparatus are possible and will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. For example, the relative dimensions of various parts, the materials from which the various parts are made, and other parameters can be varied.
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While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or teaching herein. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications of the system and apparatus are possible and will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. For example, the relative dimensions of various parts, the materials from which the various parts are made, and other parameters can be varied. Accordingly, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.
