Mesh Fence

A mesh fence which includes a series of spaced vertical stay wires crossed by a series of spaced horizontal line wires, with at least some of the intersections of the stay wires and line wires secured by a knot, in which at least one of the line wires is made of barbed wire.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mesh fence of the type formed by a series of spaced vertical stay wires crossed by a series of spaced horizontal line wires; the line wires and the stay wires intersect each other and are secured together at at least some of the intersections by one or more knots knotted around the intersecting wires. Preferably, a securing knot is formed at each intersection. The securing may be done by any of a variety of known knots—for example, a fixed lock knot, a stay lock knot, or a hinge joint knot.

BACKGROUND ART

Mesh fences are manufactured by feeding the line wires and stay wires through a machine of one of several known types, in which mechanisms known as “knotting boxes” form knots around stay wire/line wire intersections. The wire used for the line and stay wires may be any of a range of diameters (typically 1.5-4 mm), but is always smooth surfaced wire of a uniform diameter.

For a number of applications, users erect a mesh fence, but for extra security run a top wire of barbed wire along, or a short distance above, the top of the mesh. Sometimes a lower barbed wire is used near or at the base of the fence, to stop animals getting under the fence. The barbed wire is supplied to the user as a separate coil, and must be handled and erected separately, which involves considerable additional labour. A further disadvantage of the present method is that, because the barbed wire is not in any way connected to the rest of the fence, it frequently lacks rigidity and thus has less support against stock pressure.

As used herein, the term “barbed wire” means any wire which has a series of spaced sharp edges or points spaced along the length of the wire. Barbed wire commonly is made in a range of different gauges of wire, and the barbs along the wire may be made by any of a range of known methods. For example, the barbed wire may be continuous twist barbed wire, in which two wires are twisted together in the same direction along the whole length of the wire. Another type is “reverse twist” barbed wire in which two wires are twisted together in a first direction over a first length, and the twist is then reversed for the next length. The barbs are secured around the outside of the two wires at each position where the twist is reversed.

Less commonly, barbed wire can be made from a single wire with barbs secured to it or from a single barbed wire twisted around a plain wire, or even from three or more wires only some of which may be barbed.

Any style of barbed wire has the drawback that it is significantly more bulky than plain wire: —in general, barbed wire consists of two wires twisted together and the width of the wire is further increased by the presence of the spaced barbs. It follows that handling rolls of barbed wire alongside rolls of ordinary wire is complex because of the wider diameter of the barbed wire rolls, and the fact that the protruding barbs mean that barbed wire is very much more difficult to handle and tends to snag on adjacent parts of any machine handling it.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is the provision of a mesh fence which overcomes the above-described drawback.

The present invention provides a mesh fence which includes a series of spaced vertical stay wires crossed by a series of spaced horizontal line wires, with at least some of the intersections of the stay and line wires secured by a wire knot, in which at least one of the line wires is made of barbed wire.

Preferably, each intersection of each stay wire and each line wire is secured by a wire knot.

Preferably, each line wire is a continuous wire. For most types of mesh fence, each stay wire also is a continuous wire for the full height of the fence. However, for a type of mesh fence known as “hinge joint” separate sections of stay wire are used between each pair of adjacent line wires, and the ends of the stay wires are knotted onto the adjacent line wires to form the wire knots.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is the line wire which is uppermost when the fence is erected which is made of barbed wire. However, it is envisaged that more than one line wire could be made of barbed wire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

By way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a diagrammatic isometric view of a section of mesh fence in accordance with the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawing, a section of mesh fence 10 is formed from a series of spaced vertical stay wires 11 crossed by a series of spaced horizontal line wires 12. Each intersection of stay and line wires is secured by a knot 13 which may be of any of a range of known types. All of the stay wires 11, and all of the line wires 12 except for the uppermost line wire 14 are made of smooth surfaced wire. However, the uppermost line wire 14 is made of barbed wire which is provided in known manner with a series of spaced barbs 15.

The line wire 14 is secured to each intersecting stay wire by a knot 13, in known manner.

The resulting mesh fence is formed and handled as a complete mesh fence, and can be erected in the same manner as a mesh fence, but nevertheless provides an uppermost run of barbed wire which is integral with, and thus supported by, the mesh. This provides a very strong and stock-resistant fence. It will be appreciated that this avoids the extra labour of installing a further upper run of barbed wire above a conventional mesh fence.