Attachment for fence system and method of use

An attachment and method for a fence system to prevent a pet from escaping a fenced comprising at least one first support member adapted to be attached substantially horizontally to at least a portion of the fence system, a plurality of second support members adapted to be attached substantially vertically to the at least one first support member, and a plurality of inserts adapted to be received within the plurality of second support members. Each of the plurality of inserts is capable of extending out of a lower portion of the each of the plurality of second support members upon digging the fenced area by the pet animal such that the extended plurality of inserts block the dug area to prevent the pet animal from escaping the fenced area.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a fence system, and, more particularly, to an attachment for a fence system and method capable of preventing a pet animal from escaping a fenced area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fence systems for enclosing an area, such as a surrounding of a house, a garden or lawn and the like are well known in the art. The installation of fence systems protects intruders from entering the area. Moreover, the fence systems allow safe confinements of pet animals within the fenced area.

Often, pet animals, such as dogs, cats and the like, tend to dig underneath the boundary of the fenced area, thereby creating a hole for escaping out therefrom. Accordingly, such fence systems may not be efficient enough to confine the pet animal (hereinafter referred to as a pet) within the fenced area. The escape of the pet from the fenced area may compel an owner of the pet to search for the pet, which is a time consuming and stressful task.

Upon escaping out of the fenced area, the pet may roam outside the area and cause safety problems for the public and other animals. For example, the roaming pets may get involved in a territorial dispute with other animals, leading to an animal fight which may injure the pet and the public. Further, the owner of the escaped pet may be subject to civil or criminal sanctions in the instance that the pet is creating a problem or scaring the public outside of the fenced area. Also, there is the possibility that a pet may become lost and/or injured after leaving the fenced area.

Accordingly, there exists a need for preventing a pet animal from escaping a fenced area. Additionally, there exists a need for enabling a pet owner to readily detect the escape of the pet animal from the fenced area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide an attachment for a fence system, configured to include all the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.

The present invention, relates to an attachment for a fence system. The attachment is capable of preventing a pet animal from escaping the fenced area. The attachment comprises at least one first support member, a plurality of second support members, and a plurality of inserts. The at least one first support member is adapted to be attached substantially horizontally to at least a portion of the fence system. The plurality of second support members is adapted to be attached substantially vertically to the at least one first support member such that a lower portion of each of the plurality of second support members is supported on a ground level of the fenced area. Each of the plurality of second support members is configured to assume a hollow configuration. Each of the plurality of inserts is adapted to be received within a second support member of the plurality of second support members. Moreover, each of the plurality of inserts extends out of the lower portion of the plurality of second support members upon digging out or around the fenced area by the pet animal. The extended plurality of inserts is capable of blocking the dug-out area to prevent the pet animal from escaping the fenced area. The plurality of inserts descend progressively as dirt is removed from the under the insert. The inserts prevent a pet from escaping under the fence.

In another aspect of the present invention the attachment for the fence system further comprises a fastening mechanism for attaching the at least one first support member to the portion of the fence system.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a color of the plurality of second support member is distinct from a color of the plurality of the inserts for enabling a pet owner to readily detect the escape of the pet animal by the color of extended inserts of the plurality of inserts.

These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this invention. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an attachment for a fence system to prevent a pet animal from escaping a fenced area. Specifically, the attachment of the present invention is capable of being installed on an existing fence system for preventing the pet animal, such as a dog, from escaping the fenced area.

Referring toFIG. 1, an exploded perspective view of an attachment100for a fence system (not shown) is illustrated, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The attachment100includes at least one first support member, such as a first support member102aand a first support member102b, a plurality of second support members, such as a second support member104aand a second support member104b, and a plurality of inserts, such an insert106aand an insert106b.

The at least one first support member, such as the first support member102aand the first support member102bis adapted to be attached substantially vertically to at least a portion of the fence system. As illustrated and disclosed herein, the at least one first support member includes two first support members, namely the first support member102aand the first support member102b(hereinafter collectively referred to as first support members102). However, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the at least one first support member may include fewer or more number of the first support members based on the application and requirement thereof

The first support members102may assume an elongated rectangular strip like structure. With reference toFIG. 1, the first support members102are shown with a broken intermediate portion for illustrating that the first support members102includes a substantial length, based on a length of the attachment100. The term “length” used herein refers to a portion of the fence system to be installed with the attachment100. Each of the first support members102may include two holes, such as a hole108aand a hole108b(hereinafter collectively referred to as holes108), configured at the end portions of the first support members102. The holes108facilitate attachment of the first support members102to the portion of the fence system with the help of a fastening mechanism.

In the present embodiment, the fastening mechanism includes a plurality of screws, such as a screw110aand a screw110b(hereinafter collectively referred to as a plurality of screws110). However, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the fastening mechanism may include other fastening means apart from the plurality of screws110, such as a plurality of nails, a plurality of rivets, and a nut-bolt arrangement. Further, the holes108are capable of receiving a plurality of screws110for coupling the first support members102to the fence system. For example, the holes108aand108bmay receive the screws110aand110b, respectively, therein for coupling the first support members102to the fence system.

The plurality of second support members, such as the second support members104aand104b(hereinafter collectively referred to as a plurality of the second support members104) is adapted to be attached to the first support members102. The plurality of second support members104is attached substantially vertically to the first support members102.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of second support members104is attached to the first support members102by a process of welding. However, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the plurality of second support members104may be attached to the first support members102by other attaching means, such as a plurality of rivets, and a nut-bolt arrangement. For the sake of brevity of the description, the plurality of second support members104is shown to include only two second support members104aand104b. However, it will be evidence to a person skilled in the art that the attachment100may include a multitude of second support members.

Further, the plurality of second support members102in a manner such that adjacent second support members of the plurality of second support members104are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The term “predetermined distance” used herein refers to a distance that needs to be maintained between the second support members, based on a size of a pet animal to be restricted with the help of the attachment100of the present invention. More specifically, based on the size of the pet animal, the predetermined distance between the adjacent second support members, may be altered while attaching the plurality of second support members104to the first support members102.

As disclosed herein, each of the plurality of second support members104is configured to assume an elongated tube-like hollow configuration having a rectangular cross-section. However, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the plurality of second support members104may be configured to have any other cross-section, such as a circular cross-section, an oval cross-section, and other polygonal cross-section.

The plurality of second support members104are adapted to receive the plurality of inserts, such the insert106aand the insert106b(hereinafter collectively referred to as a plurality of inserts106) therein. More specifically, each insert of the plurality of inserts106is adapted to be received within a second support member of the plurality of second support members104, due to the hollow configuration of the plurality of the second support members104. For example, the inserts106aand106bare capable of being received by the second support members104aand104b, respectively. Additionally, in such an instance, a cross-sectional area of an insert of the plurality of inserts106is smaller as compared to a cross-sectional area of a second support member of the plurality of second support members104.

For the sake of brevity, the attachment100has been explained herein with reference to two inserts, namely the insert106aand the insert106b. However, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the attachment100may include more than two inserts having structural configuration and functionality similar to that of the inserts106aand106b.

Each insert of the plurality of inserts106is adapted to extend out from a lower portion of a second support member, such as the second support member104aof the plurality of second support members104. In one embodiment of the present invention the each insert of the plurality of inserts106includes a first insert and a second insert. More specifically, the insert106aincludes a first insert112acapable of being telescopically received by the second support members104a, and a second insert114acapable of being telescopically received by the first insert112a. Similarly, the insert106bincludes a first insert112bcapable of being telescopically received by the second support members104b, and a second insert114bcapable of being telescopically received by the first insert112b. Accordingly, second inserts, such as the second inserts114aand114b(hereinafter collectively referred to as second inserts114) are capable of extending from the first inserts, such as the first inserts112aand112b(hereinafter collectively referred to as second inserts112) for preventing the pet animal from escaping the fenced area, once the attachment100of the present invention is installed on the fence system. The installation of the attachment100of the present invention is further explained in detail in conjunction withFIG. 2. The first inserts112are configured to assume a hollow configuration, such that the first inserts112are capable of receiving the second inserts114therewithin. Further, a cross-sectional area of the second inserts114may be smaller as compared to a cross-sectional area of the first inserts112.

Referring now toFIG. 2, an environment in which the attachment100is utilized is illustrated, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. More specifically,FIG. 2illustrates the attachment100being installed on a fence system200, such as a fence surrounding a home. Further, as explained herein, the first support members102are adapted to be attached to the portion of the fence system. In the present embodiment, the first support members102are attached substantially horizontally to a portion202of the fence system200. More specifically, the plurality of the screws110facilitates attachment of the first support members102to the portion202of the fence system200.

Further, the plurality of second support members104is attached substantially vertically to the first support members102in a manner such that a lower portion of each of the plurality of second support members104abuts a ground level204of a fenced area206. More specifically, as shown inFIG. 2, lower portions116cand116dof second support members104cand104d, respectively, abuts the ground level204of the fenced area206. In such an instance, inserts (not shown) received within the second support members104cand104dmay be also supported on the ground level204of the fenced area206.

The plurality of inserts106is further adapted to extend from the plurality of second support members104upon digging out or around the fenced area206by the pet animal, such that extended plurality of inserts may move downwards, thereby blocking the dug-out area, such as a below ground level area208to prevent the pet animal from escaping the fenced area206. More specifically, as shown inFIG. 2, the inserts106aand106bextend out of lower portions116aand116b, respectively, of the second support members104aand104bfor blocking the dug area208. The inserts106aand106bautomatically move downward from the second support members104aand104bdue to the hollow configuration of the second support members104aand104b. Accordingly, the extended inserts, such as the inserts106aand106b, enable in blocking the below ground level area208and thereby prevent the pet animal from escaping the fenced area206. Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the first inserts112of the plurality of inserts106extend out of the plurality of second support members104for blocking the dug-out area208. Further, the second inserts114of the plurality of inserts106may extend out of the first inserts112, once the first inserts112completely extend out of the plurality of second support members104, for blocking the dug-out area208.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of second support members104and the plurality of inserts106are adapted have distinct colors. More specifically, a color of the plurality of second support members104and a color of the plurality of inserts106is adapted to be distinct for differentiating the plurality of second support members104from the plurality of inserts106. For example, the plurality of second support members104may have a black color and the plurality of inserts106may have a red color. The distinct colors of the plurality of second support members104and the plurality of inserts106enables in indicating that the pet animal has built the dug area208. Accordingly, an owner of the pet animal may fill the dug area208for repairing the fenced area206.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the various components, such as the first support members102, the plurality of second support members104, and the plurality of inserts106, of the attachment100may be composed of at least one of the steel material, and an aluminum material.

The attachment, as explained herein in conjunction withFIGS. 1 and 2, may be easily installed on an existing fence system. Further, the attachment of the present invention provides a cost effective solution for preventing a pet animal from escaping a fenced area. Additionally, the attachment of the present invention enables in providing safety to the pet animal and public by preventing the pet animal from escaping the fenced area.