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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/206,594, filed May 23, 2000. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to fencing and more particularly to a fence cap to be employed with modular fencing panels. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Modular fencing panels are employed for a variety of applications including the construction of livestock fencing, penning and livestock chutes. Modular fencing panels are commonly configured including a top rail, a bottom rail and a pair of side rails, assembled to form the modular fence outer frame. The top rail commonly attaches to the side rail at a radiused corner section. Modular fencing panels may also include one or more horizontal rails connected between the pair of side rails. Modular fence panels are commonly manufactured including one or more hinge connector elements attached along the pair of side rails to permit linked connection of one modular fence panel to another to form a variety of fencing arrangements. The hinged connector elements permit articulation between panels to permit panels to be arranged at various angles to one another. The result is a highly adaptable fencing system that permits setup in an extremely broad range of geometric configurations. 
     When the modular fence panels are connected sequentially, a gap forms between the side rails of the panels due in part to the offset created by the hinged connector elements. The gap may include a tapered or narrowing configuration created by adjacent radiused sections connecting the side rail to the top rail. The resulting gap creates a potential for hazard to livestock and persons working in the vicinity of the assembled modular fence panels. The hazard involves the potential for catching and trapping an appendage or neck of livestock or a person in the gap. The potential hazard may be of particular concern due to the tapered configuration of the gap. FIG. 12 is an illustration depicting a hazard which may arise employing modular fence panels according to the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a fence cap and a fence cap system for bridging and blocking a gap between a corner of a first fence panel and a corner of an attached second fence panel by bridging and forming a closure over the gap between a corner of a first fence panel and a corner of an attached second fence panel or other support structure. 
     The fence cap of the present invention may be used as an attachment on several different types and brands of manufactured modular fence panels commonly used in constructing livestock pens and corrals. Fence caps may be joined in pairs, rigidly or hingedly, to prevent objects including hooves, legs, heads or other body parts from entering and being wedged and caught in the gap formed where a first modular fence panel attaches to an adjoining modular fence panel. Alternately, the present invention may be configured as a saddle which is configured to fit over the top rails of adjoining modular fence panels, spanning the gap formed where the first modular fence panel attaches to an adjoining modular fence panel. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the fence cap includes an internal cavity defined by a pair of side members that connect along an upper edge to a spine and along a substantially vertical hip. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second side panels join at a generally radiused spine and a generally radiused hip. This configuration results in a cavity that includes a generally radiused internal spine and a generally radiused hip resulting in a contoured fit that approximates, yet is larger than, the radius of the top and side rails of the modular fence panel respectively. The internal radius of the spine and the hip approximate generally, yet are larger than, the external radius of the top and side rails of the modular fence panel allowing the fence cap to be place over the modular fence panel. 
     The fence cap may also include a retainer member. In one embodiment, the retainer member includes one or more compressively opposing retainer fingers formed on the inner surface fence cap. The retainer fingers are sized and configured to compressively grip at least some portion of the circumference of a modular fence panel top or side rail. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the fence cap is configured to be employed on a modular fence panel including rails formed of a tubular material having a circular cross-section. Modular fence panels may be manufactured employing steel tubing having a diameter in the range of 1½″ to 1⅞″ diameter, although the invention is not intended to be limited by the stated configurations or current manufacturing practices. In one embodiment of the invention, the fence caps are manufactured using a polypropylene plastic or a plastic material having similar elastic qualities to allow the legs of the fence cap to spread to permit the fence cap to fit over a rail and to snap or return under compression to an original configuration to be secured to the rail. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the fence cap is configured including a flexing member or hinge element formed along a side edge of the fence cap which allows for articulating connection or attachment of a first fence cap to an adjacent fence cap. This feature of the invention permits the fence caps to be employed with the modular fence panels with the panels arranged and connected to include angles. In one embodiment of the invention, a pair of fence caps are connected one to another at corresponding hinge elements. A pin pivotally attaches the corresponding hinge elements. 
     Fence caps manufactured in accordance with the present invention may also be used on modular gates. Fence caps may be secured to the modular fence panels employing zip ties, pins or screws as securing members. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a representational side view of a pair of fence caps according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a representational top view of a pair of fence caps according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3A is a representational first end view of a fence cap including a first hinge element according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3B is a representational first end view of a fence cap including second and third hinge elements according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a representational second end cutaway view of a fence cap according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a representational top view of a fence cap according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a representational top view of a pair of fence caps being employed at a two panel intersection according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a representational top view of three fence caps being employed at a three panel intersection according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a representational top view of four fence caps being employed at a four panel intersection according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a representational side view of a fence cap according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a representational view of a saddle fence cap employed between two modular fence panels according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a representational first end view of a pair of fence caps showing a pattern for cutting hinge elements; and 
     FIG. 12 is a representational perspective view of a pair of modular fence panels illustrating a potential hazard according to the prior art. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1,  2  and  6  show first fence cap  10 A and a second fence cap  10 B hingedly connected by a hinge pin, in this case, carriage bolt  30 . 
     FIG. 1 shows modular fence panel P 1  hingedly connected to modular fence panel P 2  at hinge H. Modular fence panel P 1  includes top rail TR 1  which transitions to side rail SR 1  at radiused corner C 1 . Similarly, modular fence panel P 2  includes top rail TR 2  which transitions to side rail SR 2  at radiused corner C 2 . Modular fence panels P 1  and P 2  are manufactured in this case from steel tubing having a tube diameter D. Gap G is formed between the attached modular fence panel P 1  and modular fence panel P 2 . 
     FIG. 1 shows first fence cap  10 A positioned over radiused corner R 1  of modular fence panel P 1  and second fence cap  10 B positioned over the radiused corner R 2  of modular fence panel P 2 . First fence cap  10 A and second fence cap  10 B are hingedly connected by carriage bolt  30  which is secured from removal by washer  26  and nut  27 . FIG. 1 also shows to advantage first side panel  12 A of first fence cap  10 A and second side panel  13 B of second fence cap  10 B. Tie T is passed through aperture  20  of first side panel  12 A and aperture  21  formed in the opposing second side panel  12 B, (shown in FIG. 2) to secure first fence cap  10 A to top rail TR 1 . 
     FIG. 2 is a representational top view of first fence cap  10 A and second fence cap  10 B hingedly connected by bolt  30  and positioned over modular fence panel P 1  top rail TR 1  and modular fence panel P 2  top rail TR 2  respectively. FIG. 2 shows generally radiused hip  15 A of first fence cap  10 A and generally radiused hip  15 B of second fence cap  10 B. The radius R of radiused hip  15 A and radiused second end  15 B approximates, yet is larger than, the radius of the side rail of modular fence panels P 1  and P 2 . FIG. 2 also shows spine  14 A of first fence cap  10 A and spine  14 B of second fence cap  10 B. 
     FIG. 3A shows second fence cap  10 B positioned over modular fence panel P 2  and including first cooperating hinge element  22 . FIG. 3A also shows generally radiused spine  14 B of second fence cap  10 B. The radius R of spine  14 B approximates, yet is larger than, the radius of the top rail of modular fence panel P 2 . 
     FIG. 3B shows fence cap  10 A positioned over modular fence panel P 1  and including second cooperating hinge element  23  and third cooperating hinge element  24 . FIG. 3B also shows generally radiused spine  14 A of second fence cap  10 A. The radius R of spine  14 A approximates, yet is larger than, the radius of the top rail of modular fence panel P 1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of fence cap  10 A positioned over top rail TR 1 . Cavity  11  is formed in the area within first side panel  12 A, second side panel  13 A and generally radiused spine  14 A of first fence cap  10 A. Fence rail gripping member includes first gripping finger  17  formed at the second end of first side panel  12 A and second gripping finger  18 , formed at the second end of second side panel  13 A. 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of fence cap  10 A positioned over top rail TR 1  and side rail SR 1  of modular fence panel P 1 . Cavity  11  is formed in the area between first side panel  12 A, second side panel  13 A and generally radiused hip  15 A of first fence cap  10 A. Hip  15 A is shown including third cooperating hinge element  24 . 
     FIG. 6 shows first fence cap  10 A and second fence cap  10 B hingedly connected by carriage bolt  30  at an intersection of first modular fence panel P 1  and second modular fence panel P 2 . First fence cap  10 A is positioned over top rail TR 1  of modular fence panel P 1  and second fence cap  10 B is positioned over top rail TR 2  of modular fence panel P 2 . 
     FIG. 7 shows first fence cap  10 A, second fence cap  10 B and third fence cap  10 C hingedly connected by carriage bolt  30  at an intersection of first modular fence panel P 1 , second modular fence panel P 2  and third modular fence panel P 3 . First fence cap  10 A is positioned over top rail TR 1  of modular fence panel P 1 , second fence cap  10 B is positioned overtop rail TR 2  of modular fence panel P 2  and third fence cap  10 C is positioned over top rail TR 3  of modular fence panel P 3 . 
     FIG. 8 shows first fence cap  10 A, second fence cap  10 B, third fence cap  10 C and fourth fence cap  10 D hingedly connected by carriage bolt  30  at an intersection of first modular fence panel P 1 , second modular fence panel P 2 , third modular fence panel P 3  and fourth modular fence panel P 4 . First fence cap  10 A is positioned overtop rail TR 1  of modular fence panel P 1 , second fence cap  10 B is positioned over top rail TR 2  of modular fence panel P 2 , third fence cap  10 C is positioned over top rail TR 3  of modular fence panel P 3  and fourth fence cap  10 D is positioned over top rail TR 4  of modular fence panel P 4 . 
     FIG. 9 shows fence cap  10  placed over a corner of modular gate panel G 1 . Modular gate panel G 1  includes top rail TR 1  which is joined or transitions to side rail SR 1  at radiused corner C 1 . Fence cap  10  is hingedly connected to post P by at hinge H. Fence cap  10  is connected to modular gate panel G 1  by self tapping screw S which is shown screwed through fence cap  10  into side rail SR 1 . Gap G is formed between the attached modular gate panel G 1  and post P. 
     FIG. 10 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention that is configured as saddle fence cap  50  configured to fit over top rail TR 1  of modular fence panel P 1 , and top rail TR 2  of modular fence panel P 2 . Modular fence panel P 1  includes top rail TR 1  which transitions to side rail SR 1  at radiused corner C 1 . Similarly, modular fence panel P 2  includes top rail TR 2  which transitions to side rail SR 2  at radiused corner C 2 . Gap G is formed between the attached modular fence panel P 1  and modular fence panel P 2 . Saddle fence cap  50  spans and covers gap G formed between the attached fence panels P 1  and P 2 . This embodiment may be manufactured to accommodate straight-run fencing or it may be manufactured in pre-selected angular configurations i.e. 90°, 135°, 180° and so forth, depending on the desired configuration of the modular fence panels. 
     FIG. 11 shows generally radiused hip  15 A of first fence cap  10 A and generally radiused hip  15 B of second fence cap  10 B. In one embodiment of the invention, first fence cap  10 A and second fence cap  10 B are formed by a plastic molding process. In the molding process, ridge  16  is formed and initially is configured such that it is substantially the same length as the end of the fence cap. In a second process sections of ridge  16  are removed by a machine process to form corresponding hinge elements. Section  25 A is removed forming in effect second cooperating hinge element  23  and third cooperating hinge element  24 . Similarly, section  25 B and section  25 C are removed forming in effect first cooperating hinge element  22 . Alternately, first cooperating hinge element  22 , second cooperating hinge element  23  and third cooperating hinge element  24  may be formed as a direct product of the molding process. 
     While this invention has been described with reference to the detailed embodiments, this is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. It is contemplated that the appended claims will cover the various modifications to the described embodiments, as well as additional embodiments of the invention as fall within the true scope of the invention.

Summary:
A fence cap and a fence cap system for bridging a gap between a corner of a first fence panel and a corner of an attached second fence panel by bridging and forming a closure over a gap between a corner of a first fence panel and a corner of an attached second fence panel.