Abstract:
A fence includes a plurality of mesh panels suspended from a plurality of support posts, with posts at each end. The plurality of support posts are offset behind the fence boundary formed by the plurality of mesh panels. A top portion of each of the plurality of support posts is coupled to at least one of the plurality of mesh panels, while a bottom portion of each of the plurality of support posts fixed with respect to the field surface. Upper edges of the mesh panels are suspended from above by a tensioned cable extending upward from the upper edge of the mesh panel, the tensioned cable coupled to at least one of said support posts. The lower edge is tensioned from below by a bottom anchor assembly. The plurality of mesh panels are resiliently deflectable upon impact by an object.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/607,032, filed Oct. 27, 2009, and now U.S. Pat. No. 8,573,565, the entirety of which application is incorporate herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to a fence useful for a sports field where an athlete can collide with the fence. More specifically, this invention offers a fence that provides containment to a player who runs into the fence. In the present invention, the player comes into contact with a mesh that repels him back onto the field of play with minimum risk of injury. After repelling a player, the safety fence returns to its prior position, thereby maintaining play without disruption. 
     In many sports, fence-like structures define the perimeter of play. For example, a baseball diamond includes an outfield bounded by a fence (or wall). If a batter hits a baseball beyond the fence, he scores a home run. Accordingly, a baseball player in the outfield may jump up to catch a ball likely to go over the fence. 
     In these circumstances, the player may collide with the fence, because the player runs toward the fence when he realizes that the ball is sufficiently high for a home run. Injury to the player is likely where the fence is made of rigid materials. The player must therefore balance instantaneously the likelihood of his catching the ball versus the risk of injury if he collides with the fence. Misjudgment leads to either unnecessary reluctance of the player to field a ball or to injury. These problems are more serious for younger, inexperienced players, such as Little League, junior high school, and high school players than for collegiate and professional players. 
     Attempts have been made to use plastic mesh as fence material in combination with thermoplastic tubes as fence poles. The weight of the fence, however, makes these materials unsuitable. In addition to allowing the fence material to sag, they lack the resilience to restore the fence to its original configuration after it deflects from impact. 
     In most baseball and softball games played by school teams, the players do not experience the same game as collegiate and professional players do. To hit a home run, the school player has to hit the ball so far that s/he can run all the bases before the ball can be fielded. This situation arises, not from financial limitations (costs of erecting and maintaining fences) but from safety considerations: preventing injury to players. Moving the outfield fence closer to home plate and thus bringing it into play (thereby improving “playability”) is simply too dangerous if the fence is a solid structure, such as plywood/post or chain-link. 
     Examples from the prior art address safety from both aspects, “playability” and “continuation of play,” without achieving a satisfactory solution. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,277 (Aug. 18, 1981) to Leonard et al. for a “Kick Ball Game and Apparatus Kit” discloses a “fabric type mesh net to contain the ball within the playing surface” that “provide[s] a surface off of which the ball may be ricocheted” during the playing of a game of kick ball. This fence cannot contain the impact at full force of a player running at full speed. The “mesh net” boundary fence cannot be adapted to protect players on a baseball or softball field, as the mesh is anchored and is secured directly to the solid support posts. Thus the fence of Leonard et al. presents a significant risk of injury to a player who runs into it. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,204 (Aug. 12, 1986) to Schmanski &amp; Landis for a “collapsible recreational fence” discloses a “flexible, resilient, plastic fence mesh attached to fiber reinforced plastic support posts which . . . deflect under the weight of impact.” Though this design is not a solid structure and therefore poses no threat of impact injury, it cannot prevent the player from literally toppling over the fence as it collapses. The player would therefore leave the field. Because the fence of Schmanski &amp; Landis is designed to “immediately restore to an original upright condition”, it cannot satisfy the criterion of “continuation of play”, as can the present invention, because the player would have to climb over the fence to get back into the field of play. Moreover, the height of the fence of Schmanski &amp; Landis makes it possible for a player to jump high enough, while reaching for a ball, to go over the fence backwards, thereby risking a head injury. The pull of the player&#39;s legs against the fence may not be sufficient to cause the fence to collapse completely yet be strong enough to cause players to topple onto their heads. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,819 (Jul. 9, 1991) to Kane for “Handling and Supporting Flexible Material of a Fence” also discloses mesh material directly attached to rigid support posts, thereby creating a threat of injury if applied to an outfield fence for a baseball or softball field. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,143 (Jan. 19, 1993) to Brower discloses a “portable sport boundary fence.” Though not a solid structure, the fence of Brower falls short of keeping the player from injury and ensuring continuation of play. Brower&#39;s fence posts “either bend or break to avoid injury to the player.” A broken post is itself a risk to the player who falls on it. Brower&#39;s fence is designed to fall away, so a player can fall through the fence, thus ending up outside the field of play. Like the fence of Schmanski &amp; Landis, the height of Brower&#39;s fence also poses a hazard if players end up on their heads. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,471 (Jan. 23, 2001) to Naegele and Loven for a “Fabric Fence System” also discloses mesh affixed directly to a rigid support structure that includes both vertical and cross members, thereby creating a threat of injury to players. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,661 (Feb. 8, 2005) to Penning for a “multi-purpose portable lay-down fence” is also not a solid structure. Penning discloses a framed structure of insufficient height and flexibility. It allows players jumping up for a ball to go over the fence backwards, ending up on their heads outside the field of play. Thus Penning&#39;s fence cannot provide both mitigation of the risk of injury and continuation of play. 
     The verticality of a fall by the player increases the chance of injury because a structure framed or supported by posts offers increased resistance along its vertical plane. The prior art&#39;s structures have their maximum flexibility in a horizontal direction. This flexibility diminishes significantly as the vector force of impact increases vertically. Thus a player near the fence who jumps vertically to catch a ball may, because of the fence&#39;s short height, fall vertically, thereby challenging the fence&#39;s vertical strength. Posts or other framing may cause serious injury to the player by offering significant resistance to a downward force exerted by a falling player. 
     In addition, none of the structures of the prior art as assembled respond to the effects of high winds. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a fence that both deflects under the impact of a player and restores to its full integrity after such impact. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fence that protects from injury a player running into the fence. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method of constructing a fence for areas of possible player impact where deflection of the fence prevents injury to the player. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a fence that keeps the player on the field of play, after a collision with the fence, thereby allowing for the continuation of play. 
     The present invention comprises a substantial length of flexible, resilient mesh suspended by a cable system, which is in turn suspended from steel posts mounted behind the mesh. The suspended mesh and cable system of the present invention withstands buckling loads, thereby allowing nondestructive deflection of the mesh and cable system upon impact by a moving player, with subsequent immediate restoration of the mesh to its original position. The mesh and cable system is suspended from steel posts to form a unified fence structure maintained in vertical orientation by the supports posts. This unified fence structure is oriented horizontally in a continuous arc from foul pole to foul pole. 
     The multipurpose seasonal sport safety fence of the present invention is not a permanent structure. Therefore, the field on which it is erected is available for other activities during other seasons. Since it&#39;s not a solid structure, it provides a gentle repelling effect on a player who jumps up against it or runs into it. The sport safety fence of the present invention, constructed of vinyl-coated mesh, has superior durability and tensile strength. The steel posts of the sport safety fence of the present invention are anchored in the ground, thereby allowing the fence to maintain its integrity, both during play when impacted by a player and when high winds are present. The fence is entirely within the field of play, thereby allowing the players to experience the game of baseball or softball it is played at the professional level. 
     In conclusion, the multipurpose seasonal sport safety fence of the present invention provides a gentle repelling effect for players as they jump up against it or run into it. Even when running at full speed into the fence, a player experiences only cradling as the fence brings the player to a halt and recoils the player back into the playing field. The multipurpose seasonal sport safety fence of the present invention completes the game of baseball and softball for elementary, high school, and college players by providing an outfield fence that bounds the field realistically while minimizing the possibility of impact injury. 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art based upon the following brief description of the invention: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a frontal view of the present invention as installed, beginning at the left foul pole. 
         FIGS. 2A-2E  shows rear and detail views of a single mesh panel prior to installation, illustrating the hook-and-loop rope and the location of reinforcement fasteners. 
         FIGS. 3A-3C  shows the concrete anchor, conduit fastener, steel support post, eyebolt, snap link, diagonal connector cable, top tie cable, mesh, bottom tie cable, bottom eye bolt, and ground anchor channel iron. 
         FIG. 4  shows the foul pole assembly. 
         FIG. 5  shows a detailed view of the base of the steel support post. 
         FIG. 6  shows detailed views of the steel support post&#39;s top, eyebolt, snap link, and diagonal connector cable assembly. 
         FIG. 7  shows the detail of the diagonal connector cable&#39;s attachment to the top of the fence. 
         FIG. 8  shows a detailed view of the bottom end of the diagonal top connector cable assembly when fully assembled with PVC conduit. 
         FIG. 9  shows a detailed view of the fence&#39;s bottom anchor assembly. 
         FIG. 10  shows a view of the fence top with the mesh skirt attached upon final assembly. 
         FIG. 11  shows the design of the mesh skirt. 
         FIG. 12  shows a mesh panel at an end of the fence attached to a foul pole by a mesh pole jacket. 
         FIG. 13  shows a detailed view of the synthetic turf insert assembly. 
         FIG. 14  shows the synthetic turf insert installed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a multipurpose seasonal sport safety fence  10  can be an outfield fence for baseball and softball fields of all sizes. The fence structure comprises a plurality of mesh panels  20  of a height determined by the size and age of the players and a length chosen so that the number of panels bounds the field from a left-hand foul pole  22  to a right-hand foul pole  22  (not shown). Panels  20  are suspended by a tie cable/PVC assembly  24  secured to a diagonal connector cable  26  and a snap link  50 . Snap link  50  is attached to an eyebolt  28  mounted to the top of a steel support post  21  mounted behind each mesh panel  20 . A plurality of steel support posts  21  are laid out in an arc from left-hand foul pole  22  to right-hand foul pole  22  (not shown). The bottom of fence  10  is secured by a bottom anchor and bottom tie cable assembly  49 . Seams of mesh panels  20  are secured by hook and loop rope assemblies  25  made up of a wide hook rope  29 , a narrow hook rope  29 A, a wide loop rope  30 , and a narrow loop rope  30 A (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a rear view of mesh panel  20  prior to installation shows the seams of mesh panels  20  held together by wide hook and loop ropes  29  and  30  and narrow hook and loop ropes  29 A and  30 A so that a damaged panel can be removed and replaced while fence  10  is assembled. Wide loop rope  30  is sewn to the bottom back edge of each mesh panel  20 . Wide hook rope  29  is sewn at a distance above wide loop rope  30  to be everywhere equidistant from wide loop rope  30 . On installation the bottom seam of each mesh panel  20  is formed by folding wide hook rope  29  over wide loop rope  30 . Similarly, the top seam of each mesh panel  20  is formed by folding narrow hook rope  29 A over narrow loop rope  30 A. Narrow hook rope  29 A and narrow loop rope  30 A are sewn in a slightly downwardly arc, with each reaching the bottom apex of the arc in the horizontal center of each mesh panel  20 . This arc is necessary to insure that, when a top tie cable  35  (see  FIG. 3 ) is tightened to the desired tension, each mesh panel  20  has a uniform vertical tension. Reinforcement fasteners  55  at the ends of hook and loop ropes  29 ,  29 A,  30 , and  30 A provide additional support for the connections at the ends of each hook and loop rope assembly  25 . Narrow hook rope  29 A and narrow loop rope  30 A form the top seam of each mesh panel  20  so that, when high winds can damage fence  10 , the hook and loop rope assembly  25  of narrow hook rope  29 A and narrow loop rope  30 A separates first, allowing mesh panels  20  to lay down flat during high winds, thereby avoiding damage to steel support posts  21  and tie cable/PVC assemblies  24 . Wide hook rope  29  is vertically sewn to the left end of the back side of mesh panel  20 . Wide loop rope  30  is vertically sewn on the right end of the front side of mesh panel  20 . Thus, when fence  10  is assembled, wide hook rope  29  and wide loop rope  30  connect mesh panels  20  together horizontally. Mesh panels  20  have maximum tensile strength in both horizontal and vertical directions, thereby allowing mesh panels  20  to reach maximum tension during final assembly of fence  10 . Diagonal-weave mesh may be appropriate when less tension in mesh panels  20  is appropriate. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a support post  21  is inserted into a PVC conduit  32  and sunk to an effective depth in a concrete base  31 . The part of support post  21  that is at the height of mesh panel  20  is bent to an angle that insures, when a player runs into fence  10 , the player makes contact with the mesh only. A conduit fastener  39  adjusts the height of support post  21 . An eyebolt  28 , snap link  50 , a connector cable sleeve  36 , and a steel thimble  37  attach one end of diagonal connector cable  26  to support post  21 . The other end of diagonal connector cable  26  is connected to mesh panel  20  by a top tie cable  35  encased in a PVC conduit  32 . PVC conduit  32  is in turn encased in padding  34 . When top tie cable  35  is winched by winch  42  (see  FIG. 1 ) to optimal tension, the top of fence  10  reaches its optimal position with each mesh panel  20  at full vertical height and stretched to full horizontal width between successive steel support posts  21 . PVC conduit  32  and padding  34  soften the top edge of fence  10  and provide a larger surface area of contact for mesh panel  20 &#39;s seam, thus reducing wear that would result if mesh panel  20  were in direct contact with the narrower top tie cable  35 . Top tie cable  35 , encased in PVC conduit tubing  32  and padding  34 , runs inside the top seam of mesh panel  20 . Mesh panel  20 &#39;s seams are secured by hook and loop rope assembly  25 . The bottom of mesh panel  20  is secured to the ground with a bottom tie cable  44  (see  FIG. 6 , Detail  3 ), encased in PVC conduit  32 , that runs through the bottom seam of mesh  20 , with the seam secured by hook and loop rope assembly  25 . Bottom tie cable  44  runs through eyebolt  28 , which is secured to a bottom anchor channel iron  33 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , both left- and right-hand foul poles  22  are inserted into PVC conduit  32  sunk into concrete base  31 . Each foul pole  22  has welded to it a channel iron  47  to which are fastened eyebolts  28  (not shown). Top tie cable  35  (not shown), bottom tie cable  44  (not shown), and winches  42  (not shown) are anchored by eyebolts  28 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , each support post  21  is inserted into PVC conduit sleeve  32  and sunk into concrete base  31 . Conduit fastener  39  is attached to the base of the steel support post  21  to allow for adjustment of the height of support post  21 . Bottom anchor channel iron  33  is mounted to the top of concrete base  31 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , each support post  21  has eyebolt  28  installed at the top end. Attached to eyebolt  28  is snap link  50 , which in turn attaches to diagonal connector cable  26 , which has inserted on each end steel thimble  37  secured by a connector cable sleeve  36 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the end of diagonal connector cable  26  is looped with a thimble  37  and secured with connector cable sleeve  36 . Top tie cable  35  runs horizontally along the top of fence  10  and through the bottom eye of diagonal connector cable  26 . Top tie cable  35  is encased in tubular PVC conduit  32 , which in turn is encased in padding  34 , and runs through the top seam of mesh panel  20 . Adjoining mesh panels  20  are held together side by side with vertically sewn wide hook and loop ropes  29  and  30  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the lower section of diagonal connector cable  26  is encased in PVC conduit  32  prior to top tie cable  35  (not shown) being threaded through thimble  37 . Connector cable sleeve  36  is used to secure the loop formed at the bottom end of diagonal connector cable  26 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , bottom tie cable  44  is encased in PVC conduit  32 , which runs through the bottom seam of each mesh panel  20 . Bottom tie cable  44  is secured to the ground by eyebolt  28  bolted to bottom anchor channel iron  33 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the final phase of installing fence  10  requires a mesh skirt  38 . Mesh skirt  38  slides over support post  21  and PVC conduit  32 . Mesh skirt  38  is held down by grommets  40  installed in nylon straps  41  connected to the tension bolt of conduit fastener  39  mounted on support post  21 . Mesh skirt  38  ensures that the arms of a player jumping up to catch a ball going over the fence cannot be caught under diagonal connector cable  26 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , mesh skirt  38 , cut to the shape shown, is sewn together at angled sides  45   a  and  45   b . Mesh skirt  38  has a pair of nylon straps  41  sewn to each of its corners opposite angled sides  45   a  and  45   b . Each nylon strap  41  terminates in grommet  40 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , winches  42  are installed on both top and bottom of one foul pole  22  and on the top only of the other. Both top tie cable  35  and bottom tie cable  44  are tightened by winches  42  during final installation of fence  10 . Top tie cable  35  must have sufficient tension to pull the top of the assembled fence  10  to the maximum height allowed by mesh panels  20  and the maximum distance between each pair of support posts  21  (not shown) to insure resilience of each mesh panel  20 . Bottom tie cable  44  is also winched to maintain the bottom of fence  10  close to the ground to ensure balls do not pass under fence  10 . Winches  42  are required at both ends of top tie cable  35 , one on each of foul pole  22 , for optimal tightening of top tie cable  35 . Only one winch  42  is required for optimal tightening of bottom tie cable  44 . Each foul pole  22  has a mesh foul pole jacket  43  installed around it. Mesh panel  20  is attached to mesh foul pole jacket  43  by hook and loop assembly  25 . In the final assembly of fence  10 , commercially available standard pole/post padding is installed around each foul pole  22  (not shown). Bottom tie cable  44  is attached to one foul pole  22  with eye bolt  28  (not shown) and to the other foul pole  22  by use of winch  42 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , synthetic turf insert  46  is glued to a rubber base  52  secured to a metal flange  51 . A PVC extension  54  is secured to metal flange  51  by a PVC adapter  53 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , when fence  10  is disassembled, PVC extension  54  is inserted into PVC conduit  32  sunk into concrete base  31 . The top surface of concrete base  31  is slightly below ground level so concrete base  31  can be covered with a synthetic turf insert  46  when fence  10  is not assembled. 
     REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
         
           
               10 —Fence 
               20 —Mesh Panel 
               21 —Support Posts 
               22 —Foul Pole 
               24 —Tie Cable/PVC Assembly 
               25 —Hook and Loop Rope Assembly 
               26 —Diagonal Connector Cable 
               28 —Eye Bolt 
               29 —Wide Hook Rope 
               29 A—Narrow Hook Rope 
               30 —Wide Loop Rope 
               30 A—Narrow Loop Rope 
               31 —Concrete base 
               32 —PVC conduit 
               33 —Bottom Anchor Channel Iron 
               34 —Padding 
               35 —Top Tie Cable 
               36 —Connector Cable Sleeve 
               37 —Thimble 
               38 —Mesh Skirt 
               39 —Conduit Fastener 
               40 —Grommet 
               41 —Nylon Strap 
               42 —Winch 
               43 —Mesh Foul Pole Jacket 
               44 —Bottom Tie Cable 
               45   a —Angled side 
               45   b —Angled side 
               46 —Synthetic Turf Insert 
               47 —Channel Iron 
               48 —Diagonal Connector Cable and Top Tie Cable Assembly 
               49 —Bottom Anchor and Bottom Tie Cable Assembly 
               50 —Snap Link 
               51 —Metal Flange 
               52 —Rubber Base 
               53 —PVC Adapter 
               54 —PVC Extension 
               55 —Reinforcement Fasteners