Abstract:
An equine fence system fabricated of high density polyethylene having a plurality of vertical support posts embedded in the ground, there being a plurality of horizontal rail members extending between adjacent vertical posts, the horizontal rail members having a spiral electrically conductive wire embedded just below the surface of the horizontal rail to discourage contact between the horse and rail, the horizontal rails having an additional stiffener and support member longitudinally positioned within the horizontal rail to provide additional support for the horizontal rail and permit the use of longer horizontal rails therefore increasing the distance between vertical posts and reducing costs and maintenance.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/214,687, filed Apr. 28, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to fencing systems, and more particularly, to a reinforced equine fence system which allows for greater spans between vertical support posts and which includes electrically charged spirally embedded wire as a safety measure to deter equine contact and enhance the life of the fencing system. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Equine fencing systems have been in use since man first domesticated the horse. Fencing systems are used to enclose corrals, and grazing areas, and fencing systems are also used to direct the flow of equine traffic. 
         [0006]    Initially fencing systems were made of wood and timber and wood and timber remain in wide spread use. However, wood and timber fences are high maintenance since there is deterioration due to weather factors and the concommitment requirement of painting and restoring damaged rails. 
         [0007]    Applicant has used his expertise in commercial and residential railing systems to develop an equine fencing system utilizing post and rails fabricated from high density polyethylene (HDPE) which can be formed with a desired pigmentation and can be utilized for horizontal fencing styles ranging from two to four horizontal rails or more. Fabrication from HDPE eliminates much of the high maintenance of the old wood and timber fence systems, and allows a spirally embedded electrical wire to be embedded in the fencing system which further prevents deterioration or damage to the fencing system from the horses by limiting or discouraging their contact with the fencing system, yet allows the facile replacement of rails should they be displaced by contact. 
         [0008]    Another improvement of Applicant&#39;s fencing system over that of the prior art is the ability of Applicant&#39;s fencing system to span greater horizontal lengths without appreciable sagging. The typical distance between posts in a two, three, or four rail fencing system, would normally be 4′6″. This is based upon the weight of the horizontal rails, strength of the posts, and the desired rigidity to be maintained on the fencing system between the posts when contacted by a horse. It would be desirable and cost effective if the distance between posts could be lengthened such that the length of rail could be increased. This would decrease the number of posts and further decrease the number of footings required for each post. Applicant has developed a reinforcing insert for use in the railing system which allows the distance between posts to increase to 8′ while still maintaining the integrity and desired rigidity of the horizontal rails. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel equine fence system fabricated from high density polyethylene and which incorporates rail stiffeners so as to increase the allowable distance between posts for support of the horizontal rails. 
         [0010]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel equine fence system fabricated of high density polyethylene which incorporates a rail stiffener system for allowance of greater distance between the vertical posts and which incorporates a spirally embedded electrical wire which decreases the likelihood of damage or breakage by discouraging the horse from contact with the fencing system. 
         [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel equine fence system which incorporates a rail stiffener which allows the horizontal rails to span a greater distance, thereby requiring less vertical posts, and thus encouraging a cost and materials savings. 
         [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel equine fence system which incorporates an acceptable level of flex to the fence rails wherein all of the connections of one fence member to another will detach under sufficient pressure, but is easily replaceable or repaired. It therefore minimizes potential injury to the horse and property. 
         [0013]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel equine fence system in which a spiral electrically conductive wire is embedded just below the surface of the fence rail which eliminates scratching the horse, and will discourage the horse from trying to chew, rub or graze through the fence, the electrical conductive wire being charged by a voltage sufficient to discourage a horse from contacting the fence, this voltage supplied by direct current or solar panel. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    An equine fence system fabricated of high density polyethylene having a plurality of vertical support posts embedded in the ground, there being a plurality of horizontal rail members extending between adjacent vertical posts, the horizontal rail members having a spiral electrically conductive wire embedded just below the surface of the horizontal rail to discourage contact between the horse and rail, the horizontal rails having an additional stiffener and support member longitudinally positioned within the horizontal rail to provide additional support for the horizontal rail and permit the use of longer horizontal rails therefore increasing the distance between vertical posts and reducing costs and maintenance. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a planar front view of a section of an equine fence of the present invention illustrating a three rail system; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective sectional view of area A of  FIG. 1  illustrating the construction of the horizontal rail utilized in the system; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a partial side cutaway view of a rail illustrating a spring clip connector for the horizontal rails; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an end view of a horizontal rail with the stiffener positioned therein; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective partially assembled view of a horizontal rail with the stiffener partially extended; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a planar front view illustrating the assembly of the equine fence. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a portion of an equine fence system of the present invention fabricated out of high density polyethylene (HDPE). The equine fence  10  comprises a plurality of vertical posts  12  in spaced apart relationship, the lower portion  14  of the vertical post embedded into the ground and in most instances, into a footing  16 . Vertical post  12  is formed with a plurality of apertures  18  for the slidable receipt of a plurality of horizontal railing members  20 . In  FIG. 1 , the equine fence  10  is illustrated with three horizontal railing members  20 , however, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the number of horizontal railing members  20  may vary depending upon the height of the fence. 
         [0023]    The horizontal railing members  20  are slidably received within the apertures  18  formed in the vertical posts  12  and snap fit therein as more fully described hereafter. For straight sections of the equine railing system  10 , the apertures  18  in a particular vertical post  12  would be in 180° relationship with each other so that a horizontal rail member  20  could be secured to the aperture on one side of the vertical post  12  and a separate horizontal rail member  20  would be slidably inserted into the corresponding aperture  18  positioned in 180° relationship with the first aperture. In those situations where the equine railing fence  10  is required to angle or turn at 90°, the respective apertures  18  in the vertical post  12  would be angularly positioned so as to accommodate the turn angle. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of a horizontal railing member  20  from area A of  FIG. 1 . The railing member  20  is fabricated from HDPE and is tubular in shape having in a preferred embodiment, a 3″ outer diameter, with a wall thickness of 0.170 inches. The state of the current art dictates that the vertical posts  12  are spaced approximately 5′5″ apart on center. The horizontal rail members  20  may be fabricated to fit between adjacent vertical posts  12  or maybe of a longer length so as to span two, three, or possibly four vertical posts before an end of one horizontal rail member is juxtaposed to an end of another abutting horizontal railing member  20 . In the preferred embodiment the ends of horizontal rail members  20  juxtapose adjacent horizontal rail members within the circumference of vertical posts  12 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  also illustrates the spiral embedded electrical wire  30  which is positioned in the horizontal rail members  20  prior to their positioning between the vertical posts  12 . Depending upon the number of horizontal rails, the owner may chose to spirally embed the electrical wire  30  in all of the horizontal rails  20 , or only select horizontal rails. The electrical wire  30  spirally embedded in a horizontal rail is electrically connected to the electrically embedded spiral wire in an adjacent horizontal rail  20  by means of a flexible electrical connection  28 , commonly referred to as a pigtail and illustrated in  FIG. 6 , which is positioned within the vertical post  12  where adjacent horizontal rails  20  abut. 
         [0026]    The horizontal rail members  20  and the spirally embedded electrical wire  30  are fabricated in the following manner. The horizontal rail member  20  is first extruded from high density polyethylene into an extended tubular form and is allowed to set before entering an embedding station. The embedding station comprises a coil or spool of electrical conductive wire, the unspooled portion being under tension. Still further, the wire is electrically heated. The temperature of the wire is sufficient that as the wire is spirally contacted to the outer circumferential surface of the horizontal railing member  20  as it passes through the embedding station, the heat of the wire causes the wire to melt a spiral groove in the outer circumferential surface of the horizontal rail member such that the electrical wire becomes spirally embedded over the length of the horizontal rail member. The depth of the embedded electrical wire is crucial in that if it is embedded too deeply, the melted high density polyethylene will reset and completely cover the electrical wire, which would then prevent it from performing as required. The correct depth is achieved by the speed of the horizontal rail member  20  moving through the embedding station and the speed and the temperature of the electrical wire  36  as it spirals about the horizontal rail member  20 . 
         [0027]    Once the horizontal rail member has had the spirally embedded electrical wire  30  positioned on its circumferential surface, the horizontal rail member  20  can be cut to the desired length. Due to the fact that the electrically embedded wire  30  is spirally bound about the outer circumferential surface of horizontal rail member  20 , regardless of the length to which the horizontal rail member  20  is cut, each end will have a terminus of a spirally embedded electrical wire  30 . 
         [0028]    The horizontal rail members  20  are maintained in position relative to vertical posts  12  by means of spring clips  22 . Spring clip  22  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  is a U-shaped polymer clip having two outwardly extending fingers  24 . Spring clip  22  is inserted into the ends of each horizontal rail member  20  such that the extending fingers  24  project through two opposing apertures  23  in the circumferential side wall of the horizontal rail member  20 . 
         [0029]    The extending fingers  24  are beveled  25  such that the spring pin is compressed when the end of the horizontal rail member  20  is inserted into the vertical post  12 . Extending fingers  24  compress into their respective apertures until they have passed through the circumferential side wall of the vertical post  12 . Spring clip  22  then causes the extending fingers  24  to biasly extend back through the apertures in the circumferential side wall of horizontal rail member  20  and thus engage the interior circumferential surface of vertical post  12 . Each end of a horizontal rail member  20  is so secured to vertical post  12 . 
         [0030]    Prior to the ends of horizontal rail members  20  being inserted into the vertical post  12  and secured by the spring clips  22  as previously described, the flexible electrical connection  28  (pigtail) is secured to the terminus of the spirally embedded electrical wire  30  in one of the juxtaposed horizontal rail members. This flexible connector  28  is then extended through the apertures in vertical post  12  so that it can be electrically connected to the terminus of the spirally embedded electrical wire  30  in the adjacent or juxtaposed horizontal rail member  20 . This continues a circuit between juxtaposed horizontal rail members. Rail members so electrically connected can then be secured to the vertical post by means of the spring clips  22  as previously described. A power source  21  in the form of a solar cell or conventional power source would be converted to the embedded electrical wire  30  with appropriate voltage and/or amperage control to electrify the system. (See  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is an end view of a horizontal rail  20  of the current equine railing system with a stiffener positioned therein, and  FIG. 5  is a perspective partially assembled view of the horizontal rail with the stiffener partially extended. The horizontal rail  20  fabricated of high density polyethylene (HDPE) has a outer diameter of three inches and a wall thickness of 0.140 inches. The rail stiffener  40  which is slidably receivable within the horizontal rail member  20  is square in shape having two inch sides  42 , and a thickness of 0.125 inches. Since the stiffener  40  is positioned within the tubular horizontal rail member  20 , and protected from sunlight and the ambient weather, the stiffener can be fabricated from PVC or other suitable lightweight polymer. The corners of horizontal rail stiffener  40  are rounded with a radius of 0.156 inches.  FIG. 3  illustrates the stiffener  40  within the tubular horizontal rail  20  whereby once slidably inserted, the four rounded corners  44  of the stiffener contact the inner wall  22  of the horizontal rail member  20  at four distinct points which would extend along the length of the rail member  20 . The stiffener  40  allows the horizontal rail member  20  to span a larger distance between vertical posts  12  without sagging and provides a stiffener to the horizontal rail member  20 , but does not interfere with the ability of the horizontal rail member  20  to flex under load, such as if a horse were to bump into the fence. 
         [0032]    Any dimensions relating to diameter, circumference, or length mentioned in the specification are for explanatory purposes only. It will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that the diameters and circumferences and lengths may vary in a particular fencing system with respect to posts and rails. Therefore any dimensions cited should be treated as exemplary with the changes in size being concomitant with larger or smaller internal stiffeners and apertures for receipt of rails. 
         [0033]    Therefore, while the present invention has been disclosed with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalence thereof.