Abstract:
An improved fence construction includes an elongated plastic strip with the edges of the strip folded over parallel wires. The wires may be electrified. The plastic strip may be coded, decorated or laminated with other materials to provide an improved fence material for use in combination with fence posts to provide the appearance of a multirail fence, for example.

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/731,418, filed Jul. 17,1991 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,162. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an improved fencing material and more particularly to an improved fencing material that may be utilized for the construction of an electric fence. 
     Heretofore, it has been suggested that a fabric or plastic may be utilized as a fencing material. It has also been suggested that strips of plastic be utilized as a fencing material. It has further been suggested that a plastic material with wires imbedded therein may be utilized for the fabrication of an electric fence. Prior patents which teach these various concepts include the folloowing: 
     
         ______________________________________U.S. PAT. NO.     ISSUE DATE    INVENTOR   TITLE______________________________________4,494,733 January 22, 1985                   Olsson     Enclosure                              For                              Animals4,533,120 August 6, 1985                   Ruddock    Fencing                              Rail                              Members4,860,996 August 29, 1989                   Robbins, III                              Composite                              Strand                              Fence4,861,645 August 29, 1989                   Standing   Fencing                              Tape With                              Electrically                              Conducting                              Wires4,883,923 November 28, 1989                   Langlie et al.                              Electric                              Fence                              Insulator                              For Hold-                              ing Various                              Conductor                              Types,                              Including                              Tape-Type4,905,968 March 6, 1990 Eby et al. Insulator                              For An                              Electric                              Fence                              And Elec-                              tric Fence                              Including                              The Same______________________________________ 
    
     There has remained, however, a need for an improved fencing material which can be utilized as part of an electric fence construction and which replicates, from an aesthetic viewpoint, a rail fence. Such fencing material should be easy to manufacture, easy to package and distribute, and easy to incorporate in a fence construction. It is with these goals in mind that the present invention was devised to provide an imporved fencing material and fence construction, particularly useful as an electric fence construction. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Biefly, the present invention comprises an elongated strip of nonconconductive plastic material with first and second parallel wires enfolded by the sides of the strip. The sides of the strip sre also perforated so as to expose a portion of each of the wires. The wires may thus be fastened, for example, by staples to spaced fence posts in a manner so that the strip appears to be a fence rail. The exposed wire, which is exposed through the perforations of embossments in the plastic strip, permits contact when the wires are electrified and thus provide the benefits of an electric fence construction. 
     Thus, it is an obkect of the invention to provide an improved fencing material. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved fencing material comprised on an elongated plastic strip and at least, two parallel wires molded or retained by the sides of the strip with a portion of the wires exposed so that the fence material may serve easily as an electric fence material. 
     Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacture of such an improved fencing material. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an economical, easily manufactured, easily stored and easily transported fence material which may be quickly and easily assembled as an electric fence or as a non-electric fence construction. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised to the following FIGURES: 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of the backside of the improved fence construction of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the fence construction of FIG. 1 depicting diagrammatically, the method of manufacture; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a side element of the fence construction of the invention taken substantially along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a side element of the fence construction taken substantially along the line 4--4 in FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 5 is a elevation of a typical fence which incorporated the fence construction of the present invention and which further illustrates a manner in which the fence may be electrified. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 4, there is illustrated the improved fence construction or fencing material of the invention and its method of manufacture. The construction includes a strip or sheet of plastic 10 which has a longitudinal dimension L or an elongated dimesnion and a width or lateral dimesnsion W. The width or lateral dimension W is depicted in FIG. 2. The length or longitudinal dimension, depicted in FIG. 1, is variable depending upon the desired lenght of the run of fencing material that is being manufactured. 
     The plastic material which forms the strip 10 may have a wide variety of colors and patterns. The gauge of the plastic should be sufficient to fold over and retain wires as will be disscused below. The strip 10 is typically non-conductive, although it is possible to laminate layers of conductive material or patterns of conductive material on the strip 10. Additionally, the strip 10 may have printing designs, embossings, cut-out patterns and the like to create a particular visual or aesthetic impression. 
     The strip 10 includes a first elongated side at l2 and second elongated side at 14 parallel to the first side 12. A series of embossed or cut openings 16 and 18 are defined in each side 12, 14 respectively. A first conductive wires 20, for example, an aluminum, copper or an alloy wires, is arranged along side 12. A second conductive wires 22 is arranged along side 14. The first wire 20 is enfolded by the side 12 so that the openings 16 fold over the wires and expose, at least, a portion of the wires 20. The side 12 is adhered to the strip 10 by an adhesive or heat sealing or by any convenient means. In similar fashion, the second wires 22 is retained by folding the side 14 and adhering it to strip 10 so as to expose the wires 22 through the openings 18. 
     Thus, as depicted in FIG. 1, the wires 20 and 22 are enfolded in the strip 10 and retained in parallel array with the wires 20, 22 each being exposed through the embossment of cutout portions 16 and 18. In practice, an elongated assembly of the wires 20 and 22 and strip 10 are wound on a roll or coil for ease of transport and ultimate use in a fence. 
     FIG. 2 sets forth schematically the method of manufacture of the construction of FIG. 1. The leading edge of 24 of the strip 10 is retained by a clamp 26 which pulls the strip 10 and wires 20 and 22 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 so as to wrap the assembled product around a reel or mandrel (not shown). The wires 20 and 22 are appropriately aligned so that the sides 12 and 14 may be folded over the wires 20, 22 as the entire assembly moves to the right in FIG. 2. As the strip 10 and wires 20, 22 move to the right in FIG. 2, a first and second folding guide bar or horn 28 and 30 arranged respectively adjacent each side of the strip 10 will fold over the sides 12, 14 to cover the respective wires 20, 22. A heated block 32 and 34 seals the separate sides 12, 14 to the strip 10. Alternatively, glues or other adhesives may be utilized for this sealing or attachment step. The entire assembly may be manufactured in a continuous operation. Unit lengths can be cut at the appropriate time during the manufacturing process as the product is wound on a wheel or mandrel. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a manner of usage of the construction of the invention. The assembled panel or strip 40 can be stapled to separate fence posts 42 ans 44 in a string of posts. Thus, staples 46 are used to attach the wires 20 and 22 to posts 42, 44. As depicted in FIG. 5, one or more strips of the fence construction may be utilized to create the appearance of a rail fence. One or more of the wires 20 may also be attached to a battery 46 in an electrical circuit to thereby electrify the fence. Since the wires 20 is exposed through the cut out sections embossments 16, contact therewith will result in an electric shock. 
     The fence thus provides an aesthetically pleasing construction because of the multiplicity of patterns that may be placed on the strip 40. Additionally, because of the lateral dimension W associated with the strip 40, it is visually apparent. It is possible, for example, to indicate that the fence is electrified by embossing a notice or warning on the fence. Additionally, it is possible to electrify any one or more of the wires which are attached through the fence and which comprise the strip construction. The construction of the invention is easy to handle and has a wide variety of uses both as an electrified and non-electrified fence construction. Thus, there are various alternatives associated with the invention. Therefore, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and their equivalents.