Abstract:
A method of assembling a dynamically adjustable fencing panel that includes pivotally joining a crossmember first end to a first support post via a first and second arm extending therefrom in parallel, where the first and second arms each have a hole formed therethrough in a respective coaxial arrangement and the first support post includes a footer for substantially inhibiting ground penetration below ground level. The method further includes pivotally joining a crossmember second end to a second support post via a third and fourth arm extending therefrom in parallel, where the third and fourth arms each have a hole formed therethrough in a respective coaxial arrangement and the second support post includes a footer for substantially inhibiting ground penetration below the ground level, where the pivotally joined first and second crossmember ends facilitate a continuously pivotal linkage between the first support post and the second support post.

Description:
STATEMENT OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The present application is a divisional application of, and claims priority to U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 14/550,340, titled “Fencing Panel and Method of Assembly” and filed Nov. 21, 2014. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a fencing panel and method of assembly thereof. More particularly, it is concerned with a method of assembling a fencing panel that enables support posts to remain perpendicular while allowing enhanced contouring of crossmembers with the terrain. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Fencing panels may be used for various functions, including fencing a plot of land to keep people, vehicles, and/or animals on or off of the land. As depicted in  FIG. 1A , a typical fence  100  may be comprised of multiple individual fencing panels  102  (shown as fencing panels  102   a - g ). Each fencing panel  102  may include a first support post  104  (labeled as first support posts  104   a - g ) and a second support post  106  (labeled as a second support post  106   a - g ), and a plurality of crossmembers  108  (e.g., crossmembers  108   a ) therebetween. One of the support posts  104 ,  106  will have one or more hooks  110 . As depicted, two hooks  110  are arranged on each of the first support posts  104   a - g . Each fencing panel  102   a - g  further includes one or more receiving loops  112 . As depicted, two receiving loops  112  are arranged on the second support post  106  of each fencing panel  102 . The hooks  110  of one panel  102  are to be arranged within the receiving loops  112  of another panel, thereby coupling the panels together. An enlarged view of this is illustrated in  FIG. 1B . This configuration, however, presents many problems. 
         [0004]    For example, due to the rigidity of the crossmembers  108  coupled to the support posts  104 ,  106 , the panel  102   a - g  is unable to flex with uneven terrain, thus leaving gaps between the panels  102   a - c , especially upon slopes, peaks, and troughs of land. As depicted, the hill or peak  114  of land slopes the two panels  102   c  and  102   d  in opposite directions, therefore not enabling the hooks  110   d  to be arranged within the receiving loops  112   c . Resulting therefrom, a gap  116  is formed, where animals may be able to escape, or alternatively be caught therein and unable to be freely released. Different animals may react in different manners to being caught, such as a horse pulling back when stuck, but a cow may try to push through the panels  102   c  and  102   d , thereby moving and/or breaking them, along with injuring the animal itself. 
         [0005]    Similar issues arise at the trough or low point of land  118 . As depicted, the panels  102   f  and  102   g  are only partially able to connect via the hook  110   g  and receiving loop  112   f  due to being at various angles when conforming to the land. Such an arrangement creates a gap  120  between the two panels  102   f  and  102   g . Again, animals may be able to escape through the gap  120 , or alternatively become stuck in the gap  120 , possibly causing injury or death to the animal, and damage to the fencing panels  102   f  and  102   g . Current solutions are to arrange additional panels  102  in areas which such gaps  116 ,  120  occur. However, such a solution is both costly (due to the extra panels  102  required to be purchased), and may prove ineffective over a period of time as the land continues to move and shift. Accordingly, a fencing panel which solves the aforementioned problems remains highly desirable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present disclosure introduces various illustrative embodiments for a fencing panel, and method of assembly thereof, that enables support posts to remain perpendicular while allowing enhanced contouring of crossmembers with the terrain. 
         [0007]    It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a method for assembling a fencing panel, wherein the method employs a means for coupling a crossmember to a support post to couple a first end of a first crossmember to a first support post via holes in a first pair of arms radially extending from the first support post and a hole in the first end of the first crossmember, and further employs the means for coupling a crossmember to a support post to couple a second end of the first crossmember to a second support post via holes in a second pair of arms radially extending from the second support post and a hole in the second end of the first crossmember. Advantageously, such a configuration enables the support posts to remain perpendicular while allowing enhanced contouring of crossmembers with the terrain. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The following figures are included to illustrate certain aspects of the present invention, and should not be viewed as an exclusive embodiments. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to one having ordinary skill in the art and the benefit of this disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  depict a plurality of prior-art fencing panels. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of a fencing panel, according to one or more embodiments. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top-down view of the fencing panel, according to one or more embodiments. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  shows enlarged views of the fencing panel support post, according to one or more embodiments. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side-view of a fencing panel that includes an intermediate support post, according to one or more embodiments. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged angled-view of the intermediate support post, according to one or more embodiments. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of an illustrative method for assembling a fencing panel, according to one or more embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The present disclosure relates to a fencing panel and method of assembly thereof. More particularly, it is concerned with a method of assembling a fencing panel that enables support posts to remain perpendicular while allowing enhanced contouring of crossmembers with the terrain, thereby preventing gaps between panels from occurring. 
         [0017]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used herein to designate like elements throughout the various views and embodiments of a unit. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings have been exaggerated and/or simplified in places for illustrative purposes only. One of the ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations based on the following examples of possible embodiments. As used herein, the “present disclosure” refers to any one of the embodiments described throughout this document and does not mean that all claimed embodiments must include the referenced aspects. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of a fencing panel  200 , according to one or more embodiments. As depicted, the panel  200  includes a first support post  202 , a second support post  204 , and a plurality of crossmembers  206  (four shown) coupled therebetween. Each crossmember  206  includes a first end  208  and a second end  210 , both ends  208  and  210  having at least one hole (not shown) arranged horizontally therethrough. The crossmembers  206  may be, for example, 12 feet in length. While four crossmembers  206  are shown, one of skill in the art will appreciate that more or less than four crossmembers  206  may be employed, of which may be longer or shorter than 12 feet, in other embodiments and are contemplated herein without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
         [0019]    Described in further detail below ( FIG. 3 ), briefly, the first support post  202  includes a pair of arms  212  radially extending therefrom, wherein each arm  212  of the pair includes at least one hole  214  arranged therethrough (two holes  214  shown). The second support post  204  similarly includes a pair of arms  216  radially extending therefrom, wherein each arm  216  includes at least one hole  218  arranged therethrough. A means for coupling the crossmember to the support posts  202 ,  204  is employed at each end of the crossmember  206 , thereby coupling the crossmember  206  to the support posts  202 ,  204  via the associated holes in each end  208 , 210  of the crossmember and holes  214 ,  218  in the arms  212 ,  216  of each support post  202 , 204 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top-down view of the fencing panel  200 , according to one or more embodiments. As depicted, the fencing panel  200  includes the first support post  202  (for visual purposes only, depicted on the left) which has a pair of arms (a first arm  212   a  and a second arm  212   b ) coupled thereto. Each arm  212   a  and  212   b  includes a hole  214   a ,  214   b  arranged therethrough, wherein the holes  214   a  and  214   b  are arranged at substantially the same location (i.e., substantially the same distance from the first support post  202 ) in each arm  212   a  and  212   b.    
         [0021]    The fencing panel  200  further includes the second support post  204  (for visual purposes only, depicted on the right) which has a pair of arms (a first arm  216   a  and a second arm  216   b ) coupled thereto. Each arm  216   a  and  216   b  has a hole  218   a ,  218   b  arranged therethrough, wherein the holes  218   a  and  218   b  are arranged at substantially the same location (i.e., substantially the same distance from the second support post  204 ).  FIG. 3  also depicts the crossmember  206  having a first hole  302  horizontally arranged near the first end  208  and a second hole  304  horizontally arranged near the second end  210 . 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the arms  212  and  216  may be approximately 6 inches long, and each arm  212   a ,  212   b ,  216   a ,  216   b  may be a thickness ranging from approximately 3/16 inch to 1 inch. Moreover, for embodiments including a plurality of holes (e.g., holes  214   a ,  214   b ,  218   a ,  218   b ) in each arm, the holes may be spaced approximately 2 inches apart. In other embodiments, the holes may be spaced equally or unequally in distance, as may be appropriate or necessary for coupling of the crossmember  206  to the arms  214 ,  218 . In further embodiments, the support posts  202 ,  204  may be constructed of a variety of materials, such as a metal (e.g., steel). The support posts  202 ,  204  are preferably of a larger gauge, such as 11 or 12 gauge. However, in other embodiments, the support posts  202 ,  204  may range from 18 gauge to 22 gauge, and, while lighter in weight, the thinner construction may result in decreased durability and strength. 
         [0023]    A means for coupling the crossmember  206  to each support post  202 ,  204  is employed at each end  208 ,  210  of the crossmember  206  to couple the crossmember  206  to each support post  202 ,  204  via the associated holes  302 ,  304  in the ends of the crossmember and holes  214 ,  218  in the arms of each support post. Such a means for coupling the crossmember  206  to each support post  202 ,  204  may include, for example and without limitation, a lynch pin  306  (two depicted as  306   a  and  306   b ) having a head  308 , a body  310 , and an end  312 , and a cotter pin  314 . The head  306  is generally larger in diameter than the hole (e.g. hole  214  or  302 ) which the body  310  will be arranged through, thereby securing the head  306  on one side of the arm  212  or  214 . 
         [0024]    In exemplary operation, the first end  208  of the crossmember  206  may be coupled to the first support post  202  via the first pair of arms  212   a,b . The lynch pin body  310   a  may be conveyed through the hole  214   a  in the first arm  212   a , through the hole  302  in the first end  208  of the crossmember  206 , and through the hole  214   b  in the second arm  212   b , wherein the end  312   a  of lynch pin  306   a  is secured from removal by coupling of the cotter pin  314   a  thereto. In other embodiments, the means may operate to convey the lynch pin body  310  in a reverse order, while still accomplishing the goal of coupling the crossmember  206  to the first pair of arms  212   a,b.    
         [0025]    Similarly, the means can also be employed for coupling the second end  210  of the crossmember  206  to the second support post  204  via the second pair of arms  216 , wherein a second lynch pin  306   b  and second cotter pin  312   b  are employed. In such an embodiment, the body  310   b  of the second lynch pin  306   b  is arranged through the hole  218   a  of first arm  216   a , through the hole  304  at the second end  210  of the crossmember  206 , and through the hole  218   b  of the second arm  216   b , whereby the lynch pin  306   b  is secured from removal by coupling of the second cotter pin  314   b  to the end  312   b  thereof. 
         [0026]    Advantageously, such a means for hingedly coupling the crossmember  206  to the support posts  202 ,  204  enables the fencing panel to be arranged on uneven terrain, while allowing the support posts  202  to remain perpendicular, but enabling angular arrangement of the crossmembers  206 . Therefore, the crossmember  206  may run parallel to the terrain, even when at an angle. Further advantageous is the reduction or alleviation of gaps (e.g. gap  116  and gap  120  shown in  FIG. 1 ) due to the support posts remaining perpendicular. Even further advantageous are discussed below, for example, in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0027]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  shows enlarged views of the fencing panel support post  202 , according to one or more embodiments. In  FIG. 4A , the first support post  202  is depicted, an embodiment of which includes four arms  212 , each arm  212  having three holes  214  therethrough. Also disclosed and depicted is a means  402  for securing together a plurality of fencing panels (e.g. panel  202 ,  FIG. 2 ). Such a means  402  may include, for example and without limitation, a chain  404  having a plurality of chain links  406  (three labeled). In some embodiments, the chain  404  is welded at one point to the support post  202  at location  408 , whereas the rest of the chain is free to be wrapped around the support post of another fencing panel, thus joining the two fencing panels together. Advantageously, such welding would prevent loss of the chain. Moreover, welding is generally animal friendly, as there are fewer (if any) sharp edges for an animal to cut themselves on. 
         [0028]    In other embodiments, however, the means  402  may be tied, screwed, bolted, or the like to the support post  202 . Where the means  402  for securing together a plurality of fencing panels includes the chain  404 , the means  402  may further include a chain securing mechanism  410  for securing the non-welded end or portion of the chain after it has been wrapped around a support post of an additional fencing panel. The base of the support post  202  may penetrate into the ground, for example when muddy or on soft soil, in which case a further embodiments of the present disclosure may include a base  414  which resists penetration into the ground. For example the base  414  may be a “j-style” base, as known to those skilled in the art, whereby the support post  202  resists penetration into the ground via a larger surface area of the base  414 , advantageously, helping to maintain stability and desired height of the support post  202 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 4B , illustrated is an enlarged portion of the support post  202 , arm  212  having holes  214 , and chain securing mechanism  410 . The chain securing mechanism may be coupled securely to the support post  202  in any variety of ways known to those skilled in the art, one of which including being welded to the support post  202  and/or the arm  212 . The chain securing mechanism  410 , as depicted, operates to secure the chain via a groove  412  for interlocking with at least one of the chain links  406  ( FIG. 4A ). Because the chain securing mechanism precludes the chain  404  from moving freely therethrough, the chain is secured at a desired length, thus also securing together the panels it is attached to and secured around. 
         [0030]    Advantageously, using a chain as a means for securing together a plurality of fencing panel enables some flexing of the panels and movement with the terrain, while still preventing gaps between the panels. Notably, while the chain  404  and chain securing mechanism  410  are described with respect to the first support post  202 , embodiments contemplated herein include where they are arranged on either or both of the support post  202  or  204 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side-view of a fencing panel  500  that includes an intermediate support post  502 , according to one or more embodiments. The fencing panel  500  is similar to the fencing panel  200  of  FIGS. 3-5 , and includes a first support  202 , as depicted, having four pairs of arms  212  (one labeled), each arm  212  having at least one hole  214  (two holes  214  depicted) therethrough. The fencing panel  500  also includes a second support post  204 , as depicted, having three pairs of arms  216  (one labeled), each arm  216  having at least one hole  214  (two depicted) therethrough. However, the fencing panel  500  further includes the intermediate support post  502  arranged between the first support post  202  and second support post  204 . 
         [0032]    The intermediate support post  502  includes a third pair of arms  506  (three depicted) and a fourth pair of arms  508  (three depicted). In some embodiments, as depicted, the third and fourth pair of arms  506 ,  508  are radially extending in opposing directions. Each arm of the third pair of arms  506  includes at least one hole  510  (two depicted) therethrough, the holes  510  of each arm being at substantially the same distance from the intermediate support post  502 . Similarly, each arm of the fourth pair of arms  508  also includes at least one hole  512  (two depicted) therethrough, the holes  512  of each arm being at substantially the same distance from the intermediate support post  502 . 
         [0033]    The fencing panel  500  further includes a first crossmember  514  having a first end  516  and a second end  518 , and a second crossmember  520  having a first end  522  and a second end  524 . The first and second crossmembers  514 ,  516 , accordingly, are similar to the crossmember  206 , wherein the end of each crossmember includes a hole (not shown) at each end, thereby enabling coupling of the crossmember to a support post (e.g., support posts  202  or  204 ) or the intermediate support post  502 . Thus, as depicted, the first crossmember  514  is coupled near the first end  516  between the arms  212  of the first support post  202  and near the second end  218  to the third pair of arms  506  of the intermediate post  502 , and the second crossmember  516  is coupled at its first end  522  between the fourth pair of arms  508  of the intermediate post  502  and at its second end  524  between the arms  216  of the second support post  204 . 
         [0034]    Such couplings of the ends of the crossmembers to the arms occurs by a means for coupling the crossmembers to the support posts. Such a means may include, for example and without limitation, a lynch pin which is arranged through the end of the crossmember and the arms, and precluded from removal by attachment of a cotter pin, similar to that described above in  FIG. 3 . Advantageously, inclusion of the intermediate support post  502  further enables flexibility of the fencing panel  500  over uneven terrain, while still enabling the first and second support posts  202 , 204  to remain perpendicular. For example, as depicted, the terrain includes a low point or a dip  504 . With the intermediate support post  502  being hingedly coupled between the first support post  202  and the second support post  204 , the intermediate support post  502  is capable of substantially fencing the dip  504  with the first and second crossmembers  514 ,  520 , thereby precluding animals from entering or exiting therethrough. 
         [0035]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while a single intermediate post  502  is depicted, other embodiments contemplated herein may include a plurality of intermediate posts coupled to each other and arranged between the support posts  202 ,  204 , without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged angled-view of the intermediate support post  502 , according to one or more embodiments. In some embodiments, the intermediate support post  502  may be hollow throughout. In other embodiments, the intermediate support post  502  may include only a bottom portion  602  which is hollow, thereby enabling an extension leg  604  to be inserted or removed therefrom. The bottom portion  602  may include a hole  606 , and the extension leg  604  may also include one or more holes  608  (three depicted) therethrough, thus enabling a means for securing the bottom portion to the extension leg at a desired height via the holes  606  and  608 . In other embodiments, the extension leg  604  may include a plurality of holes  608  at various heights, thus enabling a variety of corresponding height selections for the intermediate post  502 . 
         [0037]    In some embodiments, for example and without limitation, the means for securing the bottom portion  602  to the extension leg  604  at a desired height may include a lynch pin  610  and cotter pin  612 , similar to those previously described, wherein the lynch pin is arranged through the holes  606  and  608  of the bottom portion  602  and extension leg  604 , accordingly. 
         [0038]    In other embodiments, the extension leg  604  may include a base portion  614  which resists penetration into the ground, such as by including a larger surface area in contact with the ground, for example, via “j-style” configuration as known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0039]    In even further embodiments, the third pair of arms  506  and the fourth pair of arms  508  are hingedly coupled to the intermediate support post  502  via a securing mechanism, for example, a lynch pin  616  and cotter pin  618 . Advantageously, such a securing means enables axial movement of the arms  506  and  508 , for example, in the direction labeled A (or, alternatively, in a direction opposite of A) thereby enabling further arrangement of the fencing panel  500  to better conform with the terrain and prevent animal pass through. 
         [0040]    While inclusion of the extension leg  604  brings the benefits described above, gaps may still be left beneath the crossmembers (e.g. crossmembers  514  and  520 ) which a user may want to be fenced in. Briefly, referring back to  FIG. 5 , such gaps are illustrated at areas  526  and  528 . However, further embodiments of the fencing panel  500  may prevent such gaps  526 ,  528  by further including a third crossmember  530  coupled between one of the support posts (as depicted, the first support post  202 ) and the extension leg  604 . The third crossmember  530  includes a first end  532  and a second end  534 , each of which includes a hole therethrough. 
         [0041]    As depicted, the first end  532  of the third crossmember  530  is coupled to the lowest set of arms  212  of the first support post  202 . Such may be accomplished via similar means as previously discussed for coupling a crossmember to one of the support posts, for example, by employing a lynch pin and cotter pin ( FIG. 3 ). However, the second end  534  of the third crossmember  530  is not coupled to the intermediate support post  502 , but is coupled to the extension leg  604  via the hole in the second end  534  of the third crossmember  530  and one of the holes  608  in the extension leg. Such an embodiment greatly narrows the gap  526 , and thus reduces or precludes animals from passing therethrough. 
         [0042]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of an illustrative method  700  for assembling a fencing panel, according to one or more embodiments. At block  702 , the method  700  employs a means for coupling a crossmember to a support post to couple a first end of a first crossmember to a first support post via holes in a first pair of arms radially extending from the first support post and a hole in the first end of the first crossmember. At block  704 , the method  700  further employs the means for coupling a crossmember to a support post to couple a second end of the first crossmember to a second support post via holes in a second pair of arms radially extending from the second support post and a hole in the second end of the first crossmember. Advantageously, such a configuration enables the support posts to remain perpendicular while allowing enhanced contouring of crossmembers with the terrain. In some embodiments, for example and without limitation, the means for coupling a crossmember to a support post includes a lynch pin and cotter pin. 
         [0043]    In other embodiments, a means for securing together a plurality of fencing panels is additionally employed, the means being coupled to one of the support posts. For example, such a means may include a chain having a plurality of chain links, where one end of the chain is welded to one of the support posts. Advantageously, such would prevent loss of the chain. Moreover, such a method of welding is animal safe, as there are fewer (if any) sharp edges for an animal to cut themselves on. Even further, with the welded end acting as an anchor, the non-welded end may be wrapped around another fencing panel, and secured to the first fencing panel at a certain length via a means for securing together a plurality of fencing panels, such as interlocking a link of the chain within a groove of a chain securing mechanism coupled to the same support post as the chain. 
         [0044]    In further embodiments, an intermediate support post is included between the first and second support posts. The intermediate support post includes a third and fourth set of arms, the arms radially extending therefrom in opposite directions in some embodiments. Each arm of the third and fourth sets of arms includes one or more holes arranged therethrough, the holes of each arm for a pair of arms being arranged at substantially the same location or distance from the intermediate support post. 
         [0045]    In some embodiments that include the intermediate support post, the first crossmember is not coupled between the first and second support post, but is coupled between the first support post and the intermediate support post. Thus, the first end of the first crossmember is still coupled to the first support post via the first pair of arms, but the second end of the first crossmember is coupled to the intermediate support post via the holes in the third pair of arms of the intermediate support post and the holes in the second end of the first crossmember. Moreover, the means for coupling a crossmember to a support post may be employed to couple a first end of a second crossmember to the intermediate support post via holes in a fourth pair of arms and a hole in the first end of the second crossmember. Additionally, the means for coupling a crossmember to a support post may be employed to couple the second end of the second crossmember to the second post via the holds in the second pair of arms (of the second post) and a hole in the second end of the second crossmember. 
         [0046]    Advantageously, such a configuration may further enable the support posts of the panel to remain perpendicular, while allowing the crossmembers to better remain parallel with the terrain, thereby preventing gaps and animals from moving through such gaps. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while a single intermediate post is described above, further embodiments contemplated herein may include a plurality of intermediate posts arranged between the first and second support posts without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
         [0047]    Providing further flexibility and ability to contour to the terrain, further embodiments of the method  700  may include extending an extension leg from within a bottom portion of the intermediate support post towards the ground and employing a means for securing the bottom portion to the extension leg at a desired height via corresponding holes in the bottom portion and extension leg. Advantageously, such may provide support for all support posts, but the intermediate support post in particular, thereby reducing the stress on all portions of the fencing panel. 
         [0048]    Even further embodiments may include employing a second means for coupling the first crossmember to the first pair of arms and the third pair of arms, thereby substantially precluding hinged movement of the first crossmember, but still enabling hinged movement of the second crossmember. In other words, the portion of the fencing panel between the first support post and the intermediate support post would be essentially immobilized, however, the portion of the fencing panel between the intermediate support post and the second support post would continue to be hingedly movable. Such may advantageous to assist stability of the fencing panel on certain terrains. 
         [0049]    Although the disclosure has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary objects thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes, omissions, and additions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. Moreover, the articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that it introduces. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted.