Abstract:
A fence splice cover assembly includes a first cover portion and a second cover portion that, when assembled, enclose a portion of fence that has been joined by a plurality of splices. A fastener is used to connect the first cover portion to the second cover portion. The first and/or second cover portions can include channels configured to receive the fence portion joined by the plurality of splices. The first and second cover portions can be identical and situated in a mirror image location when assembled.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims all available benefits from provisional application Ser. No. 60/978,457 filed Oct. 9, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    Fences are commonly used to confine livestock, such as farm animals, steers, and thoroughbred race horses. Fences may vary greatly in both structure and materials used in their construction. Fence structures which are commonly available include those made of wire, (barbed wire, chain link, etc.), and wood (picket, split rail, etc.). 
         [0003]    The materials used to construct a particular fence are often selected on the basis of initial costs, upkeep cost, durability, strength, aesthetic characteristics and animal safety requirements. The most commonly used materials include metal and/or wood. While concrete and stone are readily available, the cost is often prohibitive. 
         [0004]    The most commonly used fencing material for livestock has been barbed wire. This is due to the low cost of installation and maintenance that such material presents. However, barbed wire can cause painful and unsightly injury to valuable livestock. Also, such material is difficult for the animal to detect and, all too often, the animal is injured during contact with this unseen barrier. Other materials, such as web wire fencing and cyclone wire fencing suffer from similar limitations. In addition, they tend to be expensive to install and maintain and, over time, can also operate to injure livestock. 
         [0005]    Wood fences, on the other hand, while expensive to install and maintain, generally do not operate to injure livestock. Wood fences also offer a pleasing and aesthetic appearance. 
         [0006]    In order to solve the difficulties presented by commonly available wire and wood fences, a fencing system using high tensile wire jacketed by polymer or vinyl coating has been developed. This type of fencing is typified by that illustrated in FIG. 8 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,942, as well as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,465,263; 4,860,996 and 6,834,846. The text and figures of these patents are incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein. 
         [0007]    Another method and apparatus for forming a fence line system comprised of a plurality of fence post members that are disposed in an array so as to enclose or divide a given area of land is typified by that illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,429, which is herein incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein. 
         [0008]    While the system of jacketed high tensile wire presents a satisfactory solution to the above-mentioned problems, there is a need for an improved splice system which is relatively inexpensive, durable, strong, safe for physical contact with livestock, and ultimately easy to install. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]    In one embodiment, the fence splice cover assembly includes a first cover portion and a second cover portion that, when assembled, enclose a portion of fence that has been joined by a plurality of splices. A fastener is used to connect the first cover portion to the second cover portion. In some embodiments, the first cover portion can include channels configured to receive the fence portion joined by a plurality of splices. In other embodiments, both the first and second cover portions can include channel to receive the fence portion. 
         [0010]    In order to ease installation, some embodiments of the fence splice cover assembly can include a hinge that couples the first and second cover portion. Still, in other embodiments, the first and second cover portions can be interchangeable such that only one part need be manufactured. While various materials can be used to form the splice cover assembly, at least one embodiment is formed from extruded vinyl. 
         [0011]    In an alternative embodiment, the fence splice cover assembly can include a first cover portion having a plurality of channels. Each respective channel can include a cavity to receive a coupling mechanism operably coupling a first tensioning member and a second tensioning member of a fence that is coupled by a metal splice. In addition, the fence splice cover assembly can further include a second cover portion including a plurality of channels, each channel also including a cavity to receive the coupling mechanism operably coupling the first tensioning member and the second tensioning member and constructed to receive a portion of the first tensioning member and the second tensioning member. Moreover, the respective cavity of the first cover portion and the respective cavity of the second cover portion can be configured to engage the respective coupling mechanism so as to lock the fence splice cover in place relative to the splice position in the fence. 
         [0012]    In yet another embodiment, the respective cover portions can further include a fastener mechanism to fasten the respective covers together. In still another embodiment, the first cover can further include a connection hole configured to receive an engaging protrusion and the second cover has an engaging protrusion configured to lock the engaging protrusion into the connection hole. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0013]    These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the presently described embodiments while taken together with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the improved splice cover assembly in relation to a polymer coated fence that is spliced together. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an improved spliced cover assembly attached and installed over two sections of polymer coated fencing that are spliced together. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a fence portion  2  comprising a first fence section  10  and second fence section  12  that is joined by connection  14 . In a first embodiment, the first and second fence sections  10 , 12 , are polymer-coated fence. The first fence section  10  includes a plurality of tensioning members  16 A,  16 B, and  16 C that are positioned approximately parallel to each other and covered in a polymer-coated material to provide protection to the respective tension members. Tensioning member  16 A is coupled to tensioning member  16 B by polymer sheet  18 A. Tensioning member  16 B is coupled to tensioning member  16 C by polymer sheet  18 B. Similarly, second fence section  12  includes a plurality of tensioning members  20 A,  20 B, and  20 C that are also positioned approximately parallel relative to each other and covered in a polymer-coated material. Tensioning member  20 A is coupled to tensioning member  20 B by polymer sheet  22 A. Tensioning member  20 B is coupled to tensioning member  20 C by polymer sheet  22 B. 
         [0017]    Connection  14  is formed by coupling the respective tensioning member  16 A,  16 B, and  16 C of first fence section  10  to respective tensioning member  20 A,  20 B, and  20 C of second fence section  12  using respective coupling mechanisms  24 A,  24 B, and  24 C. By way of a non-limiting example illustration, coupling mechanisms  24 A,  24 B, and  24 C are metal splices that mechanically couple the respective tensioning members to one another. However, it will be understood that other fastening hardware or coupling methods can be employed to couple the respective first and section fence sections  10 , 12 . 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , with continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , to provide added protection to the connection  14  and prevent potential injury to animals that brush against connection  14 , it is desirable to provide a splice cover assembly  26  to prevent animals from coming in contact with the respective coupling mechanism  24 A,  24 B, and  24 C. In addition, the splice cover assembly  26  has the added benefit of minimizing exposure of the tensioning members and coupling mechanisms to weather. Splice cover assemble  26  includes a first housing portion  32  and second housing portion  34  that, when joined, form a splice receiving channel  28 . Splice receiving channel  28  receives first fence section  10  and second fence section  12  and, as described below, accommodates the respective coupling mechanisms  24 A,  24 B, and  24 C (not shown). Dimensionally, splice channel  28  is sufficiently wide to accommodate the maximum thickness of the polymer sheet of the respective fence sections  10  and  12 . 
         [0019]    As further shown in  FIG. 1 , splice cover assembly  26  includes a first housing portion  32  and a second housing portion  34 . First housing portion  32  has respective receiving channels  36 A,  36 B, and  36 C that are each approximately parallel to one another. Second housing portion  34  has respective receiving channels  38 A,  38 B, and  38 C (not shown) that are each approximately parallel to one another. Each respective corresponding receiving channel  34 A,  34 B,  34 C includes splice receiving portions  40 A,  40 B and  40 C. Similarly, receiving channels  38 A,  38 B, and  38 C have corresponding splice receiving portions  42 A,  42 B and  42 C (not shown). 
         [0020]    When the respective first and second housing portion  32 ,  34  are assembled to form splice cover assembly  26 , respective receiving channels  36 A and  38 A form a channel to accommodate tensioning members  20 A. Splice receiving portions  40 A and  42 A form a pocket or cavity of sufficient size and dimension to accommodate coupling mechanism  24 A. Similarly, respective channels  36 B and  36 C and  36 C and  38 C form channels to accommodate respective tensioning members  20 B and  20 C and coupling mechanisms  24 B and  24 C. 
         [0021]    First housing portion  32  further includes four fastener receiving holes  50 A,  50 B,  50 C and  50 D to receive a suitable fastener. Second housing portion  34  further includes four corresponding fastener receiving holes  52 A,  52 B,  52 C and  52 D to receive a suitable fastener mating device. It will be understood that a fastener may be a screw, bolt, clamp, hook, rivet, snap rivet, CHRISTMAS TREE™ Clips, retention clip, STALOK™ fastener, CANOE® clips, or other securing means. Alternatively, an adhesive, epoxy, weld or other attaching technique may be used to couple first housing portion  32  and second housing portion  34  to form splice cover assembly  26 . In yet another alternative, a retainer or retention mechanism can be directly molded into the respective housing portions. Illustrative, in some embodiments, the first house cover may have an engaging protrusion that engages a corresponding connecting hole located on the second house cover. In some embodiments, the engaging protrusion may further include an engagingly locking mechanism that holds the engaging protrusion in the corresponding connecting hole. 
         [0022]    As further shown in  FIG. 1 , fastener receiving holes  52 A,  52 B,  52 C and  52 D receive respective screws  54 A,  54 B,  54 C, and  54 D. Corresponding fastener receiving holes  50 A,  50 B,  50 C and  50 D receive respective nuts  56 A,  56 B,  56 C (not shown), and  56 D to receive the respective screws  54 A,  54 B,  54 C, and  54 D. It will be understood that the first and second housing portions,  32 ,  34 , may be formed to be symmetric and interchangeable. As a result, only a single type of housing portion is manufactured to go into the splice cover assembly kit. In addition, the four fastener receiving holes  50 A,  50 B,  50 C, and  50 D, as well as corresponding fastener receiving holes  52 A,  52 B,  52 C, and  52 D, may include a countersinking feature or other mechanical relief to allow a fastener to be recessed such that the fastener would not protrude substantially beyond the surface of the respective first and second housing portions  32 ,  34  when the slice cover assembly  26  is assembled. 
         [0023]    As further shown in  FIG. 2 , the final assembly encloses connection  14  to provide a smooth exterior cover. Moreover, the respective splice receiving portions  38  A and  40 A,  38 B and  40 B, and  38 C and  40 C respectively form pockets that engage the corresponding coupling mechanisms  24 A,  24 B and  24 C to hold the splice cover assembly  26  in place with respect to first fence section  10 , second fence section  12  and connection  14 . 
         [0024]    In other embodiments, the first and second housing portions may include a hinge along a non-splice receiving channel edge that couples the first and second housing portions along one edge to allow a single piece design to fold over to enclose connection  14 . In still other embodiments, the splice cover assembly includes a first cover having channels for receiving the respective tensioning members, coupling mechanisms and polymer sheets, wherein the second cover is approximately flat. 
         [0025]    In additional embodiments, the splice cover is a polymer material. In still other embodiments the splice cover is a plastic composite material. In yet other embodiments the splice cover includes an extruded vinyl portion. In yet other embodiments the splice cover is metallic. 
         [0026]    While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.