Abstract:
The present invention provides a fence system for homes, buildings and the like. The fence system according to the instant invention includes panels constructed and arranged to be pivoted between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation. When connected to permanently mounted posts in a vertical orientation, the fence panels may be utilized for privacy and/or security. Pivoting the panels to horizontal position during storms, such as hurricanes, reduces or eliminates the damage caused to the fence by high winds and/or wind-borne debris.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to fencing. More specifically, to a fencing system that includes fence panels constructed and arranged to be pivoted to a horizontal position to prevent fencing damage from high winds and flying debris. 
       PRIOR ART BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The United States has experienced over 60 weather-related disasters in the past 25 years, each of which has caused in excess of $1 billion in damages. Together, these disasters have caused in excess of $350 billion in damage. 
         [0003]    Population growth along the coastline of the United States has resulted in an increased risk to life and property from hurricane related damage. There are approximately 153 million residents that live in coastal counties of the United States, with areas such as Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas, where hurricanes frequently strike, experiencing rapid population growth. In addition, many coastal areas experience substantial but temporary population increases from holiday, weekend, and vacation visitors during hurricane season. 
         [0004]    Homes, buildings, fences and other permanent structures often suffer substantial damage when windborne debris and storm generated winds overload the capacity of the structure. 
         [0005]    Fences are often erected in congested areas to provide privacy and safety to the homeowner. In fact, many coastal areas have laws requiring fences to be built around swimming pools or yards that contain swimming pools to reduce pool related accidents. These fences are often constructed of wood, plastic, aluminum, steel or other structural material at great expense to the homeowner. The fences generally include a plurality of vertically oriented posts anchored within the ground and fence panels permanently affixed to and extending between the vertical posts. Due to the permanent and structural nature of fences, they are often damaged or destroyed by the strong winds generated in coastal storms. 
         [0006]    Removal and storage of the fence panels before a storm is generally impractical. Most fences are not constructed to allow for disassembly without destroying the fence panels. Even if the panels could be removed, storage of the panels would be difficult and would consume a significant portion of the available storage space. In addition, the inherent weight of the fence panels would require a support structure to prevent the panels from tipping or falling while stored. Still yet, due to the congested population of coastal areas, many families live in condominiums or apartments. Most of these dwellings do not have a garage or other space which could be dedicated to fence panel storage. 
         [0007]    Prior art fencing examples include, Itri et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,262, discloses a portable expandable barrier which comprises a pair of fences slideably interconnected and releasably held in a desired orientation by locking means such as lock set cylinders. Nicholls, U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,076, discloses a fence structure including a barrier and elongated fence posts. The fence posts include T-shaped slots in which end portions of the fence sections are received prior to final assembly of the posts. In general these fences are constructed as permanent structures. Thus, removal of the panels to minimize storm related damage to the fence would require complete disassembly of the fence structure. 
         [0008]    Therefore, what is needed in the art is a fence system that allows the fence panels to be pivoted to a substantially horizontal position during a storm which produces high winds. The fence system should provide brackets that are constructed for easy installation on pre-existing as well as new fencing. The construction of the upper retainer brackets should allow detachment of the upper portion of the fence panels from the posts while the lower brackets should be hinged so that the fence panels can be pivoted for securement to the ground in a substantially horizontal orientation. Stakes should be provided to secure the fence panels to a ground surface in their horizontal orientation. After the storm, the panels should be re-engagable to the posts in the vertical orientation to provide privacy and security. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides a fence system for homes, buildings and the like. The fence system according to the instant invention includes panels constructed and arranged to be pivoted between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation. When connected to permanently mounted posts in a vertical orientation, the fence panels may be utilized for privacy and/or security. Pivoting the panels to horizontal position during storms, such as hurricanes, reduces or eliminates the damage caused to the fence by high winds and/or windborne debris. The panels include hinged brackets mounted on the lower portions thereof which allow the panels to be pivoted between the two positions. Removable retainer brackets are secured to the mid and upper portions of the panels and the fence posts to maintain the panels in a vertical orientation. Removal of the retainer brackets permits pivoting the panels between the two positions. Hold-down assemblies are provided which cooperate with the ground surface and the panels to hold the panels in the horizontal position for storms. The hold-down assemblies prevent the panels from lifting during high wind situations. This construction permits the panels to be secured either in a vertical position with respect to the posts or in a horizontal position for protecting the fence from high winds and/or wind-borne debris. 
         [0010]    Therefore, it is an objective of this invention to provide a high wind fence system. 
         [0011]    It is another objective of the instant invention to provide a fence system capable of providing privacy as well as reduce or eliminate damage caused to the fence from high winds. 
         [0012]    It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide a fence system which includes panels adapted to pivot for protection against high winds and wind-borne debris. 
         [0013]    It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide a fence having panels that are constructed and arranged for pivotal movement between a vertical position for privacy and a horizontal position for protection against high winds and wind-borne debris. 
         [0014]    A still further objective of the instant invention is to provide a hinged bracket assembly and a retainer bracket member that can be used to convert a pre-existing fence into a hurricane fence. 
         [0015]    Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    While the novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims, the invention, both as to organization and content, will be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front view, illustrating one embodiment of the instant invention wherein the fence panels are illustrated in a vertical orientation; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating one embodiment of the instant invention wherein the fence panels are illustrated in a horizontal orientation; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a partial side view illustrating a lower hinged bracket assembly which may be utilized to pivot the fence panels between a vertical and a horizontal position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a partial side view illustrating a retainer bracket which may be utilized to secure a fence panel to a post in a vertical orientation; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a hinged bracket assembly; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a hinged bracket assembly for securement to two stringers; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a retainer bracket of the instant invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a side view of a hold-down member of the instant invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the hold-down member of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
         [0027]    Referring to the  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a hurricane fence system  10  is illustrated. The hurricane fence system includes permanently mounted posts  14  and at least one panel  12  that is constructed and arranged to be pivoted between a vertical orientation for privacy and a horizontal orientation for storm protection.  FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the fence system  10 . The fence includes at least two spaced apart substantially vertical posts  14 . The posts having an upper portion  16  and a lower portion  18 , the lower portion is constructed and arranged to be secured to or within a ground surface  20 . The lower portion of the posts may be secured to the ground surface by any method well known in the art which may include, but should not be limited to, burying a portion of the post, setting a portion of the post in concrete, using fasteners or brackets to secure the post to a hard surface, weldment or any suitable combination thereof. 
         [0028]    The panel  12  includes a lower stringer  22 , an upper stringer  34  and a middle stringer  36 , each having sufficient length to extend between a first end  30  and a second end  32  of the panel. A plurality of substantially vertical members  38  are secured to the stringers to provide privacy and/or security. In the preferred embodiment, the stringers and the vertical members are constructed of wood. However, it should be noted that the stringers and/or the vertical members may be constructed of any material suitable for use as fencing, such materials may include, but should not be limited to metal, plastic, concrete and suitable combinations thereof. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 - 6 , secured to the lower portion of each post are hinged bracket assemblies  24 . The hinged bracket assemblies are generally constructed and arranged to cooperate with a post  14  and a lower stringer member  22 . The hinged bracket assembly includes a base  26 , a body  28 , and a hinge  30 . The base  26  includes a plurality of apertures  32  sized to accept fasteners for securing the base to a post  14 . The body is generally U-shaped to include two legs  34 , the legs are spaced and sized to extend substantially around the sides of the lowermost panel stringer  22 . The body  28  is suitable secured to the hinge to be pivotable about the hinge  30  for movement between a vertical position and a horizontal position. The hinged bracket assemblies  24  may be secured to the posts and the stringers by any suitable means well known in the art, which may include but should not be limited to, fasteners, adhesive, weldment, cast in place or any suitable combination thereof.  FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of the hinged bracket wherein the body  28  is formed wide enough to cooperate with stringers of two adjacently positioned panels.  FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the hinged bracket wherein the base includes an integral side support  27 . The side support provides additional weight capacity and resistance to high winds. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 ,  4  and  7 , the retainer members  40  are generally constructed and arranged to cooperate with the stringer members and the posts to selectively retain the fence panel  12  in a vertical orientation. The retainer members include a generally U-shaped body  42  with two tabs  44  extending perpendicularly from the ends of the upstanding legs  46 . In this manner the retainer body can substantially enclose the stringer to cause a reliable securement of the panel. The tabs include elongated apertures  48  sized for cooperation with studs  50 . Wing nuts  52  are sized to cooperate with the studs  50  for removable interlocking engagement. It should be noted that fasteners other than the stud and wing nut combination can be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention. Such fasteners may include, but should not be limited to, bolts, screws, bayonet type fasteners, magnets and suitable combinations thereof. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the hold-down assembly  60  is illustrated. The hold-down assembly is generally constructed and arranged to cooperate with at least one and preferably two panels  12  oriented horizontally to substantially prevent the panels from lifting during high winds. The hold-down assembly includes at least one stake member  62 , a connector member  64  and a lateral member  66 . The stake member(s)  62  include notches or barbs  68  which cooperate with the ground  20  to prevent unwanted lifting of the hold-down assembly during use. The connector member is utilized to connect the upper portions of any number of stake members together so that they may be inserted or withdrawn from the ground as a single unit. The lateral member  66  is connected to the connector member or directly to the stake member to extend outwardly therefrom in at least one direction for engaging the panel assemblies  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the hold-down assembly is constructed from metal however, it should be noted that other materials suitable for securing a panel to a ground surface may be used without departing from the scope of the invention such materials may include, but should not be limited to, plastic, wood or suitable combination thereof. 
         [0032]    Referring to the  FIG. 2 , the panel is tilted to the horizontal orientation by removing the wing nuts  52  from the studs  50 . Thereafter, the retainer brackets are removed allowing the panel  12  to be rotated into a horizontal orientation. A hold-down assembly  60  may then be driven into the ground surface  20  between the distal ends of adjacent panels until the lateral member  66  contacts the panels to hold the panels in the horizontal orientation. The retainer members may be placed over the studs and the wing nuts utilized to store the retainer members on the posts. Moving the panels back to a vertical orientation requires the hold-down assembly to be pulled from the ground. The panels are moved manually back to the vertical position, whereby the stringers contact the posts. The retainer members are then placed around the stringers and over the studs. The wing nuts can then be replaced onto the studs and tightened to retain the panel in the vertical orientation. 
         [0033]    All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
         [0034]    It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein. 
         [0035]    One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.