Abstract:
The fence provides for a plurality of wires that are twisted together in pairs at a plurality of spaced elongated windings and spread to form openings. The spaced elongated windings lie in spaced parallel lines extending longitudinally in the mesh fence. The fence also includes a plurality of spaced apart parallel wires, wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart parallel wires extend through the spaced elongated windings lying in a line. Ones of the plurality of spaced apart parallel wires are conductive wires that are coupled to a connector to supply electricity to at least one electrical device.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/010,913, filed on Jan. 11, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This disclosure relates to fencing for residential and commercial use to support low and high voltage electrical devices. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Traditionally, fences that are used for wildlife abatement have been chain-link fences, welded/woven wire fences, or wooden fences. While these fences may be effective to varying degrees to prevent the encroachment of wildlife, they can also limit visibility and/or interfere with aesthetic vistas. There is a benefit to keeping unwanted wildlife outside of a yard, while still maintaining visibility beyond the yard. In addition to being a physical barrier for animals, fences must also be used for residential and commercial use to maintain compliance with safety codes and regulations. In both the residential and commercial setting, around pools, for example, fences are required equipment. 
         [0006]    Additionally, fences are often located at regions where surveillance and/or lighting may be desired, such as airports or other site-sensitive locations, residential properties, along a traveled thoroughfare or near public parks. In these often remote locations, powering electrical equipment is often difficult and/or expensive. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, there is a need for a fence that has the durability to abate or control wildlife, yet not restrict visibility, while providing a single platform from which electrical appliances may be used for additional uses such as surveillance, safety and/or lighting. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present disclosure provides for a fence having a hexagonal twist mesh configuration that is capable of supporting both low and high voltage electrical devices. 
         [0009]    The present disclosure also provides for a fence having a hexagonal twist mesh configuration that has conductive wires extending therethrough to support electrical applications. 
         [0010]    The present disclosure further provides for a fence having a hexagonal twist mesh configuration that has steel wires running therethrough in a horizontal orientation to provide stability and support. 
         [0011]    The present disclosure yet further provides for a fence having a hexagonal twist mesh configuration that has conductive wires and steel wires therethrough. 
         [0012]    The present disclosure still yet further provides for a fence having a hexagonal twist mesh configuration that after installation is almost invisible to the eye from several feet away and therefore does not impede viewing of the landscape. 
         [0013]    The present disclosure yet further provides for a fence having a hexagonal twist mesh configuration in which the steel and conductive wires extend through the horizontal wound ends of each hexagonal member in an unwound configuration. 
         [0014]    The present disclosure still yet further provides for a fence having a hexagonal twist mesh configuration that supports plumbing for plant irrigation. 
         [0015]    The present disclosure yet still further provides for twist mesh hexagonal fencing for residential and commercial uses that incorporates reinforcement and conductive wires to provide a single platform for electrical appliances that may be used for wildlife abatement, site-sensitive security, swimming pool security and audio and video equipment. 
         [0016]    The fence provides for a plurality of wires that are twisted together in pairs at a plurality of spaced elongated windings and spread to form openings. The spaced elongated windings lying in spaced parallel lines extending longitudinally in the mesh fence. The fence also includes a plurality of spaced apart parallel wires, wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart parallel wires extend through the spaced elongated windings lying in a line. Ones of the plurality of spaced apart parallel wires are conductive wires that are coupled to a connector to power at least one electrical device. 
         [0017]    A mesh fence having a plurality of wires twisted together in pairs at a plurality of spaced elongated windings and being spread between each of the plurality of spaced elongated windings to form openings. The spaced elongated windings lying in spaced parallel lines extending longitudinally in the mesh fence. A plurality of spaced apart parallel elongate members, the extends through ones of the plurality of spaced elongated windings lying in a line. Ones of the plurality of spaced apart parallel elongate members being capable of transmitting electricity to at least one electrical device or being capable of providing irrigation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    Other and further benefits, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements of structure and: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates a portion of a hexagonal fence according to the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of a hexagonal fence according to a second configuration of the present invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates a fence according to the present invention having wiring, tubing and connectors. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Referring to the drawings and in particular to  FIG. 1 , a portion of the fence according to the present invention is shown and generally referenced by reference numeral  10 . Fence  10  contains a plurality of adjacent wires  19  that are twisted or wound together at elongated windings  20  and  25  and spread or spaced. Elongated windings  20  and  25  lie in a spaced parallel relationship and extend longitudinally along fence  10  to form a mesh. A plurality of adjacent wires  19  includes individual wires  21 ,  22 ,  23  and  24 . For example, wires  22  and  23  are wound at elongated winding  20  and spread apart to be wound with adjacent wires  21  and  24 , respectively. Wires  22  and  23  may again be wound at elongated winding  25  to form a hexagonal shape therebetween. Alternatively, wires  22  and  23  may each be wound with a different wire after being wound at elongated winding  20 . Plurality of wires  19  are spread and wound with an adjacent wire to form a plurality of hexagonal shaped members  15  that interconnect to form mesh fence  10 . This hexagonal configuration provides substantial flexibility to fence  10 . 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 1 , each hexagonal shaped member  15  has a wire extending therethrough. Wires are steel wires  30  or conductive wires  35  or other cabling/tubing discussed below. Significantly, wires  30 , 35  remain straight through each hexagonal member  15 , and windings  20  and  25  during the winding process. When fence  10  is formed, steel wires  30  and conductive wires  35  remain straight and under tension, as plurality of wires  19  that form each hexagonal shaped member  15  are wound or twisted around wires  30  and  35 , thereby minimizing stress on wires  30  and  35 . Wires  30  and  35  are secured to supports  36  at edges of fence  10  to maintain tension in wires  30  and  35 . While  FIG. 1  shows a single vertical support  36 , it should be understood that the opposite side of fence  10  is supported by a second support to which wires  19 ,  30  and  35  are connected. 
         [0024]    Further, by being secured within the fence in a non-wound configuration, the non-wound conductive wires  35  and steel wires  30  are not subject to the stress of being wound with the other mesh wires. Were wires  30  and  35  wound as wires  19 , the potential for electrical failure would damage the integrity of fences  50  or  60 . The straight configuration of wires  30  and  35  provides necessary reliability to the fence  10 . 
         [0025]    Operatively associated with wires  35  are one or a plurality of connectors  40 . Connectors  40  permit appliances or devices to be connected to conductive wires  35 . Fence  10  is includes a coupling for connection to a locally supplied power source that would also supply power to a residence, for example. In this way, fence  10  serves as a platform to enable power to be provided to appliances that are connected thereto. When electrical appliances are connected to the one the plurality of connectors  40 , fence  10  serves as a single platform to provide multiple power to a wide range of appliances that can be powered by low voltage conductive wires, for example. Connectors  40  associated with mesh fence  10  allow 12 volt or 24 volt connections for the lighting, cameras, speakers, controllers and sensors to provide remote access to power sources that had previously not been available with such fencing. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , conductive wires  35 , preferably copper, have a parallel horizontal configuration. While copper is preferable, other metals that offer the same conductive ability could also be used for conductive wires  35 . Conductive wires  35  are preferably pre-coated with an insulating material prior to incorporation into mesh fence  10 . The steel wires  30  provide support and stability to hexagonal fence  50  and prevent elongation. 
         [0027]    Further, the wires  30  can be of any desired gauge based upon the required strength of the fence. The hexagonal twist mesh configuration, steel wires  30  and conductive wires  35  are all coated with a thermoplastic polymer, such as, for example, black polyvinylchloride (PVC) to minimize visibility, enhance flexibility and increase both durability and longevity. Conductive wires  35  of the instant invention are preferably low voltage wires that can be used to power electrical appliances of many types. 
         [0028]    While the  FIG. 1  shows eight conductive wires  35  paralleled by two heavier gauge steel wires  30 , any configuration of wires  30 ,  35  can be used to achieve the user&#39;s needs. For example, in  FIG. 2 , according to an alternative configuration of the present invention, fence  60  has two steel wires  30  that parallel six conductive wires  35 . Steel wires  30  are spaced more frequently across fence  60  to provide added stability and strength. Conductive wires  35  cannot be used for support; therefore, a fence with more steel wires  30  per a number of conductive wires  35  is stronger than a fence with fewer steel wires per the same number of conductive wires. Additionally, steel wires  30  relieve any stress that may be imparted to conductive wires  35  to ensure fence reliability and longevity. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there are three types of elongated windings in fence  60 . Elongated windings  70  include mesh wires  65  that form the hexagonal mesh of fence  60 . Elongated windings  75  include mesh wires  65  that are wound around conductive wires  35 . Elongated windings  80  include mesh wires  65  that are wound around steel wires  30 . Mesh wires  65  would also be wound around tubing for irrigation tubing and any cables for lighting, camera and surveillance equipment. Similar, to the configuration of  FIG. 1 , wires  35  are powered by an appropriate power source have connectors to serve as a platform and power electrical outdoor appliances such as lighting, cameras and surveillance equipment, such as alarms, sensors or motion detectors. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a fence  50  using different parallel wires  55  and tubing  54 , collectively called elongated members, are used to power audio and video equipment, such as speakers, cameras and video surveillance equipment and irrigation equipment. Fence  50  has a similar mesh configuration as fences  10  and  60  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively. Intercom communications, paging systems and intruder messaging systems can also be connected to fence  50  with the appropriate cabling. Wires  55  can be 12 volt wires, 24 volt wires, 110 volt wires, coaxial or cable wires. Thus the present invention has applicability for wires and/or cables that are capable providing power to many different devices. In additional to providing a platform for electrical applications/appliances, the hexagonal fence could also be a platform for tubing for irrigation using irrigation tubing  54 . By using irrigation tubing  54 , such as, for example, cross-linked polyethylene tubing of various diameters, drip irrigation and/or sprinkler systems, can be incorporated into mesh  18 . The tubing  54  can be activated with timers and integrated into the upper or lower course of the mesh cabling. Tubing  54  has ports that are coupled to water sources to provide water for irrigation purposes. 
         [0031]    Fence  50  merges electrical/irrigation capability using wires, cabling and or tubing, that are integrated into hexagonal mesh fencing. Operatively associated with wires  55  are one or a plurality of connectors  40 . When electrical appliances are connected to the one the plurality of connectors  40 , fence  10  serves as a single platform to provide multiple power to a wide range of appliances that can be powered by low voltage wires. Connectors  40  on the hexagonal fencing allow 12 volt or 24 volt connections for the lighting, cameras, speakers, controllers and sensors to provide remote access to power sources that had previously not been available with such fencing. Similar to fences  10  and  50  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively, a power source is also coupled to fence  50  to permit service as a platform for electronic devices. 
         [0032]    Fence  50  of the present disclosure has residential and commercial application. Fence  50  can be used wherever there is a need to secure a boundary or to prevent entry into a property. In the residential setting, hexagonal twist mesh fences are desirable for wildlife abatement and help eliminate safety concerns at a boundary that may contain a pool or other similar structure or sensitive area. 
         [0033]    Further, fence  50  can stretch and contort in ways that other fences are not able to because of the hexagonal mesh configuration. Hexagonal shaped members  15  make fence  50  inherently flexible and prone to elongation under tension. Accordingly, fence  50  can sustain a degree of damage, without causing an actual breach in the mesh, potentially compromising the protected area. Additionally, the flexible configuration of fence  50  permits a secure interface with the ground so that gaps between the fence and the ground can be eliminated. Even where there is moderate to severe undulation in the terrain, complete installation capability is achieved by the fence because of its flexibility. 
         [0034]    Additionally, the black PVC coating makes the fence ideal for a residential setting such as near a pool because the fence does not diminish the view or block out views of trees and shrubbery. The camouflaged fence allows the feeling of openness but does not allow access. The fence becomes essentially invisible to the eye at a close distance. Even through a user may want to secure a perimeter, visibility beyond the perimeter is still desirable and possible. 
         [0035]    Further, conductive wires  35  and  55  that are integral to the hexagonal mesh fence  50  have particular applicability to the residential environment. The ability to provide video, lighting, surveillance, or motion sensor capability at remote locations from the residence is very valuable and convenient. In particular, around pools the fence of the present disclosure offers the appropriate strength and security by providing a single platform for motion sensors for monitoring the deck and water. Such sensors are required by many state laws. In the commercial setting, the same benefits are also provided by the embedded conductive wires. 
         [0036]    The present disclosure having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the disclosure.