Abstract:
A modular landscaping and gardening fence system having a plurality of panels which fasten together by a rod which also serves to stake the fence into the ground, is disclosed. The panels include first and second edges with alternating hooked and open sections such that the two opposing edges of separate panels may be joined together via a rod. The fence system may be readily erected, altered and removed. The fence system may be easily expanded or contracted by changing the number of panels used.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the Nov. 18, 2009 filing priority of Provisional Application No. 61/262,413, titled “Modular Fence System” and hereby incorporates the same by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present device relates to a fence system for use in protecting gardens, young saplings trees, and the like. Specifically, the device relates to a modular fence system for use in assorted landscaping projects. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In today&#39;s growing “green” movement, gardening of all kinds and tree planting have become popular occurrences in rural, suburban and even urban communities. Gardens are known to be expensive to maintain due not only to the cost of plants but also due to the need for upkeep and protection. Likewise, newly planted trees can be quickly and easily destroyed if not well-protected early on. One challenge that gardeners and tree-growers have faced is preventing animals from damaging their plants. In particular, gnawing and chewing animals such as rabbits are known to cause substantial damage to gardens by infiltrating the gardens and eating the plants. 
         [0004]    Fencing off gardens and tree growing areas is a well-known deterrent and fences are often erected in an attempt to discourage or prevent animals from entering a garden or getting close to a tree-sapling. However, many fences can be difficult to install, particularly for those with little or no experience in fence building, because of special skills and physical strength which may be required to build them. Also, fence building is time consuming, and in many cases may require expensive, specialized tools. Moreover, many fences require gates to be installed in the fence, which requires moving parts and additional skill to install. Traditional fences also are permanent, so that they may be hard to work around during yard work, such as mowing a lawn or tilling a garden. 
         [0005]    Wire fencing has been used to prevent animals from infiltrating yard areas, but the fencing comes in heavy rolls which can be difficult to handle and the assembly of which very often requires several special posts to be driven into the ground for attachment of the resilient fencing to retain a desired shape. Other known wire fencing can be flimsy, easily damaged, and may be limited for use over only one growing season. 
         [0006]    The present invention overcomes these and many other disadvantages of previous fences and fencing devices. The present system provides a fencing assembly which is easy to construct, effective against many gnawing and chewing garden pests, inexpensive and readily adjustable to surround any size and shape area needed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    There is disclosed herein an improved modular fence system which avoids the disadvantages of prior devices while affording additional structural and operating advantages. 
         [0008]    Generally speaking, the present fence system comprises a plurality of panels having first and second edges, the first and second edges including alternating hooked sections and open sections, the hooked sections and open sections being offset between the first and second edges such that the hook sections of the first edge align with the open sections of the second edge and vice versa, and a post for engaging the hook sections and connecting a first edge of a first panel with a second edge of another panel. The system is configured such that a post connecting two panels by the hooked sections forms a hinge joint between the two panels. 
         [0009]    It is an aspect of an embodiment of the invention wherein the plurality of panels are comprised of a plurality of crisscrossing metal wires or a plurality of crisscrossing plastic wires. Preferably, in other embodiments the hooked sections are extensions of the crisscrossing wires. Further, each hooked section comprises at least four extending wires wherein at least two wires are curved in a first direction and at least two wires are curved in a second direction opposite the first direction to form a retaining hinge. 
         [0010]    These and other aspects of the invention may be understood more readily from the following description and the appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a partial front view of an embodiment of a panel in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a partial front view of an embodiment of the present system showing two panels connected by a post; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present modular fencing system erected in a three-sided configuration; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present modular fencing system erected in a six panel per side square configuration; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment showing a partial panel in a curved configuration; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment showing a partial panel bent to form an angle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the attachments and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to embodiments illustrated. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , there is illustrated multiple embodiments of a modular fence system, generally designated by the numeral  10 . The fence system  10  is described herein as usable for the purpose of protecting plants from pests such as rabbits and the like. While shown in a limited number of sizes, it should be understood that the present fence system  10  can be designed in almost an unlimited number of size choices, as will be more clearly described below. 
         [0020]    The fence system  10  is comprised of a plurality of wire panels  12  connected one to another by a post  14 . The post  14  is preferably hooked  22  at one end with a pointed, flat tip  24  or other type of edge at an opposite end for inserting into the soil. The post  14  is shown as a thin, solid metal rod, but may be a hollow tube and the post  14  may be constructed from any number of materials, including plastics, alloys, composite material, or the like. The post  14  should have a length, measured from the top of the hooked end to the tip, greater than the height of the panels  12  for which it is to be used. The increased length of the post  14  is to allow for a determined extent to be inserted into the ground for securing of the fencing system  10 . 
         [0021]    Each panel  12  of the system  10  is comprised of thin, metal wires preferably woven in a manner to achieve a substantially rigid, yet bendable panel surface. The panels  12  include a first side edge  32  and a second side edge  34 . Each edge  32  and  34  includes alternating hooked sections  16  and open sections  18  to create a crenellated appearance. The hooked sections  16  and open sections  18  are preferably offset between the first and second edges so as to align one with the other when a first side edge  32  is abutted with a second side edge  34 . This configuration allows the two opposing edges of different panels—i.e., a first edge of one panel and a second edge of another panel—to align all the hooked sections  16  to all the open sections  18 . 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , each hooked section  16  includes a plurality of wire extensions  20 , four are shown with short cross-wires, the ends of which are formed to accept the insertion of post  14 . Preferably, the two end wire extensions  20 A and  20 D are bowed or curved in one direction, while the middle two wire extensions  20 B and  20 C are bowed or curved in the opposite direction. The wire extensions  20 A-D may be bowed in alternating, block, or random configurations, so long as each hooked section  16  includes at least one wire extension, and preferably two wire extensions, bowed in each direction. 
         [0023]    The open sections  18  are preferably slightly larger in area than the hooked sections  16 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . This gives each of the connected panels  12  some freedom to move up/down with the terrain. For example, each hooked section  16  is three wire blocks long, while each open section  18  is five wire blocks long. Each is only two blocks wide, but may be made wider if desired. In fact, each section may be of almost any desired length and width. These open sections  18  are easily made (or increased) from the panels  12  by removing the desired number of wire blocks. 
         [0024]    By coupling two panels together at the hooked sections  16  using a post  14 , the panels  12  are hinged together and may be positioned at various angles to one another based on the desired shape of the fencing system  10  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The post  14  slides into the alternating bowed wires of each hooked section  16  of the adjoined panels. To close the loop of panels, if desired, the second edge  34  of the last panel is coupled to the first edge  32  of the first panel. Alternatively, the first and last edges may be attached to or merely abut a surface of an adjacent structure, such as a building or fence. As previously mentioned, with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , each of the panels  12  is easily bendable to form curved surfaces or sharp corners, if necessary. For very large areas, as shown in  FIG. 4 , adjoining several panels at angles may achieve the desired shape. 
         [0025]    As mentioned above, the post  14  has two ends, an end for insertion into the ground  24  and a hooked end  22 . The post  14  is also substantially longer than the height of the panel  12 . The extra length of the post  4  allows the flat end of the post  14 , which may include a point for very hard ground surfaces, to be forced into the ground to secure the fence in place. The hooked end of the post  14  prevents the panels  12  from being accidentally removed from the free end of the post  14  while in use or during installation. 
         [0026]    The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.