Patent Publication Number: US-4651975-A

Title: Insert member for chain link fences

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to fence apparatus, and more specifically to a device attachable to chain link fences to improve appearance and afford privacy. 
     Several types of apparatus have been used previously in order to partially close the openings formed among the woven wires of a chain link fence. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,954,964, 3,069,142 and 3,774,884, issued to O&#39;Haffey, Kessler and Singer. The Kessler patent is directed to what have been known in the industry as &#34;filler strips&#34;. The metal strips are of a width which enables them to be pushed into a line of recesses formed in the chain link fence, and of length sufficient to extend obliquely from the bottom to the top of the fence, covering most of each opening along that oblique line. Oppositely angled filler strips are woven into the fence to lock the first group of strips in place. 
     The filler strips, while being effective to close most of the open space in a chain link fence, have been unattractive, have been time consuming to install, and have tended to rattle in the wind. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a privacy device and system for chain link fences which is considerably more attractive than anything available in the prior art and which is also easily and quickly installed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a decorative chain link fence insert member, which may be of wood or other material, is easily installed over the wires of the fence, such that a matrix comprising a large number of similar insert members can be used to cover most of the space defined among the woven wires of the fence. 
     Each insert member may comprise a square or rectangular block with a linear slot in its rear side, to receive a wire of the fence between two adjacent fence openings. Rows of the blocks are installed on the fence and are arranged generally linearly in oblique lines. Flexible members such as wires may be used to connect each line of blocks so as to hold them in position and proper orientation on the fence. The flexible members may be threaded through bores in the blocks, transverse to the wire-receiving slots and crossing through the slots, so that the blocks are closely held in position on the wires and prevented from substantial movement. 
     In this way, the openings in a chain link fence are partially closed in an efficient and economical manner, with a quickly installed system which improves the appearance of the fence. The system also affords privacy and partial wind protection. 
     It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a chain link fence insert system for privacy and wind protection, which is easily and efficiently installed and which actually improves, rather than detracts from, the appearance of the fence. These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, considered along with the accompanying a preferred embodiment, considered along with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation view showing series of fence insert members or blocks according to the invention installed on a chain link fence. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing one of the insert blocks, as seen along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view seen along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2. Both FIGS. 2 and 3 show the manner of attachment of the blocks to the wires of the fence, and a preferred arrangement for interconnecting blocks and securing them in position on the fence. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a chain link fence 10 of conventional configuration, comprising a series of obliquely angled woven wires 11. 
     The wires are pre-formed in zig-zag configuration and twisted together in the well known manner to form the fence fabric. For purposes of this discussion, wire portions oriented in the oblique direction ascending to the right in FIG. 1 are denoted 11a, while wire portions oriented in the opposite oblique direction are denoted 11b. Diamond-shaped openings 13 are formed among the wires. 
     Within the fence 10 is shown, covering and partially closing a portion of the area thereof, a system of fence insert members or blocks 15 arranged generally linearly in rows 16. Each insert member 15 covers a portion of each of two adjacent diamond-shaped openings 13. Any given opening is therefore substantially covered or mostly covered, by portions of two adjacent insert members 15. 
     FIG. 2 shows generally the manner of installation of the insert members or blocks 15. Each has a slot 17 formed in one surface (which may be called the back surface, also shown in FIG. 1) as shown, and this slot receives a wire 11a of the fence. To provide an adequately seated connection onto the fence, each groove or slot 17 may be in the range of about 3/8 to 5/8 inch in depth, preferably about 1/2 inch, in a block 15 having a thickness for example, of about 3/4 inch to 7/8 inch. 
     Once an entire row 16 of the blocks 15 has been pressed into place, all of the blocks of the row are tied together and locked onto the fence, so as to keep them in position and in alignment and to prevent them from falling forward off the fence. A preferred means for so connecting the blocks comprises a flexible member such as a wire or string 19 extending generally in a line and connecting all blocks 15 in a row. These flexible members 19 preferably are connected to the blocks via preformed bores 21 through which the string or wire 19 is threaded, as illustrated in the drawings. 
     The flexible string or wire in this preferred embodiment extends through the insert members 15 generally perpendicular to the slot 17. The bores 21 are located to cross the slots 17 near the bottom of each slot, but leaving depth enough to receive the wire 11a between the wire 19 and the bottom of the slot. Each bore 21 may have a conical entrance and exit 22 to ensure easy threading of the wire 19 through the blocks. 
     After a wire or string has been threaded through a row of insert blocks, it is secured at its two extremities by any appropriate means. If the member 19 is a wire of sufficient stiffness, it may simply be bent at a right angle as shown at 19a in FIG. 1. Alternatively, a knot may be formed. 
     It should be understood that the insert members may be of any suitable material, such as wood or plastic. They may be of plastic in a variety of different colors, and may be arranged in desired patterns in the fence to form attractive designs. The plastic blocks also provide weatherability. 
     The above described preferred embodiment illustrates the principles of the invention but is not intended to limit its scope. Various other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.