Patent Publication Number: US-11377871-B2

Title: Anchoring system for a fence

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/798,803, filed on Jan. 30, 2019, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to an anchoring system for a fence. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a stand-up pipe system that connects to a fence post and is securable to a subsurface such as the ground. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Fencing and other wall structures are usually intended to be stationary to form a barrier between two areas. For example, permanent fencing often includes support posts that are directly embedded in the ground. However, some fencing is made to be more modular or temporary and therefore may include large sections that are relatively movable, especially under high wind conditions. In these situations, unwanted movement and/or misalignment of fencing modules may occur, leading to possible damage, unwanted entry past the barrier, or impingement of property. 
     Electric fencing presents another challenge to the problem of anchoring fencing in place, due to the restriction on materials that may come into contact with an electric grid that may be present on the fencing. In particular, if a metal anchor were to contact the electric grid, the circuit may be grounded and/or unwanted components of the fence may become electrified. This may lead to malfunctioning of the electric fence and/or the potential for unexpected danger to people. 
     The present disclosure addresses these and other problems of the prior art related to anchoring systems for a fence. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some embodiments provide an anchoring system for a fence. The anchoring system includes a stand configured to form a base, a rigid pole extending upwardly from the stand a top connector configured to removably attach the rigid pole to a portion of a fence, and at least one in-ground anchor configured to secure the stand to a subsurface. 
     Some other embodiments provide a fence. The fence includes a fence panel and an anchoring system. The fence panel includes a plurality of vertical posts, including an end post. The anchoring system includes a stand configured to form a base, a rigid pole extending upwardly from the stand, a top connector configured to removably attach the rigid pole to the end post, and at least one in-ground anchor configured to secure the stand to a sub surface. 
     Some other embodiments provide a fence including a plurality of fence panels and a plurality of anchoring systems. Each fence panel includes a first end post and a second end post. Each anchoring system includes a stand configured to form a base, a rigid pole extending upwardly from the stand, a threaded cap configured to removably attach the rigid pole to the first end post of a fence panel of the plurality of fence panels, and at least one in-ground anchor configured to secure the stand to the subsurface. Each anchoring system is configured to secure a respective one of the plurality of fence panels to a subsurface and connect to an adjacent one of the plurality of fence panels to form an interconnected fence along a fence line. 
     These and other variants will be appreciated by those of skill in the art upon reading the description below. 
     Additional features and advantages of this disclosure will be made apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments that proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention are best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments that are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific instrumentalities disclosed. Included in the drawings are the following Figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective illustration of a modular fence; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a panel of the modular fence of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an anchoring system, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the anchoring system of  FIG. 3  installed on an end post; 
         FIG. 4B  is a front view of the anchoring system and end post of  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 4C  is a cross-sectional view of the anchoring system and end post, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 4B ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a close-up view of a top connector of the anchoring system, in a disconnected position; 
         FIG. 5B  is a close-up view of the top connector of  FIG. 5A , in a connected position; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective illustration of a panel and anchoring system, including in-ground anchors; 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of an exemplary bracket that may be used as part of the in-ground anchors of  FIG. 6 , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of an exemplary bracket that may be used as part of the in-ground anchors of  FIG. 6 , according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a threaded anchor that may be used as part of the in-ground anchors of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 8B  is a side view of the threaded anchor in the ground. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure describes an anchoring system for a fence. The anchoring system includes features that enable connection to a fence and securement to a subsurface such as the ground. In at least one embodiment, the anchoring system includes an upright rigid pole that is securable at one location to the fence and at another location to the ground through one or more in-ground anchors. In one embodiment, the top connector is a cap that secures to a top end of an end post of the fence and the rigid pole of the anchoring system. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary fence  100 , consistent with disclosed embodiments. The fence  100  may be a modular fence including a plurality of interconnected fence panels  200  that stand upright and extend along and establish a fence line. The fence  100  may be any type of fence, made from any type of material suitable for the intended use. In an exemplary embodiment, the fence  100  is an electric fence, such as the modular electric fence described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,339, entitled “Modular Fence” and issued on Mar. 30, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The fence  100  may include an electrified grid  110  that is exposed on an exterior surface of the fence  100 . In some embodiments, a door  120  is positioned between a pair of the panels  200 . 
     The fence  100  may include a plurality of anchoring systems  300  that are arranged at various points along the fence line. The anchoring systems  300  are configured to secure the fence  100  to a subsurface, such as the ground. The term “subsurface” and “ground” are used interchangeably herein, and both encompass a substrate on which the fence  100  may sit and be secured. These terms encompass materials such as gravel, dirt, rocks, and the like. The anchoring systems  300  are configured to enhance the stability of the fence  100  and inhibit movement of the fence  100 , even under high wind conditions. In an exemplary embodiment, the anchoring systems  300  are located at the interconnection. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of an exemplary panel  200  of the fence  100 . The panel  200  may be formed of a plurality of vertical posts  210  and horizontal posts  220 . The posts  210  and  220  may support the electrified grid  110  to form an electric fence barrier. The vertical posts  210  may include end posts  230  that form longitudinal ends of the panel  200 . In an exemplary embodiment, the posts  210 ,  220  may be formed from a non-conductive material, such as PVC piping or other plastic. The anchoring system  300  is configured, in some embodiments, to attach to an end post  230  of the panel  200 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the anchoring system  300 . In an exemplary embodiment, the anchoring system  300  includes a rigid pole  310 , a stand  320 , an adjacent post  330 , a connection bracket  340 , and a top connector  350 . The rigid pole  310  may extend generally vertically from the stand  320 . The stand  320  may be formed to create a support area that sits on the ground and forms a base for the anchoring system  300 . In one embodiment, the stand  320  has a wire frame configuration that is shaped to both connect to the bracket  340  and create a perimeter to form a sturdy base. For example, the stand  320  may have a generally circular configuration with a cross bar, as shown in  FIG. 3 . However, it should be understood that embodiments of the stand  320  are not limited to this configuration. 
     The bracket  340  connects the stand  320  to the rigid pole  310 . The bracket  340  also connects the stand  320  and rigid pole  310  to the adjacent post  330 . The rigid pole  310  is configured to connect to an end post  230  of a first panel  200 . The adjacent post  330  is configured to connect to an end post  230  of a second panel  200  that sits adjacent to the first panel  200  on the fence line. The adjacent post  330  is preferably shorter than the rigid pole  310 . The shorter adjacent post  330  allows the second panel  200  to be easily removed from the anchoring system  300 , such as by lifting the second panel  200  off of the adjacent post  330 . 
     The top connector  350  is an element configured to connect the rigid pole  310  to an end post  230  of a fence panel  200 . In one embodiment, the top connector  350  is a cap. An upper end  360  of the rigid pole  310  is threaded and configured to mate with a threaded end of the cap in order to secure the cap to the rigid pole  310 . While a cap is described and illustrated, it should be understood that the top connector  350  may take other forms. For example, the top connector  350  may be a bracket, screw, clip, pin, etc. The top connector  350  is preferably removable in order to maintain a modular approach to the fence  100 , but may be permanently affixed in some embodiments. 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  further illustrate the anchoring system  300  connected to an end post  230  of a fence panel  200 . In an exemplary embodiment, the rigid pole  310  extends through the hollow center of the end post  230 . The stand  320  and bracket  340  prevent the rigid pole  310  from being pulled out of a top of the end post  230 . The top connector  350  connects to an upper portion of the end post  230  to thereby secure the end post  230  to the rigid pole  310 . In an exemplary embodiment, the top connector  350  is a threaded cap  400  that includes a diameter that is larger than an inner diameter of the end post  230 , such that at least a portion of the cap  400  cannot fit through the end post  230 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5B  illustrate an embodiment of a top connector  350  in the form of the cap  400 . In an exemplary embodiment, the cap  400  includes an upper surface  410 , a plug  420 , a threaded element  430 , and removal holes  440 . The upper end  360  of the rigid pole  310  is threaded. While the threaded element  430  of the cap  400  is shown as a female connector and the threaded portion of the upper end  360  of the rigid pole  310  is shown as a male connector, it should be understood that this configuration may be reversed. Further, other types of removable connections may be used. 
     The threaded element  430  and plug  420  fit into an opening  240  in a top of the end post  230 . However, the upper surface  410  is larger than the opening  240  such that a flange of the cap  400  sits on an upper edge of the end post  230 . The threaded element  430  and threaded portion of the upper end  360  of the rigid pole  310  are mated to each other, thereby preventing the rigid pole  310  from being removed from a bottom of the end post  230 . Together with the stand  320 , the cap  400  locks the rigid pole  310  in the end post  230 . In this way, the anchoring system  300  connects to a panel  200  of the fence  100 . The removal holes  440  may be sized to attach to a wrench to allow for easier removal of the cap  400 . 
     The anchoring system  300  may include components made from various materials. The materials may be selected depending on the application. In some embodiments, the rigid pole  310  and stand  320  may be a metal material, such as steel. The metal may be insulated, especially in electric fence applications. In some embodiments, the cap  400  may be a plastic material. In this way, the cap  400  may insulate the rigid pole  310  from the exterior portion of the fence  100 . 
       FIG. 6  further illustrates the anchoring system  300  connected to a panel  200 . The anchoring system further includes in-ground anchors  600 . The in-ground anchors  600  are configured to secure the anchoring system  300  (and thus the connected panel  200 ) to the ground or other subsurface. The in-ground anchors  600  may include at least one bracket  610  and at least one threaded anchor  620 . The bracket  610  connects the threaded anchor  620  to the stand  320  and the threaded anchor  620  is secured in the ground. 
       FIG. 7A  further illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the bracket  610 . In one embodiment, the bracket  610  includes a channel  630  for receiving a portion of the stand  320 . For example, the channel  630  may be a curved receptacle for receiving a portion of a wire frame. In other embodiments, the bracket  610  may include other features for connecting to the stand  320 . The bracket  610  also includes a flange  640  and a hole  650 . The flange  640  may be configured to rest parallel to the ground and the hole  650  receives a threaded anchor  620  therethrough.  FIG. 7B  illustrates another bracket  610 A. The bracket  610 A is similar to the bracket  610 , including the flange  640  and hole  650 . However, the bracket  610 A includes an angled channel  630 A for attaching to the stand  320 . It should be understood that the channels  630 ,  630 A may have other shapes and configurations to receive or attach to the stand  320 . 0   
       FIGS. 8A-8B  further illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a threaded anchor  620 . The threaded anchor  620  may include a threaded end  660  and a connection end  670 . The threaded end  660  is configured to pass through the hole  650  in the bracket  610  while the connection end  670  is not. The threaded end  660  is configured to be embedded in the ground, as shown in  FIG. 8B . 
     The disclosed anchoring system for a fence includes features that enable secure connection of a rigid pole to a portion of the fence and anchoring of the rigid pole to the ground or other subsurface. In this way, the fence may be secured to the ground and inhibited from unwanted movement, even under high wind conditions. The features of the anchoring system, such as the size and/or number of the threaded anchor, may be selected to produce a desired pull-out strength for the anchoring of the fence. 
     The disclosed anchoring system is particularly applicable to a modular fence, as the anchoring system includes features that maintain the modularity of a fence panel. In particular, configuration of the top connector as a threaded cap allows the cap to be removed and the end post to be pulled off of the rigid pole such that the fence panel is free to be moved or replaced. The configuration of the anchoring system to include a shorter adjacent post next to the rigid pole allows an adjacent fence panel to be connected. 
     The disclosed anchoring system is also particularly applicable to electric fencing. Typically, it is undesirable to include metal components in electric fencing because of the possibility of the electric current leaking to the conductive material. However, the embedded configuration of the anchoring system extending inside of the end post of the fence panel, allows the rigid pole of the anchoring system to be made from a metal material that provides sufficient strength, weight, and rigidity to securely anchor the fence. The top connector, which may be a plastic cap, helps to insulate the rigid pole from the electrified elements of the fence. 
     A fence, such as the fence  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , that utilizes a plurality of anchoring systems, may be constructed as a securely anchored fence that maintains modular functionality. In one embodiment, a first end post (such as a left-side end post  230  as shown in  FIG. 2 ) of a first fence panel may be secured to the rigid pole of a first anchoring system through a top connector and anchored to the ground. A second end post (such as the right-side end post  230  as shown in  FIG. 2 ) may be placed on the adjacent post  330  of a second anchoring system that anchors a second fence panel to the ground. Similarly, an end post of a third fence panel may be placed on the adjacent post of the first anchoring system, thereby creating an alternating pattern of fence panel connections that creates a securely anchored fence while allowing at least one of the panels to be lifted and moved at each anchoring point. Moreover, the removable top connector enables the entire fence to be disassembled. 
     An anchoring method may include steps of sequentially securing a selected number of adjacent fence panels to anchoring systems of the disclosed embodiments. The method may include inserting the rigid pole of each anchoring system into an end post, securing the top connector, anchoring the base to the ground with the in-ground anchors, and placing the opposite end post on an adjacent post of an adjacent anchoring system. The method may include repeating this process while following a desired fence line until all of the selected fence panels are in place and anchored to the ground. 
     The elements of the figures are not exclusive. Other embodiments may be derived in accordance with the principles of the invention to accomplish the same objectives. Although this invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments and variations shown and described herein are for illustration purposes only. Modifications to the current design may be implemented by those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention.